2011 MLB Season Thread

[Davey36]

AL West Champions: Rangers
AL Central Champions: Twins
AL East Champions: Red Sox
AL Wild Card: Yankees

NL West: Rockies
NL Central: Reds
NL East: Phillies
NL Wild Card: Dodgers

AL MVP: Carl Crawford
NL MVP: Carlos Gonzalez
AL Cy Young: Justin Verlander
NL Cy Young: Tim Lincecum

 

[flamethrower]

AL West: Los Angeles Angels

AL Central: Minnesota Twins

AL East: Boston Red Sox

AL Wild Card: New York Yankees


NL West: Colorado Rockies

NL Central: Cincinnati Reds

NL East: Philadelphia Phillies

NL Wild Card: Atlanta Braves


MVPs:
NL Jay Bruce
AL Adrian Gonzalez

Cy Young:
NL Roy Halladay
AL Jered Weaver

 

[usalion]

Jeter is apparently using the music from the Evil Empire as his entry music at the Stadium- gotta love it!

Six hours until the Phils start up- crappy weather in Philly, though....

 

[BigTimeTimmyJim]

[YOUTUBE]X4BO26nqPmM[/YOUTUBE]

Gotta love the Beetlejuice and the sharpie reference.

For those who don't know, Wilson was fined for having shoes that were completely orange because they were too distracting and didn't having more than one of his teams colours on them (stupid I know).

They were badass too

Instead of buying a new pair of shoes, he coloured them using a black sharpie.

Pretty impressive job too.

The funniest thing this opening day was no doubt Pete Rose.

I have no idea what was going through his head at the time he decided to leave his house dressed like this.

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

Kept away from the scores all day and just finished watching replay of Brewers-Reds game.......wow!!!! What an opening day game!

Starts with the first two at-bats of the game hitting HRs and ends with a 2 out 3 run walkoff homer. Add a bad call by 1B umpire on a legitimate catch and McGehee fluffed double play in the 9th and it adds up to a hell of an action packed game.

 

[BigTimeTimmyJim]

Most games in Great American Ball Park are pretty fun to watch, purely because it's one of the biggest jokes of a ballpark in the league. That park, and the division the Reds play in make me never take the team seriously in championship talks. When they actually face a team with good pitching they usually get embarrassed.

Ladies and gentlemen. Joey Votto

I don't even know what McGehee was thinking on that tag and throw double play attempt when he could have easily have thrown to second and finished the game with a 5-4-3. Best thing about that game was Dusty's reaction afterwards. I love watching him as long as he is as far away from my pitchers as possible.

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

Bit harsh on Votto. His record away from home was even better. Yes he had a bad playoff series but he also had a pretty good record against good teams like Phillies, Braves and Giants last season.

 

[BigTimeTimmyJim]

Votto isn't the worst case of a stadium helping a guy out, because he is a very good batter. But when a club plays as many games as the Reds do against teams under .500 then face a team who can actually pitch the difference is extremely noticeable. The Reds were a total joke last post season. It doesn't matter how well you perform in the regular season if you can't do anything when it's the most important time of the year, it's pretty moot. I like Votto, he's a nice guy and when he's in the right headspace is easily one of the better batters in the league, but going from batting against scrubs to guys who actually know what they're doing can really affect you.

I'm actually surprised Votto doesn't hit the ball out as much in Great American, he's a lefty and the right porch is ridiculously short. As you can see from this I just put together he goes opposite field at a pretty alarming rate.

Look at Carlos Gonzales split stats from last season to see quite possibly the funniest stat differential in baseball.

 

[usalion]

Phils score 3 in the ninth to come back and beat the Stros, 5-4

Listening to the sox and rangers- Bard just gave up 4 in the 8th to pretty much give the Rangers the game....9-5 in the top of the ninth

 

[Dewy006]

Jays in love with the long ball once again this year

J.P Arencibia, if he can get some consistency, will be a star, has all the tools, 2HR, 5RBI on 4 AB's, kids got game,

LETS GO BLUE JAYS!!!!!!

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

Votto isn't the worst case of a stadium helping a guy out, because he is a very good batter. But when a club plays as many games as the Reds do against teams under .500 then face a team who can actually pitch the difference is extremely noticeable. The Reds were a total joke last post season. It doesn't matter how well you perform in the regular season if you can't do anything when it's the most important time of the year, it's pretty moot. I like Votto, he's a nice guy and when he's in the right headspace is easily one of the better batters in the league, but going from batting against scrubs to guys who actually know what they're doing can really affect you.

