2011 MLB Season Thread - Page 21 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Where ru Chris O'Sullivan · 09-10-2011, 04:04 AM

Any thoughts on the proposed realignment for next season, Houston moving to the AL west/15 teams per league/season long interleague play?

I think this is mainly to expedite Seligs idea of another WC / league, although Texas vs. Houston in the west would be great (in 4 years, when Hou gets better).

Sylvanfan · 09-11-2011, 12:47 PM

Well the D-Backs are running away with the NL West now, and the Angels are trying to keep within reach of the Rangers. But what's becoming interesting is the Rays might just sweep Boston here, who's pitching is in bad shape and close that gap to 4.5 games.

Where ru Chris O'Sullivan · 09-13-2011, 10:27 AM

Boy, Tbay keeps on a coming! If they get in, they could do some real damage.

fundmark19 · 09-13-2011, 11:02 AM

I sure hope TB makes it. Last min trip to florida to watch some playoff baseball yes please! It really all comes down to this weekend against the Bo sox. If either team is swept who ever does the sweeping is in

burn_baby_burn · 09-13-2011, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Where ru Chris O'Sullivan

Any thoughts on the proposed realignment for next season, Houston moving to the AL west/15 teams per league/season long interleague play?

I think this is mainly to expedite Seligs idea of another WC / league, although Texas vs. Houston in the west would be great (in 4 years, when Hou gets better).

Makes sense to even the two leagues and more importantly the six divisions. Season long interleague play? I'm a baseball purist, however times do change. Managers complain about interleague play, however, attendance indicates its a big hit with the fans (according to attendance) which means it isn't going anywhere. Spreading it out throughout the season will be more interesting than lumping it all together.

Sylvanfan · 09-13-2011, 12:34 PM

I really hope they don't do any interleague play after July 1st though. I think they already have more of it than they should....but as you say fans seem to like it. Although it's one thing to have the Red Sox or Yankees come to your city if you're an NL team. It's not so great when you lose a series against the Phillies to have the always exciting Mariners roll into town, even if you do get to beat them up.

CofR · 09-13-2011, 05:12 PM

The Rays have me scared poopless right now... The way they're playing and the Sox struggles are certainly making this month a bit more stressful. With the injuries to pitchers, and seemingly all Sox hitters in a slump at the same time it almost feels like it did at the beginning of the season.

If the Rays do get in, then I would not want to be a team facing them in a series.

CofR · 09-13-2011, 08:26 PM

Tim Wakefield got his 200th win tonight over the Jays

With the Rays losing its another full game between the Sox and Tampa for the WC.

Where ru Chris O'Sullivan · 09-14-2011, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

I really hope they don't do any interleague play after July 1st though. I think they already have more of it than they should....but as you say fans seem to like it. Although it's one thing to have the Red Sox or Yankees come to your city if you're an NL team. It's not so great when you lose a series against the Phillies to have the always exciting Mariners roll into town, even if you do get to beat them up.

I hate interleague play with a passion, but just sayin', if they even the leagues, there would always be 1 team with a day off daily, so it would force year round interleague play. for every 1 NYY vs. NYM series theres a MIL vs. KC, STL vs. ANA etc etc to make it look stupid and unneccesary

fundmark19 · 09-14-2011, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CofR

Tim Wakefield got his 200th win tonight over the Jays

With the Rays losing its another full game between the Sox and Tampa for the WC.

You won't be so happy after the weekend sweep that is coming! Lets go Rays and Jays!

troutman · 09-14-2011, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

Makes sense to even the two leagues and more importantly the six divisions. Season long interleague play? I'm a baseball purist, however times do change. Managers complain about interleague play, however, attendance indicates its a big hit with the fans (according to attendance) which means it isn't going anywhere. Spreading it out throughout the season will be more interesting than lumping it all together.

I'd like more interleague play. Seems like the Jays have played the Red Sox 100 times this year.

CofR · 09-14-2011, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fundmark19

You won't be so happy after the weekend sweep that is coming! Lets go Rays and Jays!

The pitching match ups this weekend are certainly interesting...

Hellickson vs. Weiland
Shields vs. Beckett
Niemann vs. Lester
Price vs. Wakefield

I'm pretty nervous for it, but at the least it'll hopefully be some entertaining baseball.

socalwingfan · 09-14-2011, 09:10 AM

^ even if the Rays were to sweep - which would be a very tall order - the Sox have tons of games left against the Orioles - I wouldn't worry too much

Sylvanfan · 09-14-2011, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

I'd like more interleague play. Seems like the Jays have played the Red Sox 100 times this year.

That itself is solved easily enough by balancing out how many teams within the AL play each other. IIRC when it was a 14 team league with two Divisions you played the teams in your own Division 13 times and the teams from the other Division 12 times a season. Now you play other AL teams 6 times a year and 18 inside your own Division. I think the AL West play each other more often than that due to the 4 team Division.

burn_baby_burn · 09-15-2011, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

I'd like more interleague play. Seems like the Jays have played the Red Sox 100 times this year.

Exactly. It does get boring seeing the same teams all the time. Especially if your a season ticket holder. Same goes for the NHL. I could care less to see pretty much every Western Conference team anymore in the Saddle Dome outside of the Nucks and Oil. I pick day of the week over opponent when it comes to the other 12 western teams.

CofR · 09-15-2011, 06:42 PM

Quote:

NEW YORK (SI.com) -- Brewers star and free-agent-to-be Prince Fielder said in an exclusive interview with TBS that this is "probably the last year" that he will play in Milwaukee.
Speaking to Brian Anderson, a TBS announcer who is also a Brewers play-by-play man, for a postseason feature, Fielder said, "I'm signed for this year, but being real about it, it is probably the last year."
In reference to Ryan Braun, his slugging teammate and fellow NL MVP frontrunner, Fielder said, "It's been great, unfortunately, this is probably the last year of the one-two punch... But I think it's been good, [five] years, him and me. Hopefully, we can go out with a blast."

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...#ixzz1Y4VIBPWv

troutman · 09-16-2011, 09:23 AM

Panda hit for the cycle last night, getting a triple in his last at bat.

fundmark19 · 09-16-2011, 10:45 AM

Rays 1 sox 0 lets make it 2 tonight!

dustyanddaflames · 09-16-2011, 11:19 AM

Holy man, the Red Sox collapse is getting worse and worse by each passing day. You watch the game last night, and it looked like one battling to get into the playoffs and the other just trying to hang on. I know the Sox are banged up (Gonzalez, Beckett, Bucholz, Youkilis), but their lead sure disappeared in a hurry. Shields vs Beckett tonight should be a dandy.

Sylvanfan · 09-16-2011, 12:20 PM

I don't think Beckett is 100% either for tonights game, I'm guessing they'll be luckey to get 5 innings out of him. Have to admire how the Rays do it, their pitching is top notch and since they added Desmond Jennings to their lineup, they're offense seems to have been much better. The group of Jennings, Upton, Damon, Kotchman, Longoria, Joyce, and Zobrist gives them enough decent bats to support their pitching.