Major League Baseball: 2011 Thread

[JCE]

It would be nice for Dallas to take home a NBA & a MLB trophy in the same year. Cowgirls aren't gonna do it & it's too early to see how the Stars will do.

But, the game tonight was definitely fun to watch. Not sure what happened there last night; Cardinals were on a roll.

Dude, the Stars are ON FREAKING FIRE. How awsome is that? All the bastard stepchildren teams here in DFW and the Cowboys are the joke. Makes me smile a bit to see Jerry Jones on the bottom.

Tonight's game was very good to watch until Holland was taken out...then it got nerve-wracking just like game 2.

 

[McLaren]

Dude, the Stars are ON FREAKING FIRE. How awsome is that? All the bastard stepchildren teams here in DFW and the Cowboys are the joke. Makes me smile a bit to see Jerry Jones on the bottom.

Tonight's game was very good to watch until Holland was taken out...then it got nerve-wracking just like game 2.

Yeah, they've been playing well. I was shocked to wake up this morning & see L.A. had won their game. But, eh, they're still doing great. Cowboys just need to be re-evaluated. That team isn't playing anywhere good enough to justify the cost of tickets into Jerry World. But, that's another topic.

I see there's a game tomorrow night as well. I presume that's in Arlington as well? (Haven't kept up with the locations for each game.)

 

[CodeRedR51]

But, the game tonight was definitely fun to watch. Not sure what happened there last night; Cardinals were on a roll.

They used up all their runs last night.

 

[a6m5]

I think I just heard Mac & JCE both scream from Texas. First the left field drops the ball twice, then the first baseman.

Edit: NICE catch by the left to end the inning though. 👍

 

[Villain]

That Pujols guy isn't half bad.


http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/09/10-best-minor-league-deals-of-the-year.html

How the hell does Colon rank higher then Vogelsong?

Colon. 4.00 ERA 111 ERA+ 1.29 WHIP 164.1 IP 1 CG
Vogie: 2.71 ERA 132 ERA+ 1.25 WHIP 178.2 IP 1 CG

Lol... And it can't be the 'win' stat that the east coast loves so much.

It's all about context. AL East versus NL West. Bartolo had to face tougher hitters in ballparks which favor the offense. Also to keep in mind was that Colon came on to help a team who's weakest point was starting pitching. Shoring up a need like that is a huge deal. The Giants have consistently had one of the best pitching staffs in baseball for several years running.

While your right, Ryan Vogelson out-pitched Bartolo Colon in virtually every major statistical category, this time I'm going to agree with the rationale to rank Colon higher.

Let's put it this way. Imagine two minor league hitters, one signed by the Yankees and the other signed by the Giants. Yankee's surprise hitter goes .310 with 100 RBIs and 28 home runes. The Giants surprise pick-up is the camp darling and hits .300 with 95 RBIs including 25 home runs. You (and every other writer) would have to side with the Giants hitter.

 

[a6m5]

This is some good baseball. My concern is that St. Louis is definitely starting to choke in critical moments. And I can't be the only fan going "huh?" at La Russa. He's a damn good manager, but some of decisions, especially regarding bullpen has left me sort of frustrated in the last two games.

One thing St. Louis has going for them, they will get to do-or-die in Game 6 at home. Props to couple of great games by the Rangers, but Go Cardinals! :tup:

 

[Prosthetic]

It's all about context. AL East versus NL West. Bartolo had to face tougher hitters in ballparks which favor the offense. Also to keep in mind was that Colon came on to help a team who's weakest point was starting pitching. Shoring up a need like that is a huge deal. The Giants have consistently had one of the best pitching staffs in baseball for several years running.

While your right, Ryan Vogelson out-pitched Bartolo Colon in virtually every major statistical category, this time I'm going to agree with the rationale to rank Colon higher.

Let's put it this way. Imagine two minor league hitters, one signed by the Yankees and the other signed by the Giants. Yankee's surprise hitter goes .310 with 100 RBIs and 28 home runes. The Giants surprise pick-up is the camp darling and hits .300 with 95 RBIs including 25 home runs. You (and every other writer) would have to side with the Giants hitter.

Except 3 HRs, 5 RBIs and 10 points in average is miniscule compared to more then a RUN. The difference isn't that big, and even pitching in small parks against good hitters Ryan was excelling. This is why I quoted ERA+ it takes into consideration of the different leagues, divisions and even time differences.

A ERA+ of 100 is average, anything above 160 is usually Cy Young territory. Example, Lincecum had a 169 ERA+ in 08' and 173 ERA+ in 09' with a 2.62 and 2.48 ERA respectively. In 10' his was only 130 with a 2.74 ERA.

21 Points in ERA+ is pretty big.

 

[JCE]

I think I just heard Mac & JCE both scream from Texas. First the left field drops the ball twice, then the first baseman.

