MLB 2012 Season Thread

[Innovator]

I got a ticket for next wed vs the rays..the o's in conjunction with the orioles forum I post at had section 8 tickets regularly $45 for 1992's price of $13. 2 games in 1 week, I think thats a first for me..

I do love how it is cheaper to drive to Baltimore and buy tickets and a hotel than go to Yankee Stadium and get tickets. Kinda kicking myself for going to school an hour from Baltimore and never going to Camden Yards.

[Droford]

Jays are going to win tonight

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/JkpzR5vVA9k" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[ClockShot]

God, tonight feels like game 162 night from last season.

[Adder]

we'll see, Droford

[YOUR Hero]

Morrow is pitching for the Jays

[Keith]

Oh...my...GOD.

Fuck you, Elliot Johnson.

[Innovator]

Yankees win

[Keith]

Finally.

[YOUR Hero]

Jays win

[Droford]

I could bitch about the umps blowing the call on the ball down the line clearly fair in the 8th but...well I guess I am..

[ClockShot]

Much needed win for the Yanks.

Red Sox looking to get John Farrell back in Boston by any means necessary come this offseason. If A.A. was smart he'd ask for everything including the kitchen sink.

[Innovator]

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[Keith]

Steroids or not this just looks awesome:

<iframe src='http://mlb.mlb.com/shared/video/embed/embed.html?content_id=20113529&width=400&height=224&property=mlb' width='400' height='224' frameborder='0'>Your browser does not support iframes.</iframe>

[Innovator]

Ouch

[Droford]

fuck the Yankees

[Innovator]

Classy.

[Innovator]

Hamel was a beast for staying in the game after taking a liner from Cano off his pitching elbow. It'll probably be the size of a baseball tomorrow.

[Triple Naitch]

Really hope Camden Yards stays like it did tonight. Baltimore's a great baseball town when it wants to be.

[Droford]

The 8th inning was one of the worst and then one f the best I've ever seen in person. Absolutely crazy after the 3:homers...

[MVP]

I'd much rather watch the O's/Yankees series this weekend over the Red Sox/Blue Jays.

[Droford]

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p66/drjbucket/cc/feelthepower.jpg

You're more than smoke an mirrors...oooooooo

[Innovator]

Silver lining in this is Joba pitching great in the last two games.

So now he'll give it up tonight.

[Evil Vito]

The Orioles and Nationals are both in first place in September.

Enjoy your last 3+ months of existence everyone.

[OssMan]

FUcking orioles game last night was incredible

[YOUR Hero]

great game

[YOUR Hero]

found myself rooting for the O's. Huh.....

[Innovator]

New York Yankees ‏@Yankees
#Yankees lineup @ Orioles: Jeter SS, Swisher RF, Cano 2B, A-Rod DH, Martin C, Granderson CF, Jones LF, Pearce 1B, McGehee 3B, Hughes P

[Nicky Fives]

found myself rooting for the O's. Huh.....

same here..... always had a soft spot in my heart for Robert Andino.....

[Innovator]

Home run Hughes wants to make the game interesting

[Innovator]

7 to 4 now. Its bindering time!

[Droford]

I got my rally cap on!

[Droford]

Love hearing the caddyshack boat horn

[Keith]

Fuck yesss!

Rays win!

Walk-off home run by Ben Zobrist in the 11th!

[owenbrown]

Can't wait for the O's to have an epic collapse just to see Droford spaz all over the forums

[Triple Naitch]

Why can't you just wish your internet friend well in his sports endeavors?

[ClockShot]

Nats pull the plug on the Steven Strasburg show after his implosion last night.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>I hope the Nats miss the playoffs for the next 10 years and live to regret this stupid decision forever.</font>

[Keith]

I guess deep down inside, the Nationals are still the Expos.

[Keith]

LOL ESPN is so pro-Yankees. Their headline over at ESPN.COM about last night's game reads "Yankees sink Orioles".

They just won last night, and are just a game over.

WTF.

[Emperor Smeat]

I could see if it was arm fatigue or injury related but to shut him down over "pitching mental" reasons is pretty stupid. Its the club's fault for constantly mentioning he would be shut down soon every time it was his turn which lead him to start messing up instead of just leaving him alone until the time came.

Nationals are having their best season since 1994 and just like that season, their golden chance for a title pretty much is gone again.

[Innovator]

LOL ESPN is so pro-Yankees. Their headline over at ESPN.COM about last night's game reads "Yankees sink Orioles".

They just won last night, and are just a game over.

WTF.

Their headlines in previous days were anti-Yankees. It's not both ways Mr. Keith.

Besides, everyone knows they love their Sawx

[Keith]

I could see if it was arm fatigue or injury related but to shut him down over "pitching mental" reasons is pretty stupid. Its the club's fault for constantly mentioning he would be shut down soon every time it was his turn which lead him to start messing up instead of just leaving him alone until the time came.

Nationals are having their best season since 1994 and just like that season, their golden chance for a title pretty much is gone again.

