Since the 2011 season is over, I have decided to make a new thread for the 2012 season.
Now, let's catch up
Oh yeah, Ryan Braun (who stole the NL MVP from Matt Kemp) just got busted for steroids and will be suspended for the first 50 games of the 2012 season
Busted!
LOOOOOOOOOOOOL!
Supposedly the testers found out a couple of days after the Brewers were eliminated in the NLCS though I don't know why it took almost a month and a half for it to come out.
Methinks that they held off telling the public so he could steal the NL MVP form Matt Kemp /takes off tinfoilconspiracyhat.
From what I read it was an elevated level of testosterone, rather than detection of a banned substance at suspicious levels. Usually, if one gets a high flag for a test like that it would mandate retesting on a fresh sample. If Braun was actually tested twice, and both came out positive, he was likely doping. In rare, rare cases someone's balls secrete abnormal levels of testosterone, but that would be pretty novel in a high-profile athletic case.
Well, the Detroit Tigers just won the Prince Fielder sweepstakes. Nine years/214 million. Orlando Cabrera will move to DH
If you are gonna shoot, shoot. Don't talk
RIP Eli Wallach
3DS Friend Code: 3454-0518-6166
If the penalty for getting caught is 50 games and all the money that comes with it, the testing process better be pretty damn prestine and flawless as to make no mistakes. How do you let something like this happen? MLB brought this upon themselves. And Braun will be tainted forever and wether he did it or not and the fact that we are no closer to knowing won't stop people from always labeling him a cheater. Which is sad.
Yeah and the fucked up part is that not once he or his lawyers have challenged the idea that it was a positive test or said flat out he wasn't on PED's, but that it was mishandled. Which to me says a whole lot more about Braun than it does about the handling of his test
If you are gonna shoot, shoot. Don't talk
RIP Eli Wallach
3DS Friend Code: 3454-0518-6166
American League
AL East: Red Sox
AL Central: Tigers
AL West: Rangers
Wild Card: Yankees/Angels
I think the Rays are due for regression. In my fantasy league, I was going to draft Longoria, but some stuff I read in his data and heard during ST made me think he's in for another down year. The Red Sox had some pretty bad freaking luck last year, and their pitching still SUCKS, but I think the Yankees won't take the division again because they're way more injury prone due to a chronic condition known as old. The pitching staff is mysterious - Pettite and Sabathia will definitely be good, but Pineda will likely struggle and everyone will freak out. But I expect he'll be good for 2013…but this isn't 2013!
Detroit will crush the Central. Prince Fielder is so fat, he only has to sit on the other teams. There's a good chance though that Miguel Cabrera kills himself trying to play 3B, so if he's injured, I don't think Detroit will do much better than they did in 2011.
AL West is the new AL East. Really, I have no idea how it could work out, except Trumbo will likely be as bad as Miguel Cabrera at 3B, and CJW will still be good.
National League
NL East: Phillies
NL Central: Brewers
NL West: Diamondbacks
Wild Card: Dodgers/Braves
I don't think the Nationals are really good enough to beat the Phillies yet, they're still 1-2 years from contending. Harper is the final piece to the puzzle, but Zimmerman might be in decline when he comes up, so who knows how that'll pan out. Even if Utley and Howard are gone, Phillies pitching is still good enough to beat the snot out of the wuss Mets.
Marlins are over-rated I think…they're up to their old talent buying tricks but Heath Bell and Buhrle are over-rated. If Jose Reyes gets injured, Miami reverts back to Florida Marlins status.
Cardinals have no chance. Reds had a chance until Ryan Madson went down. Even without Prince, the Brewers are still roughly as good as they were last year, while every other team (except...maybe the Pirates?) is weaker.
Diamondbacks are due to massive pitching regression, but their offense should be as good or better than last year. Dodgers would be favourites to win it all if they'd signed Prince Fielder, especially now that Magic Johnson has rescued the team from the devil's claws.
I don't want to say the Giants have no chance, but this team is basically the same as the 2010 team, with some splash of 2011. The four top pitchers should be solid, including Vogelsong, as should the bullpen...but more problems have opened up on the roster than ever before. Closer is a hole. 2B and SS are still holes. CF is a hole, because Angel Pagan sucks, and LF/1B are log-jams. I hate Belt with a passion and he's just going to mess up everything by trying to get on the team.
If there's ANY regression in the starters or 3B, SFG is dead in the water. So, I'd take my wager on the D-Backs or Dodgers.
Congrats to Robin Ventura on his first win as a manager! It would be nice if Peavy could stay healthy the whole season.
Let's go go go White Sox!!!!
Red Sox: 0-3
Braves: 0-3
Yankees: 0-3
Giants: 0-3
Four ways to say "fudge you", Selig.
Well, i wonder how many weeks the Orioles will give me something to cheer for this year?
