The 2012 MLB Thread

[TomAz]

Biggio and Piazza are clear no-brainers.

Agreed, but not necessarily this year. There are a lot of HOF voters who are very reluctant to give first ballot yes votes.

[Grandma]

if jack morris and lee smith are snubbed again then I could really give a fuck

[Miroir Noir]

Agreed, but not necessarily this year. There are a lot of HOF voters who are very reluctant to give first ballot yes votes.

True. 2 or 3 percent of these BBWAA idiots didn't even vote for Ripken and Gwynn as first ballot HOFers.

[HotHamWater]

I would vote for:

Bagwell
Biggio
Bonds
Clemens
McGwire
Piazza
Raines

I think I'd vote for everyone on your list except McGwire. Lee Smith would also get my vote.

Agreed, but not necessarily this year. There are a lot of HOF voters who are very reluctant to give first ballot yes votes.

I hate that shit that the voters pull. Either a guy is a Hall-of-Fame player, or he isn't. This first-ballot shit is stupid.

if jack morris and lee smith are snubbed again then I could really give a fuck

I have fond memories of Morris pitching that Game 7 gem against the Braves in '91, but I don't think he's a HOF pitcher. As I mentioned above, though, I'm with you on Lee Smith.

[Geno_g]

I dug this... If he is still doing this I would love to meet him and get a autographed ball from him...

[Miroir Noir]

[Miroir Noir]

[paulb]

Fake.

[Miroir Noir]

Ha I had assumed as much. The whole thing was funny though, second only to the Post's classic "Stray Rod" page.

[Gribbz]

"Lining your cat's litterbox with the NY Post would be redundant."

[buddy]

Holy crap, Hamilton to the angels.

[unit300021]

I don't get it, the Angels are already so stacked at outfield. I like it but isn't the outfield the reason why they let Hunter go? It's probably just to rival the dodgers and there money spending spree.

[buddy]

It would seem they need more pitching, since losing out on Greinke. Now it just seems they're trying to compete for big stars with the Dodgers.

[unit300021]

I wouldn't say they have bad pitching. If Garrett Richards pitches to his promise then it looks like he will be an ace in a few seasons. The angels biggest hole right now is third base. I would have liked to seen the money go there. Trout, Kendrick, Pujols, Hamilton, Trumbo, Morales is fucking solid back to backs.

[paulb]

Damn Angels, I was sort of hoping Yankees would grab Hamilton somehow, but they arent spending at all this off season. Weak.

[roboticwaltz]

I suspect a trade involving Bourjos and/or Trumbo is afoot, otherwise I don't get it.

[Miroir Noir]

Damn Angels, I was sort of hoping Yankees would grab Hamilton somehow, but they arent spending at all this off season. Weak.

I'm happy we didn't. I wish we would get back into the idea of resigning Swish, but signing Hamilton for his mid '30s wouldn't have helped the Yanks' structural problems.

And for what it's worth, my view of the Yankees' offseason austerity is less that they want to avoid the post 2014 luxury tax for the sake of savings alone, and more that they may be doing so with an eye to selling the team in a few years at a point when they can minimize long term payroll commitments and luxury tax payments for a potential buyer. I think George's kids saw how much the Dodgers sold for and are waiting to cash in.

[unit300021]

Damn Angels, I was sort of hoping Yankees would grab Hamilton somehow, but they arent spending at all this off season. Weak.

I actually like the fact that the Yankees are going the one year contract route. We don't need to be giving out long term big money contracts at the moment.

I think George's kids saw how much the Dodgers sold for and are waiting to cash in.

I don't doubt this for one second. If the dodgers went for 2 billions the Yankees will go for a minimum 5 billion.

[SepaGroove]

The Angels just won the AL West with the Hamilton move. Their lineup is gonna be so fucking stacked.

What remains to be seen is if they have the pitching to advance in the playoffs.

[Miroir Noir]

The Angels just won the AL West with the Hamilton move. Their lineup is gonna be so fucking stacked.

What remains to be seen is if they have the pitching to advance in the playoffs.

I like all those kids in Oakland a lot. Winning the hot stove isn't everything.

[GuyInTucson]

I hate the Indians front office.

That is all.

[HotHamWater]

Are you that big of a Choo fan? I don't mind them trading for a good young pitching prospect.

Unless you were expecting them to make a play for Josh Hamilton. In which case, you're delusional.

[GuyInTucson]

Oh, no, I really don't mind the Choo deal nor did I believe they could go after Hamilton. I just see free agent movement in general and remember the Fox Sports interview with Mark Shapiro after they hired Francona where Shapiro basically stated he doesn't believe in spending money in free agency. He hired Francona under the pretense that he can win with what they have.

[SepaGroove]

I like all those kids in Oakland a lot. Winning the hot stove isn't everything.

I know. And Oakland has a solid team. But the Angels are going to score so many runs that the A's just won't be able to keep up, regardless of how good their pitching is throughout the year.

And Hamilton isn't the only move the Halos made.

[Cdubby]

Andres Torres is back on the Giants.

Giants will now win their 3rd WS in 4 years.

[SepaGroove]

Oh yeah cuz Andres Torres is the key to everything.

[HotHamWater]

Good job spotting the joke.

[SepaGroove]

Shut up.

[Baby Sandwich]

I suspect a trade involving Bourjos and/or Trumbo is afoot, otherwise I don't get it.

The current talk is that the they're interested in trading Bourjos and Trumbo for RA Dickey or someone of that caliber now. As life-long Angels fan I don't really know what to make of the Hamilton contract. At first I was upset. I really wanted them to re-sign Torri Hunter for two years and keep Greinke for 5/6 years more than anything. Plus there's the roll of the dice with Hamilton's drinking/meth use and his second half slump last season. In 2010/2011 the Rangers celebrated with non-alcoholic champagne in the club house to accommodate his AA pledge or whatever. I find this off putting (would they have done that for a newly sober utility middle infielder?) I hope the Angels don't do anything like that.

CJ Wilson is straight edge so maybe they can go cosmic bowling together. Plus anything to upset obese Texas Rangers fans and George W. Bush is always a good thing.

[paulb]

So Blue Jays were able to extend Dickey for 2 more years...so 3 years total... I cant wait to see what the Blue Jays bring to the table, with Dickey/Johnson/Morrow/Buerhle/Romero + J.A Happ, rotation is very solid, + a projected lineup of

1. Jose Reyes
2. Melky Cabrera
3. Jose Bautista
4. Edwin Encarnacion
5. Brett Lawrie
6. Colby Rasmus
7. Adam Lind
8. JP Arencibia
9. Emilio Bonifacio.....+ Izturis & the speedy Rajai Davis... Hopefully they finally make a well deserved playoff spot.