MLB 2014 season thread

The Cardinals are the closest thing the NL has to a Yankee equivalent. The Cardinals have won the World Series 11 times, the Yankees 27.

That's despite the 1970s, which was a wilderness period for the Cardinals even with Brock and Gibby. The period between the time Tommy Herr was traded and Pujols joined the team (1988-2000) was a low ebb as well.

 

What does Kershaw do in Game 4? Is he the regular season Kershaw, or is he three-days-rest postseason Kershaw?

 

No harm. If they're in the race in July, they can just go get David Price and punch their ticket to the World Series.

 

Even on regular rest they've been able to get at him as well as anyone the last few years.

Panic move by Mattingly that shows why they won't go all the way even if they do survive this series. Bad defense, bad bullpen and they can't bear the thought of putting their fourth starter on the mound.

 

If I were the best pitcher in baseball, I'd have it written into my contract that a moron like Don Mattingly may not ever use me on three days rest, under any set of circumstances.

 

It will be interesting to see how Kershaw changes his approach (if at all) and how the Cardinals counter that.

With the way Matt Carpenter is going, the Dodgers might want to just walk him every time up.

 

Also feels like the '60s, when the Cardinals and the Dodgers each won two titles, and the Orioles won one (and another in 1970).

 

Didn't Mattingly try the same stunt in the LCS last season? I recall Kershaw getting rocked in Game 6.

 

Except they got minimal value for Fister, forcing them to give up more value for Price. If they have Fister, perhaps they address their needs elsewhere.

Even with the acquisition of Price, these are only probabilities. The Tigers increased their chances by adding Price, but guaranteed nothing, especially given their failure to address the larger issue in the bullpen.

The Pirates, to take an opposing example, hurt their chances by following up a terrible offseason by mostly sitting on their hands during the regular season. Their two key additions in 2014 both came from the scrap heap and only one (Volquez) panned out. The other, Ike Davis, continued to the same disappointing play that cost him his job with the Mets. The result likely cost them a division title, leaving them to play a one-game Wild Card contest with Madison Bumgarner throwing for the other side. We all saw how well that went.

Of course, this is as much about spending money wisely as it is about spending. Detroit added players, but it added the wrong ones in the bullpen. The Pirates could have done more even with their limited resources, but chose to be penny-wise and pound foolish. The question is always how much of the issue is money and how much is bad decisions. Both are always part of the equation in baseball.

I know you are just poking at me to see if I'll play, but you should know by now that I am always game to go down this rabbit hole. I have history on my side and I know it. Wanna play? ;D

 

The Fister trade was a salary dump to "clear cap space" for Nathan.

 

The Yankees might piss away money, but they don't let talent get away.
They knew it was time to cut bait with Chamberlain three years ago.
The Tigers, acknowledging their window is shrinking, make him a setup man.

 

Starting Kershaw is the wrong move. Do it by committee in Game 4 and save the 3-time Cy Young winner for Game 5.

They're making a mistake.

He'll probably throw a 2-hitter.