2014 MLB Thread

[SirHumper]

Joe Maddon opts out of his contact with the Rays. Speculation abounds. LA perhaps? Sources say no but....

http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2014/10/24/7061211/joe-maddon-rays-manager-dodgers

As has been speculated since Andrew Friedman took over as the general manager of the Dodgers it would seem Joe Maddon could be rejoining his old friend in L.A. However, according to rumors in the Detroit media that might not be the case... The Tigers have an experienced team with a lot of high profile stars, and are in a win-now mode. While they are certainly lacking in bullpen depth the major element that they are lacking is a tactical, experienced manager. Brad Ausmus’ lack of experience, led to the Tigers quick post-season demise. The Tigers do not have the time to wait around and hope that Ausmus learns from his mistakes.

Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski has stated recently that the entire Detroit Tigers organization is at the point where he expects to play for a World Series every season. While they won the division, they were run out of the playoffs faster than anyone could say “Fire Ausmus and hire Joe Maddon”.

 

[SirHumper]

World Series – Game 6

San Francisco Giants (3-2) at Kansas City Royals (2-3)

Probable Starting Pitchers: San Francisco - Jake Peavy (0-1, 7.20), Kansas City - Yordano Ventura (0-0, 3.38)

This is the same pitching match-up as game 2, when the Royals won 7-2 and Kelvin Herrera picked up the win in relief.

Jake Peavy and the Giants will attempt to close out the World Series in Game 6 tonight. But that may not be the case, teams going home down 3-2 in a best-of-seven World Series have won it all in eight of the last 10 instances. Also, the Giants have lost both of their series when they have been in this position. And of course, Kansas City won Games 6 and 7 at home to win the 1985 World Series.

Note: These teams met in the regular season, and the Royals completed a three-game sweep at Kauffman Stadium. If necessary, Game 7 will be played on Wednesday at Kauffman Stadium.

Prediction: The Royals win tonight forcing a game 7.

 

[SirHumper]

World Series – Game 7

San Francisco Giants (3-3) at Kansas City Royals (3-3)

Probable Starting Pitchers: San Francisco - Tim Hudson (0-1, 4.76) Kansas City - Jeremy Guthrie (1-0, 3.60)

To quote the great Yankee catcher, Yogi Berra “It’s not over, till it’s over” and tonight it will be over, after a 162-game regular season and three rounds of playoffs it all comes down to this. One game. Do or die for the Kansas City Royals and San Francisco Giants, as they battle for a World Series title in Game 7 tonight in Kansas City.

The Giants, are trying for their third championship in five years, while Kansas City will try to win just its second-ever title and first since 1985.

Prediction: The Royals behind their world class bullpen... win a close one.

 

[barebeaverlover]

WOW!!! Bumgarner throws 23 scoreless innings in the World Series. One for the ages. The play Panik made to turn a sure single into a double play. Unreal!! Congrats to the Giants. They played the game the way it's supposed to be played. Also, congrats to the Royals for a well played Series. Nobody expected them to be there & they went to game 7.

 

[Madison Mayhem]

I really enjoyed the Royals run! I was sad to see it end but what great series!!

 

[1sikkpuppy]

Holy Bumgarner Batman!

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

The whole world was behind the Royals. What a damn anticlimactic finish - to get THAT close - guy almost hits inside the parker and is sitting on 3rd. Damnit.

 

[Jagger69]

"The whole world", Scott? Hardly. I am not a Giants fan by any measure but fuck the Royals and their bandwagon fans. May Denkinger's curse forever haunt them!

Bumgarner's performance is perhaps the greatest feat of post-season domination and endurance that will ever be seen. He won 3 games for SF by completely shutting KC down. Worst thing about this series is now we'll have to listen ad nauseum to how the Giants are a lock for 2016.

 

[Mayhem]

"The whole world", Scott? Hardly. I am not a Giants fan by any measure but fuck the Royals and their bandwagon fans. May Denkinger's curse forever haunt them!

Bumgarner's performance is perhaps the greatest feat of post-season domination and endurance that will ever be seen. He won 3 games for SF by completely shutting KC down. Worst thing about this series is now we'll have to listen ad nauseum to how the Giants are a lock for 2016.

Actually, every ESPN Poll since the start of the Series had KC as the hugely overwhelming favorites. I only started having doubts going into Game 7, with Bumgarner rested. While 1985 will always rankle for me also, I wasn't really invested in this Series; so I just enjoyed good baseball. Especially enjoyed the lack of homeruns (no sarcasm).

Still want to know why anyone would want to rush the greatest sport ever invented.

 

[SirHumper]

"The whole world", Scott? Hardly. I am not a Giants fan by any measure but fuck the Royals and their bandwagon fans. May Denkinger's curse forever haunt them!

Bumgarner's performance is perhaps the greatest feat of post-season domination and endurance that will ever be seen. He won 3 games for SF by completely shutting KC down. Worst thing about this series is now we'll have to listen ad nauseum to how the Giants are a lock for 2016.

First, congratulations to the Giants, their manager Bruce Bochy and their fans on a well played exciting World Series.

But Bumgarner's performance being the greatest feat of post-season domination and endurance ever seen, I’m not so sure I agree with that statement. My thoughts go back to the 1968 World Series when the Tigers Mickey Lolich started and won three complete game victories over the St. Louis Cardinals (27 innings), beating Hall of Fame great Bob Gibson in game seven. In game seven Lolich was starting on only two days' rest but went the distance besting the great Cardinals ace. In addition to his pitching performance Lolich also hit a home run in game two. And the Tigers were only the third team at the time to come back from a three games to one deficit to win a best-of-seven World Series.

