Jump to content

2014 MLB Season Thread


RUSHHEAD666
 Share

Recommended Posts

Series victory over the Red Sox. :madra:

 

Now if they can just do that against teams with winning records. :unsure: The Blue Jays look rather untidy.

 

You're already counting today's matinee as a win :) ?

:doh: I forgot about the matinée game today.

 

Well, now I've jinxed it. Congratulations on the split. ;)

 

:hi: Rick :) It would be a great day to be at Fenway today. Perfect weather.

 

No jinx. You're a seer.

I heard Big Papi tweaked his back today. Did he do it charging the official scorer's booth?

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Jays take 3 out of 4 from the BoSox with today's win!!! Onto Yankee Stadium for the Jays - here's hoping they can finally win there. Go Jays!!! :dweez: :cheerleader:

Good luck with that.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Series victory over the Red Sox. :madra:

 

Now if they can just do that against teams with winning records. :unsure: The Blue Jays look rather untidy.

 

You're already counting today's matinee as a win :) ?

:doh: I forgot about the matinée game today.

 

Well, now I've jinxed it. Congratulations on the split. ;)

 

:hi: Rick :) It would be a great day to be at Fenway today. Perfect weather.

 

No jinx. You're a seer.

I heard Big Papi tweaked his back today. Did he do it charging the official scorer's booth?

:LOL: I have to admit I have some schadenfreude here in RedSox nation. Today was partial payback for Monday which was payback for the earlier series this year.

 

Will this madness ever end? ;) September for both teams if current trends continue.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Series victory over the Red Sox. :madra:

 

Now if they can just do that against teams with winning records. :unsure: The Blue Jays look rather untidy.

 

You're already counting today's matinee as a win :) ?

:doh: I forgot about the matinée game today.

 

Well, now I've jinxed it. Congratulations on the split. ;)

 

:hi: Rick :) It would be a great day to be at Fenway today. Perfect weather.

 

No jinx. You're a seer.

I heard Big Papi tweaked his back today. Did he do it charging the official scorer's booth?

:LOL: I have to admit I have some schadenfreude here in RedSox nation. Today was partial payback for Monday which was payback for the earlier series this year.

 

Will this madness ever end? ;) September for both teams if current trends continue.

Who do you think will win the division then? Tampa's playing well right now. Baltimore's pretty good too. The other team in the division's luck can't last forever—5 over with a -27 run differential? That's gotta catch up with them.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Series victory over the Red Sox. :madra:

 

Now if they can just do that against teams with winning records. :unsure: The Blue Jays look rather untidy.

 

You're already counting today's matinee as a win :) ?

:doh: I forgot about the matinée game today.

 

Well, now I've jinxed it. Congratulations on the split. ;)

 

:hi: Rick :) It would be a great day to be at Fenway today. Perfect weather.

 

No jinx. You're a seer.

I heard Big Papi tweaked his back today. Did he do it charging the official scorer's booth?

:LOL: I have to admit I have some schadenfreude here in RedSox nation. Today was partial payback for Monday which was payback for the earlier series this year.

 

Will this madness ever end? ;) September for both teams if current trends continue.

Who do you think will win the division then? Tampa's playing well right now. Baltimore's pretty good too. The other team in the division's luck can't last forever—5 over with a -27 run differential? That's gotta catch up with them.

 

I think it will be Tampa. They have the best pitching by a lot.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Series victory over the Red Sox. :madra:

 

Now if they can just do that against teams with winning records. :unsure: The Blue Jays look rather untidy.

 

You're already counting today's matinee as a win :) ?

:doh: I forgot about the matinée game today.

 

Well, now I've jinxed it. Congratulations on the split. ;)

 

:hi: Rick :) It would be a great day to be at Fenway today. Perfect weather.

 

No jinx. You're a seer.

I heard Big Papi tweaked his back today. Did he do it charging the official scorer's booth?

