Major League Baseball - 2013

[JBDuke]

Hot Stove time has passed. Opening Day was a rousing success here in DC as the Nats got big games from their two young stars. Harper goes deep twice, and Strasburg goes 7 innings, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 hits, 3 Ks.

[Olympic Fan]

For six months every year, I open by browser to DBR. From now until the middle of October, I start with Baseball Reference.

As a Yankee fan, a dismal start to what promises to be a disappointing season. Maybe after we get Jeter, Granderson and Texeira back -- did anybody else lose three of their top four everyday players in preseason (actually 4 of 5 ... I'm not counting A-Roid, who I don't expect back this season) -- then we can get something going. But I'm not optimistic.

[InSpades]

For six months every year, I open by browser to DBR. From now until the middle of October, I start with Baseball Reference.

As a Yankee fan, a dismal start to what promises to be a disappointing season. Maybe after we get Jeter, Granderson and Texeira back -- did anybody else lose three of their top four everyday players in preseason (actually 4 of 5 ... I'm not counting A-Roid, who I don't expect back this season) -- then we can get something going. But I'm not optimistic.

Pitching, pitching, pitching and more pitching. This Yankees team will only be as good as it's pitching (mostly starting pitching, I expect the bullpen to be good). The lineup just isn't going to put up runs at a rate we are used to so they'll have to do it another way. Hopefully it works out but this could be the worst season in recent memory.

[Jim3k]

Felix is in excellent form. Last night I saw him go 7+ in a 3-hit shutout of my A's. Walked one and struck out eight. Can't say all that much for the Mariners' bullpen, though they did keep the A's off the scoreboard. Didn't think Furbush or Wilhelmensen showed very much. The Mariner bullpen seems a little wobbly.

The A's Brett Anderson scattered 4 hits, but allowed both runs. The A's might have held the Mariners to 1 run if Reddick had thrown to second instead of third on Ryan's hit. As a result, Franklin Gutierrez' single drove in both Ackley and Ryan.

[matt1]

I think that my Phillies can contend if we can stay healthy. I know that yesterday was rough, nut I think that 90 wins and a wild card could be reasonable.

[Blue in the Face]

Yu Darvish - pshaw.

[BlueDevilinNYC]

Yu Darvish - pshaw.

I think it's conceivable we see more no hitters/perfectos this year than any other season. The Marlins and DisAstros have the chance of it happening to them every night, imho.

[duke74]

For six months every year, I open by browser to DBR. From now until the middle of October, I start with Baseball Reference.

As a Yankee fan, a dismal start to what promises to be a disappointing season. Maybe after we get Jeter, Granderson and Texeira back -- did anybody else lose three of their top four everyday players in preseason (actually 4 of 5 ... I'm not counting A-Roid, who I don't expect back this season) -- then we can get something going. But I'm not optimistic.

Heard today on the Fan (I think) that Tex may NOT be back this year given the location of the injury (v. Grandy's forearm).

On the other hand, my Metsies are winning 8-0 tonight after 11-2 last night. Granted it's early and it's the Pods, but maybe...maybe...we won't suck this year. Even the outfield is coming through...Now that CBB is over (for me at least), glad that the Mets have started and started well.

[Olympic Fan]

Heard today on the Fan (I think) that Tex may NOT be back this year given the location of the injury (v. Grandy's forearm).

The story that Tex MIGHT be out all year have been floated around for several weeks. Actually, the most recent news is positive -- he gopt a checkup yesterday and the report was that he's making good progress and expects to miss "just" 8-10 weeks.

That doesn't mean I'm optimistic. Sabathia really looked bad in his first start ... maybe all the innings he has thrown (more than anybody else in baseball over the last 6-7 years) have taken their toll. And Kuroda tonight ... agggh!

[matt1]

My Phillies are off to a terrible start. Maybe Cliff Lee will come through and get us win #1 today.

[JBDuke]

My Phillies are off to a terrible start. Maybe Cliff Lee will come through and get us win #1 today.

Meanwhile, the Nats swept the Marlins, allowing only 1 run over the three game series. Note, however, that the Marlins project to be pretty weak this year, so this accomplishment may be a yawner as the year progresses. Still, a nice start.

Oh, and Bryce Harper is leading the NL in slugging and OPS. :-)

[BlueDevilinNYC]

The story that Tex MIGHT be out all year have been floated around for several weeks. Actually, the most recent news is positive -- he gopt a checkup yesterday and the report was that he's making good progress and expects to miss "just" 8-10 weeks.

