MM.net "Official" 2013 MLB Thread

[Mebot]

Opening night tonight (March 31) between Texas Rangers and Houston Astros. The rest of the teams in the Major League open their season tomorrow (Monday, April 1).

I'm surprised the defending champs, San Fransico Giants, are not the opening day team. But anyways good luck to all teams. I'll be adding to this thread and bumping it occasionally for key matchups and marquee games throughout the season. Feel free to add comments and notes.

That being said, I am keeping my eyes on the defending NL East Champions, Washington Nationals. Strasburg is healthy and no longer on an inning cap. Sure I am biased towards the Nationals. I used to have season tickets when they first game to DC. But the Phillies rosters last year had a lot of injuries. Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard and Chase Utley are still a force to be reckoned with.

NL Central going to be tough as the Reds have Joey Votto but the Cards have deep farm system. Eyes will definitely be on the Brewers who somehow got Kyle Lohse a couple days ago and Ryan Braun may be the spark to upset STL and MIL.

As for the AL, I'm excited to see how the Orioles will progress after their awesome Post-season playoff game last year. Rangers still have a learning curve, since they no longer have Josh Hamilton, but Mariners may be the AL West champs since they signed Felix Hernandez and Michael Morse in the offseason.


My preseason pick for the World Series matchup: Toronto Blue Jays vs Washington Nationals.

Washington Nationals in 5 games ;):):beer:

Let's play ball!

[guspech750]

I'm patiently waiting to see how the White Sox perform after last seasons unexpectedly run for the playoffs only to fall flat the last two weeks of the season. Kudos to 2nd year skipper Robbin Ventura all he's done. Especially after the past few years of the Me Me Me Ozzie Circus.


I'm also patiently watching the Cubs to see how the new managements player choices from last year and the next few years pan out.


I also think and hope the Yankees fall flat. But I would like to see Jeter and Rivera have strong seasons along with a farewell to Rivera.

Go White Sox!!

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/04/01/9u7ynezy.jpg


Sent from my iPhone 4S

DTR + 4.10's + Eaton swap = Wreeeeeeeeeeeeeeedom

[SC Cheesehead]

Hope springs eternal...

http://bestoflogo.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Download-milwaukee-brewers-wallpaper-milwaukee-brewers-logo.jpg

[Mr. Man]

http://www.brandsoftheworld.com/sites/default/files/styles/logo-original-577x577/public/032012/ny_yankees.ai_.png (http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=uC5q5KxkPv9BUM&tbnid=1st2NJwKLY4QeM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.brandsoft heworld.com%2Flogo%2Fnew-york-yankees-0%3Foriginal%3D1&ei=K6JYUZjGOPjj4APiyoDIBQ&bvm=bv.44442042,d.dmg&psig=AFQjCNHqo5NHSTpGx3Ku7c_cI _4rH6XzUw&ust=1364849414633596)

[MMcactusflower]

I am going to have to find another team...my poor Astros are again finding themselves picked LAST in their new division. Poop!
But hey.....PLAY BALL!!!

[guspech750]

Too bad for Yu Darvish. One out shy of perfection. :(

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/2013040243727884/


Sent from my iPhone 4S

DTR + 4.10's + Eaton swap = Wreeeeeeeeeeeeeeedom

[guspech750]

Yeah boyeeeeeee.

White Sox won again.


Sent from my iPhone 4S

DTR + 4.10's + Eaton swap = Wreeeeeeeeeeeeeeedom

[Mebot]

Too bad for Yu Darvish. One out shy of perfection. :(

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/2013040243727884/


Sent from my iPhone 4S

DTR + 4.10's + Eaton swap = Wreeeeeeeeeeeeeeedom

there was an article a while back (can't remember if it was ESPN or another sports mag) & the argument was that in this era of the crackdown of performance enhancing drugs, there's a shift in baseball that favors pitchers.

