2005 MLB Thread

[Miami Vice]

I can't figure out the Jays. One day they are awesome with pitching, hitting and defence. The next day they can't hit. The day after they can't pitch. The next day it all works again. They won today thanks to Orlando Hudson and his 2 HR.

I've heard some seriouse rumblings around here of Hudson and a top prospect to Cincinatti (sp?) for Adam Dunn.

I like the trade. Toronto gets a big bat, makes room for Hill in the infield and gives them Frank Catalanatto to trade for pitching.

[VerbalPuke]

Sounds like the Tigers to me (in regards to the Blue Jays). We continue to flirt with being a .500 team, yet we seemingly fail when we reach .500, or go on a large losing streak when we get over .500. It seems that we have one great pitcher in Jeremy Bonderman and alot of good hitters who are somewhat inconsistent. This is a team that I can see in playoff contention if they ever bring in another solid starting pitcher.

[jonnycomelately]

Sounds like the Tigers to me (in regards to the Blue Jays). We continue to flirt with being a .500 team, yet we seemingly fail when we reach .500, or go on a large losing streak when we get over .500. It seems that we have one great pitcher in Jeremy Bonderman and alot of good hitters who are somewhat inconsistent. This is a team that I can see in playoff contention if they ever bring in another solid starting pitcher.

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[Guest Josef Stallion]

Tigers being at .500 right now is sure as Hell a lot better than what we've gone through in previous seasons. Guillen activated last night, now when will Maggs be back?

[Green Demon]

Being at .500 doesnt really mean much if you have three teams that are in front of you, I know it is better then losing alot but being above .500 is basically competing and unless something big happens they wont be competing at the end of the year.

[VerbalPuke]

The fact that fans like Stallion and myself get excited for a .500 season shows how sad Detroit has been the past decade. I know that the Tigers have alot of teams ahead of them, but it's still nice to know that they have a good foundation to build on. The Tigers are like the Cincinatti Bengals of Baseball, we get excited for the little things, and continue to hold out hope that we can get that one last ingredient to make a playoff run. Basically, two teams that show alot of promise, but are still missing a piece or two.

[Lowerdeck]

Hooray for Derek Lowe, maybe when you went back to Boston to pick up your ring you should've left that Red Sox jersey on and stayed there.

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Yeah, but any pitcher can pretty much do better in the National League, and especially for the Dodgers. Pitching at Dodger Stadium seems to do good.

At least it's good that Lowe's doing well, except for the 5-8 record.

[Green Demon]

Wow I was laughing when I saw the play in which Grady Sizemore hit a homerun but it wouldnt have been a homerun if the right fielder(his name for some reason slips my mind) hadnt almost caught the ball and knocked it over the fence.

[Guest Josef Stallion]

Agreed, Puke. I think it's a sign that we could be headed for the playoffs down the road sometime(within the next 2-3 years I HOPE), so while a .500 season may not be something to cheer about, it gives us the feeling that when we play a game we actually have a chance of winning against that team.

[jonnycomelately]

Wow. Boston needs some serious bullpen help and FAST. It's only a matter of time before the "Keith Foulke sucks" chants start and he's rained with boos every time he starts warming up in the pen. I know many a Red Sox fan and each of them cringe whenever there is a remote chance Foulke is going to come into the game. USE MIKE TIMLIN, TERRY!

[Green Demon]

I dont think that was all his fault Francona should take some of the blame he put Foulke in there with jus one out in the 8th. That just wears down a closer since he had close to 40 pitches. He probaly wont be able to be used in todays game now so that might make you guys happy. Hafner has really been turing in on lately atleast against the Red Sox in the past two games he has had 4 doubles and 2 HR in like 8 atbats.

[Lowerdeck]

Some of our bullpen guys need to go to Pawtucket and iron their kinks out.

Or Theo better come along and trade for some help. Embree and Foulke aren't doing jack this year.

[jonnycomelately]

Foulke not only allowed the runs in the ninth but he also allowed the two runners he inherited from Mike Timlin in the 8th inning to score. Any way you slice it Keith Foulke has been horrendous this season. And I know he threw alot of pitches last night but no Foulke today as Timlin shut them down in the 9th to pick up his first save of the season. And the Dodgers won!!! But speaking of shaky closers, Brazoban...he's my Foulke, I'm nervous when I see him getting up in the bullpen.

[sahyder1]

NEW YORK -- Major League Baseball is going international for its Home Run Derby (ESPN and ESPN Radio, Monday, July 11, 8 p.m. ET) on All-Star weekend.

Instead of having four players from each league, the commissioner's office said Friday it will have eight players represent their native countries at the July 11 event. Major League Baseball plans to formally launch plans that day for its first World Baseball Classic, a 16-team event during spring training next year.

This year's Home Run Derby is at Detroit's pitcher-friendly Comerica Park, where the All-Star Game will be played the following night.

The top four players in the first round advance to the semifinals, and the top two in the semis move on to the final.

Last year in Houston, the Orioles' Miguel Tejada of the Dominican Republic hit 27 home runs to win the derby title.

The World Baseball Classic, scheduled for March 2006, will consist of 16 national teams from Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, South America and the Caribbean. Games in the four-round tournament will be held at sites in Asia, Latin America and the United States.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Edited July 2, 2005 by sahyder1

[sahyder1]

The Marlins retired the last 28 Brewers tonight in an extra inning game. Burnett got 14 Ks in 6 innings.

Schilling will be coming out of the bullpen for the Red Sox. Who knows, they might even leave him in there for the rest of the year and move Foulke to the 8th inning

Edited July 7, 2005 by sahyder1

[Jester of Death]

Ichiro in the Home Run Derby?

I guess because Hideki Matsui wants no part of the HRD, Ichiro Suzuki is the next choice.

The only 3 japanese position players in league that I'm aware of are H. Matsui, Suzuki, and Kaz Matsui.

And since Kaz sucks, I guess Ichiro is in.

I heard he was a slugger at batting practice so maybe he can actually compete with big guns like David Ortiz, Mark Texiera, and Carlos Lee

[sahyder1]

So Taguchi

Tsuyoshi Shinjo (is he still in the MLB?)

[Miami Vice]

The second basemen for the White Sox, I just can't remember his name.

EDIT: Something Iguchie

Edited July 8, 2005 by Miami Vice

[Jester of Death]

The second basemen for the White Sox, I just can't remember his name.

EDIT: Something Iguchie

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[jonnycomelately]

I went to an Angels/Mariners game during Ichiro's rookie season and if he's hitting BP pitches he can really crank them. He plays to his strengths (speed and bat control) during the game but in a situation such as a Home Run Derby I don't think he'd embarass himself.

While I am talking about embarassing, I have given up on the Dodgers. And Derek Lowe. But the worst is when your lefty specialist hurts himself warming up in the bullpen right before he is coming in to face the most lethal lefty in the opposition's lineup with the game tied. The result was a bomb of a home run and enough profanity coming out of my mouth to fill the pages of a novel.