Non-Pirates Baseball Thread

[MWB]

Did we do a 2010 MLB predictions thread? I just looked around for 10 minutes and couldn't find anything, only a 2009 prediction thread.

I think we did and I predicted MVPs for Cabrera and Cargo along with Cy Youngs for Lee and Wainwright.

Prove it.

I would but the thread was cut when Those Who Shall Not Be Named were banned a couple weeks ago.

[MWB]

Since it was brought up.... how many sure-fire HOF's are playing right now? Taking into account how the voting has gone for steroid players, several obvious ones will be out (Arod, Manny). Who's left? Pujols, Jeter, Chipper, Rivera, Hoffman.... I'm sure I'm forgetting some, but those are the ones off the top of my head.

[SolidSnake]

Chipper done for the season

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5458167" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Troy Loney]

Chipper's career is done

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5458167" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

He's retiring.

[MWB]

Chipper's career is done

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5458167" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

He's retiring.

I was thinking he'd retire as well, but I guess not.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5462016" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[MWB]

According to an "Outside the Lines" analysis of 184 games, umpires get 20% of close calls wrong:

But the "Outside the Lines" analysis found that an average of 1.3 calls per game were close enough to require replay review to determine whether an umpire had made the right call. Of the close plays, 13.9 percent remained too close to call, with 65.7 percent confirmed as correct and 20.4 percent confirmed as incorrect.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/otl/news ... id=5464015" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[jprolley]

what a game for our old friend bryan bullington.

http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=300815107" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Troy Loney]

According to an "Outside the Lines" analysis of 184 games, umpires get 20% of close calls wrong:

But the "Outside the Lines" analysis found that an average of 1.3 calls per game were close enough to require replay review to determine whether an umpire had made the right call. Of the close plays, 13.9 percent remained too close to call, with 65.7 percent confirmed as correct and 20.4 percent confirmed as incorrect.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/otl/news ... id=5464015" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I watched that this weekend...cool story, but a small sample size perhaps. I don't undertsand the Tommy Lasorda's of the world that are so adamantly against replay. It takes two seconds to look at the play and see if the umpire missed it. if you can't tell after 3-4 different angles, than the call on the field will stand. the point is to get the call right.

[beerman]

According to an "Outside the Lines" analysis of 184 games, umpires get 20% of close calls wrong:

But the "Outside the Lines" analysis found that an average of 1.3 calls per game were close enough to require replay review to determine whether an umpire had made the right call. Of the close plays, 13.9 percent remained too close to call, with 65.7 percent confirmed as correct and 20.4 percent confirmed as incorrect.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/otl/news ... id=5464015" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I watched that this weekend...cool story, but a small sample size perhaps. I don't undertsand the Tommy Lasorda's of the world that are so adamantly against replay. It takes two seconds to look at the play and see if the umpire missed it. if you can't tell after 3-4 different angles, than the call on the field will stand. the point is to get the call right.

In regards to the amount of time I agree and disagree. It should only take 30 seconds tops to view 3-4 angles and know whether the call should be changed or not and if you can't tell then you move on. But I highly doubt this would be strictly enforced or actually be done that quickly which is where I can understand why people don't think it's a great idea. Just like replays in the NFL are supposed to take 90 seconds tops (I believe?) but they normally take double that if not longer.

With all the other time related issues baseball has, people don't like how long the average game takes as it is, adding more time to that at this point can't be very enticing to MLB even if it does get 1 extra call correct every other game (based on their 1.3 calls to be reviewed per game). If they start enforcing all other time issues, making the pitchers deliver the ball within the alotted time frame, stop batters from stepping out to adjust their gloves and cup after each pitch, etc then I don't see it as such a problem.

Personally the time means nothing to me, watching a 3 1/2-4 hr game doesn't bother me at all and I'm all for putting replay in and adding the 5 minutes it might take, especially if this number is even close to accurate but I do understand the skepticism as well.

[Physical_Graffiti]

I support replay, but getting 80% of the close calls (w/o the help of technology) correct is excellent IMO.

[MWB]

I support replay, but getting 80% of the close calls (w/o the help of technology) correct is excellent IMO.

I don't think it's awful, but could be better. The close plays are what the umps are paid to make. Anyone can make 90% of the calls accurately, so that final 10% is what makes the difference.

I agree with beerman on replay. I think they should be able to make a call within a minute or two, but replay always seems to take longer.

[ulf]

bad calls are part of the game how often would you have seen lou piniella or billy martin's tirades if there was replay? just keep the replay for reviewing home runs.

