MLB 2009 Season Thread

[ClockShot]

Molina now to the 15 day DL, if there is a baseball corner I can huddle up and cry in, lemme know

Well A-Rod returns tonight at South Bronx if it any consolation.:(

[bigdaddysuperfreak]

Well A-Rod returns tonight at South Bronx if it any consolation.:(
And hits a 3run hr in his first at bat

[Innovator]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! A-ROD!

[Dragon]

Nice, first pitch he sees and gives the Yankees there first lead since last Saturday.

[parkmania]

Please get C.C. a win tonight. I REALLY need him to A) have a good outing and B) get some support from the bullpen and bats.

[ClockShot]

In the words of Stone Cold Steve Austin.

"GIVE ME A HELL YEAH!"

[bigdaddysuperfreak]

In the words of Stone Cold Steve Austin.

"GIVE ME A HELL YEAH!"
Hell Yeah! and congrats on your 8k post.:y:

[YOUR Hero]

Come on Jays.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Jerry Manuel suspended one game for bumping Bill Welke.

While I agree with the suspension...I'm frustrated it had to happen because the call Jerry was arguing was so blatantly bullshit. Shane Victorino was caught in a run down between Reyes and Delgado...and he went out of his way to shove Reyes...which caused the ump to call obstruction on Reyes even though he wasn't obstructing shit. Thankfully it didn't matter as the Mets won anyway.

Between this incident, his constant taunting of the Mets on the field, his clipping of infielders when he slides into second, and the fact that last year he stood flat-foot on home plate and double-pointed directly at the Mets dugout...I think Victorino has become the player I dislike the most.

Doesn't hurt his cause that Rollins has been shit this year and Chipper just has such a history against the Mets I just expect him to burn them at this point.</font>

[GOLDBERG'S BEST FRIEND]

It really is too bad that the MLB is so racist that they can frame Ramirez for juicing, and everyone just allows them to sweep it under the rug because of his Dominican heritage, and his dreads.

Manny has done nothing wrong. If wanting to have a healthier love making experience with his companion is a crime, then we all should get punished.

This is bullshit. :mad:

[Evil Vito]

http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200905084478819&c_id=det

<font color=goldenrod>LOL @ announcer</font>

[ClockShot]

Fucking Hughes. I've said it once, I'll say it again. The man's not ready for the big leagues yet.

[DaveWadding]

http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200905084478819&c_id=det

<font color=goldenrod>LOL @ announcer</font>

LMAO @ Grady's "No Dad, don't kill my puppy!" face

[DaveWadding]

I hate the D'Backs BTW. How do you leave 16 guys on base and not score a fuckin run?

[OssMan]

Yeah I fucking hate Victorino so much. Hated him for the past like 3 years. No idea

[RP]

In my money league, the last place guy in the league offered me Jacoby Elsbury for John Lackey straight up. I have Felix Hernandez, John Danks, Matt Garza and some really decent relief pitching. I picked up Franklin from St. Louis really early. I got Houston Street and Carlos Marmol ( working on getting Gregg too ). I think my pitching is like 1 really nice starter from being dominant. My team is 4th in the league and my only true weak spot in the lineup right now is Lance Berkman. I dont really need an outfielder and i think Lackey will come back strong. so i'm not sure about this trade.

Lackey for Elsbury? What you think? My outfield is stacked. I got Adam Jones, Carlos Beltran and Curtis Granderson, with Corey Hart and Hunter Pence taking turns in my utility spot.

[YOUR Hero]

You are sitting pretty, I don't even understand how your team could be so stacked. You are a little weak in the SB dept. and possibly runs scored. Jacoby would go a long way to sort that out.
PS ditch Street and Marmol.... what catergories do you play?

[RP]

Trends Batting
Pos Edit Batters Edit Opp Status % Started H/AB R HR RBI SB AVG OBP
C Russell Martin
(LAD - C,3B) C3BUtilBN SF 4:10 pm 85% -/- - - - - - -
1B Lance Berkman
(Hou - 1B) 1BUtilBN SD 2:05 pm 77% -/- - - - - - -
2B Asdrubal Cabrera
(Cle - 2B,SS) 2BSSUtilBN Det 1:05 pm 51% -/- - - - - - -
3B Mark Reynolds
(Ari - 3B) 3BUtilBN Was 4:10 pm 34% -/- - - - - - -
SS Hanley Ramírez
(Fla - SS) SSUtilBN @Col 3:10 pm 97% -/- - - - - - -
OF Adam Jones
(Bal - OF) OFUtilBN NYY 1:35 pm 70% -/- - - - - - -
OF Carlos Beltrán
(NYM - OF) OFUtilBN Pit 1:10 pm 97% -/- - - - - - -
OF Corey Hart
(Mil - OF) OFUtilBN ChC 2:05 pm 69% -/- - - - - - -
Util Curtis Granderson
(Det - OF) OFUtilBN @Cle 1:05 pm 87% -/- - - - - - -
BN Chris Young
(Ari - OF) OFUtilBN Was 4:10 pm 22% -/- - - - - - -
BN Dioner Navarro
(TB - C) CUtilBN @Bos 8:05 pm 21% -/- - - - - - -
BN Hunter Pence
(Hou - OF) OFUtilBN SD 2:05 pm 71% -/- - - - - - -
BN Alberto Callaspo
(KC - 2B,SS) 2BSSUtilBN @LAA 3:35 pm 23% -/- - - - - - -
BN --empty-- - - - - - - - -
DL --empty-- - - - - - - - -
Starting Lineup Totals - - - - - - -
Trends Pitching
Pos Edit Pitchers Edit Opp Status % Started IP W L SV K ERA WHIP
SP Félix Hernández
(Sea - SP) SPPBN @Min 2:10 pm 81% - - - - - - -
SP Matt Garza
(TB - SP) SPPBN ^ @Bos 8:05 pm 73% - - - - - - -
RP Carlos Mármol
(ChC - RP) RPPBN @Mil 2:05 pm 76% - - - - - - -
RP Huston Street
(Col - RP) RPPBN Fla 3:10 pm 63% - - - - - - -
P John Danks
(CWS - SP) SPPBN Tex 2:05 pm 59% - - - - - - -
P Ryan Franklin
(StL - RP) RPPBN @Cin 1:10 pm 83% - - - - - - -
P John Lackey
(LAA - SP) DL SPPBNDL KC 3:35 pm 18% - - - - - - -
BN David Price
(TB - SP) NA SPPBN @Bos 8:05 pm

