The 2013 MLB season discussion thread

by Luke Thu 28 Mar 2013, 5:58 pm

First topic message reminder :

The bands are warming up, people are getting ready, the players anxious as next tues(2nd) major League baseball returns with the start of the regular season.

And some of the questions will be answered like. How will the Yankees fair without half there team?(sorry Kiwi), What will Toronto be like with a new team, coach, kit, pretty much everything? and converseley how will the Marlins do after there salary dump? Will the White Soxs recover from blowing there division after leading it pretty much all season? Are the Orioles a 1 season wonder? Can the Red Soxs improve from the last couple of years. Are the Giants on the verge of becoming a dynasty(2 world series in 3 years is a good start)?

Below is an over all very loose look at the divisions.

The East divisions in both confrences look intresting. in the AL at this moment any one of the 5 teams could win it, all will be fairly confident as what looks the most intresting division starts. in the NL, last years winners the Nationals have strengthened there rotation without really losing anyone. But the Phillies and Braves have both strengthed with experince during the post season. These 3 you have to fancy will win it.
In the Central divisions, the AL again looks fascinating. Like i said above how will the White Soxs bear after last season, Will Detroit shake of there world series blues, these 2 you would think are favorites. But both Cleveland and Kansas have been on the quiet building decent squads and could be in the shake.
The NL again looks like its Cincinnati's to lose, espically given that the Cardinals have lost Chris Carpenter a truely great pitcher.
The West Divisions are really about one city - Los Angeles. In the NL, the Dodgers big signings over the last few seasons next to step up, espcally given there rivals San Francisco's dominence the last few years. Arizona could be the wild card in this division with a compitent squad ready to pounce should the other 2 slip up.
In the AL, Anaheim have once again aquired a big signing, one that strenghthens there batting no end. But strangly let go of 2 pitchers, so will there rotation be any good to back up there batting. Last seasons division winners the A's have lost a couple of big players for them, but continue to churn out promising youngsters and players overlooked by others. And could Seattle upset the apple cart.

All these and more will be answered in the next 6 months.

by kwinigolfer Fri 31 May 2013, 1:39 pm

tiger,
4-game sweep. Not really as bad as it looks; Mets got otherworldly pitching from guys with lousy records and it was only a rotten start from Phelps that was truly dreadful.

But we're just not getting the hitting right now, especially with Wells and Hafner ice cold at the plate.

With this Yankee line-up, things are never as good as they look when we're winning, but not as bad as they look when we're losing.

Reports suggest the cavalry (Teixera and Youkilis anyway) will be in town tonight, but that might mean there'll be some hard decisions as to who gets sent down or released. Possibly Adams (who's played very well at third) and Brignac but you never know. I'd let Hafner go personally, and keep Adams around.

I reckon your Birds will hang around all year - that's what Showalter's teams do.

by Luke Sat 01 Jun 2013, 2:36 am

Kiwi,
See your winning 3-1 v the Red Soxs at the moment, were 5-3 down v Detroit.
I get what you mean, ever since I started following baseball its always been that way with the Yankees. Win a couple and they're the best thing since sliced bread, loss s few and its a crisis. Suppose that's the pressure of being a top if not the top brand in a sport. And if you consider the injuries you've had, to be up there you must be doing something right.
As for the O's, I'm quietly happy with our progress, we've continued on well from last season. Though our pitching has been as good, I still feel we're a work in progress.

by kwinigolfer Wed 05 Jun 2013, 5:49 pm

Encouraging return to action from Mark Teixera, a local Maryland boy for you tiger, though don't suppose that's much consolation to you!

I like Teixera, no bling, no posing, just hard-nosed baseball, a fabulous first-baseman who really stitches together the infield, and a true team man. On top of that, when he's hot, he's HOT!

"Matinee" to finish the Cleveland series gets underway in a few minutes, CC on the mound, and then the Yanks jet off to Seattle - and we invariably have a tough time with those pesky Mariners.

