2015 MLB Season Thread with Postseason Discussion

[NJTank]

The problem Buster Posey faces is the same that Derek Jeter faces with the Yankees sure he is a great player and when its all said and done one of the best of his era, but the Yankees have so many legends he had no shot to get on the list. The Giants are a great franchise and had many legends and to put a five year player over some of them is short sighted.

The Giants are not the Marlins and Rays with a glut of great players you can choose someone with a small sample size, but not the Giants who have been around for 130 years.

[FiddySicks]

I get where you're going with the Jeter argument, but I don't agree with it for two reasons.

1. While the Giants have a storied and very respectable history, they STILL don't have the clout when it comes to players that the Yankees have. They've been successful throughout history, but not Yankees level successful. Jeter doesn't stand out against his Yankees peers quite the same way that Posey does against his Giants peers.

2. Posey is already head and shoulders above Derek Jeter when it comes to skill level. Jeter had some great moments and was a leader and all (blah blah blah), but he was never as important to the Yankees lineup as Posey is to the Giants, and he also was never the main offensive threat like Posey is.

And really, I'm not knocking your selections. All of those players were awesome and did great things for the Giants. Every one of those guys can be argued for because they were GREAT and contributed mightily to the success of the franchise. But, as a die hard Giants fan and someone who's pretty versed on the history of the game, Posey still feels more important. He's seriously the face of the Golden Era of Giants baseball.

[OnWis97]

Here are the Franchise Four Changes I would have made

Blue Jays

Dave Stieb over Delgado

Braves

Eddie Matthews over Chipper

Giants

Christy Matthewson over Posey

Mets

Darryl and Doc over Hernandez and Wright

Expos/Nats

Pedo over Vlad

Rangers

Juan Gone over Aldrian Beltre

Rays

Carl Crawford over Zobrist

Red Sox

Clemens over Papi

Twins

Walter Johnson over Oliva

I agree with most of these. Regarding the two bolded ones:

Braves: That was my gut reaction too. But I know Jones was a really good player for a long time. I looked up both of their stats and Chipper had a higher career OPS and batting average, so I can live the choice. But the most interesting thing I picked up from their stats is that Eddie Mathews played for the Boston Braves and the Houston Astros. I would never have guessed anyone did that. Hell, I would have guessed that very few guys played against both teams. I actually thought that Mathews played his entire career with the Braves franchise. Turns out he finished his career by winning a ring with the Tigers (oonly getting four plate appearances in the World Series).

Twins: That's how I voted (Puckett, Killebrew, Carew, Walter Johnson). I love Oliva, but this is the franchise and not only should Johnson be part of the Franchise Four, but he's really the Franchise One. Obviously, I knew Twins fans would not put him there but he belongs. I guess I am just glad they did not put Hrbek and Mauer with Puckett and Killebrew.

[pmoehrin]

Here are the Franchise Four Changes I would have made

Blue Jays

Dave Stieb over Delgado

Braves

Eddie Matthews over Chipper

Giants

Christy Matthewson over Posey

Mets

Darryl and Doc over Hernandez and Wright

Expos/Nats

Pedo over Vlad

Rangers

Juan Gone over Aldrian Beltre

Rays

Carl Crawford over Zobrist

Red Sox

Clemens over Papi

Twins

Walter Johnson over Oliva

I agree with most of these. Regarding the two bolded ones:

Braves: That was my gut reaction too. But I know Jones was a really good player for a long time. I looked up both of their stats and Chipper had a higher career OPS and batting average, so I can live the choice. But the most interesting thing I picked up from their stats is that Eddie Mathews played for the Boston Braves and the Houston Astros. I would never have guessed anyone did that. Hell, I would have guessed that very few guys played against both teams. I actually thought that Mathews played his entire career with the Braves franchise. Turns out he finished his career by winning a ring with the Tigers (oonly getting four plate appearances in the World Series).

Twins: That's how I voted (Puckett, Killebrew, Carew, Walter Johnson). I love Oliva, but this is the franchise and not only should Johnson be part of the Franchise Four, but he's really the Franchise One. Obviously, I knew Twins fans would not put him there but he belongs. I guess I am just glad they did not put Hrbek and Mauer with Puckett and Killebrew.

I said earlier the Braves got it right, but I have to take that back. Eddie should be in there over Chipper, but Mathews is almost a player without a team. His best years came in Milwaukee and I think its a big reason why he's so underrated. I'd could count the number of third baseman in major league history better then him on one hand and still have fingers left over.

With the Twins if we're just looking at Minnesota I'd go Carew, Killebrew, Puckett and Johan Santana. If we throw in Washington, Johnson slides in over Johan.

Surprised Johan wasn't on the ballot even. He's got two of the four Cy Young awards in Twins history. You could argue that he should have three of the five. Both him and Mo should have been ahead of Colon in '05. I guess you could put Kaat on the ballot over him just on longevity, but I'd say Johan Santana was the most dominant pitcher the Twins ever had. Blyleven is the next closest, and I wouldn't disagree too much with anyone that wanted to put Bert over Johan. But the three year stretch Johan had from '04-'06 is the best three year stretch ever by a Twins pitcher.

In a neck and neck race between him and Blyleven, I'd say Johan Santana is the best pitcher in Twins history.

[NJTank]

What I like about Eddie Matthews is he played for the Braves in Boston, Milwaukee and Atlanta.

