MLB 2014 season thread

[mpcincal]

Josh Hamilton has sucked the life out of the Angels for two years. If anything, Scioscia should get credit for having his team pull out victories with a hole in the cleanup spot when Hamilton was hitting fourth.
Hamilton was hitting about .320 through the first quarter of the season. He went the rest of the season either in a slump or hurt. Not coincidentally, the Angels made their big push to the AL West title when Hamilton got hurt. I think it coincided almost exactly with their 10-game winning streak.
Scioscia erred horribly playing him in the ALDS ... and I said that before the starting lineup was posted last Thursday.
Wilson ... god knows what's going through his head. Some people are just too smart for their own good. He overthinks everything. Still, I was surprised he was pulled in the first inning. There had to be a limit to all of these "bullpen games." That should be an emergency plan, not a regular plan.

Totally agree on Hamilton, Chris, and it was such an unnecessary signing. It was made because they had a bunch of money sitting there that they had earmarked for Greinke, and when he left, Moreno felt like he had to spend it on the biggest free-agent remaining despite the potential consequences.

 

[ColdCat]

This is the first ALCS since 2005 (White Sox-Angels) that won't involve either the Yankees, Red Sox or Tigers.
Hell, this was the first playoffs in the wild card era that didn't involve either the Yankees or Red Sox. Gotta savor these breaths of fresh air.

And if we end up with a Royals-Nats World Series it would be the first ever that did not include a franchise that was in the Majors in 1901.

 

[Jake_Taylor]

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Hitless this series, Josh Hamilton made $17 million in 2014, more than Perez, Hosmer, Moustakas, Cain, Davis, Holland, Ventura make combined

 

[HanSenSE]

The Angels historically have been infatuated with free agents. Autry was a big buyer when the system started in the 1970s. On top of losing Greinke, Moreno must have felt he needed to compete with the other moves the Dodgers were making.

 

[3_Octave_Fart]

The only bad thing about this series is at least another four games of Ernie Johnson.

 

[mpcincal]

The Angels historically have been infatuated with free agents. Autry was a big buyer when the system started in the 1970s. On top of losing Greinke, Moreno must have felt he needed to compete with the other moves the Dodgers were making.

Yeah, that too. Trying to win in the 'December headlines' game.

 

[3_Octave_Fart]

Hamilton- it is obvious the guy doesn't want to play anymore.
There are complicated facets to his life and if they're not in harmony or if he's going bad, he's the easiest out around.
Anybody who watched his ABs in the series opener could see he should have been sitting.

 

[HanSenSE]

The Angels historically have been infatuated with free agents. Autry was a big buyer when the system started in the 1970s. On top of losing Greinke, Moreno must have felt he needed to compete with the other moves the Dodgers were making.

Yeah, that too. Trying to win in the 'December headlines' game.

Yup. And they get Hamilton just weeks after his biggest on-field (not to be confused with his personal life) meltdown, when the Rangers dropped the final game of the season to the Athletics in a West showdown. May still be haunting him for all I know.

 

[BYH]

It was good to see the Angels go three-and-out again and for America to get another reminder of how terribly overrated Mike Scioscia is. Hi Poindexter!

And how about that, Orioles vs. Royals in the ALCS. It's like parity has arrived in baseball, and everyone has a shot. Hi outofplace!

*exits stage left*

 

[ChrisLong]

Must be some kind of Anaheim curse: Ducks follow great regular season with a playoff flop, Angels follow great regular season with a playoff flop.

 

[outofplace]

It was good to see the Angels go three-and-out again and for America to get another reminder of how terribly overrated Mike Scioscia is. Hi Poindexter!

And how about that, Orioles vs. Royals in the ALCS. It's like parity has arrived in baseball, and everyone has a shot. Hi outofplace!

*exits stage left*

Should've known this would bring BYH out of hiding.

 

[Steak Snabler]

Pretty cool that a team that hasn't been in the World Series since the 1980s will represent the American League.

Same thing if Dodgers win the NL pennant. And of course, Nats/Expos have never been.

 

[RickStain]

Pretty cool that a team that hasn't been in the World Series since the 1980s will represent the American League.

Same thing if Dodgers win the NL pennant. And of course, Nats/Expos have never been.

AQB and I just punched a pair of hobos and don't know why.

 

[cranberry]

Pretty cool that a team that hasn't been in the World Series since the 1980s will represent the American League.

Same thing if Dodgers win the NL pennant. And of course, Nats/Expos have never been.

Love it, although I feel bad for Mike Ilitch. The man is the best club owner in baseball and has been a rock in the Detroit community through the economic crisis. I root for his teams to win and I don't know how many more opportunities he will have.

 

[Big Circus]

Could Wilson really have done much worse than the Angels bullpen?

If they had so little faith in this guy, and they clearly did, why was he starting a must-win?

Because Josh Hamilton isn't a starting pitcher.

Maybe he can do a reverse Rick Ankiel.

The old Brooks Kieschnick!

 

[Michael_ Gee]

As a business proposition, having franchises like Baltimore and KC go deep in the postseason is what baseball ought to want. Forget the national TV ratings (and baseball has by putting the playoffs on TBS and FoxSports1). Baseball makes its nut through box office and regional cable deals. The more franchises that enjoy playoff success, the stronger those revenue streams will get.

 

[Captain_Kirk]

Fan beaten in the "preferred" parking lot at Angels Stadium Friday night:

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/fan-in-critical-condition-after-beating-in-angel-stadium-parking-lot-friday-205024890.html

Sure seems to be a lot of this incredibly over the top nonsense going in California ballparks.

 

[LongTimeListener]

Fan beaten in the "preferred" parking lot at Angels Stadium Friday night:

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/fan-in-critical-condition-after-beating-in-angel-stadium-parking-lot-friday-205024890.html

Sure seems to be a lot of this incredibly over the top nonsense going in California ballparks.

Lotta MMA thugs out this way.

 

[BYH]

It was good to see the Angels go three-and-out again and for America to get another reminder of how terribly overrated Mike Scioscia is. Hi Poindexter!

And how about that, Orioles vs. Royals in the ALCS. It's like parity has arrived in baseball, and everyone has a shot. Hi outofplace!

*exits stage left*

Should've known this would bring BYH out of hiding.

If only your Pirates didn't choke again. But don't worry. This is baseball. They'll be back again next year!!!! #ImATrollingDick

 

[Songbird]

#ImATrollingDick with Dickfinity on vocals would be a great band.