2013 Official Major League Baseball Thread.

[rumpleforeskiin]

It took a few years, but one of Joe's predictions finally comes to pass. Dontrelle Willis, at long last, arrives in New York. I'm prouda ya, Josey-boy.

Dontrelle Willis Signs With Long Island Ducks

By Steve Adams [April 5 at 12:27pm CST]
Just one day after Vladimir Guerrero signed a contract to play with the Atlantic League's Long Island Ducks, ESPN's Jerry Crasnick reports that lefty Dontrelle Willis has signed with the Ducks as well .

Willis signed a minor league deal with the Cubs this offseason and was invited to Major League Spring Training with the team. He experienced discomfort in his left shoulder in his first outing, however, and had to leave the game. Willis walked the only batter he faced that day and was cut by the team at the end of March.

The 31-year-old Willis is a former NL Rookie of the Year and NL Cy Young runner-up. From 2003-06 he posted a 3.44 ERA, 6.7 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9 in 817 1/3 innings for the Marlins. His brilliant Rookie of the Year campaign helped propel the Fish to a World Series victory over the Yankees in 2003.

Willis has just a 5.65 ERA in 404 1/3 innings since 2007, having walked 5.4 batters per nine innings and allowed 446 hits in that time. He retired from baseball last July but elected to make a comeback this offseason. Willis is represented by Sosnick & Cobbe.

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

Now that's what I call a good old fashioned country ass-kicking.

Some takeaways from opening day in Motown:

1. Ivan Nada sucks. Nada was pretty fricking good in 2011, pretty fricking awful last year. Looks like he's reprising his miserable 2012 on the road to Scranton, depending, of course, on what Brian "No More" Cash, man, can find in the dumpster.

2. Speaking of the dumpster, the Dumpster Plan isn't working out so well through four games. The hapless Bombers are averaging just over 3 runs a game are are a league leading -10 for the season to date.

3. Doug Fister. I've been impressed with Fister so far, but not this day. He nibbled throughout and had little success commanding his breaking stuff. In his 5 innings of work, he walked 2 and hit 2, but allowed only three runs thanks to the powder puff offense coming from the other dugout.

4. The Yankee bullpen. Peeyoo. Stinkorama.

What's becoming more clear by the day is that the Yankee route to the playoffs is whether or not they can get 700-750 good innings out of Andy Pettitte. It would also help, of course, if Pettitte can hit 35-40 dingers and knock in 125 runs.

 

[Jman47]

I heard tale of a comet sighting today...it came crashing to earth in Detroit...:lol:...

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

A few takeaways from last night's action in Toronto:

1. Jose Reyes is one fabulous player. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him in the MVP hunt.

2. Jose Iglesias is a magician. His arm throbbing after a HBP, he ranged deep in the hole for a ground ball, threw across his body and forced Reyes at second. Twitter lit up with comments, a dozen or more from those I follow, that no other SS in baseball makes that plat.

3. The Sox can score runs, even without David Ortiz.

4. There are no two more different clubs than the 2012 and 2013 Red Sox. The booing that rained down on John Farrell energized this ballclub. They're going to be fun to watch in 2013.

5. Yankee fans don't post much in this thread when things aren't going their way. We probably won't be seeing much of them this year.

6. Nice to see a packed house in Toronto of actual Blue Jay fans. Hopefully this team will stay in the hunt; Toronto does deserve one team that doesn't suck.

 

[daydreamer41]

A few takeaways from last night's action in Toronto:


3. The Sox can score runs, even without David Ortiz.

5. Yankee fans don't post much in this thread when things aren't going their way. We probably won't be seeing much of them this year.

6. Nice to see a packed house in Toronto of actual Blue Jay fans. Hopefully this team will stay in the hunt; Toronto does deserve one team that doesn't suck.

3. Sox can score runs with opposing team's errors. Blue Jays had 3 errors last night giving Boston 2 Unearned runs.

5. Hey rumps, the season is very young. You blow hard obnoxious Red Sox fans are blowing your wads after 4 games played; 158 games to go.

