** The Official 2012 MLB Thread! **

[Ninja108]

2011 has come and gone. It is start to fresh with the brand new 2012 MLB thread.
Go baseball and go YANKS!!!!

[sonny10305]

With just a few weeks till pitchers and catchers it's nice to see you get an early jump on this.
I am sooooo ready for baseball.

"LETS GO METS"

[Ninja108]

I'm ready for the season to start..if nothing else, MLB network insists on showing clips from 01 over and over....that series is still my most painful memory as a Yankee fan.

[gtru1981]

2011 has come and gone. It is start to fresh with the brand new 2012 MLB thread.
Go baseball and go YANKS!!!!

GO YANKEES!

its going to be a very interesting 2012 in the American League with Bobby V managing the crapsoxs and all these all Pujols and Fielder playing first base in the American League.

[Ninja108]

GO YANKEES!

its going to be a very interesting 2012 in the American League with Bobby V managing the crapsoxs and all these all Pujols and Fielder playing first base in the American League.

It should be very intresting...I will say as last year showed,having the best team on paper doesn't mean squat.

[gtru1981]

Oh great, another New York-centric baseball thread.

*yawn*

I'll head over to sbnation, since I doubt you lovely provincial little people here can tell me whether to draft Jason Kipnis or Dustin Ackley.

Lol its not like that...I wish more people would talk about other teams, bc I want to hear about how they feel..not just NY teams! I go to baseball fever quiet often and mostly like reading about the history and the stadiums.

I am from CT and the typical Yankee fan here coudlnt even name the 5 stadiums that the team have played over their career in NY.

What team u route for may I ask?

[gtru1981]

These badass mother fuckers :



Though I have an affection for a handful of AL teams.

Btw, fantasy baseball steal this year: Mike Moustakas. Totally put it together in September.

I am a big fan of Danny Espinosa....LOVE HIM!!

I do have to say the National East is a tough league, the Marlins and the Nationals have alot of young talent and both teams are going to be getting better. I just want anyone in that league to kick the Phillies off their high horse! HATE THE PHILLIES!! lol

Also, i have quiet happy that the Nationals didnt sign Pujols and Fielder, over pay guys that will be in the decline soon. I am not a fan of giving out 10 year contracts, its something i dont agree with. I really think the max should be five years, because we all know that these older players decline with age and the orgnaization ends up losing in the long end.

[Ninja108]

Speaking of the NL..the Pirates just got a new pitcher...
Thank you for the 2009 World Series AJ..I hope you do well in your new home.

[Ninja108]

I am a big fan of Danny Espinosa....LOVE HIM!!

I do have to say the National East is a tough league, the Marlins and the Nationals have alot of young talent and both teams are going to be getting better. I just want anyone in that league to kick the Phillies off their high horse! HATE THE PHILLIES!! lol

Also, i have quiet happy that the Nationals didnt sign Pujols and Fielder, over pay guys that will be in the decline soon. I am not a fan of giving out 10 year contracts, its something i dont agree with. I really think the max should be five years, because we all know that these older players decline with age and the orgnaization ends up losing in the long end.

SPeaking of the Phillies..I still have fond memories of the 09 World Series. If there's one team that irks me more than Boston and the Diamondbacks..it's the Phillies.

[sonny10305]

SPeaking of the Phillies..I still have fond memories of the 09 World Series. If there's one team that irks me more than Boston and the Diamondbacks..it's the Phillies.

I am so with you on that babe, this year however the Phillies are not going to give much trouble to anyone. They are a team of ole tired players now not much of threat. They only thing that could keep them from a really bad year is that they still have outstanding pitching. The NL East is going to be a tough division with the Marlins, and Nats both having great years, and of course the Mets could surprise as well I Don't see Braves or Phillies doing much this year. And I see the Yankees spanking Boston
Scrub, sorry about the Phillies but the truth hurts sometimes sweetheart.

[gtru1981]

SPeaking of the Phillies..I still have fond memories of the 09 World Series. If there's one team that irks me more than Boston and the Diamondbacks..it's the Phillies.

