2009 MLB season discussion*

[fren.]

HDLounge is fucking awesome, was watching the Brewers-Cubs and Yankees-O's game at the same time. While being allowed to pause, hot shit.

[Ensam]

HDLounge is fucking awesome, was watching the Brewers-Cubs and Yankees-O's game at the same time. While being allowed to pause, hot shit.

awesome shit, thanks for the link

[Plow]

Honestly, it feels like the Rays from last year. Good pitching, pretty good defense. The only bad thing with the Royals is their light hitting at times, but then again... when you have Zack Greinke going fucking bonkers, who needs more than a few runs a game?

You clearly aren't from around here.


A tremendously exciting Royals season means we might finish above 500. Playoffs though... yarite.

[Bregor]

I have heard good things about MLBN, but I don't get it. But Harold Reynolds used to be money on Baseball Tonight, back when I actually used to watch ESPN, so I'm sure he still does well.

What I like about MLB Network is they don't have to squeeze their game recaps into a half-hour like Baseball Tonight does. They take the time to really run through how each game played out, instead of just one or two highlights and a box score. Harold Reynolds is good, John Hart and Dan Plesac are okay, but I love the occasional visit from Bob Costas. It's just good to have another place to get the day's baseball news if ESPN decides to dedicate four solid hours to LeBron or something.

And this whole thread just put the ol' jinx on the Royals, Soria to the DL with shoulder soreness. Good work, men.

[Akiyama]

You clearly aren't from around here.


A tremendously exciting Royals season means we might finish above 500. Playoffs though... yarite.

Oh, yeah I know. The Royals haven't been relevant in a very long time. I'm hoping they do well, but I've already been bitched at by a few Royals fans who suddenly appeared out of no where because they are doing well. Isn't it funny how that works? Happened with some Celtics fans I knew a couple years ago when they were suddenly a shit ton better. Fairweather fans can suck a dick.

What I like about MLB Network is they don't have to squeeze their game recaps into a half-hour like Baseball Tonight does. They take the time to really run through how each game played out, instead of just one or two highlights and a box score. Harold Reynolds is good, John Hart and Dan Plesac are okay, but I love the occasional visit from Bob Costas. It's just good to have another place to get the day's baseball news if ESPN decides to dedicate four solid hours to LeBron or something.

And this whole thread just put the ol' jinx on the Royals, Soria to the DL with shoulder soreness. Good work, men.

Yeah. MLB-N basically has like.. three different highlight shows. The two for early/late games are like a few hours apiece, and then "Quick Pitch" which is an hour long show where it's one guy doing the highlights sort of Baseball Tonight-ish without much break in the action between the next highlight. They are doing a fantastic job, and I like how they don't fill their table with guys. Usually it's three people, very rarely four. Also, I love their set. That field is fucking awesome.

And oops. Soria's been struggling lately though, hasn't he? Maybe this will help. Do I honestly think the Royals can keep this up though? No. I mean.. look where they are with Greinke pitching at historical levels. I just don't think that'll last. The Twins are gonna play better with Mauer back, and the Tigers are playing a lot better too now that Verlander is pitching how he did a few years back.

[Viq]

Also, I love their set. That field is fucking awesome.

I love when Harold Reynolds and Barry Larkin use the field set to run through plays and walk through what went right or wrong. They can afford to spend a lot of time getting really in depth on seemingly small plays, and it's something that no other show/channel can offer.

[Akiyama]

Agreed. While Baseball Tonight has that small demo field, or NFL Life has the small demo field... MLB-N/MLB Tonight has that small demo BALLPARK. That's what is awesome.

[fren.]

http://a.espncdn.com/media/apphoto/8...3a596c09f6.jpg

[Akiyama]

http://a.espncdn.com/media/apphoto/8...3a596c09f6.jpg

Him and Joba just crack me up. The fist pump by Huff after his homer off of Joba made me fucking lol too. Yeah, yeah. It's childish, but god it was funny. Also, Joba reminded everyone how they will play a lot more this season. Who cares! I still laughed my ass off. D:

[Cephius]

I dunno what's up with the closers this year. Mariano has allowed 4 HRs (as many as he allowed all of last year) Soria is on the DL, Feuntes has been horrible for the Angels, K-rod is giving up a run or two every time he comes in, and even Papelbon has had 20 baserunners in 14 innings. Very unlike these guys.

[fren.]

I like Soria and his unibrow, shame.

[Pringles]

I dunno what's up with the closers this year. Mariano has allowed 4 HRs (as many as he allowed all of last year) Soria is on the DL, Feuntes has been horrible for the Angels, K-rod is giving up a run or two every time he comes in, and even Papelbon has had 20 baserunners in 14 innings. Very unlike these guys.

The closer era coming to a close perhaps? In my opinion closers have either become overworked or underworked.

[Penthesilea]

Brad Lidge is doing not so great either.

[Viq]

Thanks to Papelbon's crazed fist pumps at the end of games, my friends and I refer to masturbation as "Striking out the side"

[Bregor]

I just think people are starting to realize that outside of four or five really elite guys, high-priced closers just aren't worth it. Pretty much anyone can come in with nobody on base and get three outs before giving up 2-3 runs most of the time. That is, unless you're riding the Heath Bell and Frank Francisco bandwagon.

[Akiyama]

Thanks to Papelbon's crazed pist pumps at the end of games, my friends and I refer to masturbation as "Striking out the side"

fist*

But I fucking lol'd Viq. Thank you so much.

And in my fantasy league, I actually have Heath Bell and Frank Francisco on my bullpen roster, along with Scott Downs. As many people say, anyone can provide saves. There's no reason to draft a K-Rod/Mariano Rivera in like.. the 4-6th rounds.

[fren.]

The closer era coming to a close perhaps? In my opinion closers have either become overworked or underworked.

They should just go back to the Mo of '96, 110+ innings of pure domination from the pen.

I doubt it's coming an end anytime soon, it's considered a pretty pivotal role nowadays especially with how fickle middle relievers are.

[Akiyama]

I dunno. We've seen the times of rotating closers for effectiveness outside of what.. 6-8 closers that are assured of keeping their jobs? Like I know the Braves have situational cases for Gonzalez/Soriano, and the Cubs had troubles with Marmol/Gregg. There's been cases like that with the Indians before Wood too during last year. I'm not saying Mariano, Paps, K-Rod, or those guys are ever in danger, but most other closers out there aren't really that safe.

[Cephius]

I could definitely see the closer era coming to an end, if for no other reason than economics. Look how much money closers make vs starting pitchers. It's not even close. I take Joba as an example, I see him as the eventual heir to the Yankee closer role but the fact is the kid wants to be a starter and who can blame him? Who would want 5 mil a year when you can make 10+ doing much the same job with half the pressure?

[Ensam]

Sources: Manny Ramirez's medical records sealed fate - ESPN

I think that's enough to condemn him, yeah. I defended him before simply because I believe in innocent until proven guilty and benefit of the doubt, and all that was abound before was heresy. But, if what's in the article is true, I think that's enough proof. All that we knew before was the fertility drug. Now that we know about the other one, well, yeah. I mean, my questioning before was that he tested positive for something that is used AFTER a cycle but was never tested positive before, so possibly "no" cycle. Now that he did test positive, just proof the fertility drug was used after a cycle.