MLB 2012

Albert Pujols  .196 BA, .239 OBP, .271 SLG, 0 HR, 5 RBI
 
Didn't see that one coming. I bet the folks in STL are smiling. 

36 years old + coming off down year + new league = oh crap. Obviously he'll wind up with very good numbers, and it's too early too call it a bust on a 10 year deal, but did anyone seriously expect him to be THE Pujols of old? Ever in this contract?

portnoy311


36 years old + coming off down year + new league = oh crap. Obviously he'll wind up with very good numbers, and it's too early too call it a bust on a 10 year deal, but did anyone seriously expect him to be THE Pujols of old? Ever in this contract?

Pujols is not 36 years old. He is in his early thirties. 32 I think. Can you imagine them giving him a 10 year deal that would end when he is 46? No chance.

He saying that Pujols ain't 32. Pujols probably believes he's 32, but others have their doubts.

I actually read an article last week about how some teams wouldn't sign Pujols because of his age possibly being an issue. When I get home from work, I'll try to find it.

It's not really a surprise that people would question his age. Latin players have been forging their documents consistently since they started having scouts down in Latin America. The MLB only recently started to crack down on it. When Pujols came here, it was standard operating procedure to have older players forge their documents to say they were 16. For whatever reason, 16 was the magic age to be if you were a prospect. 
 
All that aside, I never thought Pujols would be this bad to start the year. I definitely thought the Angels made a terrible deal and would get killed on the backend of that contract. I certainly didn't expect him to be head and shoulders above the rest and be the best player in the game like he was during his prime. But considering his numbers last year and the fact that he broke his wrist, I was definitely expecting .300, 30+ HR, and 100 RBI. He could obviously still do that, but it's just surprising to see him struggling so mightily.  

Yeah, definitely what I meant. Thanks guys. I thought about posting his age as something random like 47 to make it obvious what I was getting at. I have no doubt Albert thinks he is 32 but it's become more readily apparent he's 3 or 4 years older than that. His career arc - peak  and decline - historically match a player 3 or 4 years older. 
 
I agree I never thought he'd be THIS bad. But remember he started off last year pretty badly as well. And I was never impressed with his answers. He always just said stuff like "My numbers will be there." And when got his average around to .280 or so - "You know how many players would love to hit .280?" Uhh... I don't know Albert, but most of those guys aren't the type to be offended at only being offered $100 Mil. He murdered the end of the season to even get close to hitting the .299 he did. To the tune that you can't count on him doing that every year for the rest of his playing career. Add that to the downward trend his career has been facing the past 3 years, a new league, and the age questions that is a historically bad contract.
 
 
 
 
I'm sure I'll be saying the same about Prince in 5 years due to his weight, and age at that time. But at least he has a few years that they'll be getting what they expected, hopefully.

I'm watching the game via online stream. FOX has it blacked out in my area. Even though I literally have no way to watch it. I've posted this many times, so I won't go back into it. But this is ridiculous. I have a 3 day old LED LCD 1080p TV and I'm forced to watch a heavily pixelated stream on it. Makes a whole hell of a lot of sense.

LOL I'm doing the same thing. Mets V D-Backs? No thanks.
 
At least Mad Max is pitching with his good eye today. 

Scherzer looks filthy. It's like it's Drew Smyly out there!!!!

Anyone remember when Valverde was good? Anyone remember when our pitchers were allowed to get W after pitching a great game? Anyone remember when this offense was supposed to be good and put up more than 2 runs a game!!!??? What the fuck?
 
 
We can't rely on walk offs all the time... c'mon guys...

portnoy311


Yeah, definitely what I meant. Thanks guys. I thought about posting his age as something random like 47 to make it obvious what I was getting at. I have no doubt Albert thinks he is 32 but it's become more readily apparent he's 3 or 4 years older than that. His career arc - peak  and decline - historically match a player 3 or 4 years older. 

I agree I never thought he'd be THIS bad. But remember he started off last year pretty badly as well. And I was never impressed with his answers. He always just said stuff like "My numbers will be there." And when got his average around to .280 or so - "You know how many players would love to hit .280?" Uhh... I don't know Albert, but most of those guys aren't the type to be offended at only being offered $100 Mil. He murdered the end of the season to even get close to hitting the .299 he did. To the tune that you can't count on him doing that every year for the rest of his playing career. Add that to the downward trend his career has been facing the past 3 years, a new league, and the age questions that is a historically bad contract.




