A Realistic View at 2021: Part II

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I'm not ranking the Yanks 3rd to 5th because they are great or have no question marks. I'm ranking them there, because I looked at the other teams and they suck or have even more questions than the Yanks.

 

Ya, the ALeast may come down to who sucks less. But as much as the MLB wants and needs New York back on top, maybe it will help the sport more right now if say, the Angels finally make and advance deep into the playoffs. Trout and Ohtani are worth watching and rooting for...

[notin]

Ya, the ALeast may come down to who sucks less. But as much as the MLB wants and needs New York back on top, maybe it will help the sport more right now if say, the Angels finally make and advance deep into the playoffs. Trout and Ohtani are worth watching and rooting for...

 

If there is a non-Sox team I’d root for, it will be the Angels. But I expect their entire pitching staff to get injured at some point...

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

It's still too early to say. Kluber or Taillon might start to click. They're getting back Severino and Britton.

 

Don't get me wrong, I'm hopeful that they continue to 'underachieve'.

 

The fact that their offensive 'depth' is Bruce and Odor is making me very happy at the moment.

 

But "at the moment" the Red Sox and Angels are better -- or playing better (either means both). If you're a website updating "current" rankings, then that should be reflected properly.

[moonslav59]

But "at the moment" the Red Sox and Angels are better -- or playing better (either means both). If you're a website updating "current" rankings, then that should be reflected properly.

 

They have played better over the first 11-12 games, but I would not call them "better."

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

They have played better over the first 11-12 games, but I would not call them "better."

 

But there it is again: right now -- today -- are they "good" or have they just been "doing good (things)"?

 

Would you rather have your team be good on paper (or on screen)... or on the diamond?

 

The Mariners are better right now than every AL team except Boston.

[mvp 78]

If there is a non-Sox team I’d root for, it will be the Angels. But I expect their entire pitching staff to get injured at some point...

 

Yuck. They play in a Disney-fied ballpark, filled with rats and in Orange County. Pass.

 

Phillies or Cardinals.

[mvp 78]

@SoxNotes

Most recent Red Sox teams with a 3.75 ERA or lower through 13 games:

 

2004 – 3.69 (won World Series)

2007 – 2.55 (won World Series)

2013 – 2.64 (won World Series)

2018 – 3.15 (won World Series)

2021 – 3.56 (best record in AL)

 

Someone check on the status of the duckboats!

[notin]

Yuck. They play in a Disney-fied ballpark, filled with rats and in Orange County. Pass.

 

Phillies or Cardinals.

 

I can't root for Philly teams in any sport.

 

And I'm in Chicago. Cardinals fans are about as welcome here as Yankee fans in Boston.

 

As an AL guy in Chicago, for me it is Red Sox with the White Sox as a distant second. Then a bulk of about 26 teams. Then the Mets and far, far behind them in last place is that pinstriped team. If the Yankees were playing a team comprised of axe-murdering meth dealers, I would still be thinking "Well, how many axe murders are we really talking about here?"

[notin]

But "at the moment" the Red Sox and Angels are better -- or playing better (either means both). If you're a website updating "current" rankings, then that should be reflected properly.

 

Well, bear in mind, too, that while the Sox have been impressive, six of our games - and three of our losses - were against a Baltimore team not held in the best regard...

[mvp 78]

I can't root for Philly teams in any sport.

 

And I'm in Chicago. Cardinals fans are about as welcome here as Yankee fans in Boston.

 

As an AL guy in Chicago, for me it is Red Sox with the White Sox as a distant second. Then a bulk of about 26 teams. Then the Mets and far, far behind them in last place is that pinstriped team. If the Yankees were playing a team comprised of axe-murdering meth dealers, I would still be thinking "Well, how many axe murders are we really talking about here?"

 

The rest of the AL East and the Mets are off limits to me. I'm ambivalent about the rest of the AL. The only MLB hats I've ever owned aside from Sox hats are: Dodgers (the black hat from back in the early 90's and a newer one when I moved out of LA), Astros (80's NL version), Cardinals (Navy version from early 90's), Phillies (maroon version for little league), Braves (alternate navy brim version for coaching t ball), Marlins (early 90's version with black brim) and Tigers (orange D). Most of those hats were NL hats (Houston was still NL at the time).

