MLB 2016 Season Thread

Bonniedog

krustydoyle wrote: »

Has someone been caught for PED's today??

Friend of mine text me saying there has but I'm too busy to check online..

Collabello of Toronto suspended for 80 games for testing positive according to ESPN.

Bonniedog

Boston benefitting from some terrible pitching here from Feldman. 3 runs top of the first, most of them walks.

circular flexing

A couple of weeks ago I was about the write "same ****, different year" for Mariners, but they've since gone onto win 8 out of 11 including road series wins against the Indians, Angels and Yankees. They are now top of AL West (but only with a 10-9 record). Sort of feels like things are coming together for them. The starting rotation could be more consistent.

I went to see them play @ Angels on Saturday (of course it was the only game of the series they lost). Angels Stadium is really starting to show it's age and is pretty terrible compared to Safeco Field. Food options were not great either and it was $14(!) for premium beer. Still there was a good fireworks display at the end. I've now been to 5 of the 30 stadiums (Angels Stadium, Citi Field, O.Co Coliseum, AT&T Park, Safeco Field). They sure love Mike Trout down there.

TimRiggins

Bluejays pitching is a HUGE problem right now. Don't wanna see Dickey starting again and the bullpen is losing us too many games. Worrying times.

8-10

TimRiggins wrote: »

Bluejays pitching is a HUGE problem right now. Don't wanna see Dickey starting again and the bullpen is losing us too many games. Worrying times.

I think that the AL East might be the weakest division in baseball right now, which is unusual

Waitsian

TimRiggins wrote:

Bluejays pitching is a HUGE problem right now. Don't wanna see Dickey starting again and the bullpen is losing us too many games. Worrying times.

It's still too early to be concerned. They had the same record this time last year. Cecil and Storen will come good; Dickey I don't know but he'll be starting for the foreseeable future, that's for sure.

When everything starts clicking they'll start winning series, mark my words. Let's see where they're at in August.

jack presley

mod9maple wrote: »

It's still too early to be concerned. They had the same record this time last year. Cecil and Storen will come good; Dickey I don't know but he'll be starting for the foreseeable future, that's for sure.

When everything starts clicking they'll start winning series, mark my words. Let's see where they're at in August.

I agree. No one's running away with that division so as long as they can stay around .500 or a couple of games above, they should should be relevant in August when it matters.

Waitsian

jack presley wrote:

I agree. No one's running away with that division so as long as they can stay around .500 or a couple of games above, they should should be relevant in August when it matters.

Exactly. The rotation is a strength, with Happ, Estrada, Stroman and even Sanchez who has started well despite one rough start. Dickey I don't know, but we'll see. Any team can strengthen a bp at the deadline and call ups from the minors.

As for the defense and offense - both some of the best in the majors. This team will make the playoffs, of that I'm sure. Far too early to worry.

circular flexing

mod9maple wrote: »

Exactly. The rotation is a strength, with Happ, Estrada, Stroman and even Sanchez who has started well despite one rough start. Dickey I don't know, but we'll see. Any team can strengthen a bp at the deadline and call ups from the minors.

As for the defense and offense - both some of the best in the majors. This team will make the playoffs, of that I'm sure. Far too early to worry.

Cecil's numbers (0-4,5.19 ERA) are crazy. No way should a reliever have those kind of numbers at this stage of the year, especially W-L

I do agree that it's too early to tell, but there are some worrying signs.

jack presley

Bart v Billy

http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/21753540/v629910683/cinnym-hamilton-races-colon-to-first-on-ground-ball

I reckon Bart would have beaten him had the throw been on line.

Bonniedog

Padres getting another right hiding! They actually started well and were 4 - 3 in middle of third. Giants not finished yet. ........

8-10

Bonniedog wrote: »

Padres getting another right hiding! They actually started well and were 4 - 3 in middle of third. Giants not finished yet. ........

Started well?? Did you watch Cashner in the first couple of innings?

Bonniedog

It's all relative isn't it!

jack presley

Arieta's streak of not giving up a run at home ends at 52 & 2/3s. He was even toying with them in the first by loading the bases but then got out of it unscathed.

jack presley

Another PED suspension with Miami's Dee Gordon getting 80 games. That's a big one as he was the NL batting champion last season.

ClashCityRocker

He's been working extra hard with the Marlins hitting coach :pac: Big blow for them of course

Is it fair to say the Phillies aren't going to be anywhere near as bad as was thought? Didn't see any of the games but would never have expected them to sweep the Nats and give up so few runs in the process.

8-10

ClashCityRocker wrote: »

Is it fair to say the Phillies aren't going to be anywhere near as bad as was thought? Didn't see any of the games but would never have expected them to sweep the Nats and give up so few runs in the process.

