MLB 2007 Season Thread

[A.J.]

I wouldnt be surprised if he re-up with the Yankees, but really the Yankees are are going now here right now. True if your a Yankee player you have this feeling each year that you can win it all as you have a boss that is willing to spend, but he is not spending money on the right guys. I just think A-Rod and the Angels be a great fit as we have great pitching and an awesome bull pen and he can be that other big bat that would puts us over the top. You talkabout Manny and Big Papi what about the combination of A-Rod and Vlad. Though he will want to prove everyone wrong so he will stay in New York

I watch a few Mets game but this their pitching staff is not great as it was a year ago this time. But they have the best chance of making the World Series as really the only other NL team that could defeat them is the Padres but they lck one thing and that is scoring runs. Its been proven you can have the greatest pictchers ever but if you can score you dont help them out.

Its sad really the NL looks like a joke yet they have won 3 world series this decade so far. Butright now the best players are in the AL.

Dont worry X when my Angels beat your Red Sox i'll be a nice winner

 

[X]

Well it's starting to look more and more like A-Rod might just come to Boston afterall after the article posted today in the NY Post saying the Sox were the leaders in trying to get him and are the most likely team other then the Yankees to get him. Angels are still very likely as well, but I just don't see that happening. I'm not sure how I'd feel about A-Rod coming to Boston. On one hand obviously I'd be thrilled that the best player in baseball would be coming to town, and obviously his bat would be a major plus for us. Could you imagine the 3-4-5 punch of A-Rod, David Ortiz & Manny Ramirez? That would the best damn 3-4-5 in the fuckin history of baseball right there. You could just hand us the WS ring if that happened.

On the other hand though, I really don't like A-Rod. I never have. He's just got this smug attitude about him that I don't like, and he's pulled some real bullshit on the diamond like the ball-slapping incident against the Sox in the 2004 ALCS. Plus, he would definately disrupt the clubhouse, and thats always been one of the main components of Boston's success and appeal to fans, the team really is like a family, a family of lovable goofballs.

Overall though I'd want A-Rod on the team when push comes to shove. He does seem hungry for atleast one ring and even he knows if he came to Boston he'd be almost guaranteed a ring.

But that brings me to a really bad part of it. If we did get A-Rod, it would almost be certain that we'd have to let Manny go in 08 or 09...and to me thats just not acceptable. Manny is the only real franchise player left on the team who's been there for a long time besides Jason Varitek. And he just fits so perfectly with Boston. I really don't want Manny to ever play for any other team, I want him to finish out his career with the Sox. Same with Ortiz. Those are just two guys that define and are defined by the city of Boston, and to see them in another uniform would break my heart. Not to mention we would 100% definately have to let Mike Lowell go to free agency at the end of this year, and third basemen like him don't come around often, he is one hell of a player with an amazing swing who has really delivered for this club when Manny & Papi have been slumping.

Good night for my BoSox, we beat the Jays 9-6, Dice-K got win number 11, Big Papi & Varitek hit HRs and Julio Lugo & Coco Crisp are finally starting to deliver. Things are really heating up these last few games for the Sox, Manny & Papi have finally started to deliver and are something like 16 for 19 so far combined since the all star break with 2 homers between 'em in a few games.

Wow...that was a really long post that no one is going to read except for maybe AJ...as you can tell I love my Sawwwwx

 

[A.J.]

Well X you are correct as I read the whole thing you crazy ass Sawwwwwx lover

Right now even after the all-star break teams that were hot are still hot and i expect that to happen for a bit longer. My Angels have to play good well as the damn Mariners are playing really well and they have a span where they play some sub and under .500 teams so the Mariners have a shot of cathing us but the Angels can hold on as if we have the lead going into the 7th inning the game is over thanks to our awsome bull pen.

But how about that the Rocket the other against the lonly d-rays. I still am not seeing what was the point in getting the rocket as the Yankess have been no better and the rocket looks old as he has two straight games to the Rockies and Devil Rays! I dunno i guess age is finally catching up with him, but really if the Yankess can sweep the the Devil rays then how can they expect to beat the Sox for the division.

