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MLB - Official 2012 Season Thread: Bringing in Bobby V to Change Our Culture |OT2|

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L

Little Green Yoda

Member
vas_a_morir said:
The universe gave them every chance to win this one. The Pirates won't allow the Pirates to be successful.

I say we give them the other two games. I don't want to have the best record in the NL, because of the stupid wildcard bull.
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Isn't every LDS going with 2-3 format this year? Or is there something else regarding the WC that I'm missing?
 
M

Mr. Enigma

Member
Little Green Yoda said:
Isn't every LDS going with 2-3 format this year? Or is there something else regarding the WC that I'm missing?
Click to expand...

It's only the series with the Wild Card in it doing the 2-3 format. The series with both division winners is a typical 2-2-1 format. They're going back to the normal 2-2-1 for all series next year.
 
M

Mr. Enigma

Member
Lance Berkman is having season-ending knee surgery. He only had 96 plate appearances while making $12 million this year.

Word going around that the Orioles and Phillies are talking about a deal that would send Juan Pierre to the Orioles. Pierre would be eligible for the postseason because he would be replacing an injured player (Nick Markakis).
 
M

Mr. Enigma

Member
STANDINGS UPDATE FOR SEPTEMBER 10

IF THE SEASON ENDED TODAY:

AL Wild Card Game: Orioles @ Athletics

NL Wild Card Game: Cardinals @ Braves

ALDS Game 1: Rangers @ Athletics -OR- Orioles
ALDS Game 1: White Sox @ Yankees

NLDS Game 1: Nationals @ Braves -OR- Cardinals
NLDS Game 1: Giants @ Reds

American League

EAST
LEADER: Yankees
MAGIC NUMBER: 22
Code: 
             W         L         GB
Yankees      79        61       ---
Orioles      78        62       1.0
Rays         77        63       2.0

CENTRAL
LEADER: White Sox
MAGIC NUMBER: 20
Code: 
             W         L         GB
White Sox    76        64        ---
Tigers       73        67        3.0

WEST
LEADER: Rangers
MAGIC NUMBER: 20
Code: 
             W         L         GB
Rangers      83        57        ---
Athletics    80        60        3.0
Angels       77        64        6.5

WILD CARD
LEADER #1: Athletics
LEADER #2: Orioles
MAGIC NUMBER: 22
Code: 
             W         L         GB
Athletics    80        60       +2.0
Orioles      78        62        ---
Rays         77        63        1.0
Angels       77        64        1.5
Tigers       73        67        5.0

REMAINING GAMES (bold = .500):
Rangers - 22 (3 v CLE, 3 v SEA, OFF, 3 @ LAA, 3 @ SEA, 4 v OAK, 3 v LAA, 3 @ OAK)

Yankees - 22 (3 @ BOS, 3 @ TB, OFF, 3 v TOR, 3 v OAK, 3 @ MIN, 4 @ TOR, 3 v BOS)

White Sox - 22 (3 v DET, 3 @ MIN, OFF, 3 @ KC, 3 @ LAA, 3 v CLE, 4 v TB, 3 @ CLE)

Athletics - 22 (3 @ LAA, 3 v BAL, OFF, 3 @ DET, 3 @ NYY, 4 @ TEX, 3 v SEA, 3 v TEX)

Orioles - 22 (3 v TOR, 3 @ OAK, 3 @ SEA, OFF, 3 @ BOS, 4 v TOR, OFF, 3 v BOS, 3 @ TB)

Angels - 21 (3 v OAK, 3 @ KC, OFF, 3 v TEX, 3 v CWS, OFF, 3 v SEA, 3 @ TEX, 3 @ SEA)

Rays - 22 (3 @ BAL, 3 @ NYY, 4 v BOS, 3 v TOR, OFF, 2 @ BOS, 4 @ CWS, 3 v BOS)

Tigers - 22 (3 @ CWS, 3 @ CLE, OFF, 3 v OAK, 3 v MIN, 4 v KC, 3 @ MIN, 3 @ KC)

National League

EAST
LEADER: Nationals
MAGIC NUMBER: 15
Code: 
             W         L         GB
Nationals    87        54        ---
Braves       81        61        6.5

CENTRAL
LEADER: Reds
MAGIC NUMBER: 12
Code: 
             W         L         GB
Reds         85        57        ---
Cardinals    75        66        9.5
Pirates      72        68        12.0

WEST
LEADER: Giants
MAGIC NUMBER: 17
Code: 
             W         L         GB
Giants       79        62        ---
Dodgers      74        67        5.0

