MLB Opening Day 2009 [Archive]

VfBStuttgart

04-07-2009, 02:02 PM

So, even though I a have no real way of watching any of the action, I have still had a pretty entertaining time keeping up with everything. I thought it would be cool to have a place to overreact to the first few games of the season (i.e. CC's poor showing), vent / gloat about the moves your team made in the off-season, argue about the best teams in each division, and make outlandish predictions based on it all.

I will start it off saying GO CHI SOX! Clearly, based on the first game of the season, the Sox will win the division and most likely bring home another World Series Trophy to the South Side. Again, GO SOX!

(Inflammatory remarks, like "I can smell the cubs smelling it up from over 4,000 miles away," are certainly discouraged.)

juleswinnfield

04-07-2009, 02:07 PM

baseball is overrated and it sucks it will be the only sport during this long summer. football > baseball. go cowboys!!! :biggrin:

TimmyBoston

04-07-2009, 02:08 PM

I will start it off saying GO CHI SOX! Clearly, based on the first game of the season, the Sox will win the division and most likely bring home another World Series Trophy to the South Side. Again, GO SOX!
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I'm sure they will too, you're talking about Little League right? :biggrin:

Because in Major League Baseball, there is only one Sox team, and they're from Boston. :wink:

I am really happy to see Baseball back in swing this year. I really miss watching it throughout the winter months.

Gruder

04-07-2009, 02:08 PM

For me, opening day is whenever the Reds play that first game at Great American Ballpark. None of this silly media-driven Sunday night stuff...:mad:

Sadly, the Redlegs lost a close one on opening day this year. Still, I remain hopeful for the remainder of the season. Pitching seems strong -- we just need some offense.

I was entirely happy to see Griffey get the opening day HR yesterday (Tying Robinson's opening day HR record -- who keeps track of that stuff?), even if it was for Seattle.

And don't get me started on the Cubbies. :biggrin:

TimmyBoston

04-07-2009, 02:09 PM

baseball is overrated and it sucks it will be the only sport during this long summer. football > baseball. go cowboys!!! :biggrin:

It's nice to see this as the second post in the thread. :rolleyes::wink:

VfBStuttgart

04-07-2009, 02:26 PM

baseball is overrated and it sucks it will be the only sport during this long summer. football > baseball. go cowboys!!! :biggrin:

I'm sure they will too, you're talking about Little League right? :biggrin:

Because in Major League Baseball, there is only one Sox team, and they're from Boston. :wink:

I am really happy to see Baseball back in swing this year. I really miss watching it throughout the winter months.

First off, glad to see my no inflammatory remarks remark is being observed as I had planned.

Secondly, the cowboys are terrible. Anyone who doesn't like baseball should be put on the "Axis of Evil" list. And, I do kinda like the Roid Sox, but only because their success physically pains Yankees fans. I thought for a brief while last season, that my dream may come true, and both NYY and the BoSox would miss October baseball, but here's to hoping it happens this year.

And Lastly, this time of year is just perfect, as things warm up and baseball gets under way. Each season has its sport, and each seem somehow fitting to that season. Here's to baseball.

Leche

04-07-2009, 02:27 PM

Even though they lost, the Friars did better than I thought against the Dodgers. Predictions are for a worst record this year than last :eek: mainly due to some transactions and a very young roster. We will see what happens. I'm just glad baseball is back in full swing!

Wishoot

04-07-2009, 03:36 PM

Got tickets to the Brewers opener against the Cubs.

Go Brew!

scottydoint

04-07-2009, 03:38 PM

Go Braves! They are on pace to go 162-0. And they were the winningest team in baseball for about 12 hours:lol:

in the know

04-07-2009, 03:40 PM

I've never watched a single game, ever.

But, as I have ESPN America (used to be NASN) as part of my TV package I could be tempted to watch the odd MLB game.

JBHoren

04-07-2009, 03:45 PM

It was sweet!

I've managed to go all winter without watching even one minute of NBA or NHL (or college hoops, as well), and now it's baseball season, once again.

