The OFFICIAL 2012 MLB Regular Season Thread

[trumpethead]

And the Giants walk off in the 11th. Big win. Great game.

[flames_1987]

Man that Phillies lineup is brutal. What a game though.

[troutman]

I think Cain has only allowed one walk and three hits in his last two games. Talk about earning that new contract!

Pitching duel goes to Giants

Wilson surgery Thursday

[GirlySports]

Bartolo Colon throws 38 consecutive strikes.

http://www.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=20742157

[CofR]

Tomorrow is the start of a 3 game series between the Redsox and the Yankees, despite both teams not playing great, Friday's game especially is going to be pretty special. Fenway Park is turning 100 Years Old! Here's hoping the Sox can make it an even better memory with a win!

Probable pitchers:

Ivan Nova (2-0, 4.15) @ Clay Buchholz (1-0, 9.82)
Freddy Garcia (0-1, 6.97) @ Felix Doubront (0-0, 5.40)
CC Sabathia (1-0, 5.59) @ Daniel Bard (0-2, 4.63)

[CofR]

The Los Angeles Angels have signed shortstop Erick Aybar to a four-year extension worth a reported $35 million. Aybar signed with the Angels out of the Dominican Republic in 2002.

As per:
http://blogs.thescore.com/mlb/2012/0...or-four-years/

[Drake]

Major League Baseball and the players' association have informed teams and agents that they no longer will approve personal-service deals and special "milestone" bonus clauses similar to those contained in Albert Pujols' contract with the Los Angeles Angels, officials of both agencies told ESPN.com.

The contracts of Pujols and Zimmerman, as well as the milestone-bonus "marketing" package in Alex Rodriguez's 2007 contract with the Yankees, won't be affected by the new rules, said Dan Halem, MLB's senior vice president of labor relations. But no future contracts containing similar provisions will be allowed, Halem said.

Michael Weiner, executive director of the players' union, also confirmed the new rules. "Both clauses raise questions under the Basic Agreement, and both parties felt they should not be a subject of individual negotiations," Weiner said.

ob Manfred, MLB's executive vice president for economics and league affairs, told ESPN.com that the two sides began talking about implementing the new rules this past winter because of growing concerns that arose from the language in Pujols' and Zimmerman's contracts.

The league and the union have agreed that bonuses such as those violate a provision in baseball's basic agreement that prohibits contract incentives based on virtually all statistical achievements.

However, the two sides have concluded that the Basic Agreement doesn't permit players to agree to contracts that cover obligations beyond their playing careers.

One source told ESPN.com that baseball is trying to close loopholes that teams might be able to use to avoid paying a luxury tax, and both of these provisions fall under that heading because neither milestone bonuses nor personal-services deals are considered to be guaranteed money.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/78...e-deals-future

[Sylvanfan]

The Texas Rangers offence is on a serious roll right now. Even a rain out last night didn't slow them down.

[transplant99]

White Sox pitcher has a perfect game going into the 9th against the Mariners.

[transplant99]

Humber does it!!

Perfect game...always so cool to see. Really strange last out tho.

only been done 21 times

[flames_1987]

I guess that was for Armando Galarraga. Not even close on that last pitch, he didn't go around at all. Cheap way to end the game

[Wise Gamble]

Brendan Ryan swung

[flames_1987]

I've watched it again and again and it doesn't look even close, have not seen an over head shot yet

And throwing a perfect game is a huge deal, but Fox not showing any replays at all was pretty bush league. Not even discussing the at bat

[fundmark19]

Going down to florida next week for a boys trip. I am going to see at least a couple games in Miami's new stadium and then a couple games in tampa to watch my rays. Getting really excited!

[Wise Gamble]

Yankees come back from being down 9-0. Now 12-9 bases loaded 0 outs for the Bronx Bombers.

[Wise Gamble]

Make that 14-9.

[socalwingfan]

Wow Bobby Valentine is already at the Grady Little hatred level in Fenway! Getting booed big time everytime he comes out to make a pitching change. Yesterday the crowd was chanting "We Want Tito" - looks like the honeymoon is over

[CofR]

I had horrible flashbacks to last September watching today's game...

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

The Texas Rangers offence is on a serious roll right now. Even a rain out last night didn't slow them down.

Verlander will slow any offense down.

[Drake]

Matt Kemps hits his 9th HR in 14 games tonight. Could he go 50/50? He is currently on pace for 97 HR's.

As of right now the Cubs (5), Pirates (7), Phillies (7) and Astros (7) have all hit less HR's than Matt Kemp