:LOL: I have to admit I have some schadenfreude here in RedSox nation. Today was partial payback for Monday which was payback for the earlier series this year.

 

Will this madness ever end? ;) September for both teams if current trends continue.

 

The Sox are pretty much done already.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Series victory over the Red Sox. :madra:

 

Now if they can just do that against teams with winning records. :unsure: The Blue Jays look rather untidy.

 

You're already counting today's matinee as a win :) ?

:doh: I forgot about the matinée game today.

 

Well, now I've jinxed it. Congratulations on the split. ;)

 

:hi: Rick :) It would be a great day to be at Fenway today. Perfect weather.

 

No jinx. You're a seer.

I heard Big Papi tweaked his back today. Did he do it charging the official scorer's booth?

:LOL: I have to admit I have some schadenfreude here in RedSox nation. Today was partial payback for Monday which was payback for the earlier series this year.

 

Will this madness ever end? ;) September for both teams if current trends continue.

Who do you think will win the division then? Tampa's playing well right now. Baltimore's pretty good too. The other team in the division's luck can't last forever—5 over with a -27 run differential? That's gotta catch up with them.

 

I think it will be Tampa. They have the best pitching by a lot.

True but they don't have much room for error and may trade Price if they have a mini slump in the next week.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Series victory over the Red Sox. :madra:

 

Now if they can just do that against teams with winning records. :unsure: The Blue Jays look rather untidy.

 

You're already counting today's matinee as a win :) ?

:doh: I forgot about the matinée game today.

 

Well, now I've jinxed it. Congratulations on the split. ;)

 

:hi: Rick :) It would be a great day to be at Fenway today. Perfect weather.

 

No jinx. You're a seer.

I heard Big Papi tweaked his back today. Did he do it charging the official scorer's booth?

:LOL: I have to admit I have some schadenfreude here in RedSox nation. Today was partial payback for Monday which was payback for the earlier series this year.

 

Will this madness ever end? ;) September for both teams if current trends continue.

Who do you think will win the division then? Tampa's playing well right now. Baltimore's pretty good too. The other team in the division's luck can't last forever—5 over with a -27 run differential? That's gotta catch up with them.

You can't count the Yankees out - even in an off year, they're still the Yankees. I'm not sure Baltimore can hang on. Tampa...maybe...they can be unpredictable.

 

Pennant will go central or west this year, I think.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Series victory over the Red Sox. :madra:

 

Now if they can just do that against teams with winning records. :unsure: The Blue Jays look rather untidy.

 

You're already counting today's matinee as a win :) ?

:doh: I forgot about the matinée game today.

 

Well, now I've jinxed it. Congratulations on the split. ;)

 

:hi: Rick :) It would be a great day to be at Fenway today. Perfect weather.

 

No jinx. You're a seer.

I heard Big Papi tweaked his back today. Did he do it charging the official scorer's booth?

:LOL: I have to admit I have some schadenfreude here in RedSox nation. Today was partial payback for Monday which was payback for the earlier series this year.

 

Will this madness ever end? ;) September for both teams if current trends continue.

Who do you think will win the division then? Tampa's playing well right now. Baltimore's pretty good too. The other team in the division's luck can't last forever—5 over with a -27 run differential? That's gotta catch up with them.

You can't count the Yankees out - even in an off year, they're still the Yankees. I'm not sure Baltimore can hang on. Tampa...maybe...they can be unpredictable.

 

Pennant will go central or west this year, I think.

The Yankees have outperformed their Pythagorean projection by 6 games so far. They're just not very good.

 

Edit: I take all that back, I just heard that the Yankees acquired Chris Capuano. They've got to be considered the favorites now...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Series victory over the Red Sox. :madra:

 

Now if they can just do that against teams with winning records. :unsure: The Blue Jays look rather untidy.

 

You're already counting today's matinee as a win :) ?

:doh: I forgot about the matinée game today.

 

Well, now I've jinxed it. Congratulations on the split. ;)

 

:hi: Rick :) It would be a great day to be at Fenway today. Perfect weather.

