Major League Baseball: 2011 Thread

[sniper338]

How 'bout that walk-off Grand Slam last night?

I actually missed it. After I listened to us go down 1-6 in the top of the 10th inning, I gave up and shut off the radio. Didn't learn that we had won until an hour later when my brother checked the MLB app on his phone. The Dodgers pretty much handed us the win with a few mistakes, but we'll take it.

That was one of the coolest things I've ever seen in sports. I stuck with it and was cursing the tv as the bottom of the tenth dragged on. I never imagined they would come back from five runs down, especially when they got that second out.
The Dbacks finished the season strong and hopefully can carry that momentum into October!

 

[CodeRedR51]

We managed another grand slam last night, followed up by another homer all in the 9th inning but still lost the game. That's ok though, at that point the Brewers already clinched home field advantage, so it didn't matter if we won or lost that game. At least we didn't get shut out...

 

[Cowboys965]

Wow, Red Sox blow a win in this season's last game, so they're not in the Playoffs, again...

 

[Beeblebrox237]

Wow, Red Sox blow a win in this season's last game, so they're not in the Playoffs, again...

Hey man, I'm from Pittsburgh. you heard of the pirates? Consider yourself lucky. We couldn't beat a team of six year olds.

 

[DA__dogg]

So ready for tomorrow night. The Tigers beat the Yankees in 2006 and they can beat them in 2011! I watched both of the games last night. I knew Crawford wasn't going to catch the ball as soon as the camera panned to the outfield.

 

[Villain]

I'm sorry but I keep being amazed that everyone was taken by such a surprise. Atlanta's top two starters were injured, and Boston blew this season in the first week. Did everyone forget how terrible their start was? Didn't they start 0-8 or something crazy like that? They finished the season the same way they started it. There's 162 games to play and you have to give it 100% all year because you never know which loss is going to be the one you need back.

It just seemed like the Red Sox expected the division to be handed to them -- and for all intents and purposes -- they looked like they had it in the bag during March. They Yankees looked awful without any depth in starting pitching and they went and played their way to Ws anyways with their best player hurt. At least when New York spends a gazillion dollars on players the city keeps them accountable - you can't walk the streets if you play below your level. In Boston this season, it just looked like they took their talent for granted. Ellsbury and Ortiz had monster seasons that no one saw coming. Ortiz was half expected to retire. Adrian Gonzalez lived up to his billing - he's a stud and I'm disappointed for him because he didn't leave San Diego (where he's a God) just to miss the playoffs again. Carl Crawford was an epic waste of money. No speed guy who barely hits over .300 is worth the cash they threw at him.

 

[Cowboys965]

Terry Francona not coming back? If he doesn't I wonder who they will get, hopefully it won't go downhill from here, hopefully he comes back.

And about the Pirates, meand my friends joke about the Pirates winning the world series

 

[CodeRedR51]

Let the playoffs begin!

*Currently Tampa Bay is killing the Rangers*

 

[Joey D]

I couldn't believe the Tampa game, did Texas even try?

Oh and the NYY's pitcher, CC Sabathia, is unbelievable fat. How in the world does that man have any athleticism? His beer gut could barely be contained within his uniform. I guess that's why he's damn near 300lbs.

I was pretty disgusted with the rain out call tonight. The Tiger's were made to play through a down pour before the game was called. The Yankee's only had to play through light rain on a fairly dry field. I'll be really curious to see what happened in tomorrows game, but the Tiger's do need to get their act together a bit.

 

[Villain]

Oh and the NYY's pitcher, CC Sabathia, is unbelievable fat. How in the world does that man have any athleticism? His beer gut could barely be contained within his uniform. I guess that's why he's damn near 300lbs.

He's not obese, he's just massive.

 

[Joey D]

Looking at the gut on him I can't imagine any of it's real muscle. I know he's quite tall though.

 

[Villain]

Yankees Pitchers Eat Innings

Bonus Points to Andruw for being fat, too:

 

[DA__dogg]

The Tigers were still contending in last night's game. Enter Al Alberquque ( sp ?? ) and his second pitch is a grand slam to Cano. He absolutely crushed that ball you'd think Cano's dad was out there pitching to him lol. Respect to the Yanks they clearly outplayed Detroit so on to game 2 this afternoon.

 

[BobK]

Oh and the NYY's pitcher, CC Sabathia, is unbelievable fat. How in the world does that man have any athleticism? His beer gut could barely be contained within his uniform. I guess that's why he's damn near 300lbs.

He's also the ace starter on a team that won more games in the American League than any other team, including the Tigers and Mr. Verlander.

 

[Joey D]

He's also the ace starter on a team that won more games in the American League than any other team, including the Tigers and Mr. Verlander.

Which has nothing to do with the man being obese. Yes the Yankee's had a slightly better record, but they should, they buy their team.

 

[Villain]

So it's awards season! Who ya got?


AL:
Cy Young - Justin Verlander, DET
MVP - Justin Verlander, DET
ROTY - Eric Hosmer, KCR
Comeback POTY - Michael Young, TEX
Manager - Jim Leyland, DET

NL:
Cy Young - Clayton Kershaw, LAD
MVP - Matt Kemp, LAD
ROTY - Craig Kimbrel, ATL
Comeback POTY - Jose Reyes, NYM
Manager - Kirk Gibson, ARI

 

[Joey D]

I don't think a pitcher should be an MVP, so as much as I like Verlander I don't think he should even be considered. I do like Miguel Cabrera for the MVP award though.

Oh and the Tiger's game this afternoon really came down to the wire, it was an ugly win but a win is still a win. Hopefully they can rally tomorrow night and then bring it back home to finish off the series.