I watched the Marlins v. Nationals... what a game! Bonifacio was amazing -- two homers, and the second one an in-the-park home-run! And then Hanley Ramirez hits a Grand Slam home-run!!

All on Opening Day... what a season this is gonna be! And it'll be a good one for all of us... for each team, each player... for there's no such thing as a "bad" ballgame.

Lemme go... the Marlins v. Nationals are on again!

liege

04-07-2009, 03:47 PM

The Manny Ramirez Dodgers are in first place. Maybe there will be another strike shortened season?
Bleeding Dodger Blue here in the Central Valley of Kalifornia.

Devil Doc

04-07-2009, 03:51 PM

baseball is overrated and it sucks it will be the only sport during this long summer. football > baseball. go cowboys!!! :biggrin:

What are you, a flippin commie.:lol: Texans, are overrated.

Doc.

mretzloff

04-07-2009, 04:08 PM

baseball is overrated and it sucks it will be the only sport during this long summer. football > baseball. go cowboys!!! :biggrin:

I would hate baseball too if my state had crappy teams :lol:

I'm rooting for my Yanks. Before I get accused of being a bandwagoner, let me say that I lived in NY for four years and like them before they 1996.

I hope my Yanks win but I'm thinking Boston will be really hard to beat. Beckett, Dice-K, and Lester is a great top three. If they're healthy, they'll be hard to beat.

mretzloff

04-07-2009, 04:09 PM

DunEdinRanger

04-07-2009, 04:14 PM

Got tickets to the Brewers opener against the Cubs.

Go Brew!

The Cubs :lol::lol::lol: 100 years without winning a World Series.

Wishoot

04-07-2009, 04:39 PM

The Cubs :lol::lol::lol: 100 years without winning a World Series.

I lived in Chicago for 20 years and for the life of me, I couldn't figure out why any reasonable person would root for such an average team. Cubs fans are absolutely crazy about this team. Granted, Wrigley Field is one of the coolest places in the world and the last few years have been promising for them AND Lou Pinella is a great coach.

The day the Cubs win the World Series is the day the world comes to an end.

mretzloff

04-07-2009, 05:31 PM

I lived in Chicago for 20 years and for the life of me, I couldn't figure out why any reasonable person would root for such an average team. Cubs fans are absolutely crazy about this team. Granted, Wrigley Field is one of the coolest places in the world and the last few years have been promising for them AND Lou Pinella is a great coach.

The day the Cubs win the World Series is the day the world comes to an end.

The Cubs just need to get over 2003 and move on.

They have a good team and need to stop choking in October. Last year really was sad.

mk-ultra

04-07-2009, 05:39 PM

Because in Major League Baseball, there is only one Sox team, and they're from Boston. :wink:

+1 on the Red Sox.

The only team I like better than the Bosox are my own Twins. They're playing their final season in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome and will be moving into (taxpayer financed) Target Field next year.

Unfortunately, there will be no beer at the Metrodome this season because the Twins lost the opener! :lol:

mretzloff

04-07-2009, 05:42 PM

The only team I like better than the Bosox are my own Twins. They're playing their final season in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome and will be moving into (taxpayer financed) Target Field next year.

Taxpayer financed? If I lived there I would be outraged. What has Pohlad ever given back to the city?

I'm not saying they don't deserve a new ballpark, I'm just saying that the taxpayers shouldn't have to pay for the park if the owner is so stingy.

scoopster

04-07-2009, 05:56 PM

I was happy to see the Sox win against their new arch-enemy Tampa Bay. Great outing by Beckett and Varitek hits a home run on opening day.

mk-ultra

04-07-2009, 05:59 PM

Taxpayer financed? If I lived there I would be outraged. What has Pohlad ever given back to the city?

I'm not saying they don't deserve a new ballpark, I'm just saying that the taxpayers shouldn't have to pay for the park if the owner is so stingy.

First of all, I must add that Carl Pohlad passed away recently.

He had been after the state for years to buy him a stadium. A lot of chutzpa for someone with 3.2 billion dollars!

The Hennepin County Board dreamed up this idea of a .15% sales tax to pay for 2/3 of the stadium, with the Twins paying the rest. This was billed as only 3 cents on twenty dollars.

