2013 Official Major League Baseball Thread.

[rumpleforeskiin]

I'm sure I speak for all of us who post in the baseball thread, Special K, Merlot, Iggy, Joe.T, the Beav:
Congratulations to the American League Co-Players of the Week:
Will Middlebrooks and Mike Napoli

 

[Jman47]

Excellent analysis dd41, my money is on the Tigers if they were to play the Red Sox and their shaky pitching, oh BTW, I'm always right.:smile:

You are right, Joe. The Yankees lost 3 games due to really shaky pitching, especially today's game where the starting pitcher gave up 9 runs in 3 1/3 innings.

And the Red Sox's pitching is not impressive at all, giving up all of those runs the last 3 games.

You can't call the current Yankee lineup "light hitting". I say the Detroit Tigers handle the Red Sox in 5 games of a 7 game series, or 4 games in a 5 game series.

Although, it's very unlikely that NY is going to catch the Red Sox for the division title, NYY are only 3 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for the second wild card. It's a 4 team race between NY, Baltimore, Cleveland and Tampa Bay.

I'd be petrified if I were a Red Sox fan heading into the playoffs, giving up 25 runs in just three games against the "light hitting Yankees", very shaky pitching to say the least.

Hello Gents,
Seems you guys missed out on the most recent projections by the bookies...the Dodgers are now the favorites. Followed by the Tigers, Braves and Red Sox. So if you're gonna jump off the Yankee bandwagon that got 3 flat tires and is on the edge of the cliff after this weekend....you should be jumping on the DODGER bandwagon LOL!

Oh and wasn't it the Tigers that just lost a 3 game set to the Red Sox including a 20-4 good old fashion ass whooping?!:eyebrows:

And yup, the thought that the Red Sox will have Jake Peavy as their projected #4 (FOUR) starter in a post season rotation just has me quivering...LOL:lol:.
Personally, I like our chances.:thumb:

You guys still crack me up!

Go Sox!

Have fun,
Jman

 

[Jman47]

"Even without Buchholz, the other primary starters have made virtually all of their starts since Lackey's brief stint on the DL in April, with strong performances characterizing their work.

The Sox have the fourth-best ERA of any starting rotation in the AL (3.94, behind the Tigers (3.53), A's (3.79) and Rays (3.92)) while ranking fourth in baseball and second in the AL in quality starts (84). The team leads the AL in most starts of three runs permitted or fewer (108, with a 71-37 record in those games) and in outings of two or fewer runs (82, in which the team is 57-25).

Those performances suggest that, as a group, the starters have given the Sox plenty of opportunities to win, particularly given an offense that has surged to the American League lead in runs scored. But more recently, the team has enjoyed an even more impressive stretch of rotation excellence."

Read up Boys...
http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/b...lueprint-deep-deep-deep-october-how-red-sox-a

 

[Merlot]

Hello remaining baseball fans,

I'm sure I speak for all of us who post in the baseball thread, Special K, Merlot, Iggy, Joe.T, the Beav:
Congratulations to the American League Co-Players of the Week:
Will Middlebrooks and Mike Napoli

Rumps, it's indeed great to see Middlebrooks get back to form in a big, big way. And Napoli, maaaannnnn he sure took it to the Yankees like spanking down and bunch of little brats. He hit more home runs, (4 or more) than the Yanks did as a team in the entire 4-game series as they got humiliated by the Red Sox in their own stadium 16-1 in dingers.

So if you're gonna jump of the Yankee bandwagon that got 3 flat tires and is on the edge of the cliff after this weekend...

Go Sox!

Have fun,
Jman

I have to differ with you a bit Jman. Iggy's prize bandwagon lost all it's wheels and has had to be pushed on it's belly for a very long time. If they can even get a whiff of the playoffs it will be because they backed in over very weak teams who struggled more than them, which is near impossible to believe. But truly, they are on the precipice looking down at a very rocky future that could be familiar for a long time.

Those performances suggest that, as a group, the starters have given the Sox plenty of opportunities to win,...

Absolutely! The Red Sox had over 20 come from behind or late decided victories for the year before facing the team that's an embarrassment to Ruth. Of course the all out wars of the first two games may not qualify, but character is also about who finally rises to the top when your usual strengths falter a bit. Any way you look at it...the Yanks couldn't cut it. Our Yankees fans all agree or they wouldn't have disappeared and/or taken their bitter feelings to the football thread.

Cheers,

Merlot

 

[lgna69xxx]

Great News! Baseball is coming back to Montreal! (for at least 2 games lol)

Baseball is coming back to Olympic Stadium in Montreal.

The Toronto Blue Jays will host the New York Mets at Olympic Stadium on March 28-29, 2014 in two pre-season games just before the regular season begins.

"We are excited to bring the Blue Jays to Montreal play in Montreal and give the fans a taste of Major League Baseball again. This will be a very meaningful experience knowing the strength and passion of baseball fans in Quebec. We hope that these games will rekindle their interest in the Blue Jays and Major League Baseball," said Toronto Blue Jays president and CEO Paul Beeston.

