MLB 2014 season thread

[3_Octave_Fart]

If I were the best pitcher in baseball, I'd have it written into my contract that a moron like Don Mattingly may not ever use me on three days rest, under any set of circumstances.

 

[joe]

It will be interesting to see how Kershaw changes his approach (if at all) and how the Cardinals counter that.

With the way Matt Carpenter is going, the Dodgers might want to just walk him every time up.

 

[Riptide]

Gehrig, I think a big reason a lot of us who are children of the '70s and '80s are loving these playoffs so far is for exactly the reason you cite - we remember when these teams won year after back then, A's included. It just feels right to have the Orioles and Royals, along with the Pirates and Dodgers, involved after a few years of the Rangers, Rays, and so forth. (Not that I didn't enjoy seeing some of those new faces, too, including the Rockies a few years back.)

Could have used the Yankees, probably, in this year's postseason to really give it a '70s feel.

Yeah, the early '80s were when I first became a baseball fan, so I'm loving this. The Dodgers, Cardinals, Orioles and Royals — all of whom are still playing — all won the World Series between 1981 and 1985 (and the other title in that time was won by the recently eliminated Tigers).

Also feels like the '60s, when the Cardinals and the Dodgers each won two titles, and the Orioles won one (and another in 1970).

 

[HanSenSE]

If I were the best pitcher in baseball, I'd have it written into my contract that a moron like Don Mattingly may not ever use me on three days rest, under any set of circumstances.

Didn't Mattingly try the same stunt in the LCS last season? I recall Kershaw getting rocked in Game 6.

 

[outofplace]

I didn't realize how good Fister had been in the postseason during his career. Even before throwing seven shutout innings to keep the Nationals alive today, he had a 2.98 ERA in eight career playoffs appearances, seven of them starts.

Of course, the move to the National League helped him. Beginning the season late due to injury might not have been a bad thing, either, given his history of slow starts. But it isn't like he hadn't shown this type of ability in the past. People might miss it due to the underwhelming strikeout totals, but he has been outstanding three of the past four seasons and he wasn't terrible in 2013. The Tigers made a huge mistake trading him away for pennies on the dollar.

No harm. If they're in the race in July, they can just go get David Price and punch their ticket to the World Series.

Except they got minimal value for Fister, forcing them to give up more value for Price. If they have Fister, perhaps they address their needs elsewhere.

Even with the acquisition of Price, these are only probabilities. The Tigers increased their chances by adding Price, but guaranteed nothing, especially given their failure to address the larger issue in the bullpen.

The Pirates, to take an opposing example, hurt their chances by following up a terrible offseason by mostly sitting on their hands during the regular season. Their two key additions in 2014 both came from the scrap heap and only one (Volquez) panned out. The other, Ike Davis, continued to the same disappointing play that cost him his job with the Mets. The result likely cost them a division title, leaving them to play a one-game Wild Card contest with Madison Bumgarner throwing for the other side. We all saw how well that went.

Of course, this is as much about spending money wisely as it is about spending. Detroit added players, but it added the wrong ones in the bullpen. The Pirates could have done more even with their limited resources, but chose to be penny-wise and pound foolish. The question is always how much of the issue is money and how much is bad decisions. Both are always part of the equation in baseball.

I know you are just poking at me to see if I'll play, but you should know by now that I am always game to go down this rabbit hole. I have history on my side and I know it. Wanna play? ;D

 

[Starman]

The Fister trade was a salary dump to "clear cap space" for Nathan. :o :o

 

[3_Octave_Fart]

The Yankees might **** away money, but they don't let talent get away.
They knew it was time to cut bait with Chamberlain three years ago.
The Tigers, acknowledging their window is shrinking, make him a setup man.

 

[Songbird]

Starting Kershaw is the wrong move. Do it by committee in Game 4 and save the 3-time Cy Young winner for Game 5.

They're making a mistake.

He'll probably throw a 2-hitter.

 

[LongTimeListener]

Problem is, Xan, they have no committee. The whole idea is to avoid their pitching depth because they know they have none.

It's going to have to be Kershaw for 120 pitches tonight and Greinke for 120 pitches in Game 5, or they don't advance.

The holes that exist on this $230 million team are pretty staggering.

 

[Songbird]

Yeah, well, the Cards figured him out by the 7th in Game 1. His stuff had no STUFF!

It's over tonight.

 

[3_Octave_Fart]

Scott Elbert- 4 1/3 IP all season and he's throwing in the biggest inning of the year.

 

[Gehrig]

Matt Carpenter became the first player in major league history to have a home run and a double in 3 straight playoff games last night. He also set a Cardinals' franchise record for homering in three straight games in one playoff series -- Albert Pujols also homered in three straight playoff games but that was over 2 series.