[RP]

Probably gunna package Price with a bench OF for a closer.

[RP]

R, HR, RBI, SB, AVG, OBP, W, L, SV, K, ERA, WHIP

[YOUR Hero]

If you could also improve @ 2B or 3B (which isn't too bad) you'd be that much scarier.

[RP]

I like Cabrera and Callaspo tbh. Picked them both up. Replace Mike Aviles. Was gunna trade Hanley and move Callaspo in SS. Maybe pickup a really nice 1b and another pitcher, but then Hanley started to show some life.

[RP]

12 team league btw. I'm now in 5th in my league. 4 teams make the playoffs. We're using LeagueSafe for the payouts. Not sure if you're familiar with this, but i'm thinking about using it for TPWW come football time. 12 teams, $20 per. First place is like 160 i think. I forget. Pays 1st - 3rd.

It's still early, but i love my team. Accept for Berkman and Martin. No clue whats wrong with either of them.

[RP]

I'm probably reaching, but someone in my league dropped Fausto Carmona and I have way too many OF's including Chris " deadbeat " Young . So i dropped him and put in a waiver for Carmona. Gunna roll the dice. Hope he gets his control back and starts dealing like he did before he went down.

[parkmania]

Here's my middle-of-the-pack team in a 5x5 league:
C- R. Martin
1B- K. Youkilis
2B- D. Pedroia
3B- G. Atkins
SS- J. Rollins
OF- E. Byrnes
OF- K.Fukudome
OF- C. Crawford
U- C. Delgado
U- M. Tejada
U- D. Fowler
U- C. Duncan
U- R. Branyan
SP- C.C. Sabathia
SP- J. Santana
SP- J. Vazquez
SP- T. Wellemeyer
RP- J. Papelbon
RP- B. Jenks
P- Z. Duke
P- M. Capps
DL- J. Lackey
DL- E. Santana

Wellemeyer and Duke are prolly the first to go once Lackey and E. Santana get back. I'm very low on HR and RBI. Anyone have any suggestions for guys flying under the radar?

[Dragon]

LOL, even as a Yankee fan that Aubrey Huff mock fist pump was pretty funny yesterday.

Not really sure why everyone gets so upset about Joba's fist pumps. Joba should flip off the batter every time he strikes someone out. You would think he's doing worse than that with the way people complain about it on ESPN and the radio.

[Adder]

I'm probably reaching, but someone in my league dropped Fausto Carmona and I have way too many OF's including Chris " deadbeat " Young . So i dropped him and put in a waiver for Carmona. Gunna roll the dice. Hope he gets his control back and starts dealing like he did before he went down.
Carmona's no good. All he was ever good for was wins. Might as well pick up Jamie Moyer if you are looknig for wins.

[Evil Vito]

LOL, even as a Yankee fan that Aubrey Huff mock fist pump was pretty funny yesterday.

Not really sure why everyone gets so upset about Joba's fist pumps. Joba should flip off the batter every time he strikes someone out. You would think he's doing worse than that with the way people complain about it on ESPN and the radio.

<font color=goldenrod>I think people only get pissed when he fist pumps in non-critical situations or blowouts. Otherwise I see no reason to complain.

I want to see someone fist pump when Joba walks him.</font>

[Loose Cannon]

nah, that shit would annoy me if I was playing. I hate when guys over react like that when they do something that you see all the time like a strikeout.

[DaveWadding]

I think I'm in love with Justin Upton. :love:

[Supreme Olajuwon]

yeah but how bout the rest of those D'Backs, Davey :love:

[Supreme Olajuwon]

:heart::heart::heart: Adam Rosales' home run sprint

http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090511&content_id=4679034&vkey=news_cin&fext=.jsp&c_id=cin

Gotta love a kid who's that excited to be in the majors

[DaveWadding]

yeah but how bout the rest of those D'Backs, Davey :love:


Garland & Korecky :nono:

To be totally fair, I could have pitched 2 better innings than Bobby Korecky.

