2011(and beyond!) MLB thread.

[Dante1847]

Honestly, looking at that Mariners team from afar, I wouldn't be shocked if they're a .500 team at the end of the season, especially since that Harang trade gives them a decent starter.

I'd be surprised if it happens. were I an M's fan, I'd be more worried about the future insofar as developing prospects and young players go. fair amount of questions surfacing recently taking issue with the M's player development program. Ackley. Smoak. Montero. highly-regarded, high ranked prospects that have so far done ****. might be just an anomaly, but a new barometer for how well the organization develops prospects is coming soon when Mike Zunino comes up, followed by their young trio of pitchers.

[darkwinterbeast8]

Always the cynical one aren't you?

When it comes to the Seattle Mariners, yes. Seattle will likely win another Stanley Cup or NBA Championship before the M's make it to the World Series (much less win) and Seattle currently has no NBA or NHL team.

If nothing else I think the Astros will prevent the Mariners from losing 90 games. And while it may not be by much, they are an improved team from what they were last year.

The Astros' move to the AL west is why I'm not predicting them losing 100 to 125 games. The M's are still in a division with Texas, Oakland, and Anaheim (or Los Angeles of Anaheim, they might as well as call themselves California again).

Honestly, looking at that Mariners team from afar, I wouldn't be shocked if they're a .500 team at the end of the season, especially since that Harang trade gives them a decent starter.

They would need Morales to be healthy for a full year, plus have Morse's pinky injury not be a sign of thigs to come, plus their young players (Ackley, Montero) and their AAA call-ups (Zunino, the Big 3 pitching prospects) would actually have to resemble Major League ball players as the season goes on in order to look like a team that could win 75 to 83 games.

As I see it now, the team is looking a lot like that team from 2 years ago that was playing .500 ball by accident until the wheels fell of around All-Star Break and they lost 20 in a row or something close to that.

I'd be surprised if it happens. were I an M's fan, I'd be more worried about the future insofar as developing prospects and young players go. fair amount of questions surfacing recently taking issue with the M's player development program. Ackley. Smoak. Montero. highly-regarded, high ranked prospects that have so far done ****. might be just an anomaly, but a new barometer for how well the organization develops prospects is coming soon when Mike Zunino comes up, followed by their young trio of pitchers.

Smoak is a lost cause in the eyes of all Mariners fans and should be sent to AAA or lower for the remainder of the M's control of him for being exhibit A on "Why The Seattle Mariners Are Putrid". Ackley will be Exhibit B if he continues the pathetic season he's been having thus far. Time will tell for Montero though if both Montero and Zunino suck like Smoak has sucked then the M's are hopeless as far as ever getting MLB calliber players in the batting order from the farm system and everyone in the M's front office needs to be fired (something that has been needed for at least a few years now).

[Dante1847]

gotta ask again...how is it that Robinson Cano is seeing ANY strikes right now? the dude should be leading the league in BBs/IBBs.

[M_Robbins5]

The Angels are off to yet another horrible start. As much as I'd like to think they'll snap out of it they just don't look like a playoff contender right now. I mean have you guys seen their rotation? Without Jered Weaver it sucks.

[killer_roach]

The Tigers/Mariners series was surreal. If you would've told me our bullpen would've held up to win a game in 14 innings, then Verlander would lose the next day, I would've thought you were mad.

(That being said, Iwakuma pitched a hell of a game yesterday.)

[M_Robbins5]

The Tigers/Mariners series was surreal. If you would've told me our bullpen would've held up to win a game in 14 innings, then Verlander would lose the next day, I would've thought you were mad.

(That being said, Iwakuma pitched a hell of a game yesterday.)

Doesn't Verlander usually lose to the Mariners though?

[killer_roach]

Doesn't Verlander usually lose to the Mariners though?

9-7 career against them. Not one of his better teams, but they're not the Indians (14-13 against), Yankees (5-5 against), or Angels (4-5 against).

That being said, the Mariners do have the second-best BAA against Verlander of any AL team, at .253 (only behind the Angels at .270), but his 3.35 ERA still is pretty solid versus them.

[M_Robbins5]

9-7 career against them. Not one of his better teams, but they're not the Indians (14-13 against), Yankees (5-5 against), or Angels (4-5 against).

That being said, the Mariners do have the second-best BAA against Verlander of any AL team, at .253 (only behind the Angels at .270), but his 3.35 ERA still is pretty solid versus them.

I thought I remembered him being less than stellar against them. At least I was partially right.
Maybe what I was really thinking was the Mariners usually doing well against the Tigers. I'm pretty sure they played well against them last year at least.

Still even Verlander as amazing as he is isn't dominate against every team.

[SuperTigerMario]

That 14 inning game was a thrill ride though.

[M_Robbins5]

That 14 inning game was a thrill ride though.

I didn't know you watched baseball.