2011 MLB Thread

[Azale]

woo walkoff grand slam to pull within 20 games of the Cubs in the NL Central.

 

[El Justo]

ed wade will be working in the phils scouting dept come 2012. you heard it here first

 

[naterator]

So which races can we concede?

Also a great come from behind win.

The only ones I'd say are safe are the NL East, and that AL wild card will come from the East.

 

[El Justo]

Clifton Phifer Lee was at it again tonight the man is mythical

 

[KMRblue1027]

Clifton Phifer Lee was at it again tonight the man is mythical

Still waiting for the statue announcement

Pence's baserunning antics were also quite funny.

 

[classical_hero]

The game was tight for 6 innings, but it only took one innings to give the game to Philly.

 

[Darkness]

So which races can we concede?

I really hate to say it, but the NL central is just about done too.
The Brewers have a 7 game lead over the Cards and it doesn't look like they'll be letting the Cards back in it...

 

[downtown]

I went to the Tribe/Chicago White Sox game last night...Carmona pitched his best game of the season, going 8 1/3 with 4 hits and a run (Cleveland's seasonlong ERA when downtown attends? 1.00!!!). I couldn't help but feel bad for Adam Dunn, who singled and was greeted with sarcastic cheers. Poor guy. It's not like his strikeouts were a secret before the Sox signed him.

Anyway, despite Cleveland just hanging around, and with a hee-uge series with Detroit looming that could launch us back into first, I just don't think we have enough juice to make the playoffs this season. Too many of our key contributors have been hurt. However, I am legitimately excited for next season, when the Indians should be favored to win the Central, and depending on how the offseason turns out, could do a little damage in the post season.

Basically everybody important is under contract. Here is how it would look.

OF: Brantely/Sizemore/Choo (not sure if they'll resign Fukudome, even though he has played well, since I doubt he'd get to play every day)
3B: Chisenhall/Hanahan
SS: Cabrera
2B: Kipnis/Donald
1B: LaPorta/Santana
C: Santana/Marson
DH: Hafner

SP: Ubaldo/Masterson/Tomlin/Carmona/Carasco (with Huff being the 6th guy)

When healthy, thats a really good rotation! Kipnis and Chisenhall have shown great promise when healthy (and Hanahan is AWESOME defensively), and Sizemore and Choo are excellent when healthy as well. I guess the only big places to upgrade would be at Catcher (since Lou Marson sucks) and 1B (since i suspect Matt Laporta also sucks).

That team could win 90 games though I think.

 

[El Justo]

can't say i disagree with that they look good going forward. maybe upgrade the back or middle of the rotation in the off-season and maybe add a bat and yeah, they could be near 90 if all the chips fall in the right places. acta may win mgr of the year this season, too.

 

[illram]

LaPorta was once a highly touted prospect in the Red Sox system... his inability to get on base pretty much dooms him. His VORP is 3.4 this year and his WARP is -.01. Kind of the definition of ho-hum, average player.

 

[Theige]

Brewers are dangerous.

Their starting pitching isn't Phillies good, but it's still damn good

 

[KMRblue1027]

Brewers are dangerous.

Their starting pitching isn't Phillies good, but it's still damn good

The Brewers are probably the one team I don't want to face in the playoffs. I'll take Atlanta, SF, or the D-backs over them.

 

[El Justo]

take a look at their home and away splits. this will be a problem come october.

 

[downtown]

LaPorta was once a highly touted prospect in the Red Sox system... his inability to get on base pretty much dooms him. His VORP is 3.4 this year and his WARP is -.01. Kind of the definition of ho-hum, average player.

Yeah, he was also one of the highest rated prospects with the Brewers...he was the centerpiece in the CC Sabathia trade. I agree, his power has been okay I guess, but he has been unable to put the ball in play, or stay healthy. We already have a guy like that...Carlos Santana, and he's been the more durable .235 "power" hitter. I know LaPorta is young, but he has never shown me anything to get particularly excited about.

Except for that home run he hit yesterday. That was nice. BIG series with the Tigers coming up...First Place by the end of the weekend?

 

[KMRblue1027]

take a look at their home and away splits. this will be a problem come october.

If the Phils keep up the current pace then we won't need to worry. Halladay and Lee will pitch games at home where the Brewers are awful. Then if Hamels has a good game (Less then 3 runs against) we sweep them.

PS: If the Phils make the WS I've been debating with a friend on what rotation to use. We agreed on Hamels, Lee, Halladay, Oswalt. The reason for this was that Lee and Hamels can hit so the would be better off at home and Doc would pitch game 7 where we would rather have the clutchiest pitcher of all over an extra bat. Plus Hamels has never lost a playoff game if he pitched game 1.

 

[Red Door]

Uh-Oh Phils, can't be choking away games like that in October.

 

[_random_]

Damnation to the entire city of Pittsburgh. And to all pirates. And to anyone who had a hand in the Reds losing that game who doesn't play for the Reds.

 

[Theige]

Granderson could be the favorite for AL MVP now.

Bautista slowing down a ton from his early season pace, and the Red Sox hitters will fight each other for votes, I think.

 

[El Justo]

another Clifton Phifer Lee sighting last night at the old ballpark. he's inching himself into Cy Young consideration. have i said before that i just love this guy? oh, and the mets suck btw

 

[KMRblue1027]

I missed the game sadly. i always want to watch the Lee and Doc starts . 10-0 is always good to hear though.