2015 MLB thread

[stevew]

How exactly were the Braves in the NL West for several decades. That's crazy. I assume they never realigned once they moved to ATL?

[cartman]

Originally Posted by cartman

I'm seeing two afternoon starts, 4pm Eastern first game, 3:30pm Eastern for the second game. The 3rd game in Arlington is a 8pm Eastern start.

Well, the schedule I was seeing has updated to the 2nd game starting at 12:45 Eastern.

I think I see what happened. I believe they were using the two different potential start times for Game 1 as the start times of Games 1 and 2. Game 1 will start at 3:30 Eastern if Houston wins the WC, and 4pm if the Yankees win. Not sure why that would impact this game though.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by stevew

How exactly were the Braves in the NL West for several decades. That's crazy. I assume they never realigned once they moved to ATL?

Yep, that's it. They were placed in the NL West because they were in Milwaukee at the time. Never switched them once the team moved - I'm hoping it was because the other owners were like, screw you, if you want to move again so soon after you left Boston, we're going to keep you in the West .

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by MikeVic

Ok, don't know where the co-worker got his info. That still sucks in that I'd miss like at least half of the first two games. I know I've seen baseball playoff games during the day in the past, but didn't realize how stupid it was now that my team is back in it.

It's quite traditional, and very refreshing to me to see it return.

Bucky Dent hit his homer back in '78 in a game that started at 230p eastern
Ozzie Smith's NLCS homer against the Dodgers (boo) back in '85 was in a game that started at 250p central on a Monday
Halladay's no-hitter in 2010 was an afternoon game eastern time

Point simply being that day games in the playoffs are nothing new, they've been around for years, and are just as memorable.

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by lighthousekeeper

wow the timing is shocking

It's brave if it's going to save his life. It takes a lot to admit that in public, let alone at a time where you are being depended on. He's going to take enough heat for it, but if that's what he needed to do, then it's what he needed to do. It shows commitment and a long look in the mirror to make that decision right now.

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Ozzie Smith's NLCS homer against the Dodgers (boo) back in '85 was in a game that started at 250p central on a Monday

Shut your mouth. I remember coming home from school to watch that game. I can still feel that gut punch. How dare you speak of it again.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

Yep, that's it. They were placed in the NL West because they were in Milwaukee at the time. Never switched them once the team moved - I'm hoping it was because the other owners were like, screw you, if you want to move again so soon after you left Boston, we're going to keep you in the West .

Well there were some other factors in play as well.

'69 was the first year of division play, as Montreal & San Diego joined the league.

The Cubs insisted (reportedly at least) on being in the East with the Mets, Phils and Pirates. The Cardinals wanted to stay with the Cubs. That, plus Montreal set a lot of the east.

Also, the previous two seasons the top 3 teams in the NL were the Cards,Giants and Cubs so moving everyone into geographical alignment (which puts all three of those in the West) could have made for a serious competitive imbalance.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

Shut your mouth. I remember coming home from school to watch that game. I can still feel that gut punch. How dare you speak of it again.

Hey, I hated the Yankees AND loved the Dodgers so I have two very negative reactions to those highlights tyvm.

Another negative daytime game for me? Although it was on a Sunday, Braves-Astros 15 innings 2005 NLCS, 1210 central start.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by stevew

That's fine, but the cubs got 3rd so whatever.

Non-division winner that won 98 games - screwed by the new system.
Non-division winner that won 97 games - they deserve nothing?

Plenty of valid arguments for and against the current system vs the original wild card system vs the old divisional one, but yours is just blatant homerism.

Originally Posted by PilotMan

It's brave if it's going to save his life. It takes a lot to admit that in public, let alone at a time where you are being depended on. He's going to take enough heat for it, but if that's what he needed to do, then it's what he needed to do. It shows commitment and a long look in the mirror to make that decision right now.

You really have to wonder what precipitated the decision being made and announced today though. Even if you've made the decision he should go to rehab, what was so imminent that they decided to do it today instead of waiting 48 hours since there was a 50% chance their season would be over?

[molson]

Fortunately, I don't know too much about addiction or rehab, but I think, "I'll rehab as soon as I finish a few things at work" doesn't fly once the line has been crossed. Or at least, that's the way it seemed on that Intervention show.

