2011 Major League Baseball

[drunkpirate66]

Jon, I've thought about your anti-Yankee argument. Again, I don't LIKE the Yanks, but I just see them having enough to be the wild-card this year.

You argue that their pitching staff is poor. You are correct with their starters....beyond CC and Hughes, it's VERY questionable. I hate AJ, he's awful. Nova and Garcia could jump up and surprise, but I'm not betting on it. However, this is a team that will go buy someone mid-season. Don't know who....but they'll add a big arm somewhere, they always do. Bullpen wise-I think you are dead wrong. GREAT pen. Mariano is old, but hasn't shown it. Joba, Soriano, Logan, Robertson....all can dominate. The starters, other than Phil & CC, just need to get through 5 or 6 innings.

Meanwhile, you trashed their offense. This is the part I find funny. My argument is that they have so many front-line bats....ARod, Tex, Cano....even Jeter is only 1 year removed from hitting .334 and has been above .290 for over a decade. Last year was more likely the fluke. Meanwhile, the outfield...this is what I find funny. For YEARS, you rip on the Yanks for buying guys blindly without building a team. Sheffield, Damon, Canseco, Abreu, etc. They finally listen to you, get role-players like Gardner, Grandy, Swish....and now you rip on them for not going out and buying better bats? You're being hypocritical! The lineup looks good because they've stacked speed & on-base ahead of power, followed by more OBP down the lineup. They also defeat a specialist type of bullpen manager by putting out a lineup that never has someone bat from the same side 2 hitters in a row...L,R,S,R,L,S,S,L,R. Can't use your "left-handed bullpen specialist" for more than one hitter against this team.

Again, I don't think they're going very far, because of the starting pitching. But they have enough to win the wild-card. Baltimore is improved, but not enough. Tampa is having a down year (hopefully temporary). Toronto, we disagree on, but they are just, in my mind, mediocre. Either way, the Red Sox will dominate this division barring major injuries.

First of all I didn't trash their offense . . . but I can see why I came across that way. My point, regarding their offense, is that with their sub - standard starting pitching they will have to produce a sh*t ton of runs to compete for the playoffs in what is projected to be the best division in all of the four major American sports. I don't think their run production will balance out their lack of dominant pitching (and beyond sub par defense . . .)

Here is why:

1. Arod's and Jeter's offensive stats continue to get less "dominating". Yes, ARod is still a 100 RBI guy . . . but he is getting worse . . . which is the point.
2. Russel Martin and Curtis Granderson are either All Stars or Single A caliber players.
3. Nick Swisher is as overrated as you can get.
4. Jorge Posada at DH is weak. It just is. They could do better.

That leaves Texiera, Cano, and Gardner. Those 3 guys are nasty and I freely admit this.

Is this Offense bad? No. But is it better then Toronto? (I say no), Baltimore? (I say no), Boston? (I say no), TB? (I say maybe).

So getting back to their pitching . . . they are not even in the same league as Boston (projected stats), Toronto, or Tampa Bay. Which makes their rotation worse is that NYY's defense is horrible - specifically the left side of the field. No need to mention Tex's defensive skills - I am well aware. Nick Swisher in right? Joke. Russel Martin/ Cano/ Jeter up the middle - ouch.

SO . . . Their offense isn't better then any other American League team. Or, perhaps I should say not THAT much better (I predict 3rd for runs scored in the American League East). Their Starting Pitching is 4th or 5th worse in terms of ERA (Baltimore). Their defense is not in the top half and could finish near bottom for fielding percentage. And you, Sir, pin their hopes to Soriano, Chamberlain, Robertson, and Rivera? Yeah. Good luck with that.

NYY's only saving grace is their joke of a ball park where my 6 year old nephew could hit a homerun. It won't be enough.

[SMLCHNG]

You guys think too much. I just like baseball.

[tigzoe]

You guys think too much. I just like baseball.

[tigzoe]

What stolen base?

yeah, but you gotta excuse Larry, he's a Mets fan and they're not used to seeing real baseball actually being played....at least not recently

It could be worse, he could be a Yankees fan.

[tigzoe]

I think it was. My favorite Boston sports moment of all time (Dave Roberts stolen base is number 2 - and if you need to ask "what stolen base?" you are not a Red Sox fan) is when Tim Wakefield was getting hammered in game 3 of the 2004 ALCS. Francona wanted to take him out and Wakefield said, "No . . . leave me in so the bullpen is fresh for game 4." That act of selflessness was the pivotal moment in the Red Sox issuing the greatest comeback in MLB playoff history.

Yup..."The Steal" will go down in history, if it hasn't already. That was certainly "THE" moment. I could watch it right now, and get chills and start crying all over again. Wakey has always been a team player, and I am glad he came back for another season. LOL...and his Picnic in the Park commercial cracks me up every year.

I didn't get to see "The Steal" live. I was on a plane above the Pacific, coming back from a work trip. I was in the terminal in Honolulu waiting for my flight when my phone rang and my Cubs-fan friend in Chicago was screaming, "I don't know where on the planet you are but for God's sake get in front of a television set!" The pilots kept track of the game and announced The Steal and the single that followed. It was amazing.

After all this talk, I think I am going to have to dust off my game 4 DVD, then watch Fever Pitch.