How come u hate the D-Backs? Is it bc they beat the Yanks in 2001 loll?

In all honestly I am all for smaller market teams winning a world series.

I am not expecting much from Boston and Phillies this year, bc of all the hype in 2011 of them both heading into the world series I think both teams and their fans are riding low on their high horses.

Remember the Soxs are somewhat rebuilding. They have a new GM, a new manager, and Wakefield and maybe Varitek retiring and that loser JD Drew is gone. Its a end of a era in beantown and if they make Dustin the new captain I will barf!

Sorry Razor..just have to say one thing about a NY team. I am happy for AJ trade bc it be good for him. Not everyone can make it in NY, its a hard market and the pressure can eat u alive. I hope he does well with the Pirates! I thank him for 2009!

[gtru1981]

In the AL East you can't overlook those hard-charging Tampa Bay Rays!

Yes..the Rays are a very good team. LOVED how they elimated the Soxs to get the wild card in 2011....oh and my Evan Longoria how I heart him!

The thing that sucks about the Rays...they get no fan support!

[TheFireGod]

Oh I cant wait!

Nice to see Peña back at 1st base (though sad to see Kotchman, our hometown boy, go) and as always, the antics of the players and Maddon.

[Ninja108]

How come u hate the D-Backs? Is it bc they beat the Yanks in 2001 loll?
In all honestly I am all for smaller market teams winning a world series.

I am not expecting much from Boston and Phillies this year, bc of all the hype in 2011 of them both heading into the world series I think both teams and their fans are riding low on their high horses.

Remember the Soxs are somewhat rebuilding. They have a new GM, a new manager, and Wakefield and maybe Varitek retiring and that loser JD Drew is gone. Its a end of a era in beantown and if they make Dustin the new captain I will barf!

Sorry Razor..just have to say one thing about a NY team. I am happy for AJ trade bc it be good for him. Not everyone can make it in NY, its a hard market and the pressure can eat u alive. I hope he does well with the Pirates! I thank him for 2009!

It wasn't that they beat us..it was the absolute lack of class they showed after they beat us. That and for all the talks of "buying" championships,the 01 Diamondbacks and 97 Marlins were rent a team then dump them for a year.

[gtru1981]

So looks like Ryan Braun won with his 50 game suspension.

I know a lot of people feel different about this, but in all honestly I don't think he took the roids.

[Ninja108]

No they weren't.

Yeesh, I know you have a stunning lack of baseball knowledge related to all things not Yankees, but you could at least try getting this one right before appearing so sure of it.

I don't have to be sure about the Diamondback's lack of class towards the Yankees, I was in Arizona when they won it. Trust me,being happy about winning is one thing. Mocking your oppenents,their fanbase and everything else is quite another.

On your next point, Wayne Huizenga most certainly did gut the 97 Marlins after they won it all. He even admitted to that fact.
The 01 Diamondbacks are STILL paying off players from the 01 World Series and basically bankrupted themselves (which is what Jerry Colangelo was warned would happen) with the defered contracts to aging players. That's how they went from a World Series winning team to a 111 team loser in less then three years.
If people want to be angry at the Yankees "buying" championships,then they should have scorn for the 97 Marlins and 01 Diamondbacks as well.
After all,they took a page from George S's playbook(which stinks btw) in regards to how to go about it.

[gtru1981]

NINJA and RAZOR...do I have to call a time out on you two lol!

Anyways...so Razor, what u think about the whole Zimmerman thing and his contract? I didn't know he started with the Nats in 2005, thought it was later. You think he is going to do a Pujols and leave for more money?

[Ninja108]

You're right about the Marlins, but you're pretty effectively misrepresenting what the Diamondbacks did. You called it a "rental" team, yet they retained many of the same players the following year and didn't "dump off" players as you claimed. They even had a better regular season record in 2002.

Yes, they overspent in order to pay for a quality team (god forbid anyone pony up for good players - only the Yankees are allowed to do that), but their payroll wasn't even top 5 in baseball and they didn't even spend within $25 million of the Yankees.

