2006 MLB Thread

[Soulstation1]

another tough year ...

[Brad]

Wickman to Braves? Eh, not that impressed. That's always been the Braves achilles heel. I guess he can't hurt.

[Dan Gould]

Wickman to Braves? Eh, not that impressed. That's always been the Braves achilles heel. I guess he can't hurt.

Compared to what they have, there's no doubt that he can help.

[Dave James]

Oh, here's a good one that was in the New York Post this morning:

"'It doesn't make any difference,' Rodriguez said of the rumor that had the Yankees third baseman going to the Phillies as part of a blockbuster trade for Bobby Abreu, Pat Burrell, Tom Gordon and David Bell, with the Yankees supposedly also sending Melky Cabrera and a player to be named. 'I would veto it.'"

Up over and out.

[Soulstation1]

either they have something on barry bonds or they don't

they keep dragging this story out......

[Soulstation1]

A-Rod should give half his $252 M contract back and only play on the road.......

[Noj]

Am I the only one who doesn't hate A-Rod? I find myself pulling for the guy. Maybe if the NY fans got behind him and cheered for him instead of booing his every mistake he'd get his head back in the game.

The Dodgers are falling back to earth in a hurry. I knew it was coming, so many young players. We've got the Cards in town, who just swept us. Not looking good.

The Angels, meanwhile, have been coming to life and are starting to play to their potential. I hope they keep it going.

[Ed S]

Taking my boys on vacation staring Monday. Games in Philly and Pittsburgh are on tap.

Hope it does not rain!

[sheldonm]

A photo of the "Jake" for Soulstation 1. This is from my just completed 2006 baseball journey to Toronto, Detroit and Cleveland. This game was played last night (Friday).....CC was hit hard and was actually hit by a line drive on his pitching arm (wrist) early in the game. 34 hits, 20 runs and about 25 or so runners left on base between the two teams (Indians/Twins); Twins won 14-6.

Tom Hanks and his son was sitting directly above me for this game.

m~

[Big Al]

Am I the only one who doesn't hate A-Rod? I find myself pulling for the guy. Maybe if the NY fans got behind him and cheered for him instead of booing his every mistake he'd get his head back in the game.

Maybe if A-Fraud would play up to the millions he's being paid, the fans wouldn't have to boo him. Make no mistake: I love it that His Importantness is flailing on the grand stage that is Yankees Stadium. As a Ranger fan, he earned my enmity when he came to town promising leadership and taking the team to a whole new level; only to skip town when he felt like "his" team was letting "him" down (and not paying him what he felt he was worth, never mind that he was already crushing our payroll to begin with). So my attitude to him is and always will be a big hearty FUCK YOU, ASSHOLE!!!! So yeah, I am absolutely loving it that he made... what, SIX ERRORS last week? Three in one game? And then after being moved to DH, he struck out ALL FOUR TIMES he batted last night? For the first time in my life, I actually felt a small smidgen of sympathy for Big George, having spent all that money to land a grade-Z dud.

No matter how bad my boys do, as long as A-Fraud continues to expose himself as the low-class even-lower-talent that he is, all is right with the world.

[Big Al]

As for Hawk, he has a way of communicating his view and knowledge of baseball that I find very entertaining, e.g., after a strikeout, "grab some bench", etc. And he gives credit where it's due. I don't mind "homerism" at all as long as it's just plain rooting for your team. It's only when the accomplishments of the opposing team are dismissed or minimized that I then object.

My thoughts exactly, re: the Hawk! Always loved his "grab some bench," and am glad to hear that he still says that! (Don't have cable, so it's been at least ten years since I watched a Sox game on WGN)

[Dan Gould]

All true about A-Rod, Big Al but I hate to point out that you are still paying some of that salary. How the Yanks forced that out of you I'll never understand.