Jesus @ Dusty though...hanging Arroyo out to dry. 125 pitches. That's ridic in a game like this.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

That's not that much for a guy like Arroyo. He's not throwing hard and you're giving the bullpen a breather. It'd be one thing if he did it with Cueto or Volquez but I don't have a problem with Arroyo doing it.

[DaveWadding]

Josh Wilson is BIG LEAGUE.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Slick Willy T with a 5 hit ballgame tonight :love:

[ClockShot]

Toronto is gonna be a war zone tonight. Doc Halliday vs. AJ Burnett.

Fate? Coincidene?

[Innovator]

Gonna be hot, and by hot I mean AJ and Halladay being good while the Yankees's bats are stagnant

[YOUR Hero]

Toronto needs to win. If they don't, not just this game but this series, it might affect their confidence.

[Innovator]

Thank god the Yankees didn't trade away Phil Hughes for Johan Santana

[Dragon]

And the daily Yankee injury today appears to be Derek Jeter. Scratched from the lineup with some oblique trouble or something. Pretty menacing lineup out there against Halladay tonight.

Gardner
Damon
Tex
A-Rod
Matsui
Cano
Melky
Cash
Pena

Hopefully they can pull out a hit or two.

[Innovator]

Look at that NL lineup

[Gertner]

Feldman vs Vargas. Bizarro Seinfeld pitching match up in Texas tonight.

[Terra Ryzin]

Mets hate Santana...he has 2 loses this season..combined ER's allowed in 2 loses? ZERO...ZEROOOOOO!!!! how do you get 2 loses without giving up a run!!!!!!!

[Dragon]

Yankees couldn't even make it through 5 innings without an injury. Matsui comes out with something wrong with his hamstring.

Yankees doing what I expected them to. Halladay could pitch 15 innings at this rate.

[Innovator]

PUT THE BAT ON THE FUCKING BALL, YOU HIT THE FUCKING BALL

[ClockShot]

Damon realllllllly wants to stick around for another few years. Only Yankee who knows how to hit the ball.

[Innovator]

Yankees need to uproot and change how this team plays ball, geting ridiculous

[ClockShot]

Wang played in AAA tonight. Went 6 giving up 3 hits, 3 walks and 6 strikeouts. Went 82-49

Maybe he got his groove back?

[Dragon]

Apparently his velocity was back closer to normal too, which is a good sign he's figured something out.

[Gertner]

Jays bitch. Don't mess with the best.

[Gertner]

The doctor is in. A.J hope you and your over-rated ass enjoyed getting schooled with the rest of the Yankees.

[Innovator]

Halladay is dirrrrty

The question is, does Wang still have the sink on the Unsinkable, next to the Terminator

[DaveWadding]

Brandon Phillips is a monster.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Brandon Phillips is a monster.
:love: 452 feet

[RP]

So glad i didnt deal Hanley Ramirez. He's killing it now. 357avg.

[Loose Cannon]

Roy Halladay is the one guy in baseball I want to see pitch before he retires. I'll argue he's been the best pitcher over the last decade. He's played for a mediocre team for the past 10+ years, he has a .600+ winning %, and he has 41 complete games in an era where you're lucky if pitchers get through the 6th inning. The guy is a work horse and a throw back to the older era's.

[YOUR Hero]

LC what you say hurts and yet puts a smile on my face.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>lol Chipper Jones crying to the media about the blown call when Beltran stole 3rd. If the roles has been reversed he would have smiled with glee.

LOL @ Jeff Bennett walking in the winning run. Come on. I really don't see how Major League pitchers can do that. If you get into that situation you NEED to just throw it right down the plate and force the guy to win it on his own.</font>

[SammyG]

Come on Dodgers, fuck. Ethier batting .130 since Manny got suspended.

[parkmania]

Traded away E. Santana for Kubel. Dropped Fowler to make room.

[ClockShot]

Ryan Zimmerman's 30-game hit streak ends.

[Dragon]

I wonder if David Ortiz realizes that Bret Gardner has more homeruns than him on May 13th.

[DaveWadding]

MANNY WHO?


DODGEEEEEEEE SHOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

[SammyG]

... leading the NL West, 10 games over .500....

DOODGE SHOW.

douchebag.

[DaveWadding]

You know, Samuel, I have this friend...the kettle. Maybe you would like to meet him sometime?

[DaveWadding]

Hate the D'Backs right now.

[Skippord]

The Rockies just might be the least consistent team in the history of sports

[RBM]

Wow, it's really time that Francona and the Sox swallow their pride and drop Ortiz down in the order or consider replacing him. What a pathetic showing today and all year, really.

I would've said the same about Texeira but he seems to be coming around a bit.

[Gertner]

anybody else see this? Us jays fans get bored.

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/97UAtFJ-XOI&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/97UAtFJ-XOI&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

[Nervous Ferret]

yeah lol those guys were doing it all game

[Innovator]

I would like to take this time to remind everyone that NerF and David Ortiz are tied in HRs this year

[Hanso Amore]

I would like to take this time to remind everyone that NerF and David Ortiz are tied in HRs this year

lol

[DaveWadding]

http://sports.espn.go.com/photo/2007/0412/pg2_justin_upton_195.jpg


:love: :love: :love:

[ClockShot]

Hughes on the hill at home. And A-Rod makes his debut at Yankee Stadium.

Should make for an interesting night.

[ClockShot]

FUCK!

There goes the lone offense of the team.

