MLB: 2013 Pre-Season Thread

Waitsian · 17-12-2012 9:49am

So nothing sealed yet but it's looking good to go, once Dickey and Toronto can agree on an extension. Losing Buck isn't a problem, we have Arencibia and looks like Thole coming the other way, and 2 good catching prospects in the minors. I wouldn't have given up d'Arnaud and Syndergaard, but then I'm not a MLB GM.

Even if the deal falls through, it's looking like an exciting season for Blue Jays fans. I'm pumped. And if we land Dickey, wow. We're certainly looking good for some play-off runs over the next couple of seasons, something we haven't had since our last WS wins in the early 90s.

Waitsian · 17-12-2012 11:42am

jack presley wrote: »

With interleague play every day next season you'll probably find yourself watching more NL teams than before.

Why have you no interest in the NL by the way? I just love baseball and would watch any game I can (proof: Honeymoon in Hawaii - dragged the wife along to a Winter league game between the Honolulu Sharks and Waikiki Beach Boys. Great stuff!).

Oh, is Interleague play changing? I didn't realise.

It's not that I don't have interest in the NL, but with so many games everyday I find it hard to follow all 30 teams, and I tend to watch those highlights that involve other AL teams, plus the Jays play the majority of their games against same obviously so I see the AL players much more often. I would have a good stab naming every position player on every AL team, plus each AL teams' rotation (bullpens and benches not so much!) but NL? I could probably name a few position players and one or two starting pitchers, but that's it.

jack presley · 17-12-2012 12:03pm

mod9maple wrote: »

So nothing sealed yet but it's looking good to go, once Dickey and Toronto can agree on an extension. Losing Buck isn't a problem, we have Arencibia and looks like Thole coming the other way, and 2 good catching prospects in the minors. I wouldn't have given up d'Arnaud and Syndergaard, but then I'm not a MLB GM.

Even if the deal falls through, it's looking like an exciting season for Blue Jays fans. I'm pumped. And if we land Dickey, wow. We're certainly looking good for some play-off runs over the next couple of seasons, something we haven't had since our last WS wins in the early 90s.

I was reading both Mets and Blue Jays message boards on this trade and usually the talk is of one side feeling like they're getting screwed but in this case, fans on both sides seem to be happy with it. So lets hope RA can get his extension sorted and everyone will be happy!

jack presley · 17-12-2012 12:09pm

mod9maple wrote: »

Oh, is Interleague play changing? I didn't realise.
.

With Houston switching to the AL there are now 15 teams in each league so to avoid 2 teams not being able to play each day, there's going to be interleague play throughout the season.

As an AL fan, are you a fan of the DH by the way or would you prefer to see pitchers bat? Interleague play could be very interesting in the last week of September if an AL team is on the road at a NL park needing to win a couple of games and their power hitter can't play. I know an interleague game in June counts the same as one in September but the media would have a field day and blow it all out if porportion if it looked like a division race was going to be affected by a DH not being able to play

rockonollie · 17-12-2012 2:48pm

jack presley wrote: »

With Houston switching to the AL there are now 15 teams in each league so to avoid 2 teams not being able to play each day, there's going to be interleague play throughout the season.

As an AL fan, are you a fan of the DH by the way or would you prefer to see pitchers bat? Interleague play could be very interesting in the last week of September if an AL team is on the road at a NL park needing to win a couple of games and their power hitter can't play. I know an interleague game in June counts the same as one in September but the media would have a field day and blow it all out if porportion if it looked like a division race was going to be affected by a DH not being able to play

And it may be very relevant........last interleague series is Tigers @ Marlins, the White Sox, Tigers and after trades possibly the Royals will all be pretty close.....not that I expect the Marlins being much of a threat, but it will still be the Tigers playing in a HUGE ballpark, minus a hitter.

MoyVilla9 · 17-12-2012 2:49pm

jack presley wrote: »

With Houston switching to the AL there are now 15 teams in each league so to avoid 2 teams not being able to play each day, there's going to be interleague play throughout the season.

As an AL fan, are you a fan of the DH by the way or would you prefer to see pitchers bat? Interleague play could be very interesting in the last week of September if an AL team is on the road at a NL park needing to win a couple of games and their power hitter can't play. I know an interleague game in June counts the same as one in September but the media would have a field day and blow it all out if porportion if it looked like a division race was going to be affected by a DH not being able to play

Don't most teams just put their DH into a field position for the few interleague games that there is? (David Ortiz and First Base). Is there any AL line-up which this really effects? Effect in the meaning that it isn't just an inconvenience but an actual obstacle?

rockonollie · 17-12-2012 2:52pm

MoyVilla9 wrote: »

Don't most teams just put their DH into a field position for the few interleague games that there is? (David Ortiz and First Base). Is there any AL line-up which this really effects? Effect in the meaning that it isn't just an inconvenience but an actual obstacle?

