The Baseball Thread 2007

[Quincy]

I'm really not very concerned about this [flu]; the fact is that players live at close enough quarters in the clubhouses that throughout the season, one or another suffered "flu symptoms" that would then be suffered by someone else and then someone else. I assume it happens in other clubhouses too, or else I'd be more concerned about just how "close" the Red Sox are.

A flu shot does no good against "stomach flu" (which is often food poisoning) or the Norwalk virus, but it's just so unnecessary to have the possibility of influenza playing a role in the playoffs, be it MLB or NFL. And yet every few years it does. Guess you can tell my dad is big on flu shots.

It isn't just Wakefield at Coors where he apparently has trouble with his knuckler knuckling; it is also the concept of Mirabelli in a lineup that will be missing one of Ortiz/Youk/Lowell.

Ah...good point. And now I see Wake can't play. Too bad as he's such a good team player. Plus its always entertaining to watch those flutterbies. That's the other thing I admire about the Red Sox, they have the good sense to see the value in a knuckle-baller!

Fenway's positive impact on runs isn't as great as it once was; as you probably know, it plays pretty damn big from RF to CF. Schilling learned three years ago that you can be a fly ball pitcher and succeed there, if the fly balls go to the right part of the park.

True, though if you're a line drive hitter (and I don't know Helton or Hawpe's tendencies) it can boost your average, and often doubles result too. Doubles and singles that advance baserunners the extra base suit me just fine!

More importantly, there seems to be some question about Wakefield's availability, which may allow them to start Lester. He's probably as likely as Dice to get pounded, or only give five or six serviceable innings. But then again he might look pretty good against their lefties. His second appearance in the ALCS was quite impressive.

Yup, just as I admired Wedge for talking about the Indians gaining experience for next time, it's probably best for future Red Sox teams that Lester gets a start. And I do think tossing a lefty against them would be a good idea, since y'all don't have Bruce Hurst available.

[BERIGAN]

One thing about Lester pitching though. He hasn't pitched more than 4 1/3 innings since Sept 18th!

Out of boredom, I looked up some of the Rockies starters. Interesting splits, IMHO....

Jeff Francis..... 4.20 ERA home, 4.24 on the road.

Ubaldo Jimenez 3.81 ERA at Home (in 49 innings) 5.01 on the road, in 32 innings.

Josh Fogg, 5.97 ERA home, 4.15 ERA on the road.

[Dan Gould]

Out of boredom, I looked up some of the Rockies starters. Interesting splits, IMHO....

Jeff Francis..... 4.20 ERA home, 4.24 on the road.

Ubaldo Jimenez 3.81 ERA at Home (in 49 innings) 5.01 on the road, in 32 innings.

Josh Fogg, 5.97 ERA home, 4.15 ERA on the road.

According to Foxsports.com, Jimenez is starting game 2 at Fenway and Fogg is starting Game 3 at home. If that is true, and the splits hold up, I LOVE IT!

[Tim McG]

Out of boredom, I looked up some of the Rockies starters. Interesting splits, IMHO....

Jeff Francis..... 4.20 ERA home, 4.24 on the road.

Ubaldo Jimenez 3.81 ERA at Home (in 49 innings) 5.01 on the road, in 32 innings.

Josh Fogg, 5.97 ERA home, 4.15 ERA on the road.

According to Foxsports.com, Jimenez is starting game 2 at Fenway and Fogg is starting Game 3 at home. If that is true, and the splits hold up, I LOVE IT!

Since when did FoxSorts gain any credibility?

So you hold court with Tim McCarver now?

Oooo.

Bad omen, Dan.

[Soulstation1]

rockies in 6 games

i'm still kinda pi$$ed

[Tim McG]

rockies in 6 games

i'm still kinda pi$$ed

Sorry, Man.

Shoulda gone with my advice.

[Patrick]

Patrick, while I agree that Manny is and will always remain a mediocre fielder (and sometimes worse), credit has to be given where it is due. He's had the time to learn the peculiarities of the wall, and his throws to second are strong, accurate, and with a very quick release. Its not that Lofton wouldn't go against a different Sox outfielder, its that Lofton would have reached easily 5 years ago.

On the issue of Red Sox fan arrogance, I am afraid that the bandwagon has filled with know-nothing fans who feel entitled to championships, probably because they've never actually experienced the heartbreak and certainly never got conditioned to expect it. Its unfortunately true that the bandwagon will probably fill to over-flowing if they get it done this week, but I'm willing to deal with the jerks anyway.