Boston going nicely at the moment, but Baltimore and Tampa also going well and not really losing any ground. I'd still expect Boston to go thru some tough times; the bottom third of their order is inexperienced and am not convinced by their bullpen. But defence is much improved on last year, Iglesias has a fabulous "glove".

The A's are red hot right now, Royals ice-cold.

Biggest intrigue right now is the MLB investigation into players' relationships with Biogenics with the spectre of 100-game suspensions being speculated for the likes of Braun and the diva known as ARod. Good riddance, hope that happens as it's high time the Yanks (and the press) got used to life without ARod who, after all, has been an ineffectual bit-part player now for two or three years.

by kwinigolfer Tue 11 Jun 2013, 2:36 pm

Highly competitive 14-innings feud between the Red Sox and Tampa's Rays last night. The obligatory "bench-clearing" brawl (where's the handbags grahic?) and two other-worldly, Jeteresque defensive plays from Pedroia, both of which saved the game for the Sawx.

Devastating defeat one would think for Maddon's Rays but both teams bankrupted their bullpens, especially Boston, and it'll take a while for both to recover.

All AL East teams playing well except Toronto - what's happening there I can't figure out.

Elsewhere, the Royals continuing their great run, and Reds and Cards proving that top organizations usually trump top dollars.

The season is warming up nicely!

by teassoc Mon 17 Jun 2013, 10:35 pm

Kwinigolfer, lot's of things have been wrong with Toronto - at times bad pitching, bad defence and bad hitting, sometimes all of them in the same game. April results were really bad. May's were a lot better whilst June's has been pretty good.

They have now won 8 out of their last 10 including a 4 game sweep of an awful Texas team so some signs of turning things round. Various players returning later this month, including Reyes, so second half of the season should be a lot better.

Big series of games against other AL East teams coming up will be a big test for them. Success against those teams could put Toronto right back in the mix, especially as a whole bunch of games versus weaker teams are set to follow.

by kwinigolfer Tue 18 Jun 2013, 3:19 pm

Good point tea, and another solid win last night.
Interesting double-header today between the Rays and the Sawx - hope they split! And hope they continue their brawling.

Looks like Teixera is headed back to the DL, but signs of promise that the Grandyman might be back soon - having both out really hurts the Yanks.

by Luke Sat 22 Jun 2013, 6:08 am

Bad loss to Toronto tonight, with the Red Soxs win puts us 2 games behind, 1,
.5 ahead of the Yankees.

Kiwi,
Agree about Teixera, hopefully he will be hot and help Davis ( who's having a career season so far), espically as Jones is suffering a dip after his start.
Also agreevwith your view if the east, think it will close up more come september.

by kwinigolfer Sat 22 Jun 2013, 7:37 pm

tiger,
Very much a feeling that the Orioles have all the tools in place to build a team that has a sustained (season-after-season) run at the top, always assuming that injuries take a normal, and not excessive a la Yankees, toll.
Buck is definitely seen as one of the very top managers - easy to forget now that he built the team ethic that Torre rode to so many years of Yankee success.

It'll be interesting to see how the Red Sox fare if Bucholz is out for a while - still not convinced they have the depth to make it through the proverbial "dog days" of summer.

As for the Rays, they have a seemingly bottomless pit of pitching, a bit like Yorkshire&Derbyshire cricket (more literally) and fastbowlers of generations ago, while Joe Maddon is another top manager.

Yankees starting pitching showing signs of fragility and only a great bullpen is baling them out. The hitting literally is not hacking it.

by teassoc Sat 22 Jun 2013, 11:20 pm

Jays fast turning things around. More to come as Reyes due back on Monday, with others shortly to follow. Problem looming for them is who to keep and who to send down.

What a difference May and June have been to April.

by kwinigolfer Sat 22 Jun 2013, 11:55 pm

tea,
Thing is, be careful what you wish for with Reyes. When he's good he's very, very good; when he's bad he's a cancer in the clubhouse.