State law required a referendum for all sales tax increases, but this was bypassed because they said, "a referendum would kill this".

Since the sales tax increase is only in Hennepin County, this breezed through the State Legistlature and the bill waived the referendum. (A new Twins stadium and my constituents don't have to pay for it? OK).

Governor Tim (No new taxes because I want to run for higher office) Pawlenty signed this bill on the field of the Metrodome during a Twins game, wearing a Twins cap and jersey.

There were cost overruns because the county didn't have a deal in place for the land (stupid idiots!) and the Twins did agree to pay the extra costs.

Target bought the naming rights and the revenue goes to the Twins, not to reduce the taxpayer contribution.

There have been a few interesting developments. The new ballpark is being built next to the Hennepin County trash burning facility (as all major downtowns need to have a trash burner). Claims were made that the smoke from the trash burner and the air quality wouldn't be an issue. As the ballpark was being built, they realized that there is an awful stench from the garbage trucks as they haul garbage into the trash burning facility. In order to remedy this, the County is paying for a new system of doors for the trash burning facility so that the outer doors will be closed when the trucks are dumping their garbage. Then, the trucks will be rinsed by a new system before they depart.

Lastly, due to the state of the economy, the skyboxes have not been selling as expected. This is funny because the main reason for the new ballpark was to have more skyboxes to increase revenue for the team.

My rant is over.

Enjoy the 2009 season!

Dandaw17

04-07-2009, 06:01 PM

Colorado Rockies all the way. haha. Probably not but who knows? I am just excited for going to games and summer approaching!!!

mretzloff

04-07-2009, 06:04 PM

First of all, I must add that Carl Pohlad passed away recently.

He had been after the state for years to buy him a stadium. A lot of chutzpa for someone with 3.2 billion dollars!

The Hennepin County Board dreamed up this idea of a .15% sales tax to pay for 2/3 of the stadium, with the Twins paying the rest. This was billed as only 3 cents on twenty dollars.

State law required a referendum for all sales tax increases, but this was bypassed because they said, "a referendum would kill this".

Since the sales tax increase is only in Hennepin County, this breezed through the State Legistlature and the bill waived the referendum. (A new Twins stadium and my constituents don't have to pay for it? OK).

Governor Tim (No new taxes because I want to run for higher office) Pawlenty signed this bill on the field of the Metrodome during a Twins game, wearing a Twins cap and jersey.

There were cost overruns because the county didn't have a deal in place for the land (stupid idiots!) and the Twins did agree to pay the extra costs.

Target bought the naming rights and the revenue goes to the Twins, not to reduce the taxpayer contribution.

There have been a few interesting developments. The new ballpark is being built next to the Hennepin County trash burning facility (as all major downtowns need to have a trash burner). Claims were made that the smoke from the trash burner and the air quality wouldn't be an issue. As the ballpark was being built, they realized that there is an awful stench from the garbage trucks as they haul garbage into the trash burning facility. In order to remedy this, the County is paying for a new system of doors for the trash burning facility so that the outer doors will be closed when the trucks are dumping their garbage. Then, the trucks will be rinsed by a new system before they depart.

Lastly, due to the state of the economy, the skyboxes have not been selling as expected. This is funny because the main reason for the new ballpark was to have more skyboxes to increase revenue for the team.

My rant is over.

Enjoy the 2009 season!

Hmm, I see where you're coming from.

If the Twins would start spending money and keep up their amazing scouting, they would probably be the AL's best.

juleswinnfield

04-07-2009, 06:14 PM

I would hate baseball too if my state had crappy teams

LOL tell me about it...!! :mad3:

jadam318

04-07-2009, 06:16 PM

Go Braves! They are on pace to go 162-0. And they were the winningest team in baseball for about 12 hours:lol:

Big, Fat +1!

That game wreaked of the Braves of the '90's...stellar pitching and hot bats. How about Franceur's new bat and that new kid who yanked one in is first major league at-bat!

The Yankees lost...surprise. Sorry NY, you still can't buy chemistry (or great pitching, apparently).