Braves picking up where they left off at the end of 2011. Fan-tastic.
–- Update From New Post Merge ---
Yeah and the fucked up part is that not once he or his lawyers have challenged the idea that it was a positive test or said flat out he wasn't on PED's, but that it was mishandled. Which to me says a whole lot more about Braun than it does about the handling of his test
Braun has been pretty vocal about the fact that he never took PEDs. At one point, he said he'd "bet [his] life that this substance never entered [his] body"; here's a link to that speech: [http://espn.go.com/mlb/spring2012/story/_/id/7611600/2012-spring-training-ryan-braun-milwaukee-brewers-says-test-system-failed
W](http://espn.go.com/mlb/spring2012/story/_/id/7611600/2012-spring-training-ryan-braun-milwaukee-brewers-says-test-system-failed)hat's weird is that he seems to think there's a compelling story for why he failed the test that will "come out," but he's been quiet on it himself. Gives some credence to the "herpes medication" story, though that's more fun than likely.
Whenever I think of Matt Kemp I always have to correct myself that he didn't win the MVP last year. That's how weak Braun's attitude has been. That he was a snot toward a urine collector too was also pretty bush league.
FWIW, Kemp and Braun are good friends.
I'll always be curious what actually happened in the Braun case. To go from clean tests for his career to the all-time record during the playoffs…weird stuff.
I do enjoy that google now auto-completes a search for "braun testosterone" with "braun testosterone herpes."
On a more positive note, it's nice seeing some of the frequent bottom-dwellers of the league actually doing decently thus far. In particular, would like to see the Royals and Pirates return to at least mediocrity. More likely in the case of the Royals, who have an amazing offense than can carry a fairly weak pitching staff.
Hang in there, Kierkegaard.
So opening day for the Dodgers mean I drop whatever I have to do in life (which means not going to work or school today), gather up a couple of friends and my stepdad (who's finally well enough to go to opening day again) and heading out to Chavez Ravine.
The Ozzie thing is kind of hilarious, but immensely stupid.
The Ozzie situation is particularly infuriating because I still think he's also a terrible manager. Won a World Series trying to play smallball with a team that actually won on power hitting and insanely good pitching. Been bulletproof ever since.
I was actually talking about the Cubans flipping their lid. I actually don't know much about Guillen except that he's bombastic.
I was actually talking about the Cubans flipping their lid. I actually don't know much about Guillen except that he's bombastic.
Well, in an oblique way, I was, too. It's infuriating to me that he keeps getting a managing job despite calling negative attention to his own team and contributing little of positive value.
But in this case, he could be Bobby Cox and it still be a ridiculous situation.
I know that The Marlins are trying to get the Cuban-American audience to come to their games this year but the fact that Guillen was suspended for five games for saying something unpopular and stupid (when he has said so much worse when he was with the White Sox) is retarded, especially since most of the Cuban groups being hypocrites saying he should be fired for what he said when a lot of them came from a country where they would be arrested for speaking something unpopular.
Anyway, enjoyed the hell out of Dodgers opening day with a couple of friends and my stepdad, who jumped out of his seat when Andre Ethier hit the game winning HR in the eighth. May head back in a couple of week when the Dodgers play the Giants
SF got lit up last night, it's a real horror to watch the pitchers so bad, because the offense is here. We're in the cellar of the NL right now, only the Cubs are worse.
I'm going to have a lot of fun watching Brandon Crawford, the Giants SS. Every PA with him is a fight for his life, so he's interesting to watch in the field and at the plate.
I really wish SF traded Brandon Belt when he still had prospect stock.
Welp, here we go again. No matter how many times they've broken my heart, I just can't give up on my boys the Blue Jays. 
They've started off strong in the first week, going 4-2 with two of those wins being extra-inning games vs the Indians, and they've got a solid team mix of veteran players and young talent…I'll just sit back and enjoy the first half of the season, and then start to panic nearer to the All-Star break, when we always seem to get injuries and bad losing streaks from every corner. Maybe 2012 will be different! XD;;
Welp, here we go again. No matter how many times they've broken my heart, I just can't give up on my boys the Blue Jays.
Blue Jays have a chance to win a playoff berth this year. It'll probably be their only chance in a long time. I hope they pull it off, along with TBR.
So Ladies and Gentlemen you want to know why the Dodgers are 9-1? Plays like this
[http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=&topic_id=&c_id=la&tcid=vpp_copy_&v=3
L](http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=&topic_id=&c_id=la&tcid=vpp_copy_&v=3)iterally switched to it from the Penguins/Flyers game and I am so glad I did
So Dodgers faced the Brewers tonight and when it came down to the final play at the plate, the umpire blew the call of Dodger Catcher A.J. Ellis tagging Nyger Morgan before he touched the plate for the game winning run. Video will be available soon
If you are gonna shoot, shoot. Don't talk
RIP Eli Wallach
3DS Friend Code: 3454-0518-6166
So Dodgers faced the Brewers tonight and when it came down to the final play at the plate, the umpire blew the call of Dodger Catcher A.J. Ellis tagging Nyger Morgan before he touched the plate for the game winning run. Video will be available soon
I looked pretty closely at that play, the ump couldn't see Ellis tagging Morgan on his thigh, but saw that Morgan was able to knock Ellis' right hand away from the plate and tag it up. I'd personally call it a tie, and a tie goes to the runner.