Nice win for the Skanks today. Bats coming alive for once.

by teassoc Sun 23 Jun 2013, 11:41 am

I think 'momentum' is winning some of these games for the Jays, especially these last 2 games versus Baltimore. The kind of games they would have lost in April.

Let's see whether they can match (or even beat) their team record of 11 wins in a row.

Things seemed to suddenly start clicking for them in the home series against the Giants in May. Not really looked back since then. I was lucky enough to be at one of those games.

by Luke Sun 23 Jun 2013, 1:02 pm

That's true Teassoc,

espically the 1st game, down by 2 at the beginning of the 7th, an unlikely home run and a well manufactured winning run. That game in april and you'd have lost.But confidence gets you that win.
Just wish you'd stop beating the O's.

Its turning into a intresting east division, 6 between all the sides. Think that there will be plenty of twists and turns.

by kwinigolfer Sun 23 Jun 2013, 3:46 pm

Not to mention plenty of intra-divisional play on the next fortnight's calendar.

by Luke Thu 27 Jun 2013, 1:27 am

And no sooner does Teixiera return, then he's out again possibly for the season, Yankees injury curse for this season returns again.

Kiwi,
after we finnish this series against Cleveland, we play you at home, then we've got Cleveland and you again away. Could have a big Bering on the table with how close everything is.

by kwinigolfer Fri 28 Jun 2013, 1:57 pm

tiger,
Teixera's a big loss, at first base and batting behind Cano, protecting Robbie a little.
And our loss to Texas yesterday afternoon was a big loss also, great pitching from Phil Hughes who never seems to get run support when he pitches well. If Yankee bats don't wake up soon, it'll be a long summer.

Looking forward to playing the Orioles this weekend - there are no reinforcements coming to the Yankees so we really need Gardner, Ichiro and Cano to bring their bats to work, especially with hired guns Haefner, Overbay and Wells in a collective drought and no power at third base.

Boston are the Beast of the East right now, but still don't see it lasting, especially with Buchholz's immediate health being a doubt.

Interesting weekend in prospect.

by Luke Sat 29 Jun 2013, 12:32 am

Agree Kiwi,
Us against you, Toronto v Boston are massive games given how tight the division is.
Just looked and you're 1-0 up at the top of the 2nd. What makes our game intresting is that your bats are the weak link at the moment, snd our pitching is our weak link, if one gets it right they could go to town.

by kwinigolfer Sat 29 Jun 2013, 11:46 am

tiger,
Last night is typical of the sort of games a struggling team will lose; even got 11 hits but couldn't turn them in to runs. McLouth a free agent bargain!

Meanwhile, did you see the scores in the Cleveland / Chicago double-header? Indians win 19 - 10 in the first, 9 -8 in the second.
This edition of the Yankees don't score that many runs in a month!

Stuffing for Tampa but wish tea's Blue Jays would beat the Red Sox.

by Luke Sat 29 Jun 2013, 3:48 pm

Know what you mean Kiwi,
When we had a bad spell in may we quite often had 6+ hits, and a couple of times out hit our opponents but lost because we just couldn't get them around tge bases. It's like Teassoc said, when you have momentum and confidence you expect it to happen, when you don't it just dosn't happen no matter what you do.

Need Toronto to win against Boston like you say, but Boston at this moment are play fabulous winning baseball. Will be intresting to see if they can carry this on.

Have you seen the NL west, thats turning Iinto another very close division, far closer than I exprcted it to be.

by cherriesfna Sun 30 Jun 2013, 12:42 am

watching the mariner is borderline painful

by kwinigolfer Sun 30 Jun 2013, 12:14 pm

Terrible start for the Yankees last night, then it got worse. But pleased that Toronto dusted the Sawx.

tiger,
The NL East looks upside down compared with expectations - Giants vs Dodgers next weekend, time for San Francisco to make a statement you'd think.

by Luke Mon 01 Jul 2013, 10:04 am

A 3-0 series win against the Yankees:D (sorry Kiwi), puts the mighty O's into a excellent position, 3.5 games ahead of Tampa, but of course Boston won again, putting them 2.5 games ahead at the top.

