The Baseball Thread 2007

[Dan Gould]

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/sports/14200469/detail.html

"reportedly a millionaire many times over"?

I'm pretty sure John Henry is a Billionaire.

[Tim McG]

Go Rockies!!!

DEATH to dodger blue.

Grrrrrr

[MartyJazz]

Dan:

Your nightmare scenario is coming up. Yanks two out. Prediction: Yanks win 5 of next 6 while Sox split next 6. Tie for AL East winner goes to Yanks on the basis of head to head competition.

Yeah, with Rocket and Kennedy shut down for the rest of the season and Igawa starting tonight and possibly Sunday too.

We'll see how that works out for ya.

edit:

Oh, and Manny is back tonight and Youk should start Wednesday.

Didn't know that the Rocket would be scratched. And to blow a 5 run lead to the Devil Rays!!!!?????

This is why I no longer bet regardless of my gut feel. Oh well, wiild card, here we come.

[Matthew]

Whew! Padres pulled that game out last night, four run ninth to keep ahead of Colorado. Sorry Goodspeak, well, not that sorry.

[Tim McG]

Whew! Padres pulled that game out last night, four run ninth to keep ahead of Colorado. Sorry Goodspeak, well, not that sorry.

No problem....my guys are done.

The best news though is the [hated] dodgers were officially eliminated last night!

[sorry, Noj]

[Dan Gould]

Well, the magic number is down to two, and the Yanks are winning so it looks like they'll be celebrating tonight. Funny, when the Sox clinched a playoff spot, they had a team meeting and a single champagne toast, but the Yankees are making it sound like they'll give the full champagne bath celebration thing. I just find it amusing because the Sox caught some flak in the past when they celebrated a Wild Card clinching.

Anyway ... Indians are playing very well, obviously, and could have a one game lead for best record by tonight. With the Halos not looking very good lately and falling behind, I might not mind playing the Angels as the second seed vs the third seed. We'd have home field, and I strongly suspect that the Indians will choose the longer series with the extra off days. I don't think that helps the Sox the way it helps the Indians or the Angels for that matter, and the thing of it is that it doesn't only help the one seed, it also helps that Wild Card team. The Yanks will be able to use Joba more often than he otherwise might.

Anyway, the Indians look very good right now and while the Angels have traditionally handled the Yanks, I think the Tribe has a good shot at them with their two best pitchers potentially going four times, and having home field advantage as well.

Does anyone doubt that any of the AL playoff teams ought to win the WS should they get to it? I mean, they've got to play the games and you never know what will happen, but I'd have to say that it would be a major upset for the Senior league to win this year.

[donald byrd 4 EVA]

peavy is gonna get the cy young. i called it

[Patrick]

Don't know about planned Yankee festivities, they looked happy but pretty damn subdued when their game ended tonight--more relieved than anything else. Guess if you've made it to the playoffs 12 or 13 years in a row and its only the wild card, you can remain calm. In Cleveland, where I think only Sabathia and maybe Westbrook were on the last playoff team, they (rightfully) made winning the division a big deal. And the town went appropriately nuts.

It does look like the Angels are fading, and that Boston will win their division. The only other thing to decide is who has the best record, between Boston and Cleveland. Agree that the preferred schedule benefits Cleveland the most (while also benefiting their opponent, whether it is NY or ...).

I expect a lotta chatter about the Tribe's 0-6 record against NYY. Let that chatter persist (while CC is dealing...).

Tribe played extra innings on Tuesday (thanks for blowing a 2 run lead in the ninth JoeBo--you had your ERA under 5.00 briefly, but now its safely back up to 5.17) and a doubleheader tonight. Fausto was dealing in the first game, at one point retiring 15 in a row, and finishes the regular season 19-8. Second game tonight features the following Indian lineup 1. F Gutierrez, 2. Chris Gomez, 3. Peralta, 4. Garko, 5. Michaels, 6. Nixon, 7. Shoppach, 8. Barfield, 9. Andy Marte. So at this juncture at least, no Sizemore, Martinez, Hafner, Blake, or Cabrera. And this to support Jeremy Sowers (he of the 6.82 ERA). Shoppach threw out 2 Mariners trying to steal third in the first inning (...no respect of Shoppach, or totally clueless?), and Garko has already gone deep, so who knows, maybe they'll sweep the doubleheader. Sowers, however, has put the first two on in each of the first 2 innings.