The Rockies have a shot if they are unaffected by the layoff (somewhat unlikely, IMO) and if their pitchers come up big. Otherwise I see it going somewhere in between the Angels series and the Tribe series - 5 games, most likely.

We probably don't disagree much about Manny. You've likely watched a lot more of Manny in left at Fenway then I have, and yes he made a nice throw to second. Good job Manny. But the guy gets replaced defensively after his last AB in many games. My reaction was mainly to the foaming at the mouth coming from McCarver. The guy is adequate, if that. Let's not call him a great player if he's a space case or worse on the bases (a real detriment, to me Lowell was being extremely diplomatic), and adequate/mediocre at best in left. And he looked a bit lost in left at the Jake, a not too challenging left field to play. He's an awesome hitter. Let's call him that.

On the fan arrogance point, I should have been clearer at the end of a long post. I'm not complaining about current behavior or making any generalizations. All teams have some knucklehead fans. As you note, successful teams may have a few more of the frontrunner variety, and like you, I'd happily deal with them while witnessing continued success of my beloved team. I saw a little of it walking to the Jake, but I'm not complaining about it. In small doses it can even be amusing (hey, look at that complete knucklehead in the Beckett t-shirt). The initial post was speculating about what it might possibly be like in the upcoming offseason. My mother grew up in RI, so I know, and am happy for, a lot of reasonable Sawx fans.

Yes, Youk was especially tough in ALCS. Some of that likely comes from batting in front of Ortiz and Manny rather than behind them, but if I had to choose between Lowell and Youk at third (and the other player pinch hits) I think I'd go for Youk. Of course, this is coming from a fan that watched Youkilis really swat against the Tribe (Lowell had some nice hits as well, but KY, man...).

I haven't been paying attention to much of the WS hype. Any chance Beckett is set up to start 3 times? Looks like that would require pitching on 3 days rest in both games 4 and 7 if there is no offday in Denver. Then Dice and Wake pitch only once each, and Schilling twice (but on 5 days rest).

[Dan Gould]

Out of boredom, I looked up some of the Rockies starters. Interesting splits, IMHO....

Jeff Francis..... 4.20 ERA home, 4.24 on the road.

Ubaldo Jimenez 3.81 ERA at Home (in 49 innings) 5.01 on the road, in 32 innings.

Josh Fogg, 5.97 ERA home, 4.15 ERA on the road.

According to Foxsports.com, Jimenez is starting game 2 at Fenway and Fogg is starting Game 3 at home. If that is true, and the splits hold up, I LOVE IT!

Since when did FoxSorts gain any credibility?

So you hold court with Tim McCarver now?

Oooo.

Bad omen, Dan.

Tim McCarver has nothing to do with what is reported on the website, and ESPN is reporting the exact same thing.

We probably don't disagree much about Manny. You've likely watched a lot more of Manny in left at Fenway then I have, and yes he made a nice throw to second. Good job Manny. But the guy gets replaced defensively after his last AB in many games. My reaction was mainly to the foaming at the mouth coming from McCarver.

I should have mentioned that I never have the sound on when Fox broadcasts these games, so I was thankfully unaware of McCarver's man-love for Manny Being Manny. If he went that overboard in his praise, that's just one more reason to keep the sound off.

Yes, Youk was especially tough in ALCS. Some of that likely comes from batting in front of Ortiz and Manny rather than behind them, but if I had to choose between Lowell and Youk at third (and the other player pinch hits) I think I'd go for Youk. Of course, this is coming from a fan that watched Youkilis really swat against the Tribe (Lowell had some nice hits as well, but KY, man...).

Youk's splits by where he bats in the lineup is very telling. Far and away his best "spot" is in the two-hole. Earlier in the season Tito tried to use him elsewhere, particularly when Drew and Varitek were in the depths of their slumps, and also when he was trying to get Lugo and Crisp going at the top of the order. But its clear that Youk feasts on the fastballs that tend to be thrown before Papi and Manny step into the box.

I haven't been paying attention to much of the WS hype. Any chance Beckett is set up to start 3 times? Looks like that would require pitching on 3 days rest in both games 4 and 7 if there is no offday in Denver. Then Dice and Wake pitch only once each, and Schilling twice (but on 5 days rest).

Well, as was mentioned above, Wake is out. Not official yet but its believed that Lester gets his start. My best guess is that Tito likes the idea of Beckett, Schilling, Dice, Lester, Beckett, Schilling, Dice. It keeps everyone on regular rest or a day extra; it puts Schilling into the Game 6 spot where, heaven forbid, he might be needed to extend the series to a Game 7, and if it comes down to that, Tito can have Beckett available in the pen for an "all hands on deck" finale.