[Seadragon76]

I'm perfectly fine with Seattle's Franchise Four, but I would of went with Randy Johnson over Felix, but then I realized that Randy's best days were in Arizona.

Don't get me wrong. He was a beast in Seattle... but he finally won it all in Arizona.

[pmoehrin]

I'm perfectly fine with Seattle's Franchise Four, but I would of went with Randy Johnson over Felix, but then I realized that Randy's best days were in Arizona.

Don't get me wrong. He was a beast in Seattle... but he finally won it all in Arizona.

I'd still put Randy slightly over Felix just counting their years with the Mariners, but by year's end that opinion may change.

Its pretty much a dead heat between the two right now. Johnson pitched in Seattle for 10 years, won a Cy Young, was a five time all-star and had an ERA+ of 128. Hernandez has pitched in Seattle for 11 years, won a Cy Young, is a six time all-star and has an ERA+ of 130. There's no way one can be that much better than the other.

For Seattle I think I would just go straight position players. A-Rod, Edgar, Griffey and Ichiro. Ranking them I would go Griffey one and A-Rod two, but after that you could rank Edgar and Ichiro along with Johnson and Felix 3-6 in any order you wanted to and you would get no dissent from me.

I don't think any player got screwed over by this more then A-Rod. He should be in the top four for both Texas and Seattle and not only did he not make it for either team, he wasn't even on the ballot for either team.

[cubsfan2015]

Mid season predictions:

AMERICAN LEAGUE

AL EAST

1.Yankees

2.O's

3.Rays

4.Blue Jays

5.Red Sox

AL CENTRAL

1.Twins

2.Royals*

3.Tigers

4.Indians

5.White Sox

AL WEST

1.Astros......yes this is happening

2.Angels*

3.Mariners

4.A's

5.Rangers

NATIONAL LEAGUE

NL EAST

1.Nats

2.Mets*

3.Marlins

4.Phillies

5.Braves

NL CENTRAL

1.Cardnials

2.Cubs.........if they cant get first,probably a wild card.....*

3.Pirates

4.Reds

5.Brewers

NL WEST

1.Dodgers

2.Giants......repeat..........HAHAHAHA no

3.D-Backs

4.Rockies

5.Padres

* denotes wild card

PLAYOFFS:

wild card:

NL

Cubs 4

Mets 2

AL

Angels 7

Royals 4

divisonals:

NL

Cubs 3

Dodgers 2

Nats 3

Cards 1

AL:

Angels 3

Yankees 2

Twins 3

Astros 1

HAHAHHAHAHHA the twins are becoming good again

League:

NL:

Cubs 4

Nats 2

Angels 4

Twins 2

World Series

Angels 4

Cubs 2

[NJTank]

If somehow the Mets can get a bat and into the Division Series watch out, that pitching staff they have is amazing. Just get a bat please.

Look quickly because he steps off fast last Saturday leaving the Mets game I was in the same elevator as Tony LaRussa.

[FiddySicks]

That's pretty cool. I once passed Scott Boras on an escalator in Dodgers Stadium. I yelled his name and he looked back at with a pretty menacing scowl as he scurried by, pissed that I drew attention to him. It was great.

[TheOldRoman]

I once ran into Juwan Howard at Atlantis in the Bahamas in 2009. I walked past him and we stared each other down. Me thinking "wow, that's crazy" and him thinking "crap, this :censored:'s going to talk to me." I didn't, but afterwards I told my wife "That guy used to play in the NBA." I later found out that he was still playing and would play four more seasons.

[ninersdd]

Looks like there is a suspended game in DC, thanks to the lights repeatedly going out.

[DaytonBlue]

I don't quite get why they couldn't have kept playing in Washington...still brighter than Wrigley Field

[Still MIGHTY]

Should I say it again? I'll say it again.

MIKE. ING. TROUT.

[TrueYankee26]

Should I say it again? I'll say it again.

MIKE. ING. TROUT.

Thank you Angels for beating the Red Sox

And he will definitely be a Hall of Famer if he keeps this up

[cubsfan2015]

Should I say it again? I'll say it again.

MIKE. ING. TROUT.

Thank you Angels for beating the Red Sox

And he will definitely be a Hall of Famer if he keeps this up

First ballot,IMO.Unless a injury can ruin his career,he'll be somewhere up there in all time hits and HR's.

[TrueYankee26]

Indeed, he's the Griffey of this generation, he will inspire new generations of baseball fans.

[pmoehrin]

Indeed, he's the Griffey of this generation, he will inspire new generations of baseball fans.

I hope he does.

I can't speak too much as to whether or not Trout is, can or will be more popular than Griffey, but I can say talent wise he's as good now as Griffey ever was if not better.

He's already arguably the best player the Angels have ever had and in another year or two, you'll probably be able to strike the arguably part from that sentence.

I've heard a bunch old timers say Mike Trout is what Mickey Mantle would have been had he been healthy. Hard to disagree with that. He's only 23 and already in borderline HOF territory and once again in another few years the borderline part of that sentence probably won't be there.

[TrueYankee26]

Baseball fans in the OC are blessed that Trout is entertaining them 81 times a year at Angels Stadium. One of my favorite non-Yankees, I like him until he faces the Yankees of course!

[2001mark]

07/19/15... 41c with humidex in Toronto... Blue Jays mittens giveaway day in Toronto.

Seems about right.