2012 MLB Season Discussion: Off-Season

Again though, that happens all the time with them. All the time! I know how that sausage is made, I read Moneyball. And saw the film.

A couple years ago, the Rays were the story you're hoping the A's are this year. But that was a terrible franchise with a low payroll and the least attentive fans in the league.

Yeah the Rays are only 4 spots above Oakland on payroll this year, and are going to miss the playoffs by only 1-2 games. Not making a super case.

And according to my first google hit, USA Today, Oakland is next to lowest. :p

..and now its time for some beveraging.

http://www.sportsoddshistory.com/aa_...

Oakland was 100:1 preseason to win the World Series, 200:1 at their lowest point this year, 9-10 going into todays game. I think its somewhere near 7 now that they managed to win the division/avoid the 'playin'.

30:1 to win the division at the start of the year... 80:1 at the allstar break.

And the O's were given the same odds, more or less. The A's run here at the end was incredible, though.

garion333 wrote:

And the O's were given the same odds, more or less. The A's run here at the end was incredible, though.

THey were low but not as low as Oakland. The O's are a surprise but not nearly the same level as the Athletics.

Stele wrote:

Yeah the Rays are only 4 spots above Oakland on payroll this year, and are going to miss the playoffs by only 1-2 games. Not making a super case.

And according to my first google hit, USA Today, Oakland is next to lowest. :p

Not until the end of the season.

I just got my AL West division champ sweatshirt and cap. As well as my authentic A's postseason cap.

W00T! Let's Go Oakland!

garion333 wrote:

And the O's were given the same odds, more or less. The A's run here at the end was incredible, though.

Kinda. By the allstar break O's were down to 50:1 and Oakland was up to 200:1.

I honestly had 0 expectations this year. Back in December just before xmas they traded Gio and I was like bleh.

In exchange for Gonzalez, a 26-year-old who has won 15-plus games and thrown 200-plus innings in each of the past two seasons, the Nationals are giving up three pitching prospects — right-handers Brad Peacock and A.J. Cole, and lefty Tommy Milone — plus catching prospect Derek Norris. Peacock, Cole and Norris ranked third, fourth and ninth, respectively, in Baseball America’s recent list of the Nationals’ top prospects.

Norris is already up anddddddd Milone who wasnt even ranked in that trade blurb pitched 31 games and 190 innings this year.

Anderson was a maybe if they needed him for the playin game Friday so assuming no set backs he should be good

Longoria hits his 3rd home run tonight. Crazy.

I'm hoping Anderson is ready to start on game 1.

I don't know if this has been mentioned here, but Fake Buster Olney is a goddamn hilarious twitter account to follow.

Playoffs?! Playoffs?!

Yes! in 10 minutes.

Cards are HUGE underdogs. I love it!

Can't wait!

I root for whoever plays AGAINST the Yankees and the Rangers.

Wow. The old strikeout home run.

5 bucks for the playoffs = commentary and tons of camera angles. No blackouts in Canada and the U.S apparently.

This is how you get money from the consumer. Highly considering MLB tv next year if the price is right.

edit: errr as someone else mentioned from last years playoffs its just a raw feed tho. So no replays, tv graphics or camera angles changing.

Still TBS commentary + quad camera angle is pretty good. Only missing replays.

karmajay wrote:

I root for whoever plays AGAINST the Yankees and the Rangers.

Give in to your hatred!

Also, this has been an interesting game. HR-robbing catch by the Braves in the 2nd. And then the timeout/pitch, hit a HR on the next pitch move by the Braves.

Crazy game.

If i were a certain A's fan, I'd say the Braves are broken and done. But i think it is going to be a wild finish. But after the breaks went Atlanta's way, now the Cards are getting them.

WHAT THE f*ck?!

oh my...

That infield fly was almost a home run.

I said it would be a wild finish.

Damn does MLB really want the cards in the playoffs or what? One of the worst calls I've ever seen.

Stele wrote:
karmajay wrote:

I root for whoever plays AGAINST the Yankees and the Rangers.

Give in to your hatred!

Also, this has been an interesting game. HR-robbing catch by the Braves in the 2nd. And then the timeout/pitch, hit a HR on the next pitch move by the Braves. :D

I just wanted to clarify - AGAINST the Yankess an AGAINST the Rangers. Just wanted my hate to be clear

As a Mets fan, it's very hard for me to empathize with Braves fans. Really, really hard. But I feel for them after that ridiculous infield fly rule call. Just atrocious. It's one thing for an umpire to make a mistake when they have a split second to make a call they have to make (a close play at first, balls vs. strike, etc.), but to be the extra ump standing 40 feet past third base and decide to insert yourself into the game by putting your arm in the air as the ball hits the ground? Ugh.

Who knows if the Braves would have rallied or not (although look what happened the other night when Hamilton misplayed that pop fly in game 162), but what a horrible way for your season to end.

Oh, and goodnight, Larry. You won't be hitting dingers in my team's home ball park anymore.

You know what would have been hilarious, but kind of scary? Niether of the runners tagged up on the infield fly. If Motte had stepped off and appealed to second base, it would have been three outs and the inning over.

Of course, we would have had a full scale riot on out hands at that point.

You don't need to tag when the ball isn't caught.

My bad. I misunderstood the rule.

Yeah, with the ball being caught 99% of the time I can't fault you for thinking that.

In other news, sure looking good for the O's. Epic collapse for the Rangers.

Woo yeah 5-1 now. Good riddance Texas!

EDIT: Oh sh*t, bases loaded, I hope I didn't jinx it.