Ah, Spring is here - Official Baseball Thread 2012

[FenderPusher]

i'm telling you, Ruben Amaro is just Omar Minaya part II. Laynce Nix? Jim Thome? why aren't those roles going to kids on the farm? in what world does it make sense to sign Papelbon to a 4 year deal, before the new CBA is agreed on? it's not like there was a market for him yet. there's just so many little things that don't make sense and they've started to add up now. especially when every team in the division thinks they can compete, or is playing way over their heads.

i did think going into the season that this will be the last season of the Philly dynasty. yeah, getting swept by the Mets sucks, but last week the Mets were swept by the Astros. 4 games under .500 in the beginning of May isn't so bad. but team meetings about playing a full 9 innings, yeah, welcome to the Mets in '07-'08.

I wouldn't mind the Nix signing if it was a single year, Wigginton either since they're both somewhat producing (at least up until Nix got hurt). Thome was a feel good signing that feels bad now, dude should just retire. Pabelbon got paid way too much IMO when we should have been focusing on how to get the ball to him (Herndon/Schwimmer/Kendrick/Contreras/Stutes...?). Utley potentially done and Howard out surely doesn't help but at least they're starting to score some runs with the rag-tag bunch of AAA'ers Uncle Chollie's putting out there... just happens to be when the bullpen completely implodes. It's still early, I still have faith they can turn it around, but there are so many factors of this being a 70-win season it makes me slightly ill.

[Help!I'maRock!]

I wouldn't mind the Nix signing if it was a single year, Wigginton either since they're both somewhat producing (at least up until Nix got hurt). Thome was a feel good signing that feels bad now, dude should just retire. Pabelbon got paid way too much IMO when we should have been focusing on how to get the ball to him (Herndon/Schwimmer/Kendrick/Contreras/Stutes...?). Utley potentially done and Howard out surely doesn't help but at least they're starting to score some runs with the rag-tag bunch of AAA'ers Uncle Chollie's putting out there... just happens to be when the bullpen completely implodes. It's still early, I still have faith they can turn it around, but there are so many factors of this being a 70-win season it makes me slightly ill.

i don't think it's a 70 win season for Philly. not by a longshot. but i do think they could hover around .500 all year if they don't right the ship. And when you consider that the last place team in this division will be a few games around .500, that simply doesn't give them a chance to win. The Phillies were always going to lose more games this season. going from a 102 win team to a 93-95 win team keeps them in first, but makes the rest of the division closer, which is what was expected. a Philly team competing for the second Wild Card? i dunno if anybody in their right mind projected that.

[Denverdave]

i don't think it's a 70 win season for Philly. not by a longshot. but i do think they could hover around .500 all year if they don't right the ship. And when you consider that the last place team in this division will be a few games around .500, that simply doesn't give them a chance to win. The Phillies were always going to lose more games this season. going from a 102 win team to a 93-95 win team keeps them in first, but makes the rest of the division closer, which is what was expected. a Philly team competing for the second Wild Card? i dunno if anybody in their right mind projected that.

The way things are looking right now - both wild card teams will probably come from the NL East.

[Help!I'maRock!]

The way things are looking right now - both wild card teams will probably come from the NL East.

i started out the season projecting the Braves, Brewers, Reds, and D-Bags would all compete for those two spots. i thought the Nats would run down and the Marlins were just too volatile to project.

[jelloman]

Am I the only one here who wishes Tim McCarver would just shut the fuck up?

[Help!I'maRock!]

Am I the only one here who wishes Tim McCarver would just shut the fuck up?

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fox-P...g/166127599297

[OGG]

^ finally, a worthy cause for me to get behind...

[jelloman]

...apparently I'm not...

[Denverdave]

The opening line in my fave Rockies Blog entry from this morning....

You can probably panic now.

[Help!I'maRock!]

The opening line in my fave Rockies Blog entry from this morning....

You can probably panic now.

lol.

sorry Dave, but i've had about as much hope for the Rockies this season as i have for the Mets. neither is built to compete this year.

[335clone]

Good luck tonight Dave, Going up against Vogelsong isn't likely to change the rockies fortunes. Strange year when you hope to go against Lincecum.

[Denverdave]

lol.

sorry Dave, but i've had about as much hope for the Rockies this season as i have for the Mets. neither is built to compete this year.

I was hopeful that they would at least compete. Right now they are 1 game ahead of the Padres for the worst record in baseball. Another couple weeks of this and it is time to throw up the white flag, move Moyer to the bullpen, and let the rookies pitch the rest of the year.

