The 2010 MLB Season Thread

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by Lathum

yeah, he was this morning.

he kept insisting it was a popularity contest and the fans vote. Was saying nobody outside Ohio even knows who Votto is and you have to earn the notoriety to get the votes. He completely ignored the fact that Manuel picked Howard over Votto, then when he finally realized that point he basically shrugged it off, claiming Howard has a longer track record and said he was one of the five most marketable players in the league. He never once mentioned the fact that the game actually means something.

This is the same guy that argued Jose Canseco belongs in the Hall of Fame because it's the Hall of FAME and Canseco was arguably the most famous player from his generation.

[Scoobz0202]

Some quotes I saw mentioned how Votto wasn't a star, just a regional star, so I guess that is a knock against being an all-star player. Then there were some Italian stereotypes, mentioned how he looks like somebody who paved his driveway two years ago. Then he asked what 1B would they take off the roster since there are three already. Something about it being the All-Star game not the All-Stats game, too.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Lathum

Me too. I was living in Cincinnati when Votto was coming up and I really grew to like him.

On a side note, did anyone listen to Colin Cowherd this morning. I usually agree with him, but man, he was irritating as all hell this morning. (as irritated as one gets at sports talk shows)

Cowherd's a dumbass and has proven it on repeated listens on various different topics with me.

[Lathum]

yeah Scoobz, that's about right. I was pretty meh about the driveway comment, that was just his way of saying he doesn't think Votto is a "star" I don't think there was any racial bias there.

HE also said Molina deserved to start over McCann because McCann could walk through a shopping mall in Atlanta and no one would recognize him.

[dawgfan]

For those in fantasy keeper leagues looking for prospects to pick up, keep your eyes on a kid in the M's system named Michael Pineda.

He's a 21 year old right handed starting pitcher out of the Dominican that has really blossomed this year. He's 6'5" and has really filled out to a solid 230-240 lbs. He features a mid-'90's fastball that can get up to 98-99, a slider and a changeup.

His numbers this season are outstanding, especially considering his age and competition. He started the season in AA, and posted this line:

77.0 IP, 67 hits, 1 HR, 17 BB, 78 K, 1.19 GB/FB, 2.22 ERA

He was recently promoted to AAA, and has posted the following in 3 starts:

19.0 IP, 11 hits, 2 HR, 5 BB, 26 K, 1.00 GB/FB, 2.37 ERA

If he keeps on this pace, it seems quite likely he'll get a late-season call-up to Seattle, though they'll probably want to limit his overall innings for the season.

The main concern with him is injury - he had some elbow soreness/tightness last year that limited his innings, and his pitching motion is textbook bad if you believe the theories of guys like Chris O'Leary and Kyle Boddy. Still, he's got the stuff and the track record to suggest that as long as he's healthy, he's likely to put up good numbers at the major league level, perhaps even #1 starter numbers.

[Lathum]

crazy series in the Mets game. Apparently umpires can make it up as they go along.

[Scoobz0202]

At least they made the right call

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by Scoobz0202

At least they made the right call

I do think it was the right call, but IMO it is absurd that they would even discuss it, I mean, are they even allowed to discuss it and change that? It is the home plate umpires job to call balls and strikes, not to mention isn't Dusty breaking the rules by arguing balls and strikes?

And as I type this Pelfrey gets squeezed by the ump then gives up a hit

[Lathum]

And the wheels understandably come off.

[Scoobz0202]

You know they've come off when the pitcher hits a triple.

[JPhillips]

Thanks for the jinx Lathum!

[Scoobz0202]

gawd damn it

[Lathum]

Crazy game

[JPhillips]

I could have sworn I told Walt to fix the damn bullpen.

[Lathum]

As much as I hate that it is against the Mets I am loving what Votto is doing.

[Scoobz0202]

Hey look.. the NL homerun leader isn't in the All-Star game yet

[samifan24]

Originally Posted by Scoobz0202

Hey look.. the NL homerun leader isn't in the All-Star game yet

Hey, he's not Charlie Manuel's guy.

[Butter]

I was going to come on here and give Lathum shit about his Pelfrey prediction, but he is being pretty cool about Votto, so I will let it pass.

Yet I did feel the need to post something, so here it is.

[Lathum]

lol, I knew what was going to happen, but watching that game unfold can you really blame Pelfrey for coming undone?

