MLB Thread

[Damian Rey]

Ned Yost pulls their best pitcher after a cheap hit, a tough at bat leading to a walk, and 85 pitches. What?

[Droford]

bringing in Ventura on a days rest after he threw 70+ pitches is pretty stupid

[Damian Rey]

I just don't get the thought process. Realistically was Shields' lost game in uniform coming into tonight, and he pulls him after 5+. I just cannot understand.

[Droford]

KC dug themselves too big of a hole but at least they made a game out of it

[Damian Rey]

It's been an epic game thus far. Fuck me, I love baseball.

[Droford]

lol A's

[Emperor Smeat]

Game's been really good so far.

[RoXer]

Sit The Fuck Down

[Droford]

the A's of's colliding on that play to allow the triple and eventual tying run was hillarious

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Dipshit A's fans in the crowd smiling at losing the lead. Why go to Kansas City and not root for your team?

We lost the lead :D

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>What a game. Whoever loses this is going to be in for a brutally long winter.</font>

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>What an incredible game. That's one I'll always file away for people who say baseball is boring.</font>

[Damian Rey]

Great fucking game. Royals take their manager off the hook for a loss. Instant classic this game was.

[The Fraze]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ROYALS?src=hash">#ROYALS</a>.</p>&mdash; Matt Fraser (@TheMattFraser9) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMattFraser9/status/517175571705372672">October 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Can't even imagine being an A's fan right now. Went from the best team in baseball and going all-in getting Lester and Samardzija, to having an atrocious second half and completely backing their way into the last playoff spot, to then losing their one playoff game in heartbreaking fashion.

Lester's a goner this offseason, but on the plus side their pitching should still be boss as Samardzija and Kazmir have another year left on their deals to go along with Gray.</font>

[RoXer]

fuck off

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Fake <a href="https://twitter.com/OaklandAs">@OaklandAs</a> fans smiling as they lose the lead in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/wildcardgame?src=hash">#wildcardgame</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB">@mlb</a> <a href="http://t.co/ag6TJnDGLs">pic.twitter.com/ag6TJnDGLs</a></p>&mdash; Ryan Damon (@rdamon1982) <a href="https://twitter.com/rdamon1982/status/517174661185282048">October 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
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[Droford]

if the braves didn't epic collapse and the d-backs didn't flat out suck I would have nailed this
And yet they're still projected to win the division by a for margin. Probably will be between them and the Royals, whoever beats up on the Twins and White Sox more.

Got me to thinking about my projections

AL East
Orioles
Rays
Red Sox
Yankees
Blue Jays

AL Central
Tigers
Royals
Indians
White Sox
Twins

AL West
Angels
Athletics
Rangers
Mariners
Astros

WCs - A's and Royals

NL East
Nationals
Braves
Phillies
Marlins
Mets

NL Central
Cardinals
Reds
Pirates
Brewers
Cubs

NL West
Dodgers
D-Backs
Padres
Giants
Rockies

WCs - Braves and D-backs

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

if the braves didn't epic collapse and the d-backs didn't flat out suck I would have nailed this

You should have known the Dbacks would flat out suck but good picking.

[Droford]

sucks I didn't predict out the playoffs though.

[road doggy dogg]

Phenomenal game

[Droford]

hard to imagine Giants/Pirates being better but..it should be a good game

rooting for the Pirates so I can get cheap game 2 tickets for a noon start on friday

[DaveWadding]

You should have known the Dbacks would flat out suck but good picking.

Yeah dude, you definitely should have known that everyone on the team was going to get injured.

[road doggy dogg]

Playoffs starting and y'all are talking about the dbacks

[Emperor Smeat]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-cards="hidden" lang="en"><p>THIS JUST IN: Adam Dunn tells <a href="https://twitter.com/pedrogomezESPN">@pedrogomezESPN</a> he is retiring. Dunn hit 462 HR with 5 teams over 14-year career. <a href="http://t.co/9ou8ErC37h">pic.twitter.com/9ou8ErC37h</a></p>&mdash; SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/517191841641676801">October 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[SammyG]

LET'S GO PIRATES

[Droford]

Playoffs starting and y'all are talking about the dbacks

they made it to the WC game in my mind back in march

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Yeah dude, you definitely should have known that everyone on the team was going to get injured.

What was there excuse last year by being 11 games out of first and 9 games out of a WC game?

Also 13 out of first and and 7 in the Wild Card in 2012?

[screech]

Well players generally don't play when injured.

But f this for now because PLAYOFFS

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Felt so bad for Adam Dunn waiting all that time for his first playoff appearance only to not get into the game, but in fairness he hasn't been good since 2010.

Even more shocked realizing he's only 34.</font>

[road doggy dogg]

Game 1: Max Scherzer
Game 2: Justin Verlander
Game 3: David Price
Game 4: Rick Porcello

:drool:

[screech]

4 CG SHO

[Droford]

Nelson Cruz is going to relive the 2011 ALCS vs the tigers when he hit 6 hrs and 13 RBI.