Edited July 23, 2006 by Dan Gould

[Big Al]

Two words: Jon Hart. Worst general manager in the history of baseball. EVER. Thankfully we can now add the word "former" to the GM part. It's gonna take a looooooong time to undo the damage he did to the Rangers, both financially and morale-wise.

[ghost of miles]

Well, maybe it's because I come from the oh-so-polite-and-friendly Midwest, but I'm appalled when Yankee fans, or any fans, boo one of their own players for poor performance. I mean, if one of your guys has an attitude or flips the finger, a la Ted Williams, I can understand--but somebody trying to work through a funk (let's hope A-Rod isn't becoming Chuck Knoblauch) should not be booed. Yeah, that's really gonna help the player and your team. I'll say this for A-Rod--he's a hardworking player. He's also a fair bet to top Aaron's HR record if he stays healthy (who knows what will happen with Bonds?). Also, A-Rod isn't a natural third baseman; at shortstop I think he was a better fielder than Jeter is, but Jeter had domain, so Rodriguez went to third... and played there fairly well throughout the past two seasons. I think he'll snap out of his slump, both at the plate and on the field, but NY is a rough town for highpaid talent.

[Dan Gould]

You've hit the nail on the head, David. NY is a tough town, and very much a "what have you done for me lately" kind o' place. There's an interesting article in today's NYT about the first big-contract Yankee to get viciously booed (in the free agent era), old Reggie. An interesting difference here is that we already know that A-Rod has used the services of a psychological coach for a long time, and that leaves me wondering whether he really does have the psyche necessary to work through this, overcome the fans and eventually win them over. Maybe some of the talking heads are right - maybe A-Rod isn't cut out for the bright lights of the big city.

Didn't I read that like Peyton Manning, he's never won any championship, at any level?

[Brad]

It is a tough town. That's just the way it is here and I don't expect anyone to understand it coming from elsewhere. I don't like it when players get booed and I don't do it myself but it happens. The trouble with Arod is that he's a little too open and he just doesn't produce for the Yanks when it matters. He also said some things about Jeter that didn't go over well. The perception about Arod is that he's been a little more concerned with himself than the team. That's part of the reason the Mets shied away from him although they didn't want to spend the money either. The guy just hasn't produced big hits here for the Yanks. Until he does that, he's going to get booed. He's also suffering in comparison to the other 3rd baseman in town, David Wright, who is Mr. Clutch, who's always getting big hits.

It's a line but I think it's true: if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere.

I actually think Philadelphia fans are rougher and Boston can be tough too. Yup, it's no picnic around here. Just ask Ed Whitson.

[Dave James]

The roads leading out of Yankee Stadium are littered with the remains of those who were not worthy.

Up over and out.

[Dan Gould]

How about you tell me why your team deserves the praise its gotten? Tell me why anyone should be afraid of your starting five? And there's talk that they are dangling two of those five to try to get bullpen help?

Newflash:

The only thing that may keep the White Sox from pulling an Indians-size collapse is all of those veterans probably won't let it happen. Probably. But this is a fundamentally flawed team without a prayer of catching the Tigers.

Ummm, no shit, sherlock. I'm thinking more than likely, we're the wild card. Are we the LUCKIEST team alive this season? absolutely. Trust me, I'll be the first to tell you that this isn't going to be the magic season of last year. But, considering that luck factor, you never can tell.

Considering how much rage you've got dripping through your posts regarding my beloved White Sox, however, Dan, one has to get back to my original question. Maybe Ron Kittle gave you a wedgie. Or maybe you're just mad that Pudge likes us more than you guys these days.

You really want to know?

Its lingering resentment at

-your obnoxious comments about the Cubs.

-the ALDS sweep last year.

-how sucky you were against the Yanks this month.

-the fact that every commentator at the ASB declared the White Sox would inevitably win the division crown when they've pathetically collapsed since then.

I'm shocked to see that you agree that they have deep problems. Now I hear that you may give up Brandon McCarthy for a two month rental of Soriano?

