MLB 2011

[foolsgold]

No Cueto or Bailey to start the season.  Arroyo has something called valley fever (it's a nasty, bloody cough with secondary symtoms including excessive use of saying "grody to the max" and "like, fer sure."  It might not be a great one day in March/April.

[Butter]

Apparently, Arroyo actually has mono.

[rva]

Yeah, as of now there's every reason to still be cautiously optimistic.  There's no indication that Cueto, Arroyo, and Bailey won't be back to normal within a couple weeks of the season.  I mean yeah teams lie about that stuff, and it wouldn't surprise me at all if one of them ended up on a long-term DL stint.  But it also wouldn't surprise me if it turned out to be nothing.

I like Carlos Silva claiming that he was lied to about whether he had a shot at the rotation going into ST.  "After I showed up for camp at least 15 lbs overweight despite explicit warnings about this, then let in 6 runs and punched the starting 3rd baseman in my very first appearance, then continued to suck throughout ST, I was never even given a chance!"

[Butter]

First lineup of the season and.... Stubbs is leading off and Gomes is starting in left field.

Jesus Christ.

[rva]

What a way to start the season!  And this team isn't going to look back!

I kind of expected this.  Volquez got in late to spring training and never really had enough time to find his groove.  He's just a little behind in getting into his in-season form is all.  I don't think it means anything going forward.  He might be a little shaky still in his next start but after that hopefully he is fine.

[rva]

It did end up a good way to start the season.  For the Reds, anyway.

I have to say.. that offensive lineup they have is crazy.  Gallardo is on my fantasy team and I guess he didn't pitch that well.  But it felt like he was pitching well.  I was very happy to get out of that game with no win, a terrible WHIP, and a good ERA.  The only two guys in that lineup that didn't really scare me (besides the pitcher) were Gomes and Janish.  Put even a mediocre Fred Lewis or Dave Sappelt (and Seppelt might be much better than mediocre) and slide Stubbs to #7 and that's pretty much a murderer's row.  And Juan Francisco coming off the bench, and they can use Renteria, too. 

Still think the pitching staff is pretty mediocre, but they're going to win a lot of 7-5 games. 

And who are these idiots who keep thinking St. Louis has a chance?  They stink.  Yeah, they have Pujols but they had him last year, too.  What were their big offseason changes--  David Freese, Ryan Theriot, and Lance Berkman?  Big whoop.  And I still see people picking them first or second AFTER they lost Wainwright for the year.  No freaking way.  They may not even finish ahead of the Cubs.

[foolsgold]

I kind of expected this.  Volquez got in late to spring training and never really had enough time to find his groove.  He's just a little behind in getting into his in-season form is all.  I don't think it means anything going forward.  He might be a little shaky still in his next start but after that hopefully he is fine.

And I suspect that he's not great in big games.  At least to start.

Great game, complete cathartic moment at the end hugging strangers and just not wanting to leave.  I'm so happy that Reds baseball is back.

[Rafe]

Fucking brilliant!

Is my mate Arroyo going to set the league ablaze this season? I reckon he needs to brandish his acoustic and break the opposition with Blind Lemon covers before he pitches every game.

Blind Lemon. Fucking hell, they were terrible. great secret weapon, that.

[Rafe]

Blind Melon were shit, too. hehe.

[rva]

You know who needs a cockpunch?

 The new fratdude guy we hired who found out I play fantasy baseball and keeps dropping into my office to talk about it.  Please stop telling me I should draft Joey Votto.  I should try to get the reigning NL MVP?  I DID NOT KNOW THAT!  

Stop giving me your NL "sleeper picks" and insisting that it is harder to play in your league because "We have to know NL and AL players."  You play in an 8 team mixed league.  The only AL and NL players you need to know are the ones on the All-Star team.  I play in a 12 team NL-only keeper league with a 10 player bench.  Big difference.  Thanks for the tip, but Rookie of the Year favorite Freddie Freeman is "not a sleeper I can get for $1."  Someone spent $6 for him LAST YEAR and kept him. 

