2011 MLB Season Thread

[HedleyLamarr]

Very impressive week's work for the Braves....going 6-1 against the Giants and Diamondbacks and putting a lot of breathing room in the Wild Card standings.

The Braves only have 9 games left against teams with a winning record. Granted, they have a habit of playing to the level of their competition, but they should be able to coast into the playoffs.

[pmoehrin]

Cap to a pretty perfect weekend for the Halos, Jered Weaver gets five-year, $85 million extension

Sounds about right.

I'm not sure if he's as good as a pitcher as the numbers he's putting up this year, but he's certainly a certified number one guy and a high end one at that. The the last two years and this one have showed that.

Weaver and Haren are going to make an incredible one two combo. Either one could be a number one starter on just about any team that doesen't have somebody like Roy Halladay on the roster. Without them they may even be in last place in the AL West, because that offense just has no pop to it. Those two guys are the biggest reason why they are winning so many close ball games.

The question mark is going to be Santana. Weaver and Haren are proven. Satana you really have no idea how good he is. This year I would describe him as a low end number one starter maybe a high end two. Last year I would describe him as a low end number two, the year before that awful and the year before that he was one of the best in the game. Which pitcher is he?

That's going to be a tough call for the Angels to make. Seen guys like A.J. Burnett have a couple of big years and then have teams line up around the block to pay them a boat load of money only to realize once they get them on their roster, they aren't somebody you can really build your rotation around even though that's how your paying them. If someone does that, Angels may be better off letting Santana go.

[Still MIGHTY]

Cap to a pretty perfect weekend for the Halos, Jered Weaver gets five-year, $85 million extension

Sounds about right.

I'm not sure if he's as good as a pitcher as the numbers he's putting up this year, but he's certainly a certified number one guy and a high end one at that. The the last two years and this one have showed that.

Weaver and Haren are going to make an incredible one two combo. Either one could be a number one starter on just about any team that doesen't have somebody like Roy Halladay on the roster.

The question mark is going to be Santana. Weaver and Haren are proven. Satana you really have no idea how good he is. This year I would describe him as a low end number one starter maybe a high end two. Last year I would describe him as a low end number two, the year before that awful and the year before that he was one of the best in the game. Which pitcher is he?

That's going to be a tough call for the Angels to make. Seen guys like A.J. Burnett have a couple of big years and then have teams line up around the block to pay them a boat load of money only to realize once they get them on their roster, they aren't somebody you can really build your rotation around even though that's how your paying them. If someone does that, Angels may be better off letting Santana go.

I don't think so.

Really your evaluation of him being a mostly a number two type of guy is fair and fine. That's really all the Angels need him to be. With Weaver and Haren, Santana fits right into the role the Angels need him at. And really, if you watched him every day, that bad season of two years ago is an aberration. A majority of the time, he's that top notch guy, but just like any pitcher, he has his rough spots.

Weaver, Haren, and Santana all fill their roles. The problem the Angels have had with their starters is the bottom two spots. They'll have a guy like John Garland, Scott Kazmir, and Joel Pinero, where they'll be decent enough in their first year with the team. Then their second year they just fall off the cliff and lose it. They can never fill that 4/5 spot for more than a year or two at a time.

[pmoehrin]

I don't think so.

Really your evaluation of him being a mostly a number two type of guy is fair and fine. That's really all the Angels need him to be. With Weaver and Haren, Santana fits right into the role the Angels need him at. And really, if you watched him every day, that bad season of two years ago is an aberration. A majority of the time, he's that top notch guy, but just like any pitcher, he has his rough spots.

My thing is is it really worth it to pay Ervin Satana the kind of money someone else my throw him when all he is going to really be is a classic number two. Somebody who when they are on can be as good as anybody, but they don't have the consistency that seperates guys like Halladay, Verlander and Weaver from the rest of the pack.

[Still MIGHTY]

I don't think so.

Really your evaluation of him being a mostly a number two type of guy is fair and fine. That's really all the Angels need him to be. With Weaver and Haren, Santana fits right into the role the Angels need him at. And really, if you watched him every day, that bad season of two years ago is an aberration. A majority of the time, he's that top notch guy, but just like any pitcher, he has his rough spots.

My thing is is it really worth it to pay Ervin Satana the kind of money someone else my throw him when all he is going to really be is a classic number two. Somebody who when they are on can be as good as anybody, but they don't have the consistency that seperates guys like Halladay, Verlander and Weaver from the rest of the pack.

Ah, all right I see what you're saying. Yeah, if someone wants to pay Ervin in line with some of those top guys or Ervin is demanding that type of money, then the Angels would have to let him go, I'd think. Arte Moreno has the money to pay him if he wants to, and drive the market up with him. But yeah, for a good economic model, the Angels would be best letting him go if those circumstances came up.

[pmoehrin]

I don't think so.

Really your evaluation of him being a mostly a number two type of guy is fair and fine. That's really all the Angels need him to be. With Weaver and Haren, Santana fits right into the role the Angels need him at. And really, if you watched him every day, that bad season of two years ago is an aberration. A majority of the time, he's that top notch guy, but just like any pitcher, he has his rough spots.

My thing is is it really worth it to pay Ervin Satana the kind of money someone else my throw him when all he is going to really be is a classic number two. Somebody who when they are on can be as good as anybody, but they don't have the consistency that seperates guys like Halladay, Verlander and Weaver from the rest of the pack.