Too bad Braun got credited with the walk-off, eh?
I looked pretty closely at that play, the ump couldn't see Ellis tagging Morgan on his thigh, but saw that Morgan was able to knock Ellis' right hand away from the plate and tag it up. I'd personally call it a tie, and a tie goes to the runner.
Too bad Braun got credited with the walk-off, eh?
Nah, I just love the fact that he's playing like shit while Matt Kemp is focused by going for the 50-50 club. I tell you right now even though the season is early Kemp is probably the best everyday player not only in the NL, but probably the entire league right now(though Josh Hamilton of the Rangers is destroying every pitcher he faces)
laughing at the thought of the Dodgers being upset about a bad call deciding a game. karma's a beotch.
laughing at the thought of the Dodgers being upset about a bad call deciding a game. karma's a beotch.
If you are talking about the triple play from last week, the call was correct. Ump never said foul ball and players are always told (I know I was during high school baseball) to be aware.
Speaking of triple plays, the Jays got one themselves last night against Kansas city. Adam Lind snagged a line drive to him, touched first, then a quick throw to second for the last out. Toronto won 4-3 in a comeback in the eighth.
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=20780947&topic_id=&c_id=tor&tcid=vpp_copy_20780947&v=3
Also, All-Star Game voting is now open until June 28th! I'm going to wait a bit before casting my votes; I want to see how everyone's doing in another month or so…
Philip Humber throws the 21st perfect game in MLB history!!!!!
Philip Humber throws the 21st perfect game in MLB history!!!!!
Times like this I am happy to have MLB Extra Innings
I wish Matt Cain had thrown #21. :V Seattle has it tough.
Still unclear if the Braves are really good or really bad.
Also, ha ha, Albert Pujols.
Hang in there, Kierkegaard.
To put things into perspective, Matt Kemp's WAR after a measly 20 games is 2.2. If he keeps this pace up, he'll have a 17.6 WAR season…the single greatest season of any player in the history of baseball. He'll also hit 80 home runs, thus breaking the single season record.
The only blemish would be fielding, since although he was a Gold Glove winner last year, the scouting didn't rate his defense as top-flight. But with above average defense and jaw dropping offense, that won't take away much from his season.
Maybe Kemp is soaring and Pujols is sinking: coincidence? I think not!
I was at the Dodgers/NAtionals game last night (Me and a couple of friends were seated a couple hundred feet away from where Kemp's game winning HR landed, in fact) and Kemp is playing like a man possessed. I believe the fact that he got slighted of the NL MVP and was one HR short of a 40/40 season last year has given him all the motivation of having one of the best season of any player ever.
Poor Mariano Rivera. Tore his ACL and sightly tore his MCL during warmups today and he said that he may just end his career, which is a damn shame for the greatest closer in the history of baseball
If you are gonna shoot, shoot. Don't talk
RIP Eli Wallach
3DS Friend Code: 3454-0518-6166
There's been a number of unusual injuries lately. SF just lost two relievers (Brian Wilson and Jeremy Affeldt) and Pablo Sandoval broke his hand again, only this time it's the left hand.
The Orioles' firstbaseman just pitched two scoreless innings to get the win against the Red Sox in a 17 inning marathon, seems like they'll find any way to win.
That and the Red Sox keep finding new ways to lose.
To be fair to them, they've had a bunch of crushing injuries.
First time I've ever heard of DHs being fielded as pitchers.
A surprisingly number of 1Bs have good arms, but being 1B and eventually DH they never get to show them off. SF's Brandon Belt, for example…was a pitcher all his life, then got converted to 1B. Even Babe Ruth was RF where he could show off his arm once in a while.
That said, I think the price on Cole Hamels just jumped a few million after he drilled Bryce Harper yesterday.
It's not uncommon for people who pitched through high school and into college to shift over to position play in the minors. Todd Helton was a pitcher at UT for one though he also played other positions as needed.
The rubber-neck game for the Giants-Dodgers series was pretty bad. Lincecum wasn't very good (his first 3 innings masked poor control with his breaking pitches and change-up, which were made obvious in the 4th) but Chad Billingsley wasn't either (Billingsley is on my fantasy team). I was anticipating both pitchers to struggle but it ended on a sour note. The only bright spot was Kenley Jansen got the save, but since I own both Casilla and Jansen and pitched both tonight I couldn't lose there.
