2009 MLB Season Thread

[FiddySicks]

time for the obligatory "excuse me the hard-on" post

Excuse me the hard-on.

I am now honored every time Creamer refers to me as "Sanchez"

So last night Lincecum tossed 7 innings of no hit ball, tonight Jonathan Sanchez tossed the first no no for the Giants since 1976. Well I'm going to the game tomorrow night and Matt Cain is pitching, how could he possibly top this?

And to think just yesterday I suggested that the one Giants starter that could be dealt for a bat was Sanchez. Well, not now (even though that's still true, he IS the only starter that we could realistically deal). I gotta agree with Tim Lincecum, this is an extremely special team. And to think most thought that the Giants would be door mats this season. I for one, am AMPED for the second half.

I love baseball.

[WJMorris3]

Another no-hitter, another one not thrown by a Met. 48 seasons and 7,567 games and counting...

Incidentally, the Padres date back to '66 and haven't had one either...

1969 at the Major League level on that one. And the Reds have gone 20 years since being involved in their last no-hitter, longest streak in the bigs.

[CC97]

Incidentally, the Padres date back to '66 and haven't had one either...

'69

[gingerbreadmann]

Another no-hitter, another one not thrown by a Met. 48 seasons and 7,567 games and counting...

Incidentally, the Padres date back to '66 and haven't had one either...

It's okay. There was only a 99.9897% chance they'd have one by now.

[Sport]

Another no-hitter, another one not thrown by a Met. 48 seasons and 7,567 games and counting...

Incidentally, the Padres date back to '66 and haven't had one either...

1969 at the Major League level on that one. And the Reds have gone 20 years since being involved in their last no-hitter, longest streak in the bigs.

When you say "involved in" you must mean that they haven't been no-hit nor have had a pitcher no-hit someone in awhile. True, it's been more than 20 years since Tom Brownings perfect game against the Dodgers in 88, but whatever I'm okay with it.

[Still MIGHTY]

Man, that was one of the most exciting games I've been to in a while.

And it always feels DAMN good to beat the Yankees.

Got to the stadium, traffic on the off ramp of the freeway to the stadium exit. Traffic getting into the parking lot. 2/3 of the parking lot closed. The outfield parking lot taken over for the Friday night firework safety area. Missing the first inning. Getting to my seat its already 3-0 Yankees. I have Yankee fans to my left and a few groups of them behind me. Then they get up to 5-1 and they are all cocky as ever.

Kendry Morales CRUSHES the deepest home run in Angel Stadium this season. Stoked! Yelling. High-fiving. Yankee fans, visibly unhappy

Chamberlain gets chased and the Angels take the lead. More cheering and high-fiving. And these Yankee fans behind me yell at me and my buddy to "Sit the down!" in our own stadium. If I was in the Bronx, 1) I'd understand the complaint and 2) I wouldnt be dumb enough to act like that in an opposing stadium.

So needless to say our verbal war just got started with said fans.

Angels lead grew. We stood and cheered louder.

The Yanks begin to comeback and they start cheers. "Hip Hip Jorge" to which we respond "Hip Hip SCOREBOARD!"

And then this lady begins to just yell at the top of her lungs the Yankee batter at the plate. We just thought it was stupid and let her do it. It got progressively annoying. We eventually just responding by yelling the Angels pitcher's name at the top of our lungs.

This is just some. There was a lot and the game was a big whirl to me so I don't remember it all, but there are some that aren't exactly board friendly if I remember.

Then with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th and two strikes on Jorge Posada, We get a Hip Hip Jorge chant. And we both yell back "Hip Hip GO AWAY!" and as we yell "away" Posada strikes out. Yankee fans leave in a fuss and we celebrate out 10-6 victory and watch our Friday Night Fireworks.

So I was pumped for an Angels game which was multiplied by being a Yankee game which was multiplied by the presence of said Yankee fans which was multiplied by my already frustrating situation and day overall which all led to an intense passion filled roller coaster of a game. It almost felt like the playoffs and I loved it.

