2011 MLB Season

[naiwf]

I finally checked out a game at New Yankees Stadium on Tuesday and I have to say that the old stadium was a better place to watch a game. In honor of their clinching the division tonight, I have to say that it's a bit disgusting that a team could win 95+ games without a bonafide clear cut # 2 starter. I know that Nova's record is great, but his peripherals aren't and I wouldn't expect him to hold up in the playoffs. Burnett and Hughes aren't pitching well at all and guys like Colon and Garcia at this point in their careers should never be responsible for ~50 starts in the Yankees rotation. I know that their offense cures all ills, but I'm mystified as to how this team could still win 100 games with that rotation that seems to be held together by duct tape and stem cells.

[SeanDMan]

They're luxury stem cell injections, only from the finest aborted fetuses.

[Meacon Keaton]

I love how the AL and NL Wildcards are going to more or less come down to the final week. Phillies play the Braves, who you'd imagine they'd rather have in the playoffs than the Cardinals. And the Yanks have a series with the Sox, that can determine who gets the spot between Boston and Tampa. Or even the Angels if they keep winning. Fun times.

[sahyder1]

I don't care how drunk the Yankees are from last night but this kid Moore has been very impressive in his first career start. 11Ks through five.

Also, one of these years one of these wild 3 team tiebreakers will actually happen. I'm surprised but glad that these playoff races have gotten tight. A couple of weeks ago it looked like it was going to be a boring month of baseball.

Edit: 6'11 Brackman making his MLB debut for the Yankees now

Edited September 23, 2011 by sahyder1

[Blitz]

I finally checked out a game at New Yankees Stadium on Tuesday and I have to say that the old stadium was a better place to watch a game. In honor of their clinching the division tonight, I have to say that it's a bit disgusting that a team could win 95+ games without a bonafide clear cut # 2 starter. I know that Nova's record is great, but his peripherals aren't and I wouldn't expect him to hold up in the playoffs. Burnett and Hughes aren't pitching well at all and guys like Colon and Garcia at this point in their careers should never be responsible for ~50 starts in the Yankees rotation. I know that their offense cures all ills, but I'm mystified as to how this team could still win 100 games with that rotation that seems to be held together by duct tape and stem cells.

Time and time again we see in the playoffs that you have to have a dominant rotation in the playoffs to succeed. I hate the Phillies, but I don't see how anyone is going to beat the Phillies when they throw out Halladay/Lee/Oswalt/Hamels/Halladay/Lee/Oswalt in a seven game series. Not to mention with the addition of Pence, the Phillies have a lineup that can match up with anyones...

I'm still pulling for the Rangers to make it back to the WS, even though I know it's a long shot. Colby Lewis hasn't been pitching like we hoped he would lately, which leaves us with C.J. Wilson, Derek Holland and an above average-but still not where we wish he'd be Matt Harrison. Lewis dominated in the playoffs last season and needs to return to that form if we're going to make it back. Our lineup is surging at the right time, too, and I'd say we match up well against the Yankees or Sox if we draw either one of them.

[Lowerdeck]

I don't even consider the Red Sox to be in the Wild Card race anymore. It's Tampa's to lose to Anaheim. Boston needs a small miracle to get there. As a Red Sox fan, I hope they can get it - but I doubt it. And if they do make it, they're one round and done to Texas or Detroit anyway.

[Ron]

I finally checked out a game at New Yankees Stadium on Tuesday and I have to say that the old stadium was a better place to watch a game. In honor of their clinching the division tonight, I have to say that it's a bit disgusting that a team could win 95+ games without a bonafide clear cut # 2 starter. I know that Nova's record is great, but his peripherals aren't and I wouldn't expect him to hold up in the playoffs. Burnett and Hughes aren't pitching well at all and guys like Colon and Garcia at this point in their careers should never be responsible for ~50 starts in the Yankees rotation. I know that their offense cures all ills, but I'm mystified as to how this team could still win 100 games with that rotation that seems to be held together by duct tape and stem cells.

Time and time again we see in the playoffs that you have to have a dominant rotation in the playoffs to succeed. I hate the Phillies, but I don't see how anyone is going to beat the Phillies when they throw out Halladay/Lee/Oswalt/Hamels/Halladay/Lee/Oswalt in a seven game series. Not to mention with the addition of Pence, the Phillies have a lineup that can match up with anyones...

