Major League Baseball "2007 Season" Talkback

[G1Ravage]

Wheeeeee Mets destroyed St. Louis.

Atlanta, you're next.

[sag_2002]

We've all seen and/or heard off games getting postponed or called off because of rain, but rarely does snow cause a game to get halted. Such an occurance happened this evening, as the Indians home opener against Seattle had to be called off due to unseasonably snowy conditions. Because the game was not official yet (in fact, the game was only one strike away from becoming official when it was halted for the third and final time), it does not count in the record books, and thus, the two teams will try a doubleheader tomorrow, although even that is in no means a safe assumption, as more bad weather is forecast.

[Duke]

I love watching the highlights of that game. I mean, seriously, when you can have a snowball fight in the outfield (not to mention a snow dog), it's time to call the game. I do have to give props to SportsCenter. After they started the highlight package for that game, they then decided to delay the highlights every time the umpires delayed the game, so they didn't finish until about 45 minutes into the show.

Kudos to the O's for getting their first win. Roberts, Mora, and Markakis finally started to hit, and we even rocked Mussina, which is always sweet. Loewen didn't own the Yankees quite like he did last year, but the important thing is he didn't let too many runs get through, and though the bullpen had a few scares, it pulled through too.

I do wish the O's had continue to be patient at the plate, but by late in the game the cold was probably getting to them. At least Damon's likely not going to play in this series, and if we're lucky, Jeter won't either after that foul ball hitting his foot.

And I know it's the beginning of the season, but seeing the Devil Rays at the top of the division is really weird...

[purplehairedwonder]

Figures the first game of the season I'd miss would be a massive trampling on our side. Yeesh. What happened to that team that just swept the Phillies? Meh, it's only the fourth game of the season; I wouldn't say there is anything to worry about yet. Tomorrow's game is going to be awesome, with Glavine and Smoltz facing each other. I just wish I could watch

[hobbyfan]

Mets-Braves today will probably go very quickly, given who's pitching. It won't be a blowout, but the Mets have beaten Smoltz the last couple of years as much as Atlanta has taken Glavine to the woodshed. If both have their "A" games today, this will be just a 1-0 game or 2-1. Let 'em go the full nine and give the pen a day off.

Oh, and will someone please order up some crow for Mr. Rollins in Philadelphia?

[KuwabaraTheMan]

Alright, Mike Maroth gets the win in his first start in over 10 months. Not a great performance, but a win is a win, and that's all that counts.

Now the Tigers should get above .500 with Bonderman on the hill tomorrow, and stay there.

Sheff is also proving why he was worth that trade.

[Anarky]

M's-Tribe snowed out again...let's play 2 this Sunday???

[Moto Pete]

M's-Tribe snowed out again...let's play 2 this Sunday???

Lets play 3 HAHA

[Moto Pete]

CLEVELAND -- For the second day in a row, snow and cold weather has forced a doubleheader between the Seattle Mariners and Cleveland Indians to be postponed.
The teams were snowed out of a day-night doubleheader on Saturday, when they were attempting to make up Friday's game, which was postponed after the teams had played four innings and endured nearly 3 hours in delays.
On Sunday, the teams had hoped to get two games in with a traditional doubleheader, but that too had to be cancelled because of snow.
Now the Mariners and Indians will try to salvage half of their four-game series by playing two on Monday, beginning at 4:05 p.m. The second game will start approximately 20 minutes after completion of the first.
The Cleveland area has been blanketed by a spring snowstorm, which has dumped over a foot of snow in some places since Friday.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

i was joking b4 but it looks like the may have to play another DH on some Off Day later in the season now

[KuwabaraTheMan]

Now that was a dramtic ballgame. Tigers go in the 9th trailing 2-0, Maggs doubles, Guillen walks, Pudge hits a three run homer.

Jonesy comes in the 9th and closes it out. (In Todd Jones fashion which means he does let a runner on)

Shame Bondo didn't get the win though, he pitched very well.

