2012 MLB Thread (Cabrera Gets Triple Crown, first since Yaz 1967)

[Scoobz0202]

Isn't it common in the early early part of the season for managers to avoid heavy pitch counts? To kind of ease into the season. Or am I high?

[bronconick]

Between the cooler weather and the fact that you don't pitch more then a couple innings in ST before the last start or so, I think you're right.

Dusty Baker even holds his pitchers to a 200 pitch count.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Omar Vizquel played left field today. In real life. In the major leagues.

Mind: blown.

[Shkspr]

Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II

Omar Vizquel played left field today. In real life. In the major leagues.

Mind: blown.

I hope "LF, Toronto Blue Jays" is what it says on his HoF plaque.

[Johnny93g]

Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II

Omar Vizquel played left field today. In real life. In the major leagues.

Mind: blown.

Well, technically ya, but not really. He replaced LF Eric Thames, but was the 5th infielder when the Indians had the bases loaded with 1 out. He played the rest of the game at 1b.

[lordscarlet]

Not much to say here, except "Go Nats!"

[kingfc22]

Woohoo!!! Giants opening day!

Very happy that Bochy and Sabean decided to keep guys on the 25-man roster that can help offensively rather than Whiteside, Stewart and Fonenot.

Plus Posey is back.

[cartman]

For something they hyped so much, these massive
2 foot Champion Dogs are remarkably elusive.

[Crapshoot]

Originally Posted by kingfc22

Woohoo!!! Giants opening day!

Very happy that Bochy and Sabean decided to keep guys on the 25-man roster that can help offensively rather than Whiteside, Stewart and Fonenot.

Plus Posey is back.

BELT! THough I'm terrified that BORK will bench him by the 15th because he's not gritty enough.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II

Omar Vizquel played left field today. In real life. In the major leagues.

Mind: blown.

Is it bad that I just assumed you were talking about him starting in LF for the Giants? And it didn't even make me pause for a second?

[Ksyrup]

Adam Dunn should retire right now - 3 PAs into the season, he's got a walk, a strikeout, and a HR.

[bhlloy]

Did the Yankees just walk Sean Rodriguez to load the bases to get to Carlos Pena? I know you play the lefty matchup but damn. And Pena makes them pay

[Crapshoot]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Adam Dunn should retire right now - 3 PAs into the season, he's got a walk, a strikeout, and a HR.

Dunn is the ultimate TTO guy; always warms the heart. Rob Deer, but a significantly better player.

[Crapshoot]

Originally Posted by stevew

Is it bad that I just assumed you were talking about him starting in LF for the Giants? And it didn't even make me pause for a second?

Its amusing, but the Giants actually have one of the youngest starting lineups in baseball this year. Its taken a while, but they have 2 players over 30, one of whom is Aubrey Huff and the other of whom is 30 on the dot (Angel Pagan).

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

Did the Yankees just walk Sean Rodriguez to load the bases to get to Carlos Pena? I know you play the lefty matchup but damn. And Pena makes them pay

Old Hoss Radbourn ‏ @OldHossRadbourn
"Hoss, you need to intentionally walk this fellow." "Skipper, I'm going to feed you your own colon." That settled things.

[MizzouRah]

I love you David Freese.

[Ksyrup]

Fuck the Yankees! Woohoo!

[Ksyrup]

That Goldschmidt dude absolutely OWNS Lincecum.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

That Goldschmidt dude absolutely OWNS Lincecum.

I don't know why Timmy keeps trying to go high to him. It's obviously not working.

[Dutch]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

Did the Yankees just walk Sean Rodriguez to load the bases to get to Carlos Pena? I know you play the lefty matchup but damn. And Pena makes them pay

The Rays started Jeff Keppinger (who has more years of service than HR's I think) in the clean-up spot and he goes 2 for 3. Meanwhile, the Yankees continue to suck at sabermetrics.

[lungs]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

I love you David Freese.

I don't!

[fantom1979]

Indian ticket holders are getting their moneys worth. After playing 16 innings Thursday, they are in the 12th inning today.

[DeToxRox]

Tigers up 7-0 on the Sox in the bottom of the 5th. Tigers have 5 HR. Two each for Cabrera and Fielder and one for Avila.

[DaddyTorgo]

LMAO

This Sox team is proving to be as bad through the first two games as I feared they could be.

I predict they'll miss the playoffs again this year.

Please let them prove me wrong.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

LMAO

This Sox team is proving to be as bad through the first two games as I feared they could be.

I predict they'll miss the playoffs again this year.

Please let them prove me wrong.

They started out slow last year as well before being the best team in baseball(w the Phils for you Phillies fans)for 3-4 months. Might be just a bit early to count them out.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by jbergey22

They started out slow last year as well before being the best team in baseball(w the Phils for you Phillies fans)for 3-4 months. Might be just a bit early to count them out.