PS.   Carlos GOMEZ plays for the Milwaukee Brewers.  Carlos GONZALEZ plays for the Colorado Rockies.   One of them is much, much, much better than the other one.  When you figure out the difference, you can come talk to me about baseball.  Until then, shut your face.

[trixi]

Blind Melon were shit, too. hehe.

I thought maybe you'd seen Blind Melon at the Blind Lemon :-)

[Butter]

Put even a mediocre Fred Lewis or Dave Sappelt (and Seppelt might be much better than mediocre) and slide Stubbs to #7 and that's pretty much a murderer's row.  And Juan Francisco coming off the bench, and they can use Renteria, too. 

Still think the pitching staff is pretty mediocre, but they're going to win a lot of 7-5 games. 

And who are these idiots who keep thinking St. Louis has a chance?  They stink.  Yeah, they have Pujols but they had him last year, too.  What were their big offseason changes--  David Freese, Ryan Theriot, and Lance Berkman?  Big whoop.  And I still see people picking them first or second AFTER they lost Wainwright for the year.  No freaking way.  They may not even finish ahead of the Cubs.

Sappelt hit something like .600 in Spring Training with several home runs and a bunch of doubles.  Problem is, he is not on the 40-man roster, and apparently we are not yet willing to let go of marginal or non-prospects like Daniel Ray Herrera or Carlos Fisher to give Sappelt a try in the big leagues.

Personally, I am ok with Sappelt starting in AAA, because the bigs are littered with guys who had an amazing month or two, and then were never heard from again.  Like, oh I don't know, Carlos Silva.  Sappelt needs a bit more seasoning in AAA, but he would be an immediate answer to the lead-off problem and let Stubbs hit in his more natural 6-7 type position.  We will see what happens, but if I were betting I don't think Sappelt sees the bigs this year unless there are multiple injuries to the major league club.

The Reds pitching may not be the best in the National League, but it is among the deepest.  We've got more #3 pitchers than you can shake a stick at, and a pretty decent bullpen that didn't even use its best members yesterday to stay in that game with the Brewers.

I was so pleased to see that Pujols grounded into 3 DP's yesterday, it almost pleased me more to see that than to see a Reds win.  Almost, but not quite.  I agree with you about the Cards... without Carpenter, they might as well phone it in.  Theriot's misplay directly led to the Padres getting the lead in the 11th yesterday.  They will be in a lot of games, but their defense is awful and will lose them several games this year.  I think .500 is a good target for the Cards to shoot for, which will hopefully lead to Pujols checking out of town.

[rva]

Yep, I agree with all of that.  Sappelt should be in AAA getting everyday at-bats, learning how to steal bases, and I suppose showing he's not just a ST fluke.  The Reds should use Lewis as their lead-off guy when he is healthy, and if that fails it's worth giving Hermida a shot as well.  They also need to find some playing time for Juan Francisco, although Rolen will probably take care of that by injuring himself.   If Sappelt is tearing up AAA in June/July, then call him up.

I also agree that the Reds rotation is deep and their strength is in the backend, although arguably that's not as big an advantage as it could be because Bailey and Cueto appear to be somewhat injury prone. 

The rotation should be good enough to get them to the playoffs, either as Central champions or wildcard.  The question is what happens after that. 

[rva]

I tried to get Billy Hamilton and Devin Mesoraco at my fantasy auction today, but couldn't.  I did however, end up with Yonder Alonso, Tod Frazier, Zack Cozart, Dave Sappelt, and Juan Francisco.   

I wasn't going after Reds per se, but they do have a lot of prospects and I guess no one sees them getting called up and/or they suck.  So, if the Reds could just get hit with a major rash of injuries that would be just fine.  Actually, all I need for Scott Rolen and Edgar Renteria to go down.  Although knowing Dusty, he'll still probably use Miguel Cairo.

[Butter]

Can't beat a 2 game lead coming off the first series of the season... with the only team 1 game back being the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Speaking of, how the hell do you hit a 2 run infield single?