I tend to agree. look at the past couple of years & the amount of perfect games... Roy Halladay, Phil Humber, Felix Hernandez, Mark Buerhle... and a lot of pitchers tantalizingly close. I forget the name of that Tigers pitcher a couple yrs back but the ump blew the call & even admitted it afterward. sucks but it seems like all pitchers have it in them

sent from space

[92BlackGT]

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g92/92blackgt/mlb_dbacks_horzlogo_40580.gif

game went to the 16th inning last night. Gotta love starting the season taking the series in such a fashion.




such a good still image of baseball history

http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/001/088/284/game-winner_display_image.jpg?13104 32250

[guspech750]

there was an article a while back (can't remember if it was ESPN or another sports mag) & the argument was that in this era of the crackdown of performance enhancing drugs, there's a shift in baseball that favors pitchers.

I tend to agree. look at the past couple of years & the amount of perfect games... Roy Halladay, Phil Humber, Felix Hernandez, Mark Buerhle... and a lot of pitchers tantalizingly close. I forget the name of that Tigers pitcher a couple yrs back but the ump blew the call & even admitted it afterward. sucks but it seems like all pitchers have it in them

sent from space

Yes. I have noticed that trend too. There have been quite a few no hitters. I can only imagine how many 1 & 2 hit games there have been in the last 7-8 years. Even my White Sox have two no hitters and a perfect game between Mark Buehrle and Phillip Humber. (2007, 09, 12) Crazy stuff. But exciting. I love watching a dominating pitcher. Awesome stuff.

Pay back is a ***** to the hitters now.


Sent from my iPhone 4S

DTR + 4.10's + Eaton swap = Wreeeeeeeeeeeeeeedom

[guspech750]

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g92/92blackgt/mlb_dbacks_horzlogo_40580.gif

game went to the 16th inning last night. Gotta love starting the season taking the series in such a fashion.




such a good still image of baseball history

http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/001/088/284/game-winner_display_image.jpg?13104 32250

Man. 16 innings. That's a lot.

I remember back in 1988, I went to see a Pirates and Expos game a Three Rivers Stadium. It was the most boring game ever. I think it was a 0-0 game going into the 13th or 14th inning. Too bad I wasn't old enough to appreciate that kind of game as I would now.


Sent from my iPhone 4S

DTR + 4.10's + Eaton swap = Wreeeeeeeeeeeeeeedom

[92BlackGT]

I remember back in 1988, I went to see a Pirates and Expos game a Three Rivers Stadium. It was the most boring game ever. I think it was a 0-0 game going into the 13th or 14th inning. Too bad I wasn't old enough to appreciate that kind of game as I would now.

haha, I remember going to spring training games as a kid and hating it. I did get Robin Yount's autograph on a homerun ball back when the Brewers played spring training in Chandler, AZ. I wish I could find that ball now since he's in the hall of fame and all

[Mebot]

I have the irregular Robin Yount baseball card in the '91 Donruss set. apparently it's worth something. find your baseball & ill find my card & we can sell for parts!

sent from space

[Mr. Man]

:blah::blah::blah: When October gets here it's going to be America's team and some crappy National league team nobody cares about slowing the Yanks to #28. https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQVYOQUzqrHL VL9vL4IuBL0J_ODIFJimqLhWP5WQ41 kzjR-Ox49

[Mebot]

:blah::blah::blah: When October gets here it's going to be America's team and some crappy National league team nobody cares about slowing the Yanks to #28. https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQVYOQUzqrHL VL9vL4IuBL0J_ODIFJimqLhWP5WQ41 kzjR-Ox49

ha good luck! you got a bunch of old farts running around getting hurt. not gonna win the al east with toronto packed with talent

sent from space

[Mr. Man]

ha good luck! you got a bunch of old farts running around getting hurt. not gonna win the al east with toronto packed with talent

sent from space
Keep smokin' that wacky tobbacy son!:rasta:

[guspech750]

Well my White Sox are off to a bad start. But slowly climbed back to 1 game under 500 at 7-8. Lots of baseball to play and make up ground.


