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Last post: Yesterday at 18:31
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Posted on 21 December 09 at 02:32, Edited on 01 February 12 at 09:44 by Tasty Pastry |
As many of you know, I like my baseball. I like it a lot. I want to talk about it. Let's chat. Also, if you're maybe not from America / are from America and don't know much about baseball, feel free to ask your questions here. I'm more than happy to educate people on how the game is played, from the simplest questions all the way up to the infield fly rule.
I'm a Brewers fan, and since my parents are from NY I was raised a bit of a Yankee fan (please hold your hatred back). I was also a Pirates fan for a bit when I lived there (poor me). I'm relatively knowledgable about each team in general, but would like to know more. Bring up your favorite team and let's discuss.
Also. If you've ever played fantasy baseball / are interested in playing fantasy baseball, I was thinking we could set up a fantasy baseball league on Yahoo for the upcoming season for just TA members assuming there is enough interest. Thoughts?
Also feel free to mention your favorite players 
Mine are Craig Counsell, Ryan Braun, Shelley Duncan, Jorge Posada, and Joba Chamberlain.
Edit on February 1st 2012: Craig Counsell and Jorge Posada has retired, Ryan Braun faces a 50 game suspension, Shelley Duncan doesn't really appear to have a job, and Joba Chamberlain had Tommy John surgery...it appears being one of my favorite players isn't a beneficial thing...
Also feel free to mention what big games you've been to / what stadiums you've seen, anything relating to baseball! |
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Last post: 11 Jan at 08:21
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Posted on 21 December 09 at 05:59 |
*Bottles up Yankee hatred and places it on the shelf*
I'm an Oakland A's fan, and have been since the late 80's when I was little and had no idea what a steroid was. Back then I was just hopping on the bandwagon of a good team, and the largest thing hanging on the wall of my room was a giant "Bash Brothers" poster of Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire posing in suits and leaning on a sportscar while wielding oversized bats.
My youthful interest in the game led to me reading more about the history of baseball and all the greats who played it - Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, and Christy Mathewson are all as familiar to me as current players. That reading led me to start a collection of vintage baseball items (cards, autographs, equipment) that I continue to add to when the opportunity arises.
I would definitely join a fantasy baseball league if there is enough interest. This past season was my first time having a team of my own (shared a team with a buddy for 3 years previous), and luckily ended up winning my league. It would be cool if we could find the time meet up online and do a draft via chat rather than doing the autodraft on Yahoo, but I'd play either way.
My current favorite player is probably Matt Kemp - he had a great year last year and can pretty much do it all right now, but at such a young age he has a lot of room to get even better. My favorite pitcher is Mark Buehrle of the White Sox. I'm from Chicago and of the two hometown teams I root for the Sox (don't hate the Cubs though) and I enjoy going to games Buehrle pitches because unlike most pitchers today he works really fast. |
Last post: Yesterday at 18:31
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Posted on 21 December 09 at 06:14 |
I refuse to not do a live draft. If we end up with different timezones, I'll even be up at 4 am to do the live draft. Don't you worry
I went and saw Buehrle pitch in one of the games after his perfect game. It was the one against the Yankees. I saw two games, don't remember which the Yankees won, but Melky Cabrera hit for the cycle, which for some reason doesn't seem to be played on the replays of the MLB season, even though I've seen Jason Kubel's a thousand times, but whatev.
Matt Kemp is the man. I can see how you would like him.
Oakland A's...sorry champ. I was cheering for them to do decent this year because, despite the steroids, Jason Giambi is one of the nicest guys in the world IMHO. Was kind of upset that he sucked and got released...Colorado really used him down the stretch.
What's your most treasured baseball "item" you have? I've bought a couple of things, but I found that I get a lot more "value" out of physically getting it myself. Therefore the thing I value two things the most - a ball that Luis Sojo gave me during a Yankees minor league game in Tampa (Luis Sojo was basically a career bench player if you don't know him, general .240 hitter or so, but he was the hero of one of the world series games of the 90s.) My other one is a ball that I got Joba Chamberlian to sign - my first real autograph.
I also have gotten autographs of Phil Coke (now traded to the Mariners), Ryan Braun (bought it), Ken Macha (Brewer's Skipper), Yovani Gallardo (Brewer's ace), Mitch Stetter (Brewer's lefty specialist), AJ Burnett (Yankee's number 2 starter), and a sufficient amount of minor leaguers, mostly from the Brewer's minor league team located in Wisconsin.