 

[Villain]

I don't think a pitcher should be an MVP,

Why not? It's happened 23 times...

so as much as I like Verlander I don't think he should even be considered. I do like Miguel Cabrera for the MVP award though.

Homer pick, I see. If it's not Verlander then it's gotta be Bautista, Ellsbury, or Granderson. Carbrera has been good but I think others have been better.

 

[CMvan46]

It should be Verlander but if not then Bautista in the AL

If it's not one of them it's solely due to where they play which is rather unfortunate.

 

[Joey D]

I just have everything against a pitcher being the MVP, they have the Cy Young for that.

Verlander is nothing short of an exceptional pitcher and is an extremely valuable asset to the Tiger's organisation, but I just can't accept a pitcher as an MVP.

 

[CMvan46]

I just have everything against a pitcher being the MVP, they have the Cy Young for that.

Verlander is nothing short of an exceptional pitcher and is an extremely valuable asset to the Tiger's organisation, but I just can't accept a pitcher as an MVP.

Without Verlander the Tigers wouldn't have been in the post season and without Bautista the Blue Jays would be nowhere near .500 and that to me makes them mvp's

 

[Joey D]

The Tiger's weren't dependent on one man though, while Verlander played a pretty important role you can't discount players like Miguel Cabrera, Austin Jackson, Delmon Young or even José Valverde.

I've been a pretty big Tiger's fan ever since I could remember and I watched probably 90% of the games this season. They are not a team that relies on one man to do the job, they rely on everyone to do their part...except Brandon Inge, because he, well he's awful

 

[Villain]

The Cy Young Award goes to the best pitcher, the Hank Aaron Award goes to the best hitter, the MVP goes to the Most Valuable Player. Seems pretty simple to me.

MVP is Most Valuable Player. It doesn't say "Best Hitter" - even though a pitcher can be a team's best hitter (Babe Ruth comes to mind). It doesn't say "Most Valuable Non-Pitcher." I don't understand why you'd need to separate the two, especially so vehemently where you "have everything against" it happening.

If you can't accept a pitcher as an MVP then you might want to check in with Dennis Eckersley, Roger Clemens, Willie Hernandez, Rollie Fingers, Vida Blue, Gibson, Denny McLain, Sandy Koufax, Don Newcombe, Bobby Shantz, Konstanty, Hal Newhouser*, Spud Chandler, Cooper, Walters, Dean, Hubbell*, and Lefty Grove.

PS - This list only goes back to 1931. There were more pitches who won prior if you want to look it up. For the record, I think 3 of those winners won as members of the Detroit Tigers so while you're rewriting an awards format that's existed for 80+ years, you might want to go to Comerica Park and scratch it off of those guys' credentials. I'm sure they have a section of the park for memorable team members.

*Won MVP more than once.

 

[Patrick]

Boy Jose Valverde really makes the 9th inning interesting.

 

[Prosthetic]

Boy Jose Valverde really makes the 9th inning interesting.

Typical closers. None of them are normal in the head.



Schoenfield didn't watch the playoffs last year...

Poop

ESPN: Skewed sports news since 1979.

 

[Omnis]

Boy Jose Valverde really makes the 9th inning interesting.

MAH LAZOR!

 

[CodeRedR51]

So as I figured the Diamondbacks were good enough to win the NL West but weren't going any further. That's OK, I expected it. I think this year I'm hoping Detroit goes all the way. When's the last time they won a World Series? (if ever?)

 

[Joey D]

The Cy Young Award goes to the best pitcher, the Hank Aaron Award goes to the best hitter, the MVP goes to the Most Valuable Player. Seems pretty simple to me.

MVP is Most Valuable Player. It doesn't say "Best Hitter" - even though a pitcher can be a team's best hitter (Babe Ruth comes to mind). It doesn't say "Most Valuable Non-Pitcher." I don't understand why you'd need to separate the two, especially so vehemently where you "have everything against" it happening.

If you can't accept a pitcher as an MVP then you might want to check in with Dennis Eckersley, Roger Clemens, Willie Hernandez, Rollie Fingers, Vida Blue, Gibson, Denny McLain, Sandy Koufax, Don Newcombe, Bobby Shantz, Konstanty, Hal Newhouser*, Spud Chandler, Cooper, Walters, Dean, Hubbell*, and Lefty Grove.

PS - This list only goes back to 1931. There were more pitches who won prior if you want to look it up. For the record, I think 3 of those winners won as members of the Detroit Tigers so while you're rewriting an awards format that's existed for 80+ years, you might want to go to Comerica Park and scratch it off of those guys' credentials. I'm sure they have a section of the park for memorable team members.

*Won MVP more than once.

I'm aware that pitchers have won it in the past, it doesn't mean I agree with it. I do agree MVP doesn't mean best hitter though. It should go to the best all around player, which in my opinion isn't a pitcher since they don't play every game, nor do they bat in the AL.

 

[Villain]

I'm aware that pitchers have won it in the past, it doesn't mean I agree with it. I do agree MVP doesn't mean best hitter though. It should go to the best all around player, which in my opinion isn't a pitcher since they don't play every game, nor do they bat in the AL.

 

[Joey D]

Because that's an intelligent response

I've explained to you why I don't agree with a pitcher being an MVP. They aren't the key to a winning season because they only play a fraction of the time, and even on their game day they typically don't play all 9+ innings. The MVP should be for the guy that goes out there every game and produces exceptional results through hitting, fielding and play making.

And I'm not the only one who thinks this, there is a huge debate going on among journalist, players, managers and fans over this exact same topic. It's not as easy as just saying "pitchers have won it before."