2011 MLB Season Discussion: Joey Votto MVP Edition

[Conrad]

YTeah, I bought tickets to this series as well, not sure what games though.

I'll be tailgating in the Linc lot Saturday ; my aunt's fiancee is having a bachelor party at the game.

[Soa]

Does anyone find interleague a novelty anymore? Seems a bit dull and overhyped.

I still like and look forward to interleague games, but I agree that they need to rotate teams every year and get rid of this "rival team" nonsense. I should also say that I am in favor of sending the Astros to the AL West, which will give us a balanced schedule again and only require each team to have 3 interleague series a season.

[Demosthenes11]

I still like and look forward to interleague games, but I agree that they need to rotate teams every year and get rid of this "rival team" nonsense. I should also say that I am in favor of sending the Astros to the AL West, which will give us a balanced schedule again and only require each team to have 3 interleague series a season.

and you have 1 series from each division...OMG YOU JUST FIXED THE SCHEDULING PROBLEM

[Aksannyi]

I agree with the rotation thing. Fucking tired of seeing the Marlins, myself. I'd love to see more variety.

[Headspace]

Brewers play both the red sox and Yankees. Reds play just the Yankees. Cardinals play neither.

SCHEDULING HAS NO ISSUES

J-BRUCE

[Jb1210a]

I still think Interleague is fairly interesting, I do agree with the natural rival thing as there are few teams in the league that legitimately have one. Rays v. Marlins isn't a natural rivalry. That being said, one of the best matchups that will occur is the Red Sox v. Phillies, two teams with the best to records in the league that could be a preview of the World Series. Will be interesting to watch.

[archibaldcrane]

I'm really excited to see "Mr. Warning Track Power" Mark Kotsay DHing in this series, instead of calling up all-bat, no-glove Mat Gamel from AAA. It's fucking retarded.

[aurik]

Brewers play both the red sox and Yankees. Reds play just the Yankees. Cardinals play neither.

SCHEDULING HAS NO ISSUES

Tell that to every team in the AL East. Although the reason the Orioles have a bad record every year isn't just because they have the toughest SOS.

[Aksannyi]

I agree, Rays vs. Marlins is not even close to a rivalry. The Yankees and the Red Sox have each other, for sure, but those are the two teams I'd say the Rays are most rivaled with, for obvious reasons. But you can't really make it a rivalry-triangle because that's kind of gay, so for all intents and purposes, the Rays have no legitimate rival.

I don't think teams always need a rivalry, honestly. Only a handful of sports rivalries are honestly deeply interesting and worth watching, Red Sox vs Yankees, Steelers vs Browns (mostly because of hometown nostalgia, doubt a lot of people truly care outside of that general region), Pens vs Flyers (again, regional bias), maybe Gators vs. Seminoles? Idk, I don't really think that playing up rivalries is really working out all that well. And forcing them? Fail, seriously.

[Eliseos]

I'm really excited to see "Mr. Warning Track Power" Mark Kotsay DHing in this series, instead of calling up all-bat, no-glove Mat Gamel from AAA. It's fucking retarded.

Kotsay is at 1st tonight, Fielder DHing. IDGI.

Also I'm looking forward to interleague this year, to see how the Brewers stack up against the AL East.

[Headspace]

GO SAWX

[Eliseos]

JAYZ

[archibaldcrane]

Kotsay is at 1st tonight, Fielder DHing.

Hnnnnnggggg

[Eliseos]

In better (?) offensive news, Counsell is starting instead of Betancourt.

[archibaldcrane]

They should DFA Betancourt, call up Gamel, and have Counsell and Wilson platoon SS.

[Headspace]

Betancourt? YOU MEAN THE MOST UNDERRATED PLAYER OF ALL TIME?

EVER?!

[Eliseos]

I would be really ok with that.

I'm also really surprised they didn't bring up Gamel for at least the interleague series', unless if they are waiting until our home interleague games are done?

[Soa]

I was looking back at some old 2005 Phillies news and found that the following trade offers were rejected in our attempt to get some decent pitching for the stretch run:

Ryan Howard to the Blue Jays for Ted Lilly
Ryan Howard to the Pirates for Kris Benson
Ryan Howard to the Pirates for Kip Wells

Thank God there were GM's dumber than Ed Wade back then.

[Trichocyst]

I do not want to relive the days when Andy Ashby is our big #2 ace acquisition. I remember going to opening day 2006 and seeing Jon Lieber eat Scott Rolen's shit all day.

[archibaldcrane]

I'm also really surprised they didn't bring up Gamel for at least the interleague series', unless if they are waiting until our home interleague games are done?

I think they've pretty much said they are not bringing him up for interleague period.

I think the only chance he has of getting on the MLB club this year is if he is called up for roster expansions if we're in the playoff hunt. Otherwise I think they prefer he gets every day starts in AAA - which would be fine if our bats off the bench weren't so fucking anemic.