The two teams have faced each other 21 times with the Mets leading the series, 15-6. The Blue Jays have been the home team on 12 occasions, winning six and losing six. The last game between the Jays and the Mets goes back to May 20, 2012, when the Mets won 6-5, at Rogers Centre.

"Being from Montreal personally, this is going to be a great thrill. I started my career with the Expos and spent many a game at Olympic Stadium. It will be exciting to see the Big O come to life again with Major League Baseball," said Blue Jays senior vice-president and general manager Alex Anthopoulos, who was born in Montreal and once worked for the Expos.

The Blue Jays will open the 2014 season on the road with a four-game series vs. AL East rivals, the Tampa Bay Rays beginning on March 31. The club returns home for a six-game homestand beginning with the home opener on April 4. This will mark the Blue Jays 38th season in the American League.

http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=431553

 

[smuler]

Being a Met fan, this is very exciting

But baseball in March / In Montreal ???

Best Regards

Smuler

 

[lgna69xxx]

Sure! The roof is closed lol.....

Actually would be a perfect sports related trip to the Mecca, you can watch the habs and dead things on thursday night, then mets/jays fri and sat... only thing that would make that weekend better would be the Leafs playing the habs and beating the crap out of Mtl like usual.


GO JAYS!

But baseball in March / In Montreal ???

Best Regards

Smuler

 

[joelcairo]

Actually would be a perfect sports related trip to the Mecca, you can watch the habs and dead things on thursday night.

I didn't realize that the Habs were playing the Leafs on Thursday night - thanks for the info.

Oh and since this is a BASEBALL thread, how are the Yankees doing?

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

Oh and since this is a BASEBALL thread, how are the Yankees doing?

That's the pitching-poor Yankees to you, pal. Let's get this shit right, please.

 

[lgna69xxx]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsIKexb5DM8

how are the Yankees doing?

 

[lgna69xxx]

Actually Smuler, you should try to make it, we need every fan we can get to both those games to make a statement to MLB. Hope they sell out the Big O for both games, i really do.... but who knows?

Being a Met fan, this is very exciting

But baseball in March / In Montreal ???

Best Regards

Smuler

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsIKexb5DM8

Yup, they're winning. All teams win some games. Some even win enough to get into the playoffs. The Red Sox magic number is down to 10, with them having added an ace to their playoff rotation last night. And Koji Uehara, the best closer in the game, still hasn't allowed a run since June. In 33 appearances since being named the closer, Uehara has allowed one earned run over 35 2/3 innings and struck out 49.

 

[Merlot]

Hello Boyz,

Lookie at which team has the best record in all of the MLB...in MID-SEPTEMBER!!!

In July and August we kept getting predictions from desperate fans hoping to salvage something out the greatly failed fortunes of their teams, some glimmer of faint solace to ease their misery. That sad wish was the frequently promised September collapse of the Boston Red Sox, the haters last resort. How have the Sox done? They've gone 13 and 3 in the last 16 games, and how could it be worse than that for the hopeless anti-Sox fans. Well, the Red Sox could suddenly find a true ace who could step right and put on a Cy Young worthy show. Joe.t, EB, icky, cut and paste, DD, Doc,...say hello to CLAY I'm baaaack BUCHHOLZ. :nod: :thumb:

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2...x-beat-rays/mCM4aLKaROfYv0KpiVZbvN/story.html

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — In his return to the mound after an absence of just over three months, Clay Buchholz learned two important things Tuesday night.

One was that his troublesome right shoulder is sound and he again can pitch like the All-Star he was before the injury. Buchholz threw five strong and surprisingly effective innings as the Red Sox shut out the Tampa Bay Rays, 2-0.

The second? It sure is a secure feeling to have Koji Uehara closing out games.

“It’s unbelievable. The guy is unbelievable. That’s the only word I can use to describe it,” Buchholz said after watching Uehara get the final four outs. “He’s the best there is right now. It’s fun to watch.”

A small gathering of 18,605 saw Buchholz and three relievers hold the Rays to four hits. The Sox also had four hits, but two came in the fifth inning when they scored both runs.

The Sox extended their lead to 8½ games on the Rays in the American League East with only 16 games to play. The Sox have won six of seven and nine of their last 11 games.

With Oakland losing, the Sox also have a four-game lead for the best record in the AL and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

The fading Rays have dropped 12 of 16. They have a 1½-game lead on the Orioles and Indians for the final wild-card spot.

Andrew Bailey was the closer when Buchholz last pitched in June. Uehara was one of the set-up men at that point, his promotion coming a few weeks later, when Bailey was lost to a shoulder injury.

Uehara has been nearly unhittable since. In 33 appearances since being named the closer he has allowed one earned run over 35⅔ innings and struck out 49.

Uehara has not allowed a run in 28⅓ innings and has retired the last 31 batters he has faced, striking out 14. It’s the longest streak for a Red Sox pitcher since Hideo Nomo also retired 31 in a row in 2001.

“I have huge respect for him. He’s somebody that I looked up to,” Uehara said via interpreter C.J. Matsumoto. “He’s on another level.”