[road doggy dogg]

He's the one batter that terrifies on me on that team

[Droford]

Game 1: Max Scherzer
Game 2: Justin Verlander
Game 3: David Price
Game 4: Rick Porcello

:drool:

Even with Ubaldo making 1/3 of a season's starts the Orioles starters posted a 3.61 era which was better that the Tigers 3.89. The bigger difference is the Orioles bullpen who was 3rd in the AL with a 3.10 era vs the Tigers 13th ranked bullpen at 4.29.

in closing, you need all 4 to pitch CGs cause the tigers bullpen is a joke.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

O's are the first ALE team since 2006 to be the only ALE playoff team .

[DaveWadding]

What was there excuse last year by being 11 games out of first and 9 games out of a WC game?

Also 13 out of first and and 7 in the Wild Card in 2012?


Worst to first to worst. Does that ring a bell?

[Droford]

wouldn't that be more like worst to worst to first?

[Droford]

Seeing all those black flags

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41mFOTw6%2BQL.jpg

probably kills Giants as well as gnats..and Washington Gnats too

[Nark Order]

Josh Harrison looks like a bowling ball.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Hanged and banged.

[Nark Order]

I felt that grand slam coming in my bones.

[Droford]

Volquez is a jinx, got no hit his last playoff start and getting 1 hit tonight

[Corndad]

This is why you pitch Cole when you have a chance to avoid this Winner take all game. Stuff can happen and it has. It's not over yet but the crowd is killed and Bumgarner looks unhittable.

[Droford]

noon on Friday..I'm gonna have to get up about the same time I go to work. blah

[Damian Rey]

You can't blame the Pirates for throwing Cole on Sunday in n attempt to win the division.

[Emperor Smeat]

http://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/2316558/pablo.0.gif

[Droford]

Dallas Braden looks like he could have wrestled in the 80s

[Damian Rey]

Bwa haha just came here to make fun of him.

[Evil Vito]

You can't blame the Pirates for throwing Cole on Sunday in n attempt to win the division.

<font color=goldenrod>While I get why the Pirates did it...they still only had like a 2% chance of actually winning the division. If they beat the Reds, Wainwright was going to pitch against the D-Backs with everything on the line. Can't really see how the Cardinals would have lost that one.

Seems moot anyway. It didn't matter who the Pirates threw in the Wild Card game, nobody was touching Bumgarner.</font>

[screech]

Damn @Sandoval

[Droford]

5:30 needs to come the hell on

[road doggy dogg]

forealz

[Droford]

http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/visual/whatshot/PiratesOldLady2014NLWC.gif

Grandma somehow got into the Giants dugout

security these days, first people are jumping the fence at the white house, now old people are getting into dugouts at baseball games..

[Droford]

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--1Hk5uCoP--/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/sgw91cmqxvpqsftble4w.gif

1927 looks like it was done in ms paint and 1961 looks awkwardly surprised

[road doggy dogg]

love the '61 logo

lol @ 1927 and 1934 though

[Droford]

Cruz continuing on owning the Tigers in the playoffs

[Innovator]

Did Joba eat Bray Wyatt?

[road doggy dogg]

Andrew Romine

I have no words

[Droford]

I love Detroits Bullpen..

[road doggy dogg]

Well then. I was all worried that that Torii Hunter line drive could have potentially lead to a go-ahead run by Miggy (Kinsler would have been at 3B, Hunter at 1B then the HR)


Thankfully, that hypothetical is so far in the rear-view.

[Droford]

That was fun, lets do it again tomorrow. Hahaha

gonna be there up in the nosebleeds

[road doggy dogg]

nice

plz punch anyone that starts OLE or Seven Nation Army chants though

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Listened to the meltdown on the way home. Chris fucking Berman was doing the announcing. Ugh.</font>

[road doggy dogg]

Chris Berman is the "Detroit Tigers bullpen" of announcing

[Droford]

Im not going now. Wait til the ALCS now.

[ClockShot]

Braves will keep Fredi Gonzalez around. They also hired Bo Porter as Third Base coach.

[The Fraze]

PEAVY

[Evil Vito]

Kershaw is a fucking dreadful playoff pitcher.

[Droford]

who could have possibly envisioned an Orioles/Royals ALCS..? I'm actually more concerned if the o's have to play the Royals because they have good pitching/defense...


/wish I had went through with my predictions

[Emperor Smeat]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Royals: 6th team in MLB history to win 3 extra-inning games in a single postseason. The previous 5 won World Series. <a href="http://t.co/TcOSNAz8I0">pic.twitter.com/TcOSNAz8I0</a></p>&mdash; ESPN Stats &amp; Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNStatsInfo/status/518273839898583040">October 4, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Need 1 more against the Angels to tie another record of that type.

[Ruien]

who could have possibly envisioned an Orioles/Royals ALCS..? I'm actually more concerned if the o's have to play the Royals because they have good pitching/defense...


/wish I had went through with my predictions

Royals currently seem like a team destined to win it all.

[OssMan]

Have tickets to every Nationals playoff game but ent been able to go to either one so far... Nats gonna get swept and leave OssMan at a paltry 2 games watched this year

BTW watched the last 4 innings of last night's 3-2 loss at the hands of Giants... Bruce Harper home run insane

[Damian Rey]

The Tigers are crumbling and weren't helped by their manager's inept decision making regarding his bullpen. I never understood Ausmus' hiring in the first place, since he had zero experience at any level. Not the kind of guy to helm a championship caliber team, imo.