[mvp 78]

I can't root for Philly teams in any sport.

 

And I'm in Chicago. Cardinals fans are about as welcome here as Yankee fans in Boston.

 

As an AL guy in Chicago, for me it is Red Sox with the White Sox as a distant second. Then a bulk of about 26 teams. Then the Mets and far, far behind them in last place is that pinstriped team. If the Yankees were playing a team comprised of axe-murdering meth dealers, I would still be thinking "Well, how many axe murders are we really talking about here?"

 

I have a few friends that are Cardinals fans and they all say that Cubs fans generally treat Cardinals fans worse than Yankees fans treat Red Sox fans. I've met a few Cubs fans, but have never brought up the question. I'll have to do so next time.

[Nick]

Trying to figure out who Garrett Whitlock reminds me of. He's 6-5 so he's much taller but his presence on the mound reminds me of Greg Maddux. You know, the Hall of Famer who won over 350games?

 

I did hate Maddux for getting strike calls on any ball near the plate. He definitely got the benefit of doubt.

 

Whitlock has faced 22 batters, 9 strikeouts but more importantly, no walks. I despise pitcher that can't throw strikes.

 

Now if Dalbec breaks out, I'm a happy camper.

 

Why can't Houck work on his third pitch on his off days in the majors?

Edited April 16, 2021 by Nick

[notin]

The rest of the AL East and the Mets are off limits to me. I'm ambivalent about the rest of the AL. The only MLB hats I've ever owned aside from Sox hats are: Dodgers (the black hat from back in the early 90's and a newer one when I moved out of LA), Astros (80's NL version), Cardinals (Navy version from early 90's), Phillies (maroon version for little league), Braves (alternate navy brim version for coaching t ball), Marlins (early 90's version with black brim) and Tigers (orange D). Most of those hats were NL hats (Houston was still NL at the time).

 

I did like the NL Astros back when they were all about stolen bases and hideous uniforms. Those late 70's/early 80's Astros with the "orange rainbow" might have been the ugliest uniforms in MLB history, with the possible exception of the White Sox unis featuring white shirts with wide black collars and shorts. And maybe the Padres unis that can be best described as "featuring a color scheme often found in the contents of infant diapers"...

[notin]

I have a few friends that are Cardinals fans and they all say that Cubs fans generally treat Cardinals fans worse than Yankees fans treat Red Sox fans. I've met a few Cubs fans, but have never brought up the question. I'll have to do so next time.

 

I have been to Cards' games at Wrigley. During the game, their fans can be as obnoxious as Hell as their red tide sweeps through the stands. But after the game, if you run into a gaggle of them, they can be some of the most pleasant people you ever hope to meet...

[mvp 78]

I did like the NL Astros back when they were all about stolen bases and hideous uniforms. Those late 70's/early 80's Astros with the "orange rainbow" might have been the ugliest uniforms in MLB history, with the possible exception of the White Sox unis featuring white shirts with wide black collars and shorts. And maybe the Padres unis that can be best described as "featuring a color scheme often found in the contents of infant diapers"...

 

I really just liked that 80's NL style of play (Ozzie Smith, Tony Gwynn, Willie McGee, Vince Coleman, Billy Hatcher, Terry Pendleton, Tim Raines).

[notin]

I have been to Cards' games at Wrigley. During the game, their fans can be as obnoxious as Hell as their red tide sweeps through the stands. But after the game, if you run into a gaggle of them, they can be some of the most pleasant people you ever hope to meet...

 

In the interest of correct diction, apparently a group of Cardinals is, in fact, not a gaggle. Proper terminology would be a college, a conclave of cardinals, a deck, a radiance, or (yes, this is true) a Vatican....

[notin]

I really just liked that 80's NL style of play (Ozzie Smith, Tony Gwynn, Willie McGee, Vince Coleman, Billy Hatcher, Terry Pendleton, Tim Raines).