PaddyPower had their win line at 65 this year and I took the over, think the Braves will be finishing bottom. Posted my division prediction over on the Predictions thread btw so not aftertiming. I bet on all 30 win lines each year and last year was my worst since I started - I went 15 wins and 15 losses!

I have Phils @67 and on early season form I think that's conservative. Delighted to see it as they're my NL team

jack presley

I was listening to a Phillies beat writer on some podcast or radio show about a week ago and he was saying that he didn't expect the good run to continue deep into the season. As well as the usual small sample reason, he was saying that the pitchers are quite young and havent pitched full seasons before. So following the 10% rule, they'll probably be shut down or have their innings scaled back well before the season ends.

The future does look bright though. And they've buckets of money going forward too apparently.

8-10

jack presley wrote: »

I was listening to a Phillies beat writer on some podcast or radio show about a week ago and he was saying that he didn't expect the good run to continue deep into the season. As well as the usual small sample reason, he was saying that the pitchers are quite young and havent pitched full seasons before. So following the 10% rule, they'll probably be shut down or have their innings scaled back well before the season ends.

The future does look bright though. And they've buckets of money going forward too apparently.

Ryan Howard's contract expiring is an extra $25m

Waitsian

8-10 wrote:

Ryan Howard's contract expiring is an extra $25m

What the heck happened to him? Injuries? Wasn't he once meant to be the next big thing?

jack presley

mod9maple wrote: »

What the heck happened to him? Injuries? Wasn't he once meant to be the next big thing?

Age.

He was great in his prime (around 08-10) when the Phillies were good. Along with Rollins, Utley etc. they had a great line up. But the Philies overpaid him with his current contract that no one would take.

8-10

jack presley wrote: »

Age.

He was great in his prime (around 08-10) when the Phillies were good. Along with Rollins, Utley etc. they had a great line up. But the Philies overpaid him with his current contract that no one would take.

Such a good team. I have great memories of being in Philadelphia bars for their pennant win and World Series in 2009

Bonniedog

8-10 wrote: »

PaddyPower had their win line at 65 this year and I took the over, think the Braves will be finishing bottom. Posted my division prediction over on the Predictions thread btw so not aftertiming. I bet on all 30 win lines each year and last year was my worst since I started - I went 15 wins and 15 losses!

I have Phils @67 and on early season form I think that's conservative. Delighted to see it as they're my NL team

They have a reasonably good pitching staff. Starters all under 6.00 I think and that has dropped with their good run.

Definitely going in the right direction.

circular flexing

What's up with the Yankees this year?

This breaks down the numbers

http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/117814/whats-wrong-with-the-yankees-quite-a-bit

Will Chapman or Girardi get the boot?

jack presley

circular flexing wrote: »

What's up with the Yankees this year?

This breaks down the numbers

http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/117814/whats-wrong-with-the-yankees-quite-a-bit

Will Chapman or Girardi get the boot?

Subconsciously thinking about Chapman's suspension ending?I presume you mean Cashman.

Age catching up with the hitters is one problem isn't it? A-Rod out injured now too. Poor average but at least he was hitting the odd bomb.

MoyVilla9

circular flexing wrote: »

What's up with the Yankees this year?

This breaks down the numbers

http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/117814/whats-wrong-with-the-yankees-quite-a-bit

Will Chapman or Girardi get the boot?

My god. If I was Cashman I think I'd rather get fired than have to fix that.

For me, this is a team that overachieved last season. We have a home run team that doesn't actually hit home runs. Good luck with that.

8-10

MoyVilla9 wrote: »

My god. If I was Cashman I think I'd rather get fired than have to fix that.

For me, this is a team that overachieved last season. We have a home run team that doesn't actually hit home runs. Good luck with that.

Wasn't it last year or the year before that the team had more players in their 40's than in their 20's?

jack presley

Just catching upon last night's stuff now. Bloody hell, Jake Arieta is unbelievable.

jack presley

http://espn.go.com/blog/mlb/rumors/post/_/id/24163/mlb-rumor-central-who-will-attend-tim-lincecums-showcase

Tim Lincecum looking for a job. I'd love if he was able to come back and be effective, even if it's out of the bullpen. I loved watching him in his heyday.

jack presley

More PED suspensions on the way apparently (praying for no Mets on the list as I type)

http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/15458724/more-ped-busts-coming-major-league-baseball-soon

Doodah7

Another comfortable win for the Cubs and a sweep of the Pirates. First team to 20 wins and a six game lead in the Division. Nats up next at Wrigley and will be a different prospect...

jack presley

tallpaul wrote: »

Another comfortable win for the Cubs and a sweep of the Pirates. First team to 20 wins and a six game lead in the Division. Nats up next at Wrigley and will be a different prospect...