But this series has proven the Royals will be good this year. They'll finish last in the AL Central, but they could probably finish 2nd or 3rd in any other division in baseball.

[tucsoncoyote]

Well I see that while a lot of Games were called because of snow, it seems one warm weather team decided to make a 4 game sweep and make it look easy...

WASHINGTON (Associated Press) -- (Arizona Diamondbacks') Livan Hernandez added to his old team's woes. Hernandez took a no-hitter into the sixth inning Sunday, and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Washington Nationals 3-1 to complete a four-game sweep.

Arizona outscored Washington 21-6 in the series, and the Nationals dropped to 1-6, the majors' worst record. It was the first time this season the Nationals didn't fall behind 4-0.

Hernandez (1-0), who threw the first pitch in Nationals history when the Montreal Expos moved to Washington in 2005, didn't allow a hit Sunday until Ryan Zimmerman's ground-rule double with two outs in the sixth.

Now either the D-Backs got a Kiler pitcher with Hernandez From the Nationals, or Washington's Pitcher, Shawn Hill, Can't pitch to save his life, let alone a hill worth of beans... or maybe Washington's fielders can't field:

This time, (Washington National's), Shawn Hill (0-2) hit the game's second batter, Conor Jackson, on the left elbow, and Orlando Hudson's double to the base of the wall in right-center made it 1-0. Hudson took third when Ronnie Belliard's relay skipped past third baseman Zimmerman, who was charged with an error, then scored on Eric Byrnes' groundout.

The point is this: If Washington keeps this kind of Shenannigans going this season, they will probably be the worst Team in the league, if not the Conference. As for the D-Backs? they're warming up quite nicely and it's funny that they are named after a rattlesnake. They (The D-Backs) can come out of nowhere, and really give some of these teams a real run for their money, and if Hernandez is pitching, who knows.. maybe they'll start really winning a few games.. and they in theory could go at least to the Divisionals at this rate.. But as for Washington? They should have gone back to Montreal.. where it's cold... and they're probably now kicking themselves for Giving the D-Backs Hernandez... and right about now, I feel Washington needs to rethink their strategy or else they could end up on the bottom here in a hurry..

[Condiment King]

Friday wasn't a great game to watch but it had a very desirable outcome with the Mets winning 11-1. However, Saturday and Sunday was kind of painful. For Saturday, I blame the errors of Green and Delgado. For Sunday, I blame Willie leaving Heilman in for a second inning.

Chip Caray and Joe Simpson, I don't like. Well, I guess I like them whenever its a series not against the Mets. Since I'm a Mets fan, it really shows when they start talking about stuff they don't know about. Whereas with other teams, I probably don't notice it as quickly. But man, Caray's commentary about Willie making a bad decision by taking out El Duque was completely off base. He just needs to find some resolution to the story of the game.

And of course, Chip makes a big deal about the Braves being in first after ONE WEEK IN THE SEASON. This after last year when he derailed anyone who mentioned positioning in divisions before June. And he was right last year but unfortunately he only said it then because he's a homer.

Speaking of homers, Jeannie Zelasco on FOX Sports is unbearable. We get it, you love the Yankees. You are on a national broadcast, try to be professional please. At least Joe Buck and Tim McCarver don't look like the obvious homers they are 100% of the time like Jeannie does.

For those of you with MLB.TV, I highly encourage you to check out the new feature included in the basic package called "Condensed Games." It shows all the pitches that went into play plus strikeout pitches. Games usually run around ten or fifteen minutes. It is so awesome. I'm finding myself watching the Mets game, maybe another game, and then just checking out every other game on condensed games. It is so great.

[Duke]

After that disastrous game yesterday (I literally threw up), it was nice to see Bedard & the O's come back after the first inning and pitch like he did last year/this spring, and that Chris Ray was back on his game (though Walker & Bradford were oddly ineffective, considering how good they were in previous games this season). John Parrish continues to surprise the hell out of me. He's gotten really freaking good despite only playing about a dozen games the past 2 years.