6. Hopefully, the Blue Jays will stay in the hunt? What a conceited statement.

 

[Merlot]

UOTE=rumpleforeskiin;683860]Young Mr. Bradley learned the hard way that future HOFers don't necessarily have to throw the ball over the plate to get strike calls. Rivera threw Bradley three pitches, one over the plate.[/QUOTE]

Hello Rumps,

Exactly! Mr. Bradley is a very smart and patient batter who knows the strike zone. Unfortunately he has to learn that legends get gifts out of the strike zone, just like Mo had to learn in the 9th inning of game 4 of the 2004 ALCS that legends don't get gifts in the playoffs.

But I thought that Bradley was a future Hall of Famer too. Aren't the Sox retiring his number at the home opener?

No one here has said anything like this. But thanks for putting a guy like Bradley who hasn't even had the chance to develop in AAA in the same category as Mo the legend.

2. Jose Iglesias is a magician. His arm throbbing after a HBP, he ranged deep in the hole for a ground ball, threw across his body and forced Reyes at second. Twitter lit up with comments, a dozen or more from those I follow, that no other SS in baseball makes that plat.

3. The Sox can score runs, even without David Ortiz.

The Sox would be content if Iglesias hit .240. Of course at this time there are a lot of early season huge bloated averages, but it is very interesting to see Iglesias second at .583. If he continues over .300 it will be interesting to see how Farrell handles things when Drew returns.

So far the run production has been a pleasant surprise for me. It's also been great to see many improvements overall in pitching, fielding quality, and batting approach. I don't see much to complain about considering the players we have. If the Sox play at the same quality level they will have a winning record and probably a competitive one.

Now let's see how Lackey does.

"Blue Jays had 3 errors..."

You know fielding is part of the game???

I heard tale of a comet sighting today...it came crashing to earth in Detroit...:lol:...

Jman, that photo is PRICELESS! It could epitomize the Yanks entire upcoming season.

Cheers BOYZ,

Merlot

 

[Doc Holliday]

-Iglesias' play was brilliant & may have been one of the turning points; he likely had no shot at first & his only hope was to try to get the very fast Reyes at second, and he managed to do this.

-Bonifacio was absolutely atrocious at second base for the Jays, comitting three costly errors on routine plays; he reminded me a bit of Steve Sax or Chuck Knoblauch out there, although those two players still could field the ball even though they couldn't throw; Izturis will be their regular second baseman once Brett Lawrie returns from the DL. But to be fair to Bonifacio, he's more comfortable at centerfield than he is at second base....which was obvious last night.

-Toronto's numerous base-running mistakes under the helm of John Farrell last season resurfaced once again when Jose Reyes was caught trying to stretch an RBI double into a triple with nobody out. The next batter singled.

-Toronto played without one of its top players, Jose Bautista, who was kept out of the game by a sprained ankle; he's hoping to be able to play today, although the speedy Rajai Davis performed very well in his absence.

-Boston played very well, but the Jays practically shot themselves in the foot many times & couldn't recover. They basically gave them the game.

-Toronto sends J.A. Happ to the mound today; he had a fantastic spring & beat out the enigmatic Ricky Romero for the fifth spot in the rotation. The Jays will hopefully get 5 or 6 good innings from Happ.

-Jays fans wonder if there are any high-end second basemen available; Pedroia's out, and likely is Brandon Phillips. But could the Yankees be tempted to trade Robinson Cano to the Jays if they receive an offer-they-can't-refuse? The Jays would understand that Cano would be a one-year rental player, since he'd likely sign with the Yankees anyways next season, having fired Scott Boras in favor of Jay-Z's group, which has very close ties to the Yankees & also the fact Jay-Z is a die-hard NY Yankee fan. If the Jays want to be taken seriously as championship contenders, they need to upgrade at 2nd base.

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

Really? Really? I realize that the Yankees have sucked so far. Their starting pitching has sucked. Their bullpen has sucked. Their offense has sucked. But isn't it a bit early to be getting desperate? Phil Hughes, scheduled to make a rehab start yesterday was scratched and hustled to Detroit city to start this afternoon. What? So Phelps isn't trustworthy? Given that Hughes was deemed not ready to face major league pitching yesterday, is he ready for Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder today?