Kiwi,
You feel that quite a few treams (both Los Angeles clubs, Giants, Reds etc), need to start making a statement otherwise there season could be over.
I meant to ask you, what do you think to the rise in inter-league games? I used to like it when it was in the same month and you played predomenatly division rivals in September. Not sure about the new format of inter league regularly during the season.

by kwinigolfer Mon 01 Jul 2013, 12:17 pm

Hi tiger,
A well-deserved sweeeeeeep of the Yankees and now all the good work of the first eight weeks of the season has been undone. Things could get worse before they improve. Fourth now, and teassoc will be breezing past us any moment.

Inter-League play? With the switch of Houston it's become unavoidable. Agree it's upset the focus of Inter-League play as something special, but not sure what they could do about it. I suspect Commish Selig, who I can't stand and has been awful for fans of baseball (but not for the owners) has had a hidden agenda towards merging the leagues. At the very least, still can't understand why he was allowed to move his Milwaukee Brewers from the AL to NL a few years ago.

On a happier note, great to see Pittsburgh enter July with the best record in baseball. Good management, pitching and defence trumps all (for the time being anyway).

by kwinigolfer Wed 03 Jul 2013, 3:06 am

Great to watch Homer Bailey's no-hitter.
And who threw the previous no-hitter? Homer Bailey of course!
Only about the third time in history that's happened.

by Luke Sun 07 Jul 2013, 2:02 am

Looks like you've got your own back for last weekend, leading the series 2-0 after your win tonight (despite US out hitting you).

Perhaps the one of the reasons the Red Soxs are on top is because they're the only consistent side in the AL east division.

by kwinigolfer Mon 08 Jul 2013, 3:19 am

Yanks paid the penalty for to little hitting, too little power this afternoon - good for the Orioles for attacking Mariano. I love the nucleus of the Orioles line-up but big question is "will Davis continue his power surge or will he burn out?".

Nice little run tho for New York and now Kansas City (and then the Twinkies) coming in and hopefully Sunday will be soon forgotten.

The Angels could do us all a favour by stifling the Sawx tonight.

All-Star break in seven days and then we can take stock of where we all are. Hopefully Jeter, Pineda and Granderson can return and A-Rod suffers a season-ending hip injury (or gets busted again).
Regardless, lots to play for during the height of summer.

by Luke Tue 09 Jul 2013, 1:59 pm

Typical, on a night when the Red Soxs got stuffed (well done Cherries), both the Yankees and O's lose as well.
And so out of nowhere Tampa are now up to 2nd, with a 9-1 record from there last 10 games.

by kwinigolfer Wed 10 Jul 2013, 1:17 am

If this lot goes down as suggested, the baseball season is turned on its head:

http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/9464246/ryan-braun-refused-answer-mlb-questions-biogenesis-clinic-sources-say

Ironically, the AL East will not be affected too much, but the AL West, NL Central etc will suffer a big impact.

Puts A-Fraud's career in limbo also, Brian Cashman already rubbing his hands with that.

by sodhat Mon 22 Jul 2013, 9:09 am

Lincecum back on the mound tonight against Cincinnati looking for consecutive no-hitters.

Disappointing last night. Couldn't build any pressure on the D-backs pitching and our relievers left us in a mess in the 8th.

by Luke Thu 25 Jul 2013, 2:16 pm

So as we enter the final straight, just a quick look to see where we are at in the divisions (only doing 10 games behind the leaders).

1st up, the AL won the all star game, meaning that the AL club will play games 1,2 6&7 at home.

NL
EAST- Well Atlanta (the team I picked to go all the way) arewtalking this division, having lead for most of the season, with the Phillies 8 games behind, and the Nationals struggling after last season 1 more game behind.
CENTRAL- St Louis are leading at the moment, though Pittsburgh are only 1.5 games behind (good to see the
carrying on from last season), and the Reds a futher 3.5 games behind.
WEST- The big news is the Dodgers are top after tearing it up there last 10 games. The other big news here is that Arizona (1.5) & Colorado (5.0) are ahead of last years world champions the Giants (7.0). But if memory serves me right, it was at the end of the season last year that the Gaints finally started to find form regularly.