That whole call reversal committee was total BS.

[Butter]

Yes, it was sorta BS the way they reversed it, even if they did make the correct call.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

I am coming to realize you hold not one single opinion involving baseball that I agree with.

All-star games are for kids. I'm older than 90% of the players in the league and long ago lost my fascination over their bigger-than-life personalities, which is the point of an all-star game - to awe little kids at the overwhelming collection of talent on one field. It's cool in a "here are some of the best players in the MLB today" way, and if my girls are interested in watching it, I'll certainly play along. I don't care about people being outraged that X player didn't get in and lost a $50K bonus. I don't care about home field advantage - whoever gets it, I just treat it like the old rule where it was out of the participating teams' hands anyway (which it is... they'll only have a very, very indirect influence on whether they deserved home field this year, whoever it is).

This is just one spoke in the big ass wheel of "who gives a fuck?" that the media blows out of proportion because they created a bunch of 24/7 TV, radio, and internet sports devices that need something to fill the dead air. In any given year, at least 75% of the outrageous snubs are rendered moot by real and faked injuries that result in those players being added to the team, anyway. You end up with nearly 100 all-stars by the time the vacations, pitching rotations, and mysteriously pulled hammies are sorted out.

[Butter]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

This is just one spoke in the big ass wheel of "who gives a fuck?"

Obviously not you. We get it.

[lordscarlet]

Originally Posted by Logan

Mets won last night on a pickoff coming on a 3-2 count with 2 outs.

boo!

Originally Posted by JS19

KRod, most overrated, and perhaps overpaid, CL in the game.

woo!

Originally Posted by yacovfb

I love how a team tied for first in the NL has the same number of all stars as the team in last. And this game is actually given meaning? Hilarious.

How does your team's record have anything to do with how good individual players are?

Originally Posted by Scoobz0202

Zimmerman didn't make it either?

What the fuck is wrong with people.

I'm glad someone noticed. The AS game selection process is idiotic.



And as for the other discussions that have gone on. I absolutely disagree with fan selection for the AS game. I know it's how it's done, but it's absurd. I don't think "All Star" should mean "most popular". To me it should mean the best players in the game. In fact, it should be a way to highlight the great players on teams that are less popular. There's no reason the best (not most popular) players shouldn't be the ones on the field for the AS game.

[yacovfb]

Originally Posted by lordscarlet

How does your team's record have anything to do with how good individual players are?

It doesn't but it seems that players are voted in based on name recognition and market size over team quality when all else is equal (or even when it's not). If the game is going to have World Series implications, it should be the other way around, imo. Of course, they should probably just get rid of the WS home field advantage aspect and then I'd have no problem with how they selected the teams.

[stevew]

I'm just flabbergasted that we can't have 9 first basemen on the NL all star team.

[dawgfan]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

All-star games are for kids. I'm older than 90% of the players in the league and long ago lost my fascination over their bigger-than-life personalities, which is the point of an all-star game - to awe little kids at the overwhelming collection of talent on one field. It's cool in a "here are some of the best players in the MLB today" way, and if my girls are interested in watching it, I'll certainly play along. I don't care about people being outraged that X player didn't get in and lost a $50K bonus. I don't care about home field advantage - whoever gets it, I just treat it like the old rule where it was out of the participating teams' hands anyway (which it is... they'll only have a very, very indirect influence on whether they deserved home field this year, whoever it is).

This is just one spoke in the big ass wheel of "who gives a fuck?" that the media blows out of proportion because they created a bunch of 24/7 TV, radio, and internet sports devices that need something to fill the dead air. In any given year, at least 75% of the outrageous snubs are rendered moot by real and faked injuries that result in those players being added to the team, anyway. You end up with nearly 100 all-stars by the time the vacations, pitching rotations, and mysteriously pulled hammies are sorted out.

+100

The All-Star Game is an exhibition for the entertainment of the fans. It lost a lot of fascination when interleague play started, taking away the interest of seeing players from the different leagues face off, but it's still a collection of most of the best players in the game and that by itself should be enough for most hard-core baseball fans.

As Ksyrup mentions, the hullabaloo over who gets on the team and who doesn't is usually rendered moot by players withdrawing and replacements being selected, but then again, the debate over who "belongs" is a big part of the entertainment IMO.

