mlb MLB | Major League Baseball 2011 Regular Season - Page 12

Tonight's Tigers/Red Sox game at Fenway was about as foggy as I have seen a baseball game in a long time. Trying to catch a fly ball looked like a cluster*bleep* because the fielders were having a very difficult time seeing the ball.

At least the Red Sox won 1-0, so I'll take it.

The Blue Jays had a bad day at the office: their fielders committed five errors in a 6-5 loss to the AL East leading Rays. Can't blame fog for a defensive performance worthy of Sportscenter's "Not Top 10" because that game was played in a dome.

UPDATE: Another foggy night at Fenway. Daniel Bard blew a 3-1 lead by giving up back-to-back solo HR in the 8th, but Carl Crawford hit the walk-off single to deep center. Red Sox win 4-3; here come the Cubs to start a three-game series as Interleague play is about to get underway.

Dice-K is going to be out at least a month due to a strained ulnar-collateral ligament [UCL] in his right elbow. To counter the injury news to the rotation, the Red Sox have signed Kevin Millwood to a minor-league deal, acquired Franklin Morales from the Colorado Rockies for cash or player-to-be-named later, and designated Hideki Okajima for assignment.

quote KFC_Or_Bust

It's the closest the Sox will be to 1st place, enjoy your overrated team.

Who's closer to 1st Place now? Never mind, missed our chance today because the bullpen *bleep*ed it up. Didn't see that coming either Mr Matthews--who would have thought the guy that was doing good would give up 6 (5 earned) in the 8th?

Personally I love it. Mainly because the Sox always do really well against the NL.

quote Lesley Pro_04

Didn't see that coming either Mr Matthews--who would have thought the guy that was doing good would give up 6 (5 earned) in the 8th?

I was mad at Albers last night but he's pitched really well this year so I can't be too upset at it. That sucked though.

I'm glad Wake got the win. He deserved it with how he pitched. I really would like to see him hit 200 wins by the end of his career.

Long time fellas, done trolling Loungin'.

I love interleague play too.

And how bout them Twins, eh?

I love interleague play. Gives me a chance to see teams that my club doesn't often go up against.

Mariners and Phillies in June? Yes, please. Arguably the best rotations from each league going at it.

As for the Twins; They just have a God awful offense. My Mariners got them coming up. I'm hoping for a series sweep. Really should happen.

And the Indians are a fluke.

To be honest, I don't think the Indians are a fluke... I just think a lot of things are going right for them at the same time.

Looking at it, Asdrubal Cabrera has never reached his potential until now, they have one of the better catchers in the game in Carlos Santana, Matt LaPorta has never reached his potential until now, Orlando Cabrera just knows how to win (every team he is on is always good, some say he really does well with young players because he pushes them), and their young rotation has been coming together too.

Look at it, their whole roster is young and all were high ranked prospects, LaPorta, Santana, Hannahan, Cabrera, Choo, etc. were all very well thought of, it was just extremely unlikely they would all of a sudden reach that which they have. I think this is one of the awesome things about baseball... teams like the Indians unpredictably become good, but when you look at it you start to realize how much potential they had under your nose and you didn't even realize it.

And back onto the Twins.

A lot of Minnesotans believe Mauer has something seriously wrong with him that the organization isn't quite letting out to the media quite yet. Supposedly he's lost 20 pounds and has serious muscle issues in his legs. Some out of reach but possible speculation is he has Lou Gehrig's disease, but I really doubt that.

Justin Morneau, well... he isn't Justin Morneau yet, I am not giving up on him. I think he will hit his stride in a month or two.

We don't have a middle infield. At all. That's the one thing I hated about the offseason, we let our whole bullpen (Jon Rauch, Matt Guerrier, Jesse Crain, etc.) walk, didn't resign them, and then traded JJ Hardy to depend on Alexi Casilla who has never shown serious success in the Majors. I went into this season thinking that this year wouldn't be as good as other years simply because we had bigger holes than past seasons, and I was right. I just didn't think they would be this terrible.

We are looking to be sellers this year. I expect two of Michael Cuddyer, Delmon Young, or Denard Span traded. Luckily, all our top prospects are outfielders. I expect Kevin Slowey traded. I expect a couple of our younger starters traded (they aren't exactly young like they were 3-4 years ago, but besides Pavano they are all in their late 20's).

