Baseball

shadows · #1 04-05-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by hegirllvr

Damn. I screwed up, big time!

First pitch was 4pm. Now in the bottom of the 7th, score's 12-5, Braves.

At least there's that...

And your team did not cough up the lead in the bottom of the ninth, like a certain team that I root for.

Nice debut as the closer, Frasor. You sucked mightily!

I will take two positives from this game, however. Wells was 3-4, hit a home run, and had 3 RBIs! Also, Shawn Marcum pitched very well(except for that 3 run inning due to a home run) especially considering how he missed all of last season with Tommy John surgery.

shadows · #2 04-06-2010

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Time for a pitching change.

shadows · #3 04-06-2010

smc, this one is for you.

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smc · #4 04-06-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadows

smc, this one is for you.

Attachment 156831

And the Yankees are still in town. I can smell them when I open the window.

smc · #5 04-06-2010

Some random musings about baseball after Opening Day (post-Opening Night):

President Obama threw out the first pitch at Nationals Stadium wearing a Nats jacket and a White Sox cap. Whatever else you might think of the president, you have to give credit to him for "representing" for his favorite team despite the venue.

There was a wonderful moment in the Cardinals - Reds game when the Cincinnati catcher tried to deke Albert Pujols by calling for a fastball and then signaling -- with his head -- that the pitcher should fake shaking it off before throwing the heat. Pujols wasn't buying, and launched the fastball into the stands for a home run.

Does what happened with Jason Heyward of the Braves portend what the Braves season might be like, in Bobby Cox's last year as manager? The rookie hit a three-run homer, not just in his first major-league at-bat, but his first swing. I've said it before in this thread: the Braves are the only team in the NL East capable of giving the Phillies a run for the division title.

The Pirates won on opening day, beating the Dodgers 11-5. The last time these two teams met each other in a season opener, the Dodgers were still in Brooklyn. Any guesses on how many more games the Pirates win this year? They've had 17 consecutive losing seasons until now, and I'm of the opinion that Major League Baseball should forcibly oust the Pirates ownership.

Roy Halladay opened for the Phillies. It's nice to see Doc pitch for a team that is likely to give him post-season opportunities.

ErosArtist · #6 04-06-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by smc

Some random musings about baseball after Opening Day (post-Opening Night):

President Obama threw out the first pitch at Nationals Stadium wearing a Nats jacket and a White Sox cap. Whatever else you might think of the president, you have to give credit to him for "representing" for his favorite team despite the venue.

There was a wonderful moment in the Cardinals - Reds game when the Cincinnati catcher tried to deke Albert Pujols by calling for a fastball and then signaling -- with his head -- that the pitcher should fake shaking it off before throwing the heat. Pujols wasn't buying, and launched the fastball into the stands for a home run.

Does what happened with Jason Heyward of the Braves portend what the Braves season might be like, in Bobby Cox's last year as manager? The rookie hit a three-run homer, not just in his first major-league at-bat, but his first swing. I've said it before in this thread: the Braves are the only team in the NL East capable of giving the Phillies a run for the division title.

The Pirates won on opening day, beating the Dodgers 11-5. The last time these two teams met each other in a season opener, the Dodgers were still in Brooklyn. Any guesses on how many more games the Pirates win this year? They've had 17 consecutive losing seasons until now, and I'm of the opinion that Major League Baseball should forcibly oust the Pirates ownership.

Roy Halladay opened for the Phillies. It's nice to see Doc pitch for a team that is likely to give him post-season opportunities.

With regard to Jason Heyward and his first major league at bat and swing, a very similar thing happened with Jeff Francour and his first at bat, only it wasn't a three-runner, if my memory is correct. Still, a homerun in a player's first at bat, first swing in the majors is a rare thing.

It sure as hell set the tone for the season, but will it make a difference in the season? I sure as hell hope so. It be nice to see Bobby's retirement extended by playoffs and series matches.

And our fearless leader. My, my. I saw the video first on YouTube and it wasn't until I saw it on a highlight reel a bit later that I caught the hat trick.

sammyjob · #7 04-06-2010

The Pirates will win more than they did last year. More importantly, the current majority owner has only been in charge for two or three years. He has put in place a management team that seems to be doing things right, and the whole organization has been remodeled, based on drafting and developing young talent, rather than overspending on a free agent here and there which didn't help much. Actually, that's the way baseball teams used to do it before the modern era in which the richest teams (Yankees, Redsox, Phillies, Dodgers, et al) merely outspend everyone else. But it is true that even when the pockets are deep you still need to do it with intelligence. For instance, the Mets, and (until the past couple years) the Phillies spent a lot of money and didn't have much to show for it.

smc · #8 04-06-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by sammyjob

Actually, that's the way baseball teams used to do it before the modern era in which the richest teams (Yankees, Redsox, Phillies, Dodgers, et al) merely outspend everyone else.

While it is true that the Red Sox are one of the richer teams and spend big money on free agents. the team has one of the highest-rated farm systems. Dustin Pedroia (Rookie of the Year and then MVP), Kevin Youkilis, Jon Lester, Jacoby Ellsbury ... they all come out of the farm system (and are only a few examples). Three of them are starters for the team, and Lester would be the #1 ace on most teams.

dauls · #9 04-06-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by smc

President Obama threw out the first pitch at Nationals Stadium wearing a Nats jacket and a White Sox cap. Whatever else you might think of the president, you have to give credit to him for "representing" for his favorite team despite the venue.

Roy Halladay opened for the Phillies. It's nice to see Doc pitch for a team that is likely to give him post-season opportunities.

OK, an 11-1 thumping of the Nationals isn't anything to write home about, but a win is a win. And it sounds like the Nationals' pitchers were about as effective as Obama was from the mound.

Great first Phillies start for Halladay. Great return to the Phillies for Polanco. And Ryan Howard opens his home run account early and survives six at-bats without striking out!

shadows · #10 04-07-2010

Dang. The Yankees won 6-4.

Smc, what sort of year do you think Ortiz is going to have? Is he going to have a half-decent year(I honestly don't think that he'll have any monster years like before due to his increase in injuries and the shadow of PED's that he has fallen into) or will he have a horrible season like last year?

The Red Sox really need him to increase his production, especially since Bay left.

ErosArtist · #11 04-06-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadows

And your team did not cough up the lead in the bottom of the ninth, like a certain team that I root for.

Not to be pessimistic, but time will tell. The trend usually starts just before the All-Star break. It's been a very bad habit of theirs.

But what an opening day for my Braves! 16-5 over the Cubs!