This was also the last World Series played before the introduction of division play and subsequent expansion of the postseason to include the play-off format.

Lolich’s performance in 1968 has been all but forgotten and lost to history by the mass media. It seems nobody ever mentions it anymore even here in Detroit.

 

[Jagger69]

Actually, every ESPN Poll since the start of the Series had KC as the hugely overwhelming favorites.

Hence my point. That isn't "the whole world" by a longshot. Fans without a sincere rooting interest always love the underdog so it would only figure that most of them would want KC to win. They didn't and that suits me just fine. I didn't think that it was an overly great WS to watch. Three of the games were blowouts and only two were decided by margins of less than 5 runs. I do appreciate the type of ball the Royals play and, like you, find the speed and baserunning game much more compelling than the 3-run homer but, for the sake of this series, Madison Bumgarner was the story.

 

[MustBeGood]

Congrats to the San Francisco Giants.

That was a great World Series and the Giants are the first to win a game 7 on the road since the 79' Pittsburgh Pirates "We are Family" team with Dave Parker and Willie Stargell.

 

[John_8581]

Congrats to the San Francisco Giants.

That was a great World Series and the Giants are the first to win a game 7 on the road since the 79' Pittsburgh Pirates "We are Family" team with Dave Parker and Willie Stargell.

Thank you.

"The whole world", Scott? Hardly. I am not a Giants fan by any measure but fuck the Royals and their bandwagon fans. May Denkinger's curse forever haunt them!

Bumgarner's performance is perhaps the greatest feat of post-season domination and endurance that will ever be seen. He won 3 games for SF by completely shutting KC down. Worst thing about this series is now we'll have to listen ad nauseum to how the Giants are a lock for 2016.

Hey .... Yes I'm a Giant fan. And yes, I probably said it first here (Post # 70 on page 3 of this thread.)

I don't mind. Really I don't. Because the St. Louis Cardinals seem to get all the odd years as recently as 2011 and 2013. So you shouldn't complain. Don't throw stones at glass houses. Just be grateful.

Cardinals and Giants can rule the world for all I care. Now THAT would be cool. Maybe we'll end up catching the Yankees.

 

[Jagger69]

I don't mind. Really I don't. Because the St. Louis Cardinals seem to get all the odd years as recently as 2011 and 2013. So you shouldn't complain. Don't throw stones at glass houses. Just be grateful.

Not true, amigo. The Cardinals haven't won the WS since 2011. Time before that was 2006. We made it to the series in 2013 but lost. Not bad but nowhere near what the Giants have done in recent years.

 

[TheAdmiral]

BBWAA Rookie of the Year Finalists

American League:
Jose Abreu, 1B, Chicago White Sox
Dellin Betances, P, New York Yankees
Matt Shoemaker, P, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

National League:
Jacob deGrom, P, New York Mets
Billy Hamilton, CF, Cincinnati Reds
Kolten Wong, 2B, St. Louis Cardinals

BBWAA Manager of the Year finalists

AL:
Mike Scioscia - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Buck Showalter - Baltimore Orioles
Ned Yost - Kansas City Royals

NL:
Bruce Bochy - San Francisco Giants
Clint Hurdle - Pittsburgh Pirates
Matt Williams - Washington Nationals

BBWAA Cy Young Award Finalists

AL:
Felix Hernandez - Seattle Mariners
Cory Kluber - Cleveland Indians
Chris Sale - Chicago White Sox

NL:
Johnny Cueto - Cincinnati Reds
Clayton Kershaw - Los Angeles Dodgers
Adam Wainwright - St. Louis Cardinals

 

[TheAdmiral]

BBWAA MVP Finalists

AL:
Michael Brantley, LF, Cleveland Indians
Victor Martinez, DH, Detroit Tigers
Mike Trout, CF, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

NL:
Clayton Kershaw, P, Los Angeles Dodgers
Andrew McCutchn, CF, Pittsburgh Pirates
Giancarlo Stanton, RF, Miami Marlins

 

[TheAdmiral]

Winners in Bold

BBWAA Rookie of the Year Finalists

American League:
Jose Abreu, 1B, Chicago White Sox
Dellin Betances, P, New York Yankees
Matt Shoemaker, P, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

National League:
Jacob deGrom, P, New York Mets
Billy Hamilton, CF, Cincinnati Reds
Kolten Wong, 2B, St. Louis Cardinals

BBWAA Manager of the Year finalists

AL:
Mike Scioscia - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Buck Showalter - Baltimore Orioles
Ned Yost - Kansas City Royals

NL:
Bruce Bochy - San Francisco Giants
Clint Hurdle - Pittsburgh Pirates
Matt Williams - Washington Nationals

BBWAA Cy Young Award Finalists

AL:
Felix Hernandez - Seattle Mariners
Corey Kluber - Cleveland Indians
Chris Sale - Chicago White Sox

NL:
Johnny Cueto - Cincinnati Reds
Clayton Kershaw - Los Angeles Dodgers
Adam Wainwright - St. Louis Cardinals

 

[TheAdmiral]

MVPs announced today

AL: Mike Trout (unanimous)
NL: Clayton Kershaw

 

[pool_hustler]

MVPs announced today


NL: Clayton Kershaw

Meh, I guess I'm ok with this. I would have been totally gung ho about it had they won the World Series with him contributing significantly. As it is those two disastrous innings vs the Cardinals take a little bit of luster off this trophy. Then again, on a team that finished 26 games over 500 he alone was 18 games over. Without him they'd have never even made the postseason.

 

[MustBeGood]

MVPs announced today

AL: Mike Trout (unanimous)
NL: Clayton Kershaw

Should of been Vic Martinez.

Trout's numbers dropped off this year from the two years he finished behind Miggy.