[road doggy dogg]

I've said a dozen times that Ausmus isn't the right manager for this particular team. Maybe in a year or two after the window has closed, THEN bring in the young guy. But for a team that's built basically to try to win a WS, go with a guy who's been there before.

That all being said, I don't know if any manager could make this bullpen work.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Frankly I don't think we're too far off from every single manager in the big leagues being a former catcher. It seems to be all you need to get a job nowadays.</font>

[Droford]

Royals currently seem like a team destined to win it all.

Buck Showalter eats bumbling inept coaches for breakfast. Ned Yost doesn't stand a chance.

[Damian Rey]

They have both Sanchez and Porcello who can throw multiple innings out of the pen. If he wasn't a robot about using relievers Detroit could be dangerous at the backend of playoff games.

[road doggy dogg]

That was Leyland's main problem at the end of his tenure too, he would have a strict "8th inning guy" (Benoit) and 9th (Valverde) regardless of anything else, and wouldn't stray from that

I understand being cautious with Sanchez but this is the time of year where you have to take some risks.

[Damian Rey]

Also, you don't set strict pitch limits on guys, even when they're returning from injury. You analyze mechanics, velocity, pitch effectiveness and command. There's no magic number for being tired.

[Droford]

since Albuquerque was their 6th inning only guy didn't understand why they used Sanchez in the 6th yesterday

[road doggy dogg]

Sanchez pitched two perfect innings, at a time (even before this series tbh) when the bullpen as a whole has been a giant fucking flashing red flag. I just don't get why you don't let Anibal pitch as long as he can go, need to eat those innings.

Maybe if Price falters early tomorrow he will loosen the leash on Sanchez. Who knows.

And yeah, AlAl has been criminally under-used this series.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Speaking of idiotic managing...Jordan Zimmermann carried the Nats for 8.2 innings. Gave up his first walk of the night with 2 outs. Had about 100 pitches on the night. But Matt Williams immediately gave him the hook and Drew Storen promptly gave up 2 hits. Tie game.</font>

[road doggy dogg]

Drew Storen trying to relive 2012

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Knew I should have made my playoff predictions public earlier this week. My AL picks aren't looking very good admittedly but I saw a Cards/Giants NLCS coming from a mile away for no reason other than the fact that the baseball gods seem to feel they're the only 2 NL teams that can ever be in the World Series anymore.</font>

[Droford]

thought for sure the Giants had delmon younged the nats there but Posey wasn't fast enough to score from first like JJ hardy was

[OssMan]

watched practically all 18 innings of this shit.. only get to add 1 game to my total though

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>That loss still falls on Matt Williams. Zero reason to pull Zimmermann especially with Storen's terrible playoff track record.</font>

[Droford]

lol everyone's bullpen sucks..as the Dodgers blow a 2-0 lead in the 8th

[Droford]

can't believe the Os could be the only team to win at home out of the 4 series.

[Damian Rey]

Matt Williams getting in his own way. Why in God's name teams hire fresh meat managers who have no experience nor a fucking clue what they're doing is beyond me. I don't buy into playoff experience or any of that horse shit. I buy into logical thinking, progressive thinking and not falling in line with old school tactics that are far outdated. Honestly, I can see the O's and Giants in an Orange and black attack world series for the sheer fact they're not managed by morons.

[road doggy dogg]

I watched from about the 5th inning on in that game, and Zimmermann was dealing. No idea why he was pulled at all. Honestly felt like if he kept him in that would have been a 1-0 final. Devastating loss for the Nats there.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Is there any afternoon baseball in this playoffs? Baseball isn't meant to be played at night exclusively.

[road doggy dogg]

You're kidding, right?

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Watching football. Is there a game on now?

[road doggy dogg]

yup

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Sickest starting rotation in baseball goes down in 3 straight games. A Damn shame.

[Droford]

to quote Oriole 1983 WS MVP Rick Dempsey, "They turned Cy Young into Cy-onara"

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

CJ Wilson 2/3s of an inning 3 ER and he's done son.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

to quote Oriole 1983 WS MVP Rick Dempsey, "They turned Cy Young into Cy-onara"

Stole that and is now on my facebook wall.

[Droford]

here's another good omen for the O's

2012 Detroit lost the WS to the Giants
2013 Detroit lost the AlCS to the Red Sox
2014 Detroit lost the ALDS to the Orioles

[Droford]

Stole that and is now on my facebook wall.

take a look at this from locker room post game

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BzOPLS8IAAEMyyP.jpg

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

There is so such thing as a Division Series champions the teams just advance to the next round. Congrats Droford.

[ClockShot]

Tigers got bounced in 3. All those arms, grabbing David Price at the deadline..................for nothing.

Me thinks a front office purge is coming and Dave Dombrowski's chair is on fire.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>The Tigers would be fucking nuts to get rid of Dombrowski. Kinsler-for-Fielder is looking like a steal, the Price trade hardly crippled them and they'll have him for 2015 as well, and you don't dump a guy who has built a team that has won 4 straight division titles.

A GM's job is to build a playoff team. After that you basically just get a 1 in 10 lottery ticket to win a World Series. Playoff results are largely random and have very little to do with what happened in the regular season.</font>

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/ps/y2014/celebrity_survivor/

Nobody picked The Orioles. Maybe they should have had somebody from the Wire or something.