Just missed out on an autograph by Seth McClung (just left the Brewers via non-tender), Craig Counsell (So devastated...), and Casey McGehee (One of the rising stars...if he can keep it up...of the Brewers 3B). |
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Last post: 27 Nov 12 at 23:17
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Posted on 21 December 09 at 06:23 |
| Tasty Pastry said:Also. If you've ever played fantasy baseball / are interested in playing fantasy baseball, I was thinking we could set up a fantasy baseball league on Yahoo for the upcoming season for just TA members assuming there is enough interest. ThoughtsSign me up! |
http://www.trueachievements.com/leaderboard.aspx?leaderboardid=1103 |
Last post: 11 Jan at 08:21
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Posted on 21 December 09 at 07:12 |
Rooting for Oakland is definitely rough these days, but someday they'll be back in playoffs and doing well again. The Twins have shown that winning fairly consistently can be done in a small market - there's just a lot less margin for error in signing long term contracts and in choosing which free agents to pursue.
My favorite baseball item is a game used bat of Al Simmons, who played for the Philadelphia A's and Chicago White Sox in the 1920's and 30's and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1953. I found it in an antique shop in the Milwaukee area when I was 14 and was in the area visiting relatives with my mom. Simmons was from Milwaukee so when I saw a bat that looked large enough and had his name on it I took a chance and bought it. Years later I showed it to an expert in game used equipment and he confirmed that it was game used and dated it to the early 30's.
My favorite modern item that I'll always display is a ball that Art Howe threw to me at a White Sox/A's game in 2001. I got seats a few rows behind their dugout and when walking back from being out on the field he spotted my A's hat and motioned at me. He then tossed me a batting practice ball that he had grabbed from the dugout and signed, along with Mark Mulder and Johnny Damon. |
Last post: Yesterday at 18:31
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Posted on 21 December 09 at 07:16 |
Wow, that's awesome! Johnny is one of the real nice guys in the game, and I really admire him. I got seats behind the Brewer's dugout earlier this year, but sadly, they gave all the balls to the pretty girls instead of me 
I haven't noticed what Oakland has been doing this offseason. Anything in particular?
I go see the Twins play every year against the Yankees. Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau combined with the stopping power of Joe Nathan make them a contendor. Gotta do what every small market team should do - find a star through the system, put some hope in, and sign him for the long term at a reasonable price. It's what my Brewers did with Ryan Braun (and Bill Hall, though that flopped) and I'm hoping they do with Yovani Gallardo. Prince is more of a stretch. |
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Last post: 11 Jan at 08:21
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Posted on 21 December 09 at 07:59 |
Usually I find myself rooting against the Twins because of my adoption of the White Sox as my second favorite team, but I can't help but admire the organization. The so called "experts" often write them off in the preseason only to see the Twins in contention well into September once again.
Oakland hasn't made too much noise this offseason...the coming year will be more about throwing their young prospects into the fire and seeing who can take the heat. They did get a prospect from Philadelphia by being involved in the Cliff Lee/Halladay trade, and from what little I've read he seems to be a five tool player who should be ready to play next season.
One move they made that flew under the radar was trading for Jake Fox from the Cubs. Fox had 200 at bats last season and seemed like a guy without a position - he ended up playing first, third, and even catching a little, but he is better suited to being a 1B/DH type in the AL. If he can get 500 at bats in Oakland, which seems likely, he has the potential to hit 30 homers and drive in 100. You might want to keep him in mind as a good late round flier in a fantasy baseball draft (except the TA draft of course...lol).
I really wish the Brewers could somehow keep Prince...I don't like seeing the smaller market teams becoming a sort of farm system for rich teams, although it isn't anything new...baseball has been that way since the early 1900's. |
Last post: Yesterday at 18:31
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Posted on 21 December 09 at 08:12, Edited on 21 December 09 at 08:46 by Tasty Pastry |
Yea. Contrary to what many people believe though, and how much the radios talk about him, he's locked up this coming year (2010) and he just has to be paid arbitration in 2011, so he's still here for these coming two years. Everyone is ready to trade him for starting pitching here though since the Brewers are absolutely horrid at it. I disagree strongly, since I am under the firm belief that it makes no sense to trade a strength for a strength, creating a weakness where the original strength was. Yea, it'd be fine if there was someone to take Prince's place right away, but there just plain isn't, and wont be for a long time. The team wasn't (3rd/2nd, can't remember) in the NL in runs scored last season for nothing...
