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SchoolGirlHeart wrote:

nutmeg wrote:We were at a Loons game and you could hear the yell of outrage in one of the suites where they had the Tigers game playing.

I can't imagine that you wouldn't be VERY careful when calling what was a perfect game

Since it was out #3 in the 9th, I think the Commissioner of Baseball should overturn the call and declare a perfect game.

SchoolGirlHeart wrote:

nutmeg wrote:We were at a Loons game and you could hear the yell of outrage in one of the suites where they had the Tigers game playing.

I can't imagine that you wouldn't be VERY careful when calling what was a perfect game

Since it was out #3 in the 9th, I think the Commissioner of Baseball should overturn the call and declare a perfect game.

chippewa wrote:

CaptainP wrote:The umpire (Jim Joyce) has admitted his mistake, and apologized in person to Gallaraga.

And that's about all that can be done, I'm afraid.

He should be behind the plate in tomorrow's Tiger game. I expect Leyland to get tossed in the first inning.

pietaster wrote:

chippewa wrote:

CaptainP wrote:The umpire (Jim Joyce) has admitted his mistake, and apologized in person to Gallaraga.

And that's about all that can be done, I'm afraid.

He should be behind the plate in tomorrow's Tiger game. I expect Leyland to get tossed in the first inning.

The managers and umpires meet at home plate to exchange lineup cards before the game. He might not make it to the first pitch.

Bicycle Bill wrote:Northwoods League (summer-league college baseball) action last night in La Crosse, WI. The La Crosse Loggers vs. the Madison (WI) Mallards.

Loggers at bat. Batter lifts a short pop fly into shallow center, just beyond the infield dirt. Center fielder charging on it, second baseman fading back on it, shortstop moving in on it. Center fielder pulls up and the second baseman makes the play, but then trips over the SS (who had dropped to the ground) and the ball comes loose. Batter ends up safe on first; official scorer rules it a hit. Seems to me like a really cheap hit, and I am a Logger fan; but the only other way to call it would have been an error on the second baseman — and that also seems like a really tough error to have to take because I am certain he would have held onto the ball if he hadn't been taken out by his teammate.

For the record, I was keeping score from my seat in the grandstand behind home plate, three rows beneath the pressbox, and had I been the official scorekeeper it would have been an error.....although I would have still had a bad taste in my mouth while doing it.

Maybe baseball could come up with a third way of scoring this — it ain't really a clean hit, but it ain't really an error either; something along the lines of "sh*t happens". Or perhaps they could take a page from football, which allows such things as a "partial sack" for a defensive player. They could have something like a "half-hit" for the batter and a "half-error" to the fielder for such events like this.

-"BB"-

CaptainP wrote:Steven Strasburg is officially the REAL DEAL:

Major League debut (granted, vs. the Pirates, but still):

7 innings, 4 hits, 0 walks, 2 Earned Runs, 14 strikeouts.
Save for the 1 mistake he made to Delwyn Young in the 4th, he was amazing!!!

His fastball was regularly hitting 100...

JollyMon66 wrote:

CaptainP wrote:Steven Strasburg is officially the REAL DEAL:

Major League debut (granted, vs. the Pirates, but still):

7 innings, 4 hits, 0 walks, 2 Earned Runs, 14 strikeouts.
Save for the 1 mistake he made to Delwyn Young in the 4th, he was amazing!!!

His fastball was regularly hitting 100...

I was glad to see him have a big game - especially considering the building hype. My son tells me that of the 14 strike outs - he had 7 strike outs in a row.

CaptainP wrote:Meanwhile, the OTHER highly touted prospect to debut today, Guillermo Cruz Michael Stanton, AKA Michael Stanton....

Singled in his 1st at-bat and scored,
Struck out on 3 pitches,
Flied out to right
Singled and scored.

As I type this, the game is in the 9th, Stanton could still get another AB.

CaptainP wrote:
AL EAST
Three-way-tie: Yanks, Sox, Rays.

Seriously, this division will be very difficult to call...3 of the 6 best teams in baseball....now for the real prediction:


AL EAST
Yankees
Rays
Red Sox
Orioles
Blue Jays

Tough division from top-to-bottom. Os and Js fall by the wayside because its just impossible to keep up with the big boys! Any other division, they might compete. I picked the Yanks because they just have too much...they've always spent out-of-control, but lately they have been much smarter about who they spent it on. Hence, the title last year. My Rays come in second, but only if the young pitching (Price, Niemann, Davis) come through. Red Sox - still very good, but I just feel like there are some holes that the other 2 don't have. Sorry, Boston, it's the short end of this stick for you! So far, this has been everything predicted. Only thing I was off on....the O's are much worse than I anticipated. Sorry, Blue Jays, I didn't give enough credit.