 

The Astros were doing that NL-style before the Cardinals and with much less success with players like Cesar Cedeno, Enos Cabell, Terry Puhl, Jose Cruz, Craig Reynolds, and Jeff Leonard. Terry Puhl gave you the added bonus of probably playing the shallowest center field in the history of the game. Had he a better throwing arm, the 8-3 putout would have been a lot more common...

[mvp 78]

In the interest of correct diction, apparently a group of Cardinals is, in fact, not a gaggle. Proper terminology would be a college, a conclave of cardinals, a deck, a radiance, or (yes, this is true) a Vatican....

 

You can cross the Cardinals off my list now.

 

Contract the Cardinals!

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I really just liked that 80's NL style of play (Ozzie Smith, Tony Gwynn, Willie McGee, Vince Coleman, Billy Hatcher, Terry Pendleton, Tim Raines).

 

Astroturf teams; half the NL cities had synthetic grass. The big problem, besides destroying knees (from playing on the cement under the carpet), is when dealers started pushing it in nickel bags on street corners.

[moonslav59]

 

Why can't Houck work on his third pitch on his off days in the majors?

 

He can, but it's more effective to test it against live hitting, although the alt site is not "live."

[moonslav59]

I really just liked that 80's NL style of play (Ozzie Smith, Tony Gwynn, Willie McGee, Vince Coleman, Billy Hatcher, Terry Pendleton, Tim Raines).

 

Much of that "play" was based on playing on astroturf.

 

Yuck!

[moonslav59]

You can cross the Cardinals off my list now.

 

Contract the Cardinals!

 

I really like the Cardinals logo and uniforms.

 

That's about it.

[mvp 78]

The Astros were doing that NL-style before the Cardinals and with much less success with players like Cesar Cedeno, Enos Cabell, Terry Puhl, Jose Cruz, Craig Reynolds, and Jeff Leonard. Terry Puhl gave you the added bonus of probably playing the shallowest center field in the history of the game. Had he a better throwing arm, the 8-3 putout would have been a lot more common...

 

The heyday of those guys was mostly before my time. I remember Leonard on those mid 80's Giants teams.

[mvp 78]

I really like the Cardinals logo and uniforms.

 

That's about it.

 

If Ozzie Smith had stayed on the Padres, I probably would have had their cap growing up.

[notin]

Astroturf teams; half the NL cities had synthetic grass. The big problem, besides destroying knees (from playing on the cement under the carpet), is when dealers started pushing it in nickel bags on street corners.

 

Ah yes, forerunner to baseballs' drug policy that had nothing to do with steroids. Who will ever forget the Pittsburgh Drug Trials and their highlights, such as Tim Raines' confession to sliding into bases head first because he had vials of cocaine in his back pocket, or members of the Pirates' bullpen, primarily the late Rod Scurry, testifying to meeting dealers during games, not to mention the man who should have the entire scandal named after him, Steve Howe, whose career included 1 Rookie of the Year Award and seven lifetime bans for drug violations.

 

Oh, and 4 members of the KC Royals (Willie Wilson, Willie Aikens, Vida Blue and Jerry Martin) once spending the off-season in prison for possession of cocaine.

 

The Good Old Days...

[Maxbialystock]

I have a few friends that are Cardinals fans and they all say that Cubs fans generally treat Cardinals fans worse than Yankees fans treat Red Sox fans. I've met a few Cubs fans, but have never brought up the question. I'll have to do so next time.

 

How is that possible? Cubs are documented losers, which means their fans are idiots. Cardinals have been remarkably successful for a century, give or take, thanks in large part to the genius of Branch Rickey who built the first farm system for them. Plus I can remember listening to Cardinals games any time I was on the road in the midwest. Their annual attendance is consistently in the top 5 in MLB and in 2019 was 2d most, 3.48M, behind the Dodgers 3.97M and ahead of the Yankees 3.30M.

