milagros317
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2011 MLB Season: Almost here!
- Thread starter thetmfobserver
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AmishTickler
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The Yankees have added another "contender" to their stellar 2011 starting rotation. Freddy Garcia. Yes, THAT Freddy Garcia. Yup, if it were 2001 the Yanks might have the best starting rotation in baseball. I heard they are looking to add Jamie Moyer for the 2012 season as well.
thetmfobserver
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You know, Bill "Spaceman" Lee played for the Brockton Rox last season at the age of 63. He might be able to help them out.
tiklusilly
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Waiting for baseball
Am hoping this is the year that my Cardinals can put it all together. Our pitching is excellent, especially our top 4 starters. However, we weakened our defense considerably in the hope that veteran players can provide more offense. With a pitch to contact groundball heavy pitching rotation, that's asking for trouble. Then there's the whole drama about Pujols - will he sign an extension or test the free agent market in 2012? Can't wait for pitchers and catchers to report.
Am hoping this is the year that my Cardinals can put it all together. Our pitching is excellent, especially our top 4 starters. However, we weakened our defense considerably in the hope that veteran players can provide more offense. With a pitch to contact groundball heavy pitching rotation, that's asking for trouble. Then there's the whole drama about Pujols - will he sign an extension or test the free agent market in 2012? Can't wait for pitchers and catchers to report.
AmishTickler
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Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia may actually wind up in the Yankees 2011 starting rotation. Andy Pettitte is reported to be announcing his retirement from baseball tomorrow.
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/story/14640247/yankees-pettitte-to-announce-retirement-on-friday
Gee, that's such a shame that the Yanks couldn't get Cliff Lee. 😀
luvgirlsfeet
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Since the end of last season I'm very much looking forward to it
This is sort of.. on topic. As it is about baseball.
Did anyone happen to buy or read the 2011 Sporting News Baseball preview magazine that came out this week? The magazine had an article which proposed an interesting idea.
Supposedly, there is discussion about expanding the playoffs to include two extra teams, in each league, as soon as the 2012 season. The article floats several ideas. One idea proposed would be a one game, winner take all, sudden death game, and another, is a three game series, with the winner of that series, advancing.
In 1995, when baseball expanded the playoffs to include the wild card, I was in favor of it. (I'm not just saying this because the Braves won the wild card last year, and have a shot for it this year. Remember, at the time it happened, the Braves were in the middle of their division titles streak). I think the idea of extra teams is exciting, as the playoffs is always a crapshoot. We've already had an all wild card World Series, and.. wild card teams have already won a few championships.
Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing the playoffs expanded. The problem is weather concerns. If the postseason is pushed deeper into November.. there is worry about the possibility of extremely cold temps, or winter precipitation for night games, in places like Boston, New York, Philly, etc. They have floated the idea of perhaps shortening the regular season schedule to the old pre 1960s one of 154 games, to accomodate extra playoff dates. However, doing such would mean each team would have only 77 home dates a year instead of the current 81, and doing such might mean a significant loss of revenue for teams, especially teams like the Yankees, who draw large crowds every night.
If they do expand the playoffs, I hope they decide to use a format where the extra playoff series involved would be a three game series, rather than a one game, winner take all game. This would keep the playing field more level. Say, for example, a team needs to pitch it's ace in the regular season finale, because their regular season finale will determine if they make the playoffs or not. A three game series, with travel days, would ensure that their ace would definitely get to pitch during the series in a possible elimination game, thus making the idea fair for all teams involved. If a team has to pitch its ace in Game 162, and wins that game, but then has to face a winner take all game, with only one chance to win, two days later, the ace won't be able to pitch again. A three game series is more condusive, it would seem, to determine the fate of a team advancing.
Did anyone else hear about this idea, or read this article? Thoughts on it, if any?
Mitch
Did anyone happen to buy or read the 2011 Sporting News Baseball preview magazine that came out this week? The magazine had an article which proposed an interesting idea.
Supposedly, there is discussion about expanding the playoffs to include two extra teams, in each league, as soon as the 2012 season. The article floats several ideas. One idea proposed would be a one game, winner take all, sudden death game, and another, is a three game series, with the winner of that series, advancing.
In 1995, when baseball expanded the playoffs to include the wild card, I was in favor of it. (I'm not just saying this because the Braves won the wild card last year, and have a shot for it this year. Remember, at the time it happened, the Braves were in the middle of their division titles streak). I think the idea of extra teams is exciting, as the playoffs is always a crapshoot. We've already had an all wild card World Series, and.. wild card teams have already won a few championships.
Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing the playoffs expanded. The problem is weather concerns. If the postseason is pushed deeper into November.. there is worry about the possibility of extremely cold temps, or winter precipitation for night games, in places like Boston, New York, Philly, etc. They have floated the idea of perhaps shortening the regular season schedule to the old pre 1960s one of 154 games, to accomodate extra playoff dates. However, doing such would mean each team would have only 77 home dates a year instead of the current 81, and doing such might mean a significant loss of revenue for teams, especially teams like the Yankees, who draw large crowds every night.
If they do expand the playoffs, I hope they decide to use a format where the extra playoff series involved would be a three game series, rather than a one game, winner take all game. This would keep the playing field more level. Say, for example, a team needs to pitch it's ace in the regular season finale, because their regular season finale will determine if they make the playoffs or not. A three game series, with travel days, would ensure that their ace would definitely get to pitch during the series in a possible elimination game, thus making the idea fair for all teams involved. If a team has to pitch its ace in Game 162, and wins that game, but then has to face a winner take all game, with only one chance to win, two days later, the ace won't be able to pitch again. A three game series is more condusive, it would seem, to determine the fate of a team advancing.
