2012 Major League Baseball

[Tequila Revenge]

On this day, October 3, 1951

Bobby Thomson launches "The Shot Heard 'Round The World" & "The Giants Win The Pennant!"

Of course this was a big part of the pregame before today's season finale against the Dodgers. I was wondering if anyone from BN was there or knew someone that attended the game.

[chippewa]

On this day, October 3, 1951

Bobby Thomson launches "The Shot Heard 'Round The World" & "The Giants Win The Pennant!"

Of course this was a big part of the pregame before today's season finale against the Dodgers. I was wondering if anyone from BN was there or knew someone that attended the game.

Ernie Harwell called that game....on TV. It was Russ Hodges' radio call that was taped and became famous.

[Wino you know]

Also on October 3, 1951, same day as Bobby Thompson's homer, Dave Winfield was born. The last player who was older than I am.

[Wino you know]

Also, congratulations to Miguel Cabrerra. The award could not have gone to a more deserving player.

[Tequila Revenge]

Now that the regular season is over, will anyone be fired faster than Bobby V? Will Donny Baseball get another run coaching Dodger Green?

[nutmeg]

On this day, October 3, 1951

Bobby Thomson launches "The Shot Heard 'Round The World" & "The Giants Win The Pennant!"

Of course this was a big part of the pregame before today's season finale against the Dodgers. I was wondering if anyone from BN was there or knew someone that attended the game.

Ernie Harwell called that game....on TV. It was Russ Hodges' radio call that was taped and became famous.

I miss Ernie's voice every season, every game.

[ragtopW]

GO GIANTS!!!!
as Janice says BTHO the REDS

[Wino you know]

Bobby Valentine fired by the Red Sox.
Kind of sad, really.

[big john]

Buck Showalter for Manager of the Year!

[fabduo]

Buck Showalter for Manager of the Year!

That was my first choice but you really have to consider what Melvin did with a bunch of "kids" in Oakland -they won the AL West pennant!!! So I'm kinda leaning towards him

[ragtopW]

Buck Showalter for Manager of the Year!

That was my first choice but you really have to consider what Melvin did with a bunch of "kids" in Oakland -they won the AL West pennant!!! So I'm kinda leaning towards him

the Giants Skipper might need some mention
losing Brian Wilson and Melky stung just a little, also Buster coming back from a terrible injury

[Tequila Revenge]

It's an AL AND NL award. Melvin won in 2007 with Arizona and Bochy won in 1996 with the Padres. Buck won in 2004 with Texas. Looks like there will be repeat winners this year.

Guess who has won the most Manager of The Year Awards?

[Tequila Revenge]

GO GIANTS!!!!
as Janice says BTHO the REDS

This is funny. I Googled, "BTHO," and here's the Urban Dictionary answer:

1. BTHO

"Beat The Hell Outta" - A term used by Texas A&M Aggies to descbribe what they're going to do to the opposing football team that week

"We just BTHO Texas Tech"

[tigzoe]

Now that the regular season is over, will anyone be fired faster than Bobby V? Will Donny Baseball get another run coaching Dodger Green?

Nope.

[TommyBahama]

It's an AL AND NL award. Melvin won in 2007 with Arizona and Bochy won in 1996 with the Padres. Buck won in 2004 with Texas. Looks like there will be repeat winners this year.

Guess who has won the most Manager of The Year Awards?

in my Lifetime it's either Bobby Cox or Sparky Anderson!!!

[chippewa]

I don't know that they would have rallied and won the game, but the Braves got the short end of that infield fly call. I don't see the protest being upheld, it was just a bad judgment call.

[TommyBahama]

I don't know that they would have rallied and won the game, but the Braves got the short end of that infield fly call. I don't see the protest being upheld, it was just a bad judgment call.

if a outfielder has a play on the ball , how do you call infield fly , where does the infield end, and the outfield start...if anything it's a fly ball that should of been caught , and wasn't. Braves were screwed , it could of changed the game , bases loaded, 1 out , even if McCann still walks , it brings a run in , makes it 6-4 , it changes how you pitch to the next batter , even the strategy changes.

[Wino you know]

The way I heard it explained was that if any infielder, in the JUDGEMENT of the umpire has a chance to catch the fly ball, regardless of it's physical location on the field, it may be ruled as an infield fly.
What stunned me even more is that after seeing the replay, all six umpires and BOTH managers agreed it was the right call. (In addition to E.S.P.N.'s Terry Francona).
As for the "fans" in Atlanta, that was some pretty classless behavior

[CaptainP]

And now for a look back at how poorly I did.

Time for me to buckle down and make my annual predictions!!!


AL East
Tampa Bay Rays
New York Yankees
Boston Red Sox
Toronto Blue Jays
Baltimore Orioles

A very deep division. Baltimore goes to 5th only because of the competition, but I think they are better than that. There is a lot of sentiment for the Blue Jays climbing the ladder this year and being better than Boston. I concede that it is a possibility, but beyond their injuries, I still think Boston is a pretty good team. I'm putting them ahead of the Blue Jays, but only slightly. As for the race for 1st, the Rays pitching is the reason they are at the top of my list. Anything can happen in this division, though.
BIG fail here. Yanks win, Orioles 2nd. The Red Sox were pathetic. In my defense, I did say, "Anything can happen in this division". It did.