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2528494

Just do everyone else a favor and hold off the Twins. The worst case scenario I can see right now would be the Red Sox winning the division and the Twins making the wild card. If that happens, the wild card plays the division winner with the second best record, and that would be in all likelihood the Red Sox, and there's no way I'd want to face Santana and Liriano for three games of a five game series, home field advantage or no. No, I'd much rather face the defending champs so we can return the favor and sweep them out of their title defense.

[BERIGAN]

The roads leading out of Yankee Stadium are littered with the remains of those who were not worthy.

Up over and out.

Oh, he is worthy, but not sure of the Yankee fans. All they are doing now is shooting themselves in the foot, if whateever he does is not good enough for them, he can't play for them, so they have to trade away there best player, and probably for a lot less than he is worth. But I bet that doesn't happen til the offseason. Boo the other team, duh!

Only situation I can think of kind of like this was Mike Schmidt with the Phillies. He'd hit a homer in the 1st inning, and if he struck out the next 3 times, he was roundly booed that last at bat. But not the whole damn game.

[BERIGAN]

Uh-oh.......

Source: ChiSox 'extremely close' to Soriano dealESPN.com news services

The White Sox are "extremely close" to trading for Nationals outfielder Alfonso Soriano, a source close to the situation told ESPN The Magazine's Tim Kurkjian. The Nationals have great interest in pitcher Brandon McCarthy.

The White Sox, said the source, also are close to acquiring pitcher Mike MacDougal from the Royals in exchange for minor league pitcher Tyler Lumsden.

Soriano joined Washington last offseason in a trade from Texas, and the Nationals shifted him from second base to left field. Soriano is batting .288 with 31 homers, 62 RBI and 25 steals.

The slugger, who is scheduled to become a free agent at the end of the season, said Sunday he wanted to remain in Washington but doubted he and the Nationals could agree to a contract extension before the deadline.

The five-time All-Star said he spoke with incoming Nationals president Stan Kasten on Thursday, but they didn't discuss contract details. Soriano added that he doesn't think his agent, Diego Bentz, has discussed numbers with the Nationals, either.

One potential stumbling block if the sides did agree on a new contract: Soriano said he wants a no-trade clause, something Kasten pointed out Sunday he refused to include in contracts he negotiated in recent years while an executive with the Atlanta Braves, the NBA's Hawks and the NHL's Thrashers.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2528494

[Noj]

Am I the only one who doesn't hate A-Rod? I find myself pulling for the guy. Maybe if the NY fans got behind him and cheered for him instead of booing his every mistake he'd get his head back in the game.

Maybe if A-Fraud would play up to the millions he's being paid, the fans wouldn't have to boo him. Make no mistake: I love it that His Importantness is flailing on the grand stage that is Yankees Stadium. As a Ranger fan, he earned my enmity when he came to town promising leadership and taking the team to a whole new level; only to skip town when he felt like "his" team was letting "him" down (and not paying him what he felt he was worth, never mind that he was already crushing our payroll to begin with). So my attitude to him is and always will be a big hearty FUCK YOU, ASSHOLE!!!! So yeah, I am absolutely loving it that he made... what, SIX ERRORS last week? Three in one game? And then after being moved to DH, he struck out ALL FOUR TIMES he batted last night? For the first time in my life, I actually felt a small smidgen of sympathy for Big George, having spent all that money to land a grade-Z dud.

No matter how bad my boys do, as long as A-Fraud continues to expose himself as the low-class even-lower-talent that he is, all is right with the world.

Tell me how you really feel, Al!

[Brad]

The roads leading out of Yankee Stadium are littered with the remains of those who were not worthy.

Up over and out.

Oh, he is worthy, but not sure of the Yankee fans. All they are doing now is shooting themselves in the foot, if whateever he does is not good enough for them, he can't play for them, so they have to trade away there best player, and probably for a lot less than he is worth. But I bet that doesn't happen til the offseason. Boo the other team, duh!