I'm still pulling for the Rangers to make it back to the WS, even though I know it's a long shot. Colby Lewis hasn't been pitching like we hoped he would lately, which leaves us with C.J. Wilson, Derek Holland and an above average-but still not where we wish he'd be Matt Harrison. Lewis dominated in the playoffs last season and needs to return to that form if we're going to make it back. Our lineup is surging at the right time, too, and I'd say we match up well against the Yankees or Sox if we draw either one of them.

Here's the problem.... we can't hit right now. It's the same issue we had last year against the Giants. Granted we've been sending out a semi-AAA lineup the last week after clinching the East, but if the offense doesn't get it together, it could be the same issue as last postseason.

[Blitz]

I finally checked out a game at New Yankees Stadium on Tuesday and I have to say that the old stadium was a better place to watch a game. In honor of their clinching the division tonight, I have to say that it's a bit disgusting that a team could win 95+ games without a bonafide clear cut # 2 starter. I know that Nova's record is great, but his peripherals aren't and I wouldn't expect him to hold up in the playoffs. Burnett and Hughes aren't pitching well at all and guys like Colon and Garcia at this point in their careers should never be responsible for ~50 starts in the Yankees rotation. I know that their offense cures all ills, but I'm mystified as to how this team could still win 100 games with that rotation that seems to be held together by duct tape and stem cells.

Time and time again we see in the playoffs that you have to have a dominant rotation in the playoffs to succeed. I hate the Phillies, but I don't see how anyone is going to beat the Phillies when they throw out Halladay/Lee/Oswalt/Hamels/Halladay/Lee/Oswalt in a seven game series. Not to mention with the addition of Pence, the Phillies have a lineup that can match up with anyones...

I'm still pulling for the Rangers to make it back to the WS, even though I know it's a long shot. Colby Lewis hasn't been pitching like we hoped he would lately, which leaves us with C.J. Wilson, Derek Holland and an above average-but still not where we wish he'd be Matt Harrison. Lewis dominated in the playoffs last season and needs to return to that form if we're going to make it back. Our lineup is surging at the right time, too, and I'd say we match up well against the Yankees or Sox if we draw either one of them.

Here's the problem.... we can't hit right now. It's the same issue we had last year against the Giants. Granted we've been sending out a semi-AAA lineup the last week after clinching the East, but if the offense doesn't get it together, it could be the same issue as last postseason.

The Phillies have a veteran team, and are using the advantage of clinching early to get some of their guys rest. I'm sure as the season is winding down now, Howard, Utley and Rollins will get back into the lineup and get them some ABs before crunch time hits. I would be surprised if the Phillies didn't at least get to the World Series, let alone win it. They won't have SF to deal with this year, and aside from Atlanta, no one in the NL has the arms to compete with them.

[Meacon Keaton]

St. Louis would be more dangerous in the playoffs than Atlanta. Philly better hope the Cards don't leapfrog the Braves in this last week.

[sahyder1]

To add to the scheduling mess Red Sox are going to face rain in New York all weekend long. I would say at this time that there is a very strong the game gets called off today. At this point pretty much anything that could go wrong for Boston is going wrong.

[Hickey]

I love watching Red Sox fans suffer. I really, really hope Boston blows it before the playoffs.

[Lowerdeck]

I love watching Red Sox fans suffer. I really, really hope Boston blows it before the playoffs.

1. It's alright, we got the Patriots to distract us now.

2. Die in a fire.

[gunnar hendershow]

Too bad Tampa has no interest making the playoffs.

[Meacon Keaton]

Paging the Rays or Angels. Paging the Rays or Angels. Would one of you two acquire a killer instinct and make the Red Sox losing sixty games in the last two months mean something, please?

[gunnar hendershow]

Nobody wants the AL Wild Card spot so I say we award it to an NL team fighting for its life.

[Lowerdeck]

Would one of you two acquire a killer instinct and make Pawtucket losing every game in the last month mean something, please?

fixed

[sahyder1]

Boston really needed that one. They beat the Yankees in 14 innings. Held the Yankees to just two hits in the final 12 innings.

[gunnar hendershow]

Boston's showing some fight now. Gonna be an exciting few days with both Wild Card races coming down to the wire.

[naiwf]

I was looking at something on Baseball-Reference.com today and came across an unusual stat. Curtis Granderson of potential 2011 MVP fame has come to the plate 680 times and has a total of ZERO IBB this year. He leads the league in runs scored, RBIs, has over 40 HRs to his name and hasn't been intentionally walked once this entire season. I can't really think of anyone else putting up numbers like that who never gets a free pass in the post Barry Bonds era.

[gunnar hendershow]

It's possible he swung when they were trying to walk him.