AL CENTRAL
Twins
White Sox
Tigers
Royals
Indians

Twins are one of the best all-around teams in the league. Not as much high-end talent (some, such as Mauer and Morneau) but not a ton....but few weaknesses. The Nathan injury hurts. A lot. But I still think they pull it off . . White Sox are very good...and could easily take this, too. When I look at the Tigers, all I can think of is "mediocre". Royals are improving...but not there. Indians are a mess. Again, pretty darn close. The White Sox are rallying lately and could pass the Tigers any day.

AL WEST
Rangers
Mariners
Angels
Athletics

I really want to pick the Mariners. I LOVE what Jack Z. is doing up there. But I think they are just not quite there yet….especially with the Lee injury. I’ll take the more loaded Rangers. The Angels are still good, but fading. The A’s are a team that could surprise, but I wouldn’t count on it….just like every year. I gave the Mariners WAY too much credit. What a mess. They'll be sellers at the deadline, so they won't rally. Rangers are hot lately.




NL EAST
Phillies
Braves
Marlins
Nationals
Mess

This division is almost as tough to pick as the AL East. The Phillies are still the class of the division, but not by as much as they used to be. Halladay puts them over the top. Braves pitching is back! Not quite to the Maddux/Glavine/Smoltz days, but 1-5, as good as any team they ever had. Marlins, very young, very good, just a touch behind. The Nationals are a developing story, and I think they can compete soon, if they are smart (they probably won’t be). As for last place, that was not a typo up there…. I don't think ANYONE saw this coming. I was way off, so was everyone else. The Braves & Mets? Really? The Phills could still rally to take this, but this division has been a mess!!!

NL CENTRAL
Cardinals
Brewers
Cubs
Reds
Astros
Pirates

Ah, yes…the other division that I have a rooting interest in…I like the restructured Brew Crew, but not quite enough to take down the Cardinals. Although…St. Louis won’t be as good as you might think….after Carpenter and Wainwright, they have very questionable pitching (and can Carp’s arm hold up?). After Pujols and Holliday, offense has some holes, too. But the Brewers have holes, too…the key here is if Escobar and Gomez can produce. The pitching WILL be better…not that Randy Wolf and Doug Davis are great, mind you….just that they are better then Braden Looper and Jeff Suppan (currently on the DL with whiplash from whipping his neck around to watch too many spring training HRs fly out of Arizona). Cubs…still have talent, but I really don’t like the direction they are going. Reds are intriguing and could pass the Cubs this year. Astros need to break down and rebuild (like the Pirates have been doing since 1992!) Gave the Brewers too much credit. But guess what? They've fixed most of their early-season issues, and could still rally to 2nd place. The Reds have been a pleasant surprise, the Cubs are a nightmare.

NL WEST
Dodgers
Rockies
Giants
Diamondbacks
Padres 1st place

I like the Dodgers. Lots of young talent. But I don’t love them. Lots of immaturity. That’s why I think the Rockies could take them. I’m still picking LA, but wouldn’t be surprised by a Rockies run. The Giants are up-and-coming, but I don’t think they are quite there….but my gut says they can finish ahead of Arizona. Sorry, D-Backs, just not feelin’ it. Weren’t the Padres in the playoffs just 2 years ago? The big surprise here is the Padres in 1st place! Again, I don't think many people saw this coming, and I doubt they hold up.

ALDS
*Rays over Twins
*Rangers over Yankees
No logic here, just a gut feeling
All of this is still possible, in fact, if the season ended today, I think this is how it stacks!


NLDS
*Dodgers over Cardinals
*Brewers over Phillies
OK, I admit personal bias on the Brewers pick. I’m allowed. Deal with it.
Not out of the question, but a lot has to happen.

ALCS
Rays over Rangers

NLCS
Dodgers over Brewers


World Series
In the year of the little guy & the great story…Butler has made the NCAA Championship Game. The Saints won the Super Bowl. I am picking the Tampa Bay Rays to WIN THE WORLD SERIES!!!!!!!!!!!

Call me crazy…but this is their window. I love this team.


AL MVP: Evan Longoria Having a nice season, but not MVP-worthy. Mid-season pick: Josh Hamilton.
NL MVP: Ryan Braun Also having a fair season, but not an MVP season. Mid-season pick: Nobody stands out, I'll say David Wright.
AL Cy Young: Felix Hernandez Pitching well on a bad team. Nope. Mid-season pick: David Price
NL Cy Young: Roy Halladay Having a very good year, but being overshadowed by Ubaldo Jiminez. Josh Johnson is right behind him!
AL Rookie: Neftali Feliz. I'm still with this pick, but there is competition.
NL Rookie: Logan Morrison (I know he’s in the minors. He’ll be up. Soon.) I meant to say Mike Stanton, but either way, this is a battle between Jason Hayward, Jaime Garcia, Mike Leake, and late-comer Stephen Strassberg.
AL Manager: Don Wakamatsu. I was WAY off. Ron Washington
NL Manager: Bobby Cox (sentimental vote) Because of the impending retirement, yes. Otherwise, I'd vote for Bud Black