The official MLB thread.

[Maawdawg]

THE place for discussing the 2009 baseball season. Spring training is almost over and soon the real games begin. Make your predictions. Show your allegiance.

[Nicholbert]

This is what I am talkin about! NYY FTW!

[Sw0ll_MC25]

I'm gonna get flamed for this: )

Boo Yankees
Boo Red Socks
Boo every team except for the Royals.

Every good player KC ever gets, except for George Brett, gets bought out. For this reason I have no respect for the yankees, but then again I'm also jealous at the same time. But thats how the big leagues work.

[Maawdawg]

The Royals are my bet for the sleeper team of the year. Like the Rays last year, but maybe not all the way to a WS title. I think they have a lot of young talent that has to start clicking soon.

[Magnum]

Phillies fan since I was born, and super proud we finally won the World Series this past year. Let's see if we can at least make it to the post season again this year. If we win again, I don't know what I'll do.

[Nicholbert]

Sw0ll-I love a Yankee hater as much as I love a Red Sox hater...if that makes sense. I can see where your jealousy can come in as the GreedBrenners will spend every dime they have to bring another championship to New York this decade. I don't agree with it, I hate the fact we signed the worst post season pitcher of this era, and Burnett with his fragile frame will end up being another Carl Pavano situation. The only great move they made at the meetings was signing Texiera. And now with ARod out for 3 months-ish, he is going to have to produce from Day 1. I don't think it will happen, and the Yanks will stay in the basement of the AL East for the first third of the season.

As far as hating the Red Sox goes, I wish there were more Crap Sox Nation haters. They have the most ridiculous fans. They are ALMOST as bad as Cubs fans. Nothing beats the horrendous and hopeless Cubs fans though. It sure does make writing funny material easy though as long as the Cubs are around.

Maaw - IF the Royals finish in either 1st or 2nd place in the AL Central, I will send you $20. Flat out, with everyone on this thread as my witness. They have a decent core of young hitters, however their pitching is fail. Their pitching always has failed. They can't develop young talent for long enough. Seriously though, I will send you $20 if the Royals make it to 1st or 2nd in the AL Central :D

[Sw0ll_MC25]

Maaw - IF the Royals finish in either 1st or 2nd place in the AL Central, I will send you $20. Flat out, with everyone on this thread as my witness. They have a decent core of young hitters, however their pitching is fail. Their pitching always has failed. They can't develop young talent for long enough. Seriously though, I will send you $20 if the Royals make it to 1st or 2nd in the AL Central :D


Hell I'll make that $200. The Royals are nothing more than a upper class minor league team. But I can not root for any other team, it would just feel wrong.

[Nicholbert]

Hell I'll make that $200. The Royals are nothing more than a upper class minor league team. But I can not root for any other team, it would just feel wrong.

And that my friend makes you a true fan. I can respect that. Whereabouts in Vegas are you located? I will be out there for a week at the end of the month for a big convention. It will be my first trip out.

[Maawdawg]

From the sports fan thread:


That is the Mets' job. :D

I think the Yankees got some good upgrades but 2 of the big 3 they got do involve decent risk. Sabathia is a good pitcher but doesn't have the best postseason record due to the fact that the Indians (and Brewers) burned him out in the regular season just to get there. If the Yankees can limit his innings a bit he may be more effective, and if he can not eat a whole cheesecake a day while in New York. He also has a TON of innings on his arm already for such a young pitcher.

Burnett just needs to have his arm not fly off. He is one injury from the Yankee fans treating him like Pavano. He got a LOT of money for someone who only won more than 12 games once in his whole career.

Teixeira is a really good player. No downside to getting him in my eyes though unless he gets off to a bad start and the fans get on him. He hasn't handled the big market pressure before.

[Nicholbert]

From the sports fan thread:

You and I are on the same wavelength Maaw. Agree.

[Maawdawg]

You and I are on the same wavelength Maaw. Agree.

I think even though I am a Sawx fan I have a pretty balanced view of both teams. I can't stand "fans" of one team or the other who can't keep a reasonable frame of mind when rating the two teams. I REALLY can't stand it when I know more about the Yankees than a "die hard Yankees fan" that I am taking to. I am sure that people get equally frustrated with the "pink hat" fans from Boston who know nothing about the team at all.

Also, let me say that I hate the WBC. I think it is dumb in general. With all the players getting hurt it is only a matter of time before all MLB teams say "noone is going". We are really one blown ACL, shredded hamstring, torn elbow, or shoulder injury to a star from it happening.

Look at the people who already are hurt from this year, it is pretty crazy.

[Nicholbert]

Again, I totally agree with you. Every day Jeter is training and playing with team USA, I am nervous. The idea is there, and it was Selig's way of band-aiding the steroids era. It is not even a good thing to come out of his reign. I do wish it were gone, and more focus on spring training would be awesome.

[Sw0ll_MC25]

And that my friend makes you a true fan. I can respect that. Whereabouts in Vegas are you located? I will be out there for a week at the end of the month for a big convention. It will be my first trip out.

I just noticed your post.

I live in Henderson NV, about 15 minutes (10 min south, 5min east) from the south end of the strip, in the 'green valley' district. Ironic, its the desert.

If you're gonna vist Vegas now is the time, the weather is awesome. It was in the mid 80's over the weekend.

[ZIPGUN]

Phillies fan since I was born, and super proud we finally won the World Series this past year. Let's see if we can at least make it to the post season again this year. If we win again, I don't know what I'll do.

Go Phillies! Can you say repeat!

[Nicholbert]

I just noticed your post.

I live in Henderson NV, about 15 minutes (10 min south, 5min east) from the south end of the strip, in the 'green valley' district. Ironic, its the desert.

If you're gonna vist Vegas now is the time, the weather is awesome. It was in the mid 80's over the weekend.

I fly out on the 24th and come back on the 27th. I can't wait. If you're in the area of the convention center, let me know. We can talk more sports and TH.

[Magnum]

Go Phillies! Can you say repeat!

I can certain hope for it, but I think we've got a pretty good chance. We'll just have to keep an eye out for how good the competition will be this year.

[ZIPGUN]

I can certain hope for it, but I think we've got a pretty good chance. We'll just have to keep an eye out for how good the competition will be this year.

You are correct my friend however I think we have a good chance. I think they got better and the core is all there.

[Magnum]

Plus we didn't trade away all our decent players. We've actually started to pay them pretty well too. :D

[ZIPGUN]

Plus we didn't trade away all our decent players. We've actually started to pay them pretty well too. :D


lol Funny how that works.

[Nicholbert]

Team USA last night FTW! I really didn't think they were going to survive the 'Classic' again this year, but look at that, a 9th inning comeback. Here is the story:

WBC (http://sports.espn.go.com/extra/baseball/wbbc/recap?gameId=290317115&league=wbbc&campaign=rss&source=MLBHeadlines)

[Icarus 413]

My team has and always will be the New York Mets.

But I also support the Red Sox since I live in MA and out of spite towards the Yankees.

[ZIPGUN]

Its almost time my friends. Its almost time for the Phillies to defend as the W.S.Champs. Lets play ball!

[Magnum]

Phillies vs Braves - April 5th. GO PHILS!

[Nicholbert]

I know some of you probably heard about Nick Adenhart by now. I think this is absolutely tragic, and my thoughts and prayers are with his family. This kid may have been a perrenial All Star pitcher in his career.

Nick Adenhart (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&id=4057084)

[ZIPGUN]

I know some of you probably heard about Nick Adenhart by now. I think this is absolutely tragic, and my thoughts and prayers are with his family. This kid may have been a perrenial All Star pitcher in his career.

Nick Adenhart (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&id=4057084)

This was a shame. RIP

[Maawdawg]

The absolutely threw the book at the driver, and rightfully so. Murder, vehicular manslaughter, hit + run, evading, DWI, etc, etc, etc. Terrible thing all the way around, and especially since the kid finally got his break and performed really well.

[Magnum]

A good one taken and now another good one lost. The "Voice of the Phillies" died today. He was found in the broadcast booth just before today's game.

Phillies announcer Harry Kalas dead at 73 (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-phillies-kalashospitalized&prov=ap&type=lgns)

[Maawdawg]

So many well known broadcasters have died in the last few years. So many "voice of..." type people. They listed them all on PTI yesterday in the "Happy Happy" section when they did the Happy Trails to Harry Kalas. A big part of people's childhood baseball memories die with those people.

[ZIPGUN]

Its already hard to watch the Phils knowing that Harry will not be back in the next inning.

[Nicholbert]

Man, how awesome is it that Manny was just banned for 50 games for PED prescription use. Another guilty party tarnishing this era's face of baseball forever going down in a blaze of glory. I hope the Dodgers drop his *** and he is forced into retirement. I can't stand that guy. Good riddance to him and his nappy dreads!

And I am not using nappy like Imus would use nappy...