Remind me what happened to the Sox in the end again?

Oh that's right...they choked it away with a historically-bad Sept. and missed the playoffs.

It's a marathon, not a sprint. You've got to finish.

[Grover]

First place Mets!

[cougarfreak]

I don't see how the Red Sox go anywhere with the pitching they have.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by cougarfreak

I don't see how the Red Sox go anywhere with the pitching they have.

Exactly my worry, and what I was saying to /tk this morning.

Most puzzling part of the offseason to me was how they just apparently didn't want to spend ANY money. So they let Papelbon go, then instead of moving Bard to the closer role they inexplicably decide to put Bard in the rotation AND fill the #5 starter spot with a AAA player. AND to go out and sign a closer with a history of injuries, while they have 2 SP's (Dice-K and Lackey, who both suck balls, but oh well) out on the DL long-term.

They couldn't have picked up a couple MLB-average starters to fill out the back-end of the rotation in order to keep their bullpen strength up.

I predict Beckett makes 2 more crap starts before getting shut down for surgery with whatever little thumb-issue he has. Is fucking Bailey contagious or something?

To me it goes back to the decision to go all-in on Lackey & Crawford last year (which I also disagreed with). They had an in-house version of Crawford in Ellsbury, and Lackey just didn't project well. Plus, giving him that contract meant that you had to give Beckett an equal contract, so figure Lackey's contract actually cost 2x as much.

This team is being mismanaged to death by the FO.

The payroll is what...second highest in the league? And we have Aviles starting at SS and a couple of journeymen in the corner outfield spots?

WTF gives with that.

[Ksyrup]

The Lackey thing made no sense. Crawford I understood, except everyone including him knew it was a bad fit. He should have taken less money and gone to Anaheim where he would be comfortable. I wonder how much of that was him, and how much was his agents and the union.

[k0ruptr]

Nick Johnson looks like a 70's porn star, and it's scary.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

The Lackey thing made no sense. Crawford I understood, except everyone including him knew it was a bad fit. He should have taken less money and gone to Anaheim where he would be comfortable. I wonder how much of that was him, and how much was his agents and the union.

Crawford made no sense to me - it was a horrible case of duplication (with Ellsbury - although admittedly he hadn't yet proven, and maybe still hasn't, that he can be a long-term solution) and the lineup was already way too LHH heavy.

Add to that that the ballpark & construction of the rest of the lineup neuter his speed offensively (in 164 games) and defensively (82 games).

[TroyF]

Watching the Rockies/Astros.

Moyer gave up a leadoff HR. Followed that up with a walk. Next guy hit into a 5-4-3 and he's retired the last 7 in order.

They showed an interesting stat in the game. Of all the players that have ever had at least one at bat in the major leagues, Moyer has faced 8.9% of them. Good lord.

Rockies have been getting a crapload of hardhit balls that are ending up as atem balls. Houston had 4 errors last night, tonight they look like a team full of gold glove players.

As I type this, the Rockies had a guy on third, 1 out and Tulo up. The defense charged in right as the pitcher threw the ball. Tulo hits a shot right at the SS and it ends up being an out at home plate. Then they throw Tulo out on a steal attempt. This looks like an entirely different team out there. Kind of comical really.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Ah yes, the Charlie Sheen of MLB strikes again. Right, wrong, or just ordering a hamburger, this guy is a walking sideshow. Come to think of it, he's the perfect fit in that abomination of a ballpark.

Miami Marlins' Ozzie Guillen apologizes for Fidel Castro comment - ESPN

[k0ruptr]

I love Ozzie.

[PilotMan]

After a 3-0 start, the Dee Gordon might be the best thing to happen to the Dodgers this year. Slick in the field, a mess for pitchers at the top of the order, and a solid contact hitter. It's nice to see smiles on the player's faces again.

[mckerney]

Originally Posted by k0ruptr

I love Ozzie.

Me too, I'll miss him being with the White Sox.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by Grover

First place Mets!

Woot!! Though already it does seem like its going to be a loooong season for the Braves.

[Ksyrup]

The Phillies are in a world of trouble. They have no way to score runs. And their pitching can't be perfect - Lee threw a wild pitch, and once the chance to win 1-0 went away, it was only a matter of time until they lost.

[CraigSca]

Good to see Markakis hit an opposite field homerun on opening day and then follow that up with another last night. Perhaps his abdominal injuries were the gating factor in his HR output.

[TroyF]

I purchased MLB.TV this year and watched the first two Rays/Yankees games. Is there a better manager in the major leagues than Joe Maddon?

I know Scioscia will get some votes (and I can't argue)
I know Gibson will get some votes after how he's started out.