They can work their usual DH into the lineup....but regardless of how they set their line-up, they're still down to 8 hitters and a pitcher.....and having a pitcher up in the 9th spot completely changes the strategy at the plate for the 7 and 8 hitters.

smackbunnybaby · 17-12-2012 2:54pm

MoyVilla9 wrote: »

Don't most teams just put their DH into a field position for the few interleague games that there is? (David Ortiz and First Base). Is there any AL line-up which this really effects? Effect in the meaning that it isn't just an inconvenience but an actual obstacle?

When Travis Hafter is hitting well, it affects the Cleveland Indians.
He doesn't seem to have a good position/any position :-)

jack presley · 17-12-2012 3:06pm

MoyVilla9 wrote: »

Don't most teams just put their DH into a field position for the few interleague games that there is? (David Ortiz and First Base). Is there any AL line-up which this really effects? Effect in the meaning that it isn't just an inconvenience but an actual obstacle?

That could be one for Mod9maple to answer as he'll know more about AL lineups than me but you can just see ESPN etc making a huge deal out of what could be nothing just to have a story.

But the point of having Big Poppi at 1st base instead of their usual first baseman still reduces the quality of the team.

Waitsian · 17-12-2012 3:46pm

MoyVilla9 wrote: »

Don't most teams just put their DH into a field position for the few interleague games that there is? (David Ortiz and First Base). Is there any AL line-up which this really effects? Effect in the meaning that it isn't just an inconvenience but an actual obstacle?

The Blue Jays main DH (depending on future trades, John Gibbons' mindset and spring training of course) will be Encarnacion who is a more than capable 1B. Lind (1B) can DH, Bautista (RF) can DH, Bonafacio (2B) can DH, and Rajai Davis (LF) might DH occasionally too, so for Toronto it isn't a problem at all.

Waitsian · 17-12-2012 3:52pm

rockonollie wrote: »

They can work their usual DH into the lineup....but regardless of how they set their line-up, they're still down to 8 hitters and a pitcher.....and having a pitcher up in the 9th spot completely changes the strategy at the plate for the 7 and 8 hitters.

Yes it effects strategy, but it's not like the NL have that big an advantage because their pitchers take regular ABs. Most aren't much use with the bat now really, are they? Apart from the rare exceptions they don't seem to be much use as hitters other than for bunting, and I'm not sure how many are even much good at that.

As for a previous question about the DH - I support a team in the AL, therefore accept and live with the rules of that league. I don't have an opinion on the DH rule one way or the other. If it was dropped for uniformity purposes across both leagues, I wouldn't be at all bothered.

In a funny sort of a way, I should be a big NL fan, but I'm from Hamilton, Ont. and just happen to be a Blue Jays fan because of that. I like 'small ball' - I love speed on the basepaths, I like hit and runs; I like the long ball sure, but don't get particularly over-excited about it either. I like seeing the Jays manufacture runs without the homers.

MoyVilla9 · 17-12-2012 4:10pm

mod9maple wrote: »

The Blue Jays main DH (depending on future trades, John Gibbons' mindset and spring training of course) will be Encarnacion who is a more than capable 1B. Lind (1B) can DH, Bautista (RF) can DH, Bonafacio (2B) can DH, and Rajai Davis (LF) might DH occasionally too, so for Toronto it isn't a problem at all.

As a Yankee fan it isn't a problem at all either so I may be guilty of being ignorant to the struggles of other AL teams in regards to the rule. In New York it's nearly seen as a means of giving the older players a days "rest". Losing that in Interleague plays doesn't really matter all that much.

Waitsian · 17-12-2012 7:31pm

It's a done deal now, the Dickey trade, pending a physical for him, both parties (Dickey and Jays) having agreed an extension. I'm sorry to see two top-line prospects go the other way but I'm even more excited about next season now.

