Major League Baseball: 2012

Cards have Jackson and Lohse ready to step in if Carpenter struggles early, Rangers can use Holland so I don't think the pitching debate will come into play tonight. The bigger question is whether the details of last night have put the Texas bats on life tilt or if it provides fuel for them to elevate their game. The pressure has always been and still is on them.

[QUOTE=Aereas;284656]Cards have Jackson and Lohse ready to step in if Carpenter .[/QUOTE] That's not exactly encouraging. Though Carpenter does have the edge as a one gm sample of him on three days rest doesnt mean much at all.

[QUOTE=jbo29j;284674]That's not exactly encouraging. Though Carpenter does have the edge as a one gm sample of him on three days rest doesnt mean much at all.[/QUOTE] I think it means a lot seeing as how we only have 1 game to use as a sample even though Carp has been pitching in the Majors since '97. Also the ratings were pretty good for the game even though it went deep into the night. [url]http://www.hitfix.com/articles/tv-ratings-foxs-world-series-game-6-thriller-crushes-thursday-rivals[/url] Averaged nearly 20 million viewers and I expect that number to increase to around 25-30 million tonight. This is exactly the kind of series baseball needed. It is exciting and features 2 teams outside of Chicago, LA and the North East. If this series was as exciting but was the Yanks-Phillies or Sox-Phillies it would draw bigger ratings but it wouldn't help sustain future growth for the sport. MLB needs the appearance of having parity for future growth and this series is helping to create the view of it.

[QUOTE=TheFeedMachi;284678]I think it means a lot seeing as how we only have 1 game to use as a sample even though Carp has been pitching in the Majors since '97. Also the ratings were pretty good for the game even though it went deep into the night. [/QUOTE] Carp only made the postseason 4 of those years and would of only had the chance to di once in 09 down 0-2 to the dodgers.

[QUOTE=TheFeedMachi;284678]I think it means a lot seeing as how we only have 1 game to use as a sample even though Carp has been pitching in the Majors since '97. Also the ratings were pretty good for the game even though it went deep into the night. [url=http://www.hitfix.com/articles/tv-ratings-foxs-world-series-game-6-thriller-crushes-thursday-rivals]TV Ratings: FOXs World Series Game 6 thriller crushes Thursday rivals - HitFix.com[/url] Averaged nearly 20 million viewers and I expect that number to increase to around 25-30 million tonight. This is exactly the kind of series baseball needed. It is exciting and features 2 teams outside of Chicago, LA and the North East. [B]If this series was as exciting but was the Yanks-Phillies or Sox-Phillies it would draw bigger ratings but it wouldn't help sustain future growth for the sport.[/B] MLB needs the appearance of having parity for future growth and this series is helping to create the view of it.[/QUOTE] See, you know in the future Home Run Derbies (where there are about 30 kids running around trying to catch a fly ball) will be the future. All of the 30 teams will be conglomerated into 4 (New York or Boston, LA, Chicago, and another city, preferably in the South, to be named later) and the size of the stadium will be increased so that 30 people can comfortably be on a field. They will also have rocketpacks. :yes:

[QUOTE=jbo29j;284687]Carp only made the postseason 4 of those years and would of only had the chance to di once in 09 down 0-2 to the dodgers.[/QUOTE] You don't have to be in the postseason to pitch on short rest. I know 2 of the 3 Angels pitchers (Weaver, Haren, Santana) pitched on short rest this year but I am not sure which 2. When Sabathia was on the Brewers he pitched on short rest 3 times in the regular season.

[QUOTE=TheFeedMachi;284691]You don't have to be in the postseason to pitch on short rest. I know 2 of the 3 Angels pitchers (Weaver, Haren, Santana) pitched on short rest this year but I am not sure which 2. When Sabathia was on the Brewers he pitched on short rest 3 times in the regular season.[/QUOTE] Yes that's because the brewers were a lot more desperate for a good start, there's generally little reason to pitch on 3 days rest. Besides how would they know carp cant handle doing it, if he had never attempted it before, how would they know he couldn't do it? It's not only that there is little evidence saying Carp would struggle on short rest, but there's little evidence saying that pitchers in general struggle with days rest.

Even though 12 people watched this series, has to be one of the best in a long time. Buster Olney called last night the best game in history. I'm devastated right now that the rangers are losing.

[QUOTE=afuNk13;284802]Even though 12 people watched this series, has to be one of the best in a long time. Buster Olney called last night the best game in history. I'm devastated right now that the rangers are losing.[/QUOTE] Such an anti-climatic ending to the series. The ump was bad for this game but the Rangers offense was worse.

I'm so happy the cards won, i wonder if the media will rip Hamilton for not hitting like they would if he played in NY. Also it suck to nelson his poor defense cost the rangers the gm yesterday. Overall A pretty entertaining series.

[QUOTE=jbo29j;284808]I'm so happy the cards won, i wonder if the media will rip Hamilton for not hitting like they would if he played in NY. Also it suck to nelson his poor defense cost the rangers the gm yesterday. Overall A pretty entertaining series.[/QUOTE] Very entertaining I just wish Game 7 wasn't the least entertaining of the games though. I wish this was the Game 6 and last night was the Game 7.

Anyone have opinions on possible destinations for the upcoming FA class? I'd be shocked if Fielder returned to Milwaukee. I could definitely see the Angels or Cubs making a strong play for him. I don't think Pujols will return to St. Louis either. He won 2 rings there, I think now he is looking for a major pay day. Plus, if the Cardinals wanted to pay him 30 million a year, why didn't they do so before this season even started? I think CJ Wilson will surely end up signing with the Yankees. He is the best pitcher on the FA market and the Yankees desperately need pitching.

