The Official 2013 MLB Thread

[JetsIn06]

Originally Posted by EagleFan

Jeez, not one post during the game?

Sunday night doldrums.

[SirFozzie]

Didn't want to jinx it.

Just.. wow. What a crazy series.

[GoldenEagle]

FFS Wong

[Arles]

That was a brain dead moment by Wong. His run meant nothing, heck he could have just stood on the base with no lead.

It has been a wild series so far.

[SirFozzie]

Watching the replay, he just hopped out at the same millisecond that Uehara started his pickoff.

[MizzouRah]

I feel bad for Wong.. young kid, just made the postseason roster and makes a goof like that. Matheny said post game he just told him to stay close to the bag.

Oh well.. it's been a wacky series for sure.

Tomorrow should be a well pitched, well played game by both teams.

[cuervo72]

Originally Posted by EagleFan

Jeez, not one post during the game?

Don't fucking care.

(though I will check the thread, because hey, it's on the internet)

[Ronnie Dobbs3]

Originally Posted by Ronnie Dobbs3

Does Craig play first? If not, who is really more disadvantaged?

Really not trying to play I told you so, but after watching two games I can't see how anyone can argue it is not at least an equal disadvantage to not have Craig out there. Much better hitter than Adams (and Napoli for that matter).

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by cuervo72

Don't fucking care. (though I will check the thread, because hey, it's on the internet)

Pretty much this.

[cartman]

What was funny about that pickoff, was that Buck and McCarver were excoriating the Sox for holding the runner on.

[Arles]

Originally Posted by Ronnie Dobbs3

Really not trying to play I told you so, but after watching two games I can't see how anyone can argue it is not at least an equal disadvantage to not have Craig out there. Much better hitter than Adams (and Napoli for that matter).

It's not the DH rule that hurts, it's just Craig's injury. He'd be playing tonight over Adams if he were healthy. He just can't run right now. Losing Craig does hurt though.

[Ronnie Dobbs3]

Right, but if the DH were active he'd be playing which was the context of the discussion that was being had earlier.

[PilotMan]

How the fuck can Buck and McCarver be calling the series anyway? I know they are NBC's top team, whatever, you couldn't find 2 bigger Cardinal homers for a national broadcast.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

How the fuck can Buck and McCarver be calling the series anyway? I know they are NBC's top team, whatever, you couldn't find 2 bigger Cardinal homers for a national broadcast.

True that. Not even to mention that they're horrible announcers in general. Can't stand either of them - I'd have to watch these games with the sound off.

[Arles]

Originally Posted by Ronnie Dobbs3

Right, but if the DH were active he'd be playing which was the context of the discussion that was being had earlier.

Given how he ran last night, I'm not even sure he'd be playing as a DH. He pretty much has to hit it off the wall to get a single and can't really run once on base. I could see him pinch hit with guys on base, but that's about the extent of it.

[BishopMVP]

Someone should teach him how to slide the right way. As exciting as this series has been, I think both teams need to brush up on their Tom Emanski videos.



Also, credit to Lackey for pitching the 8th, but I don't even see why it was necessary. Junichi Tazawa being turned into a 1-2 out reliever is the most perplexing thing Farrell's done (messing up the double switch and batting Brandon Workman was just outright wrong) - don't see why Tazawa didn't pitch the 8th, at least until he gave up a baserunner, and we could've had Lackey for a potential 10th/11th inning if necessary.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

Also, credit to Lackey for pitching the 8th, but I don't even see why it was necessary. Junichi Tazawa being turned into a 1-2 out reliever is the most perplexing thing Farrell's done (messing up the double switch and batting Brandon Workman was just outright wrong) - don't see why Tazawa didn't pitch the 8th, at least until he gave up a baserunner, and we could've had Lackey for a potential 10th/11th inning if necessary.

Had a silly moment where I read about Farrell's "outright wrong" moment and thought Matheny might be about to have an "outright Wong" moment coming soon.

[spleen1015]

Ross might have been safe there.

[Critch]

The military people singing at the 7th inning stretch have all been better singers than the celebrities singing at the start.

[panerd]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

How the fuck can Buck and McCarver be calling the series anyway? I know they are NBC's top team, whatever, you couldn't find 2 bigger Cardinal homers for a national broadcast.

Because they are Fox's #1 team? I know your team hasn't sniffed the World Series since 1988 but these guys have been doing the World Series for a while. Can't say I am a big fan of either of them either but they really aren't homers and damn this thread is full of a lot of sour grapes from you.