Good luck tonight Dave, Going up against Vogelsong isn't likely to change the rockies fortunes. Strange year when you hope to go against Lincecum.

I fully expect the Rocks to lose both games out there - but I will be very interested in how Friedrich pitches tonight. He looked really good in his MLB debut last week - but that was against the Padres.

[335clone]

I was hopeful that they would at least compete. Right now they are 1 game ahead of the Padres for the worst record in baseball. Another couple weeks of this and it is time to throw up the white flag, move Moyer to the bullpen, and let the rookies pitch the rest of the year.



I fully expect the Rocks to lose both games out there - but I will be very interested in how Friedrich pitches tonight. He looked really good in his MLB debut last week - but that was against the Padres.

You might not recognize most of the names on the Giants lineup anymore, as nearly all the starters are out. Still, we're hanging in at .500 so it can't be all that bad.

[335clone]

Freidrich was tough! That kids got a future. But 3-2 is how the Giants win.

[Denverdave]

Freidrich was tough! That kids got a future. But 3-2 is how the Giants win.

Yeah. He was a #1 draft pick that stalled at AA. After last year he really questioned his love of the game, but rebounded by losing 25 pounds and working hard all off season. He is looking very, very good so far!

But the overworked bullpen screwed the pooch again and SF won.

[Help!I'maRock!]

Yeah. He was a #1 draft pick that stalled at AA. After last year he really questioned his love of the game, but rebounded by losing 25 pounds and working hard all off season. He is looking very, very good so far!

But the overworked bullpen screwed the pooch again and SF won.

serious bullpen problems are all over this year. leaky pens, serious injuries, horribly ineffective closers. it's crazy.

[Foo]

Cards playing a day game right now hosting the cubbies. We need a win. Dropped 4 straight. Go Cards!!!!!

[335clone]

Cards playing a day game right now hosting the cubbies. We need a win. Dropped 4 straight. Go Cards!!!!!

They are coming to SF after that, so I hope their streak continues.

[Foo]

Yeppers. SF and LA. Top of the 6th and the streak may break. 4-3 Cards. Holliday went yard in the 5th. If ya can't beat the cubbies who can you beat. hahahahahahahahahaha.

[Foo]

Dang I knew I shouldn't have posted that. LaHair went yard. Tied at 4. Frickin' cubs. Frickin' LaHair. Frick, frick, frick.

[Denverdave]

Yeppers. SF and LA. Top of the 6th and the streak may break. 4-3 Cards. Holliday went yard in the 5th. If ya can't beat the cubbies who can you beat. hahahahahahahahahaha.

Rockies....

[Foo]

Ya know I haven't heard much about the Rockies this season. Chipper Jones made his last regular season stop in StL the other day. How much longer is Helton going to play?

[Help!I'maRock!]

Rockies....

Mets beat the Rockies and then got swept by the Astros. IMO, that has more to do with Colorado than it does Houston.

[Help!I'maRock!]

Pads just beat the Nationals. Harper struck out to end the game. so that's something.

[FenderPusher]

Annnnnnnnd the Phils blow another save to the lowly Astros. This bullpen finds new and exciting ways to suck balls.

[Help!I'maRock!]

Annnnnnnnd the Phils blow another save to the lowly Astros. This bullpen finds new and exciting ways to suck balls.

i dunno, i saw that play by Pence. wtf is up with that guy?

[FenderPusher]

i dunno, i saw that play by Pence. wtf is up with that guy?

I don't know but he just hit his second homer of the game to win it so I'll take it.

[Foo]

And Motte blew a save. Tied at 6 in the top of the 9th. Astros are pretty bad. They have a second baseman who has been making a little noise though. I think his name is Altuve if I remember correctly. JD Martinez looks pretty decent. Other than that Houston doesn't have much.

[Help!I'maRock!]

I don't know but he just hit his second homer of the game to win it so I'll take it.

Hunter Pence knows WIN METHOD.

[Foo]

Cards win in the bottom of the 9th. Yadi know Win Method.

[Foo]

The losing streak is broken

[Help!I'maRock!]

wtf? it sweeps week in baseball? holy drama.

Mets controversy over Collins pulling Wright after shitty DJ Carrasco hits Ryan Braun.

Blue Jays Lawrie spikes his helmet at an umpire and will probably get suspended.

Angels hitting coach Mickey Hatcher gets fired because he talked to the media about the positive attitude in the clubhouse and King Albert took exception.

