2012 MLB Regular Season (now with Post-Season!)

[triggercut]

So from innings 7 through 10 of the Cardinals-Marlins game yesterday we had:

--3 errors by one team, including two by one player on one play leading to a run

--A pitcher issuing an IBB to walk the bases full, and then walking two guys from that point to bring in two runs.

--a hitter getting a bases-loaded single that resulted in no run scoring and no RBI.

--A game-tying 2-out HR to cap a rally back from a 6-1 deficit.

--A lineup card snafu by home plate umpire Balkin' Bob Davidson that results in a catcher playing first base and a pitcher having to pinch hit with the game on the line.

--The catcher playing first base saving the game by digging out a low throw, catcher style to complete a double play at first.

--the pitcher pinch-hitting with the game on the line beating out an infield RBI single for his first major league hit and first RBI.

--a .170-hitting catcher delivering a key RBI single.

--a crushed line drive somehow finding a glove and ending the game with the tying run in scoring position.


Entertaining game, but Balkin' Bob needs to retire or be retired.

[ImLawBoy]

Cubs have called up Anthony Rizzo, and he'll be starting at first today.

I'm clearing my October for a deep playoff run!

[LawBeefaroni]

Cubs have called up Anthony Rizzo, and he'll be starting at first today.

I'm clearing my October for a deep playoff run!

I thought LaHair and Rizzo were just there to break in the area around 1B for Dan Vogelbach.

[triggercut]

Heavens. Vogelbach makes Brett Wallace and Matt Adams look svelte by comparison.

[ImLawBoy]

Is that a special edition extra-wide card?

[LawBeefaroni]

I've seen everything from 6'0", 250 to 5'11", 280. But apparently he can mash (thus all the Babe Ruth blatherings). And he does have 4 doubles in 14 ABs in AZ rookie ball without collapsing. He may be comparable to Prince.

[ImLawBoy]

I've seen everything from 6'0", 250 to 5'11", 280. But apparently he can mash (thus all the Babe Ruth blatherings). And he does have 4 doubles in 14 ABs in AZ rookie ball without collapsing. He may be comparable to Prince.

Three of those were actually home runs, but he collapsed at second.

[El Guapo]

Given how much I enjoy Prince Fielder articles by The Onion, I should start rooting for this guy to make the bigs:

ORLANDO, FL—After recently visiting the Texas Rangers to discuss the possibility of signing a long-term contract, All-Star first baseman Prince Fielder told reporters Monday he's beginning to notice how many complimentary meals he's getting from interested teams. "In Chicago, they took me to a steakhouse, it was top-flight seafood in D.C., and in Dallas, we went out for barbecue and they even comped my breakfast buffet at the hotel the next morning," said Fielder, adding that he has been craving Mexican lately and might entertain an offer from the Dodgers if it means scoring free tacos. "At this rate, I'm almost positive I'm going to sign a one-year deal so I can do this again next winter." Upon hearing the news, pitcher CC Sabathia reportedly put in a call to his agent to inquire about getting out of his current contract with the Yankees.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/prince ... arb,18897/

http://www.theonion.com/articles/prince ... ito,28159/

[stessier]

A Yankee is a cheater. Who'd of thunk it?

[Pyperkub]

I know the west coast doesn't get much play here, but did anyone see what the Giants did to the Dodgers this week?

Per Elias, it was the first time ever to happen to the Dodgers, and the first time the Giants have done it since the move to SF.

Namely a three game SWEEP, without allowing a single run (earned or unearned). Three straight Shutouts of the hated dodgers! Capped off by Lincecum's first really good game of the year, after going winless for almost two months.

And now the Giants have tied the Dodgers for first in the West. The Dodgers are hurting too, since Kemp has been out, and Ethier tweaked something today.

It's gonna be an interesting year out west.

[El Guapo]

Woooo, Red Sox are tied for third place baby!

[Exodor]

Woooo, Red Sox are tied for third place baby!

You're welcome.



Why the hell the Royals couldn't play like that when the Cardinals came to town.

[Freezer-TPF-]

I know the west coast doesn't get much play here, but did anyone see what the Giants did to the Dodgers this week?

Per Elias, it was the first time ever to happen to the Dodgers, and the first time the Giants have done it since the move to SF.

Namely a three game SWEEP, without allowing a single run (earned or unearned). Three straight Shutouts of the hated dodgers! Capped off by Lincecum's first really good game of the year, after going winless for almost two months.

And now the Giants have tied the Dodgers for first in the West. The Dodgers are hurting too, since Kemp has been out, and Ethier tweaked something today.

It's gonna be an interesting year out west.

Thanks to SF, the Nats have the best record in the NL despite apparently only being able to hit in the state of Colorado.

