Major League Baseball 2011 Season

[Captain Morgantown]

Discuss the current MLB season here.

My face when the Red Sox are never going to win a god damn game:

[Akumu]

This has been the best start to a season ever, and, coincidentally, the best time to ever be a Rangers fan!

We're going undefeated this year baby!

But seriously, if the Rangers can continue to play as well as they have so far for the entire season, I can see them ending up with one of the best win percentages in MLB history.

At the very least, we're able to say the Rangers were the last undefeated team of the season! Thanks to Cincinnati losing today, the Rangers were the only team able to make it to 6-0!

Basically, I'm more excited for this season than I have ever been before when it comes to baseball.

[Gokuyuske]

It's also an excellent time to be an Orioles fan. Buck Showalter is either a wizard or he made a deal with the devil; probably both given how bad we usually are (and have been for 13 years!). It'll be a clash of titans when we meet up this weekend, Akumu!

[Malintex_Terek]

Discuss the current MLB season here.

My face when the Red Sox are never going to win a god damn game:

http://myfacewhen.com/images/38.jpg

I was pretty surprised when I looked at the rankings.

And Giants suck lol.

[Captain Morgantown]

Figures we'd start 0-6 and then rock the Yankees.

Hope this keeps up for the whole series.

[Akumu]

It's also an excellent time to be an Orioles fan. Buck Showalter is either a wizard or he made a deal with the devil; probably both given how bad we usually are (and have been for 13 years!). It'll be a clash of titans when we meet up this weekend, Akumu!

Kind of sucks the game was postponed tonight...I was so excited for it!

At least I can definitely make an event out of tomorrows double header now.

[Akumu]

Ugly first game for the Rangers. Britton is definitely a beast though.

Hopefully the second game will be a little more close.

[Captain Morgantown]

Alright, got 2 out of 3 from the Evil Empire.

Hoping to get a sweep against the Rays to get to 5-7 and start working to get back on track.

[Gokuyuske]

Well, Rangers got the best of my poor O's, but hopefully we can keep holding our own. Britton did a great job though. I really just want to be .500 for once...

[Akumu]

Britton is a beast. That will probably be the biggest embarrassment the Rangers have all season. I fear having to go up against him again.

[Malintex_Terek]

"How do you make Bruce Bochy go pale?"
"Tell one of his San Francisco Giants to 'break a leg'!"

But in all humour, this past month has been a real horror story. Sooner or later, the lack of offense is going to negatively impact the pitching staff, and it'll all cave in. I'm still shocked at how awesome Vogelsong is though, even his worst outing was better than Jonathan Sanchez's.

Anyway folks, your views on Bud Selig's hard-on for another playoff game? In my view, what's going to end up happening is the Houston Astros are going to join NL West, while the Arizona Diamondbacks are going to AL West. It doesn't really impact the NL West in the long run (usually, the D-backs are in last place, as Houston has been as of late in the Central) but I really like the Diamondbacks, NL West is like its own little pitcher's club.

[loneassassin]

I'm just pissed at the ongoing court battle between the McCourts destroying the team I love so much. Adding to the fact that McCourt barely made payroll and he has to pay off the rest of Manny's contract is fucking ridiculous. That and the Angels are dogshit makes me not really care about baseball right now

[Malintex_Terek]

I do feel bad seeing the Dodgers torn up like they've been, ideally I'd like to see the Giants and Dodgers duking it out for first place in the NL West, rather than the Giants stumbling into it due to the other NL West teams suffering from various problems.

Frankly, even if the Giants lose, I'd still feel good about it if they played a good game. But...I haven't really seen any good games from them, at least since the last A's game pitched in Pac Bell Park.

Today's game, for example, is more of Lincecum missing Posey and having disagreements with Chris Stuart. He's not doing well with the swapping of catchers and it's really throwing off his routine. Lincecum's not going to admit it until the offseason or until he overcomes his frustrations, but losing Posey, like how he lost Molina, really affect his game-play. It's tough to watch knowing the game is basically lost if the opposing team scores 3 runs, or against Bumgarner any runs at all.

I don't want to watch a game and be reminded of Posey getting knocked out, like I am when I see Lincecum struggling with a different catchers. Likewise, I don't want to see a walky walky Jonathan Sanchez outing and be reminded that Zito exists and very well might drive the Giants to trade Sanchez for an un-productive bat, as many bats become when they join the Giants. For Ryan Vogelsong, it's mostly a fear of when he'll crack and give up a big game. It's no fun.