[Help!I'maRock!]

ok, i dunno much about the Rockies, or the pitcher with the 9 ERA, but ownership might want to look into their options with the front office now instead of in the offseason.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/0...ce-torres.html

[Denverdave]

ok, i dunno much about the Rockies, or the pitcher with the 9 ERA, but ownership might want to look into their options with the front office now instead of in the offseason.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/0...ce-torres.html

yeah....the Rockies front office is generally way too slow to do anything. Rogers needs to go - who cares if someone else picks the guy up. He is already on chance #4 to prove he can pitch on the bigs level...

[jelloman]

No surprise that getting hit by a pitch is the topic for the evening on the mets brosdcast...I like Keith's recollections about getting hit in the head...

...luckily for him it didn't hit anything important...

[Help!I'maRock!]

No surprise that getting hit by a pitch is the topic for the evening on the mets brosdcast...I like Keith's recollections about getting hit in the head...

...luckily for him it didn't hit anything important...

Keith Hernandez is one of the great baseball minds in broadcasting. he may not be as articulate as we might like, but his knowledge of the hows and whys of the game is unparalleled.

[jelloman]

...oops... I forgot to put the in...


......

[Help!I'maRock!]

...oops... I forgot to put the in...


......

you didn't read my blog today, did you?

[jelloman]

That's a negative ghost rider...

[jelloman]

Ok I'm all caught up now...

[Help!I'maRock!]

Ok I'm all caught up now...

yeah, it was kind of a big deal. not just a run of the mill HBP. i wouldn't be surprised if Carrasco gets DFA'd over it.

[jelloman]

I crashed out early last night and missed the whole thing...Carrasco definitely improved his "punk" cred on that one...but it is damned gratifying to see Wright willing to stand in, moreso to see Collins candidly deal with the fallout...

...they may not be contenders but they ARE a whole lot of fun to watch...ain't they?

[Help!I'maRock!]

I crashed out early last night and missed the whole thing...Carrasco definitely improved his "punk" cred on that one...but it is damned gratifying to see Wright willing to stand in, moreso to see Collins candidly deal with the fallout...

...they may not be contenders but they ARE a whole lot of fun to watch...ain't they?

for years and years i heard "you can't rebuild in New York". those people suck. these kids are awesome.

[jelloman]

for years and years i heard "you can't rebuild in New York". those people suck. these kids are awesome.

The dogass yankees did an amzing job of it in the '90s...I have always been willing to tolerate a rebuild as long as I could see progress...if they don't blow it I can't wait to see this team in 2 or 3 years...

[Help!I'maRock!]

The dogass yankees did an amzing job of it in the '90s...I have always been willing to tolerate a rebuild as long as I could see progress...if they don't blow it I can't wait to see this team in 2 or 3 years...

ok, this is third hand information. but friend of a friend mets Willie Randolph at a bar in the city. told Willie that Omar Minaya was a douchebag for firing him. Willie says, "Omar was too young to be a GM, and fell in love with the big name players.”

i'll take the kids over plugging holes with Alex Cora every time.

[jelloman]

That doesn't explain the work he did in montreal/washington...when he didn't have a budget to work with he was able to build with kids...

...a home-grown team is preferable to "names"...

[Help!I'maRock!]

That doesn't explain the work he did in montreal/washington...when he didn't have a budget to work with he was able to build with kids...

sure it does. he came to New York, got struck by the money and fame, and was stupid. also, he's the idiot who traded FOR Bartolo Colon in Montreal.

[jelloman]

Fair enough...

[Denverdave]

So along with your '19th bullpen breakdown' yesterday afternoon, genius manager Jim Tracey had done so many double switches that by the bottom of the 9th inning (yes .....the 9th, not the 12th or 15th....the 9th) he had no position players left and had to bat a pitcher in the 9th with the bases loaded. And some in the media wonder why the fans have had it with that guy. Granted - the bullpen has been over worked already, but it is only mid-MAy. What are they going to look like in July?

[Help!I'maRock!]

So along with your '19th bullpen breakdown' yesterday afternoon, genius manager Jim Tracey had done so many double switches that by the bottom of the 9th inning (yes .....the 9th, not the 12th or 15th....the 9th) he had no position players left and had to bat a pitcher in the 9th with the bases loaded. And some in the media wonder why the fans have had it with that guy. Granted - the bullpen has been over worked already, but it is only mid-MAy. What are they going to look like in July?

fuck Tony LaRussa.