2012 MLB thread

[bruiser11]

I hope the Red Sox finish in last and then get new ownership.

[Phila26Flyers]

Originally Posted by chilly666

gio gonzalez, hands down for cy young

Gio has been a huge reason the Nats are in 1st place. He's easily the best pitcher on the team right now. He should definitely be in the conversation. He's only given up 9 HRs, by far fewer than any other NL pitcher mentioned so far. He's also been nearly unhittable this year.

[Churla22]

Originally Posted by Phila26Flyers

Dickey's stats are great. But of course he's going to lead the league in those categories when hitters swing through his junk. He has two pitches: slow, and slower junkball. I think the award for best pitcher should go to an ace who throws real stuff and does all the things I mentioned, not a junkballer.

I'm didn't say anything about pitching with pressure. Being on a good team is irrelevant in every category except run support. Pitchers still want to go out and win. Therefore, Felix comparison isn't very good. Aside from that, he has four(?) pitches and uses them all effectively. He spots his pitches, slows bats down, hurls heat, does everything you want an ace to do. He brings it mentally and physically. Nothing against Dickey like I said, but Felix is a far better pitcher, hands down.

Gotta tell ya, bro, I'm just not following the reasoning here (unless you're just f*cking with me ).

I realize YOU didn't mention Felix, I did, and only to point out a possible argument against Dickey. The comparison was limited to, well, the reason stated (and was perfectly legit within that context).

I'm baffled at the notion that Cain and Hamels should be voted ahead of Dickey because the latter is a knuckleballer. If he gets people out more effectively, and has better stats, aren't THOSE the only thing(s) that should matter?

You're obviously not saying that a non-knuckleballer like, say, Jeff Samardzija should win it over Dickey (or ARE you?), so why any other non-knuckleballer with inferior performance?

[Phila26Flyers]

Originally Posted by Churla22

Gotta tell ya, bro, I'm just not following the reasoning here (unless you're just f*cking with me ).

I realize YOU didn't mention Felix, I did, and only to point out a possible argument against Dickey. The comparison was limited to, well, the reason stated (and was perfectly legit within that context).

I'm baffled at the notion that Cain and Hamels should be voted ahead of Dickey because the latter is a knuckleballer. If he gets people out more effectively, and has better stats, aren't THOSE the only thing(s) that should matter?

You're obviously not saying that a non-knuckleballer like, say, Jeff Samardzija should win it over Dickey (or ARE you?), so why any other non-knuckleballer with inferior performance?

Haha, no, why would Samardzija win it? If he was 18-6 as a starter with a 2.50 ERA, then yeah he could get consideration. But let's get serious here, I'm obviously referring to QUALIFIED non-knuckleballers.

I'm just not a fan of knuckleballers, man. I think it's cheap baseball when you have hurlers like Cueto, Cain, and Gio doing so much more on the mound. Unfortunately for my point of view, Dickey has the stats over most of those guys, unlike the much closer AL CY race.

[nilan30]

Going to a game this Sunday. Jays vs Red Sox at Skydome. Not much of a match up I know but I've only been to maybe four MLB games before. Where is the absolute best part of the park to watch a ball game? Since I don't go to many games I don't mind paying for the better tickets. I think I'm looking at about $80 tops. Is directly behind home plate and as close as possible the best place to watch? Usually when I've been to a game there it's been behind the dugout 20 or so rows up or in the outfield. Any advice?

[smashem]

Originally Posted by nilan30

Going to a game this Sunday. Jays vs Red Sox at Skydome. Any advice?

Take the Jays for the amount you will spend Drinking, Ticket, and going out after. 300$ should do it.

[CubsJunkie]

Don't know how the O's are doing it. Does anyone know if there's ever been a team to make the playoffs with a negative run differential?? Because as of today, the O's have given up 20 more runs (643) than they have scored (623). That's pretty amazing.

[JKidd]

Amazing playoff races going on right now, especially for that final NL wild card spot.