[Dragon]

Some of those calls on Damon were the worst I've ever seen. Not much you can do when you strike out on balls 5 inches off the plate outside in one at bat and then 5 inches off the plate inside on your next at bat.

[ClockShot]

Gardener got some legs.

[Gertner]

Brett freaking Cecil

[Supreme Olajuwon]

I know it'll never happen, but this season there is a very real possibility that we could have 4 Triple Crown winners. Greinke, Santana, Pujols, and Longoria are all at the top or very near the top of the majors categories. Wouldn't that be something

[ClockShot]

Yankees.

[Hanso Amore]

We need some major bullpen help. These scrubs are not going to last throug hthe year and be of use in the offseason.

They need to do whatever it takes to land at least 2 relievers this season. When Tomko is of of the best we have in the pen, something needs to be done.

[SammyG]

Doooodge show

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Lackey ejected after 1 batter. WHAT

[Supreme Olajuwon]

LOL and it was his season debut and it was after 2 pitches. How does that happen?

[ClockShot]

Did Ian Kinsler piss off every team? He got it from Jenks last week.

[Skippord]

Other teams fear the Kinsler

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>ROFL Joe Maddon listed two third basemen (number 5) in their lineup today...with Longoria circled to show he was the DH. The Indians called it into question and it was determined that the Rays had burned their use of the DH for the game.

The end result? Andy Sonnanstine batting third and Evan Longoria on the bench.</font>

[Dragon]

Nice, three walk offs in a row for the Yankees. Pretty crazy.

[Nervous Ferret]

Last week or so has been an EXCITING TIME to be a Yankee fan. Not only 3 straight walk-offs but 5 nail-biters in a row!!!

[ClockShot]

Sweet. Another day of free baseball.

[Hanso Amore]

<font color=goldenrod>ROFL Joe Maddon listed two third basemen (number 5) in their lineup today...with Longoria circled to show he was the DH. The Indians called it into question and it was determined that the Rays had burned their use of the DH for the game.

The end result? Andy Sonnanstine batting third and Evan Longoria on the bench.</font>

LOL YOUR KIDDING? WTF!

[Hanso Amore]

LOL, And the Rays win!

[Dragon]

Yeah, Sonnastine had an RBI double on top of it.

[YOUR Hero]

Watching Pelfrey play balk ball.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Steve Phillips ripped Carlos Beltran a new asshole on the ESPN broadcast, saying he wasn't the player they thought they were getting.

I'd like to know where he's been the past three and a half seasons as Beltran's only bad year in NY was 2005.</font>

[Gertner]

jays bitch. jays.

[toxic rooster]

Watching Pelfrey play balk ball.

What was the last balk for?

[YOUR Hero]

Moved his right arm and then stopped. Kinda shit, but I think they called it because they let ANOTHER more blatant go a bit earlier.

[YOUR Hero]

Steve Phillips ripped Carlos Beltran a new asshole on the ESPN broadcast, saying he wasn't the player they thought they were getting.

I'd like to know where he's been the past three and a half seasons as Beltran's only bad year in NY was 2005.

What did they want?

8 HRS in every 12 games? Stupid.

[SammyG]

Damn, Kershaw almost had a no hitter.

[Skippord]

The Rockies Bullpen makes me want to kill things

those things are namely the Rockies Bullpen

[The Gold Standard]

Morneau is a beast

[The Gold Standard]

I am happy that the World Series games will start before 8 now.

[ClockShot]

SWEEP!

[Innovator]

BALLGAME OVER, YANKEES WIN












THHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE YANKEES WIN

[YOUR Hero]

Damn, Kershaw almost had a no hitter.
no he didn't. There are 9 innings in a game. When he's at 8+ inning and gives up a hit, then and only then can it be said "Kershaw almost had a no hitter"

[Supreme Olajuwon]

especially if he only goes 7 innings

he would've been over 140 pitches if he was going to go the distance.

[ClockShot]

The Orioles again? Who wrote our schedule this year?

[Supreme Olajuwon]

I dunno who wrote your schedule but the Yankees schedule was made up by Major League Baseball. :y:

[Adder]

The Jays make me so nervous. If only they had healthy pitching. I'll enjoy it while I can.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>I swear, it seems like in the majority of their losses this season the Mets have beaten themselves with retarded mistakes. 5 errors last night AND Ryan Church doesn't touch 3rd base.</font>

[Terra Ryzin]

<font color=goldenrod>I swear, it seems like in the majority of their losses this season the Mets have beaten themselves with retarded mistakes. 5 errors last night AND Ryan Church doesn't touch 3rd base.</font>

that had to be the worst 2 innings of baseball ever played! church misses the bag, pagan bumps into beltran and makes him the drop the ball, then the trow the ball away on a 1 out bases loader grouner that would probably been a dp. AWFUL!!

thats whats killing me about the mets this year..they are hitting, they are piching but sooo many mental errors.

[ClockShot]

Another solid outing by Sabathia, Bruney returns, A-Rod and Teixeira are on fire right now.

Judgement day for Chien-Ming Wang goes down sometime in the next few days (no pun intended). He'll throw a bullpen session at the stadium and I guess Eiland and Girardi will make the call to bring him back or not.

[Dragon]

A-Rod has seven hits since getting back from the DL and five have been homeruns.

Nice to have Bruney back too.

