MLB 2011 Season

brilliantboy

8-10 wrote: »

Not to jinx it but anyone else watching the Brewers v Cards game?

Gallardo hasn't been hit yet through 7........... :eek:

Switch it on!

That's nuts. Verlander is perfect through 7 against Toronto
I'm on myway out so I won't be able to watch either of them :mad:

Coeus

brilliantboy wrote: »

That's nuts. Verlander is perfect through 7 against Toronto
I'm on myway out so I won't be able to watch either of them :mad:

And don't forget Jaime Garcia who was perfect through 7 and 1/3 last night...

Verlander walked a guy in the 8th but got his no-hitter...

jack presley

and wasn't it a much better no-no than the one earlier in the week?

jack presley

Brewers Cards is free on MLB.TV tonight if anyone doesn't fancy watching the Yankees on ESPN America

Facelessman

Baseball Tonight on ESPN America is probably your best bet.

If you click on the 'game recaps' on mlb.com they will play through all the games. Quite handy when you put on full screen and sit back and watch. Recaps are usually around 2-2.5 minutes each so you would generally see more of the game than Baseball Tonight will show.

The Baseball Today podcast on espn's podcentre page is also a must download for any baseball fan especially the days when Keith Law is on.

Coeus

jack presley wrote: »

and wasn't it a much better no-no than the one earlier in the week?

Much better, the guy walked on 3-2 count on a ball that was maybe an inch outside the strike zone!

You have to think there will be a perfect game at some point this season...

Coeus

jack presley wrote: »

Brewers Cards is free on MLB.TV tonight if anyone doesn't fancy watching the Yankees on ESPN America

They have been showing a free game every night for the last week although I was only able to watch the weekend games. Long may it continue

JONJO THE MISER

Washington Nationals(J Marquis) At Atlanta Braves(T Hudson) Tonight.

Really fancy Atlanta -1.5 for this one.

slick89

Follow the Cubs since I was in Chicago last summer, wouldn't know that much about it though. Just wondering if any of ye think they might have a chance of making the play-offs? My un-educated guess would say no!

jack presley

slick89 wrote: »

Follow the Cubs since I was in Chicago last summer, wouldn't know that much about it though. Just wondering if any of ye think they might have a chance of making the play-offs? My un-educated guess would say no!

My equally uneducated guess is also no. The Reds and Cardinals are much better than them and even if they did sneak ahead of one of them, I think the wild card is going to come from the east.

Coeus

I agree with Jack in that it will be either the Cardinals or Reds who win that division. Before the season started I though the Reds would win the division after Wainwright got hurt but the Cards pitching looking good so far and Berkman looks like the signing of the season. I too think that the wildcard will be won by a team in the east...

jack presley

Coeus wrote: »

I too think that the wildcard will be won by a team in the east...

But which one....????

My pick at the start of the year was for the Braves to win the division (just to be different) with the Phillies taking the WC. That's obviously changed now with the Phillies probably going to walk away with the division and although the Marlins are doing well so far, I think they'll fade so I'd say it'll be the Braves.

Coeus

jack presley wrote: »

But which one....????

My pick at the start of the year was for the Braves to win the division (just to be different) with the Phillies taking the WC. That's obviously changed now with the Phillies probably going to walk away with the division and although the Marlins are doing well so far, I think they'll fade so I'd say it'll be the Braves.

I went with Philly to win the east, their starting pitching is too strong like the other night when Lee had 16Ks and still lost. I thought the Braves to the win the WC...

boccy23

Is there any question now about the Indians being for real. A 9th inning win last night over the streaking Rays. I listen to ESPN Baseball Today podcast and they have been writing the Indians off all season. Wonder if they'll get some love today.

slick89

Cheers lads, lost last night to the Cards I see anyway.

Any Chicagoans I talked to the Cubs about told me it all went downhill after this:

The lad that caught it is completely despised over there!..as you would expect! 5 outs from the world series before that happened and the team seemed to fall to pieces.

jack presley

One of ESPN's '30 for 30' films that were on last year was supposed to be about Bartman but it was never broadcast for some reason. It was one of the ones I was looking forward to the most. Hopefully it'll turn up sometime.

I think the whole incident is overblown. If a team falls to pieces after an incident like that, how would they have coped with the pressure of a World Series when umpire's decision on a ball or strike can go against them or someone's called out incorrectly on a tight play? These things happen!