It appears obvious the Braves have got one wrapped up (barring an epic collapse down the stretch), so who snags the final spot?

[Phila26Flyers]

Milwaukee is surging and I can see them completing a miraculous stretch run into the postseason, despite having the worst bullpen in MLB for most of the year and still the 4th-worst. Just imagine where they'd be if they had even a league-average bullpen. Ryan Braun is heating up and the Brewers have no more games vs. STL, which would have been very useful either way, but they do have the mightily struggling Pirates coming up which gives them a chance for some separation. I think they're the most likely candidate out of all the teams trailing St. Louis.

The Phillies really f*cked up in Houston by losing 3 of 4. Now they have to almost win out because the teams in front of them all play each other and BEST case scenario for the Phillies, those teams split their series or go 2-1. Any sweeps, and the Phils are basically screwed. Philly has six games against Washington and three against Atlanta. They basically have to take 7 of 9 I would guess, which is probably only possible if those teams rest some of their everyday players for the postseason. I'm still watching and enjoying the rest of the games but realistically I think postseason hopes died in Houston.

Speaking of Houston, they certainly are in a great position to play spoiler for a couple teams. They have six games vs. St. Louis and have Milwaukee next weekend for a three-game set. They can help dash the Pirates' hopes for a winning season this weekend, too.

The Dodgers are an incredibly boring team in my opinion, so I hope they screw it up down the stretch. In my opinion they are the second most-likely team behind Milwaukee to snatch the second WC spot from the Cards.

By the way, I am not a fan of the two WC setup. MLB really messed with a good thing. Look how great the AL race is again. Yes, it's tight in the NL, but with a bunch of mediocre teams who would otherwise be far out of the playoff picture. A bunch of manufactured drama between undeserving teams, while the Braves, who have been great all season and are running away with the WC, have to play a one-game playoff with that mediocre team.

[I_am_Belak_2]

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK -- Toronto shortstop Yunel Escobar was suspended for three games Tuesday by the Blue Jays for wearing eye-black displaying a homophobic slur written in Spanish during a game last weekend against Boston.

Escobar apologized to his team and "to all those who have been offended" for what he said was meant to be "just a joke."

Escobar had written under his eyes "TU ERE MARICON," which can be translated as "You are a faggot."

"It was not something I intended to be offensive," he said through a translator. "It was not anything intended to be directed at anyone in particular."

Escobar said he wrote the message 10 minutes before Saturday's home game on his eye-black, a sticker players wear under their eyes to reduce sun glare. The 29-year-old Cuban said he frequently puts messages there -- usually inspirational, manager John Farrell offered -- and had never previously written that specific slur.

Escobar insisted the word is often used within teams and by Latinos and "I didn't see it as something bad at the time."

"For us, it doesn't have the significance to the way it's being interpreted now," he said. "It's a word without a meaning."

"I don't have anything against homosexuals," he said, adding he didn't mean for the term to be "misinterpreted" by the gay community.

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[I_am_Belak_2]

For the first time since 1933, the city of Washington will see playoff baseball. The Nationals clinched a playoff spot last night.

[smashem]

Nothing like watching the Red Sox send 2 pitchers out there that they have already said have no plans to be in the rotation next year, awesome stuff. Kinda think they are setting up the Yankees, which is bullshiit

[nilan30]

Watched snippets of a White Sox game on WGN the other night and my god is that play-by-play guy annoying. I always remembered the annoying "Put it on the boarrrrrddddd, Yes!" call for a Sox homer or "He gone" when an opponent struck out. But watching the other night and hearing him call every Sox player by his first name just didn't seem right. "Weak grounder to 2nd, Gordon's got it" "High pop to short Alexei settles under it" Do any other home team announcers do this? And does anyone else find it as annoying as I do.

[Mr. Pink]

NO HiTTER BABY!

[smashem]

Yankees will win the east, Red Sox going to NY. They are just throwing their gloves out there.