[Maawdawg]

Everyone kept asking if I was surprised today.... ummm no. It is impossible to be surprised by steroid/PED revelations anymore. Couldn't have happened to a better guy. Me first jerk who mailed in games whenever he didn't get his way and faked injuries if he didn't feel like playing.

[laxfish76]

GO JAYS GO!

Haha, the Jays rule (so far)!

I love it!

Toronto is awesome, except most of our sports teams suck...

Hopefully the Jays (and Raps next season) can change that.

//Lax

[Magnum]

You go ahead and root for your Jays. Hopefully, the Phils will be there down the road to squash their dreams like they did ours in 1993.

[Hannar]

Two of the things I love in life: Boston Red Sox baseball and Notre Dame football. My dogs are named 'Tek and Montana. Every summer we'll go to Boston, and every fall we'll go to South Bend. So it is a proud moment that I come back to the site and see we now have an official forum for sports discussion and an MLB thread :).

I just got back from a 9 day visit to Boston and got to watch 6 games vs. the Rangers and the Yankees. That sweep versus the Yanks was a great, great time. Heading down to Atlanta tomorrow afternoon to see the Braves v. Red Sox series.

[Warblade]

...Hannar.....I am a Yankees fan :cool: We rule! Boo Red Sox (Even though they are great and I recently went to Fenway Park and watched two victories.....GO YOU!!!!!!!!)

[Maawdawg]

Fenway is an amazing place to watch a game and Boston is a great city to wander around for a week in. The sox have been pretty hot of late. When Papi and Tek are actually hitting you know things are going right. They haven't reached the level of Julio Lugo contributing though, if they reach that level the team sill just morph into a ball of white light and float away.

I hate Julio Lugo.

[Hannar]

Julio Lugo is the Unreal engine for the Red Sox. More expensive than it should have been, less productive than for its previous owners, and has screwed up some otherwise really good games.

[PLOWKILL]

Well..... I can honestly say that Ive never heard anything put that way.....

but it works!

[Maawdawg]

Theo gets his fascinations with players and overrates them at times. Lugo and Drew are prime examples. No way is JD Drew worth the coin he pulls in and when they signed Lugo initially I hated the move. I hated they were even looking at him and that they had been tryignt o get him for years. What was the big draw to a shortstop with an erratic arm who hits .250 with no power and strikes out a lot?

The should have stuck with Cabrera after '04 but they were too high on Renteria and then when he sucked they had to turn to Lugo. Which is like accidentally cutting yourself making dinner and trying to close the gaping wound by filling it with salt.

When you can look at Lugo and with for the good old days of Luis Rivera and Jody Reed you know you have a terrible shortstop.

[Magnum]

Hannar, looks like we can't be sports buds at all.

PSU and Phillies fan all the way. ;)

[Sw0ll_MC25]

Two of the things I love in life: Boston Red Sox baseball and Notre Dame football.....

Red Sox. ehh I won't hold that against ya.
I'm a Royals fan.

----------------
Edit: Off Topic

Norte Dame, I can hardly bring myself to type those words:p


They're worse than USC, UNC, and all of Flordia teams combined.
I don't see how any team can have consecutive losing seasons and still make it to a big bowl game, and every singal game is on TV. This grinds my gears.

If you've been a fan of them for your whole life then I respect that.
If not then I hang my head in sorrow.


I am a huge big 12 fan, so any other conference I can not like. The Big 12 have there faults, so lets here it. lol.

[Hannar]

Sort of life long... I married into it, although I was always intrigued by the team. Absolutely loved those jerseys growing up.

This won't make you feel any better, but I grew up a UNC football fan. I grew up in Knoxville, TN, and I hated the Vols, so I had to find someone else to root for quickly. UNC is where it was at. My wife's father raised their family on ND football, so when we got married we had two different teams. My boss bought us tickets to the UNC v. Notre Dame football game up in South Bend a few years back. I spent a weekend on the campus and never looked back. I absolutely love it up there. It's so vastly different than what I was used to at UNC (and especially UT) games that I just had to go back. So it gave me a great excuse to drag the wife on a road trip every year :). We did UNC v. ND in '06, Duke v. ND in '07, Stanford v. ND and ND v. UNC in '08, and will at least take in Nevada v. ND this year.

My boss is a huge Oklahoma fan, so by default I have a great deal of respect for the Big 12.

[AKAtheMilkman]

Sort of life long... I married into it, although I was always intrigued by the team. Absolutely loved those jerseys growing up.

This won't make you feel any better, but I grew up a UNC football fan. I grew up in Knoxville, TN, and I hated the Vols, so I had to find someone else to root for quickly. UNC is where it was at. My wife's father raised their family on ND football, so when we got married we had two different teams. My boss bought us tickets to the UNC v. Notre Dame football game up in South Bend a few years back. I spent a weekend on the campus and never looked back. I absolutely love it up there. It's so vastly different than what I was used to at UNC (and especially UT) games that I just had to go back. So it gave me a great excuse to drag the wife on a road trip every year :). We did UNC v. ND in '06, Duke v. ND in '07, Stanford v. ND and ND v. UNC in '08, and will at least take in Nevada v. ND this year.

My boss is a huge Oklahoma fan, so by default I have a great deal of respect for the Big 12.
all i have to say to this entire post is...

:D ROLL TIDE!!! :D

[Sw0ll_MC25]

Sort of life long... I married into it, although I was always intrigued by the team. Absolutely loved those jerseys growing up.

This won't make you feel any better, but I grew up a UNC football fan. I grew up in Knoxville, TN, and I hated the Vols, so I had to find someone else to root for quickly. UNC is where it was at. My wife's father raised their family on ND football, so when we got married we had two different teams. My boss bought us tickets to the UNC v. Notre Dame football game up in South Bend a few years back. I spent a weekend on the campus and never looked back. I absolutely love it up there. It's so vastly different than what I was used to at UNC (and especially UT) games that I just had to go back. So it gave me a great excuse to drag the wife on a road trip every year :). We did UNC v. ND in '06, Duke v. ND in '07, Stanford v. ND and ND v. UNC in '08, and will at least take in Nevada v. ND this year.

My boss is a huge Oklahoma fan, so by default I have a great deal of respect for the Big 12.


You're right that didn't make feel any better:p



But this will :D
http://i691.photobucket.com/albums/vv275/philipmcwhirter/Kansas-Jayhawks-145px.jpg

[Nicholbert]

Chicago White Sox starting south paw Mark Buehrle just threw a Perfect Game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Unbelieveable. Congrats to him!

[Nicholbert]

Two of the things I love in life: Boston Red Sox baseball and Notre Dame football. My dogs are named 'Tek and Montana. Every summer we'll go to Boston, and every fall we'll go to South Bend. So it is a proud moment that I come back to the site and see we now have an official forum for sports discussion and an MLB thread :).

I just got back from a 9 day visit to Boston and got to watch 6 games vs. the Rangers and the Yankees. That sweep versus the Yanks was a great, great time. Heading down to Atlanta tomorrow afternoon to see the Braves v. Red Sox series.

Ugh. Another Red Sox fan? This is starting to be worse than all the Cubs fans I am surrounded by :p

At least you're into baseball. Your Lugo comparison was awesome, and now you don't have to worry about him. All these moves for corner players is curious. LaRoche won't contribute terribly, and acquiring Duncan to send him to the minors makes little sense to me as well. Unless they are setting up to move the HIGHLY overrated Ortiz or Youk. Then I could see some sense. But what do I know? I'm not a MLB GM or owner...yet.

[Maawdawg]

Ugh. Another Red Sox fan? This is starting to be worse than all the Cubs fans I am surrounded by :p

At least you're into baseball. Your Lugo comparison was awesome, and now you don't have to worry about him. All these moves for corner players is curious. LaRoche won't contribute terribly, and acquiring Duncan to send him to the minors makes little sense to me as well. Unless they are setting up to move the HIGHLY overrated Ortiz or Youk. Then I could see some sense. But what do I know? I'm not a MLB GM or owner...yet.

Duncan was just taken because either way they were going to have to pay Lugo for the next 2 years since they designated him for assignement. You might as well take what amounted to a "free player" from St. Louis and stash him in AAA just in case rather than get nothing at all for Lugo. Duncan isn't a world changer by any means but he can be a spare part if someone gets hurt and with JD Drew in right field and Baldelli as one of your backup outfielders that is only a breath away. LaRoche was picked up for a couple midlevel prospects that never would make a Boston roster. They did that because Lowell isn't near 100% healthy and I think the Sox expect him to break down as the season goes on. That way you just spell him when you need to and move over Youkilis to 3B with LaRoche playing 1st. He is definitely a better option than a less than 100% Kotsay over there if Lowell breaks down. Kotsay can fill in a day here or there in the outfield or at 1B but he isn't an every day player on this team.