 

[X]

Yeah the Rocket has looked absolutely terrible so far. Honestly, he's too old. It really is time to retire Roger, you're a first ballot Hall of Famer no doubt about it. I mean christ he's got this RIDICULIOUS contract for his age and he's not even delivering. Every once in a while you see some flashes of velocity from the old Roger, but he's just been around too long. All the hitters seem to have figured him out.

It was all just a media ploy though. Yankees need to sell tickets for their new stadium opening up. Plus, the Yanks paid him that crazy amount just so the Sox wouldn't get him, so that Clemens could retire in New York. Would of been better if he retired in Boston IMO, thats where he was his best and thats where he got his record 20 strike out games. But no, he gets to retire in shitty New York with their shitty bandwagon fans.

But yeah...if you can't beat the Devil Rays....I mean honestly any good team should easily sweep the D-Rays (we did ).

Speaking of the D-Rays...anyone else agree it's about time to shut down that travesty of a franchise? Christ I can't believe they even have fans, how the hell can you be a D-Ray fan? They can't even sell out 1/4th of their crappy dome stadium, and they have possibly the worst management in the history of the game. Christ the Diamondbacks came in around the same time as the D-Rays and they've established themselves as a hell of a team already with a WS under their belt and a few division champs. D-Rays have finished in last place EVERY YEAR THEY HAVE EXISTED. Honestly...it's time to realize the mistake they made and close that place. There are pleny of other places where baseball could work better.

 

[A.J.]

Your damn right about the Devil Rays. That franchise needs to be retracted and let its players be drafted in a supplemental starting with the worst team on up. They had sweet Lou as a manager and could only muster challenging the Orioles for last place yet they still came in last place. The D-rays get young talent but they never seem to let grow into anything and when it comes near contract time they let them go. The only D-ray thatis awesome is Carl Crawford that guy is wasting his carrer in no mans land.

 

[X]

For sure, Crawford is a great player, but they need to keep him in the outfield, they keep trying to make him into a SS but he just doesn't have the footwork for it.

They used to have some great players though---Aubrey Huff who I think is really criminally underrated. Remember their first season when they Jose Canseco, Fred McGriff, and Wade Boggs? Sure they were all past their prime but atleast they sold tickets. Rocco Baldelli was a great player as well, and so wasn't Victor Zambrano(or rather they're all still great players).

But yeah...they need to close shop. Even the Nationals have had more success then them.

 

[JoshK1985]

The Braves aquired Mark Texereia today for rookie catcher Jarrod Saltamacchia and pither Ron Mahay.. I for one am glad to see this deal being a Braves fan. The Braves need a first basemen and another hitter to put with Chipper and Andruw. This should play out awesome. I'm freaking excited. I don't like losing Salty too much but he had McCann blocking him at catcher. But still a damn good trade.

 

[A.J.]

Yeah thats a good trade for the Braves but they need to find a way to lock him up for the long term. But man my Angels really need to make a trade for some starting pitching since Colon looks out for the season we need another starter that work at least 6 innings as out bullpen is great. But they talking baout the Angels need another bat i dont think so as we lit up the Tigers yestrday day. But we need a pitcher.

 

[JoshK1985]

Yeah Fatolo is a waste.. Weaver has been soild for you guys but he never gets any damn run support. Kelvim Escobar is having Cy Young quality season too but Ervin Santana has been flat out horrible this year for you all.. You guys do need some pitching help but there is nothing really out there at all.

The Braves do need to lock up Big Tex. I think this off-season you try and keep Andruw in Atlanta, then start working on Tex for a deal after 2008. The Braves need to lock somone up with CHipper getting toward the back end of his career

 

[Mexican Geek]

From the NY Times:

BALTIMORE, Aug. 22 (AP) — The Texas Rangers rounded the bases at a dizzying pace, touching the plate so often it became almost embarrassing to make an out.

The Rangers became the first team in 110 years to score 30 runs in a game, setting an American League record Wednesday night in a 30-3 rout of the Baltimore Orioles.