[Gertner]

fuckign wakefield kills the jays every time

[SammyG]

I looove LAAAAA

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

fuckign wakefield kills the jays every time
Got worried in the 8th, especially after Pedoria and Bailey just watched that pop-up fall to the ground.

[Evil Vito]

http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/sea/ticketing/special_group.jsp?group=cheezburger

<font color=goldenrod>Wow, just wow.</font>

[OssMan]

I will be attending Cheezburger Night at Safeco™ Field.

[ClockShot]

Back to back to back.

THAT'S THE FACT, JACK!

[Triple Naitch]

http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/sea/ticketing/special_group.jsp?group=cheezburger

Wow, just wow.

I think they have a retarded intern.

[DaveWadding]

Justin Upton, HITTING MACHINE. :love:

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Fucking hell. Mets looked atrocious in LA. I wish I could take solace in the fact that the Dodgers are just really good at home...but now they have to go to Boston and there is no chance in hell they win more than 1 game in that series. It'll be back to .500 or worse after this roadtrip. Unreal.</font>

[Supreme Olajuwon]

NEWS

The Padres have worked out a deal to trade Jake Peavy to Chicago and are awaiting Peavy's approval.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

White Sox btw

[DaveBrawl]

Love this, means the Rockies may not be last in that division.

[Adder]

Wonder if Peavey will decline this trade. He's big on the National League.

[ClockShot]

:rofl:

Peavy should decline the trade. ChiSox announce it and they got destroyed this afternoon.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Apparently Peavy wants to stay in the National League and he won't wave his no trade clause. I guess the White Sox weren't that much of an upgrade anyway.

[SammyG]

lolllll Peavy shoots down the trade. That's awesome.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

Why is he so dead set on staying in the NL? Has he given a reason?

[Supreme Olajuwon]

He's a good hitter so maybe that's why

[YOUR Hero]

The Cubs wanted him, I wonder if that'll spur them back into trade action for him.

[Hanso Amore]

He fears the AL lineups.

[Dragon]

Looking forward to the Phillies coming to Yankee Stadium. I imagine there will be a ridiculous amount of homeruns in this series.

[Loose Cannon]

He fears the AL lineups.

he probably took one look at the last month at Yankee Stadium and said no thank you.

"Peavy coming into the game with only giving up 2 homer runs this season...and the pitch.....A-ROD sends a sky high popup into right....should be an easy play.....wait a minute....it's gone....home run!!!!!!!

Peavy: :|

[ClockShot]

Wang returns tonight. He's in the bullpen and available.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

Red Sox playing well right now, hopefully the Jays aren't for real and the Rays don't get hot. Yankees on a streak too tho, hopefully their stadium comes back to bite them with all the homers.

[Triple Naitch]

Friday, May 22, 2009
Be our Valentine: Fans back manager
<hr size="1" width="100%" noshade="noshade"> Associated Press

CHIBA, Japan -- Bobby Valentine put the fans first in Japan, and in his moment of need, they're paying him back. An increasing number of fans of the Chiba Lotte Marines are holding nightly vigils in support of their manager, upset at the Japanese baseball club's refusal to extend his contract beyond the end of this season.

In his seventh season with the Marines, the charismatic Valentine has long been a fan favorite in Japan. That's not only for what he's done on the field -- the Marines won the Japan Series championship in 2005 -- but also because he's made significant progress in making Japanese baseball more fan-friendly. "We want to show our support for Bobby," Chiba Lotte fan Jun Okazaki said. "He gives us exciting baseball and makes us feel like we all have a chance in life." Fans in right field at Chiba Marine Stadium wear T-shirts that say "Bobby 2010" and wave huge signs with slogans such as

"No Bobby, No Marines," and "Always Behind Bobby." Before going into the stadium, fans can sign a petition to keep Valentine beyond the 2009 season. Okazaki said they already have about 50,000 signatures for Valentine, who led the New York Mets (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=nym) to the World Series in 2000. "It's an amazing thing, I find it hard to put into words what this means to me," an emotional Valentine said Friday. "These fans decided this is what they are going to do and they go out and do it. These are people with jobs: executives, students, housewives, it's an incredible thing." Valentine's presence is felt everywhere at Chiba Marine Stadium. There is a special section of the stadium where kids can sit in the "Bobby Seats" free of charge and a street near the stadium has been renamed Valentine Way.

Even when things aren't going that well -- the team missed the playoffs last year and got off to a slow start this season -- Lotte fans just can't seem to get enough of Bobby V, who signs autographs and poses for pictures with fans every chance he gets. Team president Ryuzo Setoyama announced in the offseason that the team couldn't afford Valentine after this season. While Valentine prefers not to discuss the specifics of his contract, reports in Japan suggest that he makes $3.9 million per season. After being told the team would not bring him back for 2010, Valentine offered to re-negotiate his contract to make it more affordable for management to keep him on the payroll.

There are signs the situation is becoming a problem for Lotte's front office. In April, Setoyama was forced to deny rumors the club was considering relocating because of the fan protests. In minutes from a team meeting that were leaked to the Japanese media, Setoyama was quoted by Kyodo News agency as saying, "If we have unworthy fans like this, let's move [our home stadium]." Setoyama denied the comments, saying they were a "forgery." Meanwhile, the 59-year-old Valentine has said he accepts the team's decision and is doing his best to keep things positive in the clubhouse.