Ortiz is overrated now but Youk certainly isn't (if you meant that both are overrated). Compare his numbers to Teixeira who was the #1 FA this offseason for position players and is widely regarded as one of the best players in the game not names Alber Pujols. Being a certified stat geek it isn't even an opinion thing, it is in the numbers. :)

Youkilis is a much better player than he gets credit for. He has the highest value over replacement player (http://www.baseballprospectus.com/glossary/index.php?search=vorp) on the whole Red Sox team (and it isn't close), meaning he is the most valuable hitter on their team. Here are Youk's vs Tiex's offensive stats for this year, using Teixeira as a comparable player due to his accepted state as a top teir 1B.

Youkilis:
General stats: .300/17/57, .979 OPS (4th in AL)
Prospectus stats: 32.5 Offensive VORP, .330 MLV (Marginal Lineup Value (http://www.baseballprospectus.com/glossary/index.php?mode=viewstat&stat=258))
$6M salary

Teixeira:
General stats: .277/23/67, .917 OPS
Prospecuts stats: 23.4 Offensive VORP, .209 MLV
$21M salary

Teix plays only first, though he does it very well. Youk plays first and 3rd at a high level. Teix won 1B gold gloves in 05 and 06, Youk won in 07.

EDIT:
Just for fun here are Pujols' offensive stats. Insane.

Pujols:
General Stats: .328/34/90, 1.161 OPS
Prospectus stats: 64.5 VORP, .653

EDIT 2:
Right now the big rumor is the Red Sox are trying to get Adrian Gonzales (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=5405) from SD still, so they may not be done piling up corner infielders yet. I would love to see him at first with Pedroia at 2nd and Youk at 3rd for the next 5- 10 years. Then you just use the "not very healthy" Lowell to spot fill 3B and split time with the "on the downslope" Ortiz as the DH. The Sox would have to give up a solid package to get him, probably Buchholz, another prospect, and maybe Duncan/Laroche (which would make their aqusitions make even more sense).

[Maawdawg]

Here is a good article on Buehrle and his perfect game. That catch was amazing, especially given the circumstances surrounding it.

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/columns/story?columnist=greenberg_jon&id=4352018

[Nicholbert]

Anybody surprised with the playoff teams? I am pulling for the Twins so I can drive up north and catch the Yankee games there. I just don't see the NL teams doing much damage against the AL this year. If anything, the Series should come down to the Yanks and the Angels. In which case I would like to shoot myself as the Angels are the Yankees' achilles heel. I f*cking hate them. Ever since Eckstein. Hate. And f*ck the red sox too, they don't deserve to be in the post season. They are there by default cause the Rangers choked on big Ron's dick. Terrible. Anyways, I hope for Yanks v Cards as I will have tickets for that series too :D

[Magnum]

Only worried about the Cards for my Phils in the NL, but we'll see what happens. Not really expecting a second showing of last years happenings for the Phils, but I'm ok with that. We got it last year and we made it to the post season this year. That's enough for me.

[Nicholbert]

Only worried about the Cards for my Phils in the NL, but we'll see what happens. Not really expecting a second showing of last years happenings for the Phils, but I'm ok with that. We got it last year and we made it to the post season this year. That's enough for me.

If ya'll had last year's Lidge/Hamels/Myers, it would be a different story. I can't believe how awful Lidge was; how he even got 31 saves is beyond me; how inconsistent Hamels was, and Myers picked it up toward the end, after his recovery from the typical injury plagued season. Their offense is ridiculous, that doesn't need to be covered. But Raulroid Ibanez and Werth have been a huge flux of hitting power and threat for that team this year. But I am glad their pitching isn't what it was last year. Although, I am happy to see the Mets get upstaged again. Muts are useless.

The Cards on the other hand, have an opposite problem. Their pitching has been lights out, and the Cy Young should be heading Carpenter's way. The question will be, can they hold up over this time off, and keep the consistency up? Pujols has found himself in a power draught, having been stuck on 47 homers since Sept. 9. Holy God really? I think this little break will have tremendous effect on his power though, and it isn't what the Dodgers want to deal with. I fully believe the Cards will end up in the Series this year, only if Pujols hits and their pitching can maintain their dominance.

Speaking of the Dodgers, I am torn here. I am a lifelong fan of Joe Torre (shocking right?), but I wouldn't piss on Manny Ramirez if he were on fire. So in one respect I would love to see Torre succeed for LA, but I just wish it were without Manny. This is not the same team we saw in the first half of the season, so I don't know what to expect with them. Their pitching is slightly above average, and the key to their scoring runs is deependent upon playing small ball. They can no longer count on Manny. But maybe he will decide he wants to play baseball for them now? Who knows. I just want to see him take a bad fall in the OF and come up positive for the hormones again.

The Rockies. Meh. Caught a streak late. Made the post-season. Congrats. I got nothing for them.

Onto the man's league...

The Angels, as I eluded to earlier scare the bejeezus out of me. Their pitching has really come around this second half, and they always seem to succeed against the Yanks and kill them. In fact, the Yanks won their first series in Anaheim for the first time since 2003 this year. Typically a trip to Anaheim means losing 2/3. 3/4...and it did the other 2 visits. Vlad, Abreu, Morales are deep threats, and there is no question they have speed. Mike Soscia is a great manager, and I am hoping they will embarass the Sox. Lackey, Santana, Weaver are near guarantees for 6-7 innings each, and Lackey could throw a CG each time out if his stuff is right. The back end of their bullpen is not what it used to be, but it is still solid. Fuentes shocked everyone this year converting 48 out of 55 saves, and his defense failed him on multiple occasions. I am not looking forward to having to go through them to get to the playoffs.

Red Sox. **** em.

America's team poses the biggest threat, and is the favorite going into the post season to win it all. Nothing would make me happier to finally wrap one up for the first time in 8 years. I have to wonder which Yankee team we will see this post season. Granted they had 16 come from behind wins this year, they have had their times of inconsistency as well. Offensively there is no worries. Every player has power potential, as well as the ability to hit to all fields. It is the pitching I am worried about. The pitching will keep me awake while the post season plays out. Burnett has been sporadic of late, and when the wheels come loose, they go fast. I hope he can handle the pressure and pitch effectively. CC is coming off of his worst outing of the season, and I am hopeful he bounces back. He has had a lot of time to chill, rebound, and eat small countries to regain his strength. Pettitte is a crap shoot every time up, and I doubt he will have much of a factor in the later games of the upcoming series. In fact, all of this is a moot point because Yankee fans will see if ARod decides to show up this year. After hitting 2 homers, 1 grand slam and bringing home 7 RBIs in one inning Sunday, he is almost setting us all up for a power outage and another post season choke. But, should he find his stroke and stay hot, it doesn't matter what pitcher he faces, he is going to cause trouble.

Twins/Tigers. I can't stand the dirty boys of Detroit, although Leyland is a legend. I have already stated my pull for the Twins here just so I can go catch a game or two against the Yanks.

Depressing Edit: While the Twins just clinched a playoff spot, I just realized their schedule completely conflicts my work schedule as I take off Sunday for a work trip. Holy **** I am annoyed. What can ya do? On the other hand, the Yanks have owned the Twins over the last decade, so I am fairly confident we can wrap this series up in 4 against these scrappy f*cks.

That's about it for me. I don't know why I decided to go on that tangent, but I did. So, take it for what it is worth. My prediction is Yanks over the Cards in 6 games, winning it on the new soil in the Bronx.

[Sw0ll_MC25]

Red Sox. **** em.

I suppoert this




America's team
I do not support this

Go twins:p



Royals in '10:D

[Nicholbert]

I suppoert this



I do not support this

Go twins:p



Royals in '10:D

At least you root for your own division. You sir are a loyal fan. I have no qualms with you rooting for the Twins, although I hope you have your next team lined up to root for in the ALCS/NLCS.:p

[Sw0ll_MC25]

yeah yeah.

I really would like to pick teams that I think should/could win, but then I would be inclined to put money on it. Vegas does not give good odds when it comes to baseball. Craps is much better:D

[Magnum]

Phils vs Dodgers TOMORROW!

Dodgers have been giving the Phils trouble all year. I'd like to see my Phils come out on top, but after those close calls with the Rockies I'm not too confident they'll pull it off this time. Still anything can happen. I think I'll watch these games if I can. Usually I don't as it's my superstition that if I watch they loose, but screw it I want to see them if and when they win it.

[Magnum]

Phils vs Dodgers TOMORROW!

Dodgers have been giving the Phils trouble all year. I'd like to see my Phils come out on top, but after those close calls with the Rockies I'm not too confident they'll pull it off this time. Still anything can happen. I think I'll watch these games if I can. Usually I don't as it's my superstition that if I watch they loose, but screw it I want to see them if and when they win it.
This was person who didn't know any better. I will never doubt my Phillies ever again.

