Montreal Escorts

Batter Up! Official 2012 Spring Training Baseball Thread

Status
Not open for further replies.

lgna69xxx

New Member
Oct 3, 2008
10,419
10
0
In the dead of winter, when the season of cold and snow seems to endlessly drag on, thoughts for die hard baseball fans turn to Florida and Arizona for the beginning of hope for their team as another baseball season is soon upon us. It is time for players to break out the gloves, get in their wind sprints, sign a few autographs, and get ready for the grind of yet another 162 game schedule.

OUI, It is that time of year once again boys and girls, The Boys of Summer are back soon and it is time to talk all things baseball.

As always, the usual rules of any OFFICIAL thread apply as pointed out by Mod 8: Keep the locker room antics to a minimum, no serious flaming or serious insults. If someone debates or even instigates to the point you can't handle it and might break these rules if you keep posting, then take "Ball Four" or in other words, simply WALK away.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-K3DI07Ibb4
 
Last edited:

Doc Holliday

Hopelessly horny
Sep 27, 2003
19,290
717
113
Canada
Ortiz & Red Sox come to an agreement

David Ortiz has agreed to a deal with the Boston Red Sox, avoiding an arbitration hearing scheduled for later Monday, a team source told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.

The sides settled for $14.575 million, the midpoint between what Ortiz had asked for and what the Red Sox offered, the source said.

Ortiz had one of his best seasons in years in 2011. He batted .309 with 29 homers, 96 RBIs and a .952 OPS.
 

lgna69xxx

New Member
Oct 3, 2008
10,419
10
0
Did the redsox have to take Ortiz back? You betcha they did! Now the question remains will he ever live up to that contract? He is a year older and we all have heard the rumors about him and performance enhancers over the years and many would be surprised if he ever comes close to last seasons numbers this coming season, OR ever again. Four days to most open camp boys and girls! :thumb:

http://www.boston.com/sports/columnists/gasper/2012/02/sox_had_to_take.html

Ortiz & Red Sox come to an agreement

David Ortiz has agreed to a deal with the Boston Red Sox, avoiding an arbitration hearing scheduled for later Monday, a team source told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.

The sides settled for $14.575 million, the midpoint between what Ortiz had asked for and what the Red Sox offered, the source said.

Ortiz had one of his best seasons in years in 2011. He batted .309 with 29 homers, 96 RBIs and a .952 OPS.
 

lgna69xxx

New Member
Oct 3, 2008
10,419
10
0
Cano calms Pineda as he begins first day as a NY Yankee

TAMPA — Michael Pineda was talking to Robinson Cano recently and he admitted to his friend that he was feeling somewhat overwhelmed about being traded to the Yankees and the prospect of playing for the big team in the big city.

Cano calmed him instantly, Pineda said. “My head is (spinning) because I’ve never stayed in New York,” Pineda said he told Cano.

“He said, ‘Don’t worry man, I’ll take care of you.’ ”

Pineda, 23, showed up at the Yankees’ minor-league complex on Tuesday, the first time he has donned Yankee garb for a workout since the January swap that sent Jesus Montero and Hector Noesi to the Mariners for Pineda and prospect Jose Campos. Whatever uneasy feelings Pineda had are clearly gone now. He gabbed with a group of reporters for about 10 minutes, laughing and smiling easily after running a set of sprints in bright sunshine with several other pitchers.

“It’s my first day and I’m excited because it’s my first time practicing with the New York Yankees,” Pineda said. “I came early because it’s my first time living in Tampa and I don’t know what I’m doing.”

At one point, Pineda said he was self-conscious about speaking English, but he was easily understood and cracked several jokes. He had a low-key throwing session — nothing more than a game of catch — and when someone asked how his fastball was, he replied with a grin, “About 65 (miles per hour).”

He talked briefly about his love for fishing and how he enjoys cooking, too. “Dominican food,” he said of his culinary expertise. “I’m a Dominican guy.”

Pineda and Cano became fast friends beginning last season, the pitcher said. When the Yankees traveled to Seattle, Cano praised Pineda for his stellar year. “He said, ‘Hey, you’re a good guy, man, you’re pitching great. Keep your focus all the time,’ ” Pineda recalled. “He’s talking to me because I’m a young guy.

“At the All-Star Game, he was talking to me a lot, too. He said, ‘I’m very excited for you, your first year in the major leagues, to play in the All-Star Game. That’s beautiful, you know.”

“I love this guy,” Pineda added. “He’s my friend.”

Pineda also says he’s looking forward to watching CC Sabathia. While the pitchers throw with opposite hands — Pineda is a righty — he and Sabathia share something: both are 6-foot-7. “He’s (big),” Pineda said. “I want to learn from him and I want to say hi because he’s a great pitcher.”