That's why I said deep down they're still the Expos.

I mean, the guy had a bad start. It happens.

So not only do they want to have an innings limit, but they also want him to be perfect everytime he goes on the mound?

Gimme a break.

[Keith]

David Price was supposed to pitch tonight but he's been scratched due to a sore shoulder.

http://i.imgur.com/RFGeC.gif

[Splaya]

They are claiming that the decision to shut him down is more mental than anything because of the way that he pitched last night.

On the other hand, the Tigers of course blew a chance to win and get tied with the White Sox in the division. The Tigers are like this ex-gf that drives you nuts cause you want to be with her, but she's so bi-polar you feel eventually you are going to put a gun to your head

[Keith]

The Tigers are like this ex-gf that drives you nuts cause you want to be with her, but she's so bi-polar you feel eventually you are going to put a gun to your head


I'm guessing Dodger fans feel somewhat like this too.

[DaveWadding]

DODGEEEEEEEE SHOWWWWWWWWWW

[SammyG]

Yeah, fuck the division, tryin' to get the WC now.

[Droford]

Os game tonight likely gonna get rained out only mutual off day is Monday but no way they play on Monday unless the game starts at like 10am since Camden yards and m&t share parking lots..Yankees will probably bitch about a doubleheader tomorrow but fuck them lol..

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Davey Johnson blamed the media for hyping the Strasburg situation, and said that it got in his head and that's why he pitched poorly.

What a terrible excuse.</font>

[Innovator]

What has the Yankee season become when I'm pinning my hopes on Russell Martin?

[Innovator]

That Martin, good guy. Moving it along

[Emperor Smeat]

ESPN thinks John Farrell will easily get the Red Sox manager job once it opens up while Toronto might be "screwed" either way.

If they don't offer him an extension, then he's a "lame duck" for next year and the Red Sox will just wait a year to get him. If they do give him an extension, then the Red Sox will lower their trade offer since they already said no "A" type prospects or stars are on the table.

Only problem for the Red Sox is Farrell being a "players coach" like Tito which ended up being one of several reasons why the clubhouse got into a mess to begin with.

[Innovator]

Bullshit. Tex's dick was on 1st before the ball hit reynold's glove. Meals owes the Yankees a game

[Droford]

He shouldn't have dove into 1st..hardly ever get the call when you do that

[Droford]

Also

Fuck the yankees

[Droford]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/A2URxXsCUAA8DXI.jpg

Doesn't nearly make up for taking markakis out...oh and..

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ArNcSkqZiP8/TdMAbp48-zI/AAAAAAAAAK4/G-I8imjX7mE/s1600/jeffrey-maier-28-june-2010.jpg

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>The Yankees owe it to the baseball world to miss the playoffs by one game now. Maybe the Yankees getting directly screwed out of a playoff berth will convince Selig to finally expand instant replay.</font> :shifty:

[Innovator]

I want to like the Orioles and the story of Showalter taking them back on top, but Droford it making it so hard.

[Skippord]

pretty ironic

[Supreme Olajuwon]

yeah if I didn't post here I'd be all about the O's right now

[Droford]

At least you know I'm not a bandwagon fan who started rooting for the O's hen they started winning again..give me at least that much credit..

[Nicky Fives]

I'm cheering for The O's, but that call was terrible.....

[Gertner]

ESPN thinks John Farrell will easily get the Red Sox manager job once it opens up while Toronto might be "screwed" either way.

If they don't offer him an extension, then he's a "lame duck" for next year and the Red Sox will just wait a year to get him. If they do give him an extension, then the Red Sox will lower their trade offer since they already said no "A" type prospects or stars are on the table.

Only problem for the Red Sox is Farrell being a "players coach" like Tito which ended up being one of several reasons why the clubhouse got into a mess to begin with.

The Red Sox can have him. John Farrell is a horrific in game manager.

[YOUR Hero]

Nah, I like Farrell, but if the Jays get a decent prospect or two out of the Red Sox for him, have add it. The Jays can pick up annother manager elsewhere.

[Innovator]

AAAAAAND Tex could be out for the rest of the season due to busting his ass down the line last night.

[Innovator]

One of these days, Swisher will have to get a hit and not hit into a DP.

[Evil Vito]

Chipper Jones gets a standing O in his final at-bat at Citi Field. Never thought I'd see the day.

[Keith]

"Big Game" James Shields tosses a complete game two hitter against the Texas Rangers and the Rays win 2 out of 3.

Fuck yes.

On to Baltimore.

[Innovator]

Wooo the grandyman can

[Innovator]

Yanks finally get the bat going, hopefully it clicked for the rest of the year.

[YOUR Hero]

Jays sweep the Red Sox.

[Keith]

Wow, the Phillies have worked themselves to being just 6 games back in the NL Wild Card.

Regardless of what happens, whether they win a position or not, it's pretty good, after many people wrote them off.

[MVP]

Jays sweep the Red Sox.