[Emperor Smeat]

The supposed texts he sent after the trade deadline look really stupid now but Tiger biggest problem like last year vs the Red Sox was the bullpen suddenly sucking at the worst time possible.

At least the Price trade wasn't as bad as the A's trade in retrospective. A's couldn't replace what Cespedes was producing (best hitter before the trade) while making it clear Lester was nothing more than a short term rental for the ring quest.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Does anybody have a time machine so I can bet my life savings on a Royals/Orioles ALCS? I would very much like to sleep on a pile of money with many beautiful women.</font>

[RoXer]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BzJHx_rCAAA1UJF.png:large

[OssMan]

Lets go napkinals

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BzJHx_rCAAA1UJF.png:large

Is he one of those Old Spice Robots fake guys?

[Droford]

Daniel Bryan at the Giants game

[Droford]

I totally forgot that the Orioles beat RA Dickey in the season finale, so they beat 4 straight Cy Young winners.

[road doggy dogg]

Tigers got bounced in 3. All those arms, grabbing David Price at the deadline..................for nothing.

Me thinks a front office purge is coming and Dave Dombrowski's chair is on fire.

what

Dombrowski is the best GM in the league.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Clayton Kershaw chokes in the playoffs again. Water is wet.</font>

[ClockShot]

I wonder if this year's script is The War of Missouri for the World Series this year?

[Nark Order]

Beat Walgreens

[Droford]

I wonder if this year's script is The War of Missouri for the World Series this year?
St Louis finally can get revenge on Baltimore for taking the Browns 60 years ago/Party like its 1944 Browns vs Cardinals WS pseudo rematch/First Championship game in all major sports since 1948 featuring both teams with actual birds as mascots

bonus points if you know who played in 1948!

PS back in August the o's won 2 of 3 from St Louis outscoring them 25-13 (6 homers in game 1 which was the 60th Anniversary Celebration night at Camden Yards)

[Droford]

lol gnats walked in a run looking to give up more..

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Bad Pitch Barrett.

[Droford]

ding dong natitude is dead

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Owen Brown complaining time

"Oh booo Giants and Cardnials again that's predicable boooo."

[Droford]

balances out Royals/Orioles

[Evil Vito]

Owen Brown complaining time

"Oh booo Giants and Cardnials again that's predicable boooo."

<font color=goldenrod>Meh, I'm pretty much in that boat tbh. Not that it's predictable...just that it's tough for me to get excited about watching the only 2 NL teams to make the World Series since 2010 play over who gets to make the next one. It's not really any different than my urge to see a different AFC team get to the Super Bowl when the Steelers, Colts, and Pats were the only teams to get there for like 10 years. I guess I just like seeing new teams. But sports don't always work out that way.

All told though I don't really have anything against the Giants. And with the Cardinals, while I had hated them for 2006 I've kinda realized they do have a lot of likeable players...my only real beefs being with Wainwright and Molina. Also the fact that Joe Buck is invariably always there to call the Cardinals' big postseason triumphs doesn't help. He'll be monotone for hours but as soon as the Cardinals do something big he reaches the point of orgasm.</font>

[Innovator]

Darn, was pulling for Mattingly

[screech]

Hope the Giants make it because Hunter Pence

[ClockShot]

Josh Beckett calls it a career.

Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd resigns. Jeff Bridich takes over as GM.

[MrSmokeydogg7]

Boring ass postseason

[Emperor Smeat]

Josh Beckett calls it a career.


Shame the last couple of years with the Red Sox ended up being a big mess and had injury issues with the Dodgers but good career overall.

[screech]

Love Josh Beckett.

[Droford]

I will be in the nosebleeds tomorrow night. Its supposed to rain all day/night but fun Droford Fact: Droford has been only dealt with one rain delay (5/29/09) personally in 22 years of Orioles Baseball at Camden Yards.

[Innovator]

One of my wife's cousins apparently went to high school with Hunter Strickland

[Clerk]

Orioles with a nice comeback at this juncture. Let's see if they can keep it up. Cruz is a boist

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Royals about to win another extra innings playoff game. Wow.

[Emperor Smeat]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The <a href="https://twitter.com/Royals">@Royals</a> are the 1st team in Major League history to win 4 extra-inning games in single postseason.</p>&mdash; ESPN Stats &amp; Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNStatsInfo/status/520798296957538304">October 11, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Had just 1 game so far not go into extras for them.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>The qualifying offer for this year has gone up to $15.3 million. Jesus. After the experiences of Stephen Drew and Kendrys Morales last year, I would think nearly everybody would jump at getting paid that salary for a year. Teams are going to need to decide what's more important: potential draft compensation or having to pay a fringe player $15.3 million.</font>

[Damian Rey]

The current QO structure is so dumb. You're penalizing players for attempting to find long term job security abd penalizing teams in forcing them to give up draft picks while trying to better themselves. Just get rid of free agent compensation already. Is baseball the only sport to do this?

[Ruien]

Royals taking care of business in the 9th. Seems like they don't want to do extra innings this evening.

[Nark Order]

Royals are playing pretty incredibly right now.

Really want a Giants/Royals World Series.

[Nark Order]

Travis Ishikawa. I just like saying his name.

[Nark Order]

Matt Adams is so fat.

