MLB Season 2011

[Brando70]

Snaz, I hadn't thought about the attractive nuisance aspect. You're totally right, you would have drunks on any kind of ledge.

I feel so bad for the boy and his family. So tragic that what should have been a great memory turned into a total nightmare.

[webdanzer]

Congrats to Derek Jeter on 3000!

[MizzouRah]

Congrats to Derek Jeter on 3000!

+1

[dbdynsty25]

I must be getting old or something because that travesty of a home run derby bore me to tears. Wow that was bad. I had to turn it off in the second round.

[greggsand]

I must be getting old or something because that travesty of a home run derby bore me to tears. Wow that was bad. I had to turn it off in the second round.

They need a way to make it longer! 3+ hours just isn't enough. Oy. They should make it one round, 10 guys, most wins. This "round" stuff goes on forever...

That said Cano had some pretty impressive blasts.

[matthewk]

Well, it almost got a whole lot more interesting: http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_le ... lb-wp12376

That 3rd photo really shows just how stupid this guy is. And on the day of Stone's (the guy that fell at Arlington) memorial service too. Have we really gotten to the point where catching an MLB ball is so valuable you would risk you life? Today there's a kid in Texas without a father because of this.

[dbdynsty25]

Well, it almost got a whole lot more interesting: http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_le ... lb-wp12376

That 3rd photo really shows just how stupid this guy is. And on the day of Stone's (the guy that fell at Arlington) memorial service too. Have we really gotten to the point where catching an MLB ball is so valuable you would risk you life? Today there's a kid in Texas without a father because of this.

The gold balls were worth 150 bucks at least...a lot more than the $5 ball most people dive for.

[Lancer]

Missed the ASG tonight but how Wilson get save in a 5-1 game?

[dbdynsty25]

Missed the ASG tonight but how Wilson get save in a 5-1 game?

Must just be incorrect because he shouldn't have. He came in to start the 9th with the 4 run lead.

[vinny-b]

Well, it almost got a whole lot more interesting: http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_le ... lb-wp12376

That 3rd photo really shows just how stupid this guy is. And on the day of Stone's (the guy that fell at Arlington) memorial service too. Have we really gotten to the point where catching an MLB ball is so valuable you would risk you life? Today there's a kid in Texas without a father because of this.

i know.

Idiot.

[webdanzer]

Missed the ASG tonight but how Wilson get save in a 5-1 game?

Must just be incorrect because he shouldn't have. He came in to start the 9th with the 4 run lead.

Hanrahan started the 9th. Wilson came in with one out, two on, tying run on deck.

[dbdynsty25]

Missed the ASG tonight but how Wilson get save in a 5-1 game?

Must just be incorrect because he shouldn't have. He came in to start the 9th with the 4 run lead.

Hanrahan started the 9th. Wilson came in with one out, two on, tying run on deck.

That's right..for some reason I thought that was the 8th. Oh well. Now you know how much attention I was paying. F'n all-star bore-fests. At least till the Braves pitchers started coming in and dominating. Think Ellsbury knows what hit him after he missed all three Johnny Venters sinkers by two feet a piece?

[10spro]

The highlights for me was Gonzalez hitting a cutter to the right side of the swimming pool where the ladies in their bikinis were hanging around with Santa and the sick slide catch by J. Bautista in the second.

[lexbur]

and the sick slide catch by J. Bautista in the second.

I'd be nervous if the star player on my team slid into the wall like that at an All Star game.

How did you feel about FOX replacing the Canadian national anthem with a preview of the X Factor?

[dbdynsty25]

and the sick slide catch by J. Bautista in the second.

I'd be nervous if the star player on my team slid into the wall like that at an All Star game.

How did you feel about FOX replacing the Canadian national anthem with a preview of the X Factor?

Or watching your all-star catcher (who happened to hit the ball Bautista slid for) getting taken out at home. Eeesh.

[10spro]

and the sick slide catch by J. Bautista in the second.

I'd be nervous if the star player on my team slid into the wall like that at an All Star game.

How did you feel about FOX replacing the Canadian national anthem with a preview of the X Factor?

I was holding my breath. Trust me. But that's him, AS game or regular season he gives it 100% all the time, and having him locked up for 5 years was a great signing by the Jays. As for the national anthem well, it's FOX, nuff said.

[Lancer]

Clemens gets off, big time. I am not too surprised. I remember when the first hearings were going on they said he had a lot of fans in high places and that it would never get to trail. I don' t know if that is the case but Bonds and McGwire needs the type of friends Clemens has.

He's still guilty in the public eye.

[MizzouRah]

I had a feeling Clemens would somehow get off.

Maybe he will just go away now.

[MizzouRah]

Sold out PNC park... Cardinals come out on fire!!!