Pffft who hasn't?

[Tb1]

Yeah, fuck the division, tryin' to get the WC now.

Really?

[Keith]

Damn, when did the Oakland A's pull within just 3 games of the Texas Rangers?

Wow.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>WELL IF BEING DISCHARGED FROM THE HOSPITAL ISNT THE BEST TIME TO ASK ABOUT A THREESOME THEN IM FRESH OUT OF IDEAS</p>&mdash; Brandon McCarthy (@BMcCarthy32) <a href="https://twitter.com/BMcCarthy32/status/245603427315486721" data-datetime="2012-09-11T19:23:14+00:00">September 11, 2012</a></blockquote>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>The Phillies are only 5 games out of the Wild Card.

Gonna be physically sick if they make the playoffs after all of this.</font>

[Droford]

7 way tie in AL a possibility (http://m.espn.go.com/general/blogs/blogpost?blogname=sweetspot&id=28722)
Worst case scenario for bud selig lol

[Droford]

Orioles winning..yankees losing..yay

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Collins pulls Dickey out after 86 pitches. Stuck at 18 wins.

Ugh. I hate even having to discuss the wins stat, but the voters do weigh it heavily. Dickey needs to get to 20 to even have a chance against playoff bound Cueto and Gio.</font>

[Droford]

Orioles win 9-2

Now just need the pink hat nation to find a way to beat the Yankees.

[Droford]

Yes! yes! Yes!

[Emperor Smeat]

:D Red Sox beat Yankees in a walk-off hit by Ellsbury who's birthday it was today.

Also was just the 2nd win in September so far for the Sox.

[Droford]

Going to the game tomorrow night, gonna be awesome

[Corndad]

Please if there is a god, please let the Pirates win at least 82 wins this season. Please. Don't even care for Wild Card anymore. Just please end this god forsaken 19 year losing streak.

[Droford]

Yankees haven't won 2 games in a row since 8/14-8/15

[Innovator]

Pedro Ciraco is Manny and Ortiz rolled into one player against the Yankees.

[Droford]

http://s17.postimage.org/snsdcos27/Screen_Shot009.png

Now we know where the Rays can be relocated to. South Dakota!

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Reds' magic number down to 10. Hooray!
Chapman getting benched for "shoulder fatigue." Boo!

[Keith]

http://s17.postimage.org/snsdcos27/Screen_Shot009.png

Now we know where the Rays can be relocated to. South Dakota!

LOL we'll talk in about 2 weeks

[Innovator]

SOOOOOOOOOOOO much baseball to play. Yankees have 7 games left with Toronto, which means Jays will take 5 of those.

[Innovator]

I'd rather discuss Orioles/Yankees with Droford than read that Seth thread.

[Droford]

ive got good seats to catch a foul ball on tonight

[Droford]

had a ball under my foot and a fat pudgy kid took it fuck

[Innovator]

If you really want a ball, go to Fenway and try to hang around the Yankees radio booth.

[Innovator]

PEDroia leave game early, wife goes into labor. Congrats to the guy, and thank you to his wife for waiting before the 9th inning.

[Emperor Smeat]

MLB released the early version for next year's schedule and the biggest thing besides interleague play occurring every day is that they got rid of the unwritten rule that cities with 2 teams can't both have home games on a given day. Also getting dropped is the start of the season no longer occurs in the middle of the week like this year and last year did and instead goes back to the traditional weekend start.

ESPN does get some "flex" rights with the schedule but as of now April 1 would be the first time ever both the Yankees and Mets open the season at home.

[YOUR Hero]

come on Jays, beat Seattle!

[YOUR Hero]

I'd rather discuss Orioles/Yankees with Droford than read that Seth thread.
haha yup

what about the Jays??

[Innovator]

I'm fully resigned to the fact that the Yankees will be up 2 to the Orioles, then will get swept by the Jays.

[Innovator]

Jeter comes up limping badly trying to beat out a grounder, awesome.

[Innovator]

I'm positive Bobby Valentine purposely gets ejected just to yell and get some anger out.

[Innovator]

Fuck, just get through the game without someone else getting hurt

[Droford]

os win haha

[Innovator]

Yanks somehow thwart another rally. LETS GO TWO IN A ROW

[The Fraze]

How cool is it gonna be if both the #SFGiants (https://twitter.com/search/%23SFGiants) and the #Athletics (https://twitter.com/search/%23Athletics) make the playoffs!?
— Matt Fraser (@TheFraze408) September 13, 2012 (https://twitter.com/TheFraze408/status/246103009459843074)
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[SammyG]

Dodgers are pathetic. Almost kinda hope they don't make the playoffs, because they do not deserve it.

[Droford]

I'm thinking about going to Tampa for game 162..gonna depend on a couple things..

[owenbrown]

7 way tie in AL a possibility (http://m.espn.go.com/general/blogs/blogpost?blogname=sweetspot&id=28722)
Worst case scenario for bud selig lol

Armageddon in the American League

[Innovator]

Pettitte. Tuesday. Let's Go.