Roll on Spring training, just round the corner.

smackbunnybaby · 17-12-2012 8:00pm

That division is a blood bath now. If the Red Soc manage to pick up some half decent pitchers I think they will contend too.

rockonollie · 17-12-2012 10:33pm

mod9maple wrote: »

Yes it effects strategy, but it's not like the NL have that big an advantage because their pitchers take regular ABs. Most aren't much use with the bat now really, are they? Apart from the rare exceptions they don't seem to be much use as hitters other than for bunting, and I'm not sure how many are even much good at that.

As for a previous question about the DH - I support a team in the AL, therefore accept and live with the rules of that league. I don't have an opinion on the DH rule one way or the other. If it was dropped for uniformity purposes across both leagues, I wouldn't be at all bothered.

In a funny sort of a way, I should be a big NL fan, but I'm from Hamilton, Ont. and just happen to be a Blue Jays fan because of that. I like 'small ball' - I love speed on the basepaths, I like hit and runs; I like the long ball sure, but don't get particularly over-excited about it either. I like seeing the Jays manufacture runs without the homers.

Yes pitchers don't take a hugh amount of BP, but they are still more comfortable at the plate than their AL counterparts......when was the last time you saw an AL pitcher hit a home run.

Guess what.....Mike Leake batted .295 last season in 69 PAs, Stephen strasburg batted .277

21 NL pitchers hit home runs.....Leake, Alex White and Madison Baumgarner had 2 each.

No AL pitcher hit a HR.

jack presley · 17-12-2012 10:40pm

rockonollie wrote: »

..when was the last time you saw an AL pitcher hit a home run.

Unfortunately I still have nightmares remembering the time King Felix not only hit a home run off Johan Santana, but a grand slam!

Coeus · 17-12-2012 10:50pm

jack presley wrote: »

Unfortunately I still have nightmares remembering the time King Felix not only hit a home run off Johan Santana, but a grand slam!

I was just about to post about that homer, his only at bat that season aswell...
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=15981133

jack presley · 17-12-2012 10:54pm

Coeus wrote: »

I was just about to post about that homer, his only at bat that season aswell...
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=15981133

Ah come on, did you have to link a video? I won't sleep tonight now!

Coeus · 18-12-2012 12:37am

jack presley wrote: »

Ah come on, did you have to link a video? I won't sleep tonight now!

Sorry man, just linked it in case people didn't believe

Beckett, Buehrle and Sabathia have hit a homer in recent seasons but as noted above there were none last season...

rockonollie · 18-12-2012 5:19am

Hey Micah Owings was such a good batting pitcher, the Padres signed him to a minor league contract and sent him to AAA to learn to play first because they want him in the lineup everyday.....more valuable as a batter than a pitcher....and he was a capable 4th or 5th guy in the rotation.

Unfortunately the move hasn't worked out.....when he was with the Reds, and a little younger, they tried to convince him to try out left field, knowing that with their young pitchers coming through, he wouldn't make the opening day roster in the rotation.

Masked Man · 10-01-2013 9:48pm

mlb announced random in-season testing for HGH. always assumed hgh was really prevalent in all major sports, this could be interesting.

jack presley · 12-01-2013 10:23pm

Masked Man wrote: »

mlb announced random in-season testing for HGH. always assumed hgh was really prevalent in all major sports, this could be interesting.

Watch home run totals go down again!

jack presley · 15-01-2013 7:07pm

As well as the regular season to look forward to in April, the Jackie Robinson film '42' is due out too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peEuSIeWv_4

I just hope the story isn't Hollywood-ised too much.

rockonollie · 15-01-2013 7:17pm

Ditto you thoughts on Hollywoodisation..........

but i am very excited for this

Coeus · 15-01-2013 11:37pm

So the Nats go and sign Rafael Soriano. As if their pitching wasn't already good, it is now even better...

8-10 · 16-01-2013 12:23am

Coeus wrote: »

So the Nats go and sign Rafael Soriano. As if their pitching wasn't already good, it is now even better...

Hoping to see them in June for the first time.

Coeus · 16-01-2013 12:56am

8-10 wrote: »

Hoping to see them in June for the first time.

I seen them a few years back in interleague play against the Yankees. That year (2009) the Yankees won the world series and the Nats finished with the worst record in MLB. Even though the Nats won that night, I'd never have thought they would be serious contenders only a few seasons later. Only Ryan Zimmermann is still around for them of the players who took the field for them that night...

8-10 · 16-01-2013 2:14pm

Coeus wrote: »

I seen them a few years back in interleague play against the Yankees. That year (2009) the Yankees won the world series and the Nats finished with the worst record in MLB. Even though the Nats won that night, I'd never have thought they would be serious contenders only a few seasons later. Only Ryan Zimmermann is still around for them of the players who took the field for them that night...

