2011 MLB Season Discussion

It took 20 games but the Twins finally scored more than 5 runs in a game. It would be nice if it was because they are finally starting to hit well and not because Fausto Carmona sucks balls but I think it might be the later.

Dear White Sox,

You just got no-hit by a guy who was probably going to lose his spot in the rotation.

Just want to say glad TB got its really bad losing streak out of the way at the beginning of the season

Hey look at those Rays... another walk off HR to end a game.

And Longoria is back too, things are looking up.

Holy crap, Toronto, please stop it with the injuries. It's tough to be competitive when you have to keep your line-up together with sticky tape and bubble gum. Constantly starting utility men is not a recipe for success.

Also: I hate you, Tampa.

Stele wrote:

Hey look at those Rays... another walk off HR to end a game.

And Longoria is back too, things are looking up.

Woot! I was at the game Saturday and it was fun but my wife and daughter kept telling me how cute Sam Fuld's behind was so I'll have to beat him up.

IMAGE(http://gif.mocksession.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/BAREHANDBACKHAND.gif.pagespeed.ce.I-hQtr_XRy.gif)

I saw this thread pop up and was about to say you're not a baseball fan if you haven't watched that play a few times. I was watching the game live (woo visiting inlaws back in Madison) and it took about five minutes for my jaw to rehinge itself.
Here it is on the Brewers' site (better quality than the .gif above).

That's an amazing play.

And way to stick it out tonight O's.

Aw hell, the Rays walked in the losing run in the bottom of the 9th. Cleveland really is getting lucky this year.

With Arizona's loss last night, every team in the league has been shut out at least once this season.

Jesus, that stupid HR celebration has now cost Kendry Morales nearly two full seasons. Right in his prime. What a shame.

Being a Giants fan isn't good for the blood pressure once again.

Oh man... sweeping the Red Sox is always so sweet.

Trophy Husband wrote:

Shenanigans!! Two games series don't count as sweeps!!

True, unless it's against the Yankees.

Shenanigans!! Two game series don't count as sweeps!!

Man, Rays just look so good right now

Trophy Husband wrote:

Shenanigans!! Two game series don't count as sweeps!!

When you're a Jays fan, you take what you can get..... the AL East is a brutal place to live.

And hey: it was Boston - aren't they supposed to be crushing everyone right now?

AndrewA wrote:
Trophy Husband wrote:

Shenanigans!! Two game series don't count as sweeps!!

When you're a Jays fan, you take what you can get..... the AL East is a brutal place to live.

And hey: it was Boston - aren't they supposed to be crushing everyone right now? ;)

Yeah, preseason predictions had them winning the World Series, Lester winning the Cy Young, Gonzalez winning the batting title and the HR title...........I thought they were going to cancel the season and just crown them. Since I hate the Rays, go Toronto!

I don't remember anyone in the Boston organization predicting any of those things. If that's the problem, then the media should be receiving the hatred, not the Red Sox.

Trophy Husband wrote:

I don't remember anyone in the Boston organization predicting any of those things. If that's the problem, then the media should be receiving the hatred, not the Red Sox.

So, you are new to this whole sports fan thing, eh?

Trophy Husband wrote:

I don't remember anyone in the Boston organization predicting any of those things. If that's the problem, then the media should be receiving the hatred, not the Red Sox.

They have about a gabazillion dollars in salary, and their fanbase was certainly crowing before the games got underway about how amazing Boston would be.

Besides that, hating the Red Sox and Yankees is pretty much a given if you're not a Boston/New York fan, isn't it?!?

Maybe I'm tired of people falsely lumping the Sox in with the Yankees when it comes to spending. While they do spend a lot they're rarely number two behind the Yankees and on average don't spend more than the Phillies, Angels, Cubs, Tigers, or Mets. For some reason though they're the only team that ever gets mentioned in the same breath as the Yankees when it comes to spending. Most years they go right up to the salary cap without going over.