Game 1 of World Series in the bag! Could we go for 4 in a row? It's possible...:D

[Nicholbert]

This was person who didn't know any better. I will never doubt my Phillies ever again.

Game 1 of World Series in the bag! Could we go for 4 in a row? It's possible...:D

There is 1 way they will sweep: If Cliff Lee pitches like that every game. Pedro is not the Pedro of old, and I will be surprised if he pitches into the 6th inning tonight. Cole Hamels is a different story altogether. There is no way to predict which Cole is going to be on the mound; last year's or this year's? He has been so inconsistent and irradic with his pitching, it may actually work to his favor in it makes it difficult to scout him. If Lee goes again in 4, then the Yanks have their hands full through 7 games. Ultimately, if the Phils win it will be due to the fact Girardi took a huge risk in implementing a 3 man rotation. CC was not sharp last night, and I am sure that big arm of his is tired. I do not have high expectations from our starters for the series, and I can basically count on Phil Hughes being useless again. If only Mariano could pitch 9 innings every game...sigh...

A guy can dream can't he?

[RAziel1979]

If they play like they did last night, then I could see them winning four games in a row.

I hate to see the Yankees get their *** kicked like that, CC wasn't sharp at all, and the other guys were not really trying.

I'm hoping they get plenty of rest for tonight's game.:)

[Sw0ll_MC25]

Lee, Lee, Lee...

Cliff on the mound 50 minutes or so
CC on the mound for over 90 minutes

Pedro is up next...


@Nich:p

[Nicholbert]

Lee, Lee, Lee...is this a Tenacious D reference? If so, I likez it!

Cliff on the mound 50 minutes or so
CC on the mound for over 90 minutes

Pedro is up next...

where is the Mastercard reference here...

@Nich:p

F*ck Pedro. Nothing would make me happier to see him get shelled and take a combacker off his face. He needs more Soul Glo!

http://top5doa.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/soulglo.jpg

[Magnum]

Sorry, but I can't wait to see the Yankees take another shot on the the chin like last night. It's been a long time coming from my perspective as a Phillies fan, but that's the way it will always be between the Phils and the Yanks.

No love loss there at all...ever.

[Sw0ll_MC25]

F*ck Pedro. Nothing would make me happier to see him get shelled and take a combacker off his face. He needs more Soul Glo!

http://top5doa.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/soulglo.jpg

lol

Yes to the TD
No to the mastercard

[RAziel1979]

Last nights game was great! LET"S GO YANKEES!!!:)

[Nicholbert]

So Kim Tracy takes the NL honors, and Mike Scioscia takes the AL honor. Jim Tracy I can see. Scoscia I don't. Tracy took an organization which was all but ruled out by the end of May and turned it into a contending group of young players. He did a great job, and deserved the award and the extension he got today.

Scoscia on the other hand is not deserving, IMO. It is easy to manage a team like the Angels who play with their hearts on their sleeves, and have a lot of talent to boot. This is the same reason, while I would have loved it, Girardi wouldn't deserve Manager of the Year. Look at his players. The guy I think that deserved it in the AL is Ron Gardenhire. The Twins are always stuck in the small market bracket, and yet they are fighting for a post season appearance every year. He does a great job, and I think should have won it based on the fact he had only 2 players to lean on (Mauer and Morneau). Mauer, who missed a good chunk of games at the beginning of the season, emerged as a real captain when he came back from the DL and batted like a mad man. Gardenhire kept the Twins in contention through the year, and back to the post season again. Scoscia got the award this year just because they are in a large market, and the publicity surrounding the team this year.

[Sw0ll_MC25]

Zack Greinke (http://espn.go.com/blog/sportscenter/post/_/id/1180/al-cy-young-winner-announced) American League Cy Young With 25 first place votes.

Go Royals.
It can't get any worse...

So Nich, how long till the Yanks buy him out:p

[Maawdawg]

At least the voters actually got the CY Young right this year and didn't get blinded by win totals, when they are the least viable stat in pitching. Though if Sabathia had got to 20 wins it would have been a different story.

15 wins on the royals is massively more impressive than 20 on the Yankees, Sox, etc. IMO.

[Magnum]

Nice to see the Phillies are back at their odd habits of trading off good players for no reason.

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/34450486/ns/sports-baseball/?GT1=43001

So we get this Halladay guy and we loose Happ and Lee. WTF Phillies?! The reason they lost the World Series this year was due to lack of decent pitchers. Now, the couple of guys that did the best, Happ and Lee, have been traded away. Seriously, WTF PHILLIES?!

Not to mention they got rid a few others this year that I personally think helped them get to the WS in the first place.

Well back to the loser's bracket we go. Way to go Phils. F'in morons. :mad:

[Nicholbert]

I have been meaning to get in here and talk about the recent trades at the winter meetings. Magnum, Phils fans, if I were one of you, I would be pissed too. Halladay may be one of this era's greatest pitchers, but why give so much? Lee has emerged as a top tier ace, and Happ is a young gun with unlimited upside as he broke out last year. The NL East just got a bit more leveled. And for any Mets fans out there, maybe they can at least contend with the Phils now? They just did the entire division a favor, so don't let them run away with it again.

Lee to Seattle is a big move for the AL West however, giving Seattle a crazy 1-2 punch with Felix in front of Lee. It will be interesting to see if Seattle can get some offense back to support their newly bolstered bullpen. The Angles losing Lackey is huge, and they haven't done anything other than sign Matsui to be their full time DH, with the option to play OF in an emergency situation. I hate losing Matsui from the Yanks, but it would figure he would have a career "year" in the last four weeks of the season, and then be a monster in the post season. Classic.

Speaking of my Yankees, Granderson in CF FTW! Holy crap this guy can jump start an offense. If Girardi bats him leadoff (which I presume he will) that puts Jeter back in his comfortable no. 2 spot. Tex, ARod, Cano behind them, and the Yankees are well on their way to scoring well over 1000 runs this season. I am curious to see how they will address our sever pitching needs over the course of the off season. We didn't bring back Wang, traded off Coke and Bruney, and still have a 5th starter to find.

Lackey. Red Sox. Vomit. This big oaf belongs in that dirty organization. I find it funny they claim the organization is looking at a bridge period to get back into contention, yet they go out and sign Lackey for a long term deal worth $83M. Jokes. Undeniably, they now have a disgusting 4 man rotation, and the fifth doesnt even matter. Even if Dice K doesn't get back to form, Josh, Jon, and John are a solid top 3. Doesn't matter though, they are back to looking up at NY anyways. Especially when you let a guy like Jason Bay go. They cannot afford to lose any more in their offense. But I am glad they feel differently. And I am really looking forward to another year of steroid fallout from Ortiz. The missing link needs to just call it a career.

That's about all I got for the trades. At least the ones I feel are noteworthy. I am just glad the Halladay/Lee deal is done finally, and we can hopefully stop having it stuffed down our throats by ESPN. And while I am mentioning them, I was shocked to learn Gammons was leaving the network and heading to MLB Network. I have one reason left to watch Baseball Tonight: Buster. And sometimes Kirkjian. But another season of John "No Neck Philly fan boy and general ghey" Kruk is becoming an unbearable thought.

[Magnum]

Feliz, Pedro Feliz is the other good player they just traded not too long ago.

I'm beyond pissed about this bs, Nic. All this will probably mean no World Series next year let alone another NL Championship.

If their "prospects" don't show any promise this coming year, I'm done with them and baseball altogether for that matter. So tired of seeing them throw away their chances of being a consistently great team every time they get even the tiniest taste of success.

[Nicholbert]

Yeah, I forgot about Feliz. The funny thing is, Halladay left the Jays cause they never have a shot at the playoffs. The Phils just traded away the farm, losing key players in getting them to the playoffs and winning the Series to get Halladay. They may make it interesting, and their offense is so much more powered than the Jay's offense. I can't really think of an NL East team which could keep up with them. The Mets are still just the Muts, The Braves are young, and will be a true force in a couple years (again). The Marlins and the Nats have bright spots, but for the most part are just average. But watch out, DC has Pudge in town.

I don't think the Phils have much to worry about as far as making the playoffs, but they will be hard pressed to make the Series. Halladay may never get a ring, but never say never.

[Magnum]

To me, they're all sleeper teams in the NL East right now. I think any one of them could wake up at any point and just start running. Statistically, right now you might think the Phillies should be safe for next year, but I've been watching them a long time now. They know how to throw away advantages.

[Nicholbert]

Agreed. Although, I doubt anyone is putting stock into a .500 season for the Nats. The Marlins are still too young, and their talent isn't a question. But you're right, all four are sleepers, and it is wide open. Injuries are always a factor, and fortunately the Phils are in my opinion all pretty sound health-wise.

The other divisions are just a waste in the NL right now. The Central is a joke, and the West is just "blah". I have no interest in those divisions at all right now. We'll see if anything interesting happens by March with them.

