2009 Regular Season Discussion Thread

zuutroy

OK, I couldn't wait any longer to start it! gogogogog

BlueJays to be this year's Tampa imo.

I'm going to Toronto in 3 weeks when they're playing the O's. Should get to 2 out of the 3 games. GF might get a little annoyed if we go to all 3

ADTR

Toronto have an awesome starting rotation.

zuutroy

Hmmm if by awesome you mean completely unproven then yes!

Halladay speaks for himself.
Litsch is OK.
Purcey and Romero are potentially fantastic but could easily be duds. Romero has shown a tendency to leave the ball up an awful lot.
Scott Richmond won't be around for long imo. I would've went with Matt Clement.

WATPOAE

Don't have any expectatinons this year, with those awful injuries to Marcum and McGowan we're going to struggle unless Romero or Purcey surprise an awful lot of people.

I think the hitting will come together this year for some strange reason, I can't see Wells having a third straight dud year. If him and Rios get it going this year things could get interesting. Also, Scott Rolen has been hammering the ball in spring training and looks in fantastic shape compared to last year. Can't say the same for Lyle Overbay, seems to be stuck in a perpetual slow motion rut. He's a talented hitter but needs to snap out of it sooner than later.

Also, look out for possibly great things from Travis Snider and Adam Lind, our hopefully future cornerstones in the outfield. Snider looks to be the real deal (and why I've drafted him in my fantasy league!).

Whatever happens, just glad baseball is back from tonight! Roll on summer!!

zuutroy

Wow...I literally haven't seen Overbay's name written once this Spring. I forgot he even existed.

tolosenc

Yeah, I'm waiting to see how Snider goes this year, he could be huge. The most I'm gonna get this summer is a single A game when I'm back in Vancouver, at best.

Mad_Max

Stayed up to watch first few innings of that game last night, God myers was muck!!!

McCanns homer was a beast!! nice way to start the season.

Anyone know what the story is with Jordan Schafer?? They said he missed some of last year for breaking drug policies. I hadn't heard of this.. was it steroids/hgh or was it just something over the counter that was banned? would be sad to see someone caught before they even had their major league at bat!

Cant wait for yanks tonight!!!!

ADTR

zuutroy wrote: »

Hmmm if by awesome you mean completely unproven then yes!

Halladay speaks for himself.
Litsch is OK.
Purcey and Romero are potentially fantastic but could easily be duds. Romero has shown a tendency to leave the ball up an awful lot.
Scott Richmond won't be around for long imo. I would've went with Matt Clement.

Oops! I didn't know Marcum and McGowan were still on DL.

juvenal

Fenway was rained out earlier today, so Boston - Tampa Bay is postponed. They play next game tomorrow at 4.05pm EST (9.05pm Irish).

There are four games in progress as we speak;

Rockies 6 D'backs 6 - bot 4
Yankees 0 Orioles 0 - top 3
Nationals 0 Marlins 5 - bot 3
Pirates 0 Cards 2 - top 4

The Blue Jays make their season debut tonight in the Rogers Centre against the Tigers, and apparently it's sold out, with Doc taking the mound. Will be interesting to see how they start off.

Remaining games later are Cubs @ Astros, Dodgers @ Padres, Mariners @ Twins and A's @ Angels.

Streaming information:

http://myp2p.eu/competition.php?competitionid=&part=sports&discipline=baseball

califano

Cubbies going all the way this year! Go cubbies! Woot Woot!!

zuutroy

lol....100 years ago called....They want their March proclamation back :P

zuutroy

Good start to proceedings...one more inning and bed I think!

dramabob

A good start to the Mets season, methinks.

Mets 2 Reds 1

For a change, I was able to watch a close game getting handed over to the Mets bullpen without having heart palpitations.

After the clusterf*cks/implosions of the past two straight Septembers, will this be the year the Mutts make it back to the post-season?

Oh, and didn't Citi Field look nice in those games against the Red Sox? From someone who spent a fair bit of time squished into the seats at Shea, it looks like a breath of fresh air...

GO METS!

MyPerfectCousin

zuutroy wrote: »

lol....100 years ago called....They want their March proclamation back :P

The ESPN/Fox announcers need to find another narrative before the non-Cubs fans get as sick of this crap as us. There's plenty for the knowledgeable fan to talk about, from Milton Bradley's signing to Fukudome's fall from grace to Piniella's obvious impact to Harden's dodgy shoulder.