AL Central
Detroit Tigers
Kansas City Royals
Minnesota Twins
Chicago White Sox
Cleveland Indians

Unlike the East, this is a division with a lot of question marks. Tigers are solid, but they will be a defensive nightmare, which will help bring them back to the pack. Beyond Verlander, I am not sold on a single member of this pitching staff. Could implode, but still the front-runners in this division. I love the Royals. I've been predicting for 2 or 3 years that 2012 would be their break-out year, and I'm sticking with it, but with tempered expectations. Not all of the prospects are ready. But I still like them. The Twins are a shell of their recent playoff teams. The White Sox have enough talent to make a push, but there have just been too many changes to feel good about them. The Indians have pieces I like, but more that I don't. They need to bring back Pedro Cerrano and Rick Vaughn.
Not too bad here. I got the Tigers right, and was too soon on my Royals prediction. Move the Sox up to 2nd, I'm almost dead on. But still, I missed.


AL West

Interesting division. Angels might have the best team in baseball....but the Rangers will still push them. The A's and Mariners have a ton of potential, too. The A's have holes, keeping them from the top, but they do have a ton of talent there...and they are deep. The Mariners are clearly the last team in the division, but there is hope, with a lot of good prospects reaching the major league level now. But the Angels have a mix of youth and veteran leadership. They have speed, power, defense, starting pitching, bullpen. CJ Wilson is their FOURTH starter! Show me their weakness. As for the Rangers, 2 straight trips to the series...and they return the same lineup. Darvish replaces Wilson, but otherwise, this is a great team. It'll be an interesting race!
Turns out, I never actually posted my picks, just my coments. Based on the comments, I failed here too...but really just by overestimating the Angels, and underestimating the Athletics....and who saw THEM coming?



NL East
Philadelphia Phillies
Miami Marlins
Atlanta Braves
Washington Nationals
New York Mess

Phillies still own the division, but health and age has eroded their dominance. Several teams could overtake them, but I'm still giving it to them for now. Marlins made some great veteran additions to their young talent, and Ozzie's presence means anything can happen in Miami. I love Giancarlo Stanton in that lineup. Braves are still good, but the September collapse exposed them. Pitching still solid, but this is an incomplete team. Nationals continue to try to patch the lineup via free agency, but I like the pitching. The Mess are a Mess. Moving in the fences seems like a desperation move to get something out of Jason Bay's contract.
Wow. Another fail. Phils and Marlins were awful, the Nats and Braves were great. Only thing I got right was that the Mets were pretty bad.



NL Central
Milwaukee Brewers
St. Louis Cardinals
Cincinnati Reds
Pittsburgh Pirates
Chicago Cubs
Houston Astros

I'm sticking with my Brewers. I believe they are the only team with the same starting rotation as last year, and it was a pretty good rotation. Back end of the bullpen is fantastic. On the surface, losing Prince hurts, but the overall lineup changes are: Fielder, Betancourt, McGehee out/Gamel, Gonzalez, Ramirez in. Seems like an even trade to me. In the end, this is a 96 win team that is intact where it counts. The Cardinals lost their leaders in Pujols and Satan (I mean LaRussa). But they have a ton of offrense back, and (if healthy) a good rotation. I'm banking on injuries derailing this team, though. The Reds are as deep as anyone, but they could also set a league record for striking out. Lots of free swingers...and I don't like the rotation. Pirates continue to improve, but it takes time. Cubs, who are you? They have no identity. Seem like a hodge-podge of players rather than a team. The Astros won't be as bad as last year (how could they?) but they are too young to matter.
I'm going to give myself some credit here...flop the Brewers and Reds and I was dead on. I couldn't anticipate the Brewers bullpen blowing 40 saves. I did underestimate the Reds pitching.


NL West
Colorado Rockies
Arizona Diamondbacks
San Francisco Giants
Los Angeles Dodgers
San Diego Padres

This is the division that I'm likely the most wrong on. Can't get a feel for anyone. Popular choices has been the D-Backs, but I feel like they will slip back. Kennedy and Collmenter pitched so far above their ability last year that they are bound to slide. The lineup has too many "blah" players. So I picked the Rockies, and I'm not sure why. Gut feeling. The Giants have the pitching but not the offense. I should like the Dodgers more, but I just don't feel it. The only thing I feel confident in is the Padres being a mess. Anything could happen here. It'll be competitive, but I think 85 wins gets this division.
So the one thing I got right here was that I predicted I'd be wrong here. 'nuff said.


If I have the new playoff format correct:

AL Playoffs
One Game Wildcard: Rangers beat Yankees
ALDS: Rangers beat Tigers
ALDS: Angels beat Rays
ALCS: Angels beat Rangers

NL Playoffs
One Game Wildcard: Marlins beat Cardinals
NLDS: Brewers beat Marlins
NLDS: Phillies beat Rockies
NLCS: Brewers beat Phillies

World Series
Angels beat Brewers
Since neither of my WS teams are in the playoffs, I'll go with FAIL. Only got 3 playoff teams correct. Ugh.




AL MVP: Albert Pujols
No chance. It'll be Cabrera or Trout.
NL MVP: Matt Kemp
Injuries derailed him. Braun has the best stats, but may fall victim to the lingering memories of his non-suspension. I'd guess he finishes 2nd to Posey.
AL Cy Young: David Price
Might have gotten this one...although I would personally vote for Rodney. Verlander or Weaver could take it, too. Wide-open race.
NL Cy Young: Roy Halladay
Also derailed by injury. Kimbrel, Kershaw, or Dickey will win. I'd love to see Dickey.
AL Rookie of the Year: Jesus Montero
He wasn't terrible, but Trout will win in a unanimous vote.
NL Rookie of the Year: Taylor Pastornicky
He flopped. Could be Miley, Frazier, Aoki, or Harper. No dominant candidate..

[surfpirate]

My son and I just got home from this game.

THE LOUDEST I have ever heard a ballpark.

NATITUDE!