I am ready for March though. My NFL teams are horrid, and I am pulling for Brees and the Saints this year. But until March madness begins, I have nothing to look forward to in sports. Maybe some of the Winter games? Who knows.

[Magnum]

NOO! Don't pull for the Saints! I need them and the Colts to loose...at least one...:rolleyes:
(<<<<Dolphins fan)

Anyway Yeah, the NL doesn't have much going on lately. All decent teams of late, but nothing super special. Not like my Phils the past two years! :D

[Nicholbert]

I pull for Brees cause he is a good guy and a Big Ten graduate. Big X FTW!

I can't help the Dolphins out, as it would go against my Bills. I'm joking of course. I will almost actively root for anyone other than my favorite team right now until they show their fans they are serious about winning. And by serious, I don't mean signing TO Drama Queen because no one else will.

/back on topic

I thought the Sox's move for Pierre was a good one too. That guy is motivated to play every day again. Now if only the Southsiders can get their lineup sorted out...

[Magnum]

My brother will probably be happy about that. Besides being a faithful Phillies fan he seems to have also started following and even routing for the White Sox since moving to Chicago years ago.

[Maawdawg]

The trade is terrible from the Phillies side, imo. I don't know why all the pundits are lauding it as a good all around deal for everyone. The Phillies gave up 4 prospects for Lee this year already. Then are giving up even more prospects AND paying a huge contract to get Halladay and tossing Lee away. They should have just paid the price for Halladay mid year last year if they thought he was better (or thought Lee didn't want to be there long term) instead of paying double for him in the offseason. Stupid move.

The Mariners come out way ahead, with that 1-2 on the rotation they are much improved. I would only say the Cardinals may have a better 1-2 right now, though others are in the conversation. The Angels slipped alot, losing Figgins to a division rival, and also Lackey from their rotation. They need to do something big or just get ready to rebuild.

Granderson is a slick fielder with a great personality but you will be howling this year when he is batting .170 vs lefties and killing you with his strike outs. He is an upgrade over Melky&Co. but he isn't that great all around offensively. I think the Yankees will Miss Damon/Matsui more than most people think. Damon does a lot for a team and Matsui (when healthy) is a very reliable hitter and a very hard out. Their lineup is still absurd and their pitching will be very good as long as Petitte and, most importantly, Rivera stay healthy through the year.

The Red Sox definitely upgraded their rotation with Lackey, though they should have never gone 5 years unless they are planning on letting Beckett walk at the end of the year. Last year Dice-K came in broken and was never even reasonably good until the last month of the season. Rumor has it he never went back to Japan this year and is training at one of the big facilities in Arizona. He won't be a sub .500 picther again, but he also wont be an 18-3 pitcher like he was in '08. I see him as a 15-8 type guy who misses a lot of decisions because he get such high pitch counts. As a 4 or 5 starter you can't complain though. Wakefield at 2M a year is one of the best bargains in baseball. The problem is he is only good for 1/2 a year before his 45 year old body gives up. A rotation of...

1 - Beckett
2 - Lester
3 - Lackey
4 - Dice-K
5 - Wakefield/Buchholz

is just filthy. Especially when they have arms like Tazawa and Bowden (or even Bard in a pinch) that can also come into the 5th slot and just throw gas if someone gets traded/hurt.

I would love to see them get another big bat but not at the cost of mortgaging their entire farm system for it. I think Buchholz is overrated and trading him while the market is high works for me, especially with their pitching depth and the fact that they have a couple alternatives for a #5 starter anyway. If they go get Beltre I will be very disappointed, Boras wants 4/52M for him. He isn't worth close to that, espeically if you are going to pay 9M to have Lowell play for the Rangers. I would even be fine with them getting Nick Johnson and moving Youk over to 3rd. They would just have a grind-you-down lineup instead of a juggernaut.

I think Cameron will be a good player and a 2y/15M deal isn't bad for him even at his age. He is still very good defensively, though not top 10 in the league as he was for years. He could hit 30 HR at Fenway with his pull/flyball swing. I would rather see that than 6y/120M for Holliday or 5/85M that Bay is looking for.

I really think the Red Sox are going to be happy with a 90 win season this year in order to load up in next offseason's crazy free agent market and try to buildd towards having their rookies hit the field in 2011. They have major prospects in the for of a couple pitchers, a corner outfielder, and a slick fielding (still isn't Hanley Ramirez :() shortstop about a year and a half - 2 years away

Cliff Lee, Carl Crawford, Lance Berkman, and Joe Mauer are all free agents next year. There are an absolute load of names out there for next year besides them as well. Next year Papi comes off the books, Drew would be down to 1 year left on his albatross of a contract as well so they are about to get out from under some big coin that is holding them hostage right now and I could see them splurging in the off-season next year. Especially if they go in the range of 88-92 wins and miss the playoffs after raising ticket prices again this season. The fanbase will expect more for what they are paying.

Obviously the move I, and every other Sawx fan, want to see is Adrian Gonzalez at first next year. I think giving up Buchholz, Westmoreland, and the new catcher that they are getting in the Lowell deal could do it with a couple more mid level prospects. I don't want to see them trade Casey Kelly or Ellsbury though. Ellsbury has gamechanging speed and if he can get a bit more patient to raise is OBP up to the high 300s he will be amazing as an offensive weapon. I think in a couple years he could be a top of the league OF talent if he gets a bit more patience at the plate and works on his fielding reactions/arm. He doesn't have the arm for CF though and by all rights should be playing left but his speed makes him so useful in the huge CF/RCF at Fenway.

I don't know if I have posted this link before but it is my MLB news/rumor site.
http://www.prosportsdaily.com/mlb/mlb-rumors.html
It culls all the sports stories from the local papers all over the country. you can whittle them down by news/rumor, team, sport, even player.

[Sw0ll_MC25]

With all the trades going on, I'm surprised KC has traded Greinke...

Royals in '10

[Sw0ll_MC25]

bump!

[Orange]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luIEqsNmaM4

[Magnum]

New season!

Go Phils! :D

[Hannar]

Terrible start for the Red Sox. We look just awful right now.

[Maawdawg]

It doesn't help when your 5 hole hitter may not make contact of a tee. It may be a long year if they can't stomach benching him. I don't know that Lowell is a better DH alternative either. Once the pitching gets going they should be ok but this isn't a team that is going to be putting up top 5 in MLB run production, I don't think so anyway.

[Magnum]

Well the Phils are holding their lead after a shaky start this year. I certainly hope they keep it going. Rollins isn't around right now so of the few games I've watched there's quite a weak spot through SS. The need to work on fixing that until their MVP player gets back.

[Nicholbert]

This season has been a weird one, thus far. A lot of young guns are really wearing the big boy pants early on, and some of the seasoned vets, proven sluggers, have traded in their bats for skirts. It is really frustrating the **** out of me in my fantasy leagues.

I really have been impressed by Austin Jackson this year. That kid doesn't care who he faces on the mound, he is slapping shots all over the field. It is quite impressive, and is yet another Yankee farm prospect we should have held on to. Jason Heyward is another. That guy will win multiple MVP awards and will help Atlanta get back to the Series.

Can't believe the first rounds of interleague play come up this weekend.

[Magnum]

Atlanta will have to make it past the Phils to get back to the Series. I don't see that happening any time this year or the next...unless Howard, Werth, and Utley all get injured and/or traded. :D

*knock on wood* :p

[Maawdawg]

The Red Sox are in rough shape this year. Having Ellsbury our for this long period certainly isn't helping their offense or defense at this point and they have way too much old "dead wood" on the roster. Plus having hit or miss Dice-K and JD "Nancy" Drew for large money and under-performace sucks. They need to get Beckett healthy and winning if they want to have even a glimmer of hope for the remainder of the year. Right now the Rays and Yankees look to be much better teams. The Rays are certainly no joke with their pitching, youth, and athleticism.

Right now, with the way they are playing, I would expect them to be out of the race by august and starting to work in young talent from AAA to see what they have for next year's team when they don't have <.200 Ortiz and limpy Lowell clogging up the roster. Every time I watch the Sox I just have to console myself that every game I watch is one game closer to the end of Nancy Drew's ridiculous contract.

[Nicholbert]

Atlanta will have to make it past the Phils to get back to the Series. I don't see that happening any time this year or the next...unless Howard, Werth, and Utley all get injured and/or traded. :D

*knock on wood* :p

I agree. Atlanta has some more rebuilding issues to address first. They need to figure out how to replace Chipper and Glaus next year. I believe Glaus is a FA after this season. I could be wrong. But it doesn't matter. The Phils will be tough for a few more seasons no doubt. Werth could get traded, but I am pretty sure the Phils Admin need to do everything possible to keep Halladay, Howard, and Utley. Those three can make anyone around them better. Hence Polanco, Ruiz, and Hamels. Cole is already having a better year than he had all last season. And it would be hard not to with the Doc around.