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

You really have to wonder what precipitated the decision being made and announced today though. Even if you've made the decision he should go to rehab, what was so imminent that they decided to do it today instead of waiting 48 hours since there was a 50% chance their season would be over?

Any time the decision to go to rehab has been made, the timing of it is the hardest. Someone who is truly struggling will have plenty of excuses why they need to delay. The whole thing is part of the process of fixing yourself. My guess is that part of the plan was to get him to do it right away so that he was the one who had to suffer. It's supposed to be hard on him. He is giving up something that has incredible value to him. He is giving it up because he had to choose his life over his job. It's not an easy choice to make.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

Win the division bub. I love the new format. The wild card team won it all last year.

And both wildcard teams were the representatives in the World Series.

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

And both wildcard teams were the representatives in the World Series.

It's funny that a new format that's supposed to put pressure on wild card teams by having them burn their top starter in a one off, ended up that way.

[frnk55]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

It's brave if it's going to save his life. It takes a lot to admit that in public, let alone at a time where you are being depended on. He's going to take enough heat for it, but if that's what he needed to do, then it's what he needed to do. It shows commitment and a long look in the mirror to make that decision right now.

Well said. I wish CC nothing but the best.

[stevew]

I may be cynical but I figured this was a nice way to shield CC from being left off the post season roster. It was my first thought anyways due to the timing

[Scoobz0202]

Originally Posted by Scoobz0202

I hope he hits .280 and hits 30 home runs.

And the Yankees miss the wild card by one game

I made this post here
2014-2015 MLB Hot Stove thread - Page 9 - Front Office Football Central

I was low on batting average but I was mostly being very optimistic. I really still can't believe the year A-Rod had. I don't like the Yankees, but a small part of me is hoping that if the Yankees do make a splash this postseason it's because of some crazy A-Rod heroics.

[ISiddiqui]

Seriously, that'd be pretty awesome. What a year for A-Rod...

.250/.356/.485, 33 HRs, 130 OPS+, 3.0 WAR.

[cartman]

Will be an interesting race for Comeback Player of the Year. Does it go to ARod, with his self inflicted exile, or Prince Fielder who came back from neck surgery.

[LloydLungs]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

It's funny that a new format that's supposed to put pressure on wild card teams by having them burn their top starter in a one off, ended up that way.

Yep. In theory I think that's a great idea. In practice, baseball builds so many off-days into the playoffs, it really has little to no impact.

Postseason baseball is pretty much a different sport from regular season baseball because of all the off-days.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by LloydLungs

Yep. In theory I think that's a great idea. In practice, baseball builds so many off-days into the playoffs, it really has little to no impact.

Postseason baseball is pretty much a different sport from regular season baseball because of all the off-days.

It's also often played in extremely unusual cold. And September games are also played under different strategy because teams have up to 15 more bench players. I hate it.

[lighthousekeeper]

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

It's also often played in extremely unusual cold. And September games are also played under different strategy because teams have up to 15 more bench players. I hate it.

Very interesting observations. I think that's why I dislike the playoffs too - it's almost like a different sport.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Good lord. Where the hell is Yankee fan? Lots of empty seats.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by lighthousekeeper

Very interesting observations. I think that's why I dislike the playoffs too - it's almost like a different sport.

It gets exacerbated too because Boston/New York should be the first ones getting day games, but for obvious reasons MLB almost always makes them the primetime game. Tonight's weather isn't too bad, but I've seen plenty where it's comfortably in the 40's/50's during the day I'd they would play then, then drops into the teens by the 11:30+ local time these 8:30 starts extend to.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Good lord. Where the hell is Yankee fan? Lots of empty seats.

People were showing up to the gates at 6:30 and not making the first pitch. Lot of enormous line pics on Twitter.

[Suicane75]

I haven't followed baseball much since the All-Star break, but I'll be very happy if the Astros win this game.

[EagleFan]

The Astros are to this year what the Royals were to last year. Hope they don't turn into a pile of d-bags next year.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by EagleFan

The Astros are to this year what the Royals were to last year. Hope they don't turn into a pile of d-bags next year.

The Blue Jays fill that role, not the Astros. Just like the Royals, were .500 at 100 games, then took off. Astros have limped home, which is nothing like what the Royals did last year.