WILD CARD
LEADER #1: Braves
LEADER #2: Cardinals
MAGIC NUMBER: 21
Code: 
             W         L         GB
Braves       81        61       +5.5
Cardinals    75        66        ---
Dodgers      74        67        1.0
Pirates      72        68        2.5

REMAINING GAMES (bold = .500):
Nationals - 21 (2 @ NYM, OFF, 3 @ ATL, OFF, 3 v LAD, 4 v MIL, 3 @ PHI, 3 @ STL, 3 v PHI)

Reds - 20 (2 v PIT, OFF, 3 @ MIA, OFF, 3 @ CHC, 3 v LAD, OFF, 3 v MIL, 3 @ PIT, 3 @ STL)

Giants - 21 (2 @ COL, OFF, 3 @ ARI, 4 v COL, 3 v SD, OFF, 3 v ARI, 3 @ SD, 3 @ LAD)

Braves - 20 (2 @ MIL, OFF, 3 v WAS, 3 @ MIA, OFF, 3 @ PHI, OFF, 3 v MIA, 3 v NYM, 3 @ PIT)

Cardinals - 21 (2 @ SD, 4 @ LAD, OFF, 3 v HOU, 3 @ CHC, 3 @ HOU, OFF, 3 v WAS, 3 v CIN)

Dodgers - 21 (2 @ ARI, 4 v STL, OFF, 3 @ WAS, 3 @ CIN, OFF, 3 @ SD, 3 v COL, 3 v SF)

Pirates - 22 (2 @ CIN, OFF, 4 @ CHC, 3 v MIL, 3 @ HOU, 4 @ NYM, 3 v CIN, 3 v ATL)
 
C

CygnusXS

will gain confidence one day
AnEternalEnigma said:
Lance Berkman is having season-ending knee surgery. He only had 96 plate appearances while making $12 million this year.
Click to expand...

$125k per PA. $6mm per homer.

AnEternalEnigma said:
Word going around that the Orioles and Phillies are talking about a deal that would send Juan Pierre to the Orioles. Pierre would be eligible for the postseason because he would be replacing an injured player (Nick Markakis).
Click to expand...

...but it's September. Did they change the deadline in the last CBA?
 
M

Mr. Enigma

Member
CygnusXS said:
..but it's September. Did they change the deadline in the last CBA?
Click to expand...

There is no "deadline". August 31 is just considered a signficiant date because a player who is acquired on September 1 or later cannot be on a postseason roster unless they are replacing someone who is injured.

In 2010, the Rockies acquired Octavio Dotel from the Dodgers on September 16.
 
L

Little Green Yoda

Member
AnEternalEnigma said:
Lance Berkman is having season-ending knee surgery. He only had 96 plate appearances while making $12 million this year.
Click to expand...
I think his 2011 regular season value exceeded the $20M he got over the two years so at least it's not a net loss. I have no problem with him getting paid, considering how instrumental he was to last year's run.

In hindsight, that money would've better spent on a one year deal for Edwin Jackson but I wanted Oswalt and that turned out rather poorly for the Rangers. Heh.

I just hope 2013 Beltran holds up better than 2012 Berkman but it's not a good sign when he's already wearing down this season. :/
 
C

CygnusXS

will gain confidence one day
AnEternalEnigma said:
There is no "deadline". August 31 is just considered a signficiant date because a player who is acquired on September 1 or later cannot be on a postseason roster unless they are replacing someone who is injured.

In 2010, the Rockies acquired Octavio Dotel from the Dodgers on September 16.
Click to expand...

Really? Could have sworn August 31 had always been the final deadline. Go figure.

Are you sure it's not some sort of special Octavio Dotel exception? That dude gets traded a lot.
 
M

Mr. Enigma

Member
CygnusXS said:
Really? Could have sworn August 31 had always been the final deadline. Go figure.

Are you sure it's not some sort of special Octavio Dotel exception? That dude gets traded a lot.
Click to expand...

Positive. August 31 has never been a trade deadline. Teams just try to get shit done by that date because of the postseason eligibility thing.
 
C

clemenx

Banned
endresults said:
How does Pittsburgh crash and burn so spectacularly without any significant injuries or a nightmare schedule? The mind boggles.
Click to expand...

No real rotation. Pedro Alvarez based offensive. McCutchen cooling off spectacularly.

I think they will have a great rotation in near future but they need to do something about offense. Crash the FA market!
 