The Red Sox are in rough shape this year. Having Ellsbury our for this long period certainly isn't helping their offense or defense. They need to get Beckett healthy and winning if they want to have even a glimmer of hope for the remainder of the year.

Right now, with the way they are playing, I would expect them to be out of the race by august and starting to work in young talent from AAA to see what they have for next year's roster when they don't have <.200 Ortiz and limpy Lowell clogging up the roster. Every time I watch the Sox I just have to console myself that every game I watch is one game closer to the end of Nancy Drew's ridiculous contract.

Ahhh. The Red Sox of old. Oh how I have missed them. This is what happens when your players stop juicing. I have never seen a more apparent drop in production from an entire roster post Mitchell Report. Manny, Ortiz, Lowell, Mueller, Millar, all those guys were shooting every night. Beckett probably tried some unknowingly too. The only guy on the roster who is worth a damn in life is Pedroia. And I think he is a scrappy little ****head. So there ya go. I am glad to see the Red Sox falling flat on their dirty faces.

[Maawdawg]

The AL/NL imbalance in pitching stats is mind boggling right now. Halladay was dominant in the AL but he is ridiculous in the NL. Vasquez was a Cy young contender for Atlanta last year in the NL and this year the Yankees are burying him in the 'pen (http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/mlb/news/story?id=5193409) to avoid the Red Sox's grind it out lineup. It makes me wonder what Felix Hernandez would do in the NL and how Ubaldo Jimenez would do in the AL, considering they have comparably dominant stuff. Both are just flat out filthy but their stats are way apart, in no small measure due to the league they pitch in I think.

[Magnum]

While Utley and Werth are great players and hitters, Werth has been the more explosive one. He's dangerous with that bat in his hands. I laughed my *** off the other week on Mother's Day when the Braves pitcher loaded the bases by walking Howard with Werth on deck. Fortunately for the Braves their pitcher beaned Werth in the shoulder walking in only one run at that point. Werth made them pay later on in the game with a solo for his big 100th career homer.

If I had to choose, I'd rather trade Utley over Werth. Regardless, I doubt the Phils will consider moving those two anywhere anytime soon and will probably pay an arm and a leg to keep them.

[Nicholbert]

The AL/NL imbalance in pitching stats is mind boggling right now. Halladay was dominant in the AL but he is ridiculous in the NL. Vasquez was a Cy young contender for Atlanta last year in the NL and this year the Yankees are burying him in the 'pen (http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/mlb/news/story?id=5193409) to avoid the Red Sox's grind it out lineup. It makes me wonder what Felix Hernandez would do in the NL and how Ubaldo Jimenez would do in the AL, considering they have comparably dominant stuff. Both are just flat out filthy but their stats are way apart, in no small measure due to the league they pitch in I think.

You're right Maaw. For whatever reason, NL pitching is disgusting. With the exception of Braden's perfect game on Mother's Day, and a few CGSOs in the AL, it is hard to find an AL starter with a small ERA. The NL pitchers are destroying hitters, especially guys like Jimenez, Lincecum, and Halladay. I have to say the AL is more of a hitter's league. Always has been. Hence the DH rule. NL continues to bat their pitchers, therefore you can go to any team in the NL and count on 3 easy outs at the end of any given lineup. Now you're working on the top 6, and really, you have to focus on getting out 3-4-5. In the AL, teams like the Yanks, Angels, Rays, Jays, etc, have bona fide hitters from 1-9. The strategy is different, and you can afford 2 extra hitters, spell your stars from playing the field here and there. The NL should just man up and join the man's league. The pitcher has one job. Throw the ball. That is it. The days of domniating hitting pitchers like the Bambino died with him. The closest we have to it in this modern day is Micah Owings, although, I would hardly compare him to The Babe.


While Utley and Werth are great players and hitters, Werth has been the more explosive one. He's dangerous with that bat in his hands. I laughed my *** off the other week on Mother's Day when the Braves pitcher loaded the bases by walking Howard with Werth on deck. Fortunately for the Braves their pitcher beaned Werth in the shoulder walking in only one run at that point. Werth made them pay later on in the game with a solo for his big 100th career homer.

If I had to choose, I'd rather trade Utley over Werth. Regardless, I doubt the Phils will consider moving those two anywhere anytime soon and will probably pay an arm and a leg to keep them.

I would have to respectfully disagree with you on keeping Werth over Utley. You can find a good hitting OF anywhere. Utley is elite at his position, and production like his at 2B is a rarity. You have to hang on to guys like that at any cost. This is all hypothetical that either would have a chance at departing Philly, which I don't see. Werth benefits greatly from hitting behind Utley and Howard. He is today's Robin Ventura, who used to bat behind Frank Thomas. Any spot following Howard and Utley, and before Ibanez, is guaranteed to produce. Look at the difference between Werth with the Dodgers, and Werth with the Phillies. It is tremendous. His best line prior to joining the Phils is: 2004 LAD (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6423/career;_ylt=AvQ5fcB09qZ1CW2.gUsVlcyFCLcF). I think trading Werth gets the Phils more than what the receiving team would be getting.

[Nicholbert]

So it has been a rough start to the week for the Yankee family and fans. Bob Shepherd died at age 99 on Sunday, and it has been reported this morning that George Steinbrenner has died at a Tampa hospital. Sucks. Even though his health has declined greatly over the last couple years, it is hard to not imagine the brass behind the Yankees without his presence.

The end of an era has come to pass.

[Maawdawg]

The end of the era actually came to pass when he promoted Hank, really. I hated George but I respected what he built the Yankees into and how passionate he was about the team and how he wanted the game represented and played.

I can only imagine what the next week is going to be like on YES network. I will probably pop it on this afternoon to see what Mike is doing for it and listen to some of the fans call in. Sad to hear for sure, but hardly unexpected due to his failing health for the last couple years. I am sure there will be a lot of Yankeeography and ESPN Outside the Lines and E60 stuff on him in the next few weeks.

[Nicholbert]

The end of the era actually came to pass when he promoted Hank, really. I hated George but I respected what he built the Yankees into and how passionate he was about the team and how he wanted the game represented and played.

I can only imagine what the next week is going to be like on YES network. I will probably pop it on this afternoon to see what Mike is doing for it and listen to some of the fans call in. Sad to hear for sure, but hardly unexpected due to his failing health for the last couple years. I am sure there will be a lot of Yankeeography and ESPN Outside the Lines and E60 stuff on him in the next few weeks.

Yeah, the YES Network is going to be crazy for sure. I am glad I get it here :D I less than three DirecTV. I rarely tune ESPN in anymore, so I will be seeing what the MLB Network will be reporting and featuring in his memory.

Hank and Hal had day-to-day control over the team, but George was still very much in control behind the curtains. Now is the time I am nervous to see what these kids are going to do for the organization. I hope they do well in honor of the empire their father built, and continue the tradition of winning and being the most successful sports franchise in history.

[ZIPGUN]

So the Phillies are going back to the NLCS. Only 4 more wins till the rematch. lol

[Magnum]

So the Phillies are going back to the NLCS. Only 4 more wins till the rematch. lol
You mean until we get vengance for last year...actually I'm kind of hoping for a the Rangers or Rays to knock the Yanks off, but it doesn't look like that'll happen.

[Nicholbert]

The Yanks are going to have their work cutout for them no matter who they play in the ALCS. The Rays have had the Yanks' number over the last couple seasons, and won out 10-8 in their matchups this year. Texas is balanced on both sides, and the Yankee pitchers cannot keep the Ranger bats suppressed. Hamilton, Cruz, Vlad, Kinsler, and Young are all too good. The sports fan in me would love to see the Rangers go all the way, but fortunately for my sanity my fanhoodism has gagged, tied up, and all but disposed of my 'sports fan'.

It won't matter much who the Phils face, they're going to sweep either team too. They may steamroll right through the playoffs completely. Hopefully the Yanks can get into their pitching early on each game. Otherwise the door is shut and the lights are dimming.

[ZIPGUN]

Yep the Phillies pitching is beast like for sure. Even when Roy O has a sub par game the bats come to the rescue in the 8th. I am a Phillies fan and even I was very impressed with the pitching in round one.

[Nicholbert]

Wall of text incoming:

Jayson Werth gets 7 years, $126M from - the Nats?! WTF are they thinking over there? This contract is a blinding example of everything wrong with baseball, and sports contracts in general. Yes, this coming from a Yankee fan. When I think of players, um, "deserving" of an $18M/yr contract, names like Halladay, Sabathia, Longoria, Hamilton, Texiera, and Pujols come to mind immediately. Not Werth. Now that Werth is getting this kind of money, what do you suppose Carl Crawford is going to get paid? Crawford is better in nearly every category than Werth, save for some power numbers, and can now demand at LEAST $20M. WTF. I wish a commish would come in and clean **** up. I would love to see a tenure system in place. The longer you serve time in the league can dictate how much you earn in a season. Oh, you're a superstar named Stephen Strasburg? Prove it. Give us a full season to determine that claim. Oh that's right - you blew out your elbow about halfway through the season. So we'll wait till next year.