[LawBeefaroni]

Thanks to SF, the Nats have the best record in the NL despite apparently only being able to hit in the state of Colorado.

Tyler Moore's been hitting everywhere in June. Bryce who?

[Freezer-TPF-]

Thanks to SF, the Nats have the best record in the NL despite apparently only being able to hit in the state of Colorado.

Tyler Moore's been hitting everywhere in June. Bryce who?

Last night the lineup for the Nats featured 3 .300 hitters . . . in the 7-8-9 spots. Moore, backup catcher and recent emergency callup Jhonatan Solano, and P-Jordan Zimmermann.

Harper is pressing badly, swinging at lots of junk out of the zone. His normally good batting eye has gone temporarily blind. Rookies, le sigh.

[Octavious]

Glad the Mets blew the Cubs up yesterday. Getting swept by them would have been terrible. The Mets just looked horrible until yesterday. Ike FINALLY is over .200 for hitting. He's been pretty much on fire the last couple of weeks. He was batting like .150 2 weeks ago.

[LawBeefaroni]

Thanks to SF, the Nats have the best record in the NL despite apparently only being able to hit in the state of Colorado.

Tyler Moore's been hitting everywhere in June. Bryce who?

Last night the lineup for the Nats featured 3 .300 hitters . . . in the 7-8-9 spots. Moore, backup catcher and recent emergency callup Jhonatan Solano, and P-Jordan Zimmermann.

Harper is pressing badly, swinging at lots of junk out of the zone. His normally good batting eye has gone temporarily blind. Rookies, le sigh.

Morse will turn the corner. Zimmerman (Ryan) probably won't.

[Freezer-TPF-]

Thanks to SF, the Nats have the best record in the NL despite apparently only being able to hit in the state of Colorado.

Tyler Moore's been hitting everywhere in June. Bryce who?

Last night the lineup for the Nats featured 3 .300 hitters . . . in the 7-8-9 spots. Moore, backup catcher and recent emergency callup Jhonatan Solano, and P-Jordan Zimmermann.

Harper is pressing badly, swinging at lots of junk out of the zone. His normally good batting eye has gone temporarily blind. Rookies, le sigh.

Morse will turn the corner. Zimmerman (Ryan) probably won't.

As the cortisone shots go, so does the Z-man, maybe. I hope they don't have to vacuum a pound of bone chips out of his shoulder later in the season.

[Freezer-TPF-]

Gah, bottom of the 2nd and Colorado is up by a touchdown over Washington, 7-0.

[Freezer-TPF-]

Gah, bottom of the 2nd and Colorado is up by a touchdown over Washington, 7-0.

Now 9-9, bottom of the 5th (which is where the pitchers probably wish they were right now).

[triggercut]

I think the humidor is busted.

Ellis Burks and Dante Bichette discussing coming out of retirement to rejoin the Rox if the scores at Coors continue.

[Teggy]

It's rare that I see a game called by Vin Scully - the guy is a real pro.

Something I also didnt know that was mentioned during the game:

Only three players have recorded 1,000 hits for a New York team in as few games while having as many homers as Wright: Babe Ruth (795 games, 255 home runs), Lou Gehrig (826 games, 165 home runs) and Joe DiMaggio (711 games, 173 home runs).

[Octavious]

If the Mets can buy 2 good bullpen pitchers I'd say we have a f'n good team. I'm not exactly sure how that happened, but it's true. Our rotation is actually really good now.

Dickey 2.31 ERA (AND he's pitching deep into most games)
Santana 3.00 ERA
Niese 3.55 ERA
Young 3.30 (Limited starts, but he's off to a great start.)
Gee 4.42 (He's hit or miss, but not bad for a 5th starter)

In the field...
RF Duda (Not the greatest fielder, but he has decent power)
LF/RF Hairston (He's been amazing. 2nd in the team in HRs with much less at bats.)
3B Wright (Don't think we need to cover him. )
SS Tejada (Great fielder and hitting .300 which is way above expectations)
CF\LF Nieuwenhuis (He's been huge in his rookie year. Hitting for power. Bit hit or miss in the field, but he'll get better)
1B Ike Davis (He's obviouslly been a mess all year, but he's been coming out of it as of late and has great power AND he's a good first baseman)
2B (Murphy... Horrible fielder but he's a single machine. Been in a slump the last few weeks but looks to be coming out of it.)
C Thole (Good catcher and hitting pretty decent.)

Bay (Who?)

Bullpen:
They suck. Well I like Parnell. He has potential to be something huge. Got the save last night.

[Kelric]

Don't count on the knuckleball to last, but enjoy the ride.

[Freezer-TPF-]

I think the humidor is busted.

Ellis Burks and Dante Bichette discussing coming out of retirement to rejoin the Rox if the scores at Coors continue.