"It's definitely a bizarre situation," said Lotte outfielder Benny Agbayani (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=3868), who also played for Valentine in New York. "I've never seen a situation like this where a manager was told so far in advance that his contract wouldn't be renewed. It's a major distraction for sure but Bobby is dealing with it well." The standoff between Lotte fans and management is reminiscent of 1995, when Valentine was let go despite leading the team to a second-place finish in the Pacific League. Valentine, a native of Stamford, Conn., returned to the United States to manage in the major leagues, and his success with the Mets only added to his popularity with Lotte fans who felt betrayed by management.

General manager Tatsuro Hirooka said Valentine was being let go because he didn't understand Japanese baseball. Others argued his popularity with the players and the fans rubbed Hirooka the wrong way. As they are doing now, fans tried to petition the club in '95 to keep Valentine, but it was too late. This time, they began at the start of the season and hope their efforts pay off.

"We're here for every home game and will be here until the end of the season," Okazaki said. The Marines are in fifth place in the six-team Pacific League, and the top three teams qualify for the postseason. If Valentine can get his Marines to move up the standings in the next few months, the showdown between Lotte fans and the front office is likely to heat up.

It's amazing how much of a god Bobby V is in Japan. I've always liked the guy, no matter how bad his teams would play at times in the Majors.

[ClockShot]

Oh boy.

[Boomer]

Amazing Blue Jays v. Braves tonight. Love me a pitchers duel.

[OssMan]

I went to Chiba

[McLegend]

Brade Lidge has a very good chance to blow this game.

[McLegend]

there ya go.

[Innovator]

AN AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABOMB

[Innovator]

FROM AAAAAAAROD

[Dragon]

10 hits this year and 7 are homeruns.

[Innovator]

THE MELKMAN DELIVERS!!!!!!!!!

[McLegend]

Retarded

[ClockShot]

C & C boys working overtime.

[SammyG]

I love my Dodgers, but we hella struggle during interleague.

[Jeritron]

That's because the AL is better.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Fucking hell. Mets looked atrocious in LA. I wish I could take solace in the fact that the Dodgers are just really good at home...but now they have to go to Boston and there is no chance in hell they win more than 1 game in that series. It'll be back to .500 or worse after this roadtrip. Unreal.</font>

<font color=goldenrod>Well, they certainly proved me wrong.</font> :o

[Innovator]

Thank you Mets for blowing up Papelbon

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

No a single rain drop here yet we got a rain delay at Fenway

[McLegend]

I give no credit to the Yankees for these 2 games.

[Innovator]

Yeah, just give it all to Melky himself

[McLegend]

I give all the credit to Brad Lidge.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Hilarious epic fail by FOX yesterday:</font>

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[Loose Cannon]

LOL

[ClockShot]

That game could have been won today. Was scratching my head a few times as to some of the moves Girardi did.

[SammyG]

lol @ Fox's fail

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/29q0MObTN1s&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/29q0MObTN1s&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

[OssMan]

lol @ Damon getting thrown out at home twice

[DaveWadding]

C'mon stima, that's nothing compared to this:

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AviQibB8ijk&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AviQibB8ijk&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

Mark Grace is a legend.

[Dragon]

I think during that same game Eckersley was trying to say Masterson and he ended up saying masturbate lol.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zCDAh92Jxk

[ClockShot]

I get memorial day and all, but I'm not digging these red hats the Yankees are wearing.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

C'mon stima, that's nothing compared to this:

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AviQibB8ijk&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AviQibB8ijk&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

Mark Grace is a legend.

Dennis Eckersley isn't a legend?

[RatedGSuperstar]

I get memorial day and all, but I'm not digging these red hats the Yankees are wearing.

Agreed. The blue hats they had for Memorial Day/July 4th last year looked a lot better for every team. It sucked having to watch the Brewers play the Cards today wearing red hats.

Speaking of that, the Brewers are something like 11 for their last 12 against the Cards, and today's was a classic. Gallardo had a no-hitter going into the 6th, Carpenter had a perfect game going into the 7th, and the Brewers won 1-0 in 10 innings. 5 total hits in the game and a ton of incredible defensive plays. Fuck the AL and their 13-7 games. :lol:

[Supreme Olajuwon]

I get memorial day and all, but I'm not digging these red hats the Yankees are wearing.

Stupid concept. And why red? If you're going to do it, why can't teams choose between red and blue?

The Pirates looked like they were just wearing Phillies caps.

Although since I was watching the Reds Astros game, I had no clue something special was going on.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

Liked last year's hats a lot better. Was gonna say its a marketing ploy but I guess all the proceeds go to a good cause so I can't really hate.

[Hanso Amore]

Liked last year's hats a lot better. Was gonna say its a marketing ploy but I guess all the proceeds go to a good cause so I can't really hate.

Red is a very common color in regards to Veterans, to whom the money goes. SO that is where the red comes in.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Yeah I liked last year's much better, the dark blue really didn't clash with most teams' uniforms. But definitely a worthwhile cause. Might buy a Mets one just because I haven't got a red hat yet.</font> :o

[YOUR Hero]

Dang Jays. 7 losses in a row now. They start getting better pitchers back and things are going the wrong direction. A still believe they can remain competitive. They do have one of the best records in baseball from around this period last year to know. The talent is there.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>If there's one thing that pisses me off about the Mets more than anything, it's how stingy they are with roster moves.