I know it will probably take not one, but two WS appearances (if not championships) to make it stop, but here's hoping you all get bored with that angle.....

/defensive mode

MyPerfectCousin

rounders123 wrote: »

Cubbies going all the way this year! Go cubbies! Woot Woot!!

As good of a chance as anyone else in the NL, for sure!!

ADTR

Mariners off to a flyer.

dramabob

Yeah, but don't get carried away! One Griffey homer does not a season make, and Ichiro's on the DL for the first time in his career...

ADTR

dramabob wrote: »

Yeah, but don't get carried away! One Griffey homer does not a season make, and Ichiro's on the DL for the first time in his career...

It's just nice for all the pieces to click on Opening Day. I'm sure another last place finish is forth coming. I can't see them competing with the A's and Angel's this season.

dramabob

Fair point - sometimes those pieces keep on clicking (see: 2001 season), and unfortunately, sometimes they don't (see: most seasons since).

Altho I do have a soft spot for the Mariners, I'll admit. Enough with the A's and Angels - give someone else a shot!

zuutroy

See this is why being back in Ireland sucks. Its bedtime, but the Jays game stars in 15 mins so I'm tempted. When I lived in Belgium that extra hour ruled out watching it completely!

Iang87

super hapy with the red sox last night, delighted to see beckett off to a flyer too

dingbat

zuutroy wrote: »

See this is why being back in Ireland sucks. Its bedtime, but the Jays game stars in 15 mins so I'm tempted. When I lived in Belgium that extra hour ruled out watching it completely!

My sleep patterns are always in ruins during baseball season...

VinylJunkie

Great start from the Braves!
Go Chipper

dramabob

*chants from the stands*

"...lar-ry...lar-ry...lar-ry..."

Sorry VinylJunkie, couldn't resist!

Iang87

very excited about my first look at the red sox in a few minutes. Lester v Kazmir should make this very exciting.

Iang87

red sox were poor last night lester started very well then it all kinda went crazy in the 5th. what a comeback from the phillies though

Royal Seahawk

Mariners now 2-2:). Not bad.....

Mad_Max

Wow, Terrible stuff with the young angels pitcher, adenhart, dying last night. Jeez after throwing 6 shutout innings to get killed in a car crash!

Some guy ran a red light and ended up killing 3 people and critically injured 1 and then legged it... hope he gets some serious porridge!!

VinylJunkie

Mad_Max wrote: »

Wow, Terrible stuff with the young angels pitcher, adenhart, dying last night. Jeez after throwing 6 shutout innings to get killed in a car crash!

Some guy ran a red light and ended up killing 3 people and critically injured 1 and then legged it... hope he gets some serious porridge!!

Yeah horrible news!

eagle eye

Papelbon is a legend. Puts you through the ringer but still gets it done.

VinylJunkie

Hope Braves keep this form going they have a solid pitching order!

Iang87

i dont really think i could be any more disappointed with the red sox start. now beckett suspended for 6 games really throws our rotation out of sync for a couple of weeks. Lowrie on the DL too ugh

Just now too happy with this start at all in anyway, kinda worried dont wanna be chasing all season long either pressure will be unreal for the year again

Mad_Max

I wouldn't be too worried just yet about the sox. They had to open up with some tough series against the rays and angels. I mean baltimore and toronto are leading the division, barring a miracle you would naturally expect positions to change..... I'm saying the sox will be fine and I don't like them

Stayed up to watch the yanks last night..WRECKED only planned on watching an inning or two but then AJ had a go at the no-no. Great game, garza was great aswell. At least some degree of respectability back after the nightmare the night before Roll on the home opener!!

VinylJunkie

Anyone see Setanta Ireland where showing the Mets game Live last night? I watched a few Innings hope they make it a regular thing.

edit:
20/04
ESPN America Xtra: Live MLB
Lou Piniella and his Chicago Cubs welcome the St. Louis Cardinals to the friendly confines of Wrigley Field in a crucial National League clash.

http://www.setanta.com/uk/TV-Listings/

Iang87

yankees get spankeed at the new yankee stadium, all the hype they bring out all the legends for it and kaplow 10 - 2

at least a yankee hit the first home run tho, delighted with this result

Neil3030

Bluejays wtf!!

