2011 MLB Season Thread

[VERVE]

Originally Posted by CofR

Ya, when Williams could have sat out the final day of the season and not played in a double header to protect his .400 average he decided to play, and went 6 for 8, finishing at .406! Suck on that Reyes.

really, nice bit of trivia...

[moon]

Originally Posted by Dion

The only regular that didn't play for the Yanks is thier ace closer, Rivera. If the tables were turned and the Yanks were fighting for a spot, Rivera would have been in for sure.

Of course the tables would have been turned.

The Yankees would risk blowing out their top closer and possibly most valuable player if their season was on the line the line but in this case they did what every single team in the league would have done and sat him.

It had nothing to do with the Red Sox and everything to do with the smart decision.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Amazing that the Yankees used 11 pitchers (one short of a Major League record). That's more than either the AL or NL used in the All-Star Game this year!

[d_phaneuf]

[fundmark19]

Originally Posted by Sidney Crosby's Hat

Their ballpark only holds 29,000?

Wiki says 36k with tarps. Don't know how much is tarped off right now. There was 40 for alcs game 6 in 08 but lots of those were obstructed view (including my seats) from the rafters. That is why they have so much tarped off all the time

[fundmark19]

Originally Posted by Matty81

The trop is the worst baseball stadium out there... and it's not even close, yes I am considering Oakland. Throw in about 35,000 of the most fairweather fans in the sports world and a manager who looks like a troll doll in coke bottle glasses throwing tantrums every couple innings - I can't even watch.

And yet those fairweather fans were all their in 08 and I hope they come back this year. Nothing like 40k cowbells ringing all game and everyone around the bay area having a rays-hawk (blue Mohawk).

You were not there in 08 to see the excitement. I was, and can tell you inside the trop when it is packed full was one of my greatest memories. It is on par with all of the 04 cup games.

[troutman]

Wow - perhaps the wildest night in MLB history. The fates of four teams decided in dramatic fashion. How can anyone be opposed to expanded playoffs now?

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Dion

Should be interesting headlines in both the Boston and Atlanta papers tomorrow.

Boston Globe
Greatest choke in baseball history

Atlanta Journal Constitution
Gonzalez at fault for collapse

[troutman]

LOL - the Orioles acted like THEY won the pennant. I remember years ago, the last place Giants knocking the Dodgers out of the playoffs on the last day of the season - Candlestick went bonkers.

[troutman]

Will Crawford be remembered like Buckner for dropping the ball?

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by fundmark19

And yet those fairweather fans were all their in 08 and I hope they come back this year. Nothing like 40k cowbells ringing all game and everyone around the bay area having a rays-hawk (blue Mohawk).

You were not there in 08 to see the excitement. I was, and can tell you inside the trop when it is packed full was one of my greatest memories. It is on par with all of the 04 cup games.

That's pretty much exactly what I was referring to. They have the worst attendance in baseball and basically no interest all regular season for a contending team and then 35,000 going hard as soon as the playoffs start. And pretty much the only noise worse than the echos you usually hear at the trop are those cowbells at a ballgame, I'm just glad they didn't discover vuvuzelas first.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by fundmark19

And yet those fairweather fans were all their in 08 and I hope they come back this year. Nothing like 40k cowbells ringing all game and everyone around the bay area having a rays-hawk (blue Mohawk).

You were not there in 08 to see the excitement. I was, and can tell you inside the trop when it is packed full was one of my greatest memories. It is on par with all of the 04 cup games.

How does that change the fairweather fan label? Yeah, they showed up in the world series, what a stunning development.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by troutman

Will Crawford be remembered like Buckner for dropping the ball?

Why would he be? That wasn't an easy catch

[habernac]

Originally Posted by valo403

Why would he be? That wasn't an easy catch

For a MLB player, that's an easy catch.

[PIMking]

Originally Posted by Sidney Crosby's Hat

Amazing that the Yankees used 11 pitchers (one short of a Major League record). That's more than either the AL or NL used in the All-Star Game this year!

No need to burn up your arms for a game that means nothing

[CofR]

Originally Posted by troutman

Will Crawford be remembered like Buckner for dropping the ball?

Its probably not as infamous, but its certainly not gonna be forgotten anytime soon. I feel like the sun rose and I was back in 2003.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by habernac

For a MLB player, that's an easy catch.

No it's not, it's not the most difficult play out there but it's not easy. It's a sinking ball that he's charging in on, he probably should have made the play but comparing it to a soft grounder down the line is nonsense.

[fundmark19]

Originally Posted by Matty81

That's pretty much exactly what I was referring to. They have the worst attendance in baseball and basically no interest all regular season for a contending team and then 35,000 going hard as soon as the playoffs start. And pretty much the only noise worse than the echos you usually hear at the trop are those cowbells at a ballgame, I'm just glad they didn't discover vuvuzelas first.

Weird thinking back to 04 wasn't all of Calgary fairweather fans? Even in the playoffs round 1 tickets were easy to come by. If you are just going off of atendance yes Rays attendance sucks as pointed out in this thread. They need to find a better location for the ball park. Everyone knows that and they are trying to find one.

I don't even know why I am debating this. All I can say is I hope their bats don't die off like they tend to do and can carry this momentum into Texas. If we get to the ALCS I will be heading down with the rest of the "fairweather" fans to hopefully witness another amazing series.

[fundmark19]

Originally Posted by valo403

No it's not, it's not the most difficult play out there but it's not easy. It's a sinking ball that he's charging in on, he probably should have made the play but comparing it to a soft grounder down the line is nonsense.

He sure didn't look like he was charging in. CC is fast and that was not him running with heart to catch that ball. I am glad Tampa wouldn't sign him if this is the effort he puts into games once he gets a large pay day

[troutman]

Originally Posted by fundmark19

They need to find a better location for the ball park. Everyone knows that and they are trying to find one.

Montreal.