They had plenty of opportunities to win the game and the series after this incident but couldn't get it done. Read the Aftermath section of this and see how even after this it was still in their hands to win.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Bartman_incident

I like the Cubs and enjoyed watching a game at Wrigley Field once and the banter with their fans (even if they did beat my Mets!) but they need to stop thinking this is the reason they haven't won a world series since 1908 or whenever it was.

MoyVilla9

slick89 wrote: »

Cheers lads, lost last night to the Cards I see anyway.

Any Chicagoans I talked to the Cubs about told me it all went downhill after this:

The lad that caught it is completely despised over there!..as you would expect! 5 outs from the world series before that happened and the team seemed to fall to pieces.

Ya really have to feel sorry for the guy. I could imagine myself doing the same thing before realising the second the ball hit my hall "Wtf have I just done!"

The Cubs fans let themselves down with the way he had to be escorted out of the stadium.

jack presley

Not for Angels fans (what a way to lose!)

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=14727443&topic_id=&c_id=mlb&tcid=tw_video_14727443

Coeus

boccy23 wrote: »

Is there any question now about the Indians being for real. A 9th inning win last night over the streaking Rays. I listen to ESPN Baseball Today podcast and they have been writing the Indians off all season. Wonder if they'll get some love today.

Just watched the Indians there on ESPN America where they lost again without Sizemore, he has injured his other knee now. To be honest I like the Tigers in that division but if their pitching stays solid, Hafner hits and of course Sizemore plays I think they can be decent this year and surprise a few people...

Coeus

jack presley wrote: »

Not for Angels fans (what a way to lose!)

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=14727443&topic_id=&c_id=mlb&tcid=tw_video_14727443

That is bad alright. Losing Kendrys Morales for a 2nd season is worse considering how he got injured....

muppet_man

I'm really worried about Yankees this year.
The pitching rotation is not good enough. CC is good enough but after that i get nervey although Colon has been a nice suprise so far. I think they were too certain on the Cliff Lee deal going through and after that they were lost of ideas or time to get quality.

On the defence side we had too many silly costly errors which is just not what you'd expect. 6-0 in bottom of 2nd so far tonight against Kansas after 2 big errors.

At offence everyone knows about the homers, something like 50-60% of runs coming off them. Last night alone we left something like 14 men stranded.

So to you vastly more experienced MLB fans I ask, is this just an early season nerves or some thing or am I right to be worried?

Coeus

muppet_man wrote: »

I'm really worried about Yankees this year.
The pitching rotation is not good enough. CC is good enough but after that i get nervey although Colon has been a nice suprise so far. I think they were too certain on the Cliff Lee deal going through and after that they were lost of ideas or time to get quality.

On the defence side we had too many silly costly errors which is just not what you'd expect. 6-0 in bottom of 2nd so far tonight against Kansas after 2 big errors.

At offence everyone knows about the homers, something like 50-60% of runs coming off them. Last night alone we left something like 14 men stranded.

So to you vastly more experienced MLB fans I ask, is this just an early season nerves or some thing or am I right to be worried?

I think they will be OK this season. Their pitching is not as bad as U think and through the summer they will slug their way to wins. The Red Sox have some lemons in their rotation so they wont run away with it, Lackey must be the worst starter in the game at the mo. I didn't figure on the Rays been around this season, looks like Maddon has made a team of them again despite all the departures. As I type Cano has just hit another homer...

jack presley

muppet_man wrote: »

I'm really worried about Yankees this year.
The pitching rotation is not good enough. CC is good enough but after that i get nervey although Colon has been a nice suprise so far. I think they were too certain on the Cliff Lee deal going through and after that they were lost of ideas or time to get quality.

On the defence side we had too many silly costly errors which is just not what you'd expect. 6-0 in bottom of 2nd so far tonight against Kansas after 2 big errors.

At offence everyone knows about the homers, something like 50-60% of runs coming off them. Last night alone we left something like 14 men stranded.

So to you vastly more experienced MLB fans I ask, is this just an early season nerves or some thing or am I right to be worried?

Yankee fans have nothing to be worried about. If they're still 'struggling' as the trade deadline comes up they'll just buy their way out of trouble. I'd hardly call 20-15 struggling though. Most other teams would kill for that kind of record.

8-10

Looks like Buster Posey's leg is broken, out for the season probably. Shame for the kid. Good player.

Coeus

8-10 wrote: »

Looks like Buster Posey's leg is broken, out for the season probably. Shame for the kid. Good player.