Last night's game against the Diamondbacks as well...because Brian Wilson caused all that 9th inning drama on Tuesday and Wednesday, he needed to be rested and Bochy risked putting Castilla in for a second inning. A big mistake. The Giants punching out the Diamondbacks twice in a row was pretty impressive given how well they're playing, but I don't see leading the division as a lasting prospect given how the team could very easily get weaker toward the All Star Break.

Something I've been wondering for all you American League East fans...I saw a Red Sox game earlier this week, and the pitcher was throwing balls that didn't top 84 mph. More often, they were in the 67-78 mph range. Why so slow?

[loneassassin]

Something I've been wondering for all you American League East fans...I saw a Red Sox game earlier this week, and the pitcher was throwing balls that didn't top 84 mph. More often, they were in the 67-78 mph range. Why so slow?

You must be talking about Tim Wakefield, who's the king of the slowball like change-ups and the dreaded knuckleball. You don't have to be throwing heaters to strike people out, especially when you are spot on with slow pitches like Wakefield

[Malintex_Terek]

Both Dodgers and Giants had some tough hitting tonight but, pardon the cliche, it was a bit tortuous to watch. I can understand the heavy atmosphere for the Dodgers, they're a well balanced team and I'm a bit surprised they're having such a tough time winning games. Especially after that 15-0 stomp a few days ago. The Padres of course aren't going to do much until they start crushing the Giants, but I'm genuinely surprised that the Dodgers aren't keeping with the Rockies at least.

No offense to Cubs fans, but the Giants should have won tonight's game. As soon as Sergio Romo took the mound, I knew it was over, because he's a guy who cracks under pressure. We should have had a 2-1 situation with Wilson on the mound, if the Cubs scored then it would have been gg. Emmanuel Burriss is dumb as rocks, I've said for most of the season, it's a dice roll whenever he's at bat. Now it's a dice roll whenever he's on base. I was seriously pissed at how stupid he was.

[Akumu]

Sigh this happens every year.

I watch the first month or so of the season, and then I lose interest until after the all star break. Then I start to get into it again.

I think this is made worse because I follow the Rangers. They started off the season so well, now they're a measly 43-38. They have fallen far from being the last undefeated team, and there are a ton of reasons why, none I really want to get into though.

I see them making it to the ALCS, only to lose.

[Malintex_Terek]

You're in luck Akumu, the All-Star Game is like next week. Or not too long after that. Then you can jump in again!

I think Texas will do well, they're going to get into the ALDS at the very least, though the chance is high they'll face either the Bronx or Boston. But Boston's mortal...one would think that with their crazy offense, they'd be way out in front of the Yankees. They got out of far last, but it's been pretty neck and neck for a while.

As much as I'd love to believe, I don't think the Giants can repeat last year's success without offense. It's great that Zito has apparently found something, and we've got Ryan Vogelsong as a consolation story, but without hitting...clutch hitting at least, we're dead in the water.

My expectation is a Brewers v. Phillies NLCS with the Brewers getting owned by the Phillies pitching, but half a season is half a season. I could be surprised.

But i will be PISSED if Sabean trades away one of our pitchers, though I wouldn't mind Zito going to NY in a swap for Jorge Posada.

[loneassassin]

The way the Rangers are playing you would be lucky if they get past the Red Sox in the ALDS

Also my Dodgers are going to shit. How in fuck do they owe Andruw Jones and Marquis Grissom money.

[Malintex_Terek]

This is just a musing, but I've got to share it.

I've been seeing ads all day about the Giants rewarding a baby born closest to 1 August 2011 at some specific time a plague for being the "World Series Baby". The idea is the baby was conceived right when the World Series was won, and would be born exactly 9 months after that victory. It's a hilariously stupid, almost raunchy promotion. Who thought this up?!

I mean, they're basically rewarding a mentality along the lines of, "Congratulations, meat! Your parents were so excited that the Giants won the World Series, they had had sex!"

WHAT A DISTINCTION.

[loneassassin]

Congratulations to Derek Jeter, who hit a home run for his 3000th hit (Only Wade Boggs has ever done that) at Yankees Stadium today. Truly a great moment for Yankees fans and baseball fans in general.