Even though the Pineda family has had about a month in the Dominican Republic to digest the trade, the pitcher and his relatives are still thrilled — Pineda said his mother has a lot of family in New York. “She’s never come to America,” Pineda said. “This year is the first time. Now she’s coming to New York, she’s excited. Everybody is excited.”

Like any pitcher coming into camp, Pineda has parts of his game he wants to sharpen. For him, it’s his two-seam fastball and his changeup. “I’m focusing a little more on that,” he said.

He would also like to avoid what happened to him last season, when he sagged after a terrific first half. Before the All-Star break, Pineda was 8-6 with a 3.03 ERA; afterward, he went 1-4 with a 5.12 ERA.

“I don’t know,” he replied when asked about the difference. “First half, my arm was strong and I was feeling great and the second half, I’m feeling a little tired. The other teams know me. It’s a long season.”

But Pineda is set to start his next one, in a new uniform, now.

“I’m ready to go,” Pineda said.



Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/b...it-pinstripes-article-1.1022718#ixzz1mQJ2kFIh
 

lgna69xxx

New Member
Oct 3, 2008
10,419
10
0
Would love to see Hughes get back to the dominating pitcher he was a couple seasons ago, and if he does, look out AL. This is as deep a starting rotation as the Yanks have had in quite some time to go along with an awesome bullpen. We already know how good a lineup the Bombers have. Could be a very special season in the boogie down bronx this year.

1. CC Sabathia, 19-8, 3.00 ERA in 2011
2. Ivan Nova, 16-4, 3.70 ERA in 2011
3. Hiroki Kuroda, 13-16, 3.07 ERA in 2011
4. Michael Pineda, 9-10, 3.74 ERA in 2011
5a. Freddy Garcia, 12-8, 3.62 ERA in 2011
5b. Phil Hughes, 5-5, 5.79 ERA in 2011
5c. A.J. Burnett, 11-11, 5.15 ERA in 2011
Projected bullpen

Closer: Mariano Rivera, 44/49 saves, 1.91 ERA in 2011
RH setup man: David Robertson, 1.08 ERA in 2011
RH setup man: Rafael Soriano, 4.12 ERA in 2011
LH setup man: Boone Logan, 3.46 ERA in 2011
 

Joe.t

Well-Known Member
Jun 20, 2003
3,875
302
83
Le Chabrol, Saint - Jacques
Visit site
Would love to see Hughes get back to the dominating pitcher he was a couple seasons ago, and if he does, look out AL. This is as deep a starting rotation as the Yanks have had in quite some time to go along with an awesome bullpen. We already know how good a lineup the Bombers have. Could be a very special season in the boogie down bronx this year.

Excellent observation as usual iggy, here is Jim Duquette's breakdown of the Yankees rotation in which he is very positive.

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=20059191&c_id=nyy


MVP- Prince Feilder.
CY Young- Micheal Pineda.
Surprise player of the year- Alex Rodrigues, if he can stay healthy.

Prediction for the AL East.

1- Yankees.
2- Blue Jays.
3- Tampa.
4- Boston(Sorry rumples, but the Red Sox have too many question marks)
5- Baltimore.

Should be a exciting season for us Yankee fans.
 

lgna69xxx

New Member
Oct 3, 2008
10,419
10
0
I think your spot on the money about Arod "IF" he plays at least a healthy 140 plus games this season and your predictions for the AL East are the exact way i see them, the only wild card in that is if Moore is the real deal then possibly i can see Tampa 2nd and Toronto 3rd.

CY Young- Micheal Pineda.
Surprise player of the year- Alex Rodrigues, if he can stay healthy.

Prediction for the AL East.

1- Yankees.
2- Blue Jays.
3- Tampa.
4- Boston(Sorry rumples, but the Red Sox have too many question marks)
5- Baltimore.

Should be a exciting season for us Yankee fans.
 

lgna69xxx

New Member
Oct 3, 2008
10,419
10
0
Burnett

Addition by subtraction. The Yankees already tough pitching staff (both starters and bullpen) just got better, by NOT having Burnett on the team. Now watch him go on to be a CY candidate with the Pirates. :rolleyes:
 

daydreamer41

Active Member
Feb 9, 2004
2,722
2
36
NY State
Visit site

Doc Holliday

Hopelessly horny
Sep 27, 2003
19,290
717
113
Canada
I know that Tim Wakefield started with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Wasn't Wakefield a rookie when Honus Wagner was in the middle of his career??? :noidea:

No, but he was in the system as an outfielder when Roberto Clemente led them to the World Series against the Baltimore Orioles, only to die a month or so later in a plane crash.
 