And what of the races in the National League? Such a big contrast between the two DC area teams. The Orioles totally blow, while the Nationals are still scrapping for wins, and just swept the Mets in NY to reduce their division lead to 1.

[jlhoots]

Cubs trying hard to "choke" - but Brewers lost tonight too.

Magic number 3 with 4 games to go.

This one's not over yet.

Go Brewers.

[Dan Gould]

Well, Seattle did something productive and managed a split, so the teams are tied heading into the last four games. Advantage goes to Boston since I am sure that the tie-break is season series and the Sox won that. So its up to Cleveland to outplay us; we can stay status quo and have home field throughout.

The funny thing is that even with the choice, Boston would hopefully be smart and choose the shorter schedule series, in order not to benefit the other team, so the Indians may get their wish anyway. The only reason I can see for the Sox choosing the other schedule would be for Okajima's benefit.

I know you have to be careful what you wish for, but the Angels not only look bad lately but Gary Matthews got hurt yesterday and while he says that there is no structural damage to his knee, I wouldn't be surprised if he is closer to a shell of himself in the playoffs. Plus they never faced Dice-K which can only help him at this point. A Boston columnist wrote that its not even close, Schilling has to pitch Game 2, and not only do I think that is true, but as noted, Dice pitches better on the road, so that makes a Game 3 assignment even better.

As for the NL, I just hope the Cubbies can hang on, with some help from the injury-depleted Pads. And while I feel badly for Brad, who doesn't deserve to see his team choke it away, I can't say I feel too badly about at least one New York team blowing it down the stretch in shocking fashion, and in front of the hometown fans to boot.

[Matthew]

The Angels are a very good team and I think Boston will have a hard time winning the series (you guys on the East Coast always think we're lightweights out here ). I don't take their current play too seriously sine they clinched a while ago; they have good pitching, hitting, and I think Matthews will be O.K. for the playoffs. If Boston is smart, they'd just walk Vlad every time he comes up and make someone else beat him. I would love to see Cleveland take the Yankees in straight games, I just think the Yankee pitching is too weak to beat good teams in any series.

[Quincy]

I know you have to be careful what you wish for, but the Angels not only look bad lately but Gary Matthews got hurt yesterday and while he says that there is no structural damage to his knee, I wouldn't be surprised if he is closer to a shell of himself in the playoffs.

He's been a shell of himself since the All-Star break, in fact a bit before. Guess the 'roids wore off by June.

The Angels might be better off if he is injured so they wouldn't play him. While they'd miss the ability to PH/PR the with extra outfielder, at this stage I'd rather go with Willits and Rivera, or throw Figgins out there and play Izturis at 3B.

[Tim McG]

Go Pad's!!!!

[Matthew]

It's going to be very strange watching the Giants without Bonds, in fact, it's going to be weird when Bonds does leave the game, I've been watching this guy since he was in college and I went to the Cal games in Berkeley. Even then, you knew he would be a great player. Everything aside, steroids, personality, the self-aggrandizement, he was a great player to watch and was never dull.

[trane_fanatic]

It's going to be very strange watching the Giants without Bonds, in fact, it's going to be weird when Bonds does leave the game, I've been watching this guy since he was in college and I went to the Cal games in Berkeley. Even then, you knew he would be a great player. Everything aside, steroids, personality, the self-aggrandizement, he was a great player to watch and was never dull.

Agreed, I was at the game last night. The crowd was electric and for a moment there, the last at-bat looked like a final HR.

Edited September 27, 2007 by trane_fanatic

[Soulstation1]

GO TRIBE!!!!!!!!!!

[jlhoots]

Cubs lose 3rd in a row to last place Marlins.

[BERIGAN]

Does anyone doubt that any of the AL playoff teams ought to win the WS should they get to it? I mean, they've got to play the games and you never know what will happen, but I'd have to say that it would be a major upset for the Senior league to win this year.