I kind of hate being this far removed from ATL, but I'm planning on trying to catch a game in Seattle maybe. Only to say that I've been, and to say that I've seen Griffey Jr. play.

Once more...Go Braves!

castlecraver

04-07-2009, 07:02 PM

DunEdinRanger

04-07-2009, 07:06 PM

The day the Cubs win the World Series is the day the world comes to an end.

Until the Red Sox won, I was sure Armageddon would arrive as the Red Sox and Cubs played in the seventh game of a World Series, tie score, bottom of the ninth, winning run on base, two out, and a full count. Then God would say, "Game Over!" :lol::lol::lol:

stobes21

04-07-2009, 08:58 PM

Well, last night saw the return of that familiar foe for the Cardinals: relievers blowing a lead late in the game. However, tonight showed just how potent the redbirds offense is this season. I'm confident that the bullpen will come together and the Cards will be playing in October.

Oh, and the Cubs suck. The have always sucked. They will always suck. That is all.:tongue:

TimmyBoston

04-07-2009, 09:18 PM

I'm rooting for my Yanks. Before I get accused of being a bandwagoner, let me say that I lived in NY for four years and like them before they 1996.

I hope my Yanks win but I'm thinking Boston will be really hard to beat. Beckett, Dice-K, and Lester is a great top three. If they're healthy, they'll be hard to beat.

That's what so tough in the American League East, there are three of the best teams in the league in one division.

TimmyBoston

04-07-2009, 09:19 PM

VfBStuttgart

04-08-2009, 06:24 AM

+1 on the Red Sox.

The only team I like better than the Bosox are my own Twins. They're playing their final season in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome and will be moving into (taxpayer financed) Target Field next year.

Unfortunately, there will be no beer at the Metrodome this season because the Twins lost the opener! :lol:

I have always hated watching games at the Metrodome, for one because the Twins play there, but more importantly because baseball should be played outdoors. I don't like the domes, but the metrodome was worse than others because it was not designed for baseball. In camera shots from behind the pitcher, you can't even tell if there is a crowd. It just was so many weird spots, and I can't stand the turf. Plus the stupid rafters, which shouldn't have a rule because baseball should be outside. Good to see they will have an actual stadium soon.

Confilo

04-08-2009, 06:38 AM

I was happy to see the Sox win against their new arch-enemy Tampa Bay. Great outing by Beckett and Varitek hits a home run on opening day.

+1 except the Yankees are sharing the archenmies title still.
Opening Day came late but was worth it

scoopster

04-08-2009, 07:10 AM

+1 except the Yankees are sharing the archenmies title still.
Opening Day came late but was worth it

Agree. I was hyping up the Tampa Bay rivalry a bit. They won't ever overturn the longstanding Sox-Yankees, er, "relationship"

mretzloff

04-08-2009, 03:35 PM

Has anyone seen the new Yankee Stadium? I'm very curious about it. Even as a die hard Red Sox fan, I was furious when they tore down Yankee Stadium. With the calibre of ball players that had played there over generations, that was a sad day for baseball.

The point of tearing down the stadium was to make more money. The old Yankee stadium had 19 luxury box suites, while the new one has 56. I believe they go for around $500,000 a year, so that's a lot of moolah right there.

I wish they would have kept the old one.

VfBStuttgart

04-08-2009, 04:49 PM

The point of tearing down the stadium was to make more money. The old Yankee stadium had 19 luxury box suites, while the new one has 56. I believe they go for around $500,000 a year, so that's a lot of moolah right there.

I wish they would have kept the old one.

Couldn't agree more. I can't stand the Yankee's, but that stadium was a piece of baseball history. It's too bad it couldn't have had landmark status or something. Of course, the whole thing was done for money; that was a beautiful stadium and there was nothing wrong with it. What was even more shameful was the highway robbery from the land valuation, but hey, it's New York, what do you expect. Corruption, Deceit, and to pay through the teeth for anything and everything.

koso

04-08-2009, 06:00 PM

What had the potential to be a nice little thread about America's Game has turned into a festering sinkhole of White Sox and Cardinal love. This is intolerable. See you in October, South Side.....

