MLB: June 2011

The Cubs are the first team to get to comeback player of the year Ryan Vogelsong since the beginning of May (where “get to” is defined as “causing Vogelsong more than 2 earned runs,” and where that is in turn defined as “three earned runs”). Too bad they did it in a game where the vaunted Giants “offense” scored 13 runs.

Forget Adrian Gonzalez or Jose Bautista. Aaron Rowand is the power hitter of the future!!

Yanks spanked Grienke tonight.

Twas a ding of beauty it twas.

Three straight shutouts for Cliff Lee, 32 consecutive innings. The guy was just as overpowering in the 9th as in the 1st.

Is he really up to 32? I’d like to see him take that record from Hershiser, just because, you know, I hate Orel Hershiser on account of 1988. Let’s go Lee!

I hate hate hate that the last two posts about really awesome players (Martinez, Lee) are about ex-Indians.

Hate.

Lee just has to throw… er, three more shutouts to tie the record.

“59 scoreless innings” sounds impressive enough on its own, but when you consider what Lee has to do to get there it seems impossible that someone actually did it.

Days spent by Tommy Hanson on the DL in June: 15
Games won by Tommy Hanson in June: 4
Games won by the Florida Marlins in June: 3

I bet he doesn’t get out of his next game without an ER.

Bet me!

Thought so.

That’s how impressive Orel’s record is.

Yeah. Unfortunately that’s what happens when you keep trading away Cy Young winners and MVP candidates because you can’t afford to pay them.

At least we got some good young players out of it… to develop and trade away in the future.

Cubs beat Lincecum, celebrate like they won the World Series*

Settle down boys, you’re still 15 games under .500.

*As if any of them know what that’s like.

Be interesting to see if the oddly resurgent Mets offense (52 runs in the last 4 games) will do much of anything against Justin Verlander. And whether they can save anything for the Yankees.

I’m still not entirely sure why The Tribe didn’t throw a giant amount of cash at Sabathia, Martinez, and Lee to keep them around. With the young talent they have now, they’d be a very competitive team.

You’re telling me. The Mets aren’t even getting cheap hits either. They’re crushing Tiger pitching. However, I would like to see Verlander fire a gem against them. The bullpen needs a rest.

Jose Reyes to the Reds! C’mon, make it happen!

I think the Met’s can’t trade Reyes and should in fact do the opposite and do everything in their power to lock him up for a long term contract. He is the only draw left on the team. Trade Reyes away now and why is anyone going to go to games at all this season? Ok, that’s a bit extreme, but really they need to keep him and build the team around him. Trade away everyone else, but keep Reyes.

I have decided that I am only going to bring up good things going on with the Dodgers after this post. Even though they aren’t a playoff team, there is still a lot to be excited about. Rubby De La Rosa had his first genuinely great pitching performance, showing what he can be in the near future. Kershaw is pitching out of his mind, and Kemp is playing stupid good baseball right now. There are several other young kids who are coming up and could make the team very exciting in the next several years. Lots of positives to think on there.

One last negative thing before I drop it though:

The collected sins of The McCourt’s.

A listing of all the shit that the McCourts have put Dodger fans through over the past few years, and that’s without giving Frank’s payroll policies credit for trading away Carlos Santana. It’s a good list.

Ok, I am done. Nothing but sunshine and lollipops for the rest of the season.

I’d like for the Tigers to trade for Reyes or Wright, and that makes sense to me. I honestly don’t see how Reyes could be let go.

The Giants lineup today against the Cubs features 8 guys batting under .240. The *leadoff *hitter is sporting a lofty .224. And a total of 24 HRs.

And yet, incredibly, they might win.

Your wish has been granted.
He will still be ripped off for the Cy Young.