2008 MLB Thread

[Red001]

hos i suspect it will be hard for you to see teams other than the big market ones because of ratings and ad dollars and mlb's desire to push them. a team to watch is the tampa bay rays. i expect cleveland to have laporta playing after the all star break,jackson is now on his 3rd team toronto traded to the brewers 2 or 3 years ago as part of the lyle overbay trade.c.c. might like cleveland but he wants the money he already turned down $72 million from them.

red001

 

[shayd]

And just as I thought our roster was set, my A's parted ways with my boy Rich Harden.

 

[D-rock]

Also baseball doesn't have a time clock, which makes it unique among major sports, and lends a lot to the evolution of each individual game.

Baseball might be the only major sport in the world that is turn based. I just wish the umpires would cut down on letting the players screw around before the pitch like they used to decades ago. That way the games wouldn't drag on and more people would like it.

One of the major benefits to have a turned based game like baseball is that it allows for statistical analysis that just can't be done to the same level with other sports.

 

[hos]

@d-rock: ever heard about tennis or maybe golf?

ok, that's not team against team, but you have turns. at least, kind of

 

[KungFuDude]

And just as I thought our roster was set, my A's parted ways with my boy Rich Harden.

I just now realized his name is Dick Harden. I'm actually kind of jealous in a weird way. Cubbies got all the guys with the funny names now!

TheRiot
FukUDoMe
Dick Harden

 

[pancha]

Interest in the game is hard to explain. . . I have to agree that those that know more about it enjoy it more than novices more so than any other sport.

Part of what makes it so great is that somehow, that heart of the order always seems to come up when the game is on the line. There is a lot of individual efforts involved, but you are often bailed out by your fellow teammates, either with a clutch hit, a great defensive play, etc. . .

Also, I have never watched a sport so often in which you are constantly seeing something new, whether it be a crazy bounce, an unassisted triple play, etc

I think that is what the enthusiasts love so much. . . the unpredictability. . . .sometimes its the least likely guy that comes thru to save the day when the star player failed in the same situation. . . ok, gotta get back to the Sox game. . .extra innings!

 

[Dean Wormer]

I just wish the umpires would cut down on letting the players screw around before the pitch like they used to decades ago. That way the games wouldn't drag on and more people would like it.

That's just a bunch of p.r. bullshit from Bud Selig. The reason games last so long is the mandatory 2 minutes 30 seconds of commercial breaks between each half inning. Right there that adds 45 minutes to the length of the game.

 

[senob44]

Interest in the game is hard to explain. . . I have to agree that those that know more about it enjoy it more than novices more so than any other sport.

Part of what makes it so great is that somehow, that heart of the order always seems to come up when the game is on the line. There is a lot of individual efforts involved, but you are often bailed out by your fellow teammates, either with a clutch hit, a great defensive play, etc. . .

Also, I have never watched a sport so often in which you are constantly seeing something new, whether it be a crazy bounce, an unassisted triple play, etc

I think that is what the enthusiasts love so much. . . the unpredictability. . . .sometimes its the least likely guy that comes thru to save the day when the star player failed in the same situation. . . ok, gotta get back to the Sox game. . .extra innings!

Good points pancha! I love the unpredictability. You could be 100 runs down and two outs in your half of the ninth and you could still win! Ridiculous example but true!

Constantly seeing something new. Exactly! The other day I was watching a game and a team batted out of order! Never had seen that in pro baseball before. Now that's something that would only be exciting to a real baseball fan, but still.

And like you said, the least likely guy sometimes delivers the big blow, because everyone gets their chance at the plate, in the spotlight! Baseball combines the some of the best aspects of individual performance with some of the best aspects of team play.

Another thing I like: I think that in baseball, the philosophy of "any team can win on any given day" is most prevalent. It is not uncommon for the worst teams to defeat the best teams. Sometimes it just happens. Means every game is important, and you just have to watch to see what happens, because no outcome is ever predetermined. Also, you rarely see teams totally run away with a division title, making for better playoff races.

162 games. Some think it is too many, but I love it! You are assured there is baseball being played on any given day. Your favorite team plays 5 or often 6 or 7 games a week! After such a grueling season, you KNOW that the teams with the best record are truly the best. They have proven it.

 

[yaheem]

^^^ "Any team can win on any given day??? Fuck yes its true, like your Mets lighting up arguably the best pitcher in the NL yesterday? What the hell was that? Goddamn baseball is aggravating.

 

[shayd]

I just now realized his name is Dick Harden. I'm actually kind of jealous in a weird way. Cubbies got all the guys with the funny names now!

TheRiot
FukUDoMe
Dick Harden

It'll be nice for once to be able to watch him (if I catch any more of the Cubs games this year) without having to chew my nails off waiting to see if his arm falls off. No doubt the Cubs got the best pitcher they could at this point, but once again as an A's fan I'm sad to see yet another mainstay go.