Lookin like goin 8-3 tonight. They are swinging bats this season, Hill and Snider looking particularly potent. Man I haven't renewed my MLB.TV subscription yet, I think I might not if it means this trend'll continue! (I'm not supersticious I swear...)

zuutroy

hehe they're kickin ass! I hope mlb.tv get the condensed games going again soon though. I hate waking up in the morning and looking directly at the result!

Mad_Max

looks like we're gonna have to go through the same nonsense we did last year to get it back.

Theres a thread on the support forum and the answers mlb are giving are ridiculous. Answers changed from they'd be back last week, to a few more days, to soon, to we don't know when.

dingbat

Mad_Max wrote: »

looks like we're gonna have to go through the same nonsense we did last year to get it back.

Theres a thread on the support forum and the answers mlb are giving are ridiculous. Answers changed from they'd be back last week, to a few more days, to soon, to we don't know when.

Ah... I remember the days when condensed games weren't blocked in work... used to arrive in the office, grab a cup of tea and a scone and watch the previous night's A's game... good times!

But then they blocked all of that stuff

zuutroy

Jays are just mashing. Nice to see for a change. Can we start the playoffs tomorrow?

Mad_Max

Think thats it for Wang, gonna need a hand dragging that 30+ era down to AAA ... if he even makes that team Might be back to A ball

zuutroy

lol Yankees.

Sea Devils

Florida looking pretty decent. Not sure if they'll keep up their momentum but they should be in contention for a playoff spot at the end of the year.

Had to laugh about the Yankees as well. Indians got 14 at the top of the 2nd alone.

tolosenc

Sea Devils wrote: »

Florida looking pretty decent. Not sure if they'll keep up their momentum but they should be in contention for a playoff spot at the end of the year.

Anything can happen over the course of 150 games...

Sea Devils

obl wrote: »

Anything can happen over the course of 150 games...

I know that...... Should have worded that post a lot better

Wang is suffering miserably at the moment. Had to laugh if I'm a yankees fan he's posted up an ERA of 34.5

Orioles not doing too bad posting up a winning record so far. Come on O's:)

Mad_Max

Sea Devils wrote: »

I know that...... Should have worded that post a lot better

Wang is suffering miserably at the moment. Had to laugh if I'm a yankees fan he's posted up an ERA of 34.5

Orioles not doing too bad posting up a winning record so far. Come on O's:)

it's all you really could do is laugh. It was soo bad it was kinda funny.

Gas, he said he seen the footage comparing himself from last year to this year and he thinks theres no difference. Well beside them smacking the sh*t out of his pitches now, there were some GLARING differences. Until he realises that he aint gonna get much better.

I suggest all opposing hitters for fantasy teams on wangs starts!!

At the moment we're relying on the oft-injured AJ and the 90 year old pettite. 200 mills well spent me thinks

zuutroy

Row 1 at Rogers' Centre for Roy Halladay's start in 10 days.....w000t!

Iang87

woo loving this watching burnett explode in the 5th and 6th against the sox. almost as much fun as watching rivera do it last night in the 9th.

Varitek with a grand slam in the 4th, man was it pretty. sox were 6 nil down at the bottom of the 4th. Here we are top of the 6th leading 8 - 6 go sox

Royal Seahawk

Mariners suprising anyone else?

juvenal

The Red Sox completed a three-game sweep of NYY yesterday, winning 4-1 in the ESPN Sunday Night Baseball game. I watched all three games, and while last night's didn't have the homers and excitement of Saturday's game, it was still a good tussle.

Highlight of the game was Jacoby Ellsbury stealing home from third base. Apparently neither Terry Francona nor third base coach DeMarlo Hale made the call, Ellsbury just took a punt with the bases loaded and two outs to go for a pure steal of home with left-hander Andy Pettite on the mound.

Red Sox head to Cleveland this evening looking for their eleventh straight win, with Tim Wakefield taking the mound against 2008 AL Cy Young winner Cliff Lee.

zuutroy

I'm currently in Montreal and have no way to watch the Jays game due to blackouts etc. and yet I could see it in Ireland. So stupid and annoying...