Good stuff. I was living in Philadelphia during that World Series. Wasn't much fun! NLCS was awesome though.

I've lined up 14 games to see this year. Wish I could buy the single tickets now but looks like I have to wait.

jack presley · 16-01-2013 10:11pm

Coeus wrote: »

So the Nats go and sign Rafael Soriano. As if their pitching wasn't already good, it is now even better...

Yeah, they really are going for it this year. They should walk away with the NL east anyway and will be big favourites for the whole thing. However, I wonder how many times the does the best team in January on paper actually go on to win the World Series?

Coeus · 17-01-2013 12:44am

jack presley wrote: »

Yeah, they really are going for it this year. They should walk away with the NL east anyway and will be big favourites for the whole thing. However, I wonder how many times the does the best team in January on paper actually go on to win the World Series?

I know but they have great pitching and defence and those teams tend to do well when they make the postseason, just look at the Giants. As long as Stras can get through the season without blowing his arm out they should get there. Definately an exciting time to be a Nats fan...

Waitsian · 17-01-2013 12:56am

Darren Oliver is coming back to pitch for the Blue Jays.

Janssen, Oliver, Santos, Delabar, Rogers, Jeffress, Cecil - that's one hell of a bullpen.

rockonollie · 22-01-2013 7:12pm

Reds sign Armando Gallaraga to a minor league deal........if the name sounds familiar, he was the pitcher that lost a perfect game when Jim Joyce blew a call at first base with 2 out in the 9th inning of a game in 2010. Ironically, the Reds have also signed Jason Donald, who was the player called safe at first.

Gallaraga amounts to no more than a backup starter. Should Aroldis Chapmans' move to the rotation not work out, Gallaraga and Mike Leake will fight for the 5th rotation spot in Spring Training.

In other Reds news....all rumours suggest that Bud Selig will announce that the Reds will host the 2015 All-star game. Will make the HR derby very entertaining.........anything reaching the 500 foot mark to right field will have a good chance of landing in the Ohio River. (Only 2 HR balls have every reached the river, Adam Dunn and Juan Francisco, but none have gone in on the fly.

For the record (and to challenge the big hitting lefties) it's 560 feet from home plate to the river just inside the right field foul pole.

8-10 · 22-01-2013 7:28pm

rockonollie wrote: »

For the record (and to challenge the big hitting lefties) it's 560 feet from home plate to the river just inside the right field foul pole.

What's the typical distance reached at the derby?

rockonollie · 22-01-2013 7:36pm

8-10 wrote: »

What's the typical distance reached at the derby?

The big hitters are usually between 450-500 for a few........470 will clear the right field bleachers and has a chance of getting to the river on one bounce......

I got a video of Dunn's HR that reached the river......unfortunatly the video is older and you don't see where the ball ends up.....but it was to centerfield and cleared the centerfield deck (before the pilot house was built)

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=25548033&topic_id=&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_25548033&v=3

Benimar · 24-01-2013 4:54pm

Looks like the two Upton brothers will be playing together for the Braves

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130123&content_id=41120090&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb

Coeus · 25-01-2013 1:12am

Benimar wrote: »

Looks like the two Upton brothers will be playing together for the Braves

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130123&content_id=41120090&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb

I like the look of that Braves outfield now, 3 potential 20/20 guys with excellent defense.

I would have thought the Dbacks would have wanted more in return for a top young talent with a few years of control. Texas offered more but got turned down and of course Upton vetoed the move to Seattle which looked a really good package for them.

COYW · 31-01-2013 11:19pm

Never realised that there was an MLB forum on here. How time flies, the Yankees will be starting their pre-season in less than a fortnight.

Glad and sad to see Swisher go to the Indians. He was a great character to have around the place but woeful when it came to the post season. I wouldn't shed any tears if A-Rod went elsewhere. He hasn't done anything special since 2009. I see he is still listed as a shortstop; give me a break. I'd have Nix in there before A-Rod.

jack presley · 01-02-2013 12:03pm

COYW wrote: »

Never realised that there was an MLB forum on here. How time flies, the Yankees will be starting their pre-season in less than a fortnight.

Glad and sad to see Swisher go to the Indians. He was a great character to have around the place but woeful when it came to the post season. I wouldn't shed any tears if A-Rod went elsewhere. He hasn't done anything special since 2009. I see he is still listed as a shortstop; give me a break. I'd have Nix in there before A-Rod.

