2011 MLB Season Discussion

chocolatemuffins wrote:

Even the Cardinals' players admit that the strike zone was changed to their favor mid-game due to LaRussa's whining.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs/2011...

How many stupid arguments can you beat to death in two days?

It doesn't matter who wins because they are going to come up to Milwaukee and get pounded by the Brew Crew.

Jayhawker wrote:
chocolatemuffins wrote:

Even the Cardinals' players admit that the strike zone was changed to their favor mid-game due to LaRussa's whining.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs/2011...

How many stupid arguments can you beat to death in two days?

Settle down.

Valverde induced heart attacks 2 days in a row.

Well crap, Yanks lose and are now one game away from elimination...

Suckage...

Go Detroit! Go St. Louis!

I would love to see a Milwaukee/Detroit series.

Coolbeans wrote:

Sweet, Yanks lose and are now one game away from elimination...

Awesome...

Fixed that for you.

Jayhawker wrote:
Ulairi wrote:
Jayhawker wrote:

sh*tf*ck.

You spoke too soon.

Yep. While my phone died, I stuck it out at local South City pub. What an amazing job by the bullpen and some fantastic clutch hitting. Carp was awful, but I will give him credit for gutting it out enough to only give up 4 through three innings. That could have become eight very easily.

It was a terrible move pitching him, as his 30 pitch first inning showed. But he will be on full rest if it goes five. And home field has swung to the Cards. I think Garcia locks down Game 3, as I thought he would Game 2. There is a shot my Cards in four prediction will hold true. I was temped to backtrack to five when it became clear Carp was pitching on three days rest in Game 2.

I wouldn't lock anything down with Hamels on the mound.

Ulairi wrote:

It doesn't matter who wins because they are going to come up to Milwaukee and get pounded by the Brew Crew.

It is my sincere hope that the Brewers can close things out tonight while the Cards and Phillies go to five games. With the way Marcum has been playing lately, 6.66 ERA in his last four starts, I'm skeptical the Diamond backs won't win at least their first home game.

Garcia owns the Phils.. but I won't give up hope if we go down 2-1. We still have Game 4 with Oswald and Game 5 with Doc. You still should win those games even with Carp on the mound on full rest.

But it will take more than 1 run by the Phils to win this game.. Cards are too good to expect to win 1-0

The momentum and advantage has swung to, but that can turn awfully quick. St. Louis needs for Garcia to come up big, because a loss today would be one hell of a hole. Having to get a win with Jackson over Oswalt is a tall order. I think the series has five games written all over it at this point, but that asumes a win today.

Oh well. Here's hoping the Yanks lose!

That's right. The cardinals walked Pence in order to face Howard. Three pitches, and goodnight Howard! Garcia is really on hi game. If the Cards bats could just break through for a few runs...

Well, that was not nice. Looks like the Cards are going to have to come back.... again. I don't think it was a good idea to walk Ruiz when it was clear that the Phils were going to go to a PH.

hitting into a double play! You guys are killing me! Score some damn runs~!

Good game. The missed opportunities just did the team in. But the Cards play their best ball with their backs to the wall. They will win tomorrow (I hope) and Carp will finish the Phils off Friday.

So far, this has been a really good series, though.

Looks like Torty was drunk on Twitter again:

The mood was sour after the game. Then, "Yee-Haw!" & Berkman rode in on a Clydesdale holding a birthday cake with dozens of candles.

"What the hell?" asked a confused Mr. La Russa. "Berkman, what are you doing!?" Berkman said, "We heard it's your birthday, Skipper!"

With Berkman leading, the team serenaded Mr. La Russa with the song "Happy Birthday." Then Mr. La Russa blew out the candles to cheers.

"What'd ya wish for?" asked Berkman. "What do you think?" Mr. La Russa said. "That we kick the Phillies' ass tomorrow!" Everyone cheered.

"Oh, we will, Skipper," hollered Berkman. "Or my name isn't Lance Berkman & I'm not riding a Clydesdale! Yee-Haw!" And he galloped away...