[Logan]

It's probably sexist for me to say this, but I think Jessica Mendoza is great in the booth.

[Suicane75]

I've never heard that euphemism before.

And I think EF is referring to the long standing futility in his comparison.

[EagleFan]

Yep, sort of a feel good team.

I'll never feel that way about the Blue Jays thanks to Joe Mother F***ing Carter...

[EagleFan]

Though with that said maybe I should give them a chance (no clue why Joey Bautista started following me on twitter our of the blue).

[EagleFan]

Way to support your team Yankee fans....

[cuervo72]

Originally Posted by Logan

It's probably sexist for me to say this, but I think Jessica Mendoza is great in the booth.

I've been thinking the same. It's tough. I was watching the Michigan/Maryland game some Saturday and while Beth Mowins' pbp was solid - she obviously knows her stuff - both my wife and I agreed that her voice just didn't seem right. I don't get that with Mendoza (who also knows her stuff). I don't know if it is a pbp vs color thing, a femininity thing, simply a voice quality thing, or what.

[EagleFan]

Good at bat a-roid.

[JeeberD]

Keuchelangelo with another masterpiece last night! Go 'Stros, lets take it to the Royals!

[HomerSimpson98]

Go Stros!

[Grover]

Here Is What "Stuff" Means in Baseball

This is good.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

The Blue Jays fill that role, not the Astros. Just like the Royals, were .500 at 100 games, then took off. Astros have limped home, which is nothing like what the Royals did last year.

Disagree. There is more than one way for a team to equate to another. The Jays have spent big money on guys in recent years (Buerhle, Reyes, Martin) and pulled off trades for established producers like Tulo, Donaldson, Dickey, Price, etc. They may be new to the playoffs, but they're a fairly established team with few real homegrown stars.

The Astros, outside of the TD deals for Kazmir, Fiers and Gomez, are pretty much a collection of young rising talent (Correa, Springer, Altuve, Keichel, McHugh, Gregarsson, etc.) combined with bit parts and relatively second rate lineup fillers (Rasmus, Lowry, Gattis). That's pretty much exactly the 2014 Royals.

And, yeah, second the hope that these guys don't become dbags.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

Disagree. There is more than one way for a team to equate to another. The Jays have spent big money on guys in recent years (Buerhle, Reyes, Martin) and pulled off trades for established producers like Tulo, Donaldson, Dickey, Price, etc. They may be new to the playoffs, but they're a fairly established team with few real homegrown stars.

The Astros, outside of the TD deals for Kazmir, Fiers and Gomez, are pretty much a collection of young rising talent (Correa, Springer, Altuve, Keichel, McHugh, Gregarsson, etc.) combined with bit parts and relatively second rate lineup fillers (Rasmus, Lowry, Gattis). That's pretty much exactly the 2014 Royals.

This, very much.

There's pretty much exactly nothing about the Blue Jays that makes me think of the Royals at all. Astros, yeah, I see it.

[Logan]

But then we wouldn't have had the chance to be reminded that the Royals were playing so great at the end of the regular season last year.

[Grover]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

This, very much.

There's pretty much exactly nothing about the Blue Jays that makes me think of the Royals at all. Astros, yeah, I see it.

What, you don't remember all the Royals players with 30 homers and 100+ RBI? And the +220 run differential.

No way.

[Coffee Warlord]

Keep it coming Cubbies.

Cole looks rattled.

[MrBug708]

Bye Bucs

[Vince, Pt. II]

Hard to think that Pittsburgh will get a better chance than that. What a rough loss for the second consecutive season.

[EagleFan]

I turned the game on and a Royals game broke out...

[Coffee Warlord]

Okay, Arrieta stealing 2nd after all that was classic.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by EagleFan

I turned the game on and a Royals game broke out...

Gotta protect your players. It's the right way to play the game. Need to set the proper tone.

Did I get all the cliches right?

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by Coffee Warlord

Okay, Arrieta stealing 2nd after all that was classic.

That just means they have to hit him again for showing them up.

[EagleFan]

WC games not kind to the home teams.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Originally Posted by Coffee Warlord

Okay, Arrieta stealing 2nd after all that was classic.

That is freaking glorious.