AL
WEST- Oakland are top, after again playing effective winning baseball. Then comes surprisingly Texas, who are only 3.5 behind despite getting rid if there top stars post season. The big spending Angels have been poor.
CENTRAL- Is again between 2 clubs, with last years world series losers Detroit leading from the fast improving Indians by 3.5
EAST- Where consistency seems to be the key, as in keeping it. Boston who have been top most of the season are still top, But only 0.5 ahead of Tampa (who have come from nowhere to be one of the most consistent/best sides in baseball at the moment), My Orioles are 3.5 games behind, losing bad games but generally performing well. Kim's Yankees are next 7 games behind, in a season were injuries have ravaged the Yanks. And Teassoc's Blue Jays are last 12.5 behind in a disappointing season for the Jays (sorry Tea).

by Luke Thu 25 Jul 2013, 2:19 pm

Sorry, That's Kiwi's Yankees, auto correct strikes again.

by Luke Fri 26 Jul 2013, 4:48 am

Looks like Alfonso Soriano is heading back to the Yankees, with the deal 99% certain at this moment.

by Luke Sat 27 Jul 2013, 2:18 pm

Finally Boston are of the top of the AL east, 0.5 games behind the Rays following last night's loss to the Orioles, and Tampa's win against the Yankees.

by kwinigolfer Tue 30 Jul 2013, 7:32 pm

Blimey, Go away for a couple of weeks and things turn upside down:

Tampa's consistency is proving to be an irresistable force.
Are Boston starting to wobble? Big series vs Seattle this week - extraordinary that Ortiz is not cooling his heels in Selig's pokey.
Orioles too resilient to go away for longer, but need a good week this week against the Houstons.
Yanks just not getting any hitting: Jeter back and in his first at-bat clobbers the team's first HR since the All-Star break, the first by a right-hand bat for five weeks. Grandyman back this weekend though!
Toronto might bounce back but not far enough in what must be seen as a desperately disappointing season for them.

The best of the A.L. Central are still an inconsistent lot, Verlander a shadow of previous years, Francona still not sure exactly what he's got in Cleveland and KC on a nice run - but is it sustainable?

Pleased to see the A's continue to prove that a huge payroll will usually be trumped by pitching, defence and a great team ethic.
Texas folding in summer's dog days as they always used to, and with the spectre of their most potent offensive force being banned.

Atlanta and Saint Louis seem to go on their serene way, but the Phillies are disintegrating, on and off the pitch. Young could be on his way back to Texas and Papelbon is trying hard to make himself persona non grata.

Can Pittsburgh weather the loss of closer Grilli, and: will Cinci rebound from their Dodgers duffing?

What about 'dem Dodgers? Something like 25 wins in 31 games is pretty sh1t hot and only Arizona seem to have the balls to stick with them. The Giants at the White House yesterday and Pres Obama sees them rebounding - maybe he sails a glass-bottomed boat as it's difficult them coming back, despite last year's expoits.

In the immediate future, we have the Biogenesis scandal hovering over A-Rod, Cabrera, Colon and Cruz; Wednesday's trading deadline; and my Yanks starting a series against favourite son Don Mattingly's Dodgers. Crucial series.

by Luke Wed 31 Jul 2013, 1:06 pm

We somehow managed to win against the Astros last night, didn't play well but a wins as a win, and as per usual we win, so does everybody else (apart from the Yankees, sorry Kiwi).

Couple of Moves-
BOSTON -have acquired big, in getting Pitcher Jake Peavy.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS- get another all star closer in Brain Wilson(bet Giants fans love this).
OAKLAND\ANAHEIM ANGELS- have traded between themselves, the A'S getting infielder Alberto Callaspo, the Angels getting 2nd Baseman Grant Green.

