Hey, baseball fans! (2009)

[AuntShecky]

As we've entered the home stretch of the 2009 I am very,very interested in what my fellow "Lit-Nutters" have to say about the Major League Season so far.

Ground Rules:
--In this particular thread, please try to keep the comments centered on this year's season --09. (Even though we're interested in baseball's rich and delightful history, if we go off on tangents talking about Ernie Banks, Bonds, Rose et al., this thread might get to be as long as a 457-ft line drive out to center field.)

--Praise any current team or individual player that you wish; in doing so, however, please do not denigrate or insult other players or teams by name.

--Choose any topic about this year's season that you wish, but I would most like to hear your opinions on the following (although you're not obligated to answer any of them):

--What kind of game this year has been more entertaining: a high-scoring multi-hit game OR a low-scoring pitching match-up?
and
WHO WILL WIN:
-- the AL Wild Card
-- the NL Wild Card
-- the AL championship
-- the NL championship
and. . .The World Series?

Okay?
You're up!

[Virgil]

I will get back to you Auntie. I'm so disheartened with this season that I've lost touch with some of the divisions, epescially in National League. I will have to force it out of my throat that the NY Yankees look outstanding and hard to beat. Unless they choke, I can't see any team beating them. In my opinion Derek Jeter should be MVP this year. And this is coming from an avowed Yankee hater. :(

[papayahed]

Sadly, I attended one game this year of my beloved Detroit Tigers and have not followed them since. (They won that game and it was a beautiful day at the ballpark)

[DickZ]

I'm glad you asked for predictions, because they are my specialty. I now have in excess of $12 million, most of which I made in predicting the outcomes of baseball games. For this case, since I already have so much money and don't know what to do with it all, I'm going to defer my baseball predictions until November.

[AuntShecky]

I'm going to defer my baseball predictions until November.


And come Christmas, I'm going to give my picks for MVPs of both leagues, as well as the Cy Young Award winner(s) and Manager of the Year.

[BlueSkyGB]

Most enjoyable moment this season so far...In my opinion...

Ellsbury steals home against Yanks ......:banana:

so glad I got to watch that one.......
as for predictions.....well let's just say....there's always next year...LOL

ps....I love those low scoring pitching duels...

[DickZ]

Most enjoyable moment this season so far...In my opinion...

Ellsbury steals home against Yanks ......:banana:

so glad I got to watch that one.......
as for predictions.....well let's just say....there's always next year...LOL

ps....I love those low scoring pitching duels...
Yes, BlueSky, the Ellsbury steal was a great moment, and I loved it, too.

[kilted exile]

this season has really been dreadful. i havent watched a game since the all-star break. fire ricciardi now.

[Virgil]

Ellsbury steals home against Yanks ......:banana:

so glad I got to watch that one.......


I agree. That was some play. :eek2: I thought for sure the Red Sox had the Yankees number at the beginning of the season, but the Yankee pitching really came through. Both bull pen and starting. And their line up is just solid. And so is their defense. The three free agents the Yankees picked up really were worth it for a change.

[AuntShecky]

Yes, Ellsbury's stealing of home will definitely be one of the highlights of 2009. So will Beuhrle's perfect game. I am still smarting over the game-ending unassisted triple play by Bruntlett over the Mets a couple weeks ago, as if the Amazin's needed more problems!

Speaking of such --in the preseason SI predicted that the Mets would win it all. That shows you the precarious place you're in when you make baseball predictions.

Oddly enough, contrary to popular opinion, the Mets reallyhaven't had more injuries than any other team this season, in terms of number. The difference however, is that early in the season, the DL claimed their "star" players, the ones whom they counted on to take them to the top (Reyes, DelGato, Beltran, and Maine on the pitching staff, plus several other players.) Most of them haven't returned yet, and there remain only a handful of games to be played. A final blow came last month when the season ended early for the Mets' ace, Johann Santana,
who will need surgery.

In general this MLB season makes me think that there is something amiss in the way these professional athletes are conditioned and trained. Having shelled out so much capital in signing them to lucrative contracts, the owners want to "protect" their investments by shelving them at the first sign of trouble. But again, these are young guys,
supposedly in tip-top physical condition; they're not made of china and shouldn't be susceptible to so many injuries. That's why I think MLB should look another look at the training methods in both leagues. Perhaps the players are over-conditioned.

[Virgil]

I am still smarting over the game-ending unassisted triple play by Bruntlett over the Mets a couple weeks ago, as if the Amazin's needed more problems!

Speaking of such --in the preseason SI predicted that the Mets would win it all. That shows you the precarious place you're in when you make baseball predictions.

:lol: That triple play characterizes the Mets season perfectly. ;)


Oddly enough, contrary to popular opinion, the Mets reallyhaven't had more injuries than any other team this season, in terms of number. The difference however, is that early in the season, the DL claimed their "star" players, the ones whom they counted on to take them to the top (Reyes, DelGato, Beltran, and Maine on the pitching staff, plus several other players.) Most of them haven't returned yet, and there remain only a handful of games to be played. A final blow came last month when the season ended early for the Mets' ace, Johann Santana,
who will need surgery.
I cannot believe the Mets' owners ae not firing the management, especially the general manager. They fired Willie Randolph on less two years ago and they have been so tolerant of this group's incompetance. You are probably right. The injuries was not what pulled the Mets down. I think they just don't play well together.

[BlueSkyGB]

Yes...those Mets....
been so unlucky...that I even quit ribbing my daughter about them.:angel:..her pick this year....
.son-in-law wants anybody but the Yanks....
as for me.....I'll just keep watching and enjoying for those moments like the steal and the perfect game.......