I believe all sports contracts should have a baseline which escalates based on service. Then enrich those contracts with incentives. Add a $1M bonus just for being named a starter in the All Star game. Add $5M for being the league's Triple Crown winner. Guys like Manny Ramirez with HUGE contracts and subpar performances kill this game. As does the Union. As do the agents.

Where the **** is Jerry Maguire when you need him?

And let me comment on the Jeter "drama" while I am at it - While it pained me as a fan to wait and see what might happen, I am glad the deal got done. I am NOT happy with what the deal was. But thanks to idiot contracts in the league, Jeter's agent got what he wanted. The Yanks got the years they wanted, Jeter's agent got the cash. I don't buy into the media feed of Jeter's innocence being lost, and him being greedy, etc. I blame the whole ordeal on his agent. Jeter is a ball player, not a negotiator. I don't believe for a second Jeter was right alongside his agent egging this on. I believe quite the opposite - I think Jeter was hanging on some island somewhere banging hot broads, returned home, and said, "Get this deal done NOW." I can't imagine anyone else at SS for the Yanks, let along the captain. This must be what it felt like to be a fan in the 50s/60s of the Yanks watching all the greats retire, and witness the end of an era. I hate it.

/brief rant

more comments about the weekend edit:

Adrian Gonzalez playing for Boston was the worst thing I could think of for the big bats on the market this year. AGon should have no problem blasting homers in AL parks. He won't know what to do with himself. His power rankings just sky rocketed. I only hope he struggles in dealing with a completely different locker room and culture. ****ing Red Sox...

The Cards signing Berkman for a year was interesting too. I knew the Yanks were going to let him go, but to go play OF for an NL Central team was not a scenario I had pondered. If he can be half the hitter he was a few years ago, Pujols - Holliday - Berkman would not be a 3-4-5 combo I would want to face.

This week should really be great at the winter meetings. I want to know where Lee and Crawford are going above anything else. I think Lee stays with Texas, and Crawford might go to Atlanta. They need a big presence in their OF, and have the ability to pay the type of millions he is going to get. I would have said the Mets too, but their new GM did an interview on MLB Network this weekend and he said they aren't going to spend much this year as he analyzes what he's got and sets the blocks for a new foundation.

[Maawdawg]

Still, the agents are just employees hired to get the most money for their clients. There is a reason Werth went to Boras (the money matters first, second, and third agent), to get paid. The nationals WAY overpaid him to have a draw at their stadium even though he isn't worth it. They have to take whoever they can get. The problem with that is they overpaid an above average player who reaped the benefits of a tiny park and a loaded lineup while in Philadelphia. They have him for the next 7 years, effectively handcuffing their budget and setting themselves up for his decline as he is 32 already, with only 4 years pro experience and 1 all star team. Pathetic. I don't even know what Crawford will ask for now but I think the Werth signing puts him at 8/160 or so now, since he is a far superior player and 3 years younger. I don't think even he is "worth that". Worth that being a joke because no player is really worth that, it is just what the owners have allowed themselves to be pushed to pay them now. Football is about to have a lockout, as will the NBA maybe, when baseball is the one that needs it most.

NFL and MLB both need rookie payscales and draft contract slot contracts. MLB needs a salary cap (even if it is a high one) and a salary cellar. There is no excuse for the Yankees and Red Sox paying luxury tax when the Pirates, Padres, and Marlins to put a team on the field worth 30M when they make 30M in revenue sharing every year. The owners of the small market teams are just pocketing the profit while the major teams pay for it. The Yanks/Sawx/Mets/Phillies/Cubs basically paid for them to play last year.

Jeter is being super-overpaid as well. On open market he is only worth 3 yrs/9M per year probably in a stat for stat comparison with other players at his position. The Yankees basically paid him double that when there were no other bids on him to keep from having more drama than they already did. If Jeter wasn't in for the money he could have easily done the negotiating himself. Schilling did that with the Red Sox (he didn't have an agent at all) and signed for less money than he could have got otherwise. I know you hate Schilling but Jeter could have easily done that, the fact that he didn't means he can't be considered an innocent being led around by a deviously evil agent. He has made nearly $200M in just baseball money, not counting all the other stuff. I think having A-Rod playing next to him for $30M a year when Jeter is the captain of the team had an effect. How could Jeter take 10 and have A-Rod next tho him making 3 times more, any pro ballplayer with any ego an pride would have a hard time doing that.

I am interested to see the Sox number they pay Adrian Gonzalez. It will be close to what the Yanks payed Tiexiera probably, maybe a bit less per year. Supposedly they have it worked out already (for 8 years/$167M) and are going to wait until after opening day to announce it so they don't get hit with extra luxury tax for this year. They still should be in the market for an outfielder but I don't know if even they can afford Crawford now, too much money tied up in Beckett and Lackey for what they are worth, Dice-K is a $100M mess, JD "Nancy" Drew still making 14M a year for limping around RF, etc.

All those salaries are why it costs a family of 4 like $300 or more for a night at Fenway now, for cheap seats. The players and owners get richer and the fans get soaked dry, or just plain priced out of the stadium. Fenway is already a good part "fake fans" who just go to be seen and have little or no interest in the team. Between that and the Pink Hats I would rather stay home and watch than be at the stadium where half the people don't understand what is going on, when to cheer, or any of the actual nuances of the game. Did I like seeing 2 WS titles in 2004 and 2007? Yeah. Do I miss the way going to the games was and the utter lack of come-lately bandwagon fans that you have to deal with now? Hell Yes. At least before when I saw a Sawx fan in a bar I knew they were going to know something about the team, and probably a lot of it, down to who the list of terrible 2nd basemen and shortstops through the 80s. Now, it is a crapshoot. The team is better but the fans are worse, I guess that is how it goes though.

/end rambling multi-topic rant

[Magnum]

Jayson Werth is now on my list...and so are the Nationals.

To bad they'll still suck anyway! HAHA! :D

[INMATEofARKHAM]

ESPN and others are reporting that Cliff Lee is signing with the Phillies for less money than he could have gotten elsewhere.

So, Rangers, Yankees, please line up your best draft picks and let the bidding war for Greinke begin!!

Personally, I want the best deal available for my team but I hope for Greinke's case that is what the Rangers pony up. I don't doubt what Grinkiee has as a pitcher but I doubt rather or not he can survive in New York if he struggles and over a 162 game season you're going to have struggles.

[Maawdawg]

The problem seems to be the Yankees and Rangers don't have great minor league systems right now. The yankees are only really loaded at catcher and apparently the royals want 2b/ss/of in this trade. Also I am not sure if Greinke has to OK a trade (or would accept one to NY). Places like Boston/NY may not be the best place for a guy with a history of social anxiety problems. Some players don't handle the constant criticism and watching eyes well.

If I was the Royals I wouldn't trade him this offseason. Play a half year with him and then get more from someone at the trade deadline, though right now the Yanks/Rangers may be in "overpay mode" due to losing out on Lee (and all the other top FAs) and wanting something to show for the offseason. The Yankees may just give them a shopping cart and set them loose in their farm system, after the Red Sox improvements, and especially if Pettite retires in the coming months. The Royals are in a good spot right now, for sure.

As a Sox fan I am definitely happy that the Yankees didn't get Lee, even though I think they would have been handcuffed to a declining 23M pitcher for the last 2-4 years of a terrible 7 year deal if he had. I would have liked to see him stay on the Rangers though. Now Philly has an insane rotation of Halladay, Lee, Hamels, Oswalt. You couldn't even build that rotation in a fantasy league unless you were drafting against chimps.

[Nicholbert]

So the deal is done. Lee is a Phil. WTF?

There have been many years where the Yanks, and more importantly Cashman, have annoyed me with either lack of, or a surplus of moves. This year might be one which has pissed me off the most. And not because of Lee. **** him. He will sink the ship in Philly, even if their rotation is maybe the best 4 man front ever. Ever. And maybe I am a little bitter to see him go back to Philly. But that isn't his fault.

I digress.

The whole fiasco with Jeter was what really started my rage-hate for upper management this winter. And then watching Carl Crawford sign with the ****ing Sawx. WTF? Did we even make a competitive bid? That was the main free agent acquisition we needed. And now he is in Stinktown where he will score 130 runs batting in front of Adrian. Have the Yanks rolled over? It sure as **** feels like it. This was my fear in the Stein-boys running the show wholly. The boss wouldn't have let this happen. The Boss would have signed Crawford just to keep him off the Sawx roster. No matter the price. And that is what was great about his competitiveness. He wouldn't give a ****. He just threw money out there, which benefits several teams every year, just to always one up those assbags.