Most fun I've had at a baseball game in a lonnggggggg time.

I'd say playoff games were fun, but they're more tense than fun. Especially with our last few series being against the Red Sox ... and losing ... with Sox fans in attendance...

Speaking of Sox fans, one was walking up the steps and I think it was a Yankee fan yelled down at him "HEY! Sox fan!?! Get otta here! Go jump off a bridge!" Sox fan replied "Hell yeah Sox Fan! you! Get off your dirty New York ass and read the standings!" Hilarious little exchange. And I was only on his side tonight, because we were sharing Yankee hatred, and because that was just too funny to not like

Good times.

Go Halos!

---------------------------

Also, I kinda feel bad for the Padres.

Congrats to Sanchez on the no-no, but man, Padres almost no-hit on back to back nights.

Tough season in SD. Yikes

[Gary]

Diamondbacks have won 6 of 7, and could play spoiler to the NL West this year, now that they have there heads out of their ass, and some leadership, this season may be turned around.

[Cujo]

Diamondbacks have won 6 of 7, and could play spoiler to the NL West this year

Yeah, have fun with that, Gar.

Props on that Sanchez guy and his no-hitter. I'm all for seeing a Bonds-less Giants team in the post-season if the Cubs can't represent.

[Gary]

Diamondbacks have won 6 of 7, and could play spoiler to the NL West this year

Yeah, have fun with that, Gar.

Props on that Sanchez guy and his no-hitter. I'm all for seeing a Bonds-less Giants team in the post-season if the Cubs can't represent.

For a good young team that really hasn't done anything this year(Dbacks), it's nice seeing them win for a change, and saw highlights of the no-hitter last night, very nice on Sanchez. Giants have a good team, and I think in the upcoming years the NL West could become the current NL East. 4 teams who are young but with enough veteran leadership that could get them to the playoffs.

[JayJaxon]

Man, that was one of the most exciting games I've been to in a while.

And it always feels DAMN good to beat the Yankees.

Got to the stadium, traffic on the off ramp of the freeway to the stadium exit. Traffic getting into the parking lot. 2/3 of the parking lot closed. The outfield parking lot taken over for the Friday night firework safety area. Missing the first inning. Getting to my seat its already 3-0 Yankees. I have Yankee fans to my left and a few groups of them behind me. Then they get up to 5-1 and they are all cocky as ever.

Kendry Morales CRUSHES the deepest home run in Angel Stadium this season. Stoked! Yelling. High-fiving. Yankee fans, visibly unhappy

Chamberlain gets chased and the Angels take the lead. More cheering and high-fiving. And these Yankee fans behind me yell at me and my buddy to "Sit the down!" in our own stadium. If I was in the Bronx, 1) I'd understand the complaint and 2) I wouldnt be dumb enough to act like that in an opposing stadium.

So needless to say our verbal war just got started with said fans.

Angels lead grew. We stood and cheered louder.

The Yanks begin to comeback and they start cheers. "Hip Hip Jorge" to which we respond "Hip Hip SCOREBOARD!"

And then this lady begins to just yell at the top of her lungs the Yankee batter at the plate. We just thought it was stupid and let her do it. It got progressively annoying. We eventually just responding by yelling the Angels pitcher's name at the top of our lungs.

This is just some. There was a lot and the game was a big whirl to me so I don't remember it all, but there are some that aren't exactly board friendly if I remember.

Then with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th and two strikes on Jorge Posada, We get a Hip Hip Jorge chant. And we both yell back "Hip Hip GO AWAY!" and as we yell "away" Posada strikes out. Yankee fans leave in a fuss and we celebrate out 10-6 victory and watch our Friday Night Fireworks.

So I was pumped for an Angels game which was multiplied by being a Yankee game which was multiplied by the presence of said Yankee fans which was multiplied by my already frustrating situation and day overall which all led to an intense passion filled roller coaster of a game. It almost felt like the playoffs and I loved it.