[screech]

Royals are playing pretty incredibly right now.

Really want a Giants/Royals World Series.

Yes. Me too. Would be great.

[Emperor Smeat]

Wouldn't mind either Cards or Giants vs Royals since it'd be a fun series either way. Rooting for the Royals because of their "feel good story" vibes and enjoy seeing someone new (or had a really long wait) win a title every so often.

[Droford]

cardinals blew the lead in the 9th on a wild pitch..

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Going in Giants would take splitting the away games but losing game 2 after winning game 1 is tough. Three in SF now though.

[Droford]

Wong off hr for the Cardinals

[The Fraze]

Tweet progression in the 9th inning:

:D

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>THIS GAME IS TIED. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SFGiants?src=hash">#SFGiants</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OctoberTogether?src=hash">#OctoberTogether</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NLCS?src=hash">#NLCS</a></p>&mdash; Matt Fraser (@TheMattFraser9) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMattFraser9/status/521504830611668992">October 13, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

:yes:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Joe Panik might be the most poised player in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SFGiants?src=hash">#SFGiants</a> lineup. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OctoberTogether?src=hash">#OctoberTogether</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NLCS?src=hash">#NLCS</a></p>&mdash; Matt Fraser (@TheMattFraser9) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMattFraser9/status/521505541181292544">October 13, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

:shifty:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Those 10 baserunners we stranded sure would have helped, I think. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SFGiants?src=hash">#SFGiants</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OctoberTogether?src=hash">#OctoberTogether</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NLCS?src=hash">#NLCS</a></p>&mdash; Matt Fraser (@TheMattFraser9) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMattFraser9/status/521509122458783744">October 13, 2014</a></blockquote>
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[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Have a terrible feeling the Royals will sweep and then have to wait around for a week and a half while the Giants and Cardinals finish up their 7 game series. It'd be the 2007 Rockies all over again but with the leagues reversed.</font>

[The Fraze]

<font color=goldenrod>Have a terrible feeling the Royals will sweep and then have to wait around for a week and a half while the Giants and Cardinals finish up their 7 game series. It'd be the 2007 Rockies all over again but with the leagues reversed.</font>

That's always the worst in the playoffs. Long breaks kill a hot team every time.

[Droford]

Mother Nature apparently wanted to put a damper on the Royals as the game tonight probably will be called shortly due to rain.

[ClockShot]

A's bench coach Chip Hale is your new Manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

[RoXer]

i know

[Droford]

AJ pierzynski just mentioned Dale Torborg on Intentional Talk when asked who the most underated wrestler was. I didn't know he was currently working for the White Sox.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

AJ pierzynski just mentioned Dale Torborg on Intentional Talk when asked who the most underated wrestler was. I didn't know he was currently working for the White Sox.

He has two WS rings as a Strength and Conditioning Coach Marlins (2003) and White Sox (2005)

[ClockShot]

Dodgers remove GM Ned Colletti and make him a senior advisor to the president Stan Kasten. They hire Andrew Friedman from the Rays and make him their new president of baseball ops.

I don't know if that's a fancy new title for GM?

[RoXer]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Oh no he dint! <a href="http://t.co/RfbPL0Jta7">pic.twitter.com/RfbPL0Jta7</a></p>&mdash; Ichabod Brain (@PhilCokesBrain) <a href="https://twitter.com/PhilCokesBrain/status/522447085183193089">October 15, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[road doggy dogg]

love that Twitter handle

[Droford]

I'm ready for the start of the 2nd greatest comeback in mlb LCS history (since nothing will unseat red Sox/Yankees)

[Damian Rey]

Get ready to wait a while cuz it ain't happening.

[ClockShot]

Royals are for real, fellas.

[Damian Rey]

Hope they take home the whole thing. Been awesome to watch them get this close.

[Nark Order]

Has any time ever not lost one game in the playoffs/World Series?

[Nark Order]

Good to see the Royals with this run. Pretty exciting to see how their post season has gone, considering they were the major underdogs in all of this.

That being said, I hope the San Francisco Giants destroy every one of their dreams. I want them to have nightmares about Madison Bumgarner and Pablo Sandoval every night for the next 30 years.

[Emperor Smeat]

Royals best hope is for the Giants to take both games since the last thing they need is for their hot streak to die down like the Tigers a couple of years ago.


Has any time ever not lost one game in the playoffs/World Series?

In general or just since they've expanded to include the Wild Card?

Has happened a bunch of times before the Wild Card years.

[Nark Order]

I know it happened before the current wild card set up but I wasn't sure about the latter. Seems like it would be fairly difficult to do now.

[Innovator]

Real happy for the Royals, they deserve it

[ClockShot]

Still wanna see the Cardinals pull this off and get the Battle of Missouri.

[Nark Order]

Shut up, you dick. Always naysaying. How dare you.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Fuck the Cardinals.</font>

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>So happy for the Royals though. What a run.</font>

[Nicky Fives]

Why do I have a sneaky suspicion that KC are going to get swept themselves in the WS?

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>...because it happens pretty much any time a team sweeps the LCS and has to wait around?</font>

[Emperor Smeat]

Rangers hired Pirates bench coach Jeff Banister as their new manager.