Deffo, great player and considering how anemic the Giants offence has been this season, this is a big loss. He was one of their key players on their run to the World Series last series...

Rockies pitcher De La Rosa looks headed for Tommy John surgery aswell so not good week for injuries in that division...

jack presley

Coeus wrote: »

Deffo, great player and considering how anemic the Giants offence has been this season, this is a big loss. He was one of their key players on their run to the World Series last series...

Rockies pitcher De La Rosa looks headed for Tommy John surgery aswell so not good week for injuries in that division...

RA Dickey looks like he's going to join Chris Young, David Wright and Ike Davis on the DL for the Mets too! (and that's not including Johan Santana)

Coeus

jack presley wrote: »

RA Dickey looks like he's going to join Chris Young, David Wright and Ike Davis on the DL for the Mets too! (and that's not including Johan Santana)

Jose Reyes out now aswell although its the bereavement list rather than the disabled list so it should only be a few days. He has been on a tear of late aswell, Mets just cant get a break...

8-10

Coeus wrote: »

Jose Reyes out now aswell although its the bereavement list rather than the disabled list so it should only be a few days. He has been on a tear of late aswell, Mets just cant get a break...

Going to see them Friday against the Braves, would like to see him play. Haven't seen the Mets before surprisingly.

MoyVilla9

I might go see the Mets myself, Yankee tickets are slightly harder to get hold of! lol

jack presley

I love going to Citifield. Ok, apart from Wrigley Field it's the only ball park I've been too so I haven't go much to compare it too but I love going to games there (Mets are 8-7 and 1 rain out in my visits)

I love the '7 train to Shea' and the whole atmosphere around the place. Even now that the Mets are rubbish. There's nothing funnier than an angry New Yorker letting off steam after a reliever gives up the lead! Great grub, nice beer (Brooklyn Lager - best there!) and basically a great day/night out. Good luck, hope you enjoy it.

Good pitching match up Friday as well with Niese up against Lowe. Hopefully Jose will be back by then too.

8-10

jack presley wrote: »

I love going to Citifield. Ok, apart from Wrigley Field it's the only ball park I've been too so I haven't go much to compare it too but I love going to games there (Mets are 8-7 and 1 rain out in my visits)

I love the '7 train to Shea' and the whole atmosphere around the place. Even now that the Mets are rubbish. There's nothing funnier than an angry New Yorker letting off steam after a reliever gives up the lead! Great grub, nice beer (Brooklyn Lager - best there!) and basically a great day/night out. Good luck, hope you enjoy it.

Cheers buddy. Heading to see Cliff Lee pitch against the Dodgers Monday too and Yankees v Rangers on the 14th. Going to be a good trip.

jack presley

8-10 wrote: »

Cheers buddy. Heading to see Cliff Lee pitch against the Dodgers Monday too and Yankees v Rangers on the 14th. Going to be a good trip.

If you get there early, try a shake shack burger out past centre field. I say if you get there early because the queues can be 30 mins+ if there's any sort of a crowd there. It's good, but nothin's worth queueing that long for!

Coeus

8-10 wrote: »

Yankees v Rangers on the 14th

Would you believe I'm going to this game aswell. Possibility of it been Jeter's 3000th hit game, after todays game I make it that he needs 16 more and the Yankees have 10 games before then.

We aint flying to New York til next weekend so I have to miss out on a trip to Citi Field as the Mets are on road while I'm there. I had a great time out there last year, I think it was the fans that were around us that made it, they were hardcore up in the cheap seats but they accepted us and there was plenty of high fives as the Mets came from behind to win. I prefer it to Yankee stadium (which I went to 2 years ago) as I found the atmosphere was better and more importantly the food and beer was cheaper

I agree on Brooklyn Lager been a great beer. I went over to their brewery last year aswell. They do free tours at the weekend and cheap beer can be had there too

brilliantboy

So, are the Mariners surprising anyone yet?

jack presley

brilliantboy wrote: »

So, are the Mariners surprising anyone yet?

Yeah I suppose they are. I'd be even more surprised though if they were still only a couple of games out in September. Fair play to them though. It's good to see teams punch above their weight. Pittsburgh are another team doing better than expected.

Coeus

jack presley wrote: »

It's good to see teams punch above their weight. Pittsburgh are another team doing better than expected.

I would add Arizona to that list...