[beerman]

Bobby Thompson, who hit the "shot heard round the world" died last night.

[SolidSnake]

Damon back to Boston?

http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=331447" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[JS©]

claimed, but not sure if he's going.

[beerman]

Not sure how I'd feel about it. Best case scenario is he decides to go back, gets cheered for his first at bat then get's beaned in the head. After that I'd feel better.

[Troy Loney]

i called boston missing the playoffs this year.

[beerman]

Yeah, I'm not surprised they're going to miss. I didn't really think the pitching and defense approach would work for a full regular season. It actually would've had they been able to stay healthy, but 2/5 of the rotation sucks out loud so who knows if a healthy lineup would've changed all that much.

[Troy Loney]

Yeah, I'm not surprised they're going to miss. I didn't really think the pitching and defense approach would work for a full regular season. It actually would've had they been able to stay healthy, but 2/5 of the rotation sucks out loud so who knows if a healthy lineup would've changed all that much.

Beckett is just a piece of ****.

Is lackey doing ok? Bucholz and lester are carrying that rotation right?

[beerman]

Yeah, I'm not surprised they're going to miss. I didn't really think the pitching and defense approach would work for a full regular season. It actually would've had they been able to stay healthy, but 2/5 of the rotation sucks out loud so who knows if a healthy lineup would've changed all that much.

Beckett is just a piece of ****.

Is lackey doing ok? Bucholz and lester are carrying that rotation right?

yeah, Beckett's been terrible. Lackey hasn't had a bad year, but he hasn't had a normal season by his standards either. I'm rather disappointed with his performance, I never liked him to begin with and he hasn't really done anything to make me feel any differently about him. He's had a lot of really good starts but then he'll have one terrible inning that makes it just a so-so outing.

Dice-k has been fairly effective as late, I think he's turned the corner a bit which is a really good thing. But it's definitely Buchholz and Lester carrying the pitching staff. They're the only reasons the team is still in striking distance for a playoff spot. I really enjoy watching those two and it's really nice to know they'll both be a part of the rotation for years to come. Only problem is they'll be handcuffed to Beckett and Lackey who unless they turn it around are going to be stealing money for quite a few years.

[MWB]

Even if Boston misses the playoffs I think it's been a pretty successful year for them. They've established two top level starters and still have a fairly young core of hitters going forward. They've also got some money coming off the books for next year and can go for one of the big first basemen out there in the offseason.

[Troy Loney]

Even if Boston misses the playoffs I think it's been a pretty successful year for them. They've established two top level starters and still have a fairly young core of hitters going forward. They've also got some money coming off the books for next year and can go for one of the big first basemen out there in the offseason.

meanwhile the yankees will pawn that bum granderson off on someone and sign carl crawford.

[beerman]

Even if Boston misses the playoffs I think it's been a pretty successful year for them. They've established two top level starters and still have a fairly young core of hitters going forward. They've also got some money coming off the books for next year and can go for one of the big first basemen out there in the offseason.

I don't think they'll do that though. Even though they haven't gotten sentimental when it comes to letting guys go in the recent past I think they'll do it with Ortiz, whether it's picking up his option or signing him to something else. I think they'll probably end up keeping V-mart, signing Beltre again to play third, rather than moving Youkilis there and next year's team will look a lot like this one was planned too. Really the only money I see coming off the books is Mike Lowell.

[MWB]

Even if Boston misses the playoffs I think it's been a pretty successful year for them. They've established two top level starters and still have a fairly young core of hitters going forward. They've also got some money coming off the books for next year and can go for one of the big first basemen out there in the offseason.

I don't think they'll do that though. Even though they haven't gotten sentimental when it comes to letting guys go in the recent past I think they'll do it with Ortiz, whether it's picking up his option or signing him to something else. I think they'll probably end up keeping V-mart, signing Beltre again to play third, rather than moving Youkilis there and next year's team will look a lot like this one was planned too. Really the only money I see coming off the books is Mike Lowell.

Yeah, I'll think they'll probably retain Ortiz. I was thinking they'd let Lowell and possibly Beltre go and then go after Gonzalez. Plus Papelbon will be gone, right?

[MWB]

Even if Boston misses the playoffs I think it's been a pretty successful year for them. They've established two top level starters and still have a fairly young core of hitters going forward. They've also got some money coming off the books for next year and can go for one of the big first basemen out there in the offseason.

meanwhile the yankees will pawn that bum granderson off on someone and sign carl crawford.

That's the plan.