Ah, all right I see what you're saying. Yeah, if someone wants to pay Ervin in line with some of those top guys or Ervin is demanding that type of money, then the Angels would have to let him go, I'd think. Arte Moreno has the money to pay him if he wants to, and drive the market up with him. But yeah, for a good economic model, the Angels would be best letting him go if those circumstances came up.

I think that's going to be the toughest call for the Angels to make. What if he has another big year, moves into type A status and is asking for about $12 million. Do you overpay him a bit just for the sake of keeping your roster chemistry together and to avoid getting bashed in the media which I'm sure would happen. The Angels are a big market team, but if you read into some of the rumors that are going around, they may be spending a little above their means and might have to cut some salary. In that case do you say, you know what, he's not worth it and we might be able to get something for the pick, because they need help in other areas.

There's pros and cons to doing both. I do not envy the guy that has to make that call. No matter what you do people are going to be upset and if what you do does work out, you'll probably get no credit for it.

[ESTONES6]

All the Indians had to do was win ONE game... meaning, they could lose the series to Detroit, and still gain a half-game, from the start of the week. I don't know what I'm more upset about, the Umpires blowing Game 1 of the serious, or the Indians tucking their heads between their legs in the second game.

Either way... I am going to continue to give Ubaldo the benefit of the doubt. One great start and 3 shellings isn't that bad of a start with a new team.

[Sport]

So this Current Indians slide is pretty hilarious, no?

They're now at .500 and tied with the White Sox. 5.5 games behind Detroit.

[crashcarson15]

Meh I expected it. And before they go into "OMG UBALDO DEAL WAS HORRIBLE" mode, both him and this current assembly of Indians have 2 more years to compete. But yeah, I think they're finally done.

Oh well, it's a hell of a lot more than what I would've expected from watching the first 3 innings on GameTracker in London back in April...

[pmoehrin]

One great start and 3 shellings isn't that bad of a start with a new team.

Seems pretty bad to me if this is supposed to be the ace of your staff. 7.29 ERA through 21 innings is bad anyway you cut it.

As I said earlier why did the Rockies just give up on this guy? No reason I can come up with makes much sense other then they knew something about him and figured sell now while he still has value.

[FiddySicks]

So the Diamondbacks just dropped their 6th straight, trimming their lead over the injury decimated San Francisco Giants to only 1 game in the NL West. So basically, the NL West is SO bad that the Fresno Grizzlies could win it

[DCDuck]

Only in the NL West will you find a division leader that features a lineup where only one player is batting above .270.

[LetsGoOakland9]

So the Diamondbacks just dropped their 6th straight, trimming their lead over the injury decimated San Francisco Giants to only 1 game in the NL West. So basically, the NL West is SO bad that the Fresno Grizzlies could win it

Well then crown the Sacramento River Cats world champions

[YessSir32]

All the Indians had to do was win ONE game... meaning, they could lose the series to Detroit, and still gain a half-game, from the start of the week. I don't know what I'm more upset about, the Umpires blowing Game 1 of the serious, or the Indians tucking their heads between their legs in the second game.

Either way... I am going to continue to give Ubaldo the benefit of the doubt. One great start and 3 shellings isn't that bad of a start with a new team.

I must say that was a badly called series, going both ways. It's really nice to see the Tigers offense perking up lately. The rotation behind Verlander is starting to gain a little reliability too. If these good signs continue, they could make a decent playoff run.

[The_Admiral]

This hasn't really been a very good baseball season, has it. Last year was a romp with the whole Year of the Pitcher thing. Not a lot to get excited about if you're not a Phillies/Yankees/Red Sox fan this year. Lot of bad teams this year, even some of the division leaders. Oh well, every year can't be magical.

[The Six]

This hasn't really been a very good baseball season, has it. Last year was a romp with the whole Year of the Pitcher thing. Not a lot to get excited about if you're not a Phillies/Yankees/Red Sox fan this year. Lot of bad teams this year, even some of the division leaders. Oh well, every year can't be magical.

Well you had up-and-coming teams like the Indians and Pirates getting hot, even if it hasn't lasted. The Brewers seem like they would be a bigger story if they didn't play in Wisconsin. The Braves and Rangers may not have the winning percentage those other teams do, but I wouldn't write them off.

If there is a bigger drop-off in the quality of teams this year, it really shows why more playoff teams would be a bad idea.

[Gary]

@Gambo620 The Diamondbacks have traded 2b Kelly Johnson to Toronto for 2b Aaron Hill and SS John McDonald.

[NEW.ERA]

Solid deal. Aaron Hill had the power the last two years, but nothing this year. Gonna miss JohnnyMac ultimate utility guy, such a hard worker. What can DBack fans tell me about Kelly Johnson, by look of the stats nothing special, but solid none the less.

[Gary]

Kelly Johnson is a power hitter, nothing more. He was a solid clubhouse guy who had the motivation, but more K's than anything else. Sad to see him go, but the Dbacks need hits that will win us the game, than they do Strikeouts and a lower avearage.

[pmoehrin]

I like Tony LaRussa but he made one of the most bonehead decisions I've ever seen as a manager in tonight's game.

Cardinals are down 8-0 in the bottom of the fourth. But they had the bases loaded and two outs with relief pitcher Mitchell Boggs coming to the plate. Common sense says this is probably the best chance you'll have at getting back into the game, so you pinch hit for Boggs. Instead LaRussa kept Boggs in the game pretty much throwing in the towel. Boggs struck out on three pitches and as I'm writing this just gave up a three run home run the following inning.

Why LaRussa kept Boggs in the game, I have no clue.