Well, I seem to recall Colorado coming into Fenway and the Sox losing 2 of 3 and being outscored 21 to 4....of course, Colorado isn't in there yet.

Phils are now tied with the Mets for first place!!!!! If they had ANY pitching, they would be an amazing team in the playoffs!!

[Chalupa]

PHILS WIN!!!!! METS LOSE!!!! TIE FOR THE NL EAST!!!!

:) :) :)

[alocispepraluger102]

the mets have blown all their lead. now tied with 3 games to go.

a scant few months ago, mets fans were laughing at and belittling yankee fans and now the tables have turned.

one of sports' all-time great choke jobs.

Edited September 28, 2007 by alocispepraluger102

[Dan Gould]

Cubs lose 3rd in a row to last place Marlins.

As I mentioned last week, I decided to head down to Miami to see this game. Lots to tell, if you don't mind:

My day started out great as when I arrived and paid for parking I found out it was Marlins keyring-penlight day!

I did good when I decided to take up the first offer I got from a scalper. About 25,000 people there, way too many to allow anyone to sit anywhere other than their assigned seat. I paid $20 under face value for a seat 7 rows back of the Cub dugout, centered on the pitcher's mound. Best seats I've ever had anywhere!

Considering how the game turned out, the highlight happened when I was headed for my seats. There's a sign ahead that says:

Signing Today

Hall of Famer

Fergie Jenkins

Now, I've never been a guy who collects autographs or baseball cards or anything like that, but Fergie Jenkins was a favorite growing up, and most of all, he was the ace on the best Cub teams that my Father ever cheered for.

So, for $20, I got a personalized signature on the inner leaf of Jenkins' autobiography. My old man is going to be one happy camper come Christmas day. If there was a tear emoticon, I'd insert it here.

Among the other highlights were a couple of good lines I got off to my neighbors. At one point, someone named Wood went up as a pinch hitter against Kerry Wood and when my neighbor said "Its Wood vs Wood" I said in my best announcer voice, "Brought to you by Viagra!"

Another highlight would be the Marlins Mermaids. They offend all that is good and righteous in baseball, but they sure are purty. For those who don't know, the Marlins looked at the Laker Girls or the Heat Dancers and decided that this was what was needed to liven up a dull baseball crowd at the home games of perennial losers: Put hot chicks in stripper wear and let them bump and gyrate in front of the fans.

And because I had such great seats, I really had the best view ever.

So, when the Mermaids got on the dugout and started gyrating, I turned to my neighbor and said "I went to a ballgame and a strip club broke out".

Here's a photo.

OK, last highlight was really a major disappointment, almost as disappointing as the loss was. Bottom of the sixth. Bases loaded, nobody out, in comes Kerry Wood. He strikes out the first batter, then induces an inning ending double play grounder to Ramirez at third. The Cub side of the stadium was rocking with Cub fans and at this point, I really thought we were going to pull it out. And then it happens. Derrick Lee, who has carefully spread the love around each time he's tossed a ball to the fans at the end of an inning, tosses this double play grounder directly at me. There's no one in the row in front, so no one to knock it down. No one on my right either. And then this fat ugly cow next to me throws a gargantuan hip at me, and all I can do is get a piece of the ball as she deflects it to her friend.

I'll try to upload photos of Fergie and the Mermaids after I get my film developed.

[Chalupa]

Phils are now tied with the Mets for first place!!!!! If they had ANY pitching, they would be an amazing team in the playoffs!!

If either Freddie Garcia or Adam Eaton had shown up this year this race would be over.

[Tim McG]

Oooooo.

Yer killin' me, Dan.

[Dan Gould]

MOTHERFUCKING CHRIST.

Beckett gets hammered, yet we only trail by one in the ninth inning. Second and third, one out, and we go IBB, strikeout, strikeout.

And the motherfucking Yankees don't play Jeter, A-Rod or Posada or use Rivera to close and they beat the fucking Devil Rays anyway.

THIS was the fucking night to get it finished and they fucked it away.

[Tim McG]

GO Pad's!!!!