2011 MLB Baseball Thread

shemps#1 · **on:** February 01, 2011, 03:39:56 PM

I was waiting for something noteworthy to kick off the '11 thread, and this would have been more noteworthy if it were 2005 instead of 2011 but it will have to do. The Tampa Rays have signed both Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon to one year contracts. No confirmation on the rumors of Tampa pursuing Bill Mueller and Kevin Millar as well.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=6080160

metaldams · **Reply #1 on:** February 02, 2011, 11:20:06 AM

Manny and Damon on The Rays, Carl Crawford on the Red Sox, what a crazy world we live in.

Not that I think they're going to win the division, but am I the only one who thinks Baltimore is going to have a somewhat improved team this year?

shemps#1 · **Reply #2 on:** February 02, 2011, 12:43:57 PM

Baltimore has been supposedly improving for awhile now, but I will say Vlad was a nice pickup. I project the O's will probably be in 4th place.

metaldams · **Reply #3 on:** February 02, 2011, 01:35:19 PM

Quote from: shemps#1 on February 02, 2011, 12:43:57 PM

Baltimore has been supposedly improving for awhile now, but I will say Vlad was a nice pickup. I project the O's will probably be in 4th place.

I think Brian Matusz will have a breakout year as well. He had a strong second half and always owned the Red Sox. We shall see.

Boid Brain · **Reply #4 on:** February 04, 2011, 12:55:30 PM

Does anyone know who my favorite headcase, Rick Ankiel will be playing for this year?

shemps#1 · **Reply #5 on:** February 04, 2011, 01:16:06 PM

He signed with the Nationals.

Curly4444 · **Reply #6 on:** February 04, 2011, 10:57:57 PM

Quote from: shemps#1 on February 04, 2011, 01:16:06 PM

He signed with the Nationals.

He must have been hard up, or was it the other way around??

shemps#1 · **Reply #7 on:** February 04, 2011, 11:06:47 PM

The Nats are an up-and-coming team, and at least they are trying to put a better product on the field (signing Werth), which is more than I can say for some teams. Ankiel signed for 1 year at 1.5 million so it looks like both sides are hoping for a "bounce-back" year. Washington is hoping he puts up 2008 numbers at a bargain and Ankiel is hoping he can do that this year and get a bigger, long term deal next year.

metaldams · **Reply #8 on:** February 05, 2011, 12:09:45 AM

Anybody going to any games? I have tickets to see Boston Vs. Baltimore in Camden Yards. I think it's July 19th if memory serves me correct. I go to Baltimore every year to catch a Sox game, but it's shocking that I have to go in the middle of the week and switch shifts at work, as there's not one weekend series in Baltimore!

shemps#1 · **Reply #9 on:** February 05, 2011, 12:16:45 AM

We really should meet up at Camden this year, Doug.

Lefty · **Reply #10 on:** February 05, 2011, 10:59:56 AM

Quote from: metaldams on February 05, 2011, 12:09:45 AM

Anybody going to any games? I have tickets to see Boston Vs. Baltimore in Camden Yards. I think it's July 19th if memory serves me correct. I go to Baltimore every year to catch a Sox game, but it's shocking that I have to go in the middle of the week and switch shifts at work, as there's not one weekend series in Baltimore!

Great scheduling by MLB, eh? I can't vouch for the American League, but the Phillies have 3 weekend series at Taxpayer Field in New York this year, this following 2 straight years of 3 weekend series at home vs. Los Mets. And let's not forget the 2 home games against some teams, or 9 games vs. St. Louis (with 2 series on the road) and 5 vs. Colorado (both just like 2008).

Liz · **Reply #11 on:** February 05, 2011, 05:23:37 PM

Quote from: metaldams on February 05, 2011, 12:09:45 AM

Anybody going to any games? I have tickets to see Boston Vs. Baltimore in Camden Yards. I think it's July 19th if memory serves me correct. I go to Baltimore every year to catch a Sox game, but it's shocking that I have to go in the middle of the week and switch shifts at work, as there's not one weekend series in Baltimore!

I would, if I went to BU, which I don't. Are the Sox coming to San Diego? The trolley goes to Petco Park! Uncomparable to seeing a game at Fenway, but it'll have to do. $:-\$

metaldams · **Reply #12 on:** February 05, 2011, 10:20:59 PM

Quote from: shemps#1 on February 05, 2011, 12:16:45 AM

We really should meet up at Camden this year, Doug.

On the 19th, I'll also be with my brother, parents, aunt, uncle, and two young cousins, so it's kind of a family reunion. I'll let you know where I'm sitting if you wanna meet up, but if you wanna hang out without my parents and little cousins around, it'll have to be another time. Catching a game together one of these days would definitely be awesome, though.

metaldams · **Reply #13 on:** February 05, 2011, 10:25:25 PM

Quote from: Liz on February 05, 2011, 05:23:37 PM

I would, if I went to BU, which I don't. Are the Sox coming to San Diego? The trolley goes to Petco Park! Uncomparable to seeing a game at Fenway, but it'll have to do. $:-\$

The good news: The Red Sox are playing the Padres this year.