This attempt by Selig to make the game "mean" something is a bunch of B.S. - players that have very little connection to who actually makes it to the World Series determining home field? Pretty silly, and forcing importance on an event that doesn't need it.

[DeToxRox]

Jake Peavy just left the Sox game after throwing a pitch. He didn't even let the trainers look at it before leaving the field.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by DeToxRox

Jake Peavy just left the Sox game after throwing a pitch. He didn't even let the trainers look at it before leaving the field.

Angels' broadcasters are saying it's his back, not an arm injury. So that's good for Peavy (and for me, I have him on two fantasy teams).

Needless to say, the Angels have made it look like the White Sox were holding Cy Young in reserve in case Peavy went down (this iteration comes in the form of some dude named Pena).

[Danny]

It's always so hard to do, but based on the season so far, we could see a few players make quite a run at the Triple Crown. Here is where the following players rank in the three categories.

All of the statistical categories are very tight in the AL. In the NL, the only thing with some separation is BA because Martin Prado is having a very good season, but he should drop down some. I don't think Morneau or Guerrero will get there, but I could see Cabrera, Hamilton, Votto or Pujols doing it if they get hot over the second half. Pujols especially as it seems he hasn't had a very good season and yet he is still right there.

AL
Miguel Cabrera
1st / T-1st / 1st

Vladamir Guerrero
6th / 5th / 2nd

Josh Hamilton
3rd / T-1st / 4th

Justin Morneau
2nd / 7th / 8th

NL
Joey Votto
5th / 1st / 5th

Albert Pujols
6th / 2nd / 2nd

[lordscarlet]

Zimmerman with a walk-off HR. It was his second of the game (3-4, HR(2), 2B, BB) and at least his fourth walk-off HR of his career (perhaps more than that, I haven't done the research ). I really hope he makes it on the Final Ballot -- he should've been on the AS team all along.

Meanwhile Tyler Clippard had a melt-down and cost Livan Hernandez the win.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

I'm not sure many have noticed outside of KC, but the Royals suddenly are on a hot streak. They've won 9 of their last 12 and are only 8 games back of the leaders. Given the hole we dug, this is nice to see. 26-23 under Yost.

Oh, and I have no idea if it will last, but Wilson Betemit is on fire. 4 homers and a .386 average through his first 44 at-bats. He won the game for the Royals last night.

[TroyF]

so. . . last night I go to the Rockies game with a co worker. He's a huge Cardinals fan. His luggage was lost and he had to get to the airport and get ready for a training class today. We agreed if the game was lopsided either way, we'd head out, even though both of us are believers in seeing the first pitch to the last pitch.

While listening to the radio on the way home, I didn't know if I should be happy the Rockies won or crying because I wasn't there to see it.

Amazing comeback.

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by TroyF

so. . . last night I go to the Rockies game with a co worker. He's a huge Cardinals fan. His luggage was lost and he had to get to the airport and get ready for a training class today. We agreed if the game was lopsided either way, we'd head out, even though both of us are believers in seeing the first pitch to the last pitch.

While listening to the radio on the way home, I didn't know if I should be happy the Rockies won or crying because I wasn't there to see it.

Amazing comeback.

Went to sleep.. up 9-3 in the 9th.. woke up and had message from a co-worker in Colorado that said, "wow, go rox"

I immediately turned on Sportscenter and said, WTF!

More proof that LaRussa needs to retire. He puts Winn in RF and for some reason, he's playing on the warning track? Then he uses Motte way to early and pulls McClellan, which leaves Reyes who's horrible and Mr. Franklin, who reminds me alot of Izzy.

[k0ruptr]

yea that was an amazing comeback...

Also - hoping Peavy is gonna be ok, but looks like a trip to the DL. I don't mind as long as its a quick one, it sounds like it shouldnt be too bad though maybe 15 days or so... I can handle that around the All Star break. I think he will pitch great in the 2nd half.

Also x2 Chisox playing pretty solid the last month only 1 game out is amazing after being 8 back a month ago. I'll take it and the way the Twins & Tigers are playing lately this AL Central is any one of thems for the taking. Go White Sox!

[Danny]

Wow, just looked it up and the last triple crown winners were Joe Medwick in 1937 in the NL and Carl Yastremski in 1967 in the AL.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by k0ruptr

yea that was an amazing comeback...

