WARNING!! It's the 2012 Annual Baseball Thread!! Open at your own risk!!
 

Don't talk to me about regular season games played in Japan that start at 3 am, are blacked out in the home team's market, and will be followed by additional exhibition games. Don't talk to me about opening night, even if it is in a brand new retractable-dome ballpark.

Give me Opening Day baseball, baby! We are scant minutes from the first pitch of the 2012 season.

The thread has gotten less and less attention over the last couple seasons, so if it's time to let it die out, I won't be offended. But it's here for whoever wants to comment on their favorite team's chances on getting the second wild card spot.

Play ball!

Go Sox!
 

Unfortunately, it looks like my White Sox will be having another mediocre season. However, as long as they finish with a better record than the cross-town rival Scrubs, I'll be OK with it.

Even though I haven't lived in the Chicago area for over 40 years, I have a White Sox license plate frame on my car and I use a photo of my youngest grandson in a White Sox t-shirt as the wallpaper on my computer. When I was a kid, I played shortstop and had a Luis Aparicio model glove. He was my baseball idol.

http://www.prosportsofficialteamsite...ogo_tan_sm.JPG

It's a good day, for even the Cubs are in first place.

I also will be working my first baseball games this evening after almost 9 years away. I have good timing on coming back. :D

More like the 700th or so pitch. ;)

My one and only contribution to the thread. I accidentally got a hotel room in Miami about a mile or so from the new Marlins baseball stadium, which I didn't realize had been built, and on Opening Night, which I did not know was scheduled for last night.

One cool thing is that we got to witness the pre-game fly over from the patio of Garcia's Seafood Grille.

So, was it nice and quiet in your room? :D

Sportswriter Bob Klapisch of the McClatchy-Tribune syndicate picks the Tigers to be the AL champs and the Phillies to win the NL. He also says Miguel Cabrera will be the AL MVP and Matt Kemp will win that award in the NL.

What do you guys think about his picks?

....and Stephen Strasburg pitched very well against them......and got NO run support again (is this a different yr or not?)

OK (OK!)
Blue Jays (Blue Jays!)
Let's....play....ball!

Hehe I lied, evidently the Cubs are already a half game back.

That's right. St. Louis won the 1st game played in the States. So season started yesterday.
Go YANKEES

+1

Can We Go 161-1 ???
 

My "Old Towne Team" certainly missed Jonathan Papelbon today. I wonder if they serve Popeye's Chicken, and Bud Lite, in the visitor's locker room at Comerica Park?

Is that a thinly veiled (as in no curtains) reference to the old SkyDome Hotel?

Woo hoo

Jays win 7-4 in the longest opening day game in history! :D

I am really surprised that the Canadian government allows the Blue Jays to play while the hockey season is still going on. Like who would watch a Blue Jay game when they could watch the Maple Leafs.

Unless you're being sarcastic, you clearly haven't been keeping up with the Leafs the past, oh, DECADE or so :D

Well the Marlies are playoff bound...

The Marlies are a better hockey team right now :D

Go Redbirds !!!!!!

I dare you to come up here and say that! Oh, you are? Never mind! ;)

OK, just for you --- Go Nationals.

Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Indians. Misery loves company, LOL.

MTD, Sr.

"Just a reminder, fans, comin' up is our 'Die-hard Night' here at the stadium. Free admission to anyone who was actually alive the last time the Indians won a pennant. "

Last time they won the Stanley Cup was in black & white. (Used to be a Blackhawks joke)

Maybe we need an annual hockey thread. Then I could tell you about the time I got to shake hands with Bobby Hull.

Time For Mariano Rivera To Join A Slow Pitch Softball Team ???
 

If the Yankees can lose another 161 games, then my Red Sox will have a chance to make the playoffs. Of course, with the added wild cards, everyone will have a chance to make the playoffs. Well, almost everybody. Maybe not the Royals, or the Mets.

One night last week, David Letterman's Top 10 was the "Top 10 Charities Under Investigation". One of them was the Mets. :D

Cubs to stop selling beer at Wrigley!
 

