Mlb 2011!

sluggo · 2011-09-04T19:37:04.000Z

In other news, jeez, the Tigers are just abusing the White Sox on ESPN right now, 16-0 in the 6th.

Lorini · 2011-09-04T21:49:03.000Z

Well the Dodgers win streak finallly came to an end, with Kershaw pitching too, a little unexpected. But they have been playing so much better, so sad it took this long to click.

Alstein · 2011-09-04T22:02:46.000Z

I’d like to see a semi-2nd wild card.

This year is a great argument against 2nd wild cards- because there’s a large difference between the Braves and Cards, and say Red Sox/Yankees and Rays.

One idea would be the 2nd wild card has to be within 5 games of the main wild card, or the wild-card playoff should be a doubleheader, and a split gets the main WC in.

Japan has some good ideas like starting the higher seed up 1-0 in a 7 game series they use for their playoffs.

Mark_Asher · 2011-09-04T22:23:58.000Z

Alstein:

I’d like to see a semi-2nd wild card.

This year is a great argument against 2nd wild cards- because there’s a large difference between the Braves and Cards, and say Red Sox/Yankees and Rays.

One idea would be the 2nd wild card has to be within 5 games of the main wild card, or the wild-card playoff should be a doubleheader, and a split gets the main WC in.

Japan has some good ideas like starting the higher seed up 1-0 in a 7 game series they use for their playoffs.

Is that 1-0 in score in the first game or all games, or 1-0 in games won?

Sarkus · 2011-09-04T22:44:08.000Z

Alstein:

I’d like to see a semi-2nd wild card.

This year is a great argument against 2nd wild cards- because there’s a large difference between the Braves and Cards, and say Red Sox/Yankees and Rays.

One idea would be the 2nd wild card has to be within 5 games of the main wild card, or the wild-card playoff should be a doubleheader, and a split gets the main WC in.

Japan has some good ideas like starting the higher seed up 1-0 in a 7 game series they use for their playoffs.

I’d only support a second wild card if they combine that with shortening the season by a week (back to 154, say). I don’t think it would really help all that much most years. And as it is, winning the divisions seems of little value already.

For example, this year a second wild-card would mean St. Louis and San Francisco in the NL fighting for it (completely negating any divisional races, which is already the case in the NL East with the Braves locked in) and the AL would have Angels and Rays fighting for the last spot (again negating the remaining divisional race).

Instead of extending its post-season, MLB needs to do a better job of making the playoffs important. Letting more teams in hardly justifies that.

Thongsy · 2011-09-04T23:29:37.000Z

Mark Asher:

Is that 1-0 in score in the first game or all games, or 1-0 in games won?

I’m assuming that’s games in the series, which would be a horrible idea. I can really go either way on the whole second wild card team debate. If they do add it, I would agree with Sarkus that the season would need to be cut by a week, though that would never happen.

Alstein · 2011-09-04T23:48:08.000Z

Yeah , I mean 1-0 in games. It’s done in Japan, and I see the logic behind it.

I think that’s perfectly fair if you won the regular season by a large amount.

Sarkus · 2011-09-05T00:43:52.000Z

Looks like the Cubs are still going to be cursed going forward. There’s been some talk that they would be an attractive option for a big name GM to jump to, what with new ownership and all of that. But what did they do? They just extended their player personnel guy. Makes zero sense to do that, since any GM candidate with leverage would want their own guy in that spot.

sluggo · 2011-09-05T19:03:58.000Z

If you have the ability to turn on the White Sox / Twins game, headed to the top of the 8th, where the Twins have only sent 21 batters to the plate so far tonight, I highly recommend doing so.

Edit: Never mind!

Thongsy · 2011-09-06T05:48:54.000Z

Giants fan should remember Jerome Williams, nice to see him back in the major pitching with some minor success after a couple of years in Taiwan. I really liked him back when he first came up with the Giants but it just didn’t work out. The OC Register has a funny blog report about his time with the Giants, how his teammates called him Jeremy instead of Jerome. Never knew that, and it’s just much odder since the broadcast team always correctly called him Jerome. Best of luck to him and hope he can stay around and find success with the Angels.

http://angels.ocregister.com/2011/09/04/the-time-the-giants-called-jerome-williams-the-wrong-name-for-two-entire-years/93887/

Also while flipping the channels, I found the answer to Giants fifth starter woe. They need to trade with the Mariners and get Larry Benandez, long lost twin of King Felix.

Sarkus · 2011-09-06T11:56:47.000Z

Thongsy:

Also while flipping the channels, I found the answer to Giants fifth starter woe. They need to trade with the Mariners and get Larry Benandez, long lost twin of King Felix.