Doc Holliday

Hopelessly horny
Sep 27, 2003
19,290
717
113
Canada
Bobby Valentine: Attitude key for 2012

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Boston Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said he's concerned about developing a winning attitude in his first spring with the club, which finished last season in disastrous fashion, but added that so far pitchers Josh Beckett and Jon Lester have set a positive example for the staff.

"Whether a team wins a championship or comes in last, there's always a concern at how the attitude will develop in a new year," Valentine said Sunday morning in his first media briefing of spring training. "Considering there were some major issues I guess last year at the end and there are major changes here at the beginning, I'm concerned about the attitude.

"But attitude filters down. When you see Josh Beckett and Jon Lester here, they're the top of the pyramid as far as pitchers are concerned. They came early. They've been showing a fantastic attitude. So far that attitude with the pitching staff seems to be filtering down already."

Beckett and Lester were at the center of allegations that surfaced in the aftermath of a 7-20 September in which some pitchers were said to be drinking beer and occasionally eating fried chicken in the clubhouse during games in which they weren't pitching, a habit that came to symbolize a team not pulling in the same direction.

"If they lead by example as much as they've led by example the last few days, that will be enough," Valentine said. "I won't ask more."

Sunday is reporting day for Red Sox pitchers and catchers. All were present except for Alfredo Aceves and Carlos Silva, who were experiencing visa issues.

Beckett and Lester were scheduled to address reporters later in the day.

http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story...valentine-puts-focus-attitudes-boston-red-sox
 

daydreamer41

Active Member
Feb 9, 2004
2,722
2
36
NY State
Visit site
Addition by subtraction. The Yankees already tough pitching staff (both starters and bullpen) just got better, by NOT having Burnett on the team. Now watch him go on to be a CY candidate with the Pirates. :rolleyes:

I seriously doubt Burnett will have anything more than a mediocre season with the Pirates. The Pirates have some very good young pitching. Their offense is spotty. Burnett was never more than a mediocre pitcher throughout his career. He had his best year in Toronto the year before he was traded to the Yankees. I think Joe Girardi must be relieved he doesn't have to deal with AJ Burnett anymore after what happened last year.
 

Joe.t

Well-Known Member
Jun 20, 2003
3,875
302
83
Le Chabrol, Saint - Jacques
Visit site
I seriously doubt Burnett will have anything more than a mediocre season with the Pirates. The Pirates have some very good young pitching. Their offense is spotty. Burnett was never more than a mediocre pitcher throughout his career. He had his best year in Toronto the year before he was traded to the Yankees. I think Joe Girardi must be relieved he doesn't have to deal with AJ Burnett anymore after what happened last year.

For the record A.J signed as a free agent and was not traded to the Yankees.
 

daydreamer41

Active Member
Feb 9, 2004
2,722
2
36
NY State
Visit site
For the record A.J signed as a free agent and was not traded to the Yankees.

You are correct. I forgot the facts on how NY acquired AJ Burnett.
 

Doc Holliday

Hopelessly horny
Sep 27, 2003
19,290
717
113
Canada
Manny Ramirez signs with the Oakland A's

Manny Ramirez told ESPN's Pedro Gomez on Monday that he has agreed to a deal with the Oakland Athletics.

The team announced the minor league deal Monday. Ramirez is expected to report to spring training by the end of the week.

Sources tell Gomez the deal is worth about $500,000. Ramirez is obligated to serve a 50-game suspension without pay before beginning play for the A's due to violating baseball's drug policy for the second time. With no rainouts, the first game Ramirez would be eligible to play is on his 40th birthday -- May 30 at Minnesota.

The A's have nothing to lose by signing Manny Ramirez, because for $500,000, they're taking a flyer on one of the game's all-time great hitters, writes ESPN.com's David Schoenfield.

At baseball's winter meetings in December, it was announced that Ramirez had applied for reinstatement. He had his suspension for a second failed drug test cut to 50 games because he sat out nearly all of last season.

MLB had announced his retirement April 8, saying he was notified "of an issue" under the drug program.

Ramirez ranks 14th on the career list with 555 home runs. He went 1-for-17 (.059) in five games last season for Tampa Bay, which had signed him to a one-year deal worth $2.02 million.

This would be the 20th major league season for Ramirez, a career .312 hitter with 1,831 RBIs. Oakland, which traded away its top three pitchers this offseason including two starters, could use a power bat in the middle of the order in a tough AL West that already has seen the key additions of Albert Pujols on the Los Angeles Angels and star Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish for the two-time reigning AL champion Texas Rangers.

The A's haven't reached the playoffs or had a winning season since being swept by the Tigers in the 2006 American League Championship Series.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7594873/manny-ramirez-agrees-deal-oakland-as
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Ashley Madison
Toronto Escorts