*** OFFICIAL 2011 MLB Season Thread ***

[Via]

Sometimes you just gotta make that one play, or you pay for it.

Those guys on the Rangers worked all year so Cruz could make that one play. Sorry - that's reality, not some fantasyland of fairness.

It's the same as when a ref blows a call that decides a game and some people say the obligatory "that one call didn't decide it", "the team had plenty of other chances to win the game", and "it's not the refs fault".

What are they talking about? Of course one call can decide a game or series, just as one play can.

Something inside me knew the Cards were going to win the WS when that ball got over his head.

 

[manly]

I'm not a huge fan of the second failed attempt at the Washington Senators Texas Rangers, or any team in that Junior Circuit where they employ caddies to bat for their hurlers, as if that's baseball . . . . . . but that team made it to the Big Dance two years in a row while a whole host of other pretty good teams didn't.

They have nothing to hang their heads about and no one they need apologize to for anything. The Baseball Gods are cruel and distant deities, and the Rangers made it right to the doorstep of history, twice in succession.

Baseball is literally a game of inches. You have to be good and blessed by the fates.

Rangers fans should be nothing but proud of their team. At most they were the fourth or fifth best team in baseball this year yet they came within one strike of winning the whole damn thing.

I'm not buying that, the game 6 loss will haunt these guys forever. With two straight AL pennants, you could make a good case that they're the second best team in baseball after the Phillies. A strike away from winning the WS, twice?

I agree the fans should still be proud and excited, maybe the Rangers can be like the 90s Braves and dominate their division for a while and eventually win a title. And you're 100% correct the game is pretty fickle sometimes.

Via, how about after Josh Hamilton erased the 9th inning mistakes with 1 swing, Ron Washington pulling the closer in favor of 41-year old Darren Oliver? It's not like Cruz's mistake directly caused the winning run to cross the plate.

 

[Poulsonator]

I'm not buying that, the game 6 loss will haunt these guys forever.

Without question. Game 6 this year was the biggest choke in WS history. It makes all other Game 6's (and 7's) look routine in comparison.

However, the Rangers play in a joke of a division (only 3 other teams, and they are Seattle, Oakland, LAAAAAofAAAAA), and they are extremely talented, so they should at least compete for the playoffs for a while.

 

[TallBill]

Without question. Game 6 this year was the biggest choke in WS history. It makes all other Game 6's (and 7's) look routine in comparison.

However, the Rangers play in a joke of a division (only 3 other teams, and they are Seattle, Oakland, LAAAAAofAAAAA), and they are extremely talented, so they should at least compete for the playoffs for a while.

Hopefully by 2013 the astro's will be joining that division

 

[hclarkjr]

La Russa called it quits today http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/...six-pennants-three-world-championships-103111

 

[paperfist]

You guys see the possible new labor agreement?

"This deal, however, figures to be especially historic, as baseball positions itself for the 21st century. Among other things, it will pave the way for realignment of the sport into two 15-team leagues, adding a second wild-card team in each league, spreading interleague play throughout all six months of the regular season and making significant changes to the draft, free agency and the so-called "Competitive Balance Tax."

We're going back to it used to be 15 years ago with the AL/NL East & West. 2 wild card teams now. Not sure if I like it. I wonder what the playoff format would be like?

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7239006/sides-close-major-league-baseball-labor-deal-sources-say

 

[rcpratt]

I don't like another playoff team, but whatever. It's well past time that the leagues (read: AL West/NL Central) were balanced.

 

[ElFenix]

Hopefully by 2013 the astro's will be joining that division

fuck the expansion league, fuck the designated hitter, and fuck bud selig.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7239006/sides-close-major-league-baseball-labor-deal-sources-say

what i saw last night said 10 teams making the playoffs. so there would be a wild card round where the two wild card teams play each other for the right to advance while everyone else sits. that, i suppose, might solve the 'problem' of the wild card teams advancing to the world series practically every year. seems weird.

 

[paperfist]

fuck the expansion league, fuck the designated hitter, and fuck bud selig.






what i saw last night said 10 teams making the playoffs. so there would be a wild card round where the two wild card teams play each other for the right to advance while everyone else sits. that, i suppose, might solve the 'problem' of the wild card teams advancing to the world series practically every year. seems weird.

While the format you mention is a little more logical it's going to suck for weather adverse teams sitting around doing nothing till the wild card teams are done not to mention messing with your swing/pitching arm due to time off.

 

[anxi80]

Verlander wins AL MVP

Verlander wins AL MVP, 1st starter in 25 years

NEW YORK — Detroit's Justin Verlander has become the first starting pitcher in a quarter-century to win a Most Valuable Player award, adding it to his Cy Young Award last week.

Verlander earned the American League MVP honor Monday, receiving 13 of 28 first-place votes and 280 points in voting announced by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

Boston center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury was second with 242 points, followed by Toronto right fielder Jose Bautista with 231 points.

Verlander went 24-5 with a 2.40 ERA and 250 strikeouts to take the AL pitching triple crown. He is the first pitcher to win MVP since Oakland's Dennis Eckerlsley in 1992 and the first starter since Boston's Roger Clemens in 1986.

 

[SP33Demon]

fuck the expansion league, fuck the designated hitter, and fuck bud selig.






what i saw last night said 10 teams making the playoffs. so there would be a wild card round where the two wild card teams play each other for the right to advance while everyone else sits. that, i suppose, might solve the 'problem' of the wild card teams advancing to the world series practically every year. seems weird.