I'm actually surprised Votto doesn't hit the ball out as much in Great American, he's a lefty and the right porch is ridiculously short. As you can see from this I just put together he goes opposite field at a pretty alarming rate.

Look at Carlos Gonzales split stats from last season to see quite possibly the funniest stat differential in baseball.

You're judging the guy on one playoff series (10 ABs). His overall record against good pitchers is pretty good.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/p...ame&orderby_dir_second=asc&ajax=1&submitter=1

 

[BigTimeTimmyJim]

I'm not basing my entire judgement of the guy on one series. I already said he was a very good batter, I'd love to have him on my team. But if he really wants to improve he should be facing tougher pitching all year round.

First homer of Brandon Belts career was dead centre of the toilet bowl. What a swing.

Back to back loses for the Giants because they can't play simple defense. What the ****.

 

[usalion]

I'm not basing my entire judgement of the guy on one series. I already said he was a very good batter, I'd love to have him on my team. But if he really wants to improve he should be facing tougher pitching all year round.

.

Of course, you're neglecting the fact that he can't select the pitchers he bats against- whoever the Reds play select the pitcher. And he happened to face (in the playoffs) three of the best pitchers in the NL last year. Pretty rare for that to happen.

 

[BigTimeTimmyJim]

Of course, you're neglecting the fact that he can't select the pitchers he bats against- whoever the Reds play select the pitcher. And he happened to face (in the playoffs) three of the best pitchers in the NL last year. Pretty rare for that to happen.

...

You understand how baseball rotations work, yes?

Aside from the Cardinals (whose rotation is messed up now that Wainwright is gone), the Brewers are really the only other decent pitching team the Reds face for the majority of the year, and even then they're a team who routinely collapse. It's also pretty easy to put up great numbers when you face the devastating rotation that is McDonald, Maholm, Correia, Ohlendorf, and Morton.

Although it won't happen, the best thing for Votto to really develop is to play somewhere else. Watch Adrian Gonzales this year with the Red Sox. He's going from facing the best pitching division in baseball to the AL. His numbers are going to be absurd, especially now that he is out of Petco.

 

[usalion]

...

You understand how baseball rotations work, yes?

Aside from the Cardinals (whose rotation is messed up now that Wainwright is gone), the Brewers are really the only other decent pitching team the Reds face for the majority of the year, and even then they're a team who routinely collapse. It's also pretty easy to put up great numbers when you face the devastating rotation that is McDonald, Maholm, Correia, Ohlendorf, and Morton.

Although it won't happen, the best thing for Votto to really develop is to play somewhere else. Watch Adrian Gonzales this year with the Red Sox. He's going from facing the best pitching division in baseball to the AL. His numbers are going to be absurd, especially now that he is out of Petco.

I've been following the game for 45 years- yes, i know pitching rotations.

Your second paragraph- no problem- pitching in the NL Central is weak, no question. My point is, Votto can't do a damned thing about it- he faces whoever trots out against the ?Reds.

Your third paragraph- very sily. Apart from the Giants, the NL West aint much chop for pitching- Jiminez for the first half of the year and maybe Kershaw notwithstanding. The rays still have a pretty good staff, the Jays are definitely improved and the O's are on the rise. Gonzalez will face consistently better pitching this year than he did last year- the thing that will help him immensely is hitting in the bandbox that is Fenway- and hitting with a lot more good hitters around him. He won't be pitched around because of the sox lineup.

I don't know that Votto improves or declines if he leaves Cincy- GAP seems like a pretty hitter friendly park. His team also produces a lot of runs, probably as a consequence of that.

 

[Starlin Castro]

Cubs' huge 8th gets them the win.

 

[BigTimeTimmyJim]

Your third paragraph- very sily. Apart from the Giants, the NL West aint much chop for pitching- Jiminez for the first half of the year and maybe Kershaw notwithstanding. The rays still have a pretty good staff, the Jays are definitely improved and the O's are on the rise. Gonzalez will face consistently better pitching this year than he did last year- the thing that will help him immensely is hitting in the bandbox that is Fenway- and hitting with a lot more good hitters around him. He won't be pitched around because of the sox lineup.

So you're saying that Latos, Billingsley and Lilly aren't much chop? With the Giants' rotation of Lincecum, Cain, Sanchez and MadBum that's 7 pitchers who are easily better than any 7 in the AL East. The Yankees pitching is a joke, same can be said for the Red Sox who are far to inconsistent to be of note in that department. The Rays had a better rotation last year when they still had Garza. Adrian Gonzales will not be facing tougher pitching in that division.