You know why?




Wait for it.




They lost the opener. :rolleyes:

Was it in black & white?:D

Rays are 1-0 after Rivera blew a save opportunity. Carlos Pena hit a grand slam and got the GW hit in the ninth in his return to the Rays.

Actually, he was wearing a suit and tie, so it pretty much was in black & white. :)

And, since this is really a baseball thread, I could also tell about how I "worked" with Billy Williams of the Cubs way back then, too.

My team is pathetic, but Sox Fans have an inferiority complex. They're more worried about what the Cubs do than the fortunes of their own team. Cub Fans don't give a **** about the Sox.

You know what's the best thing about going to a Sox Game?


You can find a seat that noone has ever sat in.

Another Sox joke.

What's the best complement you can give a women at a Sox game?????????



Nice tooth.

Ah. The Cubs. Not only was their last win in black & white, but it was not even a talkie.

How do you know that the toothbrush was invented in Arkansas?

Because if it had been invented in any other state, it would be called a teethbrush. :D

That's because the games are so exciting everyone stands. :rolleyes:


BTW - Sox fans are educated, so we know that "noone" is actually two words. ;)

.....and hope springs eternal as both the Orioles and Nationals are in first place. Gotta love the start of a new season!

Maybe you are both right. http://www.nndb.com/people/822/00002...oone-sized.jpg

Hey - that guy's a real peter. :p

First time the Sox have started back-to-back seasons at 0-3 since 1933. First time the Sox and Yanks have started 0-3 in the same season in about 50 years. Ugh. :(

Ah the Giants throw away a 6-0 lead and lose 7-6. Torture ball is back.

Bizarro Stat of the Day......
 

Tonight, against the Orioles, Yankee pitcher Freddy Garcia through FIVE wild pitches through six inning.......last year he had four all season. Cold night, slick ball? :confused:

washed up?

That's why they keep stats........
 

From the sound of the video, the 50 fans in attendance at the Oakland Coliseum were all ecstatic.

This Is Cool On So Many Different Levels ...
 

Cleveland Indians Report.
 

What a game last night with the Royals. Two hit batters, two bench clearing scrums, three ejections, and the Indians blow a 7 run lead (blowing the lead is typical of an Indians team). But wait, they acually ended up winning in 10 innings. Will wonders never cease.

MTD, Sr.

Check out the April 18th comic
 

:D

Adam@Home Comic Strip on GoComics.com

The Nats win another one-run game and have won all four of their series so far this season. An unthinkable 10-3.

Can we end the season now? Please?

How 'bout them thar Nats!! Wow, Nats & O's in 1st place!! :cool:
Could it be time for a new baseball cliche in DC - Washington - first in peace, first in war, AND FIRST in the National League East!!

4 straight wins for my Sox. They're turning it around!

Sadly, the Bruins got bounced in a Game 7 at home. Yeesh.

Just thought this thread needed a bump. I think the writing's on the wall when there's a perfect game and nobody comments.

Oh the shame.
 

The Royals broke their 12 game losing streak earlier this week by beating the Indians, :o.

MTD, Sr.

Dime A Dozen ...
 

Another one?

A a a ???
 

Are the Royals still in the American League? I thought that they got demoted to the International League?

How 'bout them thar Nats!!
 

Hey, where's my commission check from SI! Look at the title of the article that begins on page 46 of the April 30th issue.

Here we go. Longo is out for 4-8 weeks and Maddon has a banjo hitter at 3B. Good thing the Rays have solid SP and a guy in the bullpen who wears his hat crooked.

This is a story that Jurassic would have absolutely LOVED:

Red Sox Sign Mark Prior To Minor League Deal, Hope to Revive Once Promising Career - Boston Red Sox - NESN.com

Do you believe in miracles?
 

The Indians win again and are still in first place.

MTD, Sr.

While it's still early yet.......
 

I'm a Nats fan, so yes, yes I do believe in miracles.