[Innovator]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/aAONQyJWC-8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[ClockShot]

Maybe he should switch to coffee.

[Innovator]

Simmons is on PTI today and said he wants to pay tribute to it.

[Triple Naitch]

Phillies play the Astros this weekend, while the Braves take on the Nats. Phils could easily be in the Wild Card 2 by Monday.

[Innovator]

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/17yznbhiqirr1gif/cmt-medium.gif

[The Fraze]

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/17yznbhiqirr1gif/cmt-medium.gif

Not the point of the GIF, but you're not supposed to "run back" a baserunner to the next base. In this case, home plate. Aren't these major league ballplayers?

[RoXer]

source?

[The Fraze]

What?

[Droford]

Not the point of the GIF, but you're not supposed to "run back" a baserunner to the next base. In this case, home plate. Aren't these major league ballplayers?

He wasn't getting by Wieters.

[RoXer]

What?

How do you know this exactly?????

[RoXer]

I NEED A PICTURE OF YOU AND A DOG PLEASE

[RoXer]

sorry

losing it

[The Fraze]

How do you know this exactly?????

Does being defensive player of the year in 2003 and the top defensive player in 2004 and 2005 in the Sierra Foothill League make myself a good enough source?

[RoXer]

Does being defensive player of the year in 2003 and the top defensive player in 2004 and 2005 in the Sierra Foothill League make myself a good enough source?

lol

[Innovator]

The Fraze, 4 home runs, one game.

[RoXer]

Does anyone else play sports? I just sit in the basement all day and would like someone else to help with confirmation.

[The Fraze]

Does anyone else play sports? I just sit in the basement all day and would like someone else to help with confirmation.

If you know something, why would you ask someone to clarify an already correct assessment? It isn't a math problem or a research paper you pussy.

[RoXer]

Because I wanted you to make an ass out of yourself with some "I've played baseball all my life" or "I was XX Champion in YY" and you took the bait. Good job.

[Adder]

Not the point of the GIF, but you're not supposed to "run back" a baserunner to the next base. In this case, home plate. Aren't these major league ballplayers?

The first throw was toward 3rd, not home. The runner adjusted and went to home. It was pretty textbook actually.

(grade 3 MVP in slow-pitch)

[The Fraze]

You're not smart enough to have "baited" anyone.

[The Fraze]

The first throw was toward 3rd, not home. The runner adjusted and went to home. It was pretty textbook actually.

(grade 3 MVP in slow-pitch)

Referring to the player at third who ran the runner towards home.

[RoXer]

(grade 3 MVP in slow-pitch)

Thank you

[RoXer]

Referring to the player at third who ran the runner towards home.

He should have held on to the ball allowing an infield hit with with the runner scoring.

Upon catching the ball he should have immediately fired it home so that the runner could easily return to 3rd since he wasn't drawn away from the bag very far allowing an infield hit with runners on corners.

[The Fraze]

He should have held on to the ball allowing an infield hit with with the runner scoring.

Upon catching the ball he should have immediately fired it home so that the runner could easily return to 3rd since he wasn't drawn away from the bag very far allowing an infield hit with runners on corners.

Incorrect. You don't "fire it home immediately." You establish a throwing lane and make an accurate throw to the plate. In establishing a lane, it makes the throw not immediate, but gives the catcher enough time so if the runner turns around, he can be run back to third or can simply just be tagged out should he keep running towards home.

[RoXer]

I dunno my man. It worked. They play is what ended the inning and they would go on to win.

It's like watching Kobe drain a game winner and someone complains about his shooting motion.

[Droford]

6 outs away from a sweep f the rays and..more importantly..guaranteed .500 for first time since 1997

[Innovator]

Did you say that before or after Zobrist tied it?

[Droford]

I jinxed it but just wait..

[Innovator]

Walk off time Droford

[Droford]

Of a cliff lol..

Maddon has used 27 players through 14 innings and lost the dh..

[Droford]

Another walk off..sweep! .500! 13 straight extra inning wins

[Innovator]

Tied again

[Emperor Smeat]

:-\ Red Sox dropping 2 out of 3 to the Yankees meant no real chance to play spoilers and a loosing home record since the 90s. 2 more losses guarantees the first loosing season since 1997 which coincidentally was the last winning season of the Os before this year.

At least the good news is Pawtucket managed to win the title in the minor leagues and those prospects from the Dodgers played a key role. I think even Loney on the Red Sox has better or near equal numbers to A-Gon on the Dodgers.

[Droford]

Now I'm rooting for the rays..I doubt they can do better than 1 out of 3 from the Yankees which means that the o's need 2 of 3 from Oakland which won't be easy.

[RoXer]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tnT1YNbZ-_U#t=45s" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[The Fraze]

I dunno my man. It worked. They play is what ended the inning and they would go on to win.

It's like watching Kobe drain a game winner and someone complains about his shooting motion.

