Running 2011 Baseball Thread, Vol. I: Dedicated to spnited

We need to note a historic moment as well ... Marlins' last game at Joe Robbie Stadium, Pro Player Park, Pro Player Stadium, Dolphin Stadium, Dolphins Stadium, Landshark Stadium Sun Life Stadium ... and good riddance!

 

A little old (27) to be a guy for whom we speak about potential, but this is only his second year as a starter and he's been red-hot lately after sucking most of the summer. Striking out well over a batter per inning. Even if he never turns into a Cy Young candidate he's pretty good, and on the last day of the year I could see him sawing thru a White Sox team that quit months ago and has an interim manager.

 

ExtraInnings used the Rays broadcast last night.

They interviewed the team president and said the game would be at 4:00 ET.

 

Did I miss anything last night? I was busy watching Prince Fielder launch bomb after bomb after bomb instead of drawing walks ... that fucker.

I wonder if Skippy likes Mondays?

 

Yeah, absolutely. It was a very, very small crowd but it was still a cool moment since everyone was into it. That's a guy who has meant a lot to this fanbase - came up in 2000 for a bit IIRC so he's been around for 11 years - was huge for the '05 team and has the type of attitude that people from the South Side can identify with even though he's country through and through.

He'll be one of the few players I'll actually feel bad about leaving. Coco, I think you're right about the salary and Buehrle will finally pitch for his hometown Cardinals. Unfortunately.

 

OK. If tiebreakers are needed in both series:

Boston @ TB 4 p.m. ET
Atlanta @ STL 8 p.m. ET


Actually, game times remain the same even if there's only one. AL at 4, NL at 8. Games on TBS.

 

Essentially we could have the extra wild card format a year or two early.

 

Buehrle is a guy who will probably have his number retired by the White Sox eventually. Absolutely beloved for both his pitching and his down-to-earth disposition. He is definitely not a guy who was born on third base and thinks he hit a triple. I think he was a 37th-round draft pick, and he gives off the vibe of a guy who has never taken this for granted. I remember interrupting him once in the middle of a video game, which would be an absolute no-no with most Major Leaguers. He was totally accomodating and approachable. Like he was happy to talk to some media guy he barely knew rather than keep doing what he was doing.