I was having Easter dinner with the family of a friend of my mom's and we had the game on in the background. We suddenly heard Jim Hunter going crazy and went quiet.

Hunter: "It's outta here! A 3 run homerun for Paul Bako!"
Literally everybody in the house: BAKO!?

And Millar's actually contributing, how about that. Makes up for Miggy's disappointing series. Oh, and FINALLY Ramon Hernandez is put on the DL. (Especially good for my one fantasy team since I have both Hernandez and Victor Martinez, and I can now get a fill-in catcher) Here's hoping he won't be on there long, since I doubt Bako's going to get too many more RBIs (and Castillo has called better games so far than Bako, though this is subject to change depending on how well this homestand goes).

In other news, I continue to laugh at all the problems with the Mariners/Indians series. Also, appearently Mike Hampton's return to the majors has had a setback, and he's going to see his surgeon tomorrow. Also nice to see many of the Opening Day starters are back to their usual greatness.

Listening to the Boston/Texas game on the radio and it's pretty good so far.

[purplehairedwonder]

Take that Mets. Braves take two of three from the defending NL East Champs to make a statement. I went to the game today and it was a really good one. The Braves' bats didn't really wake up until the Mets' bullpen took over, discounting Kelly Johnson's first pitch homer. And Kyle Davies settled down after a rough start to keep the game within reach, which was huge. The inning the rally happened the entire crowd was chanting for one more run and to put Wickman in and we got it. 5-1 with the Nats coming into town... looking good for now.

Wheeeeee Mets destroyed St. Louis.

Atlanta, you're next.

Not so much

[BCVM22]

Orioles.

There goes your season. I can statistically prove that specific annual iterations of teams for whom Paul Bako has hit a home run are 4-for-11 in making the playoffs, and 3 of the 4 that did make the playoffs were Division Series losers.

Hope you weren't thinking postseason or anything.

(Yes, this is sarcastic, although factually true. I love former Cub Gabor Paul Bako. Really.)

[Duke]

There goes your season. I can statistically prove that specific annual iterations of teams for whom Paul Bako has hit a home run are 4-for-11 in making the playoffs, and 3 of the 4 that did make the playoffs were Division Series losers.

Do they take into account whether Bako was the backup or the regular catcher? Assuming Ramon will return by the end of April, Bako's not going to be the catcher for long (hell, he's already splitting time with Castillo).

Don't tease me like that.

Hope you weren't thinking postseason or anything.

Actually, we're just hoping for above .500, though Peter Gammons has the O's finishing 2nd in the AL East (though well behind the gaggle of AL Central teams in the Wild Card race). Although if the Yankees' starting pitching continues to be as bad as it was this first week, then it may be a slight possibility.

[BCVM22]

Do they take into account whether Bako was the backup or the regular catcher? Assuming Ramon will return by the end of April, Bako's not going to be the catcher for long (hell, he's already splitting time with Castillo).

Don't tease me like that.

Trust me, Paul Bako has never been a true starting catcher, from a statistical standpoint. Any player personnel individual (or commentator, or fan, I suppose) who would consider him to be viable as such should be immediately fired, or worse. His career highs in games played and plate appearances are 96 and 333, respectively, both set in his rookie year with Detroit in 1998, and while he did see the most time at catcher on that team, 4 other guys got in to at least 7 games at catcher. Since that season, he hasn't topped 87 games played and 257 plate appearances. My original point about the playoff failures of Paul Bako's teams remains both tongue-in-cheek and factually true.

But don't take my word for it.

[sag_2002]

Well, so much for that Indians-Mariners series. Now Cleveland will do what they probably should've done to this series.

CLEVELAND -- After snow wiped out Cleveland's series against Seattle for the fourth day in a row Monday, the Indians moved their next series against the Los Angeles Angels to Milwaukee's Miller Park.