 

[Doc Holliday]

Rumples, the Yankees are indeed in desperation mode (already!) and we shouldn't be too surprised about this. Even though many of the experts & skeptics have been open about the fact the Yankees will likely be winding up in last place, die-hard Yankee fans refuse to see them for what they really are: they just plain suck!

And now, we see that management themselves are finally realizing how bad they are & are becoming desperate. Is now a good time to re-sign Robinson Cano to a huge multi-year contract, or should they do the right thing and trade him for a few top young prospects who will help them rebuild for the future? Should they get rid of some of the old dead weights who are killing their team budget & maybe start rebuilding with youth? I'm not familiar with their farm system, but is it so bad that there's no one they can call-up in order to give them some much-needed major league experience for the future?

I'll be honest: the day i saw them picking up Vernon Wells & Lyle Overbay was when i realized that my prediction that they'd finish in last place had a chance of actually becoming true!

These Yankees of today remind me of the Yankees of the late 60's and early 70's, when they were among the worse teams of the entire major leagues.

"Happy days are NOT here again..................."

 

[Doc Holliday]

Unfortunate injury to John Lackie

Ouch!!! John Lackie seems to have just blown his arm!!! This is awful bad luck to both Lackie & the Red Sox!

I sure hope it doesn't look as serious at it appears....but it really doesn't look good for his future.

He was actually pitching a very good game so far. Even though i'm not a Red Sox fan, i really feel for the guy, who's had to bounce back from a lot of adversity. I wish him well....

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

That's Lackey, Doc, and they're saying on Twitter that it looked like his arm exploded. He holding his bicep, not his repaired elbow, but I'm not sure that's much solace. He was pitching quite well and had worked his butt off trying to get back in the game. I wouldn't be surprised at all to hear his season is done.

I'm reading that the Sox don't want to call on Allen Webster, who was dominant in his first start last night at AAA, until June. My guess is that they're going to give Aceves a starting shot. Another option would be Aaron Harang, who was dealt today from LA to Colorado. The word is that Colorado is planning to flip him and just picked him up for salary relief.

Great game from JA Happ today.

As for the Yankees, their farm system isn't bad, but most of the better prospects are in the lower minors. They do have 3 of the first 33 picks in the draft this year. Considering that the Yankees have punted both this and next year, dealing Cano for prospects makes a ton of sense. Unfortunately, the contracts of Sabathia, Rodriguez, Suzuki, and Teixeira are untradeable. They'll just have to live with those millstones as souvenirs of their excess.

Good news just coming through on Lackey. He's diagnosed with a right bicep strain. The DL for sure, but probably not long term.

 

[daydreamer41]

Rumples, the Yankees are indeed in desperation mode (already!) and we shouldn't be too surprised about this. Even though many of the experts & skeptics have been open about the fact the Yankees will likely be winding up in last place, die-hard Yankee fans refuse to see them for what they really are: they just plain suck!

And now, we see that management themselves are finally realizing how bad they are & are becoming desperate. Is now a good time to re-sign Robinson Cano to a huge multi-year contract, or should they do the right thing and trade him for a few top young prospects who will help them rebuild for the future? Should they get rid of some of the old dead weights who are killing their team budget & maybe start rebuilding with youth? I'm not familiar with their farm system, but is it so bad that there's no one they can call-up in order to give them some much-needed major league experience for the future?

twiddle dee and twindle ....

Anyhow, the Yankees are looking sad with only 4 games played, but don't you baseball geniuses know that the Yanks have half of their starting lineup out on the DL list?

How can you predict anything about a season with so little of the games played?

By the way, Blue Jays are knocking the crap out of the Red Sox; they really sucked today.

 

[Joe.t]

One stinking, lousy, hit off a pitcher with ERA of 5.79 last year and a career ERA of 4.19, pretty pathetic by any standards, my prediction stands, Red Sox will finish in dead last place.

 

[lgna69xxx]

Bwhahahahaahaha............ Doc you have made me laugh with some funny jokes over the years and just a few minutes ago at that Mike "The COCK" Babcock post but cmon, the Yanks are not the red sox of many years past and as recently as the last 2 horrific seasons, not even close. The Yanks dont get desperate let alone after 4 games into a 162 game season. Jays not starting too well, but they are not desperate either and i hope they make the playoffs and cant wait to take in a few games soon in the big Dome in downtown Toronto.