Most fun I've had at a baseball game in a lonnggggggg time.

I'd say playoff games were fun, but they're more tense than fun. Especially with our last few series being against the Red Sox ... and losing ... with Sox fans in attendance...

Speaking of Sox fans, one was walking up the steps and I think it was a Yankee fan yelled down at him "HEY! Sox fan!?! Get otta here! Go jump off a bridge!" Sox fan replied "Hell yeah Sox Fan! you! Get off your dirty New York ass and read the standings!" Hilarious little exchange. And I was only on his side tonight, because we were sharing Yankee hatred, and because that was just too funny to not like

Good times.

Go Halos!

---------------------------

Also, I kinda feel bad for the Padres.

Congrats to Sanchez on the no-no, but man, Padres almost no-hit on back to back nights.

Tough season in SD. Yikes

I want to go to a game with you

[Cujo]

Diamondbacks have won 6 of 7, and could play spoiler to the NL West this year

Yeah, have fun with that, Gar.

For a good young team that really hasn't done anything this year(Dbacks), it's nice seeing them win for a change,

Gary, that exact same Arizona team made the NLCS two seasons ago. You can't tell me you expected the D-Bags to rebuild and only play spoiler going into the '09 season. C'mon now.

[Gary]

Diamondbacks have won 6 of 7, and could play spoiler to the NL West this year

Yeah, have fun with that, Gar.

For a good young team that really hasn't done anything this year(Dbacks), it's nice seeing them win for a change,

Gary, that exact same Arizona team made the NLCS two seasons ago. You can't tell me you expected the D-Bags to rebuild and only play spoiler going into the '09 season. C'mon now.

Curt to tell the truth, they are a good team, but they are not a disciplined team, that is their biggest problem, can they get it together to make a run, I don't know, but there is still another half to go and they can certainly do so.

[Seadragon76]

Either way, neither the Lovable Losers or the Snakes (In the Grass) are reaching the postseason.

And before either one of you guys say it... Neither will the M's, for that matter.

[Still MIGHTY]

Last night without Vladimir Guerrero and Torii Hunter, the Angels managed to come back from an early 4 run deficit and score 10 runs to beat the Yankees.

Today the Angels were without Vlad, Torii, and Juan Rivera, and they still managed to comeback from an early deficit and scored 14 runs on the Yankees.

Both Angel victories.

I love the determination and fight this team is showing right now, especially how they came out of that Texas series. Now the Angels go for the sweep of the Yanks tomorrow and a huge confidence boost going into the All-Star Break.

Now if Seattle can hold up their end of it all, the Halos can be in 1st at the break.

[oddball]

When do the Yankees admit the Joba experiment is a failure? All I see out of him is an average pitcher as a starter. The Yankees and Joba need to put their egos aside and put Joba where he belongs. By keeping him in the rotation they make their rotation and their bullpen weaker because he can't go more than 5. If you want to make him a starter and let him go 5, then put him where he belongs in the minors in AA and let him work his arm, his head and his knowledge of how to pitch. He's a 1 inning guy at best. Don't give me this crap about he has 4 pitches, I don't care. If you can't do anything with your 4 pitches and you go 7 or 8 and give up 3 runs or less, then get into the bullpen.