As the Nats analyst put it once, "On days like this the pitching coach may call down to the bullpen and have it go directly to voicemail. No one wants to pick up that call."

[Pyperkub]

It's rare that I see a game called by Vin Scully - the guy is a real pro.

Something I also didnt know that was mentioned during the game:

Only three players have recorded 1,000 hits for a New York team in as few games while having as many homers as Wright: Babe Ruth (795 games, 255 home runs), Lou Gehrig (826 games, 165 home runs) and Joe DiMaggio (711 games, 173 home runs).

Vin Scully is awesome. Little known Vin Scully fact - he called the 49ers-Cowboys NFC Championship in 1981.

The game otherwise known as' The Catch'.

[Pyperkub]

In other news, Madbum continued the Giants amazing run, throwing a complete game, 1-hit shutout of the Reds, running the shutout streak to four games and a franchise record 36 straight innings.

[Octavious]

Don't count on the knuckleball to last, but enjoy the ride.

It's been a 2.5 season ride. We'll see how he does against the Dodgers tonight who are pretty banged up. The only annoying thing about watching Dickey pitch is that is ALL they talk about the entire game. It gets old after a couple innings let alone every start.

[Isgrimnur]

How to get suspended as a play-by-play announcer for the AZ Diamondbacks: wear a suit.

A weird story has been developing in Phoenix over the past week after Arizona Diamondbacks television play-by-play man, Daron Sutton, mysteriously disappeared from their broadcasts.
...
Well, Piecoro tells us that Sutton prefers to wear, and on many occasions has worn a suit and tie while on the air for Fox Sports Arizona, while the Diamondbacks organization prefers — actually mandates — the broadcast crew to wear polo shirts featuring the team's logo.

So yes, the Diamondbacks obviously don't prefer a sharp dressed man in their booth, and they don't love Daron Sutton's suits, either.

Apparently the differing opinions over what constitutes a professional appearance has been a point of contention between the two sides for most of Sutton's six years in the Arizona booth, and the powers that be finally decided to put their foot down after Sutton made what Piecoro termed as a "veiled reference" to the dress code during the June 20 broadcast. Sutton was nowhere to be found for the June 22 broadcast against the Chicago Cubs, and hasn't been seen or heard from on a broadcast since.

[Scuzz]

An ESPN analyst said there is more to the Arizona-Sutton story than just the suit, but he didn't elaborate.

[Pyperkub]

An ESPN analyst said there is more to the Arizona-Sutton story than just the suit, but he didn't elaborate.

The NFL does this as well with their Reebok contract. Mike Nolan wanted to wear a suit ala Tom Landry for the 49ers, but that was nixed, until they allowed him to wear a suit 1x/year.

I wouldn't be surprised to find that the Dbacks and other clubs don't have some other marketing contractual relationship...

[Octavious]

You're getting paid to sit and talk about baseball. Wear what they f'n tell you too. Pretty silly IMHO.

[naednek]

In other news, Madbum continued the Giants amazing run, throwing a complete game, 1-hit shutout of the Reds, running the shutout streak to four games and a franchise record 36 straight innings.

Well Cain just ended that streak in the 1st inning. At least the pressure is over.

[LawBeefaroni]

The White Sox win last night was the first time a visiting team has beaten the Yankees with a go-ahead HR trailing in the ninth by 2 or more runs since...something like 1973. I don't remember but it was a long time.

Tonight Girardi went to OF Dwayne Wise to finish out the 9th after the Sox put up 8 on the bullpen. Wise facing Konerko was awesome. Youk and Escobar, who combined for 6 ABs in the 2-hole, were the only ones without a hit.

[Octavious]

Don't count on the knuckleball to last, but enjoy the ride.

It's been a 2.5 season ride. We'll see how he does against the Dodgers tonight who are pretty banged up. The only annoying thing about watching Dickey pitch is that is ALL they talk about the entire game. It gets old after a couple innings let alone every start.

5 innings so far 1 hit * 8 ks no walks.

*Ball should have been freaking caught.

They might ban him from the league if he keeps this up.

[Octavious]

7 innings 10 k's 1 walk and 2 hits.
Edit
8 innings 10 k's 1 walk and 3 hits.

Off night for him. Ya I know he can't keep this up, but man it's fun.

[Octavious]

Wright not starting at 3B in the All-Star game? Seriously what does he need to do walk on water? Stupid stupid stupid. Not that it really matters at the end of the day, but man that's silly.

[Inverarity]

Meh. I'm not too bothered by it. Votes for a lesser player are like bad calls in a no hitter. Part of the game.

I hope R.A. gets the start, he deserves it.

[El Guapo]

I mean, Jeter's probably going to get voted in for a few years after he dies.

[Kelric]

Voted for Bryce Harper and Broxton (let KC get their guy in their for a potential save) as the last man.