MLB: 2014 Regular Season Thread

MoyVilla9

Quietly enjoying how well Cueto has pitched!

RA was very good against the Yankees today, the same Yankees who finally started to hit last night. Pineda went six innings today also, looked strong. Good sign for the Yankees.

MilanPan!c

MoyVilla9 wrote: »

Quietly enjoying how well Cueto has pitched!

RA was very good against the Yankees today, the same Yankees who finally started to hit last night. Pineda went six innings today also, looked strong. Good sign for the Yankees.

Yankees are scoreless right now against the Blue Jays and Soriano is still without a hit this year. And of the five hits the Yanks have today, three are from one guy.

So the rest of the team has two hits over 8 innings.

Not exactly on fire.

Saying that, Toronto's bullpen isn't exactly brilliant so their 1-0 lead may not last for 6 more outs.

EDIT: Soriano strikes out (stranding two).

MoyVilla9

MilanPan!c wrote: »

Yankees are scoreless right now against the Blue Jays and Soriano is still without a hit this year. And of the five hits the Yanks have today, three are from one guy.

So the rest of the team has two hits over 8 innings.

Not exactly on fire.

Saying that, Toronto's bullpen isn't exactly brilliant so their 1-0 lead may not last for 6 more outs.

Far from on fire. With the Yankees I feel like I've seen this episode before.

MilanPan!c

MoyVilla9 wrote: »

Far from on fire. With the Yankees I feel like I've seen this episode before.

A rerun I'd happily watch.

EDIT:

Melky Cabrera just hit a homerun off the Yanks pen. 2-0 TOR in the 9th.

And now they've given up a ground rule double.

And now Jose Bautista has hit a 2 run homerun.

Final Score: 4-0 Toronto.

From the ESPN notes:

"The Yankees entered today as one of two teams yet to hit a HR this season (Royals are the other one)...This is the Yankees' 5th game of the season. The last time they started a season without a HR in the first 5 games of the season was 1990, when they went without a HR in their first 7 games.The 1990 Yankees finished 67-95 and in last place in a then 7-team AL East and had the worst record in the American League."

Waitsian

MilanPan!c wrote: »

Saying that, Toronto's bullpen isn't exactly brilliant

Two of them, Cecil and Delabar, made the ASG last year. Janssen (admittedly not playing tonite) was one of last season's best closers. Santos is great if he stays healthy. Loup's no push-over. The bullpen is a strength for the Jays. I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss them.

MilanPan!c

mod9maple wrote: »

Two of them, Cecil and Delabar, made the ASG last year. Janssen (admittedly not playing tonite) was one of last season's best closers. Santos is great if he stays healthy. Loup's no push-over. The bullpen is a strength for the Jays. I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss them.

They're grand. I just wouldn't trust them never give up a single run.

Once they had a two run lead though, that's safe.

8-10

MoyVilla9 wrote: »

Quietly enjoying how well Cueto has pitched!

RA was very good against the Yankees today, the same Yankees who finally started to hit last night. Pineda went six innings today also, looked strong. Good sign for the Yankees.

Watched the first 4, great matchup. Looking forward to Fernandez v Cashner tonight and really can't wait for Ramirez v Gray tomorrow.

MilanPan!c

The resurgence of Grady Sizemore continues. He'll be batting lead off tonight in Fenway.

Shocking!

MilanPan!c

Regarding best bullpens, etc., here's an interesting article with projected 2014 rankings:

[url]Http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/02/07/ranking-the-bullpens-2014-edition/[/url]

Toronto is projected at 7th best in the AL. Not too shabby! Yankees are ranked 14th, Red Sox 2nd.

MilanPan!c

Brewers (once PED'd up) slugger Braun is looking to be on the DL for a bit:

[url]Http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/02/07/ranking-the-bullpens-2014-edition/[/url]

8-10

8-10 wrote: »

Watched the first 4, great matchup. Looking forward to Fernandez v Cashner tonight and really can't wait for Ramirez v Gray tomorrow.

Gray replaced by Milone. Goddamn that was a good matchup

JONJO THE MISER

Some game at Fenway.

MilanPan!c

JONJO THE MISER wrote: »

Some game at Fenway.

Madness

EDIT:

After two defensive miscues by the Brewers, Napoli hits a 3 run homerun and the Sox are back within 1. And it's still just the third inning.

That's quickly followed by a 4 pitch walk to Bogaerts.

...

Buckholz had a rough 3rd and was only rescued by poor base running from the Brewers. Wild weird game. It's mostly down to the extreme cold in Boston. The crowd is all under blankets and in full winter gear.

jack presley

rockonollie wrote: »

Jack leaves and the Mets get their first hit of the game......I think we've found the problem

Ah, does this mean I can't watch any more games this season? I've paid €100 for MLB.TV...!!!!