[Nark Order]

Ah hahahah fuck fuck yeah yes

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>No idea what Matheny was thinking. Putting in a guy who hasn't pitched in 20 days on the mound in the 9th inning of a do-or-die situation? Christ.

Should be a fun World Series.</font>

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

SF Radio has banned Lorde's Royals from playing throughout the World Series.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Chris Young of the Mariners and Casey McGehee of the Marlins are the comeback players of the year.</font>

http://seattletimes.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/mariners/files/2014/10/Screen-Shot-2014-10-20-at-10.18.41-AM.png

[Emperor Smeat]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Last 3 teams to score at least 3 runs in 1st inning of Game 1 of World Series won that series

2004, 2007, 2013 Red Sox
(via <a href="https://twitter.com/EliasSports">@eliassports</a>)</p>&mdash; ESPN Stats &amp; Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNStatsInfo/status/524723920197652481">October 22, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Don't remember about the 2007 game but the 2004 game also had a bunch of errors and Red Sox almost giving the game away.

[Nark Order]

Game 1 in the books.

[OssMan]

Imagining all the people who "hate Hunter Pence" and say "Oh I hate this guy" when he comes to the plate, Fuck em'

[Nark Order]

Mad-Eye Pence is the greatest.

[road doggy dogg]

I love JD Martinez but the "comeback player" votes for him are a bit ridiculous. What exactly did he "come back" from?

[road doggy dogg]

I mean, I know "playing for the Astros" is a pretty cruel fate for any player, but he's 22.

[road doggy dogg]

Oh, I was reading his vote # and getting confused. He's 27. Regardless, it's not like he was some elite-level player that suddenly sucked for 5 years then had his 2014 season.

[Clerk]

This WS is borinq

[Emperor Smeat]

Joe Maddon no longer the Rays manager after opting out of his contract with the main reason being money. Neither side was anywhere close to getting a new deal done.

[Droford]

Wonder where the Rays will be playing in a couple years.

[ClockShot]

I wonder if the Twins will hold off naming a new manager and bring Joe Maddon in at the 11th hour.

Think all the other manager vacancies have been filled, right?

[Droford]

I immediately thought Maddon to the Twins but I thought they had hired someone.

[ClockShot]

I think they're down to Molitor, Mienkiewicz, and someone else.

[road doggy dogg]

Just read somewhere that the Twins are the only team currently with a vacancy, yes.

[road doggy dogg]

Cubs sound like the most likely destination at this point. Dodgers could be in play even though both sides have said there's no interest.

[ClockShot]

Andy Friedman said Donnie Baseball will be back. Unless he turns around and goes back on his word.

[Emperor Smeat]

Rays rumored to be considering filing tampering charges if the Cubs end up hiring Joe Maddon this offseason.

Rays think the Cubs may have been behind the sudden decision by Maddon to opt out either by them persuading him to do it or had secret talks with him recently.

http://fansided.com/2014/10/24/tampa-bay-rays-pursue-tampering-charges-joe-maddon

[road doggy dogg]

wasn't it explicitly in his contract that he can opt out if Friedman left? how is there a case for this

[screech]

Yeah I think the Rays mentioned it or it was brought up in the article that he could opt out if Friedman left

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Cardinals outfielder Oscar Taveras has been killed in a car crash. 22 years old. Holy fuck, that's awful.

RIP.</font> :(

[Droford]

Just got the alert on that..crazy

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Fuck. 22 years old. :(

Way too young.

His girlfriend died too. Shit.

[road doggy dogg]

Fuck just heard on the radio this morning. Awful news.

[RaginRonic]

Well, we got ourselves an Ultimate Doomsday scenario in the World Series tonight.

Game 7, trophy goes out the door tonight.

Best of luck to both teams.

[poopfromweiner dude]

Will you still be watching even though the Jays and Expos have been eliminated?

[Droford]

Joe Maddon to the Cubs

[ClockShot]

Cubs still got a long way to go to catch up with the rest of the NL Central.

[ClockShot]

All that blue at Kaufman Stadium. And here's this one guy behind home plate wearing an orange Marlins jacket.

Seen there the last few times Royals played at home during the playoffs. Must be Scott Boras in disguise or something.

[Droford]

his real name is Laurence Leavy – an attorney from Miami with a lot of time and a lot of cash. He just so happens to be one of the biggest sports fans you'll ever meet – and probably the biggest Marlins fan on the planet.

Now, he's riding the wave of Internet fame.

"I never planned this. I'm not marketing myself. I'm not making any money on it," Leavy told FOX 13 from his hotel room in Kansas City ahead of Game 6 Tuesday night. "That's not what it's about. It's about a guy who is 58 years old who decided 15 years ago that he wanted to go experience things in person."

This World Series isn't his first rodeo.

Leavy is single, doesn't have kids, and spends thousands of dollars per year traveling from Miami to some of the biggest sporting events in the world.

His track record is phenomenal: 27 Super Bowls, 64 NBA Finals games, and 88 World Series games.

"I've been to the Indianapolis 500, the Kentucky Derby, the Breeder's Cup," he said. "I'm a 'Golden Chief' at Florida State, so I go to all the FSU home games and my seats are right at the 45-yard-line."

And every time he's dressed head to toe in that Marlins gear.

He's become the viral aspect of the World Series – especially after Royals management tried to remove him from his seat behind home plate.

