*** OFFICIAL 2011 MLB Season Thread ***

[mcvickj]

A great win for the Tigers. Was looking a little iffy for a while leaving all of those base runners stranded. Looks like there are still 11 games left in the season. So do you give some extras rest to your core players or keep them in the lineup to stay sharp for the playoffs?

 

[rcpratt]

First order of business is staying ahead of texas. ALDS home field advantage magic # - 9.

 

[TheVrolok]

Philly finishes off the NL East with some style.

Also, :wub: Ibanez. He just seems like such a great guy.

 

[rcpratt]

I watched the first 8 innings Friday night, and heard the end on the radio. Missed most of the post-game celebration and festivities until today. So I have just a few things to catch up on.

First of all, Doug Fister is a badass. Also, he grew up in the Bay Area and had about 100 friends and family at the Coliseum Friday night as he got the division-clinching W. Bet he didn't expect to be in that situation two months ago. He also seems like a really great guy, and maybe I'm a sucker for this kind of stuff, but I love hearing him, Delmon, and all those guys talk about how much they enjoy this team and how easy it was to make the transition.

I love Jim Leyland. Hate his stupid lineups, but nobody can ever fault the man for not caring or not doing everything he can. Not many managers will cry on camera talking about his team's fans.

I never want to read that Verlander is playing slip-and-slide with a champagne pond again. Get back in your bubble.

Anyone can win in the playoffs, as the Cardinals so kindly taught us in '06. And really, the Phillies are the only team that I'm legitimately scared of.

Also, I'm proud of Miguel...we'll leave it at that.

 

[jalaram]

From Elias: The Rays were 9 games out of the wild card through games of September 2, but are now just 2 games behind. If they win the wild card, it will be the largest September deficit overcome in MLB history.

Alas, the Rays still have 7 against the Yankees and the Sox have 7 against Baltimore. This is not getting easier, but I'm loving the fight.

 

[SP33Demon]

Yeah, this could be an epic collapse for Boston. Who are the Angels playing? They have an outside shot as well.

 

[rcpratt]

Angels have @Toronto, Oakland. Texas has @Oakland, Seattle. Then they finish with 3 in Anaheim.

I actually like the Cards chances if they can beat Philly tonight. The Braves have a tough schedule.

 

[basslover1]

Alas, the Rays still have 7 against the Yankees and the Sox have 7 against Baltimore. This is not getting easier, but I'm loving the fight.

The Birds haven't been playing that poorly, to be honest. They're 8-9 in September, they played the Jays four times, the Rays six times, the Yankees four times, and Angles three.

With the way Boston has been playing, I wouldn't be surprised if the Birds took three out of four from the Sox.

As a Rays fan, I'm just hoping the Sox collapse goes even further, and that the Rays can just stay even. Though it's going to be tough with 7 more against the Yanks.

 

[manly]

Alas, the Rays still have 7 against the Yankees and the Sox have 7 against Baltimore. This is not getting easier, but I'm loving the fight.

idle TB hoping BAL slices the Rays deficit to 1 game behind BoSox, and tied in the loss column.

 

[jalaram]

idle TB hoping BAL slices the Rays deficit to 1 game behind BoSox, and tied in the loss column.

BAL took the first game on a bad umpire call. I heard quite a bit of complaining on the local sports station about it. The Sox are up in the 2nd game, but it's close.

I'm truly hoping the Rays catch them (of course), but I hope we can hold off the Angels too. They're in our rear view and rooting for the Yankees.

 

[manly]

BAL took the first game on a bad umpire call. I heard quite a bit of complaining on the local sports station about it. The Sox are up in the 2nd game, but it's close.

I'm truly hoping the Rays catch them (of course), but I hope we can hold off the Angels too. They're in our rear view and rooting for the Yankees.

I got excited when BAL quickly went up 2-0 but it was 4-3 BOS after just 1 inning. Right now, the rout is on but they're only clear by 1 in the loss column. If Joe Girardi sets up his postseason rotation soon-ish, the Rays may face C.C. Sabathia just once in 7 contests to end the regular season?

I think the Angels are too far back, they'd have to finish 8-2 and still need plenty of help from the AL East teams. Not impossible, and suddenly the Cardinals want to back door into the playoffs too.

 

[rcpratt]

Kimbrel blows it! Omar fucking Infante! Cards within 2.5.

 

[davmat787]

Kimbrel blows it! Omar fucking Infante! Cards within 2.5.