The trade/signing ends at 4pm (us time, 9pm here, if eastern time).

by Luke Wed 31 Jul 2013, 11:30 pm

A couple more deals,

SAN DIEGO PADRES/ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
Pitcher Ian Kennedy has joined the Padres, with Reliever Joe Thatcher, minor league pitcher Matt Stites and a draft pick heading to the D'Backs in return.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS\HOUSTON ASTROS
The ROYALS have got outfielder Justin Maxwell, with the Astros getting minor league pitcher Kyle Smith in return.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES/HOUSTON ASTROS
The O's have got pitcher Bud Norris, with Houston gettin
g outfielder LJ Hoes, pitcher Josh Hader & a draft pick in return

Happy with that, as with Feldman joining a few weeks ago really strengthens our pitching, just need the bats to start up again..

by kwinigolfer Thu 01 Aug 2013, 1:12 am

Very happy with the Yanks doing nothing. Orioles strengthen, good for them.
No certainty that Brian Wilson will be fit enough to play effectively for the LAD.
Wonder why the D'backs gave up on Kennedy after his success a year or so ago?

by Luke Fri 02 Aug 2013, 5:49 am

Did the Yankees need to do anything though Kiwi? Some of the injuries will be returning, not out of the division by a long shot, and even if they miss out the experience the younger players have got will stand them in good stead.

Happy the O's have strengthened the weakest part, good solid signings will help this and next year, and take some pressure off the likes of Hammel who's been poor.

Really don't get the Dodgers signing Wilson, still injured, and not going to be as good as he was for the Giants in 2010.

by cherriesfna Fri 02 Aug 2013, 11:17 am

I give up!

by kwinigolfer Fri 02 Aug 2013, 12:22 pm

I gave up last night too, cherries. Crashed while Boston was down 7-1, thinking the Yanks would gain half a game. Mortified at this morning's result.

tiger - Agreed, but the preference not "to do anything" in the past hadsn't stopped them making bonehead signings. As it is, it looks as if they've got a Que Sera Sera attitude to the rest of the year - maybe we'll get hot and squeeze in to the Play-Offs, but more likely not, and we're not going to chase it.

Granderson back this weekend, and hopefully A-Rod off to the pokey to serve his lifetime ban in solitary.
Big reduction in playing time now due for Vernon Wells and wouldn't be at all surprised to see him released. Thought he was a really good, no risk acquisition, but the hits have dried up after such a promising start.

Hope Baltimore don't go away, confident that Buckwalter will keep them competitive to the bitter end.

by kwinigolfer Mon 05 Aug 2013, 7:23 pm

Looks like the Yanks are pretty much toast as far as post-season ambitions are concerned, four straight losing series since the All-Star break and now, just to compound things, it's looking like Rodriguez is hell-bent of appealing his suspension and showing up for the Yankees at the White Sox this evening.
Who knows what he's done lately to justify a place in the team but it sounds as if Jeter is revisiting the DL.

Everyone else associated with the Biogenesys fiasco seems to have accepted suspensions, incl Jhonny Peralta, Nelson Cruz, Cervelli and Montero. Not sure what Colon's status is.

by Luke Tue 06 Aug 2013, 11:22 pm

We've also been really struggling since the all star break, and are no out of the wild card placing, Tampa still on top form (along with the Dodgers), but the Red Soxs still just about holding them off.

And the 1st division that's pretty much over is the NL east, with Atlanta 13.5 games up on the next team the Nats, 17 on the Phillies and Mets. Miami just never got started.

by Luke Thu 08 Aug 2013, 1:21 pm

And suddenly we're winning, on a streak of 2. And Tampa on a losing streak of 2, really hard to see anyone but the Red Soxs winning the division, just because they've been consistent pretty much all season, though we can still hope that !they crash and burn.

Speaking of which Detroit are on winning run of 11 games, but that's not the best as Atlanta's is 13.
These 2 for the world series?

by Luke Tue 13 Aug 2013, 10:45 pm

So know is the time that teams really need to step up, as apart from the AL east & West, and the NL Central, most of the divisions seem to be tied up.