I obviously read about the Halladay trade, and was going to mention that I thought they got a prospect, but wasn't quite sure enough to say it.
So since it appears Oakland is just "throwing people out there" as you said, is this basically a write-off year where they are just letting the minors develop, or is there significant faith that the team can do something?
I saw Jake Fox play last year. Guy seemed solid enough to me. I didn't even hear at all that he got traded.
Cubs have really did a lot this offseason by trading Milton Bradley to the Mariners, and freed up a bit of cash. I hope, obviously, being a Brewer fan, that they don't improve the team much more than that. I hope Soriano repeats his year of being gloriously mediocre / downright horrible at times. When he ignored me when I asked for his autograph (stayed at the same hotel as him) he went on my shit list, along with Gary Sheffield (go figure).
I also have Chien Ming Wang's autograph btw, forgot to mention him. I'd really like to see him as a Brewer in this coming year, though if he demands the salary I expect for being a reclamation project, it could be a dim chance.
Edit: Currently watching the A's in the 1974 world series get ready to beat the Dodgers in Game 4. |
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Last post: Yesterday at 18:31
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Posted on 21 December 09 at 09:23 |
| Also just noticed that the A's are close to a deal with Coco Crisp. Care at all? |
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Last post: 29 May 12 at 04:08
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Posted on 21 December 09 at 17:03 |
Baseball!
I am a huge Red Sox fan. Although when I was younger, before I knew anything about steroids, I was a fan of Barry Bonds and the Giants, and I still follow the Giants a little bit today, hoping for them to win something. With Lincecum and Cain, if they can get some batting, then they could have a dominate team.
But enough about the Giants, I am a Red Sox fan after all. I was pumped when the Red Sox signed Lackey to a 5 year deal. That gives the Red Sox one of, if not the best all around Pitching staffs in all of baseball. With Lester and Lackey at the top. And Beckett, Wakefield, Dice-K, and Buchholz to round off the rotation, the Red Sox have many options. If Dice-K and Beckett pitch like they did two years ago then that is 4 aces in our pitching staff, 5 if Wakefield pitches like he did last year. I personally hate Papelbon, and want to trade him very badly. Every year he goes to arbitration, he is going to leave when his contract is up, and I've heard he is a jerk.
Now batting is not our strong point. We do have Youk, Pedroia, Martinez, and Ellsbury, but after that it drops off. With Lowell injured, the Red Sox need a 3rd basemen and a Short Stop. The Red Sox picked up Cameron, but I don't really know how much of a threat he can be.
I have never had a player sign anything of mine personally, but the best things in my collection are a Pedro Martinez rookie card, and a baseball I got while I was in the crowd. Other then that I don't have much.
I've been to Fenway Park many times. The only other stadium I've been to was the old Yankee Stadium(obviously I was rooting for the Royals to win).
I would join a Fantasy Baseball League, I've done a few before, and find it fun. However I demand a Live Draft, I prefer Head to Head, but like the other types as well.
Oh, one last thing. As a Red Sox fan I am now obligated to hate http://www.trueachievements.com/Tasty+Pastry.htm. |
I put the laughter in slaughter. |
Last post: 11 Jan at 08:21
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Posted on 21 December 09 at 23:14 |
Can't get too worked up about Coco Crisp...he's kind of a value signing and if healthy he could be solid in the outfield that they could get .280/10/60 out of, but not a difference maker.
The one problem the A's had last year that will continue this year is a lack of power and any real middle of the order run producers. Jack Cust was their top home run guy with 25 last year and wasn't tendered a contract - Fox will probably be replacing him. Other than that the only decent bats are Kurt Suzuki and Scott Hairston, and they wouldn't be middle of the order hitters on a playoff caliber team.
You definitely aren't the only one with Soriano on a shit list...he is incredibly unpopular here in Chicago and will probably be more unpopular this year without Bradley to draw the ire of the fans. I was astonished that the Mariners added Bradley - it seemed like they were doing a lot to improve the team and with his track record of destroying team chemistry he was a puzzling addition. |
Last post: Yesterday at 18:31
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Posted on 21 December 09 at 23:25, Edited on 21 December 09 at 23:27 by Tasty Pastry |
I'm watching the Hot Stove on the MLB Network right now and they are discussing the A's, just as I got to your thread.