That doesn't mean I'm optimistic. Sabathia really looked bad in his first start ... maybe all the innings he has thrown (more than anybody else in baseball over the last 6-7 years) have taken their toll. And Kuroda tonight ... agggh!

Throughout his entire career, CC has always had a rough April, then locked it down for the rest of the year. If I were a Yankee fan, I would be more worried about making sure my pitchers remembered they have a glove on their other hand, too.

[Olympic Fan]

Throughout his entire career, CC has always had a rough April, then locked it down for the rest of the year. If I were a Yankee fan, I would be more worried about making sure my pitchers remembered they have a glove on their other hand, too.

Believe me, I've seen CC pitch enough over the past few years to know that he often struggles early in the season.

I wish that was all it was. The CC I saw earlier was not a guy searching for his location or his rhythm. His motion was wrong (he was pushing the ball) and his velocity was way off.

I hope I'm wrong and CC bounces back to have a CC year. But I really did not like what I saw in his first start.

On the other hand, Andy Pettite looked like he was 28 years old Thursday night, allowing one run in eight innings against the Red Sox. Good to get the win, but a little scary in that our two pitchers were a combined 83 years old.

[BlueDevilinNYC]

Orioles' Chris Davis absolutely scorched my Rays in their first series, going 7 for 11 with three doubles, three HR and ELEVEN RBIs. That's the second most RBIs by one player in a teams first three games since 1920. He is on a tear (and on pace for 579 RBIs for the season)

[Reilly]

Orioles' Chris Davis ... is on a tear (and on pace for 579 RBIs for the season)

I really don't think you can extrapolate like that. I doubt he'll finish with much more than 350.

[BlueDevilinNYC]

I really don't think you can extrapolate like that. I doubt he'll finish with much more than 350.

Point taken. I guess I would have to take the under.

[dukebsbll14]

Orioles' Chris Davis absolutely scorched my Rays in their first series, going 7 for 11 with three doubles, three HR and ELEVEN RBIs. That's the second most RBIs by one player in a teams first three games since 1920. He is on a tear (and on pace for 579 RBIs for the season)

So far my strategy of drafting the O's leadoff and 3-6 hitters for my fantasy baseball team has paid off. So far 16 runs, 5 home runs and 18 RBIs just from those guys...

"Oh Chris Davis hit a 3 run home run? Oh, I get that, plus his RBIs, oh and the guys on base are on my team too!"

[dukebsbll14]

In the mid 2000s, Brian Roberts was one of the top lead-off hitters in baseball. He hasn't played a full season since 2009. After battling concussions and other injuries, B-Rob had finally made it back to the big leagues. Here's a great article that was written about him a few weeks ago.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/b...ly-over-032513

Unfortunately, B-Rob went down last night with a hamstring injury - stealing a base in the 9th inning of the 3rd game of the season. Brian had to be carried off the field and is likely to be placed back on the DL. It was tough to watch, just seeing his face as he was being carried off. I feel so bad for him.

Here's to a good recovery and hoping that this is the last injury for B-Rob.

[JasonEvans]

Should we start a new thread, just to talk about how horrible Jeff Loria is as owner of the Marlins?

The latest? He has injected himself into lineup decisions, insisting that the team change starting pitchers for 2 games of a double-header. Reading this article is like a how to course on how NOT to own a MLB team. Loria apparently demanded that the team break camp this year with pitcher Jose Fernandez on the opening day roster. That is a phenomenally foolish idea. Wanna know why?

Fernandez will be a free agent after six seasons. Had the Marlins stashed him in the minor leagues for the season's first 11 days – a time during which Fernandez made only one start – he would not have been eligible for free agency until 2019. No players enjoy hitting the open market more than the Marlins', some of whom refer to free agency as parole.

-Jason "the sad thing is that Loria's reward for lying to the people of Miami and for running his team like a jackass is to make tens of millions a year by keeping his payroll so low... grrrr" Evans

[duke74]

Should we start a new thread, just to talk about how horrible Jeff Loria is as owner of the Marlins?

The latest? He has injected himself into lineup decisions, insisting that the team change starting pitchers for 2 games of a double-header. Reading this article is like a how to course on how NOT to own a MLB team. Loria apparently demanded that the team break camp this year with pitcher Jose Fernandez on the opening day roster. That is a phenomenally foolish idea. Wanna know why?



-Jason "the sad thing is that Loria's reward for lying to the people of Miami and for running his team like a jackass is to make tens of millions a year by keeping his payroll so low... grrrr" Evans

Some folks here in Mets-land believe that this may be the strategy being used for Zac Wheeler and Travis d'Arnaud. I have no problem with it, no matter how bad we are in the near term.