[Leebo33]

I think that was the 12th sellout this year at PNC and the sellouts are expected for the remaining two games. With a handful of weekend series left and if they stay in the race they could sellout in 20 or more games which I never would have believed at the beginning of the season. Pittsburgh is a great sports town and they will draw well if they field a major league team and not a bunch of suspects and castoffs. I'm going to the game on August 20th that has just been moved to become the first Fox game at PNC since 2004. It should be fun and it's great to see some good baseball being played in Pittsburgh. I've gone to dozens of Pirates and Steelers games (including an AFC Championship game and 3 playoff games) over the years and the loudest I ever heard Three Rivers Stadium was when Barry Bonds hit a deep fly ball single with a drawn in outfield to beat the Mets in the first game of a doubleheader in 1990. 50k people jumping up and down high fiving. It would be great to even have a taste of that again.

This season has been a pleasant surprise, but the Pirates need some serious help on offense or they may not break .500 let alone stay in the race. If you compare the Cardinals and Pirates lineups it's a complete joke. Alvarez should be called up immediately. I'm not familiar with how service time accrues but something seems fishy. He's healthy and hitting well in AAA. If they keep Brandon Wood on the roster they can use him against tough lefties and as a defensive replacement in late innings. The tough thing for the Pirates is that the front office can't afford m(any) mistakes. They need to take a shot at a division title that is winnable, but they can't afford to mortgage the future. They are stockpiling some promising pitching prospects. At some point they are going to start trading the pitching surplus for hitters. The front office seems to be excellent in evaluating pitchers (almost annually rebuilding a decent bullpen in the offseason, trading for Hanrahan/MacDonald/Morton, etc.) but they aren't nearly as successful in acquiring hitters (I have as many HRs as Matt Diaz and I'm not that far behind Overbay).

[HipE]

I don't believe in the Pirates. I hope I'm wrong, but I'm guessing they will still finish below .500 and in 4th place in the Central. Almost all of their pitchers seem to be having career years, and I'm guessing the clock will strike midnight for some of them soon. The offense is pretty pathetic outside of McCutchen, Walker and Presley since he has been called up. I actually think they should be sellers at the deadline since many of their players are at their peak values. Even though it has been 18 years since they have been successful, I'd rather keep stocking the organization with talent rather than taking a shot at one winning season. The true pitching talent seems to be the two pitchers they drafted last year and their first pick this year, so I'd rather they keep building the organization around when they will be ready in a couple of years.

It has been interesting to read all of the articles written about them on all the sports sites in the past week. I thought it was pretty funny that when they were in first for two days, it seemed like every site had at least 2 or 3 feature articles on the Pirates right away. It was like they thought it was all smoke and mirrors as well, and had to hurry up and get the stories out there while they were still relevant before it all fell apart.

[10spro]

It has been interesting to read all of the articles written about them on all the sports sites in the past week. I thought it was pretty funny that when they were in first for two days, it seemed like every site had at least 2 or 3 feature articles on the Pirates right away. It was like they thought it was all smoke and mirrors as well, and had to hurry up and get the stories out there while they were still relevant before it all fell apart.

They've got some good young prospects. Not sure if it's a fair comparison, but I am looking at a team like SEA in the AL, who's been free falling after such a good start and not many gave them 2 cents at the beginning of the season and are struggling again. I think the Pirates are better that the Mariners though.

[wco81]

Dave Dameshek hints that the Pirates ownership won't raise payroll to field a competitive team. It seems they'd have to have a lot of young talent come together and play really well before they're arbitration-eligible.

[Leebo33]

I actually think they should be sellers at the deadline since many of their players are at their peak values. Even though it has been 18 years since they have been successful, I'd rather keep stocking the organization with talent rather than taking a shot at one winning season.

The problem is that it wouldn't make much sense to trade the players that are at peak value. If Hanrahan, McCutchen, and Walker are deemed virtually untouchable, and they should be, then the only two players they would consider trading that would bring much in return are Maholm and Karstens IMO. Most of the others in the rotation, bullpen and bench are young and/or cheap enough to keep around. Any other veterans like Jones, Doumit, Oberbay, etc. they could trade and still take a shot at the division. It looks like Morton and MacDonald are decent young and cheap pitchers so why trade them unless you can get a proven power hitter?

I'm more worried about the rotation all approaching career high in innings than I am that they are having career performances. It's not that uncommon for pitchers to improve dramatically in their 3rd or 4th year especially under a competent pitching coach and manager and with catchers that have a clue (not a big Doumit fan).

We will find out a lot in the next 9 games against STL, Philly, and ATL. If they go 5-4 or better I say go for it with a deal for a power hitting first baseman or outfielder. Lincoln and Ohlendorf are pretty good insurance for the rotation and Doumit, Alvarez, and Tabata will upgrade the offense or provide some depth when they return.

[dbdynsty25]

Dave Dameshek hints that the Pirates ownership won't raise payroll to field a competitive team. It seems they'd have to have a lot of young talent come together and play really well before they're arbitration-eligible.

So because Dave is from Pittsburgh he has an inside track to pirate management? Lol. He's a hack that's gotten fired from way too many radio jobs already. Might want to avoid quoting him.