I say this year and next year is going to be a rebuilding phase. Expect us to compete in 2 years. Hopefully Joe Mauer's contract doesn't handicap this team too badly, I didn't like the contract to begin with. Not exactly the money he gets per year, but the amount of years that was on it. I thought a 5 year, $110 million dollar contract would have been alright with me.

Dude, I've been saying this since last season. He has high trade value and I really think we should trade him. He's Kyle Farnsworth Jr. He needs to be traded while he is still worth something. I have never liked him that much but for whatever reason, the organization has been high on him since he's come up.

But yeah, *bleep* the Indians.

If Pedroia doesn't get hurt, he makes that play at second too. The one that ended up being the tying run.

quote The Supreme Extreme

Looking at it, Asdrubal Cabrera has never reached his potential until now, they have one of the better catchers in the game in Carlos Santana, Matt LaPorta has never reached his potential until now, Orlando Cabrera just knows how to win (every team he is on is always good, some say he really does well with young players because he pushes them), and their young rotation has been coming together too.

Look at it, their whole roster is young and all were high ranked prospects, LaPorta, Santana, Hannahan, Cabrera, Choo, etc. were all very well thought of, it was just extremely unlikely they would all of a sudden reach that which they have. I think this is one of the awesome things about baseball... teams like the Indians unpredictably become good, but when you look at it you start to realize how much potential they had under your nose and you didn't even realize it.

I'll be convinced if they're still where they're at when the AS break hits. Outside of Masterson (which I'm still pissed we traded away for that *bleep* Victor Martinez), their pitching is weak. Carmona had that one really good year back in 2007 (?) and since then, he's been pretty shitty.

Their offense is what is winning them games. Cabrera is really the only one who is consistent and he's going to slow down eventually.

Half of their wins have been come from behind victories. So basically that means their starting pitching sucks but their bullpen has been solid.

We'll see if they last. I can't see it happening.

quote Mr Matthews

Dude, I've been saying this since last season. He has high trade value and I really think we should trade him. He's Kyle Farnsworth Jr. He needs to be traded while he is still worth something. I have never liked him that much but for whatever reason, the organization has been high on him since he's come up.

But yeah, *bleep* the Indians.

If Pedroia doesn't get hurt, he makes that play at second too. The one that ended up being the tying run.

quote The Supreme Extreme

Looking at it, Asdrubal Cabrera has never reached his potential until now, they have one of the better catchers in the game in Carlos Santana, Matt LaPorta has never reached his potential until now, Orlando Cabrera just knows how to win (every team he is on is always good, some say he really does well with young players because he pushes them), and their young rotation has been coming together too.

Look at it, their whole roster is young and all were high ranked prospects, LaPorta, Santana, Hannahan, Cabrera, Choo, etc. were all very well thought of, it was just extremely unlikely they would all of a sudden reach that which they have. I think this is one of the awesome things about baseball... teams like the Indians unpredictably become good, but when you look at it you start to realize how much potential they had under your nose and you didn't even realize it.

I'll be convinced if they're still where they're at when the AS break hits. Outside of Masterson (which I'm still pissed we traded away for that *bleep* Victor Martinez), their pitching is weak. Carmona had that one really good year back in 2007 (?) and since then, he's been pretty shitty.

Their offense is what is winning them games. Cabrera is really the only one who is consistent and he's going to slow down eventually.

Half of their wins have been come from behind victories. So basically that means their starting pitching sucks but their bullpen has been solid.

We'll see if they last. I can't see it happening.

This message was edited by Mr Matthews on May 23 2011.

Matt Laporta is swinging the bat well and Shin Soo Choo and Carlos Santana are bound to come back to form. They both have been in prolonged slumps.

But yeah, I get what you are saying about their rotation. Besides Fausto Carmona (he actually had a pretty good year last year) and Masterson, it is a bunch of nobodies. I think if they acquire a rotation arm (Kevin Slowey?), it would improve their team a lot. But I still think the Indians are the real deal.

I expect the Indians and Royals to compete for the Central for a long time, the Royals prospects are all almost major league ready and they are all really good. I don't see the Tigers being good like everyone says they are, the Tigers defense is atrocious and they certainly aren't young.

Mariners won their 6th in a row last night. Yeeeaaahhh, buddy! Gotta keep this good play up going into that Yankees series.

lol @ the Twins.