How in the world can anyone be better than this guy though. He's not afraid to use data to his advantage. His players love him. He's sensational.

[Dutch]

East	W	L	PCT	GB	E#	WCGB	L10	STRK	HOME	ROAD	LAST GAME	NEXT GAME	vs E	vs C	vs W	vs AL/NL	vs R	vs L	XTRA	1-RUN	RS	RA	X_WL	wc	dc	po	pl
Baltimore	2	0	1.000	-	-	-	2-0	W2	2-0	0-0	4/7 vs MIN, W 8-2	4/8 vs MIN, 1:35 PM	0-0	2-0	0-0	0-0	1-0	1-0	0-0	0-0	12	4	2-0	N	N	N
Tampa Bay	2	0	1.000	-	-	-	2-0	W2	2-0	0-0	4/7 vs NYY, W 8-6	4/8 vs NYY, 1:40 PM	2-0	0-0	0-0	0-0	1-0	1-0	0-0	1-0	15	12	1-1	N	N	N
Toronto	2	0	1.000	-	-	-	2-0	W2	0-0	2-0	4/7 @ CLE, W 7-4	4/8 @ CLE, 1:05 PM	0-0	2-0	0-0	0-0	2-0	0-0	2-0	0-0	14	8	1-1	N	N	N
Boston	0	2	.000	2.0	159	2.0	0-2	L2	0-0	0-2	4/7 @ DET, L 0-10	4/8 @ DET, 1:05 PM	0-0	0-2	0-0	0-0	0-2	0-0	0-0	0-1	2	13	0-2	N	N	N
NY Yankees	0	2	.000	2.0	159	2.0	0-2	L2	0-0	0-2	4/7 @ TB, L 6-8	4/8 @ TB, 1:40 PM

GREAT, GREAT START TO BASEBALL SEASON.

[Ksyrup]

Yep. That entire organization is tremendous.

Even the last play of the game last night - ARod hit a "routine grounder to SS" - except not so much. It was a grounder straight up the middle and they happened to have someone playing straight up the middle. They turned an easy single into the last out of the game.

[Ksyrup]

I'd argue Maddon is about as close to a Phil Jackson-type coach as there is in any other sport. He's just doing his thing on a team without money.

[Scoobz0202]

Originally Posted by TroyF

I purchased MLB.TV this year and watched the first two Rays/Yankees games. Is there a better manager in the major leagues than Joe Maddon?

I know Scioscia will get some votes (and I can't argue)
I know Gibson will get some votes after how he's started out.


How in the world can anyone be better than this guy though. He's not afraid to use data to his advantage. His players love him. He's sensational.

Although, on opening day, I have no idea why the hell he had Molina bunt with two strikes, down one, with runners on first and third in the eighth.

[Scoobz0202]

Ubaldo Jimenez will drop appeal after Saturday start | indians.com: News

The Indians have a scheduled off-day on Thursday, so the ballclub will not need to promote a pitcher from the Minor Leagues to fill in for Jimenez while he is serving his suspension. Right-hander Derek Lowe, who is slated to pitch on Sunday, can return on regular rest for Friday's road game against the Royals.

Jimenez can then come back from his suspension for a start against Kansas City next Saturday. The right-hander will have missed five of the Indians' games, but can return on six days' rest, rather than forcing the team to call up an extra starter.

Prior to Saturday's game against the Blue Jays, Indians manager Manny Acta said it helped that the team could "take advantage of the day off coming up."

"That way," Acta added, "we'll just push him up a day and he won't have to miss time."

You sure showed him, Bud!

[lungs]

My completely biased pick for NL CY Young this year: Zack Greinke

His stuff is absolutely electric coming out of the gate. I enjoyed the game last night and some very friendly banter with some Cardinals fans. Of course the guy saying Aramis Ramirez would cost us 10 wins this year was a little off his rocker.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by Scoobz0202

Although, on opening day, I have no idea why the hell he had Molina bunt with two strikes, down one, with runners on first and third in the eighth.

Because he had more faith that Molina could lay down a 2-strike bunt and score the runner from third than he did that Molina could get a hit or a SF without hitting into a DP (as I recall there were runners on 1st and 3rd with 1 out). Essentially, it was a better bet to have him strike out than hit into a DP and end the inning.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by Scoobz0202

Ubaldo Jimenez will drop appeal after Saturday start | indians.com: News



You sure showed him, Bud!

I'm not sure why they bother. It seems like 9 games and 5 days pay might work better. At the end, Ubaldo is out, what, like 200-250K?

[Ksyrup]

That's pretty standard, though. What basis would they have for completely rewriting the standard punishment for this kind of thing? They've been doing it this way for so long that they'd probably need to negotiate a different set of parameters with the union in order to change it. And I don't think anyone cares enough to do that.