The 2010 MLB Season Thread

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by CleBrownsfan

Way to go Tribe - it's going to be a long long summer

Race you to the bottom of the AL Central!

SI

[Radii]

Originally Posted by Neuqua

Mark Buehrle may have made the best play by a pitcher that I have ever seen.

Holy shit I just saw the highlight, amazing.

Baseball Video Highlights & Clips | CLE@CWS: Buehrle's backhand flick gets the runner - Video | MLB.com: Multimedia

[EagleFan]

Poor throw on that play, the 1B had to bare hand it to make the play...

[sterlingice]

That was an awesome play. I wanted to rewind but got tired of the interface- how not foul ball?

And Konerko with the great barehand, too

SI

[tucker rocky]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

That was an awesome play. I wanted to rewind but got tired of the interface- how not foul ball?

And Konerko with the great barehand, too

SI

Ball hit off of Buehrle's foot, before going into foul territory.

[tucker rocky]

Originally Posted by Neuqua

Mark Buehrle may have made the best play by a pitcher that I have ever seen.

Gets my vote for possbily the play of the year.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by tucker rocky

Ball hit off of Buehrle's foot, before going into foul territory.

Yeah- I just saw that on the replay on MLBN

Amazing play, to be sure

SI

[Lathum]

Timmy is dialed in right now.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Everybody is all agog at Heyward's first AB homer but it's hard not to think back to one year ago when Jordan Shafer became the 99th player to homer on his first ML AB and was back in the minors with a .204 average by the first week of June.

I can't help but think the Braves might be the first/only team to have players get first AB homers in consecutive years, certainly first on opening day.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

It's possible I am just more pessimistic on Beckett than others, but, IMO, he's still riding his 2003 and 2007 postseason performances and his strong 2007 regular season. Since then, he has had injury and inconsistency issues, and he has never been all that consistent. But the view of him is still of being that big time #1, dominant pitcher. I don't think he's that pitcher anymore. He's a good pitcher, but I don't see him on that level. The Red Sox would then be smart to move him before it becomes obvious to everyone else.

All that said, the move I think that kills them is the Lackey deal. If Lackey's not being paid what he is, I don't bat an eye at the Beckett deal. Beckett's a better bet than Lackey. But since the Lackey is done and sealed, it makes it a questionable move to also commit that kind of cash to another pitcher.

beckett's advanced metrics are actually quite good

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Lathum

Timmy is dialed in right now.

He is fun to watch

SI

[henry296]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

Hooray! Only 81 wins to go to break the streak

SI

80 ways will be 500 which I count as breaking the streak, which I think is losing seasons not non-winning seasons.

[sterlingice]

Good enough

SI

[CleBrownsfan]

Originally Posted by Radii

Holy shit I just saw the highlight, amazing.

Baseball Video Highlights & Clips | CLE@CWS: Buehrle's backhand flick gets the runner - Video | MLB.com: Multimedia

I just watched a the Indians/White Sox on the DVR. Holy shit - what a play! Is Buehrle known for his D?

[sterlingice]

He got the Gold Glove last year

(Then again, Franklin Gutierrez didn't so I'm not sure how much a Gold Glove is really worth)

SI

[kingfc22]

And Timmy starts off where he left off the past two seasons.

7 IP, 7 K's, 4 H and no BB.

[Crapshoot]

Timmah is really really good. If anyone could win a 3rd Cy Young, its him - dude's breaking ball is sick.

[Tasan]

Heck of a Rangers game today. Look out for them folks, look out.

[kingfc22]

Love how ESPN is already sucking Halladay's dick. Ummm, you might want to check the box scores because Timmy outpitched him and he wasn't playing the Nationals either. Oh and btw, HE is the defending two time NL Cy Young award winner.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

beckett's advanced metrics are actually quite good

But are they dominant? Are they as good as 2007? And what good are metrics if you miss a third of every season?

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by kingfc22

Love how ESPN is already sucking Halladay's dick. Ummm, you might want to check the box scores because Timmy outpitched him and he wasn't playing the Nationals either. Oh and btw, HE is the defending two time NL Cy Young award winner.

Timmay was lucky that last year you saw some writers look at advanced metrics (you know, like ERA and WHIP instead of the almighty WINS ). Unfortunately, I think he's going to have the same problem as Zack again- lack of run support.

SI

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by kingfc22

Love how ESPN is already sucking Halladay's dick. Ummm, you might want to check the box scores because Timmy outpitched him and he wasn't playing the Nationals either. Oh and btw, HE is the defending two time NL Cy Young award winner.

It's just a pity that Timmy throws most of his pitches after most of the country has gone to bed

[McSweeny]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

But are they dominant? Are they as good as 2007? And what good are metrics if you miss a third of every season?