Uehara needed only 13 pitches to record the four outs, 12 of them strikes. The save was his 19th on the season.

Farrell said he never has watched a reliever pitch this well in person.

“To be in the same uniform and the same dugout, to see a guy who has been this efficient; as we’ve said, it’s a very calm inning when he comes to the mound,” he said.

While the manager may be calm, Uehara said he always is nervous when he enters the game.

“That hasn’t changed,” he said. “That’s probably why I express my feelings when I get the hitters out.”

Jarrod Saltalamacchia jokingly suggested that Uehara should honor his streak by buying Rolex watches for the team’s catchers.

“I want something,” Uehara shot back.

Buchholz (10-0) looked like a pitcher getting ready for the postseason. He allowed three singles, walked one, and struck out six. His 74 pitches were precisely what the Red Sox were hoping for.

“I felt good. I had some counts where I had to throw a strike,” Buchholz said. “The offspeed stuff was pretty good. There were a couple of times I didn’t really follow through in my delivery or stay back in my delivery.”

Buchholz, who has a 1.61 earned run average, had excellent command and hit 93 miles-per-hour with his fastball. His changeup and cutter, two important secondary pitches, were effective.

“Those were the two pitches coming in here tonight to keep an aggressive team a little bit in check,” Farrell said.

Buchholz could make as many as three more starts before the end of the regular season. That should be adequate to prepare him for the postseason.

“I think realistically, just to maintain steady progress over the final there weeks is the ultimate goal here,” Farrell said.

OMG, the Sox just got themselves a 1.61 ERA pitcher to add to a team that had already gone 12-3, and stood up to one of the great pitchers in the game today on top of that.

PRICELESS, :eyebrows:

Merlot

 

[lgna69xxx]

Sure cant say that about the 69 win red socks from last year 69 WINS! :lol:

Well well well, lookie who is just 1 game back for a wild card spot after a depleted roster for most of the season.....

SIXTY NINE WINS! :nod:

Yup, they're winning. All teams win some games. Some even win enough to get into the playoffs.

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

Tell me, iggy, were you a history major before you dropped out of high school? Let's try current events for a change, though I have this feeling you'd rather wallow in the past. Here's a quick quiz:

1. Which team has the best record in major league baseball?
2. Which team leads the toughest division in baseball (51 games over .500) by 9.5 games, clearly running away with the division?
3. Which team leads the majors in runs by 27?
4. Which team leads the majors in on base percentage?
5. Which team leads the majors in slugging average?
6. Which team has the best closer in baseball? (Hint: he's retired the last 33 batters to face him. 0.00 ERA since the All Star Break, 0.25 WHIP)
7. Which team has the only undefeated starting pitcher with 10 or more wins and an ERA under 1.70?

Here's another little hint. The answers to all of the above are the same.

Well well well, lookie who is just 1 game back for a wild card spot after a depleted roster for most of the season.....

Maybe, just maybe, the Yankees will get to play one game in October. Not much reward for a $236,000,000 team. AND throughout the season, with all the injuries, though rarely more than one would expect on the Senior Citizen All-Stars, they still had the second highest active roster payroll in all of baseball, after the Dodgers. BTW, did you notice that the Yankees just got a $29,000,000 luxury tax bill? Injuries are no excuse when you spend like a drunken sailor on broken down old guys.

Oh, and get used to that depleted roster. No Pettitte, no Kuroda, no Hughes, no Cano, no Granderson, no Rivera, a broken down Jeter, a broken down or suspended A-Rod, oh yeah, no farm system. You wondering why Chercherfemmes has disappeared?

No wonder you're focussed on history. It's all you've got.

 

[lgna69xxx]

69 win 2012 red socks! I knew you would have no argument lol......... Yanks are showing you how it is done with a depleted line-up unlike how the red sox showed the baseball world last season.... geez, really? only 69 wins? :lol:

Be careful baseball fans, those depleted old and horrible bombers are a Knock Knock Knocking on the Wild Card Door.....

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

69 win 2012 red socks! I knew you would have no argument lol......... Yanks are showing you how it is done with a depleted line-up unlike how the red sox showed the baseball world last season.... geez, really? only 69 wins?

There's a huge difference. When you have a $236,000,000 roster and half of it goes down, you're still fielding one of the two most expensive rosters in baseball. And to think, mid-September and they're hanging by a thread. Failure, your name is Brian Cashman.

69 win 2012 red socks! I knew you would have no argument.

No, I have no argument with history, but unlike you, I have the present. You have nothing but ancient history, so that's what you focus on.

 

[lgna69xxx]

Just stop, there is NO CRYING in baseball, but you might wanna get used to it, me has a feeling you will be doing plenty more of it in the next coming weeks lol

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

Just stop, there is NO CRYING in baseball...

No, there's no crying, but you're sure doing a lot of whining lately. Have you thought about getting yourself a time machine to take you back to your glory days?

 

[lgna69xxx]

Seems you spelt that wrong, let me help ya rumpie

Winning :nod:

No, there's no crying, but you're sure doing a lot of whining lately.