All I can say about today's game is that the Mets were lucky Chapman wan't around. There was no way the bases would have been loaded if he was on the mound. But we need a bit of good fortune so we'll take it.

Benimar

The O's pitching staff have 4 clean innings from 42 pitched so far. It's only once through the rotation but it was the main area of concern entering the season, so they need to get it sorted fairly lively.

Easy one tonight though, it's only Verlander!

jack presley

MilanPan!c wrote: »

The resurgence of Grady Sizemore continues. He'll be batting lead off tonight in Fenway.

Shocking!

0-4 with a walk. Not the OBP you want from your lead off man.

MilanPan!c

jack presley wrote: »

0-4 with a walk. Not the OBP you want from your lead off man.

By far his worst game back.

On the "year" he's hitting .215 with one HR in 3 games. He's also made diving catches, smashed into a wall and stolen a base.

That's a higher average than Jeter, Beltran or Soriano have at the moment as well.

Considering that many never thought he'd play baseball again, I'd say it's quite the comeback.

The Reservoir Dubs Anchorman

MilanPan!c wrote: »

By far his worst game back.

On the "year" he's hitting .215 with one HR in 3 games. He's also made diving catches, smashed into a wall and stolen a base.

That's a higher average than Jeter, Beltran or Soriano have at the moment as well.

Considering that many never thought he'd play baseball again, I'd say it's quite the comeback.

Like Jack said you would want more from your lead off . Great story though, comes across as a genuinely nice guy.

jack presley

The Reservoir Dubs Anchorman wrote: »

Like Jack said you would want more from your lead off . Great story though, comes across as a genuinely nice guy.

What's the story with Harper today? Benched or just being rested?

MilanPan!c

The Reservoir Dubs Anchorman wrote: »

Like Jack said you would want more from your lead off . Great story though, comes across as a genuinely nice guy.

Well. He's had one shot at playing lead off. A bit hard to judge him on that. As a hitter he's doing better than many guys out there.

Give him two or three chances at batting lead off before deciding if he's any good.

jack presley

MilanPan!c wrote: »

Well. He's had one shot at playing lead off. A bit hard to judge him on that. As a hitter he's doing better than many guys out there.

Give him two or three chances at batting lead off before deciding if he's any good.

Way too early to be making judgements on him (or any player/team) full stop. Whether it be his OBP as a lead off guy (and I was guilty of that) or whether it be any player's average or any team's record. It's one week. Comparing a player's average to other players after 5 games is crazy.

No judgements should be made until around a month into the season and everything has settled down.

MilanPan!c

jack presley wrote: »

Way too early to be making judgements on him (or any player/team) full stop. Whether it be his OBP as a lead off guy (and I was guilty of that) or whether it be any player's average or any team's record. It's one week. Comparing a player's average to other players after 5 games is crazy.

No judgements should be made until around a month into the season and everything has settled down.

Completely agree.

My only point about him was that no one, even the Sox, thought he'd be this healthy.

To go from trying to make the team to lead off hitter, after years of injury and not playing at a pro-level is amazing.

I don't know if he'll have a career year - probably not - but even this much is an amazing result. IMO.

8-10

jack presley wrote: »

If the last two days are anything to go by, it'll be like a ghost town there although the weekends should attract more fans.

I like CitiField. I know hard core Mets fans prefer the old days at Shea but I was never there so can't compare but I've always had a good experience at CitiField, everything from the subway ride out and arriving at the stadium to meeting other fans etc.

It's a good crowd, helps that it's sunny. Collective groaning seems to be the thing to do here. Free wi-Fi though!

rockonollie

And this one belongs to the Reds........thank the lord for that......good news is that we get broxton back this week

jack presley

rockonollie wrote: »

And this one belongs to the Reds........thank the lord for that......good news is that we get broxton back this week

Good game and good series. Obviously disappointed they lost today but after going 0-3 to start the season, I'm happy with taking 2 out of 3. And the bullpen looked slightly better so that's a positive too.

The Reservoir Dubs Anchorman

jack presley wrote: »

What's the story with Harper today? Benched or just being rested?

Rested the reality is he is probably still not right from that collision. Not ideal but with strength in depth a good time to try to get his head right.

Benimar

Benimar wrote: »

The O's pitching staff have 4 clean innings from 42 pitched so far. It's only once through the rotation but it was the main area of concern entering the season, so they need to get it sorted fairly lively.

Easy one tonight though, it's only Verlander!