Typical Yankee fan bullshit. You and your ilk always try to call out other teams for spending a fraction of what the Yankees spend in order to justify your team's drunken sailor habits.

I'm not calling the Diamondbacks out at all. They and the Marlins were fully within their rights to do what they did. And so were the Yankees,Red Sox and Phillies.
Yet no one said the Marlins or Diamondbacks were ruining baseball. No one said a word about how much $$$ the Angels,Tigers and Marlins spent this past season.
That's what I call the other teams out on.

[sonny10305]

So looks like Ryan Braun won with his 50 game suspension.

I know a lot of people feel different about this, but in all honestly I don't think he took the roids.

Possibly; but it could also be the he avoided suspension because his lawyers found problems in the way they collected the urine sample and sending it to the lab. Soooo Braun may have not been suspended because of a technicality that may or may not have had anything to do with the test itself. I'm just sayin

[Ninja108]

Possibly; but it could also be the he avoided suspension because his lawyers found problems in the way they collected the urine sample and sending it to the lab. Soooo Braun may have not been suspended because of a technicality that may or may not have had anything to do with the test itself. I'm just sayin

I think he took the roids,but here's the thing. MLB set up a protocol to follow,and it wasn't. People might be outraged but guess what,if this was a criminal case the judge would have done the same thing.
MLB can't tell players to follow the rules if they aren't willing to do it themselves.

[Ninja108]

It does appear the question on Zim has been answered,as they have signed a six year $100 million dollar extension with a full no trade clause.

[Ninja108]

*cue whiny rant about how no one claims the Nationals are buying championships*

Did I even say that? Why be a jerk? You can always put me on ignore if you'd like. But when I talk baseball,I have the RIGHT to talk about my team and the hypocrisy that is shown towards them.

[gtru1981]

I think he took the roids,but here's the thing. MLB set up a protocol to follow,and it wasn't. People might be outraged but guess what,if this was a criminal case the judge would have done the same thing.
MLB can't tell players to follow the rules if they aren't willing to do it themselves.

In all honestly I think a lot of them juice up but not to the extreme like with Bonds and all those guys..but theirs a few guys that I hold deep to my heart and I have no problem turning a check until they seriously screw up and Braun is one of them

[Ninja108]

Put you on ignore. That will allow this thread to hopefully get back on track.

[sonny10305]

Maybe this thread is going a little off the road here
Play nice guys lets have a group hug

[stateway6]

Daaaammmmmnnnnn, David Aardsma looks hot as a Yankee:



I mean, he's no Nick Swisher, no one else could be in my heart, but still, Yum.

[Ninja108]

There will be ten playoff teams this year. I like it,it's high time that the wild card teams were penalized.

[sonny10305]

There will be ten playoff teams this year. I like it,it's high time that the wild card teams were penalized.

I like it as well.
It’s pretty big news for all, teams but ya have to think it will be especially interesting in the NL East where most believe is going to be the most competitive division..
With teams like The Marlins, Nationals and of course the Mets with all that new exciting talent and lineups going up against the once mighty Braves and Phillies I an easily see three National League East teams in the 2012 playoffs. I have been sayin it all year this is gonna be one heck of a baseball season for the NL East. Can’t wait

[Ninja108]

The NL and AL east races should be very intresting,as will the AL West and NL Central.

[gtru1981]

The NL and AL east races should be very intresting,as will the AL West and NL Central.

I think alot of MLB teams are going to be interesting. Its going to be a crazy and exciting year!

The Marlins are now my favorite NL team!

[Ninja108]

The Marlins mo..get into the postseason via the Wild Card,win the World Series and then have a firesale to save $$$.
All the money Loria spent this past offseason was money he should have been forced by MLB to use long ago.

[gtru1981]

So 2012 marks a few important things in baseball history.