Trailing by 3-0 in the opener of a doubleheader, Texas scored 5 runs in the fourth, 9 in the sixth, 10 in the eighth and 6 in the ninth.

It was the ninth time a major league team scored 30 runs, the first since the Chicago Colts set the mark in a 36-7 rout of Louisville in a National League game June 28, 1897, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

“When you’re on this end of it, you don’t want to be the one to make the out,” said Marlon Byrd, who hit one of two grand slams for Texas.

Hours after announcing that Manager Dave Trembley would return for 2008, the Orioles absorbed the most lopsided loss in franchise history and set a team record for hits allowed in a game (29).

The Rangers had totaled 28 runs in their previous nine games, including two runs on seven hits in their past two.

“I knew we’d get the bats going, but I never expected anything like this,” Texas Manager Ron Washington said. “When the faucet is on, you want it to stay on. You never want to cut it off.”

Texas kept right on hitting in the second game, too, although at a more tame pace. Travis Metcalf drove in four runs and the Rangers used a three-run eighth for a 9-7 victory and a sweep.

Texas set an A.L. record for runs in a doubleheader, surpassing the 36 by Detroit in 1937.

“This is something freaky; you won’t see anything like this again for a long, long time,” Byrd said.

In the first game, Metcalf also hit a grand slam for the Rangers. Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Ramón Vázquez, the bottom two batters in Texas’ lineup, each homered twice and finished with seven runs batted in.

David Murphy had 5 of the Rangers’ 29 hits in the game, the most by a major league team since Milwaukee had 31 in a 22-2 victory against Toronto on Aug. 28, 1992, according to Elias.

Texas had 57 at-bats, tying the A.L. record for a nine-inning game set by Milwaukee in its 1992 rout of Toronto.

Asked how to handle the opening loss, Trembley said, “You have a real short memory and you let it go.”

Even with the one-sided score, there was a save. Wes Littleton pitched three scoreless innings to earn his first save of the season.

HOLY COW SHIT!! I said it before: I really thought i was watching some Football game score.
Any Oriol fan will realy need balls to get over it.
I can imagine them being targets of the office pranksters, too bad, we dont have any Oriols fan here...
57 turns for the Rangers.....impressive.

Thoughts??

 

[A.J.]

The 30 runs in game 1 of the double header was something and then if you think about they scored 9 more runs in the 2nd game so they scored an AL recored 39 runs in a double header impressive. Plus their 8 and 9 hitters each had 7 RBI and that something as the end of your batting order is your worst hitters. truly amazing to see and still shocked the O's only used 4 pitchers all game.

 

[X]

Yeah that game was absolutely ridiculious, but I really liked David Murphy's performance, considering we (the Red Sox) traded him to the Rangers not to long ago and this kid is going to be a star one day, bet on it. He had like what, 6 hits in that game? Good lord, and Kason Gabbard has been looking better and better with each start, making me regret giving him up for Gagne who has been only so-so for the Sox so far.

So who's everyones pick to win each division?

AL East - Red Sox
AL Central - Indians
AL West - Angels
AL Wildcard - Mariners

NL East - Mets
NL Central - Brewers
NL West - Diamondbacks
NL Wildcard - Padres

Those are just some of my picks, anyone else think differently? I just can't see the Tigers taking that 1st spot back from the Indians despite the very small game difference, the Tigers lost Gary Sheffield and god knows how long he'll be out, and their bullpen has been a travesty. Then again Zumaya just came back for them so we'll have to wait and see, but Detroit just doesn't seem to be a team that really wants to win IMO. Same goes for the Cubs in the NL Central, I can't see them winning that division. Their offense is very uneven, and their pitching has been godawful all year long. Granted the Brewers have been struggling big time lately, but with Ben Sheets coming back I think they'll be okay to win the division.