 

No jinx. You're a seer.

I heard Big Papi tweaked his back today. Did he do it charging the official scorer's booth?

:LOL: I have to admit I have some schadenfreude here in RedSox nation. Today was partial payback for Monday which was payback for the earlier series this year.

 

Will this madness ever end? ;) September for both teams if current trends continue.

Who do you think will win the division then? Tampa's playing well right now. Baltimore's pretty good too. The other team in the division's luck can't last forever—5 over with a -27 run differential? That's gotta catch up with them.

 

I think it will be Tampa. They have the best pitching by a lot.

True but they don't have much room for error and may trade Price if they have a mini slump in the next week.

 

They're not likely to tank just yet. The team in Tampa for the weekend sucks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Series victory over the Red Sox. :madra:

 

Now if they can just do that against teams with winning records. :unsure: The Blue Jays look rather untidy.

 

You're already counting today's matinee as a win :) ?

:doh: I forgot about the matinée game today.

 

Well, now I've jinxed it. Congratulations on the split. ;)

 

:hi: Rick :) It would be a great day to be at Fenway today. Perfect weather.

 

No jinx. You're a seer.

I heard Big Papi tweaked his back today. Did he do it charging the official scorer's booth?

:LOL: I have to admit I have some schadenfreude here in RedSox nation. Today was partial payback for Monday which was payback for the earlier series this year.

 

Will this madness ever end? ;) September for both teams if current trends continue.

Who do you think will win the division then? Tampa's playing well right now. Baltimore's pretty good too. The other team in the division's luck can't last forever—5 over with a -27 run differential? That's gotta catch up with them.

 

I think it will be Tampa. They have the best pitching by a lot.

True but they don't have much room for error and may trade Price if they have a mini slump in the next week.

 

They're not likely to tank just yet. The team in Tampa for the weekend sucks.

I don't know. The Rays have won 18 of their last 23.

 

Oh, you mean the other team that's playing there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Frankie Rodriguez blows yet ANOTHER game, this time to the Mets, 3-2.

 

Yovani Gallardo had his best outing of the year (7 & 2/3, 0 runs, 4 hits, 8 strikeouts), and Frankie gives up THREE runs in the 9th to blow it. :rage:

 

Fading closers are painful to watch.....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You heard it here first: 2017 through 2024 should be a run of excellence that no one alive has seen from the Chicago Cubs.

 

Opinionated, knowledgeable, vocal, passionate. If you had only four words to describe Dave Kaplan, those would have to move their way to the top of the list.

 

For two decades, Kap has been bringing us his takes—and listening to ours—on all things Chicago sports, most often the Cubs. His Twitter exchanges with fans are legendary.

 

As host of pre- and post-game Cubs broadcasts on Comcast Sportsnet, @thekapman is as in-tune with this Cubs team as any reporter or analyst in this city—or in baseball—if not more.

 

When Kap agreed to an interview with Cubs Insider, I told him to expect only a handful of questions and about 10 minutes of his time. As the conversation kicked into gear and the guy got more passionate and excited about each topic, we went well beyond the promised limits and covered a myriad @Cubs topics.

 

In what will be a two-part installment of "Catching Up With," I talk to Kap about the Cubs' moves this week, those he expects by the deadline and over winter, the obsolescence of the Core Four (You'll understand that in a moment.) and his crystal ball lineup for the 2016 Cubs.

 

The following is just a taste of even hotter questions and straightforward answers that are quintessential Kap you will read in the next installment. Ladies and gentlemen, and even @DEvanAltman, I give you your Kapman.

 

Be sure to catch Kap on "Kap and Haugh" on "The Game" 87.7 FM and online, weekdays 9:00 AM to noon.

 

CI: What do you think about the moves this week?

 

Kap: I like the moves. I like what they’ve done. Soler is just killing the ball at AA, so now you get him up to AAA, and if he plays as well as everyone thinks he is—he’s not going to hit .400 there—but as long as he doesn’t look over-matched, I promise you will see him in September at Wrigley.