The bad news: It's in Fenway.

Liz · **Reply #14 on:** February 06, 2011, 02:23:39 AM

Quote from: metaldams on February 05, 2011, 10:25:25 PM

The good news: The Red Sox are playing the Padres this year.

The bad news: It's in Fenway.

Damn. Thanks anyway, bro.

metaldams · **Reply #15 on:** February 06, 2011, 09:47:28 AM

My Aunt and Uncle used to live in San Diego, and while they know absolutely zilch about baseball, they would go to games at Petco Park. My non-biological uncle also took his elderly mother to a game, but they had to leave early because of her. Good thing they left early, as it turned out to be an 18 inning game.

stooge1029 · **Reply #16 on:** February 08, 2011, 07:57:36 AM

LETS GO JAYS!!!

metaldams · **Reply #17 on:** February 08, 2011, 10:23:56 AM

Quote from: stooge1029 on February 08, 2011, 07:57:36 AM

LETS GO JAYS!!!

In the A.L. East, you guys might be lucky to get 4th place.

Boid Brain · **Reply #18 on:** February 08, 2011, 09:29:40 PM

Quote from: Curly4444 on February 04, 2011, 10:57:57 PM

He must have been hard up, or was it the other way around??

Other way....Rick can only hit fastballs...since '08 the other teams have figured it out and make him look stupid. He lad the team in S.O. 2 years back in spite of only playing a 2/3 of the games! He got so frustrated that he blew his top and screamed to the pitcher: "You fucking faggot! Afraid to throw fastballs to me?"

There was about 500 phone cams aimed at him and his lips were easily read. That's how LaRussa lost his boy....I pity the Nats for being so stupid. (His fielding is no bargain either as he has still to this day never hit a cutoff man)

Even more stupid is the Cards re-signing Grandpappy Edmonds. At his age and w/o his 'roids he is a joke.

shemps#1 · **Reply #19 on:** February 12, 2011, 12:54:51 AM

Check this out, a youtube upload of the 1979 Pirates/Braves game in which both teams combined for 26 runs.

[youtube=425,350]ZCCuJDUnmks[/youtube]

[youtube=425,350]l-DA5AZ56zs[/youtube]

Lefty · **Reply #20 on:** February 12, 2011, 11:26:59 AM

Even though the Pirates were the Phillies' arch-rival, and those boneheads slowed down a connecting flight from Chicago to Philly, I always wanted to see what uniform combo the Bucs would wear each game -- the 9 possibilities they had. That's one thing wrong with baseball -- the boring uniforms. And they can't say, "Well, it's too hot to wear dark colors," because (1) they do in spring training in hot cities, and (B) a lot of teams wear dark shirts on Sundays in the regular season.

Lefty · **Reply #21 on:** February 12, 2011, 11:31:04 AM

And as for the 26 runs, that was a pitcher's duel compared to the "Shootout in Chicago" on May 17th that year, with the Phillies beating the Cubs 23-22 after blowing a 12-run lead. That game ran so long I was at the bowling alley and they had the game on radio so we could find out the conclusion. Then it was televised in full 3 weeks later. A definite classic!

garystooge · **Reply #22 on:** February 12, 2011, 11:46:32 AM

I remember watching that 23-22 game on TV. It was already 7-6 after one inning.
Here's the box score....check out some of the horrendous pitching lines.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN197905170.shtml

metaldams · **Reply #23 on:** February 12, 2011, 12:07:35 PM

I remember watching this game a few years ago on MASN. The Rangers set the modern day record for most runs scored in a game by beating the Orioles 30 - 3. Baltimore lead 3 - 0 after 3 innings, but the Orioles bullpen gave up 24 runs in four innings! They really did have a TERRIBLE bullpen. I remember screaming "holy shit" when the three run homer Texas hit landed them runs 28, 29, and 30, breaking the record. This was actually the first game of a double hearder! I wonder what the Orioles relievers ERA was before the game?

http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270822201

Another Texas Rangers gem, this time against Boston. Boston scores ten runs in the first (Big Papi hits two three run blasts in one inning), blows the lead (a combination of Charlie Zink making his major league debut, David Aardsma and Manny Delcarmen), only to come back and win it thanks to Kevin Youkilis. Final score Red Sox 19, Rangers 17.

http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270822201

I watched both of these games and I will never forget either.

metaldams · **Reply #24 on:** February 12, 2011, 12:12:06 PM

Sorry, the link for the Red Sox Rangers game is actually.....

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=280812102