As for the Wildcards....Mariners are just a better team then the Yankees, and the Padres have the best pitching in baseball. Sure, the Padres offense is pretty lackluster, but no one has got as strong of a pitching staff as the Pods do with the exception of maybe my beloved BoSox

 

[Gus]

Cubs Clinch!!! With Sheets out the brewers had little to no chance against gred maddux and the padres, I think the Cubs are goin to the series, they might not win it, but they;ll go to it, my reasons are:
Zambrano- Zambranos been on fire lately, when he is on fire, hes unstoppable
Soriano- He has had like 16-20 HRs in September before, he is the best lead off hitter in the league, as well as a damn good outfielder
Lee - When Lee is on fire, he can hit better than A-Rod or Prince Fielder
Hill - He threw 6 innings with 1 hit on Saturday, and i think he'll be hot in the playoffs
Lilly- If lilly throws good during the NLDS, The Cubs are pretty much guaranteed to go on,
There are many other reasons as well, but it mostly depends on who they play...

 

[trav40]

San Deigo vs. Colorado tomorrow for the NL West Spot in the Playoffs...I just hope to god that the Rockies can pull this one out and get the playoff spot that they deserve, they have great players (Holiday, Hawpe, Troy T., Helton, Sullivan, Barmes, Francis, Morillo, Ianetta, Atkins, and many others in Colorado Springs and Tulsa)

 

[BooCocky]

San Deigo vs. Colorado tomorrow for the NL West Spot in the Playoffs...I just hope to god that the Rockies can pull this one out and get the playoff spot that they deserve, they have great players (Holiday, Hawpe, Troy T., Helton, Sullivan, Barmes, Francis, Morillo, Ianetta, Atkins, and many others in Colorado Springs and Tulsa)

Just out of curiosity the Padres dont deserve a playoff spot? They got deserving players that deserve to be in the playoffs and they played stellar ball all year. Yes they are not great on the offense but they have good solid pitching in Jake Peavy(imo cy young award winner) Greg Maddux(future HOF'ER) Chris Young(All Star) and Trevor Hoffman (42 saves and a 2.53 Earned Run Average).

Imo this baseball season was a very excited on coming down to a 1 game series for the last playoff spot. We almost saw the Bo Sox blow a 15 game lead in there division, We saw the defending WS champs in the Cards not make the Playoffs we also saw there opponents from the WS not make the Playoffs in the Tigers. We saw an 11 game win streak from the Rockies to try to get the last playoff spot.

We saw a pitcher with a 1-10 record to a 19-8 record this year in Fausto Carmona. We saw to teammates with 19 wins each C.C Sabathia and Fausto Carmona. We saw Josh Beckett get his first 20 game winning season.

All in All this baseball season was pretty surprising and was very excited for how it was a scramble at the end of the season especially with the mets blowing the huge lead, We saw the Brewers blow there lead after leading throughout the first half of the season. This was a year we saw roided up Barry break the HR record. We saw Ichiro have his seventh consecutive 200 hit season. this has to be a pretty good baseball season imo and can't wait for the playoffs.

 

[X]

Cubs Clinch!!! With Sheets out the brewers had little to no chance against gred maddux and the padres, I think the Cubs are goin to the series, they might not win it, but they;ll go to it, my reasons are:
Zambrano- Zambranos been on fire lately, when he is on fire, hes unstoppable
Soriano- He has had like 16-20 HRs in September before, he is the best lead off hitter in the league, as well as a damn good outfielder
Lee - When Lee is on fire, he can hit better than A-Rod or Prince Fielder
Hill - He threw 6 innings with 1 hit on Saturday, and i think he'll be hot in the playoffs
Lilly- If lilly throws good during the NLDS, The Cubs are pretty much guaranteed to go on,
There are many other reasons as well, but it mostly depends on who they play...

First off I just had to respond to this. Come on now. Did you really just say Derrek Lee can be as good of a hitter as A-Rod or Prince Fielder when he's hot? Because thats just a wee bit of an exaggeration. A-Rod is the best hitter in baseball, no one can dispute that at all, and this is coming from a diehard BoSox fan. Fielder is still young and hasn't yet proven to be as consistent as A-Rod as, but from the looks of it he's not going to be stopping with the 50 HR seasons any time soon.

I'm just glad my BoSox clinched the AL East.