I'm sure I'll be saying the same about Prince in 5 years due to his weight, and age at that time. But at least he has a few years that they'll be getting what they expected, hopefully.

I want to think that perhaps Pujols is suffering from whatever bit Dan Uggla last year. Dan put himself under a lot of stress trying to prove he was worth the contract he singed before the season started. He seemed to do worse the harder he tried. He then had that 30+ game hitting streak and finished the season off pretty well. 
 
I think Pujols needs to sit the bench for a couple of games and try and take some of the pressure off himself. That team is too loaded with bats to not succeed. Someone on that team needs to get on a good streak and pump everyone up. Pujols needs to realize (in case he doesn't) that he's not meant to be a savior for that team. Start having fun again everything will fall in line. Oddly enough I haven't heard anyone else compare his slump to Uggla's. 
 
I wonder if the Angles will do anything crazy around the trade deadline.

Looks like it's going to be another crazy one in Colorado... tied up 8-8 in the 6th.
 
 

Your player almost killed one of my people!

portnoy311


Your player almost killed one of my people!

I wasn't even sure what happened at first. Must have been quite the weird angle. I hope there ok.
 
Did you happen to catch that shot by Heyward that went foul? I couldn't tell if it went over the foul pole and foul or what... 

I'm watching at home, I'm not actually at this one, although I think my older brother is, I'll have to ask him later. From the Rockies feed it was really hard to tell. Their camera was slightly on the 1st base side so it was not a clear view. From their perspective it looked to be over the foul pole. I really thought it was gone. However it did land quite a bit foul, more than I thought it would from the natural hook of it. And if you watch a few fans were acting as if it was very very obviously foul and pointing in the foul direction nonchalantly, not like a passionate fan trying to persuade people.
 
 
I will say - as much shit as we give umps, and sometimes rightfully so (as in the worst call ever made when Helton was 3 feet of the bag but the runner was called out a few days ago), they are trained to be as good as humanly possible at recognition and viewing small detail. 5 of them in a room staring at multiple replays only focusing on fair or foul will almost never get the call wrong. So basically what I'm saying - I thought it was gone. I was just about sure of it. But I do trust the umps when Selig allows them actually use replay. When it's for or against my team. (And just in case this wasn't clear from my years of post - I do like the Rockies due to my proximity to where I currently live, but they are far from "my" team. I don't think I have to say who that is - and who I have much deeper ties to.) 

Honest question - which I feel like I can only ask the MLB thread. JV in my avatar was a screenshot I did myself while I was watching on my laptop. It is definitely one of my favorite JV shots - Miggy just jacked one in a very very tight game to secure a win for JV - so I want it to stay my avatar. I'm the kind of guy who likes subtle ridiculousness. The idea of the photoshopped Santa hat being on his head throughout the year is actually pretty funny to me, because it is so petty and stupid. It's May and for people not in this thread my avatar is a baseball player wearing a Santa hat in the dugout celebrating randomly. Should I try to resize the original file again, or keep the ridiculous Santa hat??!

Something about it must bother you. If that's the case then change it so your 100% happy with it.

Look at mine and then say to yourself ( in his voice ) "just delivering the goods"

Delmon Young is fucking worthless. Seriously, why is this guy still on the team?!!? Why are we giving him 6 Mil?!!? GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. If a division rival is willing to give you a guy for literally nothing that should be a red flag. DROP HIM NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dunn is officially over last year. He and Peavy seem to be back in form. Which is good in that they're known to be some of the better people in the game. Bad because they're in the AL Central. I'd like it more if they were tearing up the NL still...

Chris Davis, the O's DH for the game, is now pitching v . the Bosox in the 16th. I started watching in the 10th. I have no idea why. As I'm typing this he has 1 K and a lazy fly ball. 2 down, Byrd up. He's featuring a 90mph fastball and an 83mph change.

And after reaching on an error by Betemit, Byrd tries to score on a ball hit to the wall. He is thrown at home by a few feet. This is turning into a bad joke. Can't even score on the DH. THE GUY WASN'T EVEN PLAYING THE FIELD! 17th here we come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
So do the O's lose the DH now? I guess it doesn't matter since Davis IS the DH, but we're going to see a pitcher bat now if it gets to his turn? Interesting...
 
 
 
lol Darnell McDonald is pitching for Boston. Battle of the position players. Love it. If you have mlb.tv, I suggest turning this on for the hell of it. No idea when you'll see this again. A player who started in the field is going to get a W in an AL East game. Love it.