"Coco crisp - you can put him on the market in July"
"They are collecting a lot of outfielders"
"I think they need to bring Jack Cust back there"
"I don't think there's enough power in that lineup"
"Jack Cust knows the organization, he should come back"
"Billy Beane is trying to reorganize this organization around its pitching"
"I really like the guy at the background of their bullpen - Bailey"
"You're not going to win consistently, and the angels have had a very dificult offseason. This division is winnable for anyone in the west"
(Mentions Seattle being dominant, and the Angels doing nothing)
@Furious. I'll try very hard not to hate you . That being said, I know quite a bit about the Red Sox since, well, I'm a Yankee fan. Do you like Youkilis? He seems like a real asshole to me, but maybe there's something I'm missing. Dustin Pedroia seems like a nice guy (I really liked his commercial for MLB the show), and Lowell is one of the nicer guys in the game, if generally unproductive.
I'm really nervous that they added Lackey. I think their rotation is significantly stronger than the Yankees right now, especially if Daisuke doesn't be a little complainer again, and comes back strong. That being said, as you mentioned, the lineup could use some help, and just so you know, I've been watching Cameron for the last two years - expect a strikeout one out of every four at bats - which seems to me idiotic for a team that emphasizes on base percentage. I'm so glad you guys took him and the Yanks didn't think about it. |
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Last post: 29 May 12 at 04:08
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Posted on 21 December 09 at 23:35 |
I am a huge fan of Youkilis, one of my favorite players on the team. The only player I genuinely dislike is Papelbon, even though I can tolerate him for now, because of his ability, I wish the Red Sox would trade him and get something for him before he ups and leaves.
I don't know much about the A's except that they are in the AL West and the Angels have been dominating the AL West for the entire decade. Although last year it looks like Mariners and Rangers caught up. With the Mariners adding Lee and Bradley and the Angels losing Lackey I think the Mariners can dethrone the Angels.
Also I think Bradley is a genius pick up considering they basically traded a big contract that doesn't even play that much for an equally big contract that will actually contribute to the team. I understand he can hurt a teams chemistry, but he can also help a team a lot. Look at what he did 2 years ago with the Rangers. |
I put the laughter in slaughter. |
Last post: Yesterday at 18:31
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Posted on 21 December 09 at 23:47 |
Yea, his slugging percentage was the higehst in the league two years ago right? He was something. Psycho still though.
Papelbon is an idiot, I hate him too...though I kind of like him for blowing that 9th inning against the Angels in the ALDS . Although he tried to fix his comments from the All star game, he did say that he thought he should close out the all star game in 2008 instead of Mariano, and that pissed me off a lot. I don't care if you're a Red Sox fan, you gotta think Mariano is one of the best closers of all time. Similar to how I think that Pedro Martinez was one of the best Starting pitchers of all time at one point, watching him dominate, and similar to how I thought Big Poppy was one of the best DH's at one point in time.
How's the bullpen lining up for the Red Sox? I'm uninformed as far as that goes. Fill me in. |
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Last post: 29 May 12 at 04:08
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Posted on 22 December 09 at 01:10 |
Yeah I heard when Red Sox signed Billy Wagner last year that Papelbon was pissed at the organization because he might lose some of his closing time.
Bullpen is looking strong, not really deep, but still strong. Red Sox obviously have a full time closer in Papelbon who is an extraordinary pitcher, character issues aside. With Okajimi, Daniel Bard, and Manny Delcarmen to help in the earlier innings, but other then that, there really isn't that much.
How are the Brewers this off season? I haven't heard much out of them. Are they waiting on Free Agency or are they just going to use their farm system to fill out their roster? |
I put the laughter in slaughter. |
Last post: Yesterday at 18:31
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Posted on 22 December 09 at 01:28 |
Brewers have made a huge splash this offseason. Not only did they resign all time saves leader Trevor Hoffman (7.5 million for a year I believe), resigned Craig Counsell (after his stellar .280 batting average last season, and rookies Alcides Escobar and Casey McGehee heading up the left side of the infield, and Rickie Weeks, the second baseman, coming off an injury).
They resigned Claudio Vargas as well in a set-up role, which makes their bullpen one of the best in baseball in my opinion.
