2011 MLB Season Thread - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

IceMan · 03-30-2011, 08:56 PM

Well, the boys of Summer are back and since the season kicks off tomorrow, I thought I'd make a thread to kick things off.

I love opening day in MLB especially this year because it's the only time I'll get to say the Mets are tied for 1st place (Phillies pitching staff is just scary).

With Santana being out until late June/early July, the Mets pitching staff is going to have to carry the load especially Mike Pelfrey. Beltran is back from missing 2/3 of the season last year but who knows how is knee will hold up. Jason Bay is being reevaluated and might start the season on the DL.

So basically there's a ton of questions for the Mets this season and that's not even counting the off field issues with ownership and the whole Bernie Madoff scandal.

Honestly, I'll just be happy if the Mets are in contention come August.

Regardless, lets look forward to another great season.

My World Series pick is Boston vs Philadelphia. Daring I know

.

Wise Gamble · 03-30-2011, 10:26 PM

Everyone on the planet is saying that will be the WS. Which means it wont happen.

I can see the Brewers or A's making a big run...and KC Royals being a suprise this year.

bluejays · 03-30-2011, 10:33 PM

Yup, I think the Brewers are definitely a darkhorse. KC, not so much, but they have crazy young talent lined up in the future, and if they can hold on, they'll be really good. Boston is my choice to take it, but if Philly's SP holds on, there's no doubt they're the best and would take it handedly. My guess all in all though is Boston is the team to beat as they're the best overall.

CofR · 03-30-2011, 10:52 PM

I hate to sound like a total homer but I do think that the Redsox are the team to beat. There are a lot of question marks and poor performances coming out of Spring Training that make me nervous, but the depth on the team is hard to argue with.

Everyone and their dog seems to be predicting a Boston-Philly WS, and it can be kinda hard to argue against. I agree that the Brewers look good, that race for the NL Central is going to be mighty exciting.

Montana Moe · 03-31-2011, 12:13 AM

I'm a Reds fan, so I'd like a repeat of last year, if not better. I think it depends on the maturing of their pitching staff.

I'm also a Mariners fan... I'd like to see them competitive.

flambers · 03-31-2011, 07:49 AM

As for the Phillies they have great pitching... but the offense could be a problem. They have some serious injuries to start the season....

Clever_Iggy · 03-31-2011, 08:36 AM

Possibly another NL Rookie of the Year race between the Giants and Braves (Brandon Belt and Freddie Freeman - both awesome names).

I think the Red Sox will win the AL East, but they need to add another starter and shore up the bullpen to make it through the playoffs. Jonathan Papelbon isn't what he was (and frankly I don't think he was much of anything at his peak). As for their lineup, I'm more impressed with those players returning from injury - Youkilis, Ellsbury and Pedroia - than Crawford and Gonzalez. Frankly, I think they would have been more wise to keep Youkilis at 1st, Adrian Beltre at 3rd and concentrated on getting Cliff Lee. The difference between Gonzalez-Youkilis and Youkilis-Beltre isn't going to be as magical as people think. And how long can Big Poppi be productive - 37 this year and he took the past two Aprils off? Catching is going to be an issue for this team as Saltalamacchia isn't developing at all and I can't believe Varitek can still find a MLB contract.

The Phillies are almost the opposite of the Red Sox. If they get to the post season (I would be concerned about a lack of offense on that team without Utley for an extended period and without Werth protecting Howard) they are going to be very difficult to beat. I think it's between the Phillies and the Braves for the NL East and Wildcard spot.

I like Milwaukee in the NL Central and not just as a dark horse. Pujols and Holliday could have monster years, but without starting pitching, the Cards are going to be hurting. That division is totally up for grabs. Plus with the Brewers going for broke this year as they'll lose Fielder next year, they'll add an arm or two down the stretch.

It's going to be exciting in the Bay Area this summer - both teams have a chance to take their respective divisions with really exciting young rotations and improved power in their lineups. The Rangers will be difficult in the AL West but the A's could put together a swan song for Oakland (at least by everything I'm reading/hearing). The Giants should roll their division as every other team got weaker or stayed stagnant. The Rockies are the only hurdle.