He claims the owner even offered to move him up to his personal suite, but he refused.

People are now photoshopping him into famous pictures. He's getting requests for autographs, offers for commercial deals, and even a reality TV show offer.

"For some reason, this went ballistic," Leavy said. "To show you how ballistic it's gone, I went from 175 Twitter followers to like 13,000 today."

He said there's no motive, no self-promotion, no hidden agenda.

He just loves sports. He's 58 years old, and he doesn't plan to stop.

Wonder how many Marlins games he goes to.

[ClockShot]

If he's got all that dough, why doesn't he just buy the damn team and fix them?

[Droford]

I doubt he has $600+ million to buy them from Jeffrey Loria.

[ClockShot]

Get a group.

[Droford]

I always said if I won a big money lottery for couple hundred million I'd totally try and buy a team. Probably a hockey team since there a several valued really cheap.

[Nark Order]

Insane series. I am happy that my favorite baseball team won the World Series.

[The Fraze]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>I'm shaking, literally shaking. WE DID IT. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SFGiants?src=hash">#SFGiants</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OctoberTogether?src=hash">#OctoberTogether</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChampionsTogether?src=hash">#ChampionsTogether</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldSeries?src=hash">#WorldSeries</a></p>&mdash; Matt Fraser (@TheMattFraser9) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMattFraser9/status/527662699061473280">October 30, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[DaveBrawl]

Congrats to the Giants, they kind of two stepped all over my season what by curbstomping the Rockies and then the Nats, but they are such a great team to watch.

[road doggy dogg]

I'm so happy San Fran won. I could not bear to hear annoying-ass KC or Baltimore fans talk shit all off-season. If my team didn't win, I'm glad the team that would provoke the most ire among sports fans won it. If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!

[Nark Order]

Watching that game again. Pretty fucking batshit what Mad Bum has done. I know ESPN is going to drive it into the ground but that series couldn't have ended any more magnificently.

[Nark Order]

Not going to lie though, gonna soak up the media attention. Typically it's been "And the Giants win the world series. Well. Anyway. On to next year!"

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Definitely soak it up. Dynasties don't happen all that often anymore. Some are saying the Giants are a fringe dynasty because they didn't make the playoffs in their non-Series years but I don't really get that thinking at all. 3 in 5 years with largely the same core of players is clearly a dynasty.</font>

[Nark Order]

This year was pretty remarkable mainly because out of the three this has to be the year the Giants had the least amount of pitching depth. Luckily they had one crazy motherfucker playing out of his mind.

[Nark Order]

And I'm really glad they did not put Santiago fucking Casilla in to close last night. I don't care how well he has done lately, whenever he gets on the mound my butt puckers. Never feel comfortable.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Still not sure why the runner wasn't sent with 2 outs. Based on where Gordon was when he got to third I THINK he would have been thrown out, but if the throw was even remotely off track it would have been very close. Seems like it would've been a better gamble than hoping to get another hit off of Bumgarner.</font>

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

<font color=goldenrod>Still not sure why the runner wasn't sent with 2 outs. Based on where Gordon was when he got to third I THINK he would have been thrown out, but if the throw was even remotely off track it would have been very close. Seems like it would've been a better gamble than hoping to get another hit off of Bumgarner.</font>

If he was running like he should have been it probably could have been an inside the park home run.

[Clerk]

Borinq series....

[Nark Order]

Troll is troll

[RoXer]

If... should... probably... could...

yeah man, definitely

[Damian Rey]

Gordon would have been hosed by a mile. Crawford is one of the best defensive shortstops in the game and cut the ball off as Gordon was hitting third. It would've been more exciting an end but an end nonetheless.

[Emperor Smeat]

Red Sox resigned Koji Uehara for 2 years, $18 million

Kevin Youkilis announced his retirement from baseball. Played all of last season in Japan.

[Droford]

Uehara is 40 and has been declining. Saw an orioles report on him where they felt that when he started declining it would be more of a straight off a cliff than gradual decline. Red Sox are crazy to give him that contract.

[Emperor Smeat]

Seems a bit too high but also something they had to do. They aren't going to splurge on a high price closer this year while they ended up saving money with that deal compared to had they waited a few more days.

His qualifying would have jumped to $15 million for next year once free agency officially starts. Doubt a lot of teams would be interested at that price since they'd also have to give up a draft pick as well.

[road doggy dogg]

Koji Urethra

[Damian Rey]

Rick Renteria officially removed as manager by the Cubs. Theo came out with a pretty honest statement that clearly states the move is to pursue and hire Maddon.

I like the don't give a fuck attitude. I've read reactions calling the Cubs classless and wrong. Completely disagree. It's a sad outcome for Renteria, but he never was anything more than a placeholder and got canned for arguably the best, most progressive thinking manager in the game.

[Ruien]

It is all about winning. Who really wants to be "classy" and suck dick over being, potentially, awesome.

[road doggy dogg]

Never nice to see anyone lose their job for really reasons outside of their control, but I don't fault Epstein. Maddon is a slam-dunk hire. Renteria already rumored to be in talks with Twins.

[Damian Rey]

Exactly.

