Re: 2011 Baseball Thread

[k1]

The Red Sox manager search is even more of a giant clusterf***.  The owners are undercutting the GM in the process and it's getting UGLY out here.

[Compound]

Wait. The Astros are going to the AL? How the heck does that make sense? Why would one state have both of its teams in the same league? Why not move, say, the Phillies or the Pirates to the AL to diversify Pennsylvania or move Milwaukee over since nearby Chicago has representation in both leagues?

Note: I'm happy they didn't move the Rockies over, since that kept getting threatened, but I don't really see why the huge Texas market should be AL only.

[Bob]

Apparently Tito wanted the Cardinal job and wants no part of the Cubs job and is going to take year off to recharge..........probably a good idea.

And Bobby Valentine in Boston would cause a nice K1 family snapage.

[Bob]

Wait. The Astros are going to the AL? How the heck does that make sense? Why would one state have both of its teams in the same league? Why not move, say, the Phillies or the Pirates to the AL to diversify Pennsylvania or move Milwaukee over since nearby Chicago has representation in both leagues?

Note: I'm happy they didn't move the Rockies over, since that kept getting threatened, but I don't really see why the huge Texas market should be AL only.

You could not move the phillies or pirates due to 100+ of history and historical rivals.   The brewer and cubs are now rivals so you cannot really move the brewers back.   The Astros do not really have a rival.   They think the Cardinals are and its sweet to think that, but no one in STL considers the Astros to be a rival.

At least now, they will get to have the Rangers as a rival.

[k1]

Apparently Tito wanted the Cardinal job and wants no part of the Cubs job and is going to take year off to recharge..........probably a good idea.

And Bobby Valentine in Boston would cause a nice K1 family snapage.

"Here is what we want for a manager style.  Here are our 5 candidates, there will be no more interviews"
"We have a front runner!"
"Wait, no we don't.  Now we're going to expand our search to new candidates with a different management style."


Not that Svuem was an exciting pick, but still I'd rather have him than Valentine.  I miss Tito... 

[Nunyerbiz]

As far as the Astros, they are getting the shaft because the team is up for sale, so MLB has leverage to force things, that's the bottom line.

As far as Boston... after the way management threw everybody and their nephew under the bus after the collapse.. it's no surprise that this search is such a cluster.

[k1]

As far as Boston... after the way management ownership threw everybody and their nephew under the bus after the collapse.. it's no surprise that this search is such a cluster.

Fixed it for you.

[k1]

From MLBTR:

The Red Sox have nothing to show for their search, but Joel Sherman can't remember an offseason "in which a franchise seemed more scattershot and fractured than the Yankees between the 1995-96 seasons."

Pretty much nails it.

This mess isn't enough to drive me to become a Rays fan, but it certainly isn't helping.  Bobby V is a "flashy name" (I guess?) but he would NOT be a good fit for the Sox.  He's had teams give up on him in the past and after the way the Sox imploded in September...  Not only that but how would he deal with the ownership meddling in things? He's an egomaniac and the owners here are known for overruling GM & Mgr decisions. (Like when Francona wanted to bench Manny & was told no.)

[D.B. Barnes]

What the fuck is the point of the CY Young if you're just gonna give the MVP to a pitcher?!? Seriously, Verlander? MVP and Cy Young?!? How fucking boring is that?

Huge props to Kershaw for the NL Cy Young. Very well deserved and a small bright spot to take away from an otherwise train wreck of a season. The other bright spot being a possible MVP for Kemp, which would also be well deserved and incredibly awesome. I just have a feeling Braun is gonna take it.

[Nunyerbiz]

I will defend Verlander for MVP... just because once every 20 years or so... a pitcher goes apeshit and deserves it. Had a dominant season, went 16-3 starting after a Tiger loss, pitched tons of innings allowing the bullpen to get abused the day before and/or after his starts... It was a season for the ages.

[D.B. Barnes]

I will defend Verlander for MVP... just because once every 20 years or so... a pitcher goes apeshit and deserves it. Had a dominant season, went 16-3 starting after a Tiger loss, pitched tons of innings allowing the bullpen to get abused the day before and/or after his starts... It was a season for the ages.

I guess I can see that, and you're right, it doesn't happen on a regular basis. It just bothers me when it does because it makes the separate awards seem kinda silly.

[k1]

I'm ok with it. But I think Ellsbury has 2 10th place votes. What were they smoking?? I can see him not being top choice but 10th? He had a MONSTER season. And I'm not even a huge Ellsbury fan.

[k1]

50 minutes til the arbitration deadline.  Whee!

Oh hey, remember that time that the Red Sox had a manager? That was awesome.

[Nunyerbiz]

Remember those few years when the Red Sox would win championships and not constantly shit their pants?

Yea, glad that's behind us...

[k1]

I'm beginning to hide all sharp objects in my house.

Lamont no longer a candidate according to ESPN. Leaving only Valentine...  (But then some reports are saying that while he is no longer a candidate, he hasn't been informed of this yet. So.... yeah. I'm not saying things are dysfunctional out here but clearly nobody is on the same page (possibly not even the same book) as far as this mess goes.

This off season is not going well.  My only hope is they screw things up so bad that there's no pitching available and they bring back Wakefield so he can get those elusive 6 wins to tie Cy Young & Roger Clemens record.  (THOSE 6 DAMN WINS HE SHOULD HAVE HAD LAST YEAR IF THE  BULLPEN HADN'T CHOKED UP THE LEAD SO MANY  TIMES WHILE HE WAS GOING FOR NUMBER 200!)

*This is the point where I will be going to find some booze.*

Related note, this is beginning to feel like what it was like to be a Sox fan before we won in 2004.  Part of me missed it.  My liver, not so much.