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IL opening weekend

Frayed Knot May 18 2012 07:08 AM

With the exception of the Phillies, each NL East team faces an above-.500 opponent to start off the IL section of your programming. - A bit odd that the Red Sox (18-20) are the worst team faced this weekend but that's who Philly gets. - Marlins head to Cleveland to face the first place Indians. Yeah they're only 22-16 and the only above-.500 team in the AL Central, but 1st-place os 1st place. - Nationals (3rd best record in NL) host the best-in-AL Orioles - Braves go to Atlanta to face the 25-16 Rays - As Gary noted late in yesterday's game, the Mets did the Yanx a bit of a favor wearing out both Chapman (35 pitches) & Ondrusek (34) as the Reds finish up their 5-day visit to NYC to face the Yanx this weekend. Which brings to mind the question about whether the Mets & Yanx have ever "traded opponents" like this before? Toronto just finished hosting the Yanx for a two-game series (Jays took both) and now immediately get the Mets, while the Reds simply change the direction the team bus drives from their mid-town hotel.

metirish May 18 2012 07:10 AM Re: IL opening weekend

Is it just me or does IL play seem to be very early this year? interesting thought on trading opponents. surely has happened with O's and Braves maybe? or some combo of teams?

Edgy MD May 18 2012 07:16 AM Re: IL opening weekend

I think I read it was the second time that a team picked up both the Mets and the Yankees on one trip to New York. Seems like a staggering waste of resources not to do it more often, but I guess that's a byproduct of the over-commitment to creating a universal interleague weekend.

Ceetar May 18 2012 07:21 AM Re: IL opening weekend

Edgy DC wrote: I think I read it was the second time that a team picked up both the Mets and the Yankees on one trip to New York. Seems like a staggering waste of resources not to do it more often, but I guess that's a byproduct of the over-commitment to creating a universal interleague weekend. Which clearly won't be the case next year. I wonder if it happens more often next year. On the other hand, not staggering it creates more makeup opportunities. I could even create interesting ones. Imagine the Mets and Reds rained out in April, but he Reds are playing the Yankees in June. Maybe in June the Mets play the Reds in the afternoon, and then the Reds bus over to Yankee Stadium while the Mets host whoever was the regular team for that homestand. freaky. It was nice of the Yankees to wake up Jose Batista though for us in exchange, and keep the Blue Jays bullpen rested (rusty?)

Chad Ochoseis May 18 2012 07:22 AM Re: IL opening weekend

Heard on WFUV this morning on the way in: "The Yankees are in Toronto tonight and the Mets are at CitiField to face Cincinnati." It certainly sounds more natural.

Frayed Knot May 18 2012 07:25 AM Re: IL opening weekend

Once they start going to year-round IL next year rather than just in pockets like now it'll be interesting to see how often teams that are scheduled to play an IL team in a 2-team city get scheduled back-to-back with those teams. So if the Mets travel to the ChiSox have them stick around for a Cubs series too. Ditto LA/LA, SF/Oak, etc. Seems to me that the players would tend to like and endorse that set-up - especially seeing as how it would only occur in the bigger cities - but yaneverknow.

Edgy MD May 18 2012 07:34 AM Re: IL opening weekend

Ceetar wrote: On the other hand, not staggering it creates more makeup opportunities. I could even create interesting ones. Imagine the Mets and Reds rained out in April, but he Reds are playing the Yankees in June. Maybe in June the Mets play the Reds in the afternoon, and then the Reds bus over to Yankee Stadium while the Mets host whoever was the regular team for that homestand. freaky. I imagine that scenario can play out pretty much as easily by the Reds returning later in the week while they remain in town to play the Yankees.

smg58 May 18 2012 07:53 AM Re: IL opening weekend

Frayed Knot wrote: With the exception of the Phillies, each NL East team faces an above-.500 opponent to start off the IL section of your programming. And every team playing against the NL East faces an above-.500 opponent. How often does that happen?

Ceetar May 18 2012 07:55 AM Re: IL opening weekend

smg58 wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: With the exception of the Phillies, each NL East team faces an above-.500 opponent to start off the IL section of your programming. And every team playing against the NL East faces an above-.500 opponent. How often does that happen? East coast bias.

bmfc1 May 18 2012 07:56 AM Re: IL opening weekend

Evan, of Joe & Evan, suggested yesterday that for inter-league games, rather than have the DH used in the AL parks only, you could designate each season as DH or non-DH. Alternatively, it might be interesting to use the DH in the NL parks only. Of course, the best option is to eliminate the DH but that's not going to happen. I like the idea of having an alternating "DH year" given that we will be forced to have inter-league games throughout the season. What do you think?

sharpie May 18 2012 08:04 AM Re: IL opening weekend

AL teams with full time DH's (think Travis Hafner or David Ortiz) would object. They would say it is bad enough that they lose important players for those road games but it isn't fair that they lose them for home games for a full year.

Gwreck May 18 2012 08:25 AM Re: IL opening weekend

bmfc1 wrote: Alternatively, it might be interesting to use the DH in the NL parks only. Removing strategy from the game is interesting?