W

Windu

never heard about the cat, apparently
Throughout a 162-game slate, every team is bound to experience its share of grueling stretches, but also have strings of games that aren't quite as difficult -- on paper, at least.

With a little more than three weeks remaining in the regular season, some teams battling for postseason positioning -- or to even reach the postseason -- will face some of those challenging runs, while others have already played through the most difficult parts of their schedules.

For the purpose of studying the strength of schedules, eight American League teams -- the Yankees, Rays, Orioles, White Sox, Tigers, Rangers, Athletics and Angels -- will be considered "contenders." Nine National League clubs -- the Nationals, Braves, Reds, Cardinals, Pirates, Giants, Dodgers, Brewers and Phillies (the latter two have rallied to move within five games of the second Wild Card berth) -- will receive that label.

With that in mind, the Athletics have by far the most brutal remaining schedule of any playoff contender. Including their current three-game set with the Angels, the Athletics play five straight series against playoff-contending teams.

In fact, 19 of the Athletics' final 22 games are against one of the other seven AL teams battling for the playoffs. The only exception is a three-game set against the Mariners in their penultimate series. Making matters worse, 13 of those 22 games will be played on the road.

On the other hand, the Angels -- who trail the A's by two games for the top Wild Card spot entering the second tilt of their three-game series Tuesday-- will play just 12 of their final 21 games against contenders and will also play 12 games at home.

Some teams have fared better than others against the teams remaining on their schedules. Here's a look at each contender's record this season against the clubs it still has to face.

Team Record Win pct.
Orioles 31-19 .620
Nationals 33-21 .611
Braves 39-26 .600
Giants 30-21 .588
Reds 32-24 .571
Tigers 32-25 .561
Rays 31-26 .544
Cardinals 27-23 .540
White Sox 35-30 .538
Angels 28-25 .528
Athletics 32-29 .525
Pirates 30-28 .517
Yankees 25-24 .510
Brewers 27-27 .500
Dodgers 37-37 .500
Rangers 22-22 .500
Phillies 25-32 .439

"I think you can make a case for every game being important from now until the end of the schedule," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "The games are going to be there. They're all going to be important. We need to focus on [Monday's game against the A's] and just start to build that momentum. You're going to have a tough game every day."
As for the other teams in contention, the Rays play 13 of their final 22 against contenders and the Orioles play just nine such games. The AL East-leading Yankees have just six games -- three each against Tampa Bay and Oakland -- against potential playoff clubs.

Before giving the edge to the Yanks in the AL East, though, note that the Orioles have a 31-19 record against the clubs they will face down the stretch. The Yankees sport a 25-24 record against their remaining opponents.

The Giants hold a distinct advantage -- aside from their five-game lead -- over the Dodgers in the NL West title race. The Giants' next 18 games are against non-contending playoff teams (Rockies, D-backs and Padres). The only contender remaining on their schedule is when they close out the year in Los Angeles against the Dodgers.

"There's a lot of baseball left," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "It's going to be a fight; we know it. That's our nature. We never do anything easy. We have to come out here and work hard every day. There's a lot of baseball left, that's the way we have to look at it. We have to play our game and see what happens."

In order for the final series to be relevant, the Dodgers will have to navigate a much tougher slate that features a 10-game stretch beginning Thursday against the Cardinals, Nationals and Reds starting. The Giants hold a 30-21 record against their remaining opponents, while the Dodgers are 37-37 against theirs.

Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez certainly isn't going to look that far ahead, but he made a bold prediction last weekend, regardless of what the schedule has in store.

"I don't know about winning the division. I just know we're getting in the playoffs one way or another," said Gonzalez, who was acquired by the Dodgers last month in a blockbuster trade in an attempt to solidify their chances of qualifying for the postseason.

In the NL Wild Card race, the edge on paper goes to the Cardinals and Braves, with the Dodgers and Pirates on the outside looking in.

Atlanta holds a comfortable lead for the first spot, sitting 5 1/2 games ahead of the Cardinals and 6 1/2 ahead of the Dodgers. Los Angeles trails St. Louis by just one game for the second spot and Pittsburgh sits 2 1/2 games back of the Cards.

The Braves will play just nine more games against playoff contenders and have a favorable 12-game stretch from Sept. 17-30. During that time, Atlanta will play six games against the Marlins and three each against the Phillies and Mets. Atlanta boasts a 39-26 record against the teams remaining on its schedule.

While the Cardinals actually have two more games remaining against a contender than do the Pirates (10 to eight), it's the non-contender games that play to St. Louis' favor. From Sept. 18-26, the Cardinals will play nine straight games against the Astros and Cubs, the two teams with the Major Leagues' worst records.