And, most importantly, they addressed their starting pitching, signing free agent Randy Wolf to a three year 30 million contact, giving them a very capable number two. This is good, since they had the worst NL Starter ERA last year.
They did this by freeing up some cash - they traded JJ Hardy to the twins for Carlos Gomez, allowing them to let go of Mike Cameron's 10 million salary - and let Jason Kendall go after he asked for 5 million - and going with Greg Zaun for a cool 2 mill.
It's looking like they seriously want to win this year, but they are banking on quite a few highly touted rookies/rookieish players. There are key players that have to do what everyone thinks they can do:
Rickie Weeks - Started last year before getting injured with 12 homeruns in the first month or so, and a stellar .270 batting average. This was after a disappointing year in which this number one draft pick hit .240.
Alcides Escobar - A .300 hitter through the final couple of months of the season after being called up. A dominating fielder, but not much with the power. Probably going to be slotted into the number 9 slot as a 'secondary lead off man'
Casey McGehee - After being claimed off waivers from the Cubs last season, he got lots of playing time when Bill Hall again sucked and was inevitably traded to the Mariners. Hit .300 with about 18 homeruns. Not much of a fielder though.
Mat Gamel - Competed somewhat with Casey, but fell off considerably, only hitting around .240 after a .300 season in the minors. When sent back down he also struggled, barely being able to hit above .200 for the final part of the season.
Carlos Gomez - Newly acquired from the Twins, he will be our speedy centerfielder. Not much with the stick apparently, but a very capable defender and apparently capable of stealing quite a few bases if he can get out there to begin with.
Then of course Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder have to be the big threats we know they can be.
Biggest concern is in the starting rotation - Jeff Suppan is a huge disappointment with a 4.6 ERA last year, and Dave Bush got hit with a ball back at him by HanRam last season, putting him on the DL. Manny Parra keeps getting sent back and forth to the minors, sometimes throwing gems while other times imploding and allowing 7 runs in the first inning.
/end rant. |
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Last post: 29 May 12 at 04:08
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Posted on 22 December 09 at 01:34 |
| Wow! Looks like the Brewers aren't going after the big well known players, Randy Wolf aside, but are rather adding a lot of little pieces to add up to hopefully a playoff berth. Unfortunately they happen to be in the same division as the Cardinals. I'm sorry to say that even after your persuasive rant, I can't see the Brewers as more then a Wild Card contender at best. |
I put the laughter in slaughter. |
Last post: Yesterday at 18:31
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Posted on 22 December 09 at 01:44 |
Wild card would be fine with me. Although the Cardinals are a very respected team from me, I'm really glad that they are completely tied up with Matt Holliday as everyone else is slowly signing the other free agents away. If Matt decides not to want to go there, they are going to be dead in the water, which would be great for me.
We'll see how they do. Honestly, in my opinion, it mostly hinges on if a number three starter can transpire from either Manny Parra, Jeff Suppan, or Dave Bush. Right now the rotation is a number one starter (Yovani Gallardo), a number two starter (randy wolf), and three number five starters. We can't lose 3 out of every five games, that's just not acceptable. Of course hitting has to be good too, but as everyone always sees, good pitching > good hitting any day. |
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Last post: 11 Jan at 08:21
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Posted on 22 December 09 at 03:19 |
| Furious Gunman said:Also I think Bradley is a genius pick up considering they basically traded a big contract that doesn't even play that much for an equally big contract that will actually contribute to the team. I understand he can hurt a teams chemistry, but he can also help a team a lot. Look at what he did 2 years ago with the Rangers.Silva was at least neither a positive nor negative for the Mariners...sure, he was expensive, but at least he isn't a total jerk. Bradley has serious anger issues, and while he did have a great year in Texas he has also poisoned clubhouses in Cleveland, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Diego, and Chicago. Considering there are always a couple good bats available on the cheap late in the offseason (look at the Angels getting Bobby Abreu for $5m last year), getting Bradley seems like a reckless roll of the dice. |
Last post: Yesterday at 18:31
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Posted on 23 December 09 at 00:11 |
Did you guys see?
Javier Vazquez just got traded to the Yankees in exchange for some minor leaguers and left fielder Melky Cabrera.
Personally I'm excited, I really thought the yankees needed a very capable number two, to push AJ Burnett into the number three hole and Andy Pettite into the number four. |
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