Yep, I posted here about the 2 wild card scenario and everyone hated it. Glad they are finally implementing it.

Also kudos to JV for that MVP. He deserved it.

 

[rcpratt]

Yay JV

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Quote: Originally Posted by Perknose I'm not a huge fan of the second failed attempt at the Washington Senators Texas Rangers, or any team in that Junior Circuit where they employ caddies to bat for their hurlers, as if that's baseball . . . . . . but that team made it to the Big Dance two years in a row while a whole host of other pretty good teams didn't. They have nothing to hang their heads about and no one they need apologize to for anything. The Baseball Gods are cruel and distant deities, and the Rangers made it right to the doorstep of history, twice in succession. Baseball is literally a game of inches. You have to be good and blessed by the fates. Rangers fans should be nothing but proud of their team. At most they were the fourth or fifth best team in baseball this year yet they came within one strike of winning the whole damn thing.


I'm not buying that, the game 6 loss will haunt these guys forever. With two straight AL pennants, you could make a good case that they're the second best team in baseball after the Phillies. A strike away from winning the WS, twice? I agree the fans should still be proud and excited, maybe the Rangers can be like the 90s Braves and dominate their division for a while and eventually win a title. And you're 100% correct the game is pretty fickle sometimes. Via, how about after Josh Hamilton erased the 9th inning mistakes with 1 swing, Ron Washington pulling the closer in favor of 41-year old Darren Oliver? It's not like Cruz's mistake directly caused the winning run to cross the plate.

You Phillies nut huggers are incredible, you actually believe they are the best team in baseball Get back to me when they actually win something.

 

[drebo]

IMO, the Astros need to move to the NL West and the Diamondbacks (or the Padres) need to move to the AL West.

Moving the Astros to the AL West is a terrible idea.

Also, one fucking wildcard.

 

[manly]

You Phillies nut huggers are incredible, you actually believe they are the best team in baseball Get back to me when they actually win something.

I'm not really a Phils fan unless I have no other horse in the race.

But are you stupid? The Phillies went to consecutive World Series and did win one 4 years ago. Since that title, they've been stockpiling Cy Young award winners in their primes. After a dominant first 150 games, they underperformed and lost to the eventual WS winners. Rank 'em however you want to, but they're clearly built to win pennants. Well, all except for the Ryan Howard contract.

My actual point was that the Rangers IMO are one of the top-4 teams in baseball, and shouldn't be content they made it all the way to World Series Game 7. Perknose's commentary is correct, the best collection of talent doesn't always win in baseball.

 

[raystorm]

So the Marlins are going crazy with the Bell, Reyes and Buehrle moves and now its reported that Albert Pujols will play for the Angels!

Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports reports that Albert Pujols will sign a 10-year deal with the Angels worth between $250-260 million.

$$$$$$$$$$$



Also, its been reported that Japanese phenom Yu Darvish will be posted today. It'll be pricey just to talk to the kid.

 

[Perknose]

You Phillies nut huggers are incredible, you actually believe they are the best team in baseball Get back to me when they actually win something.

Which team do you think is the best team in baseball, and why? Since you are so bent out of shape that manly might think the Phillies are, you most certainly think another team, or teams, are better.

Fair enough.

Please name the team or teams you think are better, and why. I can personally think of more than one for which a good case could be made.

So, instead of just going nuts and calling others distressingly homophobic names (the horror!), strike out on your own, show us your balls, step up to the plate, ignore the curve balls my metaphors might be throwing you, and take a swing at this vitally important question your own lovely self.

Please share your exalted thinking and trenchant analysis on this most important of matters, oh non-hugger of nuts!

 

[TangoJuliet]

Albert Pujols will play for the Angels!

Well, that'll do some damage in the AL. The halos have some descent pitching and now Albert will be a nice add for them. I guess they don't think Kendrys will be ready or he'll be the full time DH. If its the latter then thats a pretty nice lineup.

 

[raystorm]

Halos aren't done yet. They have just signed C.J. Wilson for 5 years/$75 million.

 

[TangoJuliet]

Halos aren't done yet. They have just signed C.J. Wilson for 5 years/$75 million.

he's good but thats a lot to pay. halos got 4 really good starters now

 

[goog40]

Just a footnote, but the Angels also added some depth to the bullpen in signing Latroy Hawkins. They had at least 17 blown saves last years, and who knows how many blown holds, so they'll take any help they can get for the bullpen. I'm just hoping that either Kendrys is able to come back to near the same level he was at before the injury, or Wells is able to return to his career averages.

 

[dabuddha]

Thank god the Rangers got rid of that piece of trash!

 

[raystorm]

So the Marlins were the highest bidders for Pujols and CJ Wilson.

On Pujols..

Pujols received ten years and around $255MM from the Angels, but Bob Nightengale of USA Today says the Marlins offered ten years and $275MM. He says that with incentives and Florida's lack of a state income tax, the deal could have been worth nearly $300MM.

My god man..

 

[manly]

So the Marlins were the highest bidders for Pujols and CJ Wilson.

On Pujols..



My god man..

didn't Tom Hicks try splashing around money 10 years ago, and how did it turn out for him?

 

[jalaram]

Rays sign Matt Moore for 5 yrs

Shields, Price, Hellickson, Moore. Not a bad starting crew. Now we just need some offense and a few fans.