Also - hoping Peavy is gonna be ok, but looks like a trip to the DL. I don't mind as long as its a quick one, it sounds like it shouldnt be too bad though maybe 15 days or so... I can handle that around the All Star break. I think he will pitch great in the 2nd half.

Detached Latissumus doesn't sound too promising. You have to wonder how much of a train wreck his mechanics are to have that injury.

[SackAttack]

Originally Posted by Danny

Wow, just looked it up and the last triple crown winners were Joe Medwick in 1937 in the NL and Carl Yastremski in 1967 in the AL.

I suspect that's because your power hitters in the last 20 years have been guys who predominantly hit for power, not for average.

Outside of Bonds and Pujols, how many sluggers can you recall in the last 20 years, say, who would be candidates to win both the batting title and the HR race?

[JS19]

Originally Posted by Danny

Wow, just looked it up and the last triple crown winners were Joe Medwick in 1937 in the NL and Carl Yastremski in 1967 in the AL.

Yea, it's pretty amazing. Two sporting accomplishments I don't believe I'll ever see in my lifetime, someone hitting for the Triple Crown, and someone breaking Joltin' Joe's 56 game hit streak.

[Big Fo]

A good night, the Braves beat the Phillies to take two out of three and the Mets lose so Atlanta has a three game lead going into NY for their last series before the All-Star Break.

Martin Prado just keeps hitting. Kris Medlen is now 6-1.

[Crapshoot]

Giants have scored 13 runs. Usually when we see that much run scoring, we're looking at monthly totals.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Saw a note on tonight's pitchers in that Braves-Phillies game.
Medlen is 24 yrs old. Moyer debuted in the majors 24 yrs ago.

[Scoobz0202]

I need to buy a Rockies jersey.

[MizzouRah]

LaRussa has no fucking idea how to manage a fucking bullpen!!!

Dammit!!@ %@%#@#$^

[k0ruptr]

Originally Posted by Atocep

Detached Latissumus doesn't sound too promising. You have to wonder how much of a train wreck his mechanics are to have that injury.

yea not sounding too good the days after... well you always have injuries in any sports, and you just have to get through them, we'll see how the sox respond.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by SackAttack

I suspect that's because your power hitters in the last 20 years have been guys who predominantly hit for power, not for average.

Outside of Bonds and Pujols, how many sluggers can you recall in the last 20 years, say, who would be candidates to win both the batting title and the HR race?

Griffey, ARod

[DeToxRox]

Peavy has a detached lat and is likely done for the year, if not longer.

[TroyF]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

LaRussa has no fucking idea how to manage a fucking bullpen!!!

Dammit!!@ %@%#@#$^

I went to this one too and actually stayed to the end this time.

Three critical things happened in this game:

1) Pujols hit into a double play in the first inning. It scored a run. After the DP, the Cards strung together three more hits. They scored 2 runs in the inning on five hits. If Pujols gets a hit there, I'm not sure Cook even makes it out of the first inning.

2) Bottom of the fifth. Leadoff single that deflected off the third basemens glove. Then Clint Barmas grounds into what should be a 6-4-3 DP. Tyler Greene throws the ball to the ball boy in right field. One of the single worst plays I've seen a major league player make this year. It puts Rockies on 2nd and 3rd with nobody out. Rockies score three runs and are back in the game.

3) The three run homer by Fowler. Fowler actually slugs lower vs. RHP than LHP, but he ripped one over the wall.

The Iannetta bomb in the bottom of the ninth was almost expected. Rookie pitcher called up from Triple A. Rockies feeling like they couldn't be beat in the ninth. A guy who had a critical three run bomb last night up. You could feel the electricity in the crowd. Chris got a pitch he could handle and crushed it.

Two tough losses for the Cardinals. Two great wins for the Rocks. But it's early July. We'll see if either team gets a boost/bust out of these two.

[rowech]

Originally Posted by stevew

Griffey, ARod

Don't see Griffey...he never was a big average guy.

Bonds, ARod, Pujols, Manny, and Frank Thomas would be the ones that come to my mind for Triple Crown in last 20 years.

[Ksyrup]

ARod only hit for average (at least, a high enough average to compete for a batting title) in his rookie year. Since then, he's only hit over .320 once.

[rowech]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

ARod only hit for average (at least, a high enough average to compete for a batting title) in his rookie year. Since then, he's only hit over .320 once.

You're probably right as batting average wise, are similar to Griffey's. I probably gave him too much credit for his one batting title.