Edgy MD May 18 2012 08:38 AM Re: IL opening weekend

I'm in favor of letting the pitcher bat on Earth, and using the DH in Hell. Barring that, I'd suggest sending down an extra reliever or a versatile bench player like Valdespin, and calling up a potential masher like Lutz or Pascucci.

bmfc1 May 18 2012 10:18 AM Re: IL opening weekend

Gwreck wrote: bmfc1 wrote: Alternatively, it might be interesting to use the DH in the NL parks only. Removing strategy from the game is interesting? I meant if we have to have it for 50% (or so) of the games, then have it in NL parks rather than AL parks, as it is at present. Believe me, I don't like it either but Selig isn't doing away with it.

bmfc1 May 18 2012 10:20 AM Re: IL opening weekend

Edgy DC wrote: I'm in favor of letting the pitcher bat on Earth, and using the DH in Hell. Barring that, I'd suggest sending down an extra reliever or a versatile bench player like Valdespin, and calling up a potential masher like Lutz or Pascucci. Excellent point. Did they need to rush Carson up for one game? I'd like to see Pascucci up for these games.

John Cougar Lunchbucket May 18 2012 02:59 PM Re: IL opening weekend

I think the removal of Duda from the playing field but not the lineup is the ideal answer right now.

Vic Sage May 18 2012 03:25 PM Re: IL opening weekend

yeah, its not the run scoring we're having so much trouble with; it's the run preventing. With Doodie as the DH, we put Hairston/Baxter in the OF, either of whom is an upgrade on D, and still have Valdy in reserve. Maybe we should consider a DP... a "designated pitcher". How about Koufax? I bet Fred could get him to come out and get us a few key outs.

Gwreck May 18 2012 07:14 PM Re: IL opening weekend

Verlander no-hitting Pittsburgh through 8 innings. Just struck out the side in the 8th; 12 Ks so far.

G-Fafif May 18 2012 07:20 PM Re: IL opening weekend

How come mentioning other team's no-hitters isn't bad luck?

G-Fafif May 18 2012 07:27 PM Re: IL opening weekend

8.1 IP.

sharpie May 18 2012 07:30 PM Re: IL opening weekend

Single ends it.

G-Fafif May 18 2012 07:30 PM Re: IL opening weekend

8.not. Sorry Justin. Poor Tigers fans haven't had a no-hitter since, when, 2011?

Gwreck May 18 2012 07:32 PM Re: IL opening weekend

He's got two already, so I figure he's doing ok. Broken up with one out in the ninth by Josh Harrison (who?)

Frayed Knot May 18 2012 07:49 PM Re: IL opening weekend

Hey lucky us ... the only NL teams to be leading today are Miami, Philly, and Atlanta. All others have lost, are losing (most of them big), or are tied (O's/Nats = 1-1 in extras)

Frayed Knot May 18 2012 08:15 PM Re: IL opening weekend

Markakis HRs in the top of the 11th - now 2-to-1 O's Something named Strop in to attempt the close-out for Bal'mer ... and he promptly hits the first batter. Marlins, Braves, & Phils all won

Frayed Knot May 18 2012 08:23 PM Re: IL opening weekend

Orioles tried to give it away but couldn't - so at least someone from the division besides us lost. Meanwhile, 86 y/o Andy Pettitte tossed an 8-inning shutout on 4 hits w/9 Ks - and Niese can't get out of the 1st unscathed.

Frayed Knot May 19 2012 05:38 PM Re: IL opening weekend

More adventures in closer-land: Dusty brings Aroldis Chapman in for the 8th inning up by 3 runs at YSIII and he promptly retires the side K, K, Pop-out (Granderson, Cano, ARod) ... so of course this means he can't possibly pitch the 9th. Two pitchers, one replaced closer, four hits, two runs, and two LOBs at 2nd & 3rd later the Reds escape with a 1-run win.

Ceetar May 19 2012 08:33 PM Re: IL opening weekend

Every NL East team lost. free day. Every AL East team won, except the Yankees. oops. Red Sox are now only two behind them.

Frayed Knot May 19 2012 09:05 PM Re: IL opening weekend

Y'know what's really stoopid about inter-league games? ... Game announcers citing IL stats for players as if there's some sort of cause-and-effect to it all.

Frayed Knot May 20 2012 12:51 PM Re: IL opening weekend

Do you suppose Jarrod Saltalamacchia HR-ing* off Cliff Lee this afternoon -- in addition to being one of the bigger surprises of the season -- sets the mark for largest last name letter disparity in HR history? * a LOOOONG 3R shot to CF at CBP ... 5-0 Boston at mid-game

Mets – Willets Point May 20 2012 06:21 PM Re: IL opening weekend

All these interleague games and the Sunday Night Baseball game is ... Cardinals at Dodgers.

Frayed Knot May 20 2012 07:36 PM Re: IL opening weekend

Funny huh, that with 14 IL games someone goes and decides that the most interesting contest is the one game that's not. Wonder if Bud had any objections? And while these things are usually decided many weeks in advance and therefore is partially a coincidence, turns out ESPN got the only match of the weekend between two 1st-place clubs. First IL block ends in a 24-18 AL edge. NL East winds up with Marlins & Braves going 2-1. Mets, Nats & Phils at 1-2