To Mr. Mozeliak I said, "I can't believe you let Berkman ride a Clydesdale." He replied, "Being able to ride them is in his contract."

Go Cards!

Jayhawker wrote:

Good game. The missed opportunities just did the team in. But the Cards play their best ball with their backs to the wall. They will win tomorrow (I hope) and Carp will finish the Phils off Friday.

So far, this has been a really good series, though.

I concur. Game 3 took 20 years off my life, and I didn't even play in the game. Just when the Phillies broke the game open, they left the door open a little to let the Cards back into the game until the very end. Much like the Yankees/Tigers series, I firmly believe that the NL winner will come out of the Card/Phillies series. No offense to Milwaukee, but they are horrible on the road (See: 8-1 loss to Arizona in Game 3).

I made my predictions on MLB.com, and aside from Det/NY, everything looks right on schedule:

Texas over Tampa in 4 (Correct)
Detroit over NY Yankees in 4 (Game 5 tomorrow)
Philadelphia over St. Louis in 4
Milwaukee over Arizona in 4

Detroit over Texas in 5
Philadelphia over Milwaukee in 6

World Series:
Philadelphia over Detroit in 7

Playoff baseball is just way to stressful...

Kush15 wrote:

No offense to Milwaukee, but they are horrible on the road (See: 8-1 loss to Arizona in Game 3).

I'll try to look it up, but their road record after the all star break was excellent. I think that game was the consequence of Shaun Marcum not having pitched a good game in quite some time. He's definitely tailed off at the end of the season, and that game seems more an extension of that than any home vs road trends.
I really like that Roenicke tagged Randy Wolf to pitch for the Brewers tonight. Using a four man rotation will get Gallardo and Greinke that extra day of rest and will hopefully pay dividends down the road. They've moved starter Chris Narveson to the bullpen, and he's been excellent lately. They also have the only other pitcher to start for them this season, Marco Estrada, ready for an extended bullpen session should the team decide to put someone coming off short rest on a pitch count.
I do think the Phillies win over the Brewers if that's who ends up in the NLCS, but I'd anticipate a Brewers vs Cards NLCS to be hard fought and very, very close.

Phishposer wrote:

I do think the Phillies win over the Brewers if that's who ends up in the NLCS, but I'd anticipate a Brewers vs Cards NLCS to be hard fought and very, very close.

I think the Brewers/Phillies series will be hard fought as well. And although I said that the winner of Phillies/Cardinals should go to the WS, I would not be surprised if Milwaukee went.

I looked it up and the Brewers went 23-13 on the road in the second half of the season.

Torty says:

Master Allen & I arrived with doughnuts but the clubhouse was empty. We heard voices coming from the training room so we entered it.

Everyone was sitting in a hot tub filled with sprinkles. "Why on earth is everyone sitting in a hot tub filled with sprinkles?" I asked.

Jay answered: "Pujols had a sprinkle soak yesterday & went 4 for 5 with 3 doubles. He said it rejuvenated him so we're all trying it."

Freese chimed in, "We're all going to be sprinkle-powered tonite! It's going to be awesome! Oswalt won't know what hit him...Literally."

Way more entertaining than that freakshow, T-Plush.

I want the Brewers to play the Phillies and I think that will be an easier series for them to win.

Your Cardinals better get it done Jayhawker! I'm counting on you guys!

Ulairi wrote:

I want the Brewers to play the Phillies and I think that will be an easier series for them to win.

I so hope they can grant your wish, and you'll see how so wrong you are....................that is, if the Brewers can make it to the NLCS.

Kush15 wrote:
Ulairi wrote:

I want the Brewers to play the Phillies and I think that will be an easier series for them to win.

I so hope they can grant your wish, and you'll see how so wrong you are....................that is, if the Brewers can make it to the NLCS. 8-)

The Phillies may not get there before the Brewers.

Bring on Game 5!

How can people not find baseball romantic? I love the playoffs. I'm hoping both Detroit and St. Louis can come out strong and take out these two teams

You have got to be f*cking kidding me.