# MLB: April 2011 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 1, 2011, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2011/576712 "2011-04-01T02:42:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2011/576712/21 "2011-04-01T23:40:19Z")
It is obvious by extrapolating from this performance that the Rangers will not lose a game all season. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2011/576712/22 "2011-04-01T23:58:02Z")
Nightmare of a first inning for the Twins: 8 batters, 4 runs against, 1 error, 1 balk, 1 infield single, and they allowed a player to get out of a rundown(which wasn’t scored as an error). ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2011/576712/23 "2011-04-02T00:10:10Z")
Well, the Padres got a win on opening day, which was nice. The Orioles are currently leading the Rays 1-0, and Jeremy Guthrie is looking damn good on the mound so far. His change-up has been excellent. I don’t generally give a fuck about sporting figures’ politics, but i’m finding it pretty hard to root for Luke Scott after his ranting about Obama. I’m sure there are plenty of baseball players whose politics i disagree with, but Birthers are in an insane league all by themselves. Absolutely loving MLB TV. Best $120 a baseball fan can spend, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2011/576712/24 "2011-04-02T02:04:45Z")
Old joke: “There will be no beer served at Fenway this year. The Red Sox lost the opener.” ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2011/576712/25 "2011-04-02T02:11:21Z")
> [@Ambihelical\_Hexnut](#): > > Albert Pujols’ record-breaking career continued yesterday - unfortunately, the record he set wasn’t a desirable one - he became the first man ever to ground into three double plays on opening day. He was responsible for 8 outs, him going 0-5, three of which were double plays. Pretty amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2011/576712/26 "2011-04-02T02:24:04Z")
Have fun tonight, **RickJay**? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2011/576712/27 "2011-04-02T03:02:38Z")
Blue Jays 13, Twins 3. That went well. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2011/576712/28 "2011-04-02T04:52:47Z")
Could hardly have gone better. In the first inning the Twins actually picked TWO guys off and blew them both - they didn’t get Rajai Davis because they just didn’t execute on the rundown, and Travis Snider was beaten but Pavano was called for a balk. I have never seen two guys get picked off in one inning and yet escape it, ever, by any means. How strange. I enjoyed Toronto’s moronic announcers, Buck Martinez and Pat Tabler, babbling about how the Jays this year are going to scopre bunches of runs by running, rather than hitting homers, immediately before the Jays socked three homers. ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2011/576712/29 "2011-04-02T05:01:17Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Could hardly have gone better. > > In the first inning the Twins actually picked TWO guys off and blew them both - they didn’t get Rajai Davis because they just didn’t execute on the rundown, and Travis Snider was beaten but Pavano was called for a balk. I have never seen two guys get picked off in one inning and yet escape it, ever, by any means. How strange. > > I enjoyed Toronto’s moronic announcers, Buck Martinez and Pat Tabler, babbling about how the Jays this year are going to scopre bunches of runs by running, rather than hitting homers, immediately before the Jays socked three homers. Yes, but given how HORRENDOUS their baserunning was last year, if they can couple some speed with their power from the 2010 campaign, they have a legit (outside) shot at the AL wildcard, if not taking the East! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![pricciar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@pricciar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pricciar)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2011/576712/30 "2011-04-02T05:18:31Z")
Sorry about that Munch. I was watching the game, and didn’t even pick up on the fact that he threw so few pitches. Of course, I missed the big 27 pitch inning, so I was unable to connect the dots. Well. Myers was very impressive. He seems like a different pitcher then he was when he was here. A lot calmer, less speed and more offspeed stuff. A component of the low pitch count was no strike outs. Great first couple of days of baseball. I haven’t reupped on my [mlb.tv](http://mlb.tv) package. Just because I have been too busy. But, I think before the weekend is out I will be back on it and listening to announcers from around the league. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2011/576712/31 "2011-04-02T05:30:52Z")
2 in a row. Go Big Blue! You may remind me of this exuberance in August, when I’m cursing Mattingly, Broxton, and everybody else in the stadium except Vin. ---
**Author:** ![Carmady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@Carmady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carmady)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2011/576712/32 "2011-04-02T05:37:01Z")
Giants open the season with 2 straight painful 1-run losses while committing 5 errors to give the games away. Giants fans remember that their slogan was “torture”, after all. I’m kind of angry that the world series champs start the season on the road against their hated rival. Is that normal? There is a good chance they will go home for the Ring Ceremony after losing a brutal series to the Dodgers. Damn you MLB. ---
**Author:** ![Jules\_Andre](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jules_andre/32/9334_2.png) [@Jules\_Andre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jules_Andre)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2011/576712/33 "2011-04-02T07:42:05Z")
The Diamondbacks won, and Justin Upton belted a home run. It all goes downhill from here! ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2011/576712/34 "2011-04-02T11:46:24Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > In the first inning the Twins actually picked TWO guys off and blew them both - they didn’t get Rajai Davis because they just didn’t execute on the rundown, and Travis Snider was beaten but Pavano was called for a balk. I have never seen two guys get picked off in one inning and yet escape it, ever, by any means. How strange. I’m pretty sure that missing Davis cost them three runs last night. ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2011/576712/35 "2011-04-02T15:25:51Z")