Beckett misses a third of every season? Really?

Innings Pitched from 2006 to 2009 (since he's been a member of the Red Sox)

204 2/3
200 2/3
174 1/3
212 1/3

[Icy]

Can you guys recommend me a good baseball forum to talk with mature people? (besides this thread).

[JetsIn06]

Originally Posted by Icy

Can you guys recommend me a good baseball forum to talk with mature people? (besides this thread).

Baseball Fever - Baseball Fever

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by Radii

Holy shit I just saw the highlight, amazing.

Baseball Video Highlights & Clips | CLE@CWS: Buehrle's backhand flick gets the runner - Video | MLB.com: Multimedia

MLB is such a bunch of bitch-asses that they apparently pulled copyrighted material from their own site!

[stevew]

Originally Posted by henry296

80 ways will be 500 which I count as breaking the streak, which I think is losing seasons not non-winning seasons.

I'm extremely bullish on the team this year. And I'll be shocked if we win 76.

[lordscarlet]

OK, I just have to say that everyone here that defends Philly fans and says they are not the worst fans out there, you're wrong. Dead wrong. What a miserable day yesterday was.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Icy

Can you guys recommend me a good baseball forum to talk with mature people? (besides this thread).

Are you talking crazy, sabermetric talk? Or just plain ol' baseball talk?

I really like most of the SB Nation blogs I've seen. They pretty much have to
There's one for each team (Royals Review is the one I frequent most) but there are also quite a few nice niche ones like Driveline Mechanics. I also like Lookout Landing a lot, too- the Mariners fanbase there is great and they have some guys who are near the forefront of sabermetrics.

SI

[lordscarlet]

I'm in the second row with an away Zimmerman (11) jersey, backwards hat, and sunglasses, near the ball girl.

[Dr. Sak]

I was in the front row of Section 305. Great view.

[stevew]

You look just like Wade

[sterlingice]

Seriously, backwards hat? C'mon, I expect better

Grey jersey, have some facial hair, inbetween guy in t-shirt and guy in business shirt with red hat?

SI

[Icy]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

Are you talking crazy, sabermetric talk? Or just plain ol' baseball talk?

I really like most of the SB Nation blogs I've seen. They pretty much have to
There's one for each team (Royals Review is the one I frequent most) but there are also quite a few nice niche ones like Driveline Mechanics. I also like Lookout Landing a lot, too- the Mariners fanbase there is great and they have some guys who are near the forefront of sabermetrics.

SI

Plain baseball, news, players, teams talk etc. If it has a Marlins section it would be great, as a google search shows that there isn't any big Marlins forum around, unlike for the Dolphins that there are some huge ones.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Icy

Plain baseball, news, players, teams talk etc. If it has a Marlins section it would be great, as a google search shows that there isn't any big Marlins forum around, unlike for the Dolphins that there are some huge ones.

FishStripes - For Florida Marlins Fans

Looks like that's the SB Nation blog. Again, not a forum, but like most, they have gameday and wrapup thread for every game and other features. That one looks a bit dead, tho

For instance, Royals Review had over 2000 comments yesterday and Lookout Landing something like 5000.

SI

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by McSweeny

Beckett misses a third of every season? Really?

Innings Pitched from 2006 to 2009 (since he's been a member of the Red Sox)

204 2/3
200 2/3
174 1/3
212 1/3

Calm down. Don't get your panties wadded up.

I overstated, and then you overstated my overstatement. I was only talking generally about 2007 and after. Beckett missed a couple starts in 2007 and a few in 2008. Something's bugging me in the back of my mind that there were questions about him last year, maybe late in the year, but he did start 32 games, so even if that's true, yes, he did make his starts.

Is "a third of a season" overstating? Most definitely. I should have looked closer, and I'm sorry I got that wrong.

That said, it was a general statement about potential issues of durability with Beckett--not intended to be necessarily taken literally--and you can't deny durability is at least a minor issue. In his eight seasons as a full time starter, Beckett has only reached the full complement of a starter with a turn in a 5 man rotation (32 starts) two times (2006 and last year). He didn't even start 30 games in a season before going to the Sox in 2006.

My point is that he's getting older, and age doesn't help either performance nor does one usually improve one's durability with age. And big contracts for pitchers in their 30s have a high risk factor.

My point all along is that giving out big contracts to older pitchers has not proven to be the path to success in the past, so there is risk in the Red Sox choosing to lock down both Beckett and Lackey for so long, and especially with Buchholz still being blocked by the current rotation. If the Sox had a great team across the board, no harm, but these are contracts that appear to have been handed out at the expense of offense. Offense took a step back last year, and as a net, I think the offense took a slight step back in the offseason as well (loss of Bay, continuing decline of Ortiz and Lowell not quite matched by adding Cameron, Beltre and Scutaro; or at best, it's a wash).