 

Some people thought they rushed Almora a bit, but he’s been hitting the ball real well the past month. He’s never going to be a batting title type guy. He’s going to be a leader: a gritty, tough guy with great makeup. I think he’s going to be a really elite center field defender, so it is time to step it up a little bit.

 

He was proving in the past month by hitting the ball at high class A, so what does he do at AA? That’s where people feel the most talented minor leaguers are. You get the veteran experience facing the pitchers at AAA, a lot of whom who have pitched at the big league level but maybe for whatever reason just couldn’t stay, but at AA, that’s where you get some really top-notch athletes, and I think this will be a good challenge for him.

 

CI: What moves do you see the Cubs making by the deadline?

 

Kap: I think it started with Darwin Barney being designated for assignment. They are not going to get anything for him, but they might be able to work out a minor deal to put him in a good situation where he can go help someone as a Gold Glove defender.

 

If you are going to bring Soler here, because Nate Schierholtz has fallen out of favor, I wouldn’t be shocked to see a guy like Schierholtz get moved, but I don’t think there are going to be any more blockbusters. Could I see them moving Ruggiano, Sweeney and guys like that? Yes. Bonifacio? I don’t see any scenario where he is here August 1st. Those are the types of moves, and maybe James Russell, but Arrieta is not going anywhere.

 

I don’t think they are going to do anything in terms of a blockbuster nature until this winter.

 

CI: What about compensation-based or draft-pick trades?

 

Kap: You can’t trade draft picks with the exception of the compensation competitive balance picks. Could they make a move for one of those that come after the first round? I guess potentially that could happen, but teams are reluctant to give them up.

 

I think they are going to look for lower-level prospects—hard-throwing class A guys who maybe have less command—and they are going to try to develop them and keep adding to the inventory of starting pitching. You’re not going to get the next starting catcher or your number-one starter out of any of the moves you are going to make the rest of this month, unless there’s a blockbuster coming I don’t see.

 

Now could there be a blockbuster this winter? No question.

 

When you’ve got three grade-A short stops in Addison Russell, Javier Baez and Starlin Castro, then certainly somebody is probably going to get moved. Could they all play on the same infield? Yes, but at some point, you are going to have to start acquiring pitching.

 

CI: How do the Cubs continue to capitalize in the draft next year, with possibly their last high pick for some time to come?

 

Kap: The way this season is going to go the rest of the way, they are going to pick extremely high next year. The number-two pick is already gone to the Astros, because they didn’t sign Brady Aiken, who will potentially be a free agent if his grievance is upheld by MLB. If not, he will be back in the draft next year, but I would like to see the Cubs as the number-one draft pick.

 

Does it really matter if you win 68 to 70 games or 58 to 60 games? At this point you've traded Shark and Hammel, so you've mailed in the rest of the season, so why not be epically bad and go out and get the number-one pick, and then next year the kids are here, you crank it up and it’s time to start winning.

 

CI: Of the Core Four, who do you see down the line standing out as the "real deal"?

 

Kap: I think the core four has expanded to five. I don’t know if you call them the Fab Five or the Fantastic Five, but you have Soler, Bryant, Baez, Russell and Almora. So there’s five right there.

 

CI: And what about Schwarber?

 

Kap: Schwarber could be in there and make it your Super Six.

 

CI: So, who’s your impact player from the Super Six?

 

Kap: Kris Bryant, first and foremost, because of every single thing he brings to the table: power, strong arm, really good bat. He’s not going to hit .360 at the major league level. That's not who he is. He’s probably going to hit .275 to .285 with 35 to 40 bombs and 90 to 110 knocked in. He’s a really special kind of baseball player. I think he’s a lock to be here for a long, long time.

 

I like Javy Baez. He’s a little undisciplined at times, but he’s going to give you such a hot bat that it’s going to be hard to deal him unless you get major league star arms back. I think he will be here for a long time as well.