Rumples, the Yankees are indeed in desperation mode (already!)

 

[lgna69xxx]

Adversity? Is this not the same guy who broke up with his wife while she was dealing with cancer? Karma's a Bitch.

Actually if he cannot pitch, the red sox are better off... get well soon lackie!

Unfortunate injury to John Lackie

Ouch!!! John Lackie seems to have just blown his arm!!! Even though i'm not a Red Sox fan, i really feel for the guy, who's had to bounce back from a lot of adversity. I wish him well....

 

[Special K]

But isn't it a bit early to be getting desperate? Phil Hughes, scheduled to make a rehab start yesterday was scratched and hustled to Detroit city to start this afternoon. What? So Phelps isn't trustworthy? Given that Hughes was deemed not ready to face major league pitching yesterday, is he ready for Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder today?

That's awesome and reeks of D-E-S-P-E-R-A-T-I-O-N!!!!! Hughes don't need no stinkin' rehab starts! Bwwwahhhh!!

5. Hey rumps, the season is very young. You blow hard obnoxious Red Sox fans are blowing your wads after 4 games played; 158 games to go.

Right on cue, the always angry DD41 continues his personal attacks!! I think I caught on to his plan though...Since his team is going to be among the worst in Yankee history this season he's trying to get the baseball threads closed down permanently. Typical DD41 tactic and who can really blame the sorry sad sack...Ooops, is that a personal attack???

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

Initial reports on Lackey are pretty good. He says it might be no more than a cramp. Meanwhile, Allen Webster punched out six in five shutout innings in Pawtucket last night.

Right on cue, the always angry DD4

He is one angry guy. So sad. You ever notice how all of his posts are directed at me? Sometimes I think that I'm the only thing that gives his life meaning. Pitiful. OK, back to baseball, which, by the way, has been berry, berry good to me. And, of course, to Chico Escuela.

 

[Doc Holliday]

I have to agree that the Red Sox may be better off without Lackie, but he actually was pitching pretty good today until it looked like his arm would come apart.

Replays showed that the injury likely occurred on the previous pitch, as he winced after the pitch & shook his arm. He should have called it quits immediately. I'm surprised no one from the Red Sox noticed this.

The preliminary report says he suffered a strained right bicep. However, from the replay, it appeared more serious than this. It didn't appear to be an elbow problem, but there is quite a lot of concern since he's just coming off from Tommy John surgery.

How is Lackie's ex wife doing anyway? Did she beat cancer? I wish her well....

On another note, it's good to see MY LITTLE FRIEND back posting.

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

I have to agree that the Red Sox may be better off without Lackie, but he actually was pitching pretty good today until it looked like his arm would come apart.

I'm not sure I agree here, Doc. He was always a good pitcher when healthy and guys often come back stronger after TJ. On the other hand, Allen Webster has little left to prove on the farm. Lackey is now saying that it felt like a cramp, so it's entirely possible that his stint on the DL will be a short one.

Replays showed that the injury likely occurred on the previous pitch, as he winced after the pitch & shook his arm. He should have called it quits immediately. I'm surprised no one from the Red Sox noticed this.

I didn't see it live as I was outside in my hot tub when it happened. It was pretty obvious from the replay.

How is Lackie's ex wife doing anyway? Did she beat cancer? I wish her well....

Have you ever seen a picture of her? Absolutely gorgeous. She was instrumental in his signing with the Sox as she's a New England native. BTW, looking at iggy's insensitive comment above, their divorce was well underway before her diagnosis.

On another note, it's good to see MY LITTLE FRIEND back posting.

Your little friend. LOL. Don't you mean, "MY ANGRY LITTLE FRIEND?"

Not a bad turn from Hughes today. Too bad the Yankee bullpen sucks.

 

[Jman47]

Right on cue, the always angry DD41 continues his personal attacks!! I think I caught on to his plan though...Since his team is going to be among the worst in Yankee history this season he's trying to get the baseball threads closed down permanently. Typical DD41 tactic and who can really blame the sorry sad sack...Ooops, is that a personal attack???