[DaddyTorgo]

Bucholz isn't blocked at all. He who performs will take the #4 and #5 spots. If Bucholz pitches well enough to be a starting pitcher then he'll be a starter, where he goes in the rotation doens't affect how much he'll be paid either soon or when his contract is up.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

where he goes in the rotation doens't affect how much he'll be paid either soon or when his contract is up.

Practically speaking though, being the #5 would kind of tend to hurt him at negotiation since he'll see fewer innings, have lesser traditional stats, etc.

No dog in this particular fight mind you, just saying that it does seem like there's at least one logical way being in the #5 slot would matter for any pitcher, Bucholtz or otherwise.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Practically speaking though, being the #5 would kind of tend to hurt him at negotiation since he'll see fewer innings, have lesser traditional stats, etc.

No dog in this particular fight mind you, just saying that it does seem like there's at least one logical way being in the #5 slot would matter for any pitcher, Bucholtz or otherwise.

it might hurt him temporarily, but if he outpitches another guy with a bigger contract he'll be moved up in the rotation. now given that might not happen after a season starts, but certainly would the next season. look at lester for example who has moved up based solely on his talents, to the point where many people feel that he is the true ace of the staff, and certainly if he posts another 16-17 win season he might start Opening Day next year...

[Big Fo]

The day after Opening Day is such a letdown, only a handful of games and none during the day.

[sterlingice]

Yeah, the no day games thing is a real bummer for my MLB audio subscription

SI

[Scoobz0202]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

FishStripes - For Florida Marlins Fans

Looks like that's the SB Nation blog. Again, not a forum, but like most, they have gameday and wrapup thread for every game and other features. That one looks a bit dead, tho

For instance, Royals Review had over 2000 comments yesterday and Lookout Landing something like 5000.

SI

I'm a big fan of the SBNation myself. I follow the Cowboys and Reds pretty religiously. Both of them are excellent. The Cowboys one has probably the best "reporters" on the team out of any site I have seen. Every week they have in-depth analysis on the Cowboys and the opponent, and lately they have had some amazing draft coverage. The Reds one has some pretty decent writers, but I really enjoy following their game threads. The Cowboys game threads get a little out of hand with the range of emotions.

SBNation is great.

EDIT:The Reds had around 1800 comments for yesterdays game. That probably puts it in one of the more active baseball communities on htere.

[JPhillips]

If there was a Pulitzer for blogging I'd nominate this:

"It's usually about putting your best foot forward when it comes to setting a lineup on Opening Day. Dusty Baker, though, decided to lead with his head up his ass."

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by lordscarlet

OK, I just have to say that everyone here that defends Philly fans and says they are not the worst fans out there, you're wrong. Dead wrong. What a miserable day yesterday was.

So is there a story here?

[Scoobz0202]

I was looking over the baseball-fever forum and came across this post. Where the fuck have I been..

hxxp://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?95691-Wrigley-Field-2014-%28Renovation-Makeover%29


I LIKE IT!

[lordscarlet]

Originally Posted by Lathum

So is there a story here?

Sorry, I guess it's just a local story.

The Nationals lost 11-1. I wouldn't be surprised if the park was 70% Phillies fans. They acted exactly as the stereotype has established them, if not worse.

The "controversy" now is that supposedly individual ticket sales were sold out in 7 minutes or so. The reason for this is that LARGE numbers of group tickets were sold back in January to Philadelphia tour groups. One tour group alone is said to have bought 1,500 tickets.

Anyway -- the fans were incredibly obnoxious. Boo'd the home team's roster announcements. Yelled "suck" after each player was named (something I first encountered when attending a UMD basketball game this year and I personally thing it is despicable). There were chants of "asshole" (for some unknown reason). That's not to mention being yelled at and heckled in your home park by large numbers of drunken fans on the concourse and in your seats.

The park sees a lot of Cubs fans each year, and saw a lot of Boston fans last year. They did not behave in anywhere near the unsavory manor that Phillies fans did yesterday.

[sterlingice]

That's so odd to me. On our baseball trip where we went to New York and Philly last year, I found the Phillies fans to be quite hospitable, even after an hour long rain delay

SI

[lordscarlet]

Oh, and they booed Zimmerman accepting the Silver Slugger and Gold Glove awards.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

That's so odd to me. On our baseball trip where we went to New York and Philly last year, I found the Phillies fans to be quite hospitable, even after an hour long rain delay

SI

maybe that's because they were at home?

[k0ruptr]

Originally Posted by lordscarlet

Oh, and they booed Zimmerman accepting the Silver Slugger and Gold Glove awards.

wow, thats just plain dumb, have some class and at least clap for the dude.