[QUOTE=MF41590;285044]Anyone have opinions on possible destinations for the upcoming FA class? I'd be shocked if Fielder returned to Milwaukee. I could definitely see the Angels or Cubs making a strong play for him. I don't think Pujols will return to St. Louis either. He won 2 rings there, I think now he is looking for a major pay day. Plus, if the Cardinals wanted to pay him 30 million a year, why didn't they do so before this season even started? I think CJ Wilson will surely end up signing with the Yankees. He is the best pitcher on the FA market and the Yankees desperately need pitching.[/QUOTE] I don't see Fielder returning to Milwaukee either. I think Pujols returns to St. Louis. CJ Wilson is definitely leaving Texas. My guess is he ends up playing for the Yankees or Angels. If the Dodgers weren't a financial mess I think it would nearly be a lock that he would go there. A dark horse team for any of these players is the Nationals if they throw enough money at them.

[QUOTE=Bacchus;285048]My only prediction is that the Red Sox get one of the big two (Fielder, Pujols.) [/QUOTE] Would Gonzo DH if that were to happen?

I don't think CJ is 100% leaving, he likes hitting so NL is a possibly, money isn't "that" big of a deal to him, he'll get paid if he stays in texas. But his postseason performance certainly made him cheaper. I think cubs have the best chance at landing fielder, but my rangers have tons of money to play with, so they can make some moves as well. Also, no chance Pujols leaves, he has 2 rings there and st louis is a legit baseball town. Why would he leave?

[QUOTE=MF41590;285044]Anyone have opinions on possible destinations for the upcoming FA class? I'd be shocked if Fielder returned to Milwaukee. I could definitely see the Angels or Cubs making a strong play for him. I don't think Pujols will return to St. Louis either. He won 2 rings there, I think now he is looking for a major pay day. Plus, if the Cardinals wanted to pay him 30 million a year, why didn't they do so before this season even started? I think CJ Wilson will surely end up signing with the Yankees. He is the best pitcher on the FA market and the Yankees desperately need pitching.[/QUOTE] Yes the team with a stacked farms system and a team that finished the year with a 4 era desperately need pitching. I see the yankees going for danks. Or just waiting a year for the best free agent pitching class ever.

[QUOTE=Bacchus;285150]The Red Sox and Yankees never wait.[/QUOTE] They should wait for Haren, they will also bid on darvish and save the pick. I wouldn't mind Wilson as he is really good and Agon's power vs lefties is significantly lower, and postseason stats mean next to nothing to me but there's so many better option available within a year.

[QUOTE=Bacchus;285153]They will wait a bit, but they will also be the top bidders on any class of free agents, any year. So, they will spend money now and they will spend money later. [URL="http://infographics.fastcompany.com/magazine/159/mlb-infographic.html"]Here is a great infographic.[/URL] [B]Edit:[/B] The Sox had over a quarter of a billion in revenue in 2010. That is serious cash flow.[/QUOTE] Hopefully they spend that cash on edwin jackson and not on renewing Papelbon

[QUOTE=Bacchus;285166]First of all, those that gave up on Crawford in Boston are idiots. I am quite hopeful, and actually sure he will have an all star season next year. Papelbon should have signed a multi-year deal with the Sox when he had the chance. While he might not be cold as ice, as a closer - he is still one of the best in the game. The Sox will give him a 2 year deal at 11 million per and he will take it. He is worth it. That look alone is worth at least 3 million a year. What are the other options? I have a feeling the Sox will be forced to move Bard into the rotation if they can find middle relief as there are not any front line starters of value that they will have their hand in during this off season. The Sox have sold out every game since 2003. They are not going to risk that streak, so they will get a major free agent. This year is about hitters, so that will be the drive. The Sox have a massive positive cash flow, the most of any MLB team - so they will bite the bullet and pay the price.[/QUOTE] I guess the alternative to paps would be nathan, madson, broxton and bell, but none of those players are as good as papelbon. rawford can rebound but his OBP has never been that high and Holliday was always my favorite. The should sign Papelbon and take a flier on Borxton.

Bacchus, what is the deal with Bobby Jenks? I thought I remembered the Red Sox bringing him in as a possible future replacement for Papelbon because they didn't want to pay Papelbon the kind of money he wanted. I haven't heard anything about Jenks this year though and didn't know if it was due to ineffectiveness, injury, or if the Sox changed their stance on Papelbon. Would you mind jogging my memory a bit?

[QUOTE=Bacchus;285173]I thought he was going to be a great asset to the team. Now, I think he might have an injury that will require him to take a year off... Unless of course, someone else wants him. [B]It is funny and sad at the same time, but some people can take playing in Boston and others can not.[/B] He fit into the latter segment. So, he might be available next year for the Sox, but they don't want him at all, thus they will give him away if another team eats 1/8 of what is due, or he will have some sort of surgery. [B]I don't think that the average MLB player understands what it is like to play in Boston or New York.[/B] I read the Globe everyday. There are pages and pages devoted to the Red Sox. Oh, and there was an article stating the Cards won the World Series as well. It was a couple of paragraphs. Jenks was a bust. He couldn't deal with prime time, all the time. That's why home grown talent does best in Boston. They know the deal.[/QUOTE] That is a very interesting point. I think a team's environment is definitely overlooked sometimes. In your opinion, do you think that, and the astronomically high expectations that people had for him, is why Carl Crawford pretty much stunk this year?

Boston and New York aren't for everyone. You have to be able to take outside criticism or be able to ignore what some idiot journalists thinks about you. I know NY and Boston didn't try to trade for Greinke because of his social anxiety problems. Some people love playing in those cities and other people hate it. I know CJ Wilson would love to play in NY or LA.