The Mariners don’t trade players who get their own bobblehead nights.

sluggo · 2011-09-06T15:16:39.000Z

I find it interesting that with all the hoopla surrounding Jeter’s 3000th hit, there’s been little said about Mariano Rivera – now at 597 saves – closing in on 600 and passing Trevor Hoffman’s all-time mark of 601. It’s going to happen this year, probably next week, and it’s largely been under the radar.

The Yankees come to So Cal to play the Angels this weekend, so I might have to get tickets to see him do his thing. :)

inactive_user · 2011-09-06T15:28:26.000Z

Sure, but we already know he’s the best closer of all time. So it’s less exciting ;)

Anybody else read the relatively JoePo article about how Mo is obviously a historically amazing reliever, and yet the Yankees have the same win % for games they’re leading after 8 as they did with a rotation of meh-to-decent guys closing games for them pre-Mo? Interesting stuff.

And by “interesting,” I mean “god damnit we have so much money locked up in Nathan it makes me cry.”

Alan_Dunkin · 2011-09-06T15:47:40.000Z

sluggo:

A few months ago, there was that story about how Josh Hamilton claimed his poor performance during day games this season was sight related, that he was having trouble seeing and hitting the ball and it was related to his having blue eyes. I’m sure some people thought that theory was a little cuckoo, but as someone with blue eyes, I know I’ve always been a little more light-sensitive than most, and can certainly understand how any extra glare might be a slight hinderance in an occupation where seeing the ball coming out of the picther’s hand is a huge deal.

For the last six weeks, Hamilton has been experimenting with tinted contacts for day games. During those games, he’s gone 11 for 26 (.423), compared to the .122 he was hitting in day games before he started wearing the contacts. And he just rocked a based-loaded triple off the Fenway wall to put the Rangers up 9-0 on the Red Sox. So maybe the contacts helped, or maybe it’s a coincidence, but he seems to have overcome his day-game slump, which I found kind of interesting.

It’s been an interesting issue, and everyone has always wondered why he fared poorly in day games (hell last year Oakland was intentionally rescheduling games from night to day explicitly for this purpose); he tried all kinds of eyeblack, wore different types of shades, etc.

Initially it did take him a bit with the contacts but it looks like that was generally making a difference.

— Alan

Chris · 2011-09-06T17:44:15.000Z

Alan Dunkin:

It’s been an interesting issue, and everyone has always wondered why he fared poorly in day games (hell last year Oakland was intentionally rescheduling games from night to day explicitly for this purpose); he tried all kinds of eyeblack, wore different types of shades, etc.

Initially it did take him a bit with the contacts but it looks like that was generally making a difference.

— Alan

On the Ranger broadcast the other night they said it is actually eye drops that have made the difference, he has extremely dry eyes and was blinking a lot during day games. The eye drops have allowed him to see better by reducing the blinking.

sluggo · 2011-09-06T18:09:00.000Z

It wouldn’t surprise me if it was a combination of the two, that the tinted contacts help with the glare and the drops help with the blinking.

sluggo · 2011-09-06T18:30:55.000Z

Tonight in the AL:

The Tigers lead the Indians, 10-1.
The Red Sox lead the Jays, 13-0.
The Rangers lead the Rays, 8-0.

Let’s just start the AL playoffs now. I’m cool with best of 15 for the first few rounds.

CheesyPoof · 2011-09-06T18:46:15.000Z

Don’t you know it’s football season?

Alan_Dunkin · 2011-09-06T18:47:03.000Z

sluggo:

Tonight in the AL:

The Tigers lead the Indians, 10-1.
The Red Sox lead the Jays, 13-0.
The Rangers lead the Rays, 8-0.

Let’s just start the AL playoffs now. I’m cool with best of 15 for the first few rounds.

Those are all away blowouts too.

— Alan

Greatatlantic · 2011-09-06T19:09:07.000Z

Tomorrow at least promises an incredible pitching match up as Justin Verlander (pretty much a sure in for the Cy Young at this point) takes on the Indians surprise ace Justin Masterson who would be an active name in Cy Young talks if Verlander hadn’t locked it down and if the Indians gave him for run support.

That being said, the Tigers are just insanely hot right now at a time when the their primary competition in the ALC has been riddled with injuries. Their DL officially lists 5 players, but is missing lead off batter Michael Brantley who is out for the season, and Grady Sizemore who has spent more time injured than playing this year who just came back two games ago. At one time their will fielding an outfield of Ezekiel Carrera, Jerad Head, and Fukudome. Chances are you only heard of one of those guys, and mostly for him being tragically overpaid.