-The 100th anniversary of Fenway Park (home of the Red sox)

-Marlins new stadium will open (Marlins stadium)

-Houston Astros will celebrate 50 years of playing (orginally called the Colt 45s)

-New York Mets will celebrate 50 years of playing as well

[sonny10305]

Hey Yankees fans what are your thoughts about Andy Pettitte's return

[NYDan815]

as a diehard mets fan its gonna be a rough year, but im stoked for it to start!

im predicting a Tigers/Giants World Series won in 6 by Detroit

[gtru1981]

Hey, how fitting! That's how many games the Astros will win: 50. Or maybe they'll win 45 to commemorate the Colt 45s.

lol..sad but probally true!

[Ninja108]

At least the O's and Twins will take comfort in knowing they won't be the worst teams in the AL anymore.

[gtru1981]

At least the O's and Twins will take comfort in knowing they won't be the worst teams in the AL anymore.

Hey the Twins had a bad year...lets not write them out completly...Mauer/Morneau and the Twins need to stay healthy and get their shit together, plain and simple lol

[Ninja108]

Hey the Twins had a bad year...lets not write them out completly...Mauer/Morneau and the Twins need to stay healthy and get their shit together, plain and simple lol

I think Mauer will bounce back...Morneau on the other hand. He's never been the same since his concussion.

[sonny10305]

Mets killer Chipper Jones announced he is retiring after the 2012 season.
He's a Mets killer cause he has a .318 average with 48 homers and 154 RBIs in 812 career at-bats against the Mets. In fact his numbers playing against the Mets were so good he even named a son Shea because of his success at Shea Stadium.

Go ahead Chipper rub it in

[Ninja108]

Chipper Jones ranked number two on MLB network's list of team killers. He terrorized the Mets.

[gtru1981]

Hey, how fitting! That's how many games the Astros will win: 50. Or maybe they'll win 45 to commemorate the Colt 45s.

So Razor, i been paying alot of attention to both the Marlins and the Nationals. Alot of talk about these two teams and what i have seen i am very impressed with both.

I can actually see one of these two teams heading to the world series this year. I think the NL East is going to take a huge turn, with the Marlins and Nationals taking the one and two spot.

The Phillies can suck it and their glory days are over. Not impressed with the Braves either!

whoever said the Giants are are heading to the world series, sorry dont see it and i really dont see any other team in the NL taking it, the Nationals and Marlins are going all the way.

[Ninja108]

The Phillies still have the pitching..but at some point, the bats have to show up and I don't think the Phillies have it,nor do the Giants despite what SI seems to think.

[SeattleLove]

running on only 2 hours of sleep from the 3am extra innings first game of the season haha lets get on with game two!!

[gtru1981]

The Phillies still have the pitching..but at some point, the bats have to show up and I don't think the Phillies have it,nor do the Giants despite what SI seems to think.

They got lucky in 2010.. I don't expect them to win another world series in a long time.

[Ninja108]

They got lucky in 2010.. I don't expect them to win another world series in a long time.

The Giants were like the 01 Diamondbacks..stacked with aging players that knew how to win..and had the pitching to sustain them for at least one to three years.

[Ninja108]

The Dodgers got sold to Magic Johnson and his group of investors for $2 Billion dollars...wow!

[gtru1981]

The Dodgers got sold to Magic Johnson and his group of investors for $2 Billion dollars...wow!

i know!! Jesus...and McCourt bought them in 2004 for 430$ million dollars!

Makes me wonder how much the Yankees could go for if the Steinbrenner family sold them.

[Ninja108]

i know!! Jesus...and McCourt bought them in 2004 for 430$ million dollars!

Makes me wonder how much the Yankees could go for if the Steinbrenner family sold them.

THey said anywhere from 3 to 4 billion.

[gtru1981]

Makes me realize that we fans are lining the fat pockets of these owners a bit too much these days.

Yep..just waiting for the day when we be paying 30 bucks for a beer, 20 for a hot dog and your first born for a parking space.

Thats why i only go two times a year, bc its really expensive to go to a game. i tend to go more to minor league games here in CT. However my plan this year, is to visit Fenway Park (since i never been), but its 100 years old and i am a history dork.

i planning either this year or next to visit Nationals park, so i will be asking you questions

[Ninja108]

Watching the Yankees-Marlin game on tv..this park is flat out tacky.