World Series: Braves over the Twins in 6.

troutman · 03-31-2011, 09:51 AM

Vanamos Gigantes!

Giants place Wilson on DL, name Belt starting 1B

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...ml?eref=sircrc

SI predictions:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...html?eref=sihp

WORLD SERIES

over

This year's Giants look even better than last year's World Series winners, says Tom Verducci.

You Need a Thneed · 03-31-2011, 10:53 AM

Go Expos Go!

burn_baby_burn · 03-31-2011, 02:50 PM

The Yankees started off on a positive note. Teixeira blasted a three run bomb into the upper deck, followed by a solo shot by Granderson later in the game to assist the Bombers to a 5-3 win over the Tigers.

Of note. The Yankees started the same three out fielders and same four infielders in back to back opening days for the first time since 1926 -1927.

Temporary_User · 03-31-2011, 05:12 PM

koop · 03-31-2011, 07:33 PM

If anyone is getting mlb.tv and has a PS3 I really recomend downloading the player for the PS3. It's so easy to switch between games, check stats, scores, standings, the entire scedule, highlights, pause/rewind, whatever. I guess it's really the same stuff you can do on a PC, but switching between games and checking stats or whatever you want to check is so much faster and easier.

troutman · 04-01-2011, 08:57 AM

Is there soemething like Center Ice for baseball on Shaw (in HD)?

troutman · 04-01-2011, 11:35 AM

Another reason to hate the Dodgers:

http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angele...ory?id=6280485

Los Angeles police are looking for two men who beat and critically injured a San Francisco Giants fan in the Dodger Stadium parking lot after the opening day game.

Sgt. Sanford Rosenberg says two men in Dodgers clothing followed three men in Giants gear as they walked to their car after Thursday night's 2-1 Dodger victory.

Rosenberg says the attackers yelled slurs against the Giants and began kicking and punching the men.

One victim suffered a head injury and was hospitalized in critical but stable condition.

Finny61 · 04-01-2011, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

Another reason to hate the Dodgers:

http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angele...ory?id=6280485

Los Angeles police are looking for two men who beat and critically injured a San Francisco Giants fan in the Dodger Stadium parking lot after the opening day game.

Sgt. Sanford Rosenberg says two men in Dodgers clothing followed three men in Giants gear as they walked to their car after Thursday night's 2-1 Dodger victory.

Rosenberg says the attackers yelled slurs against the Giants and began kicking and punching the men.

One victim suffered a head injury and was hospitalized in critical but stable condition.

Just be a Padres fan, better then those two options.

Finny61 · 04-01-2011, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by koop

If anyone is getting mlb.tv and has a PS3 I really recomend downloading the player for the PS3. It's so easy to switch between games, check stats, scores, standings, the entire scedule, highlights, pause/rewind, whatever. I guess it's really the same stuff you can do on a PC, but switching between games and checking stats or whatever you want to check is so much faster and easier.

Yeah I went on the monthly plan, just want to try it for a month and see if I get hooked. The PS3 app is quite functional and I would vouch for it as well. I ran into some audio jitters watching the Padres/Cards but I am just figuring my internet speed must have been down a smidge.

CofR · 04-01-2011, 01:16 PM

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...s_mlb&c_id=mlb

Quote:

ST. LOUIS -- The Cardinals announced that outfielder Matt Holliday will undergo an emergency appendectomy on Friday afternoon in St. Louis. The club did not offer any timetable for Holliday's return to baseball, choosing to wait until after the procedure is completed.

fundmark19 · 04-01-2011, 02:08 PM

Lets go rays! Time to step up and win the AL east again!

flames_1987 · 04-01-2011, 03:32 PM

Napoli making a good impression for the Rangers on opening day. Just jacked a 3 run homer against Lester

IceMan · 04-01-2011, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

Is there soemething like Center Ice for baseball on Shaw (in HD)?

Not that I know of. That's why I switched over to Bell. Shaw sucks for sports. Besides Sunday ticket and Center Ice, they don't have much else.

Bell has MLB Extra Innings and College sports programming which is great because I used to have to watch all the Mets games on my Computer with mlb.tv.