Phils are coming to town......I have tix Saturday. N A T S!

Yeah ??? And Pigs Can Fly ...
 

Hey Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.: Don't get too excited. You probably read this in the newspaper, and newspapers have been known to make mistakes.

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/truey.jpg

Bad day for the Yankees. Mariano looks to be out for the season. He wasn't going to come back next year, but maybe if the rehab goes well, he'll come back to try to go out on his own terms. Either way, you just lost the best closer in history for at least 5 months.

On the other hand, it was a really good day for the Red Sox yesterday, b/c they didn't lose! (Of course, they didn't play. . .)

Billy:

I watched the game live on SportsTimeOhio.

MTD, Sr.

There's A Sucker Born Every Minute ...
 

Orson Welles' broadcast the War of the Worlds on live radio. I'm sure that Mark T. DeNucci, Sr. heard the original broadcast back in 1938. Didn't Geraldo Rivera open Al Capone's vault on live television?

Winner!
 

39K+ in the park. Beautiful day. Jason Werth"less" went yard. Great pitching by Geo. Good time!

Too many Philly fans at the game though! :o

Like a few extra home games for them.

O's vs Nats.....Beltway Series!
 

We've got some good baseball and big crowds in town for a change!

Nat's need some hitting in a hurry. Too many on the DL! They're fading.......

Any KC Royals or Cincinnati Reds fans here?

Go Nats!

Triple A ???
 

Are they still in the major leagues?

Reds have already put themselves back onto the map, and are off to another good start this season.

Not sure the Royals will ever compete for a division or wild card with the current ownership in place.

Don't look now, but my Sox are over .500 and charging! They may finish the season within 10 games of first!

Johann Santana throws the first no-hitter in Mets history!

......and the Orioles have dropped out of first place. Can the Nats be far behind?

Two tough divisions! (both LAST PLACE teams are OVER .500)

East Side, West Side, Everybody's Coming Down ...
 

A feat that these great pitchers never achieved in a Mets' uniform: Nolan Ryan, Tom Seaver, Dwight Gooden, Jerry Koosman, Tom Glavine, and David Cone. It's amazin'. Amazin'.

More than a few people will say that Santana didn't either.

And those people are idiots.

It's Still Amazin' ...
 

Sometimes you eat the bear, sometimes the bear eats you.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:8000113

Hopefully, not until the end of August. LOL!

Sorry Chuck......
 

Harper and the boys had a really good weekend.

Stupid Canadian Baseball ...
 

I can't believe that my Red Sox were swept by the damn Expos. Gary Carter, up in heaven, must be laughing his a*s off.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2762/4...708552c6_m.jpg

Go Naaaaaaaaaaaattttttttsssssssss!

Perfect game thrown by Matt Cain...first in San Francisco Giants' history.

Don't Hold Your Breath ...
 

Possible no hitter thrown by Met's R.A. Dickey to be announced.

With some great defense, but also with 14 strikeouts. That ties Sandy Koufax for most SOs in a perfecto.

I think it'll be tough to get MLB to overturn that scoring decision. You're asking them to retroactively award a no-hitter. I don't think that's the kind of thing Bud will want to do.

Sox bats woke up a little last night, but man, they just look bad almost every night. Even when they win one, you just shake your head. Could be a long summer.

BTW, anybody watch the Yankees on ESPN last night? They told the story of how Robinson Cano was named. His dad was a huge Jackie Robinson fan, but his mother didn't want him to be named anything to do with baseball. Apparently in the Dominican Republic, you have file official paperwork at a town office before a new birth is registered, etc. So with the mom still in the hospital after the birth, the dad snuck the name "Robinson" onto the official papers and filed them at the office. Mom was pissed, according to the story.

As I said to my wife last night, these are the types of plays that make a perfect game. Sure enough, they did. Blanco's catch was probably the defensive play of the year for the Giants.

We stayed up late in Houston to watch and I'm glad we did even if I am paying for it this morning. :o

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling ...
 

