2011 MLB Thread

[Strider]

Good to know.

Bad night for Garcia last night. I think I've got to rescind my earlier season opinion of him; he's good, but he's not that good. A bit worrying to see him crack two starts in a row in the play-offs. Still, the game had a few parallels with the 1st game of the NLDS against the Phils, with us getting some runs against a difficult (not as difficult...) pitcher, getting blown away by a bad inning or two, and, despite the loss being the right result, there are a few things in there which give one some hope.

It's no secret that the brewers like hitting at home and Garcia doesn't like pitching on the road. If we can take just one game on the road from them I think we can probably win it in 7. The brewers are pretty horrible on the road (39-42 through the regular season).

 

[dgfred]

Kudos to the Cards . I am deeply disappointed in the Phils hitting.

 

[Darkness]

Pujols just tied the NLCS for the Cards. Nice...

 

[Lambert Simnel]

It's no secret that the brewers like hitting at home and Garcia doesn't like pitching on the road. If we can take just one game on the road from them I think we can probably win it in 7. The brewers are pretty horrible on the road (39-42 through the regular season).

Yeah, I was surprised that Lohse didn't start game 1, leaving Garcia to pitch in Busch. Any knowledge as to why that wasn't LaRussa's choice ? I checked Lohse's stats, and he's ok against the Brewers - maybe struggling against Ryan Braun, but then again, who doesn't? Lohse's splits show him as a slightly better road pitcher.

I found one quote from LaRussa on the rotation, made prior to the NLCS:

"We have an idea [of what the rotation will be], but we're going to spend more time to pull it together," La Russa said. "I think you can rest assured we'll try to get Chris Carpenter as often as we can, so two days' rest, four times."

 

[El Justo]

Tony Plush, time to pay the piper old boy. what a Royal Douche!

 

[NBAfan]

Boom-stick Cruz is back!

I like the Rangers chances to win it all. Who would have thought the Mavericks and Rangers could be champs in the same year?

 

[Lambert Simnel]

Tony Plush, time to pay the piper old boy. what a Royal Douche!

Whatever else, I guess he's not known for his glovework. And he's been strangely quiet on Twitter after last night's game...

Edit: But he has a website too! With a store for your T-Plush merchandise! (sorry, that should read "for your T-Plush Merchandise!!!!!"). And he has four alter-egos, not just one ? www.plonker.com The man should see a psychiatrist sometime soon.

 

[Lambert Simnel]

In the "credit where credit's due" department, Richie Weekes seems determined not to make anything of the blown call at 1st base on the inning ending DP in the Brewers' 5th. He made it to the bag before the throw, but was called out. Pretty unlikely to have changed the result, but I'm sure there are some Brewers fans who can construct a scenario where that's a game-changer.

Weekes said "You can't look at one call in baseball. It's just one of those things. You might think the game might've gone one way there, but that's baseball. You can't worry about that. It's just one play."

I think that's a pretty dignified reaction. Arguably Furcal got the same misjudgement an inning earlier, so the 1st base umpire was maybe just not on top of his game (or trying to even things up? Do they do that kinda thing?). But it's Weekes' reaction which impresses me.

 

[Strider]

In the "credit where credit's due" department, Richie Weekes seems determined not to make anything of the blown call at 1st base on the inning ending DP in the Brewers' 5th. He made it to the bag before the throw, but was called out. Pretty unlikely to have changed the result, but I'm sure there are some Brewers fans who can construct a scenario where that's a game-changer.

Weekes said "You can't look at one call in baseball. It's just one of those things. You might think the game might've gone one way there, but that's baseball. You can't worry about that. It's just one play."

I think that's a pretty dignified reaction. Arguably Furcal got the same misjudgement an inning earlier, so the 1st base umpire was maybe just not on top of his game (or trying to even things up? Do they do that kinda thing?). But it's Weekes' reaction which impresses me.

I have a baseball signed by Weeks from a year+ ago. Got the chance to talk to him for about 2-3 minutes. He is just a great guy all around; and a slightly under rated 2nd baseman. I have a great respect for the man.As for Mr. T-Plush, he can go to hell.

This post season has been another example that spending big money might buy you a spot into the postseason, but it by no means buys you a world series ring. The top 9 teams in payroll all missed out on the championship series.

 

[naterator]

I'm pulling for the Rangers now, just because I want Nolan Ryan to get another ring.

 

[Lambert Simnel]

Good performance by Fister - he's been pretty strong now for 6 or 7 starts in a row.

He was 3-12 at the end of July though with a 3.33 ERA before leaving the Mariners. I can't remember his name come up when we were talking about pitchers who lack run support, but that sounds brutal. 8-1 for the Tigers though - he must have loved getting traded.

 

[sophie]

I'm pulling for the Rangers now, just because I want Nolan Ryan to get another ring.

I'm pulling for the Rangers because I want the Rangers to get A ring.

 

[dgfred]

Washington should be kicked in the shin for not walking Cabrera. Regardless of V.Martinez hitting an HR in his first at bat, he was obviously hurt... he wasn't even swinging the bat at all in the on-deck circle. Cabrera could hit with a broomstick.
Heck, I would have walked him regardless of Martinez being hurt or not. 1 HR after leaving a small army of guys on base the first two games.

 

[IglooDame]

Detroit all the way now, for me. The residents of that city really deserve a ray or two of light, a la New Orleans post-Katrina.

 

[dannyshenanigan]

In non-playoff news it looks like Theo Epstein is on the verge moving over to the Cubs GM position http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7089985/theo-epstein-verge-taking-job-chicago-cubs-sources-say.
I'm pretty happy, Rays GM Andrew Friedman was my first choice but Epstein isn't bad at all. The biggest difference between the two is that Epstein has given out some bad contracts, although Friedman never really had the opportunity to try and sign big free agents.
Epstein will have his work cut out for him this year and I think everyone realizes it will be a couple years before the Cubs will be in contention. The most important task is building up a good minor league system. Historically that is the Cubs organization's biggest problem. He might not have quite the resources he had in Boston, but it will be close. When he gets that minor league pipeline flowing I think the Cubs will become a first class oganization like the fans deserve.

 

[illram]

I will be very sad if Epstein leaves. The amount of hate he is getting in Boston is ridiculous.

I do sort of question his ability to put together a solid bullpen because I think he relies too much on has-been talent that got hurt, but on the whole I think he is an excellent GM that any team would be lucky to have. He makes ballsy moves and does not hire the name. He overpaid some guys but look at the markets he did that in.

 

[naterator]

I hate to see him go, but I like him going to the Cubs. It would be awesome to see him break 2 curses.

 

[illram]

...aaaand he went. Bye bye Theo. Thanks for the good memories.

Maybe now I can go back to the good ole days of being a miserable fan of a sad sack perennial disappointment. Those were the days!

 

[Darkness]

Cards up 2-1 thanks to a fast start and 4 perfect innings from the bullpen...

 

[Lambert Simnel]

But can they deal with the unfamiliar territory of being ahead ?

Tough first inning for Gallardo. By the time he was pitching to Berkman (having allowed the first 4 batters to get on base), his face looked like he was only just managing to keep the panic under control - particularly when it got to (I think) 3-0 in the count. Still, he's a young guy, and he managed to pull it together in the next few innings, so credit to him for that. Doesn't have a lot of success against the Cardinals, does he ?