With €114m due over the next 5 years, it'll cost the Yankees to get rid of A-Rod. Maybe they'll come to some deal where they pay him a percentage of what he's owed if he fecks off but from what I've read over the past day or so, it'll hard for them to void his contract even if it is proven that he was juicing. And I don't think they'd want to get into a long legal battle to do so.

Welcome aboard to the baseball section of Boards by the way!

COYW · 01-02-2013 7:28pm

jack presley wrote: »

With €114m due over the next 5 years, it'll cost the Yankees to get rid of A-Rod. Maybe they'll come to some deal where they pay him a percentage of what he's owed if he fecks off but from what I've read over the past day or so, it'll hard for them to void his contract even if it is proven that he was juicing. And I don't think they'd want to get into a long legal battle to do so.

Welcome aboard to the baseball section of Boards by the way!

Thanks.

Yeah, just doing some reading and it looks like we are stuck with him til 2017. Chances are he might not even play ball until well after the all star break. Youkilis is another disaster waiting to happen; granted he is only on a one year deal.

rockonollie · 01-02-2013 7:33pm

According to reports, the Reds are on the brink of signing Miguel Olivo who was the Mariners backup catcher last season. I would assume the deal will be similar to the one Dioner Navarro received last year, minor league contract with spring training invite....with Hanigan and Mesoraco going into the season healthy, Olivo would be the AAA starter and be injury backup through the season.

rockonollie · 04-02-2013 3:49pm

Now that we've finally seen the end of that football mularkey..........only 1 week to spring training!!

8-10 · 04-02-2013 6:44pm

Has anyone ordered tickets off MLB.com before?

I am looking at getting tickets for May and June, however the credit card I want to use expires in April.

Will I require the credit card to pick up the tickets do you think?

rockonollie · 04-02-2013 6:46pm

8-10 wrote: »

Has anyone ordered tickets off MLB.com before?

I am looking at getting tickets for May and June, however the credit card I want to use expires in April.

Will I require the credit card to pick up the tickets do you think?

MLB.com use the ticketmaster system to sell tickets on the site, you should have the option to print your tickets right away.

8-10 · 04-02-2013 6:57pm

rockonollie wrote: »

MLB.com use the ticketmaster system to sell tickets on the site, you should have the option to print your tickets right away.

Good stuff, thanks for that!

Coeus · 04-02-2013 8:18pm

8-10 wrote: »

Has anyone ordered tickets off MLB.com before?

I am looking at getting tickets for May and June, however the credit card I want to use expires in April.

Will I require the credit card to pick up the tickets do you think?

Which team are the tickets for? Most teams ticket site will send out the tickets or allow you to print them when you purchase. Yankees however have you collect them at the ticket office before the game (well that was before last season)...

Edit: Meant to add that is when buying from abroad.

rockonollie · 04-02-2013 9:22pm

Reds sign Manny Parra......probably will fill the lefty bullpen roll left open when Bill Bray left. Will allow Tony Cingrani to stay in the rotation at AAA to stay in starting shape incase he may be needed.

Coeus · 07-02-2013 8:36pm

King Felix has become the highest paid pitcher in baseball...
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2013/02/07/seattle-mariners-felix-hernandez-contract-highest-paid-pitcher/1899241/

8-10 · 07-02-2013 9:26pm

Bought tickets to 6 games today, including 2 interleague games which will be a first for me. Have another 8 planned, waiting on Phillies single-game tickets on sale next week.

Even got myself a Field Box ticket, Row B, for Red Sox v Phillies at Fenway. Cannot wait.

jack presley · 07-02-2013 9:36pm

8-10 wrote: »

Bought tickets to 6 games today, including 2 interleague games which will be a first for me. Have another 8 planned, waiting on Phillies single-game tickets on sale next week.

Even got myself a Field Box ticket, Row B, for Red Sox v Phillies at Fenway. Cannot wait.

You lucky ba&^ard!!! I'm so envious. For 3 years from 2009-2011 I made the trip over to the States and took in 5-6 games each time but the good times have ended and money's tight so I wasn't able to afford to go last year and won't be going this year either.

jack presley · 07-02-2013 9:37pm

Coeus wrote: »

King Felix has become the highest paid pitcher in baseball...
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2013/02/07/seattle-mariners-felix-hernandez-contract-highest-paid-pitcher/1899241/

I love watching him pitch. I loved his perfect game with all the crowd in the yellow shirts.

MLB: 2013 Pre-Season Thread

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