One race that is as close on paper as it is in the current standings is that of the AL Central. The White Sox extended their lead to three games with Monday's victory over the Tigers, but the rivals have three games remaining in their current four-game set in Chicago.

"Regardless of what happens in the series, one bad week after that and you're back in the same situation or worse," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "They're important, everybody knows that, but it's not the end of the season."

Following that series, the Tigers' only remaining series against a contender is a three-game home series against the A's from Sept. 18-20. From there, Detroit finishes the season by playing its final 13 games against the Royals (seven) and Twins (six).

The White Sox don't have it too bad themselves, but -- operating under the assumption that their series against the Angels cancels out the Tigers' clash with the Athletics -- the Sox still have an extra four-game set against the Rays in their next-to-last series.

Looking strictly on paper suggests the postseason will feature the Yankees, Rangers, Orioles and Angels in the AL with it being a toss-up between the White Sox and Tigers for the final spot. In the NL, it seems more clear cut -- the Nats, Reds, Giants, Braves and Cardinals will be playing October baseball.

Now only if it was actually that simple to figure out.
Click to expand...
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/2012091038192868/
 
V

vas_a_morir

Banned
Dmncnby2k9 said:
So a Pirates player said something racist to Brandon Phillips during yesterday's game. Brawl tonight!
Click to expand...

Oh dude, I never saw anyone look so salty standing at first base as I saw BP. He almost looked hurt. When they threw over to first, and he was just standing there with his hands on his hips staring right at the pitcher without moving, it was the oddest thing I've seen.
 
H

harSon

Banned
vas_a_morir said:
Oh dude, I never saw anyone look so salty standing at first base as I saw BP. He almost looked hurt. When they threw over to first, and he was just standing there with his hands on his hips staring right at the pitcher without moving, it was the oddest thing I've seen.
Click to expand...

He's probably just salty that he's been styled on by shitty Pirates and Astros pitchers the last two games. I'd make up a BS story about racism too if I went 0-9 against Wandy and Edgar Gonzalez.
 
V

vas_a_morir

Banned
harSon said:
About time the media shit on the dude, he's lost us so many fucking winnable games with his inept managing of the team.
Click to expand...

Think about it, though: The Reds didn't score for like another 7 innings. You can't say that was the wrong move. The offense was to blame for yesterdays game.


harSon said:
He's probably just salty that he's been styled on by shitty Pirates and Astros pitchers the last two games. I'd make up a BS story about racism too if I went 0-9 against Wandy and Edgar Gonzalez.
Click to expand...

Are you really defending racism? Gaf has a defense force for EVERYTHING.
I'm not serious, although GAF often is about dumb shit like that.
 
E

eznark

Banned
I'm not defending it, but I don't believe Phillips. If he did concretely hear anything like that he has a duty to his fellow players to name names, not just cry on twitter.

Hasn't Phillips made similar accusations in the past? I'm sensing some chicken little-ism here.
 
D

Dmncnby2k9

Banned
vas_a_morir said:
Oh dude, I never saw anyone look so salty standing at first base as I saw BP. He almost looked hurt. When they threw over to first, and he was just standing there with his hands on his hips staring right at the pitcher without moving, it was the oddest thing I've seen.
Click to expand...
I remember Phillips telling McCutchen something after that inning ended, pointing at Pirates clubhouse. McCutchen just nodded. Wonder if he told him to check his boy.
 
E

eznark

Banned
I just watched the play, at what point in that exchange would it even have been possible for anyone to have said something to Phillips that another half dozen people wouldn't have heard? The only person it could have been is Barajas and that assumes 1. Barajas has hid his racism in pro ball for what, 15 years and 2. the umpire didn't care, which is total garbage.


Honestly? I don't think he's lying about it, I just think he gets called that more than your average baseball player.
Click to expand...
Huh? So you think there are just white players running around calling black players slurs and no one cares? You have to be kidding me. You'd be tossed before the words came out of your mouth and fined to kingdom come.
 
H

harSon

Banned
It's kind of hard to take seriously if he won't expand on A) what was allegedly said and B) who said it, allowing the team and league to take necessary steps towards dealing with the issue if it occurred.

And it's the principle of the thing. Hurdle has been making shit decision after shit decision, the fact that this one didn't directly influence the game is besides the point. I'm not saying the team is free of blame for our 2nd half meltdown, but Hurdle's supposed to put his team in a position to win, not constantly make it harder for them.
 