 

I have rooted for the Royals when I lived in Kansas, the Phillies when living in Pennsylvania (especially 1980 when they won the WS with Pete Rose), and the Astros (early days when Joe Morgan played for them) when living in Oklahoma. I've watched games in ballparks in KC, Philly, Baltimore, Washington (the Senators old park and the Nationals new one), Atlanta, and of course Boston (a special trip). When I lived and worked in Saudi Arabia, I imagined getting an RV and driving to games in every MLB ballpark, but of course didn't do so. My route would be: Atlanta, Miami, Tampa, Houston, Arlington TX, Phoenix, San Diego, LA x 2, San Francisco, Oakland, Seattle, Denver, KC, St Louis, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Chicago x 2, Detroit, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Toronto, Boston, NYC x 2, Philly, Baltimore, and DC.

[mvp 78]

Astroturf teams; half the NL cities had synthetic grass. The big problem, besides destroying knees (from playing on the cement under the carpet), is when dealers started pushing it in nickel bags on street corners.

 

The only MLB stadium turf I've ever been on was Olympic Stadium in Montreal. The turf was nothing like old Sullivan/Foxboro Stadium turf that really felt like you were at home playing on your driveway. The Olympic Stadium turf had a little give to it.

[mvp 78]

Ah yes, forerunner to baseballs' drug policy that had nothing to do with steroids. Who will ever forget the Pittsburgh Drug Trials and their highlights, such as Tim Raines' confession to sliding into bases head first because he had vials of cocaine in his back pocket, or members of the Pirates' bullpen, primarily the late Rod Scurry, testifying to meeting dealers during games, not to mention the man who should have the entire scandal named after him, Steve Howe, whose career included 1 Rookie of the Year Award and seven lifetime bans for drug violations.

 

Oh, and 4 members of the KC Royals (Willie Wilson, Willie Aikens, Vida Blue and Jerry Martin) once spending the off-season in prison for possession of cocaine.

 

The Good Old Days...

 

Tim "Rock" Raines was cool as hell.

[Bellhorn04]

But "at the moment" the Red Sox and Angels are better -- or playing better (either means both). If you're a website updating "current" rankings, then that should be reflected properly.

 

Well, they could just replace the Power Rankings with the Actual Current Standings. But that would be a tad redundant.

[notin]

How is that possible? Cubs are documented losers, which means their fans are idiots. Cardinals have been remarkably successful for a century, give or take, thanks in large part to the genius of Branch Rickey who built the first farm system for them. Plus I can remember listening to Cardinals games any time I was on the road in the midwest. Their annual attendance is consistently in the top 5 in MLB and in 2019 was 2d most, 3.48M, behind the Dodgers 3.97M and ahead of the Yankees 3.30M.

 

I have rooted for the Royals when I lived in Kansas, the Phillies when living in Pennsylvania (especially 1980 when they won the WS with Pete Rose), and the Astros (early days when Joe Morgan played for them) when living in Oklahoma. I've watched games in ballparks in KC, Philly, Baltimore, Washington (the Senators old park and the Nationals new one), Atlanta, and of course Boston (a special trip). When I lived and worked in Saudi Arabia, I imagined getting an RV and driving to games in every MLB ballpark, but of course didn't do so. My route would be: Atlanta, Miami, Tampa, Houston, Arlington TX, Phoenix, San Diego, LA x 2, San Francisco, Oakland, Seattle, Denver, KC, St Louis, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Chicago x 2, Detroit, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Toronto, Boston, NYC x 2, Philly, Baltimore, and DC.

 

Well, prior to 2016, it was not uncommon for opposing fans, primarily Cardinals's fans, to trash talk about the "Century of Losing". Brewers' fans are closer, but don't exactly have a lot of successes to brag about, so their trash talk focuses on the Packers. And be kind to fans of losing teams. It's easy to find a group of people get behind a team like the Yankees, who win every year. But the most dedicated baseball fans in my eyes are the peiople who rally behind teams like the Pirates, who have watched their ownership let MLB stack the odds against them and these fans know they are in for a long season, but get behind their team anyway.

 

Weird story about Cardinals' broadcasts. In the 1980's, on rare occasions, I was able to pick up those games on my radio (like, a radio with an antenna - none of the internet stuff) when I was growing up in Massachusetts. I don't recall the station's call letters, but I would listen for a while until the signal faded, just in shock at how strong it must have been...