[MrBug708]

Originally Posted by panerd

Because they are Fox's #1 team? I know your team hasn't sniffed the World Series since 1988 but these guys have been doing the World Series for a while. Can't say I am a big fan of either of them either but they really aren't homers and damn this thread is full of a lot of sour grapes from you.

lol

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

How the fuck can Buck and McCarver be calling the series anyway? I know they are NBC's top team, whatever, you couldn't find 2 bigger Cardinal homers for a national broadcast.

Cardinal homers my ass.. they both suck and they are even worse to listen to when I'm drunk.

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by spleen1015

Ross might have been safe there.

I thought that at first.. replay looks like he did get him or at least I didn't see him touch the base before the tag.

Doesn't matter 3 will probably win this game the way Lester is pitching.

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by panerd

Because they are Fox's #1 team? I know your team hasn't sniffed the World Series since 1988 but these guys have been doing the World Series for a while. Can't say I am a big fan of either of them either but they really aren't homers and damn this thread is full of a lot of sour grapes from you.

Damn right it is, and I can hate the shit out of the Cards, and yes, Buck and McCarver are homers. They may not be as overt as say, anyone from Chicago, but they are homers. You can't tell me the kid who grew up in the shadow of Busch and the guy who won 2 Series titles there aren't. Professionals or not, they are homers through and through.

[SirFozzie]

he didn't touch the plate on the hook around slide until the glove was on the midsection

[panerd]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

Cardinal homers my ass.. they both suck and they are even worse to listen to when I'm drunk.

Yeah mccarver is really bad, never really understood the hatred for buck but I am in the minority on that one I know. I have heard they are cards homers and Yankees homers and Red Sox homers in the past. I just think they slurp every team. Had it been Pirates/A's they would have been full of boring stories about them.

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by panerd

Yeah mccarver is really bad, never really understood the hatred for buck but I am in the minority on that one I know. I have heard they are cards homers and Yankees homers and Red Sox homers in the past. I just think they slurp every team. Had it been Pirates/A's they would have been full of boring stories about them.

I don't hate Buck.. it's just always weird for me to listen to him after listening to his dad for so many years. Not his fault..

[SirFozzie]

3-2 Sox. Koji's tank is just about pegged on E, but hopefully he has enough to close out one more game in Boston.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

3-2 Sox. Koji's tank is just about pegged on E, but hopefully he has enough to close out one more game in Boston.

Hopefully they don't need him to!!

[BishopMVP]

So after the game-ending obstruction and pickoff, we get the rarest of outcomes - a Sox playoff game that ends in under 3 hours!

Hopefully Lackey steps up and makes it irrelevant, but if the Cards win Game 7's pitching gets very interesting... Does Peavy still start? Or do we look at how bad the Cards have been vs. lefties and see how many Doubront and Lester (only 91 pitches tonight) can give? Is Buchholz available?

[SackAttack]

Was telling Foz that after game 1, each of the next pair of games was won by the same team. BOS-STL-STL-BOS-BOS.

STL-STL upcoming?

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by SackAttack

Was telling Foz that after game 1, each of the next pair of games was won by the same team. BOS-STL-STL-BOS-BOS.

STL-STL upcoming?

No, it's an ascending string. 1 Boston, 2 STL, 3 Boston in a row!

Btw, I know it likely won't happen, but I would love to see Xander in the 2 hole Wednesday night.

[molson]

Geez, pretty nice series for Ortiz so far (11-15, 2 HRs, 6 RBIs, 4 Walks).

[MrBug708]

Pretty disrespectful in the way Boston was celebrating tonight

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by molson

Geez, pretty nice series for Ortiz so far (11-15, 2 HRs, 6 RBIs, 4 Walks).

I think he might be on that HGH..

[Ronnie Dobbs3]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

I think he might be on that HGH..

As a Sox fan I find it comforting that you're already starting on the excuses

[Thomkal]

Originally Posted by SackAttack

Was telling Foz that after game 1, each of the next pair of games was won by the same team. BOS-STL-STL-BOS-BOS.

STL-STL upcoming?

One can hope!

[molson]

Even if Ortiz had gone full cyborg and the the Red Sox had a $750 million payroll, I'd still be fired up to see the team I followed since I was 5 this close to winning the world series. (and really, even just getting this far is gravy.)

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by Ronnie Dobbs3

As a Sox fan I find it comforting that you're already starting on the excuses

I did the *wink* smiley. He does remind me of when Bonds was on that hit the crap out of everything doesn't matter who's pitching streak. The difference is Bonds hit everything out of the park.

Papi is on a tear though.. MVP for sure if the Sox win.