(you too, Cardinals)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v382/aksooted/cubsmiller.jpg

theboi-phrend

04-08-2009, 10:12 PM

I'm a brew-crew fan from way back, they tanked yesterday but bounced back nicely today.

PS: I hope CC throws his arm out. <--Flame away, I don't check the site nearly enough to get into this argument.

mretzloff

04-09-2009, 10:19 AM

PS: I hope CC throws his arm out. <--Flame away, I don't check the site nearly enough to get into this argument.

Why? Because your Brewers weren't able to compete with the big boys in free agency?

jazzman

04-09-2009, 12:54 PM

Taxpayer financed? If I lived there I would be outraged. What has Pohlad ever given back to the city?

I'm not saying they don't deserve a new ballpark, I'm just saying that the taxpayers shouldn't have to pay for the park if the owner is so stingy.

So no taxpayer money went into the new ($1.5 billion, 22 acres of public land) Yankees Stadium or the infrastructure that it needed? Or it's OK for taxpayers to contribute if the club ownership is swimming in money and likes to throw it around?

It's hard to think of one MLB or NFL stadium built recently that did not have taxpayer financing.

Gotta love those Yankee fans.:rolleyes:

TstebinsB

04-09-2009, 12:57 PM

mretzloff

04-09-2009, 03:27 PM

So no taxpayer money went into the new ($1.5 billion, 22 acres of public land) Yankees Stadium or the infrastructure that it needed? Or it's OK for taxpayers to contribute if the club ownership is swimming in money and likes to throw it around?

It's hard to think of one MLB or NFL stadium built recently that did not have taxpayer financing.

Gotta love those Yankee fans.:rolleyes:

But see, here's the thing: the Yankees' owner gives back to the city with a winning baseball team, the Twins' owners does not. The Twins' owner takes the money and pockets it, the Yankees' owner uses it to get more players. The Yankees' owner makes it a priority to put a winning ballclub on the field, the Twins' owner does not.

There is a difference. Nice try though.

Holton181

04-09-2009, 04:47 PM

mretzloff

04-09-2009, 07:12 PM

Now on to what really matters :biggrin:

The Mets won their first series, and will beat the crap out of the Marlins this weekend. AND, the Phils and Yanks are scraping the bottom of the barrel (the Nats don't count. They're not even a real baseball team).

What happens in April does not count. What happens in September does. Maybe the Mets should learn that (in reference to the past two years).

jazzman

04-09-2009, 08:17 PM

What happens in April does not count. What happens in September does. Maybe the Mets should learn that (in reference to the past two years).

As an Oriole fan, in reference to the past 11 years, I'll take what happens in the first two or three games in April.:biggrin:

mk-ultra

04-09-2009, 08:43 PM

But see, here's the thing: the Yankees' owner gives back to the city with a winning baseball team, the Twins' owners does not. The Twins' owner takes the money and pockets it, the Yankees' owner uses it to get more players. The Yankees' owner makes it a priority to put a winning ballclub on the field, the Twins' owner does not.

There is a difference. Nice try though.

Not only did the Twins take the money, they get the money Target is paying for the naming rights.

The original plan called for the Twins to pay 1/3 of the cost, but they did kick in for the cost overruns.

The Hennepin County Board really screwed us on this. It was their plan. And then, the same people got re-elected. I just don't understand it.

It's so hard to imagine that a guy worth 3.2 billion can't just write a check for the whole thing. I mean, he'd still have over 2 billion left. He could have left a wonderful legacy for his family.

Carl Pohlad passed away in January, so he didn't get to see the stadium he finally screwed us out of, after trying for over 10 years.

The Twins used to play in a perfectly good ballpark, Metropolitan Stadium. The downtown businesses wanted sports downtown, so the Metrodome was forced on us. Now the Mall of America is on the Metropolitan Stadium site.

In another 20 years, I'm sure we'll get screwed into another stadium.

In the mean time, Ziggy Wilf thinks we're going to pay for a Viking's stadium, during a recession with a 4+ billion dollar budget shortfall.