All three if my children were born prematurely, the youngest twelve weeks early, and all by emergency Cesarean section. Due to three previous miscarriages, my wife and I were hesitant to pick out names in advance for any of the three births, nor did we know the sexes of the babies. All three of the babies were born in tough shape, the littlest was less than two pounds, and all three had to be immediately baptized in the hospital. With my 100% Italian wife still "groggy" from the C-section anesthesia, it was up to me, only 50% Irish, to name all three babies. That's how Brian, Kathleen, and Shannon, were named.

I'll Be Here All Week Folks, Enjoy Then All You Can Eat Buffet ...
 

A pregnant woman was involved in a car accident and, while in the hospital, she fell into a coma. When she awoke days later, the woman noticed that she was no longer carrying a child, and asked, "Doc, what happened to my baby!" The doctor replied, "Ma'am, you've had twins! You're the proud mother of a handsome baby boy, and a beautiful baby girl. Also, you should know that while you were in a coma, your brother named the children for you." "Oh, no!" shrieked the woman. "Not my brother! He's not really all together, if you know what I mean!" The doctor replied, "Well, ma'am, your brother named your daughter Denise." "Oh, that's no so bad," smiled the woman. Then, hesitantly, she asked, "What's the boy's name?" The doctor grinned and said, "Denephew."

Sox are on fire! They're back to .500 and only 4 out of the wild card. Watch out, they're on their way, baby!

(Didn't I make this same post about 3 weeks ago? Eeesh :( )

Take It Off, Take It All Off ...
 

Just wait until Josh Beckett, Jacoby Ellsbury, Carl Crawford, Andrew Bailey, Chris Carpenter, Aaron Cook, and Rich Hill come off the disabled list. Then the Red Sox will actually be fielding a team that includes players that are old enough to shave, can hold a driver's license, can vote, and can legally drink adult beverages (but not with Popeye's chicken, and not in the clubhouse).

The Indians are in First Place!! The Indians are in First Place!! Tra la! Tra la! Tra la! :D

MTD, Sr.

The Indians won again tonight. Tra la, tra la, tra la, :D.

MTD, Sr.

Sox are still above .500, so we got that going for us.

Interesting trivia today. . . On this date in 1917, Babe Ruth was the starting pitcher for Boston against the Washington Senators. He walked the first batter of the game. Ruth argued that the the final pitch had been a strike and was ejected from the game. Reliever Ernie Shore replaced Ruth and retired the next consecutive 26 batters. The only base runner (the recipient of Ruth's walk) was thrown out trying to steal second. Shore essentially pitched a perfect game, but doesn't get credit for it, because he wasn't the starting pitcher.

Like Kissing Your Sister ???
 

It's better than talking about Bucky F***ing Dent, or Aaron F***ing Boone, but it still feels weird talking about Babe Ruth without adding an epithet to his name.

http://ts1.mm.bing.net/images/thumbn...c7661f5d1c3cf5

Bye-bye, Youk. Understandable, but sad. It was a great run.

White Sox acquire Youkilis from Red Sox | MLB.com: News

The Beginning Of The End ...
 

"I don't think he's as physically or emotionally into the game as he has been in the past for some reason." (Bobby Valentine, April 15, 2012)

I blame Bobby Valentine. He should have never said this aloud. He could have thought it, he could have said it to Youkilis behind closed doors, but he never should have said it to reporters. I believe that if Valentine had never said this, Youkilis would have been traded under very different circumstances, and his leaving would have been much more amicable.

http://ts2.mm.bing.net/images/thumbn...ae32a200461cb8

Red Sox up to 3rd place! Yankees lose two starting pitchers in one day. The only bad news for the Sox is that John Lester says he's feeling great :eek:

And for the first EVER, the Dodgers get shut out in a series of 3 games or more. They lost 8-0, 2-0 and 3-0 (AT HOME!!!) to the Giants.

how bout them Royales! swept in 3 by the cards, then sweep the rays! 5.5 out. very much alive in the week arse al central