2013 MLB Season Thread

[Cheerio]

Why do so many people hate the Rays?

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Originally Posted by Cheerio

Disappointed with that finish. If the A's & Pirates lose tomorrow I think I'm done with baseball for the year. Me cheering for a team is the kiss of death

You got that half right. If the Tigers and Pirates lose I'm don't with baseball (well not really I'll be cheering for a Dogers/Red Sox World Series which actually would be an amazing story given last years trade)

[fundmark19]

Originally Posted by Cheerio

Why do so many people hate the Rays?

Because they all get upset that they organization is run very well and their team (mostly Blue Jays) have been terrible. They think that the team just plays in an empty joke of a stadium not spending money on players and picking up revenue sharing cheques.

They don't realize that the owners will be the first to tell anyone that they need a new stadium and are trying very hard to get one but it has been hard negotiating with St Pete and getting out of the lease and finding a spot for a new stadium since St Pete won't let them build on the water because of the manatee sanctuaries that are near by. They also fail to see that the Rays have one of the highest TV viewership in the MLB and because how their deal is structured they don't make the 100's of millions that other markets do with less viewers. They also have never been to Tropicana field which isn't even that bad of a stadium. It looks a lot worse on TV then in person. It is way nicer in comparison to the saddledome but no where near what all the new ball parks are like.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by fundmark19

They also fail to see that the Rays have one of the highest TV viewership in the MLB

Really - I find that surprising. Not a huge metro area.

http://www.draysbay.com/2012/10/8/34...istorical-2012

Viewership for Tampa Bay Rays telecasts saw a significant increase in 2012. The 150 regular season games on Sun Sports averaged a 4.89 household rating in the Tampa DMA, according to The Nielsen Co., up 28 percent from 2011.

Looks like ratings are very good, but what does that mean in households (total viewers)?

[fundmark19]

Originally Posted by troutman

Looks like ratings are very good, but what does that mean in households (total viewers)?

Sorry trout I always get those mixed up. Looks like highest viewship so far in the postseason as well as 6th in mlb. (that isn't up to date though)

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/liv...ys-wins-645124
http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/...cel-in-tv.html

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Cards win their NLDS.

Dodgers vs Cardinals

Red Sox vs Tigers/Atheletics

I'm cheering for Detroit tonight. If Oakland wins then I'd love to see the story of Boston/LA considering last year's trade.


Sorry moon, I have the utmost respect for you as a poster & Cards fan but my God you've been soooo lucky as a fan, two World Series championships and how many post season series wins?!

[burn_this_city]

Go Tigers, I'm nervous as hell today. I couldn't even see the end of game 4 as I had a flight to catch when the 8th inning started.

[fundmark19]

I think I want Detroit to win it all. But if the Cards want to make the postseason crazy exciting again I have no issue rooting for them.

[troutman]

Final four could be BOS - DET - STL - LA.

Seems there are only about 8 teams (perhaps also NYY, NYM, SF, LAA) that will consistently contend into the future, until there is a salary cap.

[Brannigans Law]

God I hope Oakland wins tonight. Go A's!

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by troutman

Final four could be BOS - DET - STL - LA.

Seems there are only about 8 teams (perhaps also NYY, NYM, SF, LAA) that will consistently contend into the future, until there is a salary cap.

As and Rays will always be there. The Pirates and Indians are also very good, this was their first taste of post-season.

I can see some richer teams contending in the next few years like the Blue Jays, Cubs, White Sox, Orioles and Nationals.

All teams are rich with the tv money. Some are richer but you can still build a team from the bottom up.

[MRCboicgy]

No one else watching Verlander pitch in the 7th with only a walk allowed so far?

And broken up after 6 1/3

[burn_this_city]

Verlander was unreal tonight. The big players came to play for the Tigers. Feel bad for the A's and their fans, they're a likeable team.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

Sorry moon, I have the utmost respect for you as a poster & Cards fan but my God you've been soooo lucky as a fan, two World Series championships and how many post season series wins?!

No problem we have had a lot of success lately, but that loss to the Giants really stings for last year so makes me a little more anxious this year and less happy with the past victories than I normally have been.

I think the team f'ed up not getting another pitcher. Lance Lynn is awful and tough to rely on Wacha and Miller as rookies. They have so much talent in the system they could have got a pitcher without giving up a Tavares or Martinez and I think if they had a Peavy or Garza they might be the favorites.

I always hope the Cards win but if they Red Sox don't win that would be a very, very close second choice for me and still a successful season.

[moon]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

As and Rays will always be there. The Pirates and Indians are also very good, this was their first taste of post-season.

I can see some richer teams contending in the next few years like the Blue Jays, Cubs, White Sox, Orioles and Nationals.

All teams are rich with the tv money. Some are richer but you can still build a team from the bottom up.

I would expect Texas to be there with their money and roster/prospects.

Chicago, Baltimore, Toronto, Chicago all may have money but they have a lot of holes to fill and haven't really shown that they will spend LA/NYY/Bos style to cover those problems. I would say those 4 have a better chance of not making play-offs for the next 5 years than making it.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Originally Posted by moon

I would expect Texas to be there with their money and roster/prospects.

Chicago, Baltimore, Toronto, Chicago all may have money but they have a lot of holes to fill and haven't really shown that they will spend LA/NYY/Bos style to cover those problems. I would say those 4 have a better chance of not making play-offs for the next 5 years than making it.

What Texas needs is to have someone (*cough*Nolan Ryan*cough*) to bridge the HUGE gap between the front office and the players.

I agree the GM should keep his distance to make the tough decisions, but there's no one to make the players feel like the organization has their backs.

John Daniels is a General Manager who conducts business like a fantasy GM. Which is fine, but when it comes to getting a player and making him want to stay the organization is bad at it. Why I think, in part, the big trade acquisitions either don't pan out, or don't stay.

That (and Washington's inability to get the team to play under pressure) is the organization's biggest flaw.

[GirlySports]

I think the Cubs will be good soon, maybe make a push for a 2015 playoff spot. They have Epstein as GM and a lot of young talent in the pipeline and the money to add more. The White Sox not so much.

And the Blue Jays. It was never going to happen this year, rarely does a team put a bunch of new pieces together and they all blend into a championship. But it's a 3-year plan and with Rogers money they can do anything. Talent is there, just attitude is a problem.

[GirlySports]

IH NGE GUUCTY!

[Flickered Flame]

Another disappointing end to the A's season. I have had a feeling they would lose game 5 after they left the bases loaded vs the Tigers in game 4 without scoring a run.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Flickered Flame

Another disappointing end to the A's season. I have had a feeling they would lose game 5 after they left the bases loaded vs the Tigers in game 4 without scoring a run.

That was the turning point in my eyes, I couldn't believe Scherzer got out of that jam bases loaded no one out.