Gonzo hits a shitload of his homers to left field, as you can see here he's got the opportunity to easily hit a ton this year if he can clear the wall. However, power isn't the issue for him, you don't get back to back 30 home run seasons hitting in Petco without it. He's just a ridiculously good batter, and with the AL East pitching and that park he could easily hit 50 this year.

I don't know that Votto improves or declines if he leaves Cincy- GAP seems like a pretty hitter friendly park. His team also produces a lot of runs, probably as a consequence of that.

Great American is hitters dream. However, the money lies with the RBI's, the championships go with the pitching. The Reds pitching does nothing for me at all, and that's not a good thing when you're in a sandbox.

Great win by the Giants today. Matt Cain's run support is usually pretty depressive, but it's hilarious when it's 10 runs.

 

[USACats]

So you're saying that Latos, Billingsley and Lilly aren't much chop? With the Giants' rotation of Lincecum, Cain, Sanchez and MadBum that's 7 pitchers who are easily better than any 7 in the AL East.

I'm an NL Central guy (StL), but I'm taking the AL East's Jon Lester, CC Sabathia, David Price, and Clay Buchholz over all of the NL West SPs minus maybe Lincecum.

After the Phillies' SPs, I'd probably take Boston's over San Fran's. Lester-Timmy, Buchholz-Cain, Lackey-Sanchez, Beckett-MadBum or Zito, Dice K-MadBum/Zito.

 

[USACats]

Most games in Great American Ball Park are pretty fun to watch, purely because it's one of the biggest jokes of a ballpark in the league.

Headed to GABP a week from this Saturday. Got tickets as part of a package with Yankees (sold) and some Cardinals games (reason I bought the package). GABP is pretty cool, but is waaaaaay too cluttered with crap. Looks like a kid's toy chest in the outfield. Big ass riverboat in dead center, some trucks propped up in left centerfield, some other stuff out there too.

 

[mattys123]

Great start to the year by Zito.

3 runs in his first innings pitched, and a home run to Kemp given up with an 84 MPH fastball right in the hitting zone first pitch.

Can we trade him ASAP.

 

[BigTimeTimmyJim]

I'm an NL Central guy (StL), but I'm taking the AL East's Jon Lester, CC Sabathia, David Price, and Clay Buchholz over all of the NL West SPs minus maybe Lincecum.

4 guys over the amount of pitchers the NL West has?

That doesn't really make much sense...

After the Phillies' SPs, I'd probably take Boston's over San Fran's. Lester-Timmy, Buchholz-Cain, Lackey-Sanchez, Beckett-MadBum or Zito, Dice K-MadBum/Zito.

This is a joke right?

No seriously. Please tell me it's a joke.

Boston's pitching is anything but great, infact it's their biggest problem this year, and it is going to be a problem for them all year...

The only team who potential has a better 1-3 pitching than the Giants is the Phillies, but their age will begin to show, Oswalt and Lee have already had some back issues (in Oswalt's case it's incurable). The Giants have the youth factor well on their side, and it's scary to think that these guys are only going to get better.

Zito wasn't TERRIBLE today. He started rubbish, but he was in a nice groove at one stage. The problem with Zito is always going to be his contract, but that aside, the fact that he is pitching for the Giants who have such a great rotation is what draws a lot of attention to his pitching. While he's a 5th starter for the Giants, on most teams he'd probably be a low 3-4 guy. Huff's drop is what really ended up costing the team big time. Runzler was pretty bad, but he shouldn't have been left in for that long. The problem is when you have a bullpen with Mota (why is he even on the team) and a wild thrower in Casilla, jams can get ugly pretty fast. The fact that Kroon is actually going to stick around in Fresno is great, he should get a call up in a month, or even less at this rate.

 

[USACats]

4 guys over the amount of pitchers the NL West has?

That doesn't really make much sense...

You read that incorrectly. I'm taking those 4 guys before I even get to the rest of your NL West SPs. The AL East, by far, has the best pitching.

Boston's pitching is anything but great, infact it's their biggest problem this year, and it is going to be a problem for them all year...

The only team who potential has a better 1-3 pitching than the Giants is the Phillies, but their age will begin to show,

You're letting your fandom of the Giants get in the way here. The Giants have an above average starting staff, but it's not even close to the Phillies and Red Sox.