One thing Cash has done right this offseason - not sign Werth. I was worried he would see a "dark horse" in that guy. I'm glad he was too busy worrying about not signing Jeter, or anyone else for that matter to think about him. And if Greinke becomes a Yankee, I might stab myself, with rusty spoon, over and over in the eye. Keep that kid away from NY please. We saw what happens when faced with unbelievable pressure of being a successful starting pitcher in the Majors. He fell last year. Hard. And if he goes to NY, the pressure from the fans alone, will kill him. Seriously.

This has been a painful off season to watch. And maybe it is time again for the Yanks to stumble to the bottom of the barrel for a while, like in the 80s/early 90s. I just bet everyone in here loves it though. And I hate you all for it. Kidding. Kind of. But seriously.

:nod:
:shake:
:nod:

/rant

[Maawdawg]

The only pitching lineup in my lifetime that I think is on the same level as Phils rotation is the early 90s Braves trotting out Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz, Avery as the top four of their rotation. I do agree with you Nich that Hank & Co seem to be a few levels below how George used to be.

[INMATEofARKHAM]

This isn't personal, please don't take this personal... but,


No matter the price. And that is what was great about his competitiveness. He wouldn't give a ****. He just threw money out there, which benefits several teams every year, just to always one up those assbags.

That is an absolute crock of delusional bull****.

No other team in baseball benefited from Steinbrenner signing (not to mention overpaying) every free agent in the game. No one. Not one team.

Yes, all the small market teams get payouts out of the revenue sharing (but they still don't draw like the use too) but that only goes so far... and it still hasn't undone the damages that Steinbrenner caused before revenue sharing came to be. Maybe in time it will, but it hasn't, and right now every little team has one hope. Prey like hell that you have a whole team of young studs come up at one time.

Honestly, if you question my words... (and trust me I remember the good ole days when the Royals easily passed 2 Million in attendance every year.. Something they haven't done in 19 YEARS.) ask yourself one question...

Why was Steinbrenner just passed over for HoF induction by the Veterans Committee?

Because he was bad for baseball and everyone outside of Yankee fans know it.

[INMATEofARKHAM]

The only pitching lineup in my lifetime that I think is on the same level as Phils rotation is the early 90s Braves trotting out Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz, Avery as the top four of their rotation.
On paper you would likely have to include the Mets 1988 rotation. Doc Gooden, Ron Darling, Bobby Ojeda, Sid Fernandez, and David Cone

Granted, they underachived that year (and the Philies could this year) but they should have one far more games then they did.

In 1986 the Mets also had a rotation where the 4th starter (Bobby Ojeda) won 18 games. (Gooden was 17-6, Darling was 15-6, Ojeda went 16-6.)

[Maawdawg]

I never really look at wins as a stat for pitching, it is completely unreliable. Dice-K went 18-3 one year for the Sawx so that should show that W/L records don't mean much. :D He is the worst pitcher to watch in baseball, tons of pitches, tons of walks and nibbling around the plate. He got through that year on luck (he had a streak of getting like 30 people out with the bases loaded in a row that year, seriously) and his relievers holding onto 1 run leads after he left in the 5th with 100 pitches thrown. Even ERA has to be adapted due to home park and defense on the team. I look at the pitcher vs hitter stats much more. Here is the most powerful evidence that W/L is irrelevant as a pitching stat that I can think of.

Matsuzaka's '08:
18-3, 2.9 ERA, 1.32 WHIP in 167 IP, 1.54 K/BB, total smoke and mirrors season
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/matsuda01.shtml

Felix Hernandez 2010
13-12, 2.27 ERA, 1.05 WHIP in 250 innings, 3.31 K/BB dominant season on a crap team
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hernafe02.shtml

------------------------------

I don't think that Mets rotation gives the "any one of these could throw a no hitter against us" vibe that the Braves did/Phils might, though the stats are better than I thought for that year.

mets that year (solid 1-5)
http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYM/1988.shtml

braves best year (their top 4 was insane)
http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ATL/1993.shtml

Also, I love baseball reference!

EDIT: any way you look at it the Phillies just went to favorites in the NL, as I think the Giants have great pitching but may have issues being a constant WS contender to the other deficiencies on their team.

[Nicholbert]

This isn't personal, please don't take this personal... but...

Why was Steinbrenner just passed over for HoF induction by the Veterans Committee?


I don't take it personal at all IoA. I know most people hate The Boss. And that's where I can agree to disagree with you on that issue. I can't get into specifics, but revenue sharing helps a whole host of teams if they want it to. Pirates owners. Case and Point.

Also - Yanks sign Russel Martin? The plan has always been for Jorge to go to DH this year and let Cervelli call games with Montero getting some big league experience. Now with Martin, the oldest feeling 27 year old catcher ever, are we going to trade Montero for a pitcher? I am so flabbergasted as to what they are thinking. I bleed pinstripes, and will till I die, but I am having a hard time figuring out what intentions they have moving forward.

[Maawdawg]

The Martin signing makes no sense. They have an over the hill catcher, a backup, and 3 young talented ones in the minors or MLB ready. Lets sign a catcher with a bad injury history too! It makes no sense at all and clogs the path for young people at one of the only spots on the field where they actually had a path.

The Red Sox were in on Martin heavy too, but it doesn't make sense for the Hankees to sign them for only that reason. I didn't even like the Sox chasing him when they have 2 catchers already signed to new deals this off season anyway. I just didn't see the reasoning for either team to have even been chasing him, let alone actually signing him.

[Nicholbert]

Perplexed. Maybe, just maybe, we could go out and bring Randy Johnson back? If Moyer can do it at 47, why can't The Unit? While they're at it, let's talk to Kevin Brown too. It is so dumb to read about right now. And I'm going to mix up sports here for a sec, but salt into my fanhood's wound is all the crap surrounding the Iowa Football program. I mean seriously, can we make Miami (of the 80s) look any better? We go from top 5 hopefuls to this crap. Reading about sports right now hurts. Bad.

[INMATEofARKHAM]

I look at the pitcher vs hitter stats much more. Here is the most powerful evidence that W/L is irrelevant as a pitching stat that I can think of.

I don't think its a worthless stat but I also don't think its as valuable as most once thought it was. It was without fail the easiest stat to type. ;)


I don't think that Mets rotation gives the "any one of these could throw a no hitter against us" vibe that the Braves did/Phils might, though the stats are better than I thought for that year.

You do realize that the Mets rotation had more career no hitters/perfect games than the Braves starters did... right? ;)

Completely, agree with the Phils being front runners in the NL all year. Nothing barring a horrible onslaught of injuries should keep them out of the playoffs.


[COLOR="DeepSkyBlue"]I don't take it personal at all IoA. I know most people hate The Boss. And that's where I can agree to disagree with you on that issue. I can't get into specifics, but revenue sharing helps a whole host of teams if they want it to. Pirates owners. Case and Point.

Frankly, I don't hate The Boss. I think it would be insanely fun to be a fan of an owner who would do anything to win... At one time I had one. (I'll get back to that in a second.) And, personally, I would have voted for The Boss being in the HoF. He's too big of a name not to be in it and I have no doubt he will make it eventually but while Yankee revenue helps all the teams it wasn't the Boss' idea to help baseball out. (He was blind to the damage he was doing.)

Now I firmly believe any of that income should be pushed back to the field but not just in signing free agency but also signing draft picks (both from the college draft and from around the world.)

Nor do I believe that The Boss is the only reason for my Royals being where they are now...

Three bad things happened to them.

John Schuerholz left for Atlanta. (1990)

Ewing Kauffman died. (1993) (Honestly, Kansas City is lucky to have a team and only still has one because of how much he loved the town... He setup a plan to keep the team in town for 6 years after his death. (The team could only be sold to someone who would keep it in town.)

And The Boss just lost his mind... Not really, he just made some amazing deals that left the Yankees flushed with an unbelieved amount of cash.


The Martin signing makes no sense. They have an over the hill catcher, a backup, and 3 young talented ones in the minors or MLB ready. Lets sign a catcher with a bad injury history too! It makes no sense at all and clogs the path for young people at one of the only spots on the field where they actually had a path.Sounds like they are getting ready to trade some prospects... ;)

[INMATEofARKHAM]

Lot of off season baseball news of late... but something I wanted to throw out there as I know it would be easy to miss... but likely shouldn't be because its just so agaist the norm of what we normally see or expect..

Gil Meche literally just walked away from the easiest 12.4 million dollars of his life...

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=6036573

[Maawdawg]

Yeah but how important is that next 12 million when you have already banked $43M from the previous 4 years of your contract, plus whatever you made from the previous ones. The guy isn't hurting for money, if he doesn't feel like playing anymore then I commend him for walking away and not making the Royals pay for him to rehab. He wouldn't have been wrong for staying either because he got injured during the contract, but good on him for saying "I have enough" and letting the team use the money elsewhere. That definitely took character that not many people possess.