Also looks like Wrigley Field will get the new jumbo tron screen and add signs too. Looks like the city finally told the rooftop owners to go fk themselves. Just in a nice way. About damn time.


Sent from my iPhone 4S

DTR + 4.10's + Eaton swap = Wreeeeeeeeeeeeeeedom

[SC Cheesehead]

http://www.hark.com/clips/xmxlbvdqxc-chico-escuela

[guspech750]

My Sox are not doing so well. :(


Sent from my iPhone 4S

DTR + 4.10's + Eaton swap = Wreeeeeeeeeeeeeeedom

[Mebot]

My Sox are not doing so well. :(


Sent from my iPhone 4S

DTR + 4.10's + Eaton swap = Wreeeeeeeeeeeeeeedom

neither are my Nats :(:(

sent from space

[guspech750]

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/04/24/tudyvuda.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/04/24/vehe6uty.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/04/24/a7adeze5.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/04/24/e6u2erut.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/04/24/a4y8a6ej.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/04/24/y8ebypa9.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/04/24/vubyhu2y.jpg


Sent from my iPhone 4S

DTR + 4.10's + Eaton swap = Wreeeeeeeeeeeeeeedom

[Mebot]

Well, may the farce be with you.

[SC Cheesehead]

My Sox are not doing so well. :(


Sent from my iPhone 4S

DTR + 4.10's + Eaton swap = Wreeeeeeeeeeeeeeedom

Cubbies aren't exactly setting the world on fire either...

On the other hand, my Brewers are only two games back of the Reds! :woohoo:

[guspech750]

Put your hands in the air. Now wave them like you just don't care!!

My White Sox finally won. 3-2. What a relief. Now it's time to win the World Series.


Sent from my iPhone 4S

DTR + 4.10's + Eaton swap = Wreeeeeeeeeeeeeeedom

[jimlam56]

Go Rays!
Beat Yankees!

[92BlackGT]

the Diamondbacks just can't seem to hold onto the lead. they're playing well and just need some time to gel together and i think they'll have a legit chance for the playoffs.
It's great seeing the big pay role Dodgers struggle... although it's still way early in the season. the Rockies are definitely a surprise so far, leading the Division.

[Ozark Marauder]

Cardinals beat Strasburg, Nationals 4-2 for sweep.

http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=26559655&topic_id=8877480&c_id=stl

OZ

[Mebot]

strasburg's deal is he's not throwing first strikes. should I be concerned? nah season is still early

sent from space

[Mebot]

Nats back at .500 with a strong complete game by Gio Gonzalez. Guess we're back in postseason contention now

[guspech750]

Yep. White Sox really suck so far this season.


Sent from my iPhone 4S

DTR + 4.10's + Eaton swap = Wreeeeeeeeeeeeeeedom

[Mebot]

Yep. White Sox really suck so far this season.


Sent from my iPhone 4S

DTR + 4.10's + Eaton swap = Wreeeeeeeeeeeeeeedom

time to become a cards fan! I'm convinced!

sent from space

[Ozark Marauder]

C'mon over Mebot

Lynn improves to 5-0, leads Cards over Reds 4-2

Carlos Beltran (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6132;_ylt=Agkw2bL1pC3lXD5Coas6 t_H2Qe1_;_ylu=X3oDMTFyZ2lldDBn BG1pdANBUlRJQ0xFIEFydGljbGUgQm 9keQRwb3MDNARzZWMDTWVkaWFBcnRp Y2xlQm9keUFzc2VtYmx5;_ylg=X3oD MTMycjdidGpwBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZw Nlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDNTQ3OTlkYjEt YjkyYy0zNzllLThlOTYtNjhkMzhlNz A0MzA2BHBzdGNhdANtbGJ8bmV3c3xy ZWNhcHMEcHQDc3RvcnlwYWdl;_ylv= 3) hit his team-high seventh homer for the Cardinals and Matt Carpenter had three hits, including a go-ahead single in the sixth.

Beltran threw out Bailey at second in the fifth inning when the pitcher tried to stretch a single to right.