You're saying a staff of Lincecum-Cain-Sanchez-Zito-MadBum is better than Lester-Buchholz-Lackey-Beckett-Dick K? Lincecum is a solid SP, Cain is a top 20 guy, Sanchez is average, Zito is terrible, and MadBum has the potential to be a top 20-25 guy but isn't even close right now. Lester and Buchholz are both Cy Young candidates, (I'm not a fan of him but...) Lackey delivers consistently good starts, Beckett is the best #3 or #4 outside of the Phillies staff, and Dice-K would be a top of the rotation guy on several teams, yet he's the Sox #5.

Boston is easily the top team on paper in the AL. It's not even close. Injuries would be their only problem...not starting pitching. And I HATE Boston. The Giants have a top 5 pitching staff, but it's not better than Philadelphia or Boston's. Philadelphia might have the best starting staff in history. I'd probably take the Angels staff over San Fran too.

 

[adamov13]

Being a Mariners fan I'll throw this up:

Congrats to Ichiro for breaking Edgar Martinez's hits record of 2,247. Great achievement by a great ball player!

 

[Cousin Jed]

Boston is easily the top team on paper in the AL. It's not even close. Injuries would be their only problem...not starting pitching.

If you are basing it on their best form maybe, but Lackey, Beckett and Matsuzaka are passed their prime (for want of a better expression)

I didn't buy into the early season hype, our pitching during ST was abominably bad and it certainly carried into the first 3 games. Lester can't pitch in April and Lackey is useless.

 

[BigTimeTimmyJim]

You read that incorrectly. I'm taking those 4 guys before I even get to the rest of your NL West SPs. The AL East, by far, has the best pitching.

This is quite possibly the funnies thing I've heard all day. Thanks for the laughs.

So in your eyes Jon Lester, CC Sabathia, David Price and Buchholz are better than Cain, Jimenez, Billingsley, Kershaw, and even a young and constantly improving Jonathan Sanchez who had the lowest opponents batting average in the entire majors last year?

Are you still in the club that think the Win stat is important to the pitcher? Because I'd hate to be the one to tell you that it's the most useless stat in baseball, short of using ERA for relief pitchers.

If you're going to be taking those guys ahead of younger players who show the amount of potential that the guys I just listed, you're pretty insane, and obviously do not watch a lot of baseball. I can understand having a preference to one of those pitchers you listed, but to say that all of those guys are better than some of the NL West crop is pretty scary.

You're letting your fandom of the Giants get in the way here. The Giants have an above average starting staff, but it's not even close to the Phillies and Red Sox.

Okay you don't watch baseball...

Look up the Giants September team ERA from last season.

With the excuse of an offense that the Giants have you do not win as many games as the Giants did the last 2 years without amazing pitching. There was a reason the Giants won the World Series last year. They had the best pitching in the majors (Don't believe me? go look at the stats and eat your words).

You're saying a staff of Lincecum-Cain-Sanchez-Zito-MadBum is better than Lester-Buchholz-Lackey-Beckett-Dick K? Lincecum is a solid SP, Cain is a top 20 guy, Sanchez is average, Zito is terrible, and MadBum has the potential to be a top 20-25 guy but isn't even close right now. Lester and Buchholz are both Cy Young candidates, (I'm not a fan of him but...) Lackey delivers consistently good starts, Beckett is the best #3 or #4 outside of the Phillies staff, and Dice-K would be a top of the rotation guy on several teams, yet he's the Sox #5.

Dice K being a top of the rotation guy? That HAS to be a joke. Do you actually watch guys pitch, or check their stats before coming up with this stuff?

Cain is the most underrated pitcher in all of baseball. The only people who think less of him are ones who still place value on the importance of wins. Look up his career run support. If he had the Yankees run support he'd be terrifying.

I don't understand where all this Josh Beckett love is coming from. He's been nothing but a disappointment and a joke since his recent contract. Sanchez is easily above average. If he can keep his emotions in check he can be one of the hardest pitchers to face. MadBum at the moment is a 3-4 guy in any strong rotation, Zito isn't great, but he's a decent 5th starter compared to other options most teams have.

Boston is easily the top team on paper in the AL. It's not even close. Injuries would be their only problem...not starting pitching. And I HATE Boston. The Giants have a top 5 pitching staff, but it's not better than Philadelphia or Boston's. Philadelphia might have the best starting staff in history. I'd probably take the Angels staff over San Fran too.

...

Does your hatred of Boston stop you from watching their games or following them at all, because you don't know what you're going on about.

The Angels?

I'm done with you.