MLB 2004 Regular Season Thread [R]

[SoccerFan8270]

The 2004 regular season is now underway!

[SportBoy333]

Its underway but I saw a ton of mediots on various ESPN shows bitching and complaing the season was opening in Japan. There was very few in favor of it. The media is filled with "baseball tradionalists.

[NateP]

Its underway but I saw a ton of mediots on various ESPN shows bitching and complaing the season was opening in Japan. There was very few in favor of it. The media is filled with "baseball tradionalists.

Perhaps, but they do make some good points. I think Baseball tried to capture the positives of having a "hype event" to start the season but what they came up with doesn't fit the bill.

For me there were the following negatives: Playing regular season games, then back to spring training, then back to the regular season; start times of 5am; and potential issues with jet lag creating competitive disadvantage.

I'd much prefer to have Opening day like the last few years where ESPN and ESPN 2 each showed 3 or 4 games and everything started with a bang; but if they have to have a one day event do like the NFL did and have the Yankees v D-Rays game in primetime the night before so everyone can watch. Instead they shipped the game halfway around the world and put it on at a time when the majority of the US audience wouldn't be watching and hoped the "Ooh look they're playing in Japan" factor would compensate.

[riverplate]

Interesting article from today's NY Times about the Japan trip:

ADS ON YANKEES UNIFORMS CRITICIZED

A non-profit group that monitors commercial advertising accused Major League Baseball yesterday of degrading itself by putting Richo advertisments on the uniform sleeves and the helmets of the Yankees and Tampa Bay Devil Rays during their two-game series in Japan.

"It is clear where this is headed," Gary Ruskin, the executive director of Commercial Alert, said in a letter to commissioner Bud Selig. "Small ads at first to break the ice and gain consumer acceptance," followed by a "gradual creep until baseball uniforms start to resemble Nascar racing suits and cars." He added, "Is there anything in baseball that you won't stick an ad on?"

Rich Levin, a spokesman for M.L.B., said there had been discussions in the past about major league teams wearing ads during the regular season. "Our marketing people brought it up a few years ago, the commissioner rejected it and it hasn't come up since," he said.

In his letter, Ruskin told Selig: "You are the trustee of a legacy. Do you really want to pass along to those who will come after us an item of tarnished and compromised commercial goods?"

[otterulz]

If baseball purists want to bitch, then bitch about the teams wearing the ads like riverplate mentioned. Of all the teams, I thought the Yankees would be the last to do something like that. Anyway, I doubt that it'll creep into the MLB anytime soon, but with today's sports commercialism, I wouldn't be surprsed.

So Sport Illustrated predicted the Mets to finish last in the NL East again and 22nd overall. I hope people keep writing us off. I know the NL East is way more competitive than it has been in years, but I dunno, I have a funny feeling about this year's team.

[Achtung]

Totally ridiculous idea to start the regular season abroad. If they want to promote the sport, thats all well and good, but do what everyone else does and play preseason games in other countries. Games that count for something shouldn't be played halfway around the world.

[riverplate]

Actually, I think the reaction by this self-appointed "watchdog" group, Commercial Alert, is overstated.

I noticed the ads on the game, but they didn't bum me out. I understand Ricoh was a sponser of these games and they obviously wanted to get their money's worth. They even requested that the Yankees wear their pinstripe uniforms, even though the Devil Rays were the home team. The Yankees agreed, provided the Devil Rays wrote off on it. The Devil Rays said they didn't care what the Yankees wore, as long as Tampa Bay was batting last. They graciously went along with the gesture.

I think it's much ado about nothing.

[mellon002]

Everybody ready for opening night? Let's go O's!

[riverplate]

The Mets continue to turn themselves into the Yankee Retreads. They've dealt Roger Cedeno to the St. Louis Cardinals for former Yankee back-up catcher Chris Widger (.235 last year), along with infielder Wilson Delgado (an impressive .228 with no home runs last season).

In addition, the Mets will be eating $9 million of Roger's $10 million salary. And some of you say Boss George throws cash around like a maniac.

And if Al Leiter wants to head balls, he ought to take up soccer.

[BlueMeanie]

Nothing against the BoSox, but I hope they lose this game (3-1 BAL in the 7th as I type). I just wanna see the "Wait Until Next Year" headline in the Globe sports again. ;)

So, is Johnny Damon's new nickname "Helter Skelter" or "The Passion of the Centerfielder?"

[mellon002]

The O's sure look good. :D I wasn't sure if Pedro was going to be able to recover, he looked very rattled.

[mellon002]

Oh and I vote for the Passion of the Centerfielder.

[mellon002]

7-2 Final O's over the BoSox.

Orioles are in first place in the division. It's nice.

[TheSlipperyOne]

7-2 Final O's over the BoSox.


A fun game to watch. Especially for me having Ponson and Mueller on my fantasy team. :D

[SoccerFan8270]

7-2 Final O's over the BoSox.
This is nice. Yes, very nice. You can tell that I'm a Yankees fan :D.

[Ian McCracken]

Break up the Detroit Tigers!!! 7-0 winners over last year's Cy Young winner. World Series tickets are going fast in Motown!

[BlueMeanie]

Bonds just hit #659, a 3-run shot off Roy Oswalt in the top of the 8th to even it up with Houston, 4-4. One more and he ties his godfather, Willie Mays.

Hilarious lead-in to the HR. The G's had runners on first and second with one out, and with Bonds coming up, Jimy Williams went out to talk to Oswalt, who apparently talked Williams into letting him stay. First pitch to Bonds...SMACK!

[SoccerFan8270]

FINAL:
Detroit: 7
Toronto: 0
J. Johnson (W, 1-0)
R. Halladay (L, 0-1)
A very good win by Deroit. They kept hitting home runs which is good. Pudge hit a homer in today's game.

Chi Cubs: 7
Cincinnati: 4
K. Wood (W, 1-0)
C. Lidle (L, 0-1)
Kerry Wood pitched very well today. He only pitched 5 innings but that was enough for him nad the Cubs. The Cubs bullpen was excellent. Cincinnati messed up few times that cost them some runs.

Chi White Sox: 7
Kansas City: 9
D.J. Carrasco (W, 1-0)
D. Marte (L, 0-1)

Philadelphia: 1
Pittsburgh: 2
K. Wells (W, 1-0)
K. Millwood (L, 0-1)
J. Mesa (S, 1)
This was a very close game. The scroning was very close. Both teams performed well, but Philly came up a bit short. Jose Mesa did something that he failed to do in Philly for so long; get a save.

San Diego: 8
Los Angeles: 2
B. Lawrence (W, 1-0)
H. Nomo (L, 0-1)
Very nicely played by San Diego. They had a few nice homers.

Milwaukee: 8
St. Louis: 6
D. Burba (W, 1-0)
M. Morris (L, 0-1)
D. Kolb (S, 1)

[Pack87Man]

Yes, yes. Brewers win! Brewers win! My favorite team is over .500 for the first time since Opening Day 2002. They worried me when the score was 4-4, but somewhere they found the offense and relief pitching to pull it out. Maybe things will be a bit different this year.

[mellon002]

Two days straight now where the O's are in first place.