MLB 2012 Season

[AntAltMike]

Strasmas report:

Pitchers:   IP   H  R  ER  BB  SO  HR  PC-ST   ERA
Strasburg:  6.0  4  2   2   4   7   0  100-60  2.9

(W, 14-5)


139.1 Innings pitched, "X" remaining.

 

[salsadancer7]

I've picked the Angels all year, and I still think they will win the World Series, I just don't think they're as good as I originally thought.

Slump year perhaps....?

 

[Ramy]

There have been many flawed teams to win the World Series over the years, but this is the first time I can ever recall that we're GUARANTEED to have one no matter who wins it. There is just no "great" team out there this year.

I really think the Reds are the best all around team.

 

[BillD1984]

I really think the Reds are the best all around team.

I definitely think they're the team to beat in the NL, and they also have a key ingredient to go deep into October......a "lights out" bullpen.

 

[salsadancer7]

I definitely think they're the team to beat in the NL, and they also have a key ingedient to go deep into October......a "lights out" bullpen.

This Reds team reminds me of the 1990s World Series winning Reds.

 

[DodgerKing]

I really think the Reds are the best all around team.

I actually think it is the Nationals. They have the more balanced and consistent team.

 

[Neutron]

If the Rangers can't figure out how to beat the Yankees I don't see us going far in the playoffs....

 

[Ramy]

I actually think it is the Nationals. They have the more balanced and consistent team.

Without Strausburg?

 

[BillD1984]

This Reds team reminds me of the 1990s World Series winning Reds.

Very interesting comparison!

Just for giggles (obviously Ramy is a LOT more qualified to do this):

C- Oliver/Reed vs. Hanigan/Mesoraco- slight edge 1990
1B- Morris/Benzinger vs. Votto- HUGE edge 2012
2B- Duncan vs. Phillips- edge 2012
SS- Larkin vs. Cozart- HUGE edge 1990
3B- Sabo vs. Rolen- even (admittedly I was a huge Sabo guy)
OF- Davis/Hatcher/O'Neil vs. Ludwick/Stubbs/Bruce- VERY SLIGHT edge 2012
Starters- Browning/Rijo/Armstrong/Jackson/Mahler vs. Cueto/Bailey/Latos/Arroyo/Leake- edge 1990
Bullpen- Myers/Dibble/Charlton/Layana vs. Chapman/Arredondo/Marshall/Ondrusek/Broxton- even

Very, very close when you match these teams up, IMO

 

[DodgerKing]

Without Strausburg?

Yep. Even without him, they have the most consistent starting pitching aside from the Giants.

 

[DodgerKing]

Very interesting comparison!

Just for giggles (obviously Ramy is a LOT more qualified to do this):

C- Oliver/Reed vs. Hanigan/Mesoraco- slight edge 1990
1B- Morris/Benzinger vs. Votto- HUGE edge 2012
2B- Duncan vs. Phillips- edge 2012
SS- Larkin vs. Cozart- HUGE edge 1990
3B- Sabo vs. Rolen- even (admittedly I was a huge Sabo guy)
OF- Davis/Hatcher/O'Neil vs. Ludwick/Stubbs/Bruce- VERY SLIGHT edge 2012
Starters- Browning/Rijo/Armstrong/Jackson/Mahler vs. Cueto/Bailey/Latos/Arroyo/Leake- edge 1990
Bullpen- Myers/Dibble/Charlton/Layana vs. Chapman/Arredondo/Marshall/Ondrusek/Broxton- even

Very, very close when you match these teams up, IMO

The 1990 outfield is much better than the 2012 outfield. Davis alone is better than the other 5 mentioned

 

[Ramy]

Very interesting comparison!

Just for giggles (obviously Ramy is a LOT more qualified to do this):

C- Oliver/Reed vs. Hanigan/Mesoraco- slight edge 1990
1B- Morris/Benzinger vs. Votto- HUGE edge 2012
2B- Duncan vs. Phillips- edge 2012
SS- Larkin vs. Cozart- HUGE edge 1990
3B- Sabo vs. Rolen- even (admittedly I was a huge Sabo guy)
OF- Davis/Hatcher/O'Neil vs. Ludwick/Stubbs/Bruce- VERY SLIGHT edge 2012
Starters- Browning/Rijo/Armstrong/Jackson/Mahler vs. Cueto/Bailey/Latos/Arroyo/Leake- edge 1990
Bullpen- Myers/Dibble/Charlton/Layana vs. Chapman/Arredondo/Marshall/Ondrusek/Broxton- even