Told ya

The Reservoir Dubs Anchorman

Benimar wrote: »

Told ya

Playing really well at the moment. I like them for the Division right now even though its early if their pitching stays Healthy I think they will be top come the end. I still think the Blue Jays are better than their results indicate but they need Reyes and he just looks too fragile!

rockonollie

jack presley wrote: »

Good game and good series. Obviously disappointed they lost today but after going 0-3 to start the season, I'm happy with taking 2 out of 3. And the bullpen looked slightly better so that's a positive too.

Hey you got your walkoff grand slam........if nothing else, you'll have 1 highlight for the year

The Reservoir Dubs Anchorman

rockonollie wrote: »

Hey you got your walkoff grand slam........if nothing else, you'll have 1 highlight for the year

Rough schedule for your guys Ollie, with only series against the Cubs that look winnable. I think your prediction of .400 for the start of may is about right.

rockonollie

The Reservoir Dubs Anchorman wrote: »

Rough schedule for your guys Ollie, with only series against the Cubs that look winnable. I think your prediction of .400 for the start of may is about right.

Reinforcements are coming.....starting catcher is meeting the team in St. Louis today and expected to return from the DL either today or tomorrow, ditto for Broxton, so the bullpen will be slightly less nervous in the late innings.

The Reservoir Dubs Anchorman

rockonollie wrote: »

Reinforcements are coming.....starting catcher is meeting the team in St. Louis today and expected to return from the DL either today or tomorrow, ditto for Broxton, so the bullpen will be slightly less nervous in the late innings.

Your starting pitching has been better than I expected to be honest, Cueto has been pitching like an ace and looks fit. Tough game tonight Wacha looks very good, although massive rivalry game isnt it?

rockonollie

The Reservoir Dubs Anchorman wrote: »

Your starting pitching has been better than I expected to be honest, Cueto has been pitching like an ace and looks fit. Tough game tonight Wacha looks very good, although massive rivalry game isnt it?

Huge rivalry, but against Wacha is the one game that the Reds won in the opening series (1-0 walk off).....he goes against Cingrani, who doesn't get nearly as much recognition as he deserves.......Wacha v Cingrani is going to be it's own rivalry, 2 outstanding pitchers in their early 20s, game 7 of the season and they're already going toe to toe for the second time.

The Reservoir Dubs Anchorman

rockonollie wrote: »

Huge rivalry, but against Wacha is the one game that the Reds won in the opening series (1-0 walk off).....he goes against Cingrani, who doesn't get nearly as much recognition as he deserves.......Wacha v Cingrani is going to be it's own rivalry, 2 outstanding pitchers in their early 20s, game 7 of the season and they're already going toe to toe for the second time.

Yeah but you could hardly put that victory down to Wacha! He pitched an a great game. Cingrani is great as well. I would say runs will be at a premium tonight.

rockonollie

The Reservoir Dubs Anchorman wrote: »

Yeah but you could hardly put that victory down to Wacha! He pitched an a great game. Cingrani is great as well. I would say runs will be at a premium tonight.

A friend of mine works as the stat guy for the TV announcers for home reds games, he's one of the best in the business......he came up with this gem last week when they played.

Tony Cingrani has given up 5 hits or less in his last 19 starts, that's the longest such streak in over 100 years........there's also the fact that he's only started 19 games in his career......surprising that a guy that throws 80-85% fastballs has never given up more than 5 hits in a game.

The Reservoir Dubs Anchorman

rockonollie wrote: »

A friend of mine works as the stat guy for the TV announcers for home reds games, he's one of the best in the business......he came up with this gem last week when they played.

Tony Cingrani has given up 5 hits or less in his last 19 starts, that's the longest such streak in over 100 years........there's also the fact that he's only started 19 games in his career......surprising that a guy that throws 80-85% fastballs has never given up more than 5 hits in a game.

You realise we are jinxing him now :-)

Thats an incredible run.

rockonollie

The Reservoir Dubs Anchorman wrote: »

You realise we are jinxing him now :-)

Thats an incredible run.

I accept no responsibility......they Fox Sports Ohio guys have been talking about it all week, if anything, it'll be their fault.......they also mentioned that Cueto hadn't given up a hit against the Mets on Saturday, next pitch was a double.

rockonollie

This day in Reds history........Reds aquire Brandon Phillips from Cleveland for Jeff Stevens in 2006......Stevens since then has a 6.27 ERA in 33 appearances over 3 years in the bigs(pitched 2009-11 with Cubs) and is now pitching in independant baseball.......wonder who came out on top in that trade?

jack presley

rockonollie wrote: »

they also mentioned that Cueto hadn't given up a hit against the Mets on Saturday, next pitch was a double.

Hey, I thought I was getting the credit for that one!

rockonollie

jack presley wrote: »

Hey, I thought I was getting the credit for that one!