Edit: NICE catch by the left to end the inning though. 👍

The wife was asleep so I couldn't scream out loud. And the errors and miscues for both teams were a bit rattling for their clubs. The way the Rangers started the game I thought we'd have another over 12+ run game by the Cards. But they settled down and starting grinding.

Murphy's catch was brilliant. So was the Moreland stretch at first, that looked like it would hurt.

This is some good baseball. My concern is that St. Louis is definitely starting to choke in critical moments. And I can't be the only fan going "huh?" at La Russa. He's a damn good manager, but some of decisions, especially regarding bullpen has left me sort of frustrated in the last two games.

One thing St. Louis has going for them, they will get to do-or-die in Game 6 at home. Props to couple of great games by the Rangers, but Go Cardinals! :tup:

This is a good series, much better to watch than last year.

La Russa must be so irritated at this last game how it unfolded with his staff off the field and the players on it. Makes me wonder if they were't focused on the game. We'll see if any of this bleeds over to game 6, if it does there will be a bunch of unhappy St. Louis fans. I for one want to just see the Rangers blow out the Cards in game 6 because I'm tired of the heart-attack games like games 2 and 5.

 

[a6m5]

I love the heart attack games. To me, that's NL baseball.

I hope the Cards continue to keep tabs on Rangers offense, but you just might see them explode big time. It's long overdue for them, don't you think?

 

[JCE]

I love the heart attack games. To me, that's NL baseball.

I hope the Cards continue to keep tabs on Rangers offense, but you just might see them explode big time. It's long overdue for them, don't you think?

Yea, back when I used to follow baseball more closely (Rangers and Astros) I always liked watching the AL games and not the NL games simply for that reason. It is a totally different style and feel. I've never see two professional sports conferences that had such different styles of play. The NFL, NBA and NHL all play pretty much the same across their conferences.

 

[a6m5]

Holliday out at third...... I'm not gonna lie, I swore more than once.

Another nail biter this evening. Go Cards!!!!!!!!

 

[CAM]

David Freese = Ice Cold. 2 strikes, bottom of the ninth, elimination game of the World Series? He hits a game tying two run double. I'm rooting hard for the Rangers, but I gotta tip my hat to him. Just FYI, the Rangers aren't gonna pull this one out .

 

[Barra333]

FFS, why wont MLB load highlights to the net during games?

 

[CAM]

Annnnd Josh Hamilton = Icier Colder. Being from around here (Greensboro, NC, I believe), I couldn't pick a better person to hit that 2 run shot. 9-7 Rangers, c'mon boys!

This game will not end! Texas has been within one strike twice, and blown it both times. I'm glad I don't care that much.

 

[Patrick]

They tied it! Can't believe this. Go cardinals!

 

[McLaren]

I don't even care anymore. This is probably gonna go to the Cardinals because the Rangers can't close it.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Props to the Cardinals for coming as far as they have, and not giving up.

 

[CAM]

I have a feeling the Cards get it done before Lowe gets 2 outs. If not, it could go either way.

 

[a6m5]

Both times, I was crossing my fingers, doing staring contest with the TV.

I hadn't been impressed with Freese in the series, but this time around, I BELIEVED in him. He brought it.

Edit: Twice. I BELIEVED in him again. 👍

 

[CAM]

David Freese = Ice Cold.

He will cherish tonight for the rest of his life. Nicely done, sir.

 

[CodeRedR51]

That was one hell of a game!

 

[Patrick]

That game was incredible. Now the Cards got the momentum going into game 7.

 

[a6m5]

I don't know about your town, but Oregon seem to support the Cards. Getting lot of compliments on my Cardinals hat around town. Cashier at the grocery store was even from Texas, but she had no love for the Rangers, which was kind of funny.

 

[Sach]

That was the greatest game I've ever watched. GAME 7 Cardinals!!

 

[CAM]

I think after this showing, I'll be happy either way it goes tomorrow, just as long as the Cards don't pull another Game 3.

 

[McLaren]

Rangers are letting the old Dallas choke complex get 'em. And with the momentum shifting to the Cards at their home field, I think they'll take it unless the Rangers decide to come out strong.

 

[a6m5]

That was the greatest game I've ever watched. GAME 7 Cardinals!!

One pitch away, two frigging times, and they answered both times. For a single game of this critical importance, you make a good point.

 

[CAM]

Well, Feliz looked absolutely petrified the entire 9th inning. And before Lowe threw the HR pitch, it looked like he might have wet himself. They needed some confidence, in the form of a mound visit. Remember when Mike Adams got one in the late innings? Out of the inning on the next pitch.

 

[a6m5]

I don't know, I was more impressed with the hitters than the pitchers tonight. And while I'm rooting for the Cardinals, strike zone shrunk considerably for the Rangers compared to Game 4.

 

[CAM]

Yeah, the hitting was definitely ice cold, as I said it. Last comment for the night, David Freese's post game interview struck me as SoCal surfer dude, not St. Louis kid .