[drunkpirate66]

You guys think too much. I just like baseball.

You ladies need a "kitchen" thread . . .

[CaptainP]

You guys think too much. I just like baseball.

You ladies need a "kitchen" thread . . .

Like this one: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=30249&hilit=+hot+stove+

[tigzoe]

[drunkpirate66]

You guys think too much. I just like baseball.

You ladies need a "kitchen" thread . . .

Like this one: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=30249&hilit=+hot+stove+

For starters . . . . (barometer is my soup . . . )

[MacPhin]

WTF is with the Sox pitching??? Hello????McFly??? It isn't Spring Training anymore! For all the $$$$$ these guys make,they should take a month off and then get back to training so they're ready.Obviously they aren't..
and yes, I've always been tough on the Sox...

...they shouldn't have let Beltre get away. I've always said they should have kept Cabrera......and when the heck can we get rid of a huge waste...Dice-K..ugh!!!!!!!!!!!!!

one good thing, "the kid" is back at Center Field.

[drunkpirate66]

WTF is with the Sox pitching??? Hello????McFly??? It isn't Spring Training anymore! For all the $$$$$ these guys make,they should take a month off and then get back to training so they're ready.Obviously they aren't..
and yes, I've always been tough on the Sox...

...they shouldn't have let Beltre get away. I've always said they should have kept Cabrera......and when the heck can we get rid of a huge waste...Dice-K..ugh!!!!!!!!!!!!!

one good thing, "the kid" is back at Center Field.

I don't like Dice K that much either. BUT . . . there aren't many Number 5 Starter in MLB better then he is . . . and he did help win a World Series.

[MacPhin]

you sound like Dave. did he tell you to say that to me???

but really, he hasn't been that great. the amount he has been paid, he should be doing better and he never should have played in those games in Japan the other year, that just wrecked him.

[tigzoe]

WTF is with the Sox pitching??? Hello????McFly??? It isn't Spring Training anymore! For all the $$$$$ these guys make,they should take a month off and then get back to training so they're ready.Obviously they aren't..
and yes, I've always been tough on the Sox...

...they shouldn't have let Beltre get away. I've always said they should have kept Cabrera......and when the heck can we get rid of a huge waste...Dice-K..ugh!!!!!!!!!!!!!

one good thing, "the kid" is back at Center Field.

And from what I have seen this weekend, they shouldn't have let David Murphy go either. Nothing like getting slapped around by Sox alumni.

[tigzoe]

WTF is with the Sox pitching??? Hello????McFly??? It isn't Spring Training anymore! For all the $$$$$ these guys make,they should take a month off and then get back to training so they're ready.Obviously they aren't..
and yes, I've always been tough on the Sox...

...they shouldn't have let Beltre get away. I've always said they should have kept Cabrera......and when the heck can we get rid of a huge waste...Dice-K..ugh!!!!!!!!!!!!!

one good thing, "the kid" is back at Center Field.

I don't like Dice K that much either. BUT . . . there aren't many Number 5 Starter in MLB better then he is . . . and he did help win a World Series.

Dice K scares me, put in Wakey!

[SchoolGirlHeart]

You guys think too much. I just like baseball.

You ladies need a "kitchen" thread . . .

HEY..... AHEM...... Remember, I can match your 8AM Patron shot..... BASEBALL, dude.....

[SchoolGirlHeart]

Y'know, all of us Red Sox fans need to go to a game together. Or at least congregate at a sports bar and watch a few games!

[tigzoe]

You guys think too much. I just like baseball.

You ladies need a "kitchen" thread . . .

HEY..... AHEM...... Remember, I can match your 8AM Patron shot..... BASEBALL, dude.....

Did someone say shot at 8am. Where do I sign up?!

[tigzoe]

Y'know, all of us Red Sox fans need to go to a game together. Or at least congregate at a sports bar and watch a few games!

I would be up for either. Last I checked, not much available right now except SRO as far as seeing the game at Fenway.

[Lightning Bolt]

WTF is with the Sox pitching??? Hello????McFly??? It isn't Spring Training anymore! For all the $$$$$ these guys make,they should take a month off and then get back to training so they're ready.Obviously they aren't..
and yes, I've always been tough on the Sox...

...they shouldn't have let Beltre get away. I've always said they should have kept Cabrera......and when the heck can we get rid of a huge waste...Dice-K..ugh!!!!!!!!!!!!!

one good thing, "the kid" is back at Center Field.

I don't like Dice K that much either. BUT . . . there aren't many Number 5 Starter in MLB better then he is . . . and he did help win a World Series.

Hope Adrian has a great year for your Sox.
After seeing the excellent prospects you traded for him (P Casey Kelly, 1B Anthony Rizzo) over at spring training,
and throw-in OF Eric Patterson who had a great spring camp and made the 25-man roster ....

I feel a lot better about the whole deal, and think both teams will make out fine.

Looking forward to Bosox late April trip out here to Anaheim... going with Glenn (Secrets) to see 'em on 4/23

[C-Dawg]

I'm actually OK with the Red Sox seeing a little adversity early. The media has already dubbed them this year's World Series winners, and if they started the year rolling over everyone with ease, it might have gone to their head. I'd rather see them realize every team is gunning for them, and bringing their best games, and they need to s*** it up and play their best to realize their potential and do what is expected of them.