Did anyone else hear about this idea, or read this article? Thoughts on it, if any?
Mitch
The Orioles signed Vlad Guerrero to a 1 year contract the other day. This is the first time in 13 seasons where I've truly felt like there's no glaring weakness in the lineup. Sure, a few guys need to bounce back from poor seasons and injuries. But overall, I'm looking at a lineup like this at the moment, subject to change...
2B - Roberts
RF - Markakis
1B - Lee
DH- Guerrero
LF - Scott
3B - Reynolds
CF - Jones
C - Wieters
SS - Hardy
A far cry from last season, when at times, we had Ty Wigginton in the cleanup spot. Yes, that Ty Wigginton. Solid player but no cleanup hitter. If we can hit the .500 mark, I'd be a happy fan. Anything beyond that would be gravy.
2B - Roberts
RF - Markakis
1B - Lee
DH- Guerrero
LF - Scott
3B - Reynolds
CF - Jones
C - Wieters
SS - Hardy
A far cry from last season, when at times, we had Ty Wigginton in the cleanup spot. Yes, that Ty Wigginton. Solid player but no cleanup hitter. If we can hit the .500 mark, I'd be a happy fan. Anything beyond that would be gravy.
thetmfobserver
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The Baltimore Orioles scare the hell out of me this season. That lineup is pretty darn good, although it's got a lot of guys who strike out. I think the O's will be damn close to .500 this season, and might wind up 3rd in the AL East.
Yes sir, Reynolds is the biggest strikeout culprit, though it will be fun to see how many bombs he can hit to make up for it at hitter-friendly Camden Yards. Jones also has a tendency to chase bad pitches, which is why I project him lower in the lineup to start the season. Vlad is an interesting case. Here's a guy who swings at everything, but has never struck out 100 times in a season. That was very surprising to learn. The way the AL East is stacked, I could see us possibly reaching .500 but still finishing last, but I also feel like 3rd is a realistic possibility. If the young pitching steps up, that should make us a force to be reckoned with.
thetmfobserver
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I think it is safe to say that I can call Boston the AL East favorites without looking too much like a "homer". While they have some questions (Beckett and Lackey bouncing back, whether or not Salty makes it as an everyday catcher, players recovering from injuries, etc.), they have the lineup and the pitching to make the playoffs easily.
After that, it's a crap shoot.
Toronto added some decent players, and they have some young pitching that could do well, but they're still a year or two away, most likely, from making the most noise. I see them finishing at the bottom of the division, which is sad, because I like John Farrell.
Tampa has some decent players, but I think after David Price, their pitching is filled with questions marks, especially in that bullpen. They might wind up fourth, just because the other two teams are that good.
You can never count out New York, and their ability to go buy / trade talent when they need it. If they start out slow, which I think will happen, they'll put a package together for pitching. (If they get King Felix, I'll cry) However, with the other teams in the division being so much better, I can't see them overcoming their lack of starting depth, even with a mid-season trade.
Then, my friend Adam, there's Baltimore. If Guthrie / Arrieta / Tillman can make strides, they might have one of the better rotations in baseball. Add to that their lineup we've already discussed, and you might be looking at a 83-77 team this season. That might be enough for second place, though not the wild card.
After that, it's a crap shoot.
Toronto added some decent players, and they have some young pitching that could do well, but they're still a year or two away, most likely, from making the most noise. I see them finishing at the bottom of the division, which is sad, because I like John Farrell.
Tampa has some decent players, but I think after David Price, their pitching is filled with questions marks, especially in that bullpen. They might wind up fourth, just because the other two teams are that good.
You can never count out New York, and their ability to go buy / trade talent when they need it. If they start out slow, which I think will happen, they'll put a package together for pitching. (If they get King Felix, I'll cry) However, with the other teams in the division being so much better, I can't see them overcoming their lack of starting depth, even with a mid-season trade.
Then, my friend Adam, there's Baltimore. If Guthrie / Arrieta / Tillman can make strides, they might have one of the better rotations in baseball. Add to that their lineup we've already discussed, and you might be looking at a 83-77 team this season. That might be enough for second place, though not the wild card.
Guthrie and Matusz were both awesome down the stretch last year. Bergesen was good too, after having been sent down earlier in the season to straighten some things out. I suppose it's possible that both Tillman and Arrieta make the rotation, but it wouldn't surprise me if one of the two starts the years at AAA. The wild card, for me, is Justin Duchscherer. His health is obviously a question mark, but if he's good to go, he's a very good pitcher. If he's not in the rotation, he's a good bullpen option.
I agree with your sentiments about the restof the AL East as well. Your Red Sox look like the class of the division to me. Getting both Crawford and Gonzalez was a serious coup. The Yankees always seem to find a way to sneak in there as well, much as I'd love to see them fall off the map. 😉 Tampa could fall off a little bit and I'm hoping Toronto comes back to Earth. I cannot see Bautista doing what he did last season, though I've been wrong before.
I agree with your sentiments about the restof the AL East as well. Your Red Sox look like the class of the division to me. Getting both Crawford and Gonzalez was a serious coup. The Yankees always seem to find a way to sneak in there as well, much as I'd love to see them fall off the map. 😉 Tampa could fall off a little bit and I'm hoping Toronto comes back to Earth. I cannot see Bautista doing what he did last season, though I've been wrong before.
