2011 MLB Discussion Thread (wild card, managers, NBA, NHL)

[filihok]

Originally Posted by Ridgerunner

Much has been said about teams being tailored to their home parks. Could this be a factor in the Sox' debacle?

I'm not mathy enough to math it out, but it's only a 6 game difference, so unlikely.

[filihok]

Filihok: Andre, the Giant

So, apparently this is funny.

I really didn't think so.

But, when paired with this video and the phrase, "Luis Ayala has apparently stolen Andre Either's glove"...

...It's still not that funny.

[Grandstander]

Originally Posted by Ridgerunner

Much has been said about teams being tailored to their home parks. Could this be a factor in the Sox' debacle?

I looked up Chicago's records for the last four seasons and apart from this year, they seem to have a normal home winning record, they were especially robust at home in '08, going 54-28 in front of the homefolk.

So I don't think it is the team's attributes which have caused this season's problems, therefore it must be the fans.

Obviously in '08 the Sox were either attracting a more inspirational group, or in '11 it is the same fans, but they have lost some degree of enthusiasm or willingness to impart their winning mojo waves toward the club.

Mojo decline of course doesn't happen overnight, and the Chicago pattern fits the classic mold. After the resounding home record of '08, the next year they slipped to 48-33 in Chicago, and to 45-36 in '10. Some sort of moral decay set in after the '08 season and the Sox supporters slowly began to withhold their aura impartations, a process which has continued and has manifested itself in greater intensity this year.

Denied the solace of the sort of backing to which they had become accustomed, the Sox players have become demoralized and they just aren't trying hard enough.

[jtur88]

Amazin Mets bullpen. They overcome a 7-1 deficit, take a 9-7 lead in the 8th, then blow it as Isringhausen puts the first four runners on base, three on walks, and the Brewere bat around.

Had to listen to the game on radio. Fox gives MLB lots of money and tells them to screw the fans, and MLB, getting their priorities straight, says "Yessir yessir, What time will the Brinks truck be here?"

[jtur88]

Orioles and Dodgers both scored two runs in the top of the 12th and went on to lose.

[Grandstander]

Not much excitement going on in the way of the division races...or the wild card contest.

Philadelphia has the NL East locked up and the Braves have strong hold on the wild card slot. The Brewers have opened an 8.5 game lead in the NL Central. Only the NL West is up for grabs still and it seems like it will produce a default winner...as in someone had to win it, but it doesn't mean that they are any good.

The Yankees and the Red Sox ...one will be the AL East champ, the other the wild card. The AL West is pretty firmly in the Rangers hands, five games up on the Angels. That leaves only the AL Central to be contested between the Tigers and Indians.

At this point the rest of the season is shaping up to be a fight among the four weakest contenders for the last two playoff slots.

The way things are unfolding, if the World Series turns out to be anyone other than Philadelphia vs either NY or Boston, it will seem like something of a fraud.

[jifie]

I just found this forum and wanted to post my disgust at the Orioles. They looked so good in the first 6 games this year, but thats about it...theres always next year right?

[jtur88]

Originally Posted by Grandstander

Not much excitement going on in the way of the division races...or the wild card contest.
.

Divisional play and wildcards were supposed to make the races more exciting, but in most years, they don't. Without divisions, there would not ba a virtual dead heat in the AL with the Rangers 5 GB. In the NL, the Phillies would be ahead by 9 in the loss column.

Both wildcards are already nearly locked, but don't worry, Selig will keep adding wildcards until he is sure of some kind of a race between two sub-.500 teams. At least, with 24 teams making the playoffs, it will eliminate some of the salary dumps at the trading deadlline, which will be in November.

[astrosox]

Originally Posted by Orangeish

The Whitesox are finally over .500 again at 61-60. In their win last night they had 5 triples, something I don't think I have ever seen them do (though im sure it has happened). Sox have been known for a decade at least as being a slow, thumping type team so this was rare indeed. However only 2 of the hitters that had a triple reached home base, not including a lead off triple in the 11th that did not get home. I actually turned the game off in disgust at that point (I was tired anyways), but the Sox still prevailed in 14.

First time the Sox hit 5 triples in a game since 1920. The Sox really need triples because they were among the fewest triples in MLB prior to the 5 triple game. Two of those triples hit by Alejandro de Aza who just called up.

[astrosox]

Originally Posted by jtur88

Divisional play and wildcards were supposed to make the races more exciting, but in most years, they don't. Without divisions, there would not ba a virtual dead heat in the AL with the Rangers 5 GB. In the NL, the Phillies would be ahead by 9 in the loss column.

Both wildcards are already nearly locked, but don't worry, Selig will keep adding wildcards until he is sure of some kind of a race between two sub-.500 teams. At least, with 24 teams making the playoffs, it will eliminate some of the salary dumps at the trading deadlline, which will be in November.

Selig will add the second wild card team to both leagues for the 2012 season along with a playoff series between these wild card teams. If there is the second wild card team in 2011, then the Rays and Giants would be the second wild card contenders even though they're 7.5 and 8 games behind the wild card leaders, respectively. If there is the second wild card team in 2010, then the Red Sox and Padres would have made it into the postseason.