 

Jorge Soler, as long as he stays healthy. People kind of wrote him off because he had been out so long because of the hamstring and defecting from Cuba, but I think he is going to be a monster player for them. If that’s the case, I don’t know where you play Schwarber, because Bryant most definitely will be an outfielder.

 

CI: What about the logjam at short?

 

Kap: Somebody's probably going to go, but why couldn’t you end up having an infield of Baez at 3rd, Russell at 2nd, Castro at short, or some combination thereof, with Rizzo at first. You’re still going to have to go out to find a catcher.

 

If Schwarber is a 140- to 143-game catcher, I will be shocked. I think he is going to be an outfielder.

 

CI: I then asked Kap to look into his crystal ball and give us his 2016 lineup:

 

Kap:

 

Bryant, RF

Soler, LF

Alcantara, CF

Rizzo, 1B

Russell, SS

Baez, 2B

Castro, 3B unless he has been traded for pitching

 

CI: You forgot about the catcher.

 

Kap: The catcher isn’t currently in our system.

 

CI: How do you explain to Cubs fans what Theo and Jed are doing and why it’s working?

 

Kap: What Theo and Jed have done is, first of all, be exceedingly transparent. They have said, ‘Look, here’s what we’re doing. We’re going to restock the system. It’s going to take a little time, but we are trying to win by building a foundation for sustained success.’

 

I think for the last couple of years, people have mocked it. They have not paid attention. They have turned their backs on the Cubs. They have been apathetic. They have been angry. And they’ve just quit really caring.

 

All of a sudden now they see Alcantara coming up, they see Bryant number one in the minor leagues, they see Baez number eight and Russell number four and they are like, ‘Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold on a second. The Cubs actually might have something going here.’ And I'm sure Theo and Jed have privately said, ‘Uh, yes, this is what we have been pointing towards.’

 

And it’s working.

 

2017 through 2024 should be a run of excellence that no one alive has seen from the Chicago Cubs.

 

Editor's note: It was at this point that I dribbled on my Twitter.

 

Well, that’s just a taste of our conversation. Stay tuned for the next installment, when Kap talks bad moves by Jed and Theo, the WGN divorce, cemeteries, Sammy, a clown and a hangover. Trust me on this, you won't want to miss it.

 

http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-insider/2014/07/cubs-insider-qa-with-david-kaplan/

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Aaand ...... down go the Yankees! :dweez: Jays move into a tie for second place. :) The Jays nasty 17 game Yankee Stadium losing streak is over. :ebert: Here's hoping the Jays take the series tomorrow against the Yankees! :cheerleader:
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Jays take 3 out of 4 from the BoSox with today's win!!! Onto Yankee Stadium for the Jays - here's hoping they can finally win there. Go Jays!!! :dweez: :cheerleader:

Good luck with that.

Well thank you for your kind wishes and being a good sport. Jays take 2 out of 3 at Yankee Stadium. Awesome! Go Jays! :ebert:

Jays head to Beantown next.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Jays take 3 out of 4 from the BoSox with today's win!!! Onto Yankee Stadium for the Jays - here's hoping they can finally win there. Go Jays!!! :dweez: :cheerleader:

Good luck with that.

Well thank you for your kind wishes and being a good sport. Jays take 2 out of 3 at Yankee Stadium. Awesome! Go Jays! :ebert:

Jays head to Beantown next.

 

Go in their and kick some a**!! :D

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just make sure Papi gets his hits. Better yet, fumble a ball allowing him to get on base early in the game, so badly the official scorer calls it an error. He'll be distracted for the rest of the game, so pissed off at the OS he won't be able to see straight.
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The new plate blocking rule is a joke. See the play linked here at about 15 seconds in and try to argue otherwise.

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/m...lb_1&mode=video

 

You have to click on the linked video and then choose the Howard safe at home video to the right.

Edited by laughedatbytime
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...