Definitely the series to watch this weekend. Won't mean anything come October but should be good to watch nonetheless.

Igotadose

Probably not news to most of you, but I discovered this yesterday and was able to watch the Mets destroy the hated Braves live, with an 'o.k' stream to here in the hinterlands of West Kerry:

https://www.reddit.com/r/MLBStreams/

I don't know how they can be giving away mlb.tv for free, but so be it, they don't ask for any information, and even though the web page wanted Adblock turned off, I ignored it and it worked fine.

Back to the Mets, Stephen Matz was really impressive - read somewhere that if you drop his first start of the season, his ERA is under 1. Didn't even seem to work hard. Conforto's in a bit of a slump but geeze, what a babyface! So young and so much potential! And Neil Walker and Asdrubal Cabrera look like great pickups, Jon Niese got lit up for the Pirates.

Even with Harvey scuffling it's barely a blip on the season. Can't wait till mid-May, bring on the gNats. Next is a west coast trip, chance to beat up on SD, Colorado and the Dodgers.

Bonniedog

jack presley wrote: »

Just catching upon last night's stuff now. Bloody hell, Jake Arieta is unbelievable.

Still early days, but the Cubs stats are pretty amazing. Barring injuries they may very well beat the goat this year.

Just over 2/1 to win the league is great price.

Igotadose

Bonniedog wrote: »

Still early days, but the Cubs stats are pretty amazing. Barring injuries they may very well beat the goat this year.

Just over 2/1 to win the league is great price.

Ehh... 2015 NLCS... Bring on the Cubs for round 2. Beat 'em in '69, Beat 'em in '15, only time my Mets lost when it mattered the Cubs couldn't get past the Padres. My money's on the Goat!

jack presley

jack presley wrote: »

More PED suspensions on the way apparently (praying for no Mets on the list as I type)

http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/15458724/more-ped-busts-coming-major-league-baseball-soon

Oh oh. Looks like my fears are coming true. Rumours are that it is a Met (well according to one source on my Twitter feed). Please be Eric Campbell.

krustydoyle

Its Matt Harvey (runs away laughing) hehehehehe

jack presley

krustydoyle wrote: »

Its Matt Harvey (runs away laughing) hehehehehe

If it is him, whatever he was taking isn't doing him any good as he's been their worst pitcher by far this season. Maybe he needs to talk to one of A-Rod's guys and get some better stuff.

Better not be Thor though. We're f'ed if it is.

None of the main Mets reporters are reporting anything though so hopefully that first guy was talking crap.

kirk buttercup

Im no expert ( far from it actually) but how good are the cubs to watch this year. Im loving them

krustydoyle

How much credit does maddon get??

Or is it all Epstein's??

SantryRed

The Cubs are setting us all up for a great fall come September

kirk buttercup

SantryRed wrote:

The Cubs are setting us all up for a great fall come September

Maybe but its so much fun to watch right now. I support the red sox but this year im definitely cheering for the cubs too hope they do something . Love watching them at the moment

Coeus

Yankees are in danger of being out of contention by Memorial day. CC down earlier today (not that he is great but he is an experienced arm in the rotation) and now Ellsbury has just limped off. When it rains it pours...

circular flexing

Coeus wrote: »

Yankees are in danger of being out of contention by Memorial day. CC down earlier today (not that he is great but he is an experienced arm in the rotation) and now Ellsbury has just limped off. When it rains it pours...

They still got out of it today..somehow. Some dodgy strike calls against Ortiz during his last at bat.

Bonniedog

circular flexing wrote: »

They still got out of it today..somehow. Some dodgy strike calls against Ortiz during his last at bat.

He lost the plot altogether!

Last call against him was over the plate in fairness,

jack presley

Kevin Pillar is like Superman in the outfield.

circular flexing

Good grief. Bartolo Colon just homered.

jack presley

circular flexing wrote: »

Good grief. Bartolo Colon just homered.

And some people want the DH in the National League....!!!!!

Great stuff though. I loved the contrast in speed between his trot around the bases and Billy Hanilton scoring for the Reds on a single tonight. Bart was probably st his top speed too.

jack presley

A couple of unlucky passed balls but still, the Nats are making Jake Arieta look human today. 2 runs scored and they've driven up his pitch count.

jack presley

Do you think teams are afraid to pitch to Bryce Harper?

His last 11 plate appearances - 9 walks (2 intentional), 1 sac fly and 1 hit by pitch.

UPDATE - add another IBB to that so now 12 plate appearances without an at-bat.