King Felix picks up right where he left off, pitching a 108 pitch complete game and gets a W. He gave up a two run home run in the first, but was sick after that. First complete game on Opening Day in M’s history. The M’s offense looked better, but it can’t really be worse than it was last year. Chone Figgins matched his season total from last year with one home run already. He hit his one in April last year too. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2011/576712/36 "2011-04-02T15:37:13Z")
Matt Holliday went 3 for 4 before leaving the game for an appendectomy. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2011/576712/37 "2011-04-02T15:42:32Z")
> [@antonio107](#): > > Yes, but given how HORRENDOUS their baserunning was last year, if they can couple some speed with their power from the 2010 campaign, they have a legit (outside) shot at the AL wildcard, if not taking the East! 🙂 Baserunning doesn’t really matter that much. It matters, but not a lot. Toronto’s problem last year was that they couldn’t get men on base. You can run all you want but if you can’t get men on base you can’t win. That the Jays scored as many runs as they did is positively miraculous; they did it by hitting a ridiculous number of home runs. What matters in 2011 is whether or not they get more men on base. You can If I am not mistaken, the 2010 Blue Jays were\*\* the most homer-dependent offense in the history of baseball.\*\* You can’t sustain that. Looking at the lineup, I think they WILL get more men on base. There’s no way Hill and Lind can be as bad as they were last year, Snider will probably improve, and I don’t see any position where they’re likely to be any worse than they were last year. That’s what will make up for the 99% likelihood of them hitting fewer home runs. I think their offense is going to be more or less as good as it was in 2010, just in a different way, fewer homers but more baserunners. The baserunners will be better at runnig the bases to be sure - Davis is the best baserunner in a Jays uniform since Devon White - but what will matter most is that there will be MORE baserunners. How good they do depends on how the young pitching works out. If they have selected the right guys for the starting rotation, they could be shockingly good. Romero is a Grade A starting pitcher, Morrow is a beast, but the rest of them are mostly potential, and you just never know with young pitchers. They could be ready now or ready in two years, or they could get hurt, or maybe you picked the wrong one and you don’t switch him with the guy in AAA until he’s already gone 2-6, but then again maybe the guy fools the league for four months and goes 15-5. It’s a real crapshoot when your oldest starter is 26 - you could be like the Rays in2008, or you could be like the Orioles every couple of years. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2011/576712/38 "2011-04-02T16:12:18Z")
> [@pricciar](#): > > Sorry about that Munch. I was watching the game, and didn’t even pick up on the fact that he threw so few pitches. Of course, I missed the big 27 pitch inning, so I was unable to connect the dots. Oh god, don’t worry about it. Like I mentioned, I had the innings wrong anyway. Plus, there’s enough baseball left for me to be wrong dozens upon dozens of times over. I’m really excited about the Royals offense this year. They’re already showing what they can do - and Gordon almost had a walk-off on Thursday that pulled just inside the foulpole. My brother and step-dad get to go to the game today, which is followed by the Futures Game where the AAA team plays the AA squad - I’m completely jealous (and 400 miles away). ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2011/576712/39 "2011-04-02T19:36:13Z")
30 minutes to watching my first game of the year. I love baseball! > [@Southern\_Yankee](#): > > Obviously, one game means nothing, but I’m encouraged by the pen. It is encouraging and I really like our bullpen this year. It has all the pieces to be as good as the 96-2000 Yankee Bullpens. > [@NAF1138](#): > > I just noticed this in the quote. I will be the first to say that I miss the hell out of Russell Martin and that I am upset that he and the Dodgers let such a relatively small amount of money come between them. I am a fan, but that steal was totally out of character for him. Don’t get me wrong, it was exciting as hell, but it’s not exactly what he did even when he was in his prime. I wouldn’t expect a whole lot more of that out of him. Poor base-running skills are what cause his near career ending injury last year. Well I’ve been living with Jorge Posada for the better part 15 seasons now, he is one of the worse base runners I have ever seen. Recently we have had Jose Molina as the backup who is of course one of the slowest players ever. So by comparison, Martin and when he gets off the DL, Cervelli is a huge speed increase and base running increase over what we’ve had. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2011/576712/40 "2011-04-02T19:41:50Z")
A highly satisfying second game for the Jays, one-hitting the Twins. I hope they saved something for tomorrow, as I shall be in attendance. A fascinating fact they noted on the telecast today I didn’t know… in 2010, only four American League teams had winning records agains the AL East. Those four teams were all IN the AL East. \*\*Note to What Exit?: \*\*Jose Molina is slow, but believe me, his brother Bengie was slower. Calling what he was doing “running” seems an overly generous description. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2011/576712.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-april-2011/576712.md?page=3)