Was most definitely "over-analyzing" the play, which I tend to do often. The play worked, yes. So it is what it is. I just always notice and have a hard time with professionals missing fundamentals. Probably out of jealousy, anyway.

[RoXer]

Now let's gang up and Droford and tell him how much the Orioles are going to suck this weekend

[RoXer]

... and the Giants too

[Innovator]

A-Rod brings the Yanks back to striking distance

[Innovator]

Never mind, this team doesn't deserve to go to the playoffs

[Keith]

Now I'm rooting for the rays..I doubt they can do better than 1 out of 3 from the Yankees which means that the o's need 2 of 3 from Oakland which won't be easy.

They won 2 out of 3 from the Yankees last week.

'the fuck are you on about with this "I doubt they can do better than 1 out of 3 from the Yankees" BS?

BTW, we get swept by Baltimore, and with tonight's win we're still right there.

[Keith]

Bobby Valentine comes out and calls his guys "The weakest roster in Red Sox history", and then they come out and score 8 runs in a win.

http://i.imgur.com/SZ0uU.jpg

[Innovator]

They are weak right now. I usually know their line up and I hadn't heard of half of them

[Keith]

Well when Mike Aviles hits 3rd, you know they're weak. But it doesn't help Valentine's case when he goes out and exposes his team. He shouldn't have said that.

I'm pretty sure he won't be back. He can't be.

[Keith]

WE DON'T WANT YOU, KEITH OLBERMANN!




http://i.imgur.com/nekb5.jpg

[RoXer]

DROOOOOOFOOOOORRRRRRDDDDDD

[Supreme Olajuwon]

hey guys here's a picture of Keith Olbermann wearing my favorite team's hat, but I don't want you to know that he's a fan of my favorite team

[RoXer]

check out something about one of my favorite teams

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tnT1YNbZ-_U#t=45s" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Keith]

hey guys here's a picture of Keith Olbermann wearing my favorite team's hat, but I don't want you to know that he's a fan of my favorite team

Where (or when) did I say I don't want anyone to know he's a fan of my favorite team?

Don't be mad 'cause the Marlins blanked the Reds, bro.

[RoXer]

<iframe src="http://mlb.mlb.com/shared/video/embed/embed.html?width=400&height=254&content_id=24739917&property=mlb" width="400" height="254" frameborder="0">Your browser does not support iframes.</iframe>

[Droford]

They won 2 out of 3 from the Yankees last week.

'the fuck are you on about with this "I doubt they can do better than 1 out of 3 from the Yankees" BS?

BTW, we get swept by Baltimore, and with tonight's win we're still right there.

Like I said, 1 out of 3..just you wait and see..

As for the o's, that was a tough game to lose..

[RoXer]

DROFORD

If the A's meet O's in the playoffs and beat them you have to post a video of you doing the bernie lean

[Supreme Olajuwon]

The A's are usually my AL team to root for so I will be pulling for them until they face the Reds in the 1990 World Series again.

I will also root for the Detroit Tigers. I will pull for the Pirates even though they are division rivals and are pretty much done for the year and one of the white Pirates pitchers called Brandon Phillips "boy" the other night which is kinda racist u know.

The only teams I will actively root against are the Cardinals and the Phillies. I don't hate the Phillies, but they always always always beat the Reds which is so gay and I don't want them to make the playoffs. I won't root against the Dodgers but it will be funny if they don't make the playoffs after all they did to try to improve.

I don't really have a rooting interest in the AL East. I would say the Orioles but Droford took all the fun out of that. So I don't care. The Yankees, I guess. I like some of their guys.

[SammyG]

HOLY SHIT DODGERS WIN A GAME HOLY SHIT

[The Fraze]

Magic number is 11. The countdown is on! Tick tock...tick tock...tick tock...

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KP3DhEmAaCM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[SammyG]

Is that the video you really wanted to embed?

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>My rooting interests the rest of the way:

NL East: Braves (not really rooting for them per se, but I can't in good conscience want to see the Nats go deep into the playoffs after shutting down Strasburg...and of course fuck the Phillies)

NL Central: Reds (fuck the Cardinals. I do hope the Pirates get to finish above .500 though - if they somehow go on a run and make the WC I'll pull for them)

NL West: Giants

AL East: Orioles (Droford aside, it's a great story...I always like the Rays too though)

AL Central: Tigers

AL West: Athletics (again, incredible story)</font>

[Keith]

I wonder how most people will view the Dodgers not making the playoffs (if it happens, of course).

I wonder if it'll be like:

A. What a disappointment

B. No biggie. They're in line to be a major force next season when they have a full season of Adrian Gonzalez and Josh Beckett.

[Triple Naitch]

Gonna root for the White Sox, Orioles, Nats, and Rangers. Feel like Ermax right now. :$

[The Fraze]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>If you've been there, you know what you have to do. September baseball... <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23SFGiants">#SFGiants</a> <a href="http://t.co/Deu9PUIp" title="http://atmlb.com/PmdT5D">atmlb.com/PmdT5D</a></p>&mdash; Matt Fraser (@TheFraze408) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheFraze408/status/247025883989286912" data-datetime="2012-09-15T17:35:34+00:00">September 15, 2012</a></blockquote>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Awesome tweet, bro. Totally nailed it.