As far as the Angels, it's going to be 1 and out in the playoffs, if they make the playoffs. Their pitching is weak. I have no faith in their starters, few show what it takes to win it all. Weaver, I don't trust him. His name is Weaver and just look at his brother, he's a guy that will look good, but gives up way too many home runs. I like Plamer's W-L and that's what matters, but he walks too many putting stress on the defense. And the bullpen is horrendous. The only good thing about their bullpen is Fuentes, but there's nothing in front of him to let him do his job. What I see out of this team is lack of leadership in the field and on the mound. There are no leaders. Lackey is pitching like a 4th guy, and needs to step up. I just find they have way too many players such as Gary Matthews, Ayabar, Kendrick, Mathis, Napoli, Abreu etc. who are quite guys, but their are no guys challenging them to step up. Hunter's not that player, nor is Vlad. They have too many soft-spoken players. What they need to do is shake up this team. It's time to trade Figgins and one of their shortstops and some other "talent" for Holliday who is a #1 starter. This team has no clue on how to win. Winning isn't what they've done this weekend as the Yankees gave these games away. Winning is in Ocotober and you can't tell me the Angels will win their series, let alone make the playoffs. I know some people might blame this season on the loss of Adenheart, but that can only take you so far. He would've pitched once every 5 days. Their problems are deeper than that. Adenheart wasn't on the team that got embarrassed the past few years in the playoffs. Why are the Red Sox winning World Championships and teams like the Angels and Yankees struggling to make the playoffs and when they do, they can't show up? Simple, Boston builds their team to win in October. As an Angel fan, I can say that there is no one on the roster I trust come October. They need to move on from Vlad, he's proven to just be breaking down every year. Once you have injuries, they don't go away. The fact that he got injured the way he did, honestly, the faster he's gone, the quicker they can move on to a new player who they can rely on. It's not that he's not good, he's just wasting roster space and money each year being injured. You can't count on him.

[JayJaxon]

Man, this doesn't even look right.

Oh by the way, when Francoeur got there, he was greeted with fans telling him to go back to Atlanta. Way to welcome your new player A-holes.

[NJTank]

Frenchy got a nice ovation during the game, and got two RBIs in his first AB.

Sometimes that's just how fans are saying things like that, I went to a Mets game Wednesday and got a dirty look from Oliver Perez for saying "Don't Suck Tonight"

[VandyDelphia Mike]

Matt Capps has a nightmare 9th; the Phillies come back from four down in their final at-bat to win 8-7 over their in-state rivals.

B:0 S:0 O:0 - Pitcher Change: Matt Capps replaces John Grabow, batting 9th.

B:0 S:0 O:0 - Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Matt Stairs replaces Tyler Walker.

B:3 S:1 O:0 - Matt Stairs homers (4) on a fly ball to right field.

PIT 7, PHI 4

B:4 S:1 O:0 - Jimmy Rollins walks.

B:0 S:2 O:1 - Shane Victorino flies out to center fielder Andrew McCutchen.

B:2 S:1 O:1 - With Chase Utley batting, Jimmy Rollins steals (16) 2nd base.

B:3 S:2 O:1 - Chase Utley singles on a line drive to left fielder Garrett Jones. Jimmy Rollins to 3rd.

B:3 S:2 O:1 - Coaching visit to mound.

B:1 S:0 O:1 - Ryan Howard homers (22) on a fly ball to left center field. Jimmy Rollins scores. Chase Utley scores.

PIT 7, PHI 7

B:0 S:0 O:1 - Raul Ibanez hits a ground-rule double (18) on a fly ball to center field.

B:4 S:0 O:1 - Matt Capps intentionally walks Jayson Werth.

B:0 S:0 O:1 - Pedro Feliz singles on a ground ball to shortstop Jack Wilson, deflected by pitcher Matt Capps. Raul Ibanez to 3rd. Jayson Werth to 2nd.

B:2 S:2 O:1 - Paul Bako singles on a ground ball to left fielder Garrett Jones. Raul Ibanez scores. Jayson Werth to 3rd. Pedro Feliz to 2nd.

PHI 8, PIT 7

Paul Bako! Call him The Rainmaker!

[CC97]

Sometimes that's just how fans are saying things like that, I went to a Mets game Wednesday and got a dirty look from Oliver Perez for saying "Don't Suck Tonight"

And you blame the GM for why the Mets constantly underperform? Hell, if I had 40,000 people constantly telling me how terrible I was over the course of 6 or 7 months every year I'd probably start to believe it.

[Seadragon76]

2 out of 3 over the Strangers! Come on, M's.... Go for the kill and take the series!