Many players don't fear Beltran's arm from right field.....dumb assumption

''I'm not really trying to hit homers,'' Beltran said. ''It's one of those streaks as a hitter where every ball you hit is in the air and has a chance of being a homer.''

I always get a kick out of Beltran quotes.

OZ

[Mebot]

Washington Nationals in 5 games ;):):beer:

Let's play ball!

Well my prediction at the beginning of the season turned out to be a lark. Still though, this is going to be a pretty good postseason. I'm rooting for the Bucs to be the underdog. Not that their W/L record denies them being an underdog, but merely with the fact that this is the Pirates first winning season in 20 some years? Wow!

Kudos to the Tribe for surging late and making the postseason. As I recall the Giants did the same thing in 2010 and last year. It's not about how well you've been playing all year, it's how hot you're playing right now for the postseason.

[Mebot]

My post-season predictions:
NL
Wildcard
Pirates over Reds
NLDS
Cards over Pirates (3 games)
NLDS
Dodgers over Braves (5 games)
NLCS
Dodgers over Cards NLCS (4 Games)

AL
Wildcard
Indians over Rays
ALDS
Red Sox over Indians (5 games)
ALDS
A's over Tigers (5 games)
ALCS
Red Sox over A's (5 games)

World Series
Dodgers over Red Sox in 7 games.

[Mr. Man]

:confused: The Yankee's didn't make it this year so does anybody really care? :dunno:

[a_d_a_m]

Red Sox over Indians (5 games) NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Windians! :banana:

[92BlackGT]

another .500 year for the Diamondbacks :/ at least its not a losing season!

I'm pulling for the Pirates to win it all. I can't root for an AL team as the DH is stoopid and I hope with all my heart the Dodgers get swept... I hate those b***hes and their fans

[ARodmarauder]

My post-season predictions:
NL
Wildcard
Pirates over Reds
NLDS
Cards over Pirates (3 games)
NLDS
Dodgers over Braves (5 games)
NLCS
Dodgers over Cards NLCS (4 Games)

AL
Wildcard
Indians over Rays
ALDS
Red Sox over Indians (5 games)
ALDS
A's over Tigers (5 games)
ALCS
Red Sox over A's (5 games)

World Series
Dodgers over Red Sox in 7 games.


I like these predictions, not because I'm a dodgers fan but it seems the most realistic.

[Ozark Marauder]

Waiting........

http://www.desktopas.com/files/2013/06/St-Louis-Cardinals-Wallpaper-1024-x-768.jpg

[Mebot]

I like these predictions, not because I'm a dodgers fan but it seems the most realistic.

So far I'm 1 for 2 in the postseason (both wildcard games). The Dodgers (imo) have the best 1-2 punch as far as pitching goes. Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw! Clayton's era is mind-bogglingly low. He's deff the front runner for NL Cy Young award.

Also the postseason is not at how good you are during the season, it's about how hot you are right now. Momentum carries.

sent from a Samsung Galaxy far far away...

[ARodmarauder]

So far I'm 1 for 2 in the postseason (both wildcard games). The Dodgers (imo) have the best 1-2 punch as far as pitching goes. Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw! Clayton's era is mind-bogglingly low. He's deff the front runner for NL Cy Young award.

Also the postseason is not at how good you are during the season, it's about how hot you are right now. Momentum carries.

sent from a Samsung Galaxy far far away...


Yeah that's true. Even though the dodgers only won 2 of seven games during the season against the braves, that don't mean anything now. It's going to be a good post season that's for sure.

[Mebot]

So far I'm 1 for 2 in the postseason (both wildcard games). .

Notice how I correctly predicted the outcome of the AL wildcard game before it even started. I'm afraid the Rays may be a dark horse now. They have momentum. This changes everything

[jimlam56]

Go Rays!!!

[Mebot]

50% correct in my predictions so far..

Red Sox and Cardinals in the world series. Should be a great matchup! I think this series will go to a game 7.

Cardinals will win their 11th world series

sent from a Samsung Galaxy far far away...