The teams will play a three-game series beginning Tuesday in the ballpark, which unlike Jacobs Field, has a retractable roof. The opener and Wednesday's game will be played at 7:05 p.m. ET, with Thursday's scheduled for 1:05 p.m.

The Indians, who had their home opener last Friday called after four innings, will try to get their first game at Jacobs Field in on Friday when they open a three-game set against the Chicago White Sox.

While snow stopped falling Monday, the grounds crew was unable to get the surface in shape after three days of snow. Faced with a forecast for sleeting rain, snow flurries and a projected high of 34 degrees, the Indians postponed their rescheduled doubleheader against the Mariners.

On Sunday, baseball officials considering moving the Angels' series to Anaheim., Calif., but then decided on the switch to Milwaukee. Indians players packed for the trip at midday.

A storm left more than a foot of snow in some places in the Cleveland area, and the entire four-game series against Seattle will have to be played at later dates. It was the first time an entire series of more than two games was postponed by weather since Hurricane Frances put off the Chicago Cubs' at Florida Marlins set from Sept. 3-5, 2004, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Seattle plays Tuesday at Boston.

After Friday's game was called, the teams hoped to play a day-night doubleheader Saturday, but that was put off by the spring storm. They then scheduled a doubleheader for Sunday, which also was postponed. With time on their hands, Seattle players at Jacobs Field made snow angels.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

[Moto Pete]

wow the tigers need to freakin show up

[Duke]

I feel sorry for the Indians/Mariners players and fans. A real shame what happened.

In O's news: I enjoyed Kevin Millar's emulation of Ray Lewis' dance coming out of the tunnel (which was acceptable only because Millar hit that HR Sunday), and Daniel Cabrera was better than he was in Minnesota. I mean, the 2 runs the Tigers scored off of him only happened because Patterson bobbled a fly out for the first and Cabrera having thrown 120+ pitches for the second.

Also nice to see Mora continue his hot streak as well as Miggy & Roberts getting back on track. The pre-game ceremonies were nice, though it was odd that Daniel Cabrera got bigger cheers than both Bedard and Miggy. And I thought it was hilarious that nobody cheered for Baez after he gave up that HR to Giambi on Saturday. And apparently the Opening Day attendance was 48, 271, the 2nd largest Opening Day attendance in O's history (2005 being #1).

On the negative side: The O's still can't handle bullpen pitchers, left-handed or otherwise. The offense has done great against starting pitching (sans Bonser/Ortiz in Minnesota), but the bullpen pitchers are a big problem.

Also, I normally like watching the game on our local CBS affiliate, WJZ, when they simulcast more than on MASN since the video quality is sharper and the audio is actually audible, but WJZ seriously messed up the pre-game ceremonies. Whereas MASN played the entire ceremonies, from the Tigers' introduction to Cal's first pitch, without one commercial break, WJZ had numerous commercials and special interest stories playing throughout the ceremony. The entire Tigers introduction was cut, as was the beginning of the O's training staff, the beginning of the National Anthem, and the entire Cal Ripken first pitch. I mean, seriously, how the hell do you screw THAT up!?

But even without that: It's always nice watching a game at Camden Yards, and it's nice to hear Jim Palmer again. No offense to Buck Martinez, but it just doesn't feel like a true O's TV telecast without Palmer, and he had great chemistry with Gary Thorne (who gets major points for bringing back "Give that fan a contract!") and hearing Cal Ripken in the booth cheer on Mora during his 3rd inning double was fun. I only wish most of the fanbase had actually sat down in their seats instead of cuddling up in the walkways, but I guess it was too cold.

In other news, Chris Carpenter went on the 15-day DL and Jason Schmidt was taken out of the game today, though apparently Schmidt said it was just a cramp.

Watched the Yankees/Twins game, and while it was nice to see Fat Sid get rocked, I wish the Twins had made a late comeback to beat the damn Yankees. Bah. -_-

Surprised Brad Lidge got yanked as the closer so soon. I figured if the Astros were gonna stick with Brad Lidge through the offseason they'd stick with him through April at least.