[RoXer]

DROFORD

If the A's meet O's in the playoffs and beat them you have to post a video of you doing the bernie lean

Come on Droford, accept.

And if the O's win I'll do it then

[Emperor Smeat]

Red Sox need like 2-3 more wins to match last September's win total and yet they've won more games being tied or down entering the 8th inning than they did last September.


I wonder how most people will view the Dodgers not making the playoffs (if it happens, of course).

I wonder if it'll be like:

A. What a disappointment

B. No biggie. They're in line to be a major force next season when they have a full season of Adrian Gonzalez and Josh Beckett.

Probably both although option B mostly with Dodger fans. The trade gave them at least a 2 year window to "own" the division and maybe even be in the World Series.

[ClockShot]

Dodgers give GM Ned Colletti a contract extension. Numbers haven't been revealed yet. Colletti also said that Donnie Baseball's job is safe and that he'll be back next season.

Astros manager search:

Interim manager Tony DeFrancesco formally interviewed for the position.

Rays bench coach Dave Martinez also interviewed. Joe Maddon endorsed him.

Larry Bowa also interviewd.

[YOUR Hero]

why is everyone saying "droford aside" ? He's alwats rooted for the O's not just lately.

[Droford]

You're just lucky the Orioles fucking suck. If they made the playoffs I would be 100x as worse than I am in the NFL thread.

[Keith]

Well, at least the Rays aren't looking to avoid being swept tomorrow, unlike Baltimore.

[RoXer]

Come on Droford, accept.

And if the O's win I'll do it then

[Innovator]

Umpire had a quick trigger today

[Keith]

This has all the signs of a MELTDOWN.

Fuck.

[Droford]

Told you 1 of 3

[Keith]

If Orioles win it'll be 1 out of 3, too.

Joe Maddon has got to start having the team take part in batting practice. His philosophy is that when guys take batting practice, they think too much about hitting and they end up hitting worse.

But fuck, the Rays are not a powerful team that scores a lot of runs! They need to take batting practice!

And as of today (before the game), he said that they're struggling offensively but it has nothing to do with batting practice.

I don't think we'll see playoff baseball in St Pete.

[Triple Naitch]

A lot of people in St. Pete won't see playoff baseball anyway.

[Keith]

Nah, there are a lot of fuckers here who don't pay attention until the Rays clinch the Wild Card or the AL East. Then you see them attend games and the whole nine.

[screech]

They pay attention in September and still don't go to the games.

[Keith]

To be fair, management doesn't help matters out. With the pitching we have, we should make it to the World Series every single year.

Management, however, doesn't involve in bringing bats to the Rays. I'm not saying bring Pujols or Fielder, but Carlos Peña?

And BJ Upton is a free agent after this season, which most likely means he's gone.

[Triple Naitch]

Maybe if people made it to games, they'd have more money to spend. It's a vicious cycle.

[Droford]

The o's are 2 gb of Oakland for wc play in home field, they need to get home field if Oakland plays because that stadium is God awful and killed the o's offense..all of Oakland's pitchers are worse on the road. Oakland has 10 games on the road with Detroit new York and Texas, so I think its possible the O's can catch them..

The angels are 2.5 gb of the o's in wc but 9 of their next 12 are vs Texas and Chicago..

And obviously only 1 gb of the Yankees, but their toughest games left are 3 vs Oakland..its only 1 game but its really looking like its going to be difficult..

[Triple Naitch]

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/17zfg1rffid3ajpg/original.jpg

[Boomer]

Man, am I happy the Braves got rid of Yunel.

[SammyG]

lol Escobar.

[Droford]

Is taking out frustrations on Seattle 7-0 through 1 and a half

[SammyG]

Escobar thinks you are a faggot. In Spanish, though.

[Keith]

Well, I guess I can look forward to Spring Training 2013.

[Droford]

They should move to south dakota

[Keith]

No, they've got to spend some money on some hitting, and keep Joe Maddon under watch.

He simply does not believe in hitters taking batting practice (yet the team's biggest problem is, SUPRISE! HITTING!), and on home games he lets the guys arrive at 4:30PM when there's a game at 7PM because he believes that guys being in the ballpark since 1 or 2PM does more damage than good because they overthink things.

[Droford]

When the week began, 18 of baseball’s 30 teams either had a hold on a playoff spot or were within 4 1/2 games of one, meaning the final two weeks could provide as much entertainment for fans as last season’s exciting finish—and maybe more.

And yet here I am tangled up in a world of justice and rationality and reason, searching for balance between my head and my heart.

It comes down to this: I don’t know what to root for.

There are the things that the fan in me wants to see happen. Then there are the things I think ought to happen.