Tonight,tomorrow & Thursday see's a big one at Busch Stadium as the St Louis Cardinals entertain the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 3 game series at the top of the NL west Division.

by Luke Thu 22 Aug 2013, 1:55 am

With the season about a month & 1/2 away from finnishing and the play offs starting,about 1/2 of the 6 divisions in MLB are pretty much over

The AL Central is Detroit's to lose. The same with the NL west, were the white hot Los Angeles Dodgers (arguably the best side in baseball at the moment) are still tearing it up. The AL east is virtually over with Atlanta over 10 games ahead of the nearest challenger.

Of the other divisions, the NL central looks very exciting, with just 3.5 games separating the top 3 sides, which at the moment is Pittsburgh then St Louis 1.5 games behind then Cinncinati 3.5.
The AL west is between 2, with the surprising Texas Rangers top 2 games ahead of Oakland.
As for the AL east, Boston as they have done for most of the season still lead, The consistent & impressive Tampa Bay are now 0.5 games behind. You tend to feel that my Orioles (6), and Kiwi's Yankees (7), while not completely out of it, won't be challenging those 2 with an incredible run. And given how both have lacked consistency over the season, this is along shot.

So really, 3 top of divisions and 4 wildcards to play for. Those should be interesting to watch, as are the Dodgers and Braves (which I hope is the NL championship game as it would be a fantastic series, hopefully). Another NL world series win.

by kwinigolfer Thu 29 Aug 2013, 11:52 am

tiger,
Off to Brooklyn for a few days, US Open Tennis on Friday (hope to see Murray) and Yanks vs your Birds on Saturday.
Looking more and more sas if the infernal Red Sox are going to leave New York and Baltimore in the dust, but no harm in hoping for the September Swoon of their last two years.

Agree about your assessment of the rest; but injuries and lack of depth have caught up with our two favourites while Boston disappoointingly defies gravity.

Too bad - hope the Rays keep up the pressure!

by Luke Fri 30 Aug 2013, 3:25 am

Agree Kiwi, plus the lack of consistency just when we start a run we lose stupid games. We've been out of form since the all star game, injuries at the wrong times have ruined your season.
And Tampa are even falling behind, it really is Boston's to lose, though like you say hopefully they will continue there September wobbles.

Out the others Only the NL Central is looking interesting at the moment, now Texas is finding momentum and pulling away from the A's.
Hope you enjoy the weekend Kiwi, and the game is exciting (with us winning of -course).

by Luke Sun 01 Sep 2013, 2:18 am

You enjoy the game Kiwi,
given that you won 2-0, and have also overtaken us in the division, I suppose it's been a good Saturday.

by kwinigolfer Mon 02 Sep 2013, 12:28 pm

Counter-balanced I suppose by a devastating collapse on Sunday!

We saw a really clean game, fine pitching from both Nova and Marty Feldman, and some good defensive plays by the Yankee infield.

Only second time at the new Yankee Stadium; once you (I anyway) get over the extortionate prices, everything there is absolutely first class, and we were lucky with the result also.

Both O's and Yanks still clinging to wild card dreams, but hate to see Boston so far ahead.

Followed by that shambolic implosion on Sunday though.

by Luke Wed 04 Sep 2013, 3:52 pm

Glad you enjoyed it, got to say that I personally prefer pitching duels over hitting games.

Heard Yankee Stadium was very expensive, I don't think I will ever go though, because I'd spend to much time looking over the road, wishing I was/had gone there.

by kwinigolfer Fri 06 Sep 2013, 2:17 pm

Good results for Baltimore last night, but The Sandman's castle was hit hard!
Now the Yanks are hitting, the pitching is going wobbly.

The old Yankee Stadium had an atmosphere all of its own, all gone now of course. The new one is a little antiseptic but a first class sports experience nevertheless. Still haven't made it to Camden Yards - one day, I hope.

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