Very, very close when you match these teams up, IMO

C - Edge goes to 2012, Their BA is higher and RBI's are higher I think.
1B - Votto by a landslide
2B - Phillips by a landslide
SS - Larkin by a landslide
3B has to be Sabo by far. Rolen has to actually PLAY to be in the conversation this year. He has missed at least half the season this year.
OF - 1990 by far. Defensive #1, BA very good.....This years team's BA is in the tank, because they won't leave Stubbs on the bench. He is batting .220 or something like that.
Starters - toss up for me
Bullpen - toss up for me

 

[BillD1984]

I also think the Reds bench in 1990 was a little better. I remember players like Braggs, Winningham and Benzinger making contributions.

 

[salsadancer7]

C - Edge goes to 2012, Their BA is higher and RBI's are higher I think.
1B - Votto by a landslide
2B - Phillips by a landslide
SS - Larkin by a landslide
3B has to be Sabo by far. Rolen has to actually PLAY to be in the conversation this year. He has missed at least half the season this year.
OF - 1990 by far. Defensive #1, BA very good.....This years team's BA is in the tank, because they won't leave Stubbs on the bench. He is batting .220 or something like that.
Starters - toss up for me
Bullpen - toss up for me

Because I grew up a Reds fan, though this team was not the most talented of the Reds World Series winners, this was my favorite. The '90 had only 1 LEGIT HOF in Larkin and a possible(if he would have never gotten hurt) in Eric Davis(my FAVORITE Red behind Johnny Bench and Hector Cruz).

 

[AntAltMike]

C Johnny Bench
1B Tony Perez
2B Joe Morgan
SS Davey Conception
3B Pete Rose
LF George Foster
CF Cesar Geronimo
RF Ken Griffey


I remember that after the 1981 season, Bill James had ranked Ken Griffey as the third best right fielder in the American League and commented that it is hard to imagine that when he was in his prime, he was no better than the seventh best player in his team's starting line-up.

 

[BillD1984]

C Johnny Bench
1B Tony Perez
2B Joe Morgan
SS Davey Conception
3B Pete Rose
LF George Foster
CF Cesar Geronimo
RF Ken Griffey


I remember that after the 1981 season, Bill James had ranked Ken Griffey as the third best right fielder in the American League and commented that it is hard to imagine that when he was in his prime, he was no better than the seventh best player in his team's starting line-up.

One of the most famous (and greatest) "starting eight's" of all-time. FWIW, I'd rate Griffey #6 out of that lineup. And that is just in the prime "Big Red Machine" years. Career wise, I'd take Griffey ahead of Foster, but well below Rose, Bench, Morgan and Perez.

 

[SabresRule]

This is shaping up to be a wide-open October.

There's no clear-cut favorite this year as opposed to past years.

 

[Jimbo]

If the Rangers can't figure out how to beat the Yankees I don't see us going far in the playoffs....

Tigers, if they get there will beat them for you and then lose to the Rangers AGAIN .....

Tigers have the yanks playoff number for the last several times they have met.

 

[salsadancer7]

Watched some of the Dodgers vs Pirates and if they do not suspend that crappy homeplate umpire....then you can say it is now the umpire show.

Homeplate umpire was deservedly upset when the Dodgers bench was questioning the balls and strikes. When the ump stated he didn't want to hear anymore...Kemp screamed encouragement to his teammate...which got him ejected...as well as Mattingly. Which of course, got Kemp so hot and bothered that he ran out and from what I saw, bumped the umpire at least once.

 

[DodgerKing]

Watched some of the Dodgers vs Pirates and if they do not suspend that crappy homeplate umpire....then you can say it is now the umpire show.

Homeplate umpire was deservedly upset when the Dodgers bench was questioning the balls and strikes. When the ump stated he didn't want to hear anymore...Kemp screamed encouragement to his teammate...which got him ejected...as well as Mattingly. Which of course, got Kemp so hot and bothered that he ran out and from what I saw, bumped the umpire at least once.

Must be that 10 hour roid rage?

Seriously, I just watched the highlights and read the story. Evidently Kemp was kicked out for simply shouting, "Let's Go Dre!" to Andrew Ethier when he was batting, after the ump told him to not say another word when questioning a strike call. So, now it is against the rules to cheer on your teammates while they are batting?

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=8276843&categoryid=2378529

Blanton was later thrown out for asking the ump a question. The ump followed him and kicked him out.

I have watched more and more games this year where I see a lot of incompetence by the umps (a lot of it coming from Campos). Where it seems umps go out of their way to cause issues.