Part of me loves what the Baltimore Orioles have been able to do in giving their passionate fan base reason to care for the first time in 14 years. But another part of me sees the way their season has unfolded and considers it patently unfair that they’re in the hunt for a playoff spot.

It’s nothing against the Orioles, Buck Showalter, or Dan Duquette. It’s just that following the game closely—and spending much of the year talking with like-minded people in the industry—I want to see not only the best teams win, but the ones that have gone about it the right way.

So, as nerdy as this might sound, I guess I’m rooting for positive run differentials and good process. I’m not sure the Orioles have either.

Some of this craziness, of course, is bound to happen. It’s what we love about baseball. Every year a group of scouts and writers I know try to revel in the unpredictability by making what we call No (Effing) Way predictions—or NFWs, for short.

Players and teams come out of nowhere every year—Ben Zobrist OPSing .948 in 2009, Jose Bautista launching 54 home runs in 2010, etc.—and what we do is try to get a jump on them. It goes like this: you make a call on something you think might happen, and it counts as your NFW pick so long as everyone else decides there’s “No effing way” it happens.

If someone would have said the Orioles would be outscored by their opponents by 20-something runs, and that not one of their trio of young starters—Zach Britton, Brian Matusz, and Jake Arrieta—would have a breakout season, that wouldn’t have counted as a NFW. Too believable. But if you’d said all that would happen, plus they’d be a game behind the Yankees atop the AL East on Sept. 17, you’d have heard a chorus of NFWs as well as concerns about your sanity.

That part of their story is kind of neat, but what about the organizations that might deserve it more? Don’t the smartly run Rays, with their shoestring budget, their shrewd deal-making, and their plus-74 run differential seem more deserving? Or, for that matter, don’t the Blue Jays, another well-run organization that was struck by a storm of injuries and/or inexplicable ineffectiveness (yes, you, Ricky Romero)?

What have the Orioles done other than fire a front office that laid the groundwork for this season?

The 2012 Orioles aren’t much different from the 2007 Diamondbacks, the 2010 Padres, or even the 2012 Athletics. These out-of-nowhere teams generally have a few distinct characteristics: they have lights-out bullpens. They are good at hitting with runners in scoring position. They are good in what Baseball-Reference defines as high-leverage situations. And, as a result, they win a lot of one-run games.

But the thing I find frustrating—perhaps irrationally (or overly rationally?)—is the unpredictability and unrepeatability of all of this. Bullpen construction is notoriously difficult, with luck figuring in as a major component of success. Just look at the Orioles. They went into the year with Kevin Gregg expected to fill a prominent late-inning role. He was released last week.

And let’s not even get into the whole clutchness thing.

“I was watching our team win,” said a front-office executive of a recent surprise team, “and it made me question everything. ‘Do I even know anything about baseball?’”

I’m not the only one who finds myself confused about whom to root for this time of year.

“We feel like we need to understand this game and feel like we get it,” a scout said last week. “And then the amazing thing about it is it confirms what we believe at times, and then at times it surprises us. If it never surprised us, it would be boring. We don’t want it to be Tic-tac-toe. There needs to be some degree of that. But I share your sentiment. I don’t want the Orioles to do well. I don’t want this nonsense to continue.


Oh no, nerds from baseball prospectus hate the orioles!

[Droford]

O's win tonight and they're back in first place!

[Emperor Smeat]

Rays picked the worst time possible to struggle considering they have managed just 2 wins since the first week of the month.

Red Sox need 1 more win against Tampa in order to make a complete swap of what they did with the division last year. Last year they had a winning record against everyone except Tampa while this year they have a loosing record against everyone except Tampa.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Brewers leap frog the Pirates :(

[Keith]

All of a sudden my Rays can't beat Boston.

[ClockShot]

Doubleheader for the yankees right now.

Let's win both of 'em.

[ClockShot]

Wow, Pettitte goes 5 strong and gets pulled after 75 pitches. Girardi then uses 6 arms for the other 4 innings?

Who's available for the nightcap tonight? :nono:

[screech]

Six guys to go four innings? Say whaaaat

[Droford]

http://cdn2.sbnation.com/fan_shot_images/269717/over_zps66e89824.png

[Keith]

http://i.imgur.com/ABRX3.jpg

[Emperor Smeat]

Dice-K has been horrendous the last 2 years against the Rays. He's averaging something close to 1 run per inning against them. I think even most of his shortest outings in the same period was against them as well.

Its at the point where Lackey who posted the worst ever stats for a Red Sox pitcher last year is seen as a huge upgrade over Dice-K and Lackey sucks a lot.

[Keith]

10-3.

This offense is so frustrating. They'll have a couple good games and then go to sleep for a week.

[Droford]

I hope the Yankees and jays have to play 18 innings in game 2 of a doubleheader

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>There was never any doubt in my mind that the Mets would blow this game.

Matt Harvey - enjoy never getting any run support in Queens. Seeya next year.</font>

[Droford]

Joe Saunders in a 1-1 pitching duel through 8 with Felix Hernandez..