[zen archer]

Keeping Gagne on the roster is stupid and they left Tavarez off ........what did Tavarez do ? they really

don't like this guy .

Remember the Rockies kept asking for Tavarez in trades because they felt he would do well in coors field

lots of ground balls.

Francona can be real stubborn with his allegiance to veterans .......but still no excuse putting gagne on the roster .

[skeith]

Jeez,

for a brief second I thought I was going to be watching the Tribe tonight....

But as Elvis sings "I Forgot to Remember to Forget"

[Quincy]

Meet the Rockie's ace in a couple of video shorts.

Humidor sketch

Off days

[BERIGAN]

If Tim McCarver was praising Manny's throw a lot(I didn't see much of the last game) he also gave him plenty of crap for only getting to first on the near home run that hit the top of the fence and bounced back earlier in the series. And I can't blame him. I kept thinking if the next guy up hit a single, and since he was on first and couldn't score on said single...AND if they ended up losing the game by one run, it might have been the end of the Manny Ramirez era in Boston. I don't think fans could forgiven him that blunder. Manny needs to find some way to focus, or play a year in Philly! They'd fix his wagon!

Edited October 24, 2007 by BERIGAN

[Tim McG]

Keeping Gagne on the roster is stupid and they left Tavarez off ........what did Tavarez do ? they really

don't like this guy .

Who does?

Julian Tavarez is a horse's ass and a certifiable nutburger.

Remember the Rockies kept asking for Tavarez in trades because they felt he would do well in coors field

lots of ground balls.

Francona can be real stubborn with his allegiance to veterans .......but still no excuse putting Gagne on the roster .

Gagne has playoff experience.

Makes more sense.

Good call on Francona's part, IMHO.

Edited October 24, 2007 by GoodSpeak

[Dan Gould]

Its not a question of Gagne vs Tavarez; Gagne was going to be on the roster regardless. Snyder got the spot ahead of Tavarez as long man. Its obvious that Tavarez has fallen precipitously, especially when you consider his ground ball tendencies and their potential value at Coors. Hopefully it won't matter a bit, but I would have preferred Tavarez, not least because of his ability to come out of the pen and give several innings and if necessary, do it again the next day. I don't think Snyder has been called upon to pitch very long or very often.

[alocispepraluger102]

turned on the telly at 15 minutes past the hour and its now 33 past.

all i have seen is a symphony(cacaphony) of commercials.

this is bleeping B.S.

thank god i am hearing sacred unity with mr. grimes as a soundtrack.

who needs to explain baseball to a real fan, anyway?

Edited October 25, 2007 by alocispepraluger102

[Neal Pomea]

Inning one, Boston up 3-0! What luck! My prediction for Rockies in 4 games, maybe 5, still holds.

[Chuck Nessa]

Go Cubs!

[Patrick]

Keeping Gagne on the roster is stupid and they left Tavarez off ........what did Tavarez do ? they really

don't like this guy .

Who does?

Julian Tavarez is a horse's ass and a certifiable nutburger.

Remember the Rockies kept asking for Tavarez in trades because they felt he would do well in coors field

lots of ground balls.

Francona can be real stubborn with his allegiance to veterans .......but still no excuse putting Gagne on the roster .

Gagne has playoff experience.

Makes more sense.

Good call on Francona's part, IMHO.

Makes less sense.

Julian Tavarez has much more playoff experience Eric Gagne (...it's not even close):

Tavarez: 31 games, 30.2 innings, 12 ER, 12 DS games, 12 CS games, 7 WS games

Gagne: 6 games, 6.1 innings, 3 ER, 3 DS games, 3 CS games, 0 WS games

[Soulstation1]

ain't no way the yanks will hire tony pena

[Noj]

GoodSpeak has a particular distaste for Tavarez.

Personally, I get excited when Tavarez pitches, because it seems like he serves up a homer every time I watch him throw. One of those guys who challenges hitters but doesn't have the stuff to back it up.

[alocispepraluger102]

ain't no way the yanks will hire tony pena

later or sooner, joe torre will be managing the sox or metropolitans, just to spite the yankes.

[Big Al]

Good heavens, 13-1 Sox after 5! So much for an exciting Series.

[zen archer]

Does anyone think the layoff hurt the Rockies ?

[catesta]

Good heavens, 13-1 Sox after 5! So much for an exciting Series.

Yep.

The only people that are going to enjoy this one are Sox fans.

And yeah, the layoff killed Colorado.

[Big Al]

Does anyone think the layoff hurt the Rockies ?

Even the Rockies are admitting as much.