Did you watch the game yesterday?

jack presley

rockonollie wrote: »

Hey you got your walkoff grand slam........if nothing else, you'll have 1 highlight for the year

It wasn't just the grand slam that was the nice surprise. It was who hit it. Both players fighting for the first base job have been brutal for the past year or so, so Duda hitting 2 HRs on Friday and then Ike on Saturday certainly wasn't expected.

jack presley

rockonollie wrote: »

Did you watch the game yesterday?

Yeah I watched yesterday's game. That was some pitching performance from the Reds. 101 pitches and 75 for strikes. You can't expect to compete against that.

rockonollie

jack presley wrote: »

Yeah I watched yesterday's game. That was some pitching performance from the Reds. 101 pitches and 75 for strikes. You can't expect to compete against that.

And most of it from the guy who's just filling in.

At least we know that our new manager is a quick learner, LeCure was lights-out in the 8th on Saturday and he pulled him for Hoover in the 9th, leading to the grand-slam.

Parra pitched fantastic in the 8th yesterday, thankfully Price didn't dig his own grave with fans by pulling him in the 9th. Lecure, like Parra, are middle relief guys, so they easily have the stamina to pitch 2 or even 3 innings.....there was absolutely no reason to take Lecure out on saturday the way he was pitching.

The Reservoir Dubs Anchorman

So whats everyone's take so far of their respective teams? Personally I am happy to be 4-2 the Nats could be alot worse were it not for a couple of implosions by the Mets relievers. I am a little worried about our lack of power against the Braves who seem to have our number right now. I also am not delighted by how good Miami look, they really look capable at the moment. Although its a really long year still and lots to come They just have surprised me with their run scoring ability.

rockonollie

The Reservoir Dubs Anchorman wrote: »

So whats everyone's take so far of their respective teams? Personally I am happy to be 4-2 the Nats could be alot worse were it not for a couple of implosions by the Mets relievers. I am a little worried about our lack of power against the Braves who seem to have our number right now. I also am not delighted by how good Miami look, they really look capable at the moment. Although its a really long year still and lots to come They just have surprised me with their run scoring ability.

It's been well covered on here so far......terrible start to the season for the Reds......but with 8 on the DL, it's not surprising.......I'm not taking the same apocolyptic view as other Reds fans right now..... 3 of their 4 losses were by 1 run, and the 4th was blowing a 1 run lead in the 9th.

Bullpen and position reinforcements expected back in the next 2-3 weeks will give us a better idea of where they're at......just need to hang on til then.

jack presley

The Reservoir Dubs Anchorman wrote: »

So whats everyone's take so far of their respective teams? Personally I am happy to be 4-2 the Nats could be alot worse were it not for a couple of implosions by the Mets relievers. I am a little worried about our lack of power against the Braves who seem to have our number right now. I also am not delighted by how good Miami look, they really look capable at the moment. Although its a really long year still and lots to come They just have surprised me with their run scoring ability.

I don't know to be honest. Obviously I'd prefer if they were 6-0 but 2-4 is probably a fair assessment of where they are. It's too early in the season to make a full assessment as there have only been 2 series and they haven't gone on the road yet so I'll reserve judgement for another couple of weeks yet.

Waitsian

The Reservoir Dubs Anchorman wrote: »

So whats everyone's take so far of their respective teams?

Jays are 3-4, not bad. Bullpen looks good, hitting hasn't really clicked yet but it will. Defensively much better this year, at all positions. Only weakness is SP, but hopefully Hutchison and McGowan can do as well as Buehrle and Dickey. Morrow? Who knows.

Satisfactory, can do better.

mikemac1

Ubaldo Jiminez handed the largest contract the Orioles ever gave to a pitcher.

By all accounts looked good in spring training but he's stinking it up in Yankee Stadium today

Walked 5, gave up 4 runs and got pulled in the 5th leaving the bases loaded

8-10

rockonollie wrote: »

And most of it from the guy who's just filling in.

At least we know that our new manager is a quick learner, LeCure was lights-out in the 8th on Saturday and he pulled him for Hoover in the 9th, leading to the grand-slam.

Parra pitched fantastic in the 8th yesterday, thankfully Price didn't dig his own grave with fans by pulling him in the 9th. Lecure, like Parra, are middle relief guys, so they easily have the stamina to pitch 2 or even 3 innings.....there was absolutely no reason to take Lecure out on saturday the way he was pitching.

I was impressed by Parra yesterday alright. Poor game overall. 6th inning probably the highlight, Reds just kept hitting.

rockonollie

8-10 wrote: »

I was impressed by Parra yesterday alright. Poor game overall. 6th inning probably the highlight, Reds just kept hitting.

If only consecutive hits was something they'd do more than once a week.......