Only situation I can think of kind of like this was Mike Schmidt with the Phillies. He'd hit a homer in the 1st inning, and if he struck out the next 3 times, he was roundly booed that last at bat. But not the whole damn game.

Until Maris came along, the fans use to boo Mantle regularly. Tells you the mentality.

[BERIGAN]

Dan, I swear I didn't see your post up when I posted the story!!!

[jazzypaul]

You really want to know?

Yes, Dan, I do...please tell me.

Its lingering resentment at

-your obnoxious comments about the Cubs.

Come be a baseball fan in Chicago for a couple of years, and then complain. Your darling Cubs get all of the media exposure because their park is in the beer and lifestyle neighborhood. No team has ever had to do less work for all of the adoration it gets, and frankly, it's sickening. And what kinds of names are Shawon, Heathcliffe and Ryne anyway?

And, let's add to that the fact that such a comment means that you know nothing about Chicago baseball tradition. Cubs fans hate the Sox, we hate the Cubs. If you're a lifelong Wrigleyville-ian, multiply your Sox hatred by 10. If you're a Bridgeport or Beverly native, magnify your Cubs hatred by 100. That's just the way it is. They wear t-shirts with our modified logo saying "Sux" and we wear t-shirts with their modified logo saying "Chokers." Complaining about my "obnoxious" comments is like complaining after an afternoon drizzle once you've experienced a hurricane.

-the ALDS sweep last year.

It's not my fault that your team couldn't stack up. Neither is it the White Sox. Tell your boys in Boston to bring their A game, even if they're not genuflecting in front of the Yankees. Your venom is spewing in completely the wrong direction.

-how sucky you were against the Yanks this month.

Exactly as sucky as the Red Sox were against us last October.

-the fact that every commentator at the ASB declared the White Sox would inevitably win the division crown when they've pathetically collapsed since then.

Hey, even I was annoyed by that. At least let us be in first place before people start jinxing us!

I'm shocked to see that you agree that they have deep problems. Now I hear that you may give up Brandon McCarthy for a two month rental of Soriano?

I might be vision impaired by my love for the White Sox, but I'm not blinded. Bad pitching is still bad pitching.

Just do everyone else a favor and hold off the Twins. The worst case scenario I can see right now would be the Red Sox winning the division and the Twins making the wild card. If that happens, the wild card plays the division winner with the second best record, and that would be in all likelihood the Red Sox, and there's no way I'd want to face Santana and Liriano for three games of a five game series, home field advantage or no. No, I'd much rather face the defending champs so we can return the favor and sweep them out of their title defense.

Like we did last year, huh?

[Dan Gould]

Its lingering resentment at

-your obnoxious comments about the Cubs.

Come be a baseball fan in Chicago for a couple of years, and then complain. Your darling Cubs get all of the media exposure because their park is in the beer and lifestyle neighborhood. No team has ever had to do less work for all of the adoration it gets, and frankly, it's sickening. And what kinds of names are Shawon, Heathcliffe and Ryne anyway?

And, let's add to that the fact that such a comment means that you know nothing about Chicago baseball tradition. Cubs fans hate the Sox, we hate the Cubs. If you're a lifelong Wrigleyville-ian, multiply your Sox hatred by 10. If you're a Bridgeport or Beverly native, magnify your Cubs hatred by 100. That's just the way it is. They wear t-shirts with our modified logo saying "Sux" and we wear t-shirts with their modified logo saying "Chokers." Complaining about my "obnoxious" comments is like complaining after an afternoon drizzle once you've experienced a hurricane.

Well excuse me but I was only a hardcore Cub fan until I was five years old when the family moved to Long Island.

But I will say this:

My father's been a hardcore Cub fan for far longer than I've been alive, and he's never said a single goddamn negative things about the White Sox EVER.

So screw you and your irrational Cub hatred, cuz adults have managed to not give a rats ass about the other team. Its like Mets and Yankees fans - its pathetic and stupid.

Edited July 26, 2006 by Dan Gould