General MLB 2011 thread for random game talk, juiced-baseball conspiracies, etc

Walter Matthau as J0rdan:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-A2zB-e3mro

http://desmond.yfrog.com/Himg576/scaled.php?tn=0&server=576&filename=v38i.jpg&xsize=640&ysize=640

Four games will be played on Saturday.

I know everyone's focused on the playoffs, but is there any point in doing an AL MVP poll? I figure the Boston players are probably officially out now (rightly or wrongly), leaving Bautista, Verlander, Granderson, and possibly Cabrera. I don't know if Verlander's a sure-thing, or if his missing 25 and the ERA title throws it back to Bautista or Granderson.

Yes.

By unanimous consent then.

this is slightly ott, but a nice summary video of last night in chronological order: http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=19789807

can't-find-on-the-internet type question: Is there anywhere on the Web I can get all the 2011 regular-season game results on a single page in a more-or-less simple table? I've been through mlb, baseball-reference etc, but can at best find per week, per team etc.

may i ask why you're looking?

Easy import into excel for analysis etc. Historical seasons is easy because of Retrosheet; current season less so.

So is theo going to the cubs or no

Brewers-Tigers is the WS I'm hoping for btw.

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/10/03/oh-good-a-j-pierzynski-to-be-a-part-of-foxs-world-series-coverage
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/10/03/oh-good-a-j-pierzynski-to-be-a-part-of-foxs-world-series-coverage
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/10/03/oh-good-a-j-pierzynski-to-be-a-part-of-foxs-world-series-coverage
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/10/03/oh-good-a-j-pierzynski-to-be-a-part-of-foxs-world-series-coverage
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/10/03/oh-good-a-j-pierzynski-to-be-a-part-of-foxs-world-series-coverage

still more likeable than joe morgan/tim mccarver/joe buck/almost every other baseball broadcasting personality

yeah the announcers have been terrible so far. the only decent one is Brian Anderson. maybe this is just because fans of the teams watch so many games and thus are exposed to so much more, but it's crazy just how often these guys are totally off base on just about everything. it's not enough that they suck at calling the games!

Joe Simpson is top-notch, you guys are crazy.

no one is as bad as chip caray was a few years ago

No argument there. He's a little improved, but still not very good. Fewer Mister Haney impressions, at least.

Watching the Rangers-Rays game, I realize I'm close to the point where Buck Martinez's voice is nails-on-a-chalkboard for me, maybe because I've put in extra time with him on local Jays broadcasts.

yeah the announcers have been terrible so far. the only decent one is Brian Anderson. maybe this is just because fans of the teams watch so many games and thus are exposed to so much more, but it's crazy just how often these guys are totally off base on just about everything. it's not enough that they suck at calling the games!

― frogbs, Monday, October 3, 2011 5:46 PM (53 minutes ago) Bookmark

I've liked him fine during Brewers telecasts, but he has been absolutely terrible during the ALDS.

Would Jason Giambi make a good commentator? He's got to be approaching the end (though all signs point to him being on the Rockies' 25-man in 2012) and seems to be full of personality - I understand he's one of the most popular players in the locker room.

I'm 100% in favor of Giambi as commentator if he throws "Your wish is granted, long live Giambi" out there at least once a day.

I've liked him fine during Brewers telecasts, but he has been absolutely terrible during the ALDS.

how so? tbh I thought the ones going the NLDS for Milwaukee/Arizona were awful because they knew absolutely nothing about the teams but kinda yammered on about them anyway, at some point just making things up. I suppose I wouldn't really know if the other announcers were doing the same things...

Michael Kay -- I mean Brian Anderson -- on Garcia having to remove a bracelet:

"...the Tigers searching for any possible advantage..."

― A Chuck Person's Guide to Mark Aguirre (Andy K), Sunday, October 2, 2011 3:37 PM (2 days ago) Bookmark

Also, Brian Anderson: Tiger Stadium has been demolished. The Tigers do not play there.

― A Chuck Person's Guide to Mark Aguirre (Andy K), Sunday, October 2, 2011 3:39 PM (2 days ago) Bookmark

Cabrera ranging too close to second has been a "constant theme for the Tigers this year." Probably the first time I've seen it happen all season. It was a problem when Cabrera first converted from third, though (years ago).

― A Chuck Person's Guide to Mark Aguirre (Andy K), Sunday, October 2, 2011 3:57 PM (2 days ago) Bookmark

He wasn't bad for game three, but there are several other things I could have posted about, including his reaction to Russell Martin making a routine block on a pitch in the dirt. Something like "For a catcher, that's like hitting a home run!" It's not like preventing a runner from advancing?

Yeah I admit that what he says doesn't really line up with the facts sometimes but really very few announcers do that. I like BA because he has a good sense of the moment and has a good voice for TV, plus he can inject a little humor sometimes which is always welcome (at least, on the Brewers broadcasts). A lot of national announcers may not be terribly different but they don't really have "the voice". He's always struck me as fairly knowledgeable though. I guess it must be hell to have to suddenly announce another team as there are so many things to learn. It annoyed me on the NLDS broadcasts because the announcers were giving shit to the Brewers for doing things like "watching their home runs", c'mon nobody on the Crew does that (outside of Braun's big one that clinched a playoff berth), that's the Cardinals! I mean you can give them shit for untucking years ago, or the "beast mode" thing, or whatever Nyjer Morgan does, but come on, if you're gonna rail on a team at least get the facts right