If we're having a fair discussion about over-spending shouldn't the conversation this year be the Yankees and the Phillies?

2011:
1. New York Yankees $201,689,030
2. Philadelphia Phillies $172,976,381
3. Boston Red Sox $161,407,476
4. Los Angeles Angels $138,998,524

2010:
N.Y. Yankees $206,333,389
Boston $162,747,333
Chicago Cubs $146,859,000
Philadelphia $141,927,381

2009:
New York Yankees $201,449,189
New York Mets $149,373,987
Chicago Cubs $134,809,000
Boston Red Sox $121,745,999

2008:
N.Y. Yankees $209,081,579
Detroit $138,685,197
New York Mets $138,293,378
Boston $133,440,037

Just going by the data you provided I see that the Yankees always outspend everyone. We knew that.

But the Red Sox are the only other team in that group to be on the list all four years. And none of the others are on more than twice. It's like you were trying to show that the Red Sox should be lumped in together with the Yankees.

When you can afford to pay stupid money year in and year out, it makes it so much easier to take risks and correct mistakes. So when my Cardinals spend money to sign Holliday last year, and hopefully to retain Albert, it's going to prevent them from competing if they fail or get hurt.

It gets a little old having to remind Yankee and Red Sox fans that it is their year in and year out ability to spend and compete that throws the balance off. Sure, some smaller budget teams make a run and even win sometimes. But the rest of us just take turns having decent teams, while the big boys reload every year.

Couple that with their ability to loot others stars, and no one is going to "admire" their ability to produce winning teams. And when their fans act like their teams are smart rather than just lucky to have the means to use blunt force to fill their squads, it becomes easy to poke fun at them, too.

I'm a Cardinal fan, which I think has a nice balance because of where they stand monetarily. The team has more money than the market should allow for because it is a great fan base, but there are still limits. So a team like this year has some absolute studs, some "gritty veterans", and a collection of kids we hope come through.

But Royals fans look at St. Louis has a big market team that has it too easy. So it is all perspective, really. But I don't spend too much time trying to convince them to like us, or that they could compete as easily as us.

I am also going to predict the Phillies dropping out of the top 4 next year with all the salary they are going to lose. Unless they can get him cheap, Oswalt will not be returning. I can't see them resigning Ibanez, Baez or Lidge either. Pretty much the only free agent I do see them bringing back is Madson. Their big need right now is OF, and they will either fill that need from within (Brown, Mayberry, Francisco) or in Free Agency, and no one out there available screams big contract.

Trophy Husband wrote:

Maybe I'm tired of people falsely lumping the Sox in with the Yankees when it comes to spending.

It might have something to do with their payroll jumping by $40 million between 2009 and 2010.

Also, It isn't just about payroll it's about fan attitude. They could be fielding a bunch of Triple A scrubs and fans would think they deserve to be good just because of the Red Sox logo. (Yankee fan is the same)

Baseball is absolutely broken when it comes to spending. I really despise how some teams - and the Red Sox are a chief offender, so don't kid yourself Trophy - can afford to (over)pay great players to lure them away from the teams that turned them into stars in the first place. Most other serious sports have salary caps for a reason - I'd love to see the MLB stop being so damned primitive.

(I'd love to see New York, Philly, Boston, etc. try to field a competitive team when they can't triple or quadruple the spending of other clubs.)

AndrewA wrote:

Baseball is absolutely broken when it comes to spending. I really despise how some teams - and the Red Sox are a chief offender, so don't kid yourself Trophy - can afford to (over)pay great players to lure them away from the teams that turned them into stars in the first place. Most other serious sports have salary caps for a reason - I'd love to see the MLB stop being so damned primitive.

(I'd love to see the New York Mets try to field a competitive team ever)

Fixed that for me..

My wife's cousin just went on the DL for Atlanta.

Big bummer, it's been fun watching him pitch. Let's hope he makes it back OK.