[panerd]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

I did the *wink* smiley. He does remind me of when Bonds was on that hit the crap out of everything doesn't matter who's pitching streak. The difference is Bonds hit everything out of the park.

Papi is on a tear though.. MVP for sure if the Sox win.

I would go so far as to say he is the MVP if the Sox lose but they don't do that anymore. (not since 1960 for baseball and the 70's for football or basketball) Hard to pick a Cardinal over what he is doing.

[SirFozzie]

Man, the following stat from Olney's article today is nuts.

(Ortiz is) hitting .733 (11-for-15). His teammates are hitting .151 (22-for-146).

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by Ronnie Dobbs3

As a Sox fan I find it comforting that you're already starting on the excuses

In fairness, the Red Sox have a history of cheating with steroids.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

In fairness, the Red Sox have a history of cheating with steroids.

That damn Marlon Byrd and Manny Alexander.

The only real evidence against Ortiz (and Manny Ramirez when he was on the Red Sox) was a 2003 list of over 100 names that wasn't released, included at least some players who did not test positive for PED's, and came at a time when steroids etc weren't against MLB rules. Neither one tested positive in the combined 12+ seasons they spent with the Red Sox since testing was implemented (if anything, Manny's 2 positive tests in 3 years after leaving the Red Sox are more an indication that he wasn't using designer PED's during his time here than an indication he's always been using), and in fact no Red Sox player has ever tested positive in 9 years since MLB started the program (although Marlon Byrd was pretty close, being released 15 days beforehand). I don't think we're any cleaner than other organizations, but considering the Rays, Rangers, Yankees, Tigers and Athletics have all had starters suspended in the last 3 years, it would seem weird to single out the Red Sox.

Fact is steroids don't help you square up a ball when you swing. If you want to believe that balls off Ortiz's bat travel x% further because he's on PED's, go for it, but at the end of the day the amount of hard contact Ortiz is making is the sign of a transcendent hitter on top of his game. And I'll argue the same thing for Barry Bonds, who everyone knows was on steroids from 2000 on.

[Ronnie Dobbs3]

The Sox have a history of steroids. The Cardinals have a history of steroids. Is there a team that doesn't?

[panerd]

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

That damn Marlon Byrd and Manny Alexander.

The only real evidence against Ortiz (and Manny Ramirez when he was on the Red Sox) was a 2003 list of over 100 names that wasn't released, included at least some players who did not test positive for PED's, and came at a time when steroids etc weren't against MLB rules. Neither one tested positive in the combined 12+ seasons they spent with the Red Sox since testing was implemented (if anything, Manny's 2 positive tests in 3 years after leaving the Red Sox are more an indication that he wasn't using designer PED's during his time here than an indication he's always been using), and in fact no Red Sox player has ever tested positive in 9 years since MLB started the program (although Marlon Byrd was pretty close, being released 15 days beforehand). I don't think we're any cleaner than other organizations, but considering the Rays, Rangers, Yankees, Tigers and Athletics have all had starters suspended in the last 3 years, it would seem weird to single out the Red Sox.

Fact is steroids don't help you square up a ball when you swing. If you want to believe that balls off Ortiz's bat travel x% further because he's on PED's, go for it, but at the end of the day the amount of hard contact Ortiz is making is the sign of a transcendent hitter on top of his game. And I'll argue the same thing for Barry Bonds, who everyone knows was on steroids from 2000 on.

Sounds like MBBF defending Frank Haith, the names were redacted for PR purposes not because they didn't use. Ronnie says it better above me... everyone used on every team. But acting like Manny only used the time he got caught and Big Papi never used is like Cards fans saying Pujols and Holliday weren't using.

[RedKingGold]

Just presume every player uses. Boom, problem solved.

[molson]

Originally Posted by RedKingGold

Just presume every player uses. Boom, problem solved.

I'd say presume every player uses, but only get upset and whiny about it if it's a team you don't like.

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by RedKingGold

Just presume every player uses. Boom, problem solved.

I think we can leave out Kozma.

[molson]

Originally Posted by Ronnie Dobbs3

The Sox have a history of steroids. The Cardinals have a history of steroids. Is there a team that doesn't?

The Red Sox also have a history of racism (as does most teams, though the Red Sox were probably worse than most), and in at least one instance, of harboring a child molester. I believe the Yawkeys may have had Nazi ties. Can we get all of these out of the way now? For the record, I do not endorse, nor did I have anything to do with, with past racism, harboring of child molesters, steroids, high payrolls, or any other ill the Red Sox have inflicted on society.

[panerd]

Originally Posted by molson

I'd say presume every player uses, but only get upset and whiny about it if it's a team you don't like.

+1