 

[maildude]

In The Tiger Cage: Detroit's Baseball News:

--After the split in Seattle, the Kittens find themselves just above .500. Says GM Dave Dombrowski: "We've got a long haul to go." Yep. And probably six fewer wins ahead with Sebathia out of the division.
--Team owner Mike Illitch is still glowing from his Red Wings' NHL championship. Maybe he should play his team's baseball games in Joe Louis...or make them wear skates. Either way, Gary Sheffield is undaunted. "We can make up any deficit." Start with your team's abhorrent deficit of runs.
--That's tendinitis in D-Train's knee. Just give him some NSAIDs and tell him to play. Meanwhile, the minor league merry-go-round continues, with the exodus of RP Zach Miner, and the rehab of C Bobby Inge. Also RF Magglio Ordonez continues on the DL. Better get back, Maggs. Or you'll have to give back some of that $15 mill per year!
--Lastly, the saddest day in Tiger history since the death of Ty Cobb...I mean, Norm Cash...is at hand. Manager Jim Leyland will reportedly attend the demolition wearing an all-black dugout jacket.

 

[Red001]

shayd, harden was a goner as as he proved healthy the cubs covered thier bets by making gaudain part of the deal. yaheem tim l.'s stuff and control have been off the last few starts they need to watch his innings as it would be nice if they don't overwork him to soon.

red001

 

[Becks...poamr]

Getting back to what hos has posted...

I'm a huge baseball fan...well, I'm not much into the whole stat thing (I don't live and die by them, I mean).

However, most of the time I can't stand to watch the game on TV. I LOVE being at the stadium and I like listening to it on the radio (Bob Uecker love), but TV makes it so boring. They get to choose what you get to see. Grrrrrrrr.

 

[Red001]

baseball for most is hard to watch on tv but i used to do homework while the games was on. so the mariners gave up on Sexson finally and are finding that Bedard isn't quite the ace they figured on, oh well with sherill starting to cool of the player to watch is Adam Jones who is figuring out that he can hit anybody and maybe next year we will see Chris Tilliman starting for them. I hope that Cleveland calls up Laporta after the break intsalls him at first at watch him hit 15-25 hr's in the second half.

red001

 

[senob44]

I hope that Cleveland calls up Laporta after the break intsalls him at first at watch him hit 15-25 hr's in the second half.

A lot of people think that Cleveland will do that, since they are wallowing in futility and have nothing to lose. Just a feeling, but I actually think they won't call him up until the roster expansion, then look to him being a replacement for Hafner right out of the gate next year. Or who knows, they may keep him as an outfielder.


I'm just happy my Mets are on track having won 6 in a row after sweeping the Giants. Next up is the Rockies. The Mets are still 1 1/2 games back of the Phillies, as PHI has won their last two.

 

[D-rock]

That's just a bunch of p.r. bullshit from Bud Selig. The reason games last so long is the mandatory 2 minutes 30 seconds of commercial breaks between each half inning. Right there that adds 45 minutes to the length of the game.

It's not like the previous games from long ago had no commercial time at all. Though I don't dispute it's more than before. It would help if they cut down on commercial time, like by 20 minutes or so, but I have also seen games where it literally gets to the point where it takes almost a minute between each pitch. That's not even counting the times the pitcher throws over to first just to do it or because he doesn't want to throw to the plate. Plus getting the commercials out would take a minor miracle now. Imposing a 20 second limit between each pitch would just mean they enforce rules they already have.

 

[squallumz]

i was hoping to make it to some diamondback games this year.

 

[senob44]

i was hoping to make it to some diamondback games this year.

You should go! They're in first last time I checked even though their record isn't so hot.

The Mets won again today, their seventh in a row, defeating Colorado 2-1 on a Damion Easley 8th-inning solo HR. But I forgot the game was on TV and missed it!

With the Phillies winning their third in a row, the Mets are still in 2nd place, 1.5 games out. Interestingly enough the Marlins are keeping pace with the Mets and Phils and won their third in a row and are also 1.5 games out. Looks like an exciting race for the division coming up on the other side of the All-Star break.

Looks like some good races developing all across baseball as no division leader has more than a 4.5 game lead!

Interesting to see the Cubs reclaimed the "best record in baseball" now that Tampa Bay has lost 5 straight (right after winning 5 straight, no less). What a streaky, delightfully quirky game!

 

[squallumz]

You should go! They're in first last time I checked even though their record isn't so hot.

The Mets won again today, their seventh in a row, defeating Colorado 2-1 on a Damion Easley 8th-inning solo HR. But I forgot the game was on TV and missed it!

With the Phillies winning their third in a row, the Mets are still in 2nd place, 1.5 games out. Interestingly enough the Marlins are keeping pace with the Mets and Phils and won their third in a row and are also 1.5 games out. Looks like an exciting division race, after the All-Star game.

Looks like some good races developing all across baseball as no division leader has more than a 4.5 game lead!

oh i know i should, their stadium isnt far from me at all. they lost to the phillies just earlier . if i had the funds, id go. finally got myself a new job so im playing catchup right now. but once basketball starts, ima be at the suns games for sure regardless.

 

[bodie54]

I'll bet Dodger fans are just thrilled by Andruw Jones' transformation following arthroscopic surgery

:1orglaugh
:rofl:
:rofl2:

Here's a thought, Dodgers. Despite your mediocrity you're only 2 games out of first place. Despite Pierre's injury you've got three other competent outfielders. Put aside your general manager's ego, bite the bullet for making a HUGE mistake, and sit the fucking strike out machine down!