[DaveWadding]

I feel way worse about Renteria getting canned than I did about Droford's Dad or Dale Sveum.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Yeah he didn't do anything to get fired except there was another manager available. When does Theo get fired when the Cubs go nowhere anyways? They really want to make the push to win to get the Back to the Future 2 prediction right but nah.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Yeah, hard not to feel bad for Renteria but it was a move the Cubs had to make. I'm sure plenty of other teams would have dumped their skipper to get Maddon, but the Cubs came calling first. Renteria will get another chance at managing a big league club. The Twins have refuted reports saying they're interested, but they and the Rays are the only ones with vacancies right now.

Frankly if I were the Padres I'd just dump Bud Black and bring Renteria back to the organization. Not sure how Black has survived, the Padres haven't improved one iota in the last 4 years.</font>

[ClockShot]

If anyone wants some reading, MLB Trade Rumors has posted their Top 50 Free Agents and Predictions list.

They got Scherzer at #1 and going to the Yankees. Which, to be honest, I don't see happening. Me thinks the Tigers will do what they can to retain him.

[Droford]

I feel way worse about Renteria getting canned than I did about Droford's Dad or Dale Sveum.

My dad had a full head of hair. He looked nothing like me.

[road doggy dogg]

If anyone wants some reading, MLB Trade Rumors has posted their Top 50 Free Agents and Predictions list.

They got Scherzer at #1 and going to the Yankees. Which, to be honest, I don't see happening. Me thinks the Tigers will do what they can to retain him.

I'd say there's less than a 10% chance we keep Max. He rebuffed the earlier offer that was multi-year but not as many years as he wanted (think it was 7, he wanted 8?) and understandably wants to be paid more than JV who himself has an albatross contract at this point.

I think the Price trade was DD throwing up the white flag in resigning Max. Plus we still have VMart to worry about too.

Would love for Max to be back but I just don't see it

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>I would have to think Yankees fans would get pretty pissed off if the team went balls out to get Hanley Ramirez when they could have just brought back a far better player in Cano. Yeah Hanley won't get a deal quite as large as Cano's but still.

They're definitely making a big splash though after 2 straight years of no playoffs, even with A-Rod coming back onto the books. Anything you hear from the Yankees about trying to cut costs is just posturing.</font>

[Emperor Smeat]

If anyone wants some reading, MLB Trade Rumors has posted their Top 50 Free Agents and Predictions list.

They got Scherzer at #1 and going to the Yankees. Which, to be honest, I don't see happening. Me thinks the Tigers will do what they can to retain him.

Even if the Tigers lose him, already guaranteed a draft pick since they gave him an offer. Wouldn't be surprised if the Red Sox make a strong push for him as a back-up plan in case they can't get Lester (or feel like splurging on both).

[Damian Rey]

I wish the Padres would can Bud Black. Not one young former to prospect has developed under his tenure. Headley had one stellar year surrounded by solid but unspectacular years. No other player has flourished with him at the helm.

[ClockShot]

I was gonna mention in my earlier post that HanRam is a bit of a head case and wouldn't want him. Plus he'd be way too expensive and will be stuck with him for a long time.

Would much rather go after Asdrubal Cabrera or Jed Lowrie to fill the hole at SS. Cost less money and years until we get someone on the farm ready for the bigs.

[ClockShot]

Reports going around the net are saying the Twins offered Paul Molitor the Manager's job.

[Emperor Smeat]

Cubs officially hired Joe Maddon for 5 years, $25 million and unlike the past Rays deal, doesn't include an opt-out clause.

Twins hired Paul Molitor with his deal being 3 years.

[Droford]

Its pretty weird having been to Wrigley Field to see the pictures of the renovation work being done and to see the bleachers be completely gone..

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Gold Glove winners announced:

AL
P: Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros
C: Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals
1B: Eric Hosmer, Kansas City Royals
2B: Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox
SS: JJ Hardy, Baltimore Orioles
3B: Kyle Seager, Seattle Mariners
LF: Alex Gordon, Kansas City Royals
CF: Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles
RF: Nick Markakis, Baltimore Orioles

NL
P: Zack Greinke, Los Angeles Dodgers
C: Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals
1B: Adrian Gonzalez, Los Angeles Dodgers
2B: D.J. LeMahieu, Colorado Rockies
SS: Andrelton Simmons, Atlanta Braves
3B: Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies
LF: Christian Yelich, Miami Marlins
CF: Juan Lagares, New York Mets
RF: Jason Heyward, Atlanta Braves</font>

[ClockShot]

Overnight stuff.


South Korean pitcher Kwang-hyun Kim was posted today by his team the SK Wyverns. Hyeon-jong Yang will also be posted by his team the Kia Tigers in the near future. And since they're coming from South Korea, old posting rules apply. Teams put in a blind bids, posting team picks the highest, 30 days to negotiate.


Dodgers hire asst. A's GM Farhan Zaidi as their new GM. Josh Byrnes also joins the front office in some capacity.


Finally, Alfonso Soriano calls it a career. :wavesad:

[road doggy dogg]

http://tigers.mlblogs.com/2014/11/03/alan-trammell-named-special-assistant-to-the-general-manager

Fuck yeah. Welcome home.

[Droford]

Whoever Brad Halsey was, he died in a climbing accident. Name rings a bell, haven't looked him up.

Pitched for the Yankees, Dbacks and As