Before the season started, I predicted Adam Dunn would hit 40+ homeruns.  He's on pace so far.  Hopefully he keeps this up because I've got money on him!

Chris Davis: Five K's at the plate (and 0-8 total), but he got two on the mound, including Adrian Gonzalez.

Finally have had a chance to watch a little Bryce Harper.
 
This kid is the real deal.  Of course he's amazingly talented, but he hustles like no one I've seen seen Rose was young.  Sure, he's brash, and cocky, but he's backing it up, too.

The Weekend That Was
 
Starts with the Yanks, goes elsewhere for half #2.

Bails


Finally have had a chance to watch a little Bryce Harper.

This kid is the real deal.  Of course he's amazingly talented, but he hustles like no one I've seen seen Rose was young.  Sure, he's brash, and cocky, but he's backing it up, too.

His steal of home.
 
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/ga...asmlb_1&mode=video
 

I like why Hamels beaned Harper. Also, I like what the Angels did when poopholes hit his first homer.

What did they do. And what reason did Hamels give?

Guess who's back...back in town...
 
FISTER GETS THE START TONIGHT!!! Pleaaaaaaaaaaaaaase be good and don't have any remnants of the injury.

Yup. And he's facing his old team, which is a great offense to face in your first game back. His injury wasn't serious, and he should be fully recovered. It wasn't like he broke anything, he should be totally fine. Our #2 is back! And Porcello and Scherzer both had good starts last time out. Either that means they're due to be shittastic next time or they're going to have solid seasons from here on out. I could see it going either way. But the rotation is starting to look quite a bit better than it did just 2 weeks ago.

Rane


What did they do. And what reason did Hamels give?

Torii Hunter got everyone in the dugout to go into the club house after Pujols' HR, so when he went in to the dugout to celebrate, no one was there.  Pretty funny.
 
I'm not aware of any reason that Hamels gave, but he fully owned up to beaning him intentionally, which I give him credit for.
 
To be clear, I'm not a fan of the beaning, as there really was no reason for it except for some sort of "initiation" BS.
 
But, if Hamels is punished and Zimmerman isn't (Zimmerman beaned Hamels in his next at-bat), then it's clear that Hamels isn't being punished for throwing at someone but for actually being honest about it.  That's bullshit.

They were talking about that on sports radio today. Saying how most of the time, everyone knows the beaning was on purpose, but the pitcher will say the ball got away from him or something and nothing is done. Because Hamels is being honest about it and acknowledged it, he's going to be punished.

Eh, I wish it was removed from the game altogether. But Zimmerman actually hit the guy who plunked his 19 year old teammate. I'm more ok with that. Especially since he did it below the waist, Hamels wasn't in risk of being injured, and again it was actually Hamels that was being retaliated against so it at least meant something. 
 
 
It's all ridiculous. All it takes is one freak injury from one of these things and an entire career could be lost for something so stupid and petty. Just imagine if Weaver actually did nail Avila in the head... Or in this case - Hamels took it off the knee or directly off the front of the shin, etc. even safe beanings aren't perfectly safe. It's all just stupid.

I'm a big fan of stupid. Gives me plenty to talk about.

Thanks Phillie for taking one from Washington...
 
So Hamels purposely hits Harper and Rizzo has diarrhea of the mouth because of it... The next series against these two teams should be interesting.
 
Beachy only gave up 2 runs at Coors field and the Braves got their first sweep there since 2003. 
 
I'm still on yesterday apparently.

Bails

Rane


What did they do. And what reason did Hamels give?

 Torii Hunter got everyone in the dugout to go into the club house after Pujols' HR, so when he went in to the dugout to celebrate, no one was there.  Pretty funny.

 
I remember seeing the same thing done in Atlanta on 4/20/10. It was orchestrated by Tim Hudson. Was it his idea originally, I don't know. Check it out, Nate's Walk-off against them guyers
 
You have to watch his expression(s) while he's running the bases for it to be funnier...

LOL! Good stuff.

BigBrainBrad


Thanks Phillie for taking one from Washington...

So Hamels purposely hits Harper and Rizzo has diarrhea of the mouth because of it..

 
I don't blame Rizzo at all - Harper is as much "the franchise" as any player in history.  Their whole future is based around that kid and Strasburg.  Add Werth's broken wrist, and I'm sure Rizzo wasn't exactly in the best mood.