MLB 2008

[Chuck Nessa]

Guess they are tougher up north.

[Dan Gould]

Guess they are tougher up north.

The only thing I can think of is that there is an early start tomorrow, 1:05, so maybe they actually expect the rain to pop up again and that a delay would be inevitable if they go ahead and start.

Still sounds like bullshit to me. I'd be royally pissed if I had tickets, especially since Santana was scheduled to go for the Mets.

[Soulstation1]

Finally saw the double play hi five from Manny

Freaking crazy

[Dan Gould]

Finally saw the double play hi five from Manny

Freaking crazy

What? Its just a regular old 7 to high-5 to 4 to 3 DP.

[Tim McG]

Zito, 0-8.

[BERIGAN]

Zito, 0-8.

Yeah, but he's pitched much better since coming back...not great, but 5 innings and 2 runs is keeping your team in the game....you just need to get another GM...dope doesn't want to trade away the old players, seems to think since the Giants are in 3rd place and all....why not act like you can somehow beat the Diamondbacks????

[papsrus]

Got all moved in to my new digs and my brand new 37-inch flat panel unwrapped. The satellite (Direct TV) guy comes by Sunday (bonus points) to hook me up and ... I find out I need a whole new dish (the house came with a Direct TV dish) and receiver to get high definition! ... Bummer. I was really looking forward to the Rays in high def. yesterday. ... My disappointment at that and the shitty way we lost the last two games of the series in St. Louis (last at-bat wins for the Cards) was somewhat ameliorated by the Yankees getting their hats handed to them Sunday night.

... BTW, I'm not in favor of replay reviews in baseball, but Joe Morgan's reasoning for not using it was inane. "