First off Reyes...they've said if he can't play by Friday, he will go on the DL. But since he played in a game and a half during the roadtrip, the DL trip can only be retroactive to May 20 so he won't be able to return until the first week of June...if they had DL'ed him as soon as he got injured he would be getting ready to come back by now.

So they've been playing Ramon Martinez at shortstop, and he's been atrocious and injured himself but the Mets aren't willing to promote one of the couple of minor leaguers who can play a good shortstop, because they aren't on the 40 man roster. Who the fuck cares if you need to put them on the 40 man roster? They aren't projected to be more than big league backups anyway.

Then to top all of that off, Ryan Church has been injured and they won't DL him either, so the Mets are going with a 23 man roster with two less bench guys. Thank fuck Livan Hernandez can be a decent pinch hitter when he doesn't start.</font>

[DaveWadding]

I think they're gonna bring back the navy ones for July 4th.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Well, the Mets answered my concerns. They put Reyes and Church on the DL, acquired Wilson Valdez, and called-up top prospect Fernando Martinez</font>

[Nervous Ferret]

After allowing 1 run in his complete game victory against the Tigers today, Zack Greinke's ERA raised from .82 all the way up to .84 :o

9 starts, 7 earned runs, 75 innings 81Ks :o:o:o:o

[SammyG]

lol keep talking about your Cubs, Yankees, whatever.

Dodgers easily best record in baseball. WITHOUT MANNY.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

It's May

[DaveBrawl]

They've been playing my Rockies. I'm pretty sure there are AA teams that could beat them some nights.

[YOUR Hero]

I'd like to see the Dodgers play in a tough division.

[The Gold Standard]

I would like to see the Dodgers play in a tough division too. It would be interesting. I think they can last in the NL Central and maybe AL West. I don't think they can last in the AL/NL East or AL Central.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

The AL Central? Are you kidding?

[Supreme Olajuwon]

It pains me to see that people still think the NL Central is weak even though it produced 4 teams with winning records last year including the WC winner and currently has 4 teams at .500 or better this season. Guess how many other divisions can make that claim

[parkmania]

Um, Supreme, the Phillies are in the NL East...

Also, the NL Central has 6 teams, a little bit of an advantage when it comes to saying 4 teams over .500

[SammyG]

k, when we make the WS, we'll see what excuses you come up with then.

[Nervous Ferret]

Um, parkmania, you might want to go ahead and read Supreme's post again.

You tell us what you've done wrong here

[SammyG]

18 games over .500 after this win here.

[DaveWadding]

k, when we make the WS, we'll see what excuses you come up with then.

Were you one of those Make-a-Wish kids they made 26th man for a day or something?

[The Gold Standard]

Johan is having an OK game for him and he still has 11 k's He is sick

[ClockShot]

Burnett needs to chalk up a win tonight.

[The Gold Standard]

Yeah he does.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Feels good to sweep the Nats...games like that against AAA-quality teams are the kind of games the Mets were losing all the time last year.</font>

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Um, Supreme, the Phillies are in the NL East...

Also, the NL Central has 6 teams, a little bit of an advantage when it comes to saying 4 teams over .500
Very good. And the Milwaukee Brewers, the Wild Card winner last year, are in the NL Central.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

For future reference, WC = Wild Card. It's an acronym. :y:

[SammyG]

Duh..(?)

[DaveWadding]

Carlos Zambrano is the greatest. Seriously.

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bTGPvKesp4A&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bTGPvKesp4A&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>]

[Supreme Olajuwon]

He's a grown man who throws temper tantrums like he's two. He should be embarrassed.

[ClockShot]

Thanks, Dice-K.

[YOUR Hero]

Jaysssss

9 losses in a row. That's stupid.

[SammyG]

God, Pierre is teaaarring it upppppp since Manny got suspended.

[parkmania]

Yeah, ok. I saw "WS" instead of "WC". :shame: on me.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

Can't believe how bad Ortiz is hitting right now, it's unreal

[SammyG]

Here, I will be Wadding and brag about a regular season win...

DOOOODGE SHOW SUCK IT CUBS DOOOODGE SHOWWWWW

[DaveWadding]

It's May

[SammyG]

Yeah. If the Cubs win tommorrow I guarentee you will brag about it, fatass.

[YOUR Hero]

God, Pierre is teaaarring it upppppp since Manny got suspended.

Pierre ain't Manny, but the last 2-3 years he's always tossed aside and put in the position of 4th OF or worse, yet each year circumstances place in back in a position to be a everyday player and he delivers.

[ClockShot]

Word going around is that Rockies Manager Clint Hurdle will be fired. Bench coach Jim Tracy will take over for the remainder of the season.

[SammyG]

I really hope Manny does not get voted into the All-Star game.

[RatedGSuperstar]

Word going around is that Rockies Manager Clint Hurdle will be fired. Bench coach Jim Tracy will take over for the remainder of the season.

Really about time...he probably bought himself an extra year or two with the World Series appearance, but he was never a good manager. Interesting that Tracy's getting another chance at managing.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

Cubs just beat the Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Nervous Ferret]

CUBSHOWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

[DaveWadding]

CUBBBBBBBBB SSSSHOWWWWWWWWWWW

GONNA WIN THE WORLD SERIES

AWWWWWW YEAHHHHHHHHH

[ClockShot]

Fucking flies.