Bizzarro 2012 continues

[Droford]

More extra innings! Going for 15 straight!

[Droford]

Adam Jones he in the 11th, os sweep Seattle...15 straight extra inning games..4 up on the angels in the wild card and now the #1 wild card by .5 game over Oakland

Whooooo

[Evil Vito]

Miguel Cabrera is one HR away from the triple crown.

[Innovator]

Ichiro.

[Emperor Smeat]

Miguel Cabrera is one HR away from the triple crown.

Pretty stupid of Selig to allow him to stay in the batting title race considering he would have won it while being suspended from cheating. Probably lucky for Selig that Cabrera doesn't have that extra HR or else he'd be dealing with a bigger shit storm over the Triple Crown streak ending due to tainted reasons.

He wouldn't even need to worry about messing with the records books like with past incidents that occurred years ago since this potential record won't be official until after the season ends.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Pretty stupid of Selig to allow him to stay in the batting title race considering he would have won it while being suspended from cheating. Probably lucky for Selig that Cabrera doesn't have that extra HR or else he'd be dealing with a bigger shit storm over the Triple Crown streak ending due to tainted reasons.

That's Melky Cabrera, the San Francisco Giants outfielder currently serving a 50 game suspension for high testosterone levels. :y:

[Supreme Olajuwon]

adorable mixup btw

[Triple Naitch]

Oh, Meaty.

[Adder]

racism rears it's ugly head

[Emperor Smeat]

:| whoops.

Get those two mixed up a lot. Same for the three Molinas since they are all catchers.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Isn't it amazing though that people can't remember the name of the best hitter in baseball?

[Triple Naitch]

TBF, Meatball can't even remember the names of his favorite teams' players.

[Evil Vito]

It's kinda shocking that Cabrera might win the Triple Crown and yet the majority of writers have said that Trout should win.

Nothing against Trout, what he's doing as a 20 year old is incredible. But it's the fucking TRIPLE CROWN!

[Droford]

Orioles playoff tix went on sale today and I didn't win the pre sale lottery..boo

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Wish I could take a time machine to 3 months ago when the Mets looked like contenders.</font> :(

[Evil Vito]

http://snymets.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/20120920-195031.jpg?w=664

[ClockShot]

Is that Citifield tonight?

[Innovator]

Swishhhhhhh

[Triple Naitch]

It's like a tornado coming through.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Reds and Nationals clinched playoff births today.

And I have tickets to every Reds playoff game. SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

[Skippord]

big shot McLawyerson with the playoff tickets

WE'RE ALL VERY PROUD OF YOU

[Keith]

I see you, Tampa Bay, pulling off a dramatic win to split the series with Boston.

I see you.

[Evil Vito]

Is that Citifield tonight?

<font color=goldenrod>Yep. Possibly the emptiest the park has ever been. It was a makeup game from Tuesday.</font>

[YOUR Hero]

seeing Ichiro play so well again is nice
makes me swing back over to the Yankee camp for the playoffs.

[Droford]

I want to go and punch the owner of the mariners for trading ichiro to the Yankees.

Oakland's 3 games in NY is the orioles best shot at gainng on the Yankees, I hope the fucking sweep them

[Innovator]

I want to shake his hand, maybe pat on the back.

[ClockShot]

Melkman disqualifies himself from the NL batting title.

[ClockShot]

Brewers aquire Yorvit Torrealba from the Blue Jays for a PTBNL.

[Adder]

probably end up being Yorvit Torrealba

[Keith]

The Rays' pitching staff sets an AL Record with 1,267 Strikeouts.

Hell yeah.

[YOUR Hero]

Thankfully the Jays season will soon be over. What an embarrassment this has turned out to be.

[Innovator]

Jays got the injury bug bad, not much you can do when you lose your rotation and biggest bat.

[Keith]

Thankfully the Jays season will soon be over. What an embarrassment this has turned out to be.

Hey, it's not like the Jays are the Dodgers who, already having Matt Kemp, made deals to land big stars like Hanley Ramirez, Shane Victorino, Joe Blanton, Josh Beckett and Adrian Gonzalez, and are still going to miss the playoffs.

[Emperor Smeat]

Jays got the injury bug bad, not much you can do when you lose your rotation and biggest bat.

Yeah the Jays could have been a lot worse considering they didn't reach the level of disappointment and mess the Red Sox were. Not only did they get hit badly with injuries as well but also have a mess of a pitching staff and overall management.

[Droford]

Andino took a 95 MPH fastball to the back of his head and walked down to first pissed off like a bad ass lol

[Keith]

Didn't know the Reds' magic number is down to 1 and they're trying to clinch the NL Central tonight.

[Innovator]

Russell with the walkoff

[Droford]

Orioles magic number for playoffs is now 8 with 12 to go

[SammyG]

Picked up a game on the WC. Not too confident though. It's embarrassing to have such firepower on offense and to see them suck so much penis.