 

[cranberry]

The holes that exist on this $230 million team are pretty staggering.

Tigers, too. The big winners from this postseason may be the top middle relievers who hit the market this winter.

 

[MTM]

Mattingly is managing for his job. He has to go with Kershaw today.

He gets fired whether he loses with his ace or without him.

 

[BYH]

I didn't realize how good Fister had been in the postseason during his career. Even before throwing seven shutout innings to keep the Nationals alive today, he had a 2.98 ERA in eight career playoffs appearances, seven of them starts.

Of course, the move to the National League helped him. Beginning the season late due to injury might not have been a bad thing, either, given his history of slow starts. But it isn't like he hadn't shown this type of ability in the past. People might miss it due to the underwhelming strikeout totals, but he has been outstanding three of the past four seasons and he wasn't terrible in 2013. The Tigers made a huge mistake trading him away for pennies on the dollar.

No harm. If they're in the race in July, they can just go get David Price and punch their ticket to the World Series.

Except they got minimal value for Fister, forcing them to give up more value for Price. If they have Fister, perhaps they address their needs elsewhere.

Even with the acquisition of Price, these are only probabilities. The Tigers increased their chances by adding Price, but guaranteed nothing, especially given their failure to address the larger issue in the bullpen.

The Pirates, to take an opposing example, hurt their chances by following up a terrible offseason by mostly sitting on their hands during the regular season. Their two key additions in 2014 both came from the scrap heap and only one (Volquez) panned out. The other, Ike Davis, continued to the same disappointing play that cost him his job with the Mets. The result likely cost them a division title, leaving them to play a one-game Wild Card contest with Madison Bumgarner throwing for the other side. We all saw how well that went.

Of course, this is as much about spending money wisely as it is about spending. Detroit added players, but it added the wrong ones in the bullpen. The Pirates could have done more even with their limited resources, but chose to be penny-wise and pound foolish. The question is always how much of the issue is money and how much is bad decisions. Both are always part of the equation in baseball.

I know you are just poking at me to see if I'll play, but you should know by now that I am always game to go down this rabbit hole. I have history on my side and I know it. Wanna play? ;D

Actually, I wasn't poking at you (#Facebook) this time. I was just being a snarky ass about the Tigers adding a third Cy Young Award winner at the deadline, and promptly winning zero games in the postseason.

Dombrowski doesn't make many mistakes, but dumping Fister to free up money for Nathan was a massive one. Closers are fungible. You can find one anywhere, and for $500,000. Of course, I get why he did what he did. The thoroughly overmatched Brad Ausmus (seriously, he may be more out of his element than Neddie Yost) is a summa cum laude graduate of Proven Closer Academy, and there was no way he was gonna entrust the ninth inning to Joe Blow. Even if Joe Nathan did turn into Joe Blow.

As for poking you, it's a shame you bailed on your Pirates before they finally emerged as annual contenders in a game in which it is easier than ever for small markets to compete on a yearly basis. Dickhead!!!!! :D :D :D

And Ike Davis didn't cost the Pirates the pennant. Pedro Alvarez did. There's a guy biding his time until he cashes out. Though I suspect he may be just as bad once he gets bigger money.

 

[Captain_Kirk]

As a Cardinal fan, I'd certainly prefer to face Haren rather than a potential Kershaw/Greinke combo.

I like the move from the Dodgers' perspective. Think this gives them their best chance to win the series. And kudos to Mattingly for making the move that's guaranteed to bring him heat if it fails rather than playing the safe way.

Can only hope the Cardinals magic against the game's top pitcher somehow continues. But, at some point, Kershaw's going to dial one up against them--just hope it's not today.

 

[JackReacher]

Matt Williams was 2-for-2 with a HR vs. Vogelsong.

 

[LongTimeListener]

As a Cardinal fan, I'd certainly prefer to face Haren rather than a potential Kershaw/Greinke combo.

I like the move from the Dodgers' perspective. Think this gives them their best chance to win the series. And kudos to Mattingly for making the move that's guaranteed to bring him heat if it fails rather than playing the safe way.

Can only hope the Cardinals magic against the game's top pitcher somehow continues. But, at some point, Kershaw's going to dial one up against them--just hope it's not today.

In the whole time he has been CLAYTON KERSHAW!!!!!! he has only gone more than seven innings against the Cardinals once. They're going to need their bullpen regardless, and that is St. Louis' huge advantage.

 

[YankeeFan]

Puig out of the starting lineup for tonight's game?

Donnie, I love you, but I don't know about this.

 

[LongTimeListener]

Puig out of the starting lineup for tonight's game?

Donnie, I love you, but I don't know about this.

Struck out seven times in a row, that's not good. But yeah I don't know either.

However, @BestFansStLouis does keep telling me he's gay. So that could be weighing on him.