2012 MLB Season

[-kj]

I just saw it, not sure what to think. It doesn't look that different than many breaking-up slides I've seen, but I don't know the rules nearly well enough to comment on if it was legit or not.

[ninersdd]

They showed one last year against the Cubs where he seemingly avoided the base and tripped up Starlin Castro.

[Kramerica Industries]

It is kinda not kosher to slide after you're past the bag.

[marlinfan]

Nationals Park was electric last night. Watching games like that and then turning on a game from Yankee Stadium and its easy to see which side appreciates it more.

Then I doubt you've ever been to a game at Yankee Stadium.

But I've watched dozens of playoff games from Yankee Stadium and the atmosphere is nowhere near where it was 5-6 years ago.

They are having a tough time selling out playoff games: http://www.fieldofschemes.com/2012/10/16/3949/thousands-of-unsold-seats-at-yankee-postseason-games-some-possible-reasons/

You also have Tigers players saying Oakland was a tougher place to play. New Yankee Stadium being more subdued environment than the old stadium is not a recent complaint either.

[Kramerica Industries]

Two huge reasons for that:

1) The newer Stadium is built differently. The older Yankee Stadium had more overhang with the second and third decks, which helped trap sound better. The newer Yankee Stadium has those decks pushed back - there's no overhead roof to help trap sound. Open concourses also doesn't help.

2) Prices. This one is extremely obvious. Many of the seats in the lower sections are too expensive for many of the more vocal fans.

I also fear the Atlanta effect is in full frothe in the Bronx. This is the opposite of Oakland, where the A's had only been to the playoffs once since 2003, and not at all since 2006. It's a terrible ballpark and a terrible economic situation, but Oakland sports fans are notorious for their rabid nature. There's a reason Oakland had won something like 10 or 11 straight games at home until Verlander did them in last Thursday - that place was a hell house for opponents, and the A's had insane penchant for the late inning comeback.

Quintin Berry didn't say anything that wasn't true. Going from Oakland to New York was a bit of a relief on them.

[TrueYankee26]

i'm sure you cruel, evil Yankee Haters are loving my Yankees looking bad.

I'll never give up on this team, no matter how snakebitten they look.

[Kramerica Industries]

That's because we're degenerates. All rabid sports fans are.

If (when) they're down 3-0 tomorrow night, I'll still be watching, and so will any Yankee fan worth their salt.

[Magnum]

It is kinda not kosher to slide after you're past the bag.

At least its not as bizarre as that Hal McRae dive into Willie Randolph.

Nonetheless, it was still a dirty play that had full intent. It always seems like these Cardinals players are very secretive and/or always give a not so clear answer to a question.

"Oh we teach our plays to play the game hard and try not to hurt someone" ... well, Mr. Matheny, you're basically saying that Matt Holliday did it on purpose even though he didn't mean to hurt Scutaro.

[cmm]

I had the SF radio feed on last night thanks to MLB.com. Mike Krukow said the slide was legal but "not appreciated" and Duane Kuiper--who played 2B--also said it was legal but unnecessary. Or something like that.

[FiddySicks]

I was sitting in the upper deck on the first base side and even from way up there it was apparent that he was gunning for Scutaro's legs. Luckily Scutaro didn't get hurt though, and the crowd absolutely let him have it for the rest of the night after that.

[Kramerica Industries]

Yankees have now played 28 offensive innings against the Tigers.

They've scored in one inning.

ONE.

Yankees haven't been swept in a best-of-7 series since the 1976 World Series. It appears that stretch will end tomorrow night.

[Cujo]

The Yankees offense has been about as pathetic as A-Rod's in-game flirtation after getting benched.

[Cujo]

Yankees done. TheEeEeEeEe Yankees are done!

[Kramerica Industries]

Pretty much, the only thing I can pretend to use as hope for some insane comeback...

is to use my worst sports memory ever.

I'm not sure what to say about that. All I can say is that I hope Saturday night was not the last time I saw Andy Pettitte toe the rubber as a Yankee.

[NEW.ERA]

Is CC pitching tomorrow?

[Kramerica Industries]

Sabathia vs. Scherzer

And Scherzer would be the filthiest pitcher on most staff's in the American League. Just so happens Verlander is on the same staff.

I figured today's game would dictate either a sweep, or a decent chance at forcing the series back to the Bronx. I'll stick to my guns by saying the Tigers finish tomorrow. I sincerely hope I'm wrong.

---

While on the topic, I had a moment of total credibility destruction earlier tonight. I realized that, as part of my MLB predictions from March, I picked the Tigers to beat the Yankees (in 6) in the ALCS, though I had the Tigers holding HFA, not the Yankees. It makes me sick that the only times my predictions go as expected, are the times when I hope they don't. Same thing when I picked the Bruins to reach the Final in 2011, only for them to do just that by beating the Lightning in a 1-0 Game 7. I really should get out of the business of tendering predictions. Whether I'm right or wrong, I always get screwed.

[infrared41]

i'm sure you cruel, evil Yankee Haters are loving my Yankees looking bad.

Can't decide which of these to go with...

a.) The phrase "firm grasp of the obvious" comes to mind.

b.) Ya think?

[The_Admiral]

I also fear the Atlanta effect is in full frothe in the Bronx. This is the opposite of Oakland, where the A's had only been to the playoffs once since 2003, and not at all since 2006. It's a terrible ballpark and a terrible economic situation, but Oakland sports fans are notorious for their rabid nature. There's a reason Oakland had won something like 10 or 11 straight games at home until Verlander did them in last Thursday - that place was a hell house for opponents, and the A's had insane penchant for the late inning comeback.

As the sole defender of the Oakland Coliseum, I'd love to see to what extent the unique field dimensions assisted the A's this year. With so many new parks and their postage stamps of foul ground, the idea that a foul pop-up probably won't be out of play has to change the, if you'll pardon the expression, dimension of the game. That the place gets loud as hell when it counts must help, too.

[FiddySicks]

I also fear the Atlanta effect is in full frothe in the Bronx. This is the opposite of Oakland, where the A's had only been to the playoffs once since 2003, and not at all since 2006. It's a terrible ballpark and a terrible economic situation, but Oakland sports fans are notorious for their rabid nature. There's a reason Oakland had won something like 10 or 11 straight games at home until Verlander did them in last Thursday - that place was a hell house for opponents, and the A's had insane penchant for the late inning comeback.

As the sole defender of the Oakland Coliseum, I'd love to see to what extent the unique field dimensions assisted the A's this year. With so many new parks and their postage stamps of foul ground, the idea that a foul pop-up probably won't be out of play has to change the, if you'll pardon the expression, dimension of the game. That the place gets loud as hell when it counts must help, too.

I wouldn't say you're the only one who defends the Coliseum. I've been saying for years that the place really isn't as terrible as it's made out to be.

[Kramerica Industries]

It's the same mold as all the old cookie-cutter stadiums of the '70s and '80s, and there's a reason all of them are long gone..

It's also no secret at all that the large outfields and foul ground have made Oakland a paradise for pitchers over the years. There's a reason many injured pitchers go to Oakland for a year to re-establish their value, and why many pitchers are nowhere near as good once they leave Oakland than when they were there. In recent years, about the only pitchers I can recall having sustained success after leaving Oakland are Tim Hudson and Daniel Haren.

Of course, it works both ways - I'm pretty sure the A's have never had a batting champion since they've been in Oakland, because the foul ground eats up a lot of their pop ups as well.