This brings back bad memories.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Jim Tracy was stuck in a destined to fail position in Pittsburgh but I always thought the guy was a pretty good manager. I'd say Colorado might just chance upon finding a pretty good skipper.

[Dragon]

And the Yankees are in sole possession of first place for the first time since the last game of the 06 season. I knew its been awhile but I didn't realize how long.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Mets trade C Ramon Castro to the White Sox for RHP Lance Broadway.

I like Castro, but there was no way they could get rid of Omir Santos or go with 3 catchers with Schneider coming back from the DL tomorrow. Of course, I'd prefer to just get rid of Schneider, but whatever.

Santos</font> :love:

[SammyG]

Eeexactly

[DaveWadding]

YEAHHHHHHH

CUBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB SHOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[ClockShot]

Tribe sportin' throwbacks today?

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>College baseball, but whatever:

Texas: 3
Boston College: 2

25 innings
7 hours, 3 minutes

A reliever for Texas pitched 13 scoreless innings, including 12 1/3 no hit innings.

What the fuck.</font>

[SammyG]

lol whatttt

[Jeritron]

Yea that game was insane. I turned it on in the 17th because my brother texted me

[Terra Ryzin]

lol john maine had to leave the game in the start of the 7th cause of "stomach pains"....he had to shit!

[Supreme Olajuwon]

I was complaining about the red hat thing for Memorial Day but these are pretty sick

http://ctrentrosecrans.com/wp-content/uploads/pmlb2-5839746dt-300x300.jpg

[SammyG]

DODDGE SHOW. oh wait, it's a regular season game .

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

<font color=goldenrod>College baseball, but whatever:

Texas: 3
Boston College: 2

25 innings
7 hours, 3 minutes

A reliever for Texas pitched 13 scoreless innings, including 12 1/3 no hit innings.

What the fuck.</font>
FSU beat Ohio State 37-6 today and the game before Ohio State had like 20+ runs dropped on them as well. Rough weekend for the Buckeyes

[Evil Vito]

FSU beat Ohio State 37-6 today and the game before Ohio State had like 20+ runs dropped on them as well. Rough weekend for the Buckeyes

<font color=goldenrod>God damn. I never paid much attention to college baseball...ridiculous shit like this though kinda makes me want to.</font>

[Splaya]

Tigers putting it together at the right time. Although losing to Baltimore the first 2 games of the 4 game set kinda made me go :mad:

[OssMan]

Milton Bradley signed my cousin's hat yesterday

:(

[Testicle]

Tigers putting it together at the right time. Although losing to Baltimore the first 2 games of the 4 game set kinda made me go :mad:

Yea, but they ended up with a split.

They got boston next, with matsusaka pitching on tuesday, he has really strugled with a era of 8. something. Tigers should win that one for sure with porcello pitching.

As good as boston is, I expect the tigers to take this series.

[The Gold Standard]

Lets go Yankees!!

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Wow, JJ Putz continues to be absolute garbage. I think the Mets may seriously need to consider trading him because he just can't adjust to the 8th inning.</font>

[ClockShot]

Ahhhhhh. Joba and the flies. Bad times.

[Loose Cannon]

18TH CONSECUTIVE ERRORLESS GAME: NEW RECORD.

[Dragon]

Amazing belly flop dive by Joba.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Yeah that catch must have explained why my house shook earlier.</font>

[DaveWadding]

DBACK SHOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

WORLD SERIES BOUND NIGGUMS

BUCKNERRRRRRRR

[SammyG]

LOOK AT ME I AM FAT AND HAVE 2 FAVORITE TEAMS! I AM THE KRISPY OF MLB

[DaveWadding]

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l248/Sammy_GD/goatee.jpg

WHO DAT??

[OssMan]

Look I'm sorry. I don't care how good the play was but that dive by Jobber Chamberlain was the funniest thing I have ever seen in my life.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>David, Samuel...cut it out with this shit every night. Getting old.</font>

[YOUR Hero]

Wow, JJ Putz continues to be absolute garbage. I think the Mets may seriously need to consider trading him because he just can't adjust to the 8th inning.

He couldn't adjust to the 9th inning in Seattle anymore either.

[DaveWadding]

<font color=goldenrod>David, Samuel...cut it out with this shit every night. Getting old.</font>

Your mother is getting old too, Francis.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Your shit's old, Travis.

[Evil Vito]

Your mother is getting old too, Francis.

<font color=goldenrod>Shut the fuck up, Cecil.</font>

[Evil Vito]

He couldn't adjust to the 9th inning in Seattle anymore either.

<font color=goldenrod>I always just wrote off last year due to injury and assumed he'd be fine now that he's healthy, but he's tried to re-do his delivery and everything...it's just not working out. They might demote him to the middle innings and have him pitch here and there, giving Bobby Parnell a crack at the 8th.</font>

[The Gold Standard]

They were saying that Putz is hurt because he is not throwing his splitter anymore. When you throw a splitter it puts extra pressure on the elbow and shoulder. The thing is if he is hurt, he should go to the DL, or trade him because when he said he couldn't get pumped to pitch the 8th inning. Which screams TRADE ME!