Tampa Bay doing better than I expected and they have decent pitching so could hang around this season...

smackbunnybaby

Verlander has been amazing this year!

bonerm

Hi, can someone explain why the Chicago Cubs didn't play any games at Fenway Park between 1918-2011? I know format of the competition means you play some teams more often than others but I would have thought every combination of fixtures would arrise at least once in a while?

MoyVilla9

bonerm wrote: »

Hi, can someone explain why the Chicago Cubs didn't play any games at Fenway Park between 1918-2011? I know format of the competition means you play some teams more often than others but I would have thought every combination of fixtures would arrise at least once in a while?

I don't know why, I didn't even know that they had not played in Boston in that length, but what I'd reckon the reason is due to Interleague play being introduced in 1997. Before that American League and National League teams did not meet during the regular season at all - the only time they would meet is in the Playoffs.

jack presley

MoyVilla9 wrote: »

the only time they would meet is in the Playoffs.

Not even the playoffs, just the World Series. And as both of these clubs were 'cursed', the chances of both reaching the WS in the same year was never going to happen.

Why they were never scheduled to play there since Interleague play started in 97, I don't know?

smackbunnybaby

Did Red Sox and Cubs nearly meet in the 2003 World Series?

Both losing Finalists in AL and NL to Yankees and Marlins in game 7s?

That was the Bartman year for the cubs.

McLoughlin

smackbunnybaby wrote: »

Did Red Sox and Cubs nearly meet in the 2003 World Series?

Both losing Finalists in AL and NL to Yankees and Marlins in game 7s?

That was the Bartman year for the cubs.

Correct Cubs and Sox both lost 4-3 in the CS due to the Billy Goat,Steve Bartman and The Bambino

McLoughlin

1997 to 2001 the NL east played the AL east and the same with the west and central divisons, In 2002 the league began alternating which divisions played which divisions that year the American League East played the National League West, the American League Central played the National League East, and the American League West played the National League Central but geographic rivals were kept.

New York Mets have never hosted the Chicago White Sox
Los Angeles Dodgers have never hosted the Tampa Bay Rays
Yankees have not hosted the Dodgers in Interleague
Kansas City Royals have never hosted the Atlanta Braves
Toronto Blue Jays have never hosted the San Diego Padres
Oakland Athletics have never hosted the Chicago Cubs
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have never hosted the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals have never hosted the Texas Rangers
New York Yankees had not hosted the Milwaukee Brewers since the Brewers were realigned into the NL in 1998
Atlanta Braves have not hosted the Minnesota Twins since the 1991 World Series
Baltimore Orioles had not hosted the Cincinnati Reds since the 1970 World Series

jack presley

McLoughlin wrote: »

1997 to 2001 the NL east played the AL east and the same with the west and central divisons, In 2002 the league began alternating which divisions played which divisions that year the American League East played the National League West, the American League Central played the National League East, and the American League West played the National League Central but geographic rivals were kept.

New York Mets have never hosted the Chicago White Sox
Los Angeles Dodgers have never hosted the Tampa Bay Rays
Yankees have not hosted the Dodgers in Interleague
Kansas City Royals have never hosted the Atlanta Braves
Toronto Blue Jays have never hosted the San Diego Padres
Oakland Athletics have never hosted the Chicago Cubs
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have never hosted the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals have never hosted the Texas Rangers
New York Yankees had not hosted the Milwaukee Brewers since the Brewers were realigned into the NL in 1998
Atlanta Braves have not hosted the Minnesota Twins since the 1991 World Series
Baltimore Orioles had not hosted the Cincinnati Reds since the 1970 World Series

That's good to know. Good stats, thanks!

Iang87

not sure the full story but it appears that selig has decided to bend the dodgers over and **** them

The dodgers agreed a tv deal which would help them big time in the financial situation but selig said no to it. I found it very amusing to learn Selig also vetoed the Mccourt divorce which is just epic

jack presley

I think Selig's reasoning was that a big chunk of the money from the TV deal was going to be used to pay off the divorce and go into the pockets of the 2 McCourts personally and not to the team.

jack presley

Irish night at the Brooklyn Cyclones on 7 July. Check out this tacky hat/jersey combo!

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=7284657&l=b46daf7933&id=40490112716

8-10

Can't wait for Beckett v Lee tonight!

krustydoyle

Mr Grienke just showed why he'll never be an elite pitcher.. 7 runs in less than 3 innings against the Yankees tonight

paulelectronica

Great result for the Mets last night. last 3 results have been great. hope we can keep it up now. Reyes is playing great lately.