2014 Baseball season/Off Season Discussion

[tim_m]

Not shocking from this particular writer either. He has a history of writing some seriously stupid crap.

[GeorgeSteele]

On a bit of another note, i have to take a minute to laugh at the Ian O'Connor article on ESPN about this claiming this ruins the Yankees season. Yeah casue Pinaeda missing one start in April dooms them. 

So moronic.   

I understand that this is a job for these guys and it's not nearly as easy as it seems to put out the volume of columns that's expected of these guys and write something insightful each time.  Even accounting for that though... ruins the season!!!???  Beyond stupid.

[tim_m]

Yep the title of the article is "Pineda's folly could sink the season"

[tim_m]

It looks like the league is gonna look into letting the pitchers use pine tar for gripping the ball in the offseason.

[pilferk]

Interesting factoid: every single team in the al east has a negative run differential right now.

[tim_m]

Interesting factoid: every single team in the al east has a negative run differential right now.

Not surprising, its gonna be a wild east this season.

[pilferk]

O's are even after yesterday's win, and tb are +2....but the point remains.

And there have been a lot of divisional games so far.

I think you're going to see a lot of beating up on each other. I agree...wild year.

[GeorgeSteele]

O's are even after yesterday's win, and tb are +2....but the point remains.

And there have been a lot of divisional games so far.

I think you're going to see a lot of beating up on each other. I agree...wild year.

Is that mostly because of a glut of terrible relief pitchers in the division? 

[Falcon]

Cano meets Yankee fans - hilarious!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0b9rOji_PWY

[pilferk]

Is that mostly because of a glut of terrible relief pitchers in the division? 

IDK. If you look at ERA 7+, it's not way out of whack with previous years.

I think it's a sign of just how competitive and balanced the division is.  If you look at the head to head...they're doing relatively well vs the non-division opponents, but they beat the crap out of each other IN the division.

There's been some lopsided relief efforts, too.  But, most of them happen during games that are already blow outs.  So...maybe it's terrible middle relief making lopsided games more lopsided.  But I don't think that's all of it.

[pilferk]

Or...maybe I'm wrong

Obviously, net run differential inter division has to sum to 0...

But the net run differential OUT of the league is still a big negative number....-42 runs and an overall losing record (22-25).

So, maybe it's not them beating up on each other....

[GeorgeSteele]

The NL East is beyond competitive this season.  At 16-14, the Mets are 1 game out of 1st... and a 1/2 game out of last. 

[pilferk]

The NL East is beyond competitive this season.  At 16-14, the Mets are 1 game out of 1st... and a 1/2 game out of last. 

Some REALLY good baseball being played in that division!  I've seen the Mets, Phillies, Braves, and the Nats play multiple games this year (haven't seen a single Miami game)...and they all look good.  The mets are vastly outplaying their baseball cards...with lots of young players stepping up.  They are definitely the dark horse/cinderella story.

[GeorgeSteele]

The NL East is beyond competitive this season.  At 16-14, the Mets are 1 game out of 1st... and a 1/2 game out of last. 

Some REALLY good baseball being played in that division!  I've seen the Mets, Phillies, Braves, and the Nats play multiple games this year (haven't seen a single Miami game)...and they all look good.  The mets are vastly outplaying their baseball cards...with lots of young players stepping up.  They are definitely the dark horse/cinderella story.

I think the Mets have solid pitching (at least the starting rotation), but they're not quite as good as they were in April.  May got off to a bad start, as the starters got shelled in 3 out of 4 in Colorado.

Offensively, they're certainly below average, but they've been completely dreadful so far. 

So the arms won't be as good as they've been and the bats won't be as bad as they've been... which I expect to keep them around .500 in the middle of the pack in the NL East.  Which is where they are now.  With a good stroke of luck and discovering a solid, reliable closer at some point this season, I think a Wild Card could be in play...

[tim_m]

Those games against Colorado were pathetic especially the game Saturday.

[Falcon]

Tim, pilf - gotta get your opinions on this, it's a bit of a "WTF?" from this angle.

Tino Martinez?

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/05/08/tino-martinez-is-getting-a-plaque-in-monument-park-for-some-reason/

[tim_m]

I'm not so sure about Tino but all others are deserved and long overdue. Tino did replace a legend in Mattingly and had some really great years with us but i can't say they're monument worthy. Torre, Gossage and O'Neill however? Absolutely. I'm so happy the Yankees are finally doing right by Torre and giving him the monument and retired number he deserves. Also, next season Bernie Williams will also finally be honored.
'

[GeorgeSteele]

The monument for Tino seems a bit much.  While he was one of their best hitters during their run of 5 WS appearances in 6 years, his only All-Star year during that run was the year they didn't make it, in 1997.  He was 2nd in MVP voting that year.   

[tim_m]

The monument for Tino seems a bit much.  While he was one of their best hitters during their run of 5 WS appearances in 6 years, his only All-Star year during that run was the year they didn't make it, in 1997.  He was 2nd in MVP voting that year.   

Agreed, i liked Tino but i wouldn't consider him in the same category as Torre, Gosssage, O'Neill and Williams.

[tim_m]

The Yankees really need to consider getting Betances in the starting rotation. This kid has some kinda stuff. He just struck out six in a row.