Kimbrel has been the Man this year too. Some great races for the last week or so! Personally, I would love to see the Rays or Angels overtake Boston. That would just be too much awesomeness.

 

[SP33Demon]

Cards beat Halladay, we must be living in some strange alternate universe. Also 4 walks -.- StL really wants in, especially now that ATL lost. Wow. 2.5 now. Most likely 2 for Boston since they are clobbering Baltimore. Hold onto your seats.

 

[drebo]

As a Rays fan, I'm just hoping the Sox collapse goes even further, and that the Rays can just stay even. Though it's going to be tough with 7 more against the Yanks.

I don't know why you Rays fans are scared of facing the Yankees. The way the Yankees have been (not) hitting and (not) pitching, a Class A club could beat them easily.

Honestly, with 7 games left against TB, I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't threatening for the division in the final series of the season!

Girardi and Cashman are determined to lose again this year. Have you SEEN our rotation? One legitimate starter. No lefties in the 'pen. No bench to speak of. A circus in right field. The list goes on.

The only real bright spots this year have been Russell Martin and the fact that Damaso Marte is still on the DL. Sabathia's been pretty good, too...he should have at least 22 wins right now, but, alas, Girardi's mismanagement has cost him several.

I wish Girardi was a better manager...someone who could manage by intuition and feeling, rather than just what's in the "Coaching 101" book. Seriously, right handed pitchers can get left handed batters out, too...most of them quite a bit more often than Boone Logan.

 

[SP33Demon]

I wish Girardi was a better manager...someone who could manage by intuition and feeling, rather than just what's in the "Coaching 101" book. Seriously, right handed pitchers can get left handed batters out, too...most of them quite a bit more often than Boone Logan.

Girardi is a horrible manager... I would have never dreamed of saying that about Joe Torre. JG just makes moves that are head scratchers, almost on the same level as Charlie Manuel.

 

[jalaram]

I don't know why you Rays fans are scared of facing the Yankees. The way the Yankees have been (not) hitting and (not) pitching, a Class A club could beat them easily.

Honestly, with 7 games left against TB, I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't threatening for the division in the final series of the season!

It's not that I'm scared of the Yankees per se. It's that we need all the wins we can get and I can think of better choices than the Yankees. Even if they're only playing to 50% of potential and 10% of managerial help, that's still a handful of a team.

Trust me, I'm happy we're not playing Detroit or Texas right now. If all goes well, that'll be the playoffs. My dream is for another Philly-TB WS.

 

[SP33Demon]

Wow Boston and Atlanta are in meltdown mode. WTF?

 

[actuarial]

Wow Boston and Atlanta are in meltdown mode. WTF?

Too bad TB didn't capitalize.

 

[rcpratt]

Angels and Rays 2.5, Cards 1.5. Come on, one of you make something happen.

I actually only want the Cards to make it, but I definitely want to see the AL teams take Boston down to the wire. Haven't looked at how their pitching lines up, but it can only help us.

 

[jalaram]

Too bad TB didn't capitalize.

This is exactly what I was worried about. As well as we were playing, we were still going to have a tough time with the Yankees. And now the Angels are tied with us.

I'm hoping that the upcoming homestand will give us a boost.

 

[shocksyde]

Baltimore doing everything it can to screw the Red Sox. If only TB could win some against the Yanks...

 

[SP33Demon]

Angels and Rays 2.5, Cards 1.5. Come on, one of you make something happen.

I actually only want the Cards to make it, but I definitely want to see the AL teams take Boston down to the wire. Haven't looked at how their pitching lines up, but it can only help us.

If the Red Sox blow it, it would be right up there on worst collapses ever.

 

[manly]

Cards lose 1/2 game in the standings, Rays will gain 1/2 after yesterday's lost opportunities. Come on Pujols, you're interviewing for some team's $275M.

 

[SP33Demon]

Cards lose 1/2 game in the standings, Rays will gain 1/2 after yesterday's lost opportunities. Come on Pujols, you're interviewing for some team's $275M.

The Cards are done IMO. After their meltdown yesterday, I see too many wasted opportunities and that was the nail in the coffin for their confidence. They need to get a closer, plain and simple. Although resigning Berkman as insurance in case pujols walks was smart. $12 mil though? That's a little high but he did put a lot of people in the seats this year so why not reward him. Berkman gets my vote as comeback player of the year.