E

eznark

Banned
The huge thing with this accusation is that Phillips is essentially saying the home plate umpire ignored racial hate speech. The umpire needs to be fired if it happened and if it didn't, Phillips needs to be fined and/or suspended.
 
S

Sanjuro

Member
They only take racism seriously if you're in the playoffs.

EDIT: Oh, it was towards Cincy? Ban Pirates from baseball for an entire season.
 
V

vas_a_morir

Banned
eznark said:
The huge thing with this accusation is that Phillips is essentially saying the home plate umpire ignored racial hate speech. The umpire needs to be fired if it happened and if it didn't, Phillips needs to be fined and/or suspended.
Click to expand...

You gotta admit, his demeanor on first base was unusual. I've been watching the guy for half a decade, and I've never seen him look or act like that.

I think it happens a lot more than you think. It would be naive to believe it never happens anymore, even though I would love to think we live in a post-racial America. And remember, not everybody comes from a culture and country where racism is recognized and stigmatized like ours. Not saying it happened, but I don't think he's lying. Apparently there could be an MLB investigation, so we'll see if anything comes from that.

Or, Brandon Phillips could be lying. Who cares?
 
S

Sanjuro

Member
vas_a_morir said:
I'm just saying, it was weird. They were throwing over to first, while he just stood there on the base staring at the pitcher with his hands on his hips without moving. I even mentioned it last night, before I knew about the racism accusations.
Click to expand...

Why would they throw to first if he was just standing on the base?
 
E

eznark

Banned
vas_a_morir said:
You gotta admit, his demeanor on first base was unusual. I've been watching the guy for half a decade, and I've never seen him look or act like that.

I think it happens a lot more than you think. It would be naive to believe it never happens anymore, even though I would love to think we live in a post-racial America. And remember, not everybody comes from a culture and country where racism is recognized and stigmatized like ours. Not saying it happened, but I don't think he's lying. Apparently there could be an MLB investigation, so we'll see if anything comes from that.

Or, Brandon Phillips could be lying. Who cares?
Click to expand...

Are you kidding?? How could any black pitcher ever feel comfortable pitching with an apparent racist like Cuzzi behind the plate? It completely destroys Cuzzi's integrity and credibility and he needs to be fired immediately.

As far as it happening often, maybe it does but I doubt it. When it happens in a lily white sport like hockey it's a massive deal. In clubhouses that are significantly more racially diverse in an age when players play for 2-4 teams in their career? I just think you're wrong.

I think it never happens within ear shot of an umpire. Literally never. It would be an auto-ejection and filing with the league. Unless apparently if Bob Cuzzi is the ump.

I'm not joking in the least in saying that this is a massive issue and the league needs to suspend Cuzzi until an investigation can take place.
 
V

vas_a_morir

Banned
Sanjuro Tsubaki said:
Why would they throw to first if he was just standing on the base?
Click to expand...

I don't know. I thought it was odd last night:


vas_a_morir said:
Back to baseball. lol.

Some hijinks going down in the Pirates game. They f'n hate Brandon Phillips. They threw over to first and he was just stanidng there on the base with his hands on his waist staring down the pitcher. It was the oddest thing I've seen all year.
Click to expand...
 
D

Dmncnby2k9

Banned
Im with Ez, there's no way the ump would allow to happen and if he did, he needs to gtfo. This is some serious shit, which we cant wrong. Human element and mistakes dont apply here.
 
V

vas_a_morir

Banned
Dmncnby2k9 said:
Im with Ez, there's no way the ump would allow to happen and if he did, he needs to gtfo. This is some serious shit, which we cant wrong. Human element and mistakes dont apply here.
Click to expand...

Might not have heard him say it, to be fair. It is a baseball game, and people were booing very loudly at that time.
 
W

Windu

never heard about the cat, apparently
yeah I have a hard time believing that the umpire didn't hear anything.

he was close enough imo

gOEd0.jpg
 
V

vas_a_morir

Banned
eznark said:
You're insane. Watch the video and tell me at which point anyone could have said anything to Phillips when 10 other people wouldn't have heard.
Click to expand...

We don't even know when it was said or who said it for sure. So, it would be ill-advised to try to guess who was the culprit. All I'm saying is that I don't think he would lie about this, and that BP's demeanor on first, as well as the constant throw-overs seemed to indicate an unusual atmosphere. Even BP could have misheard what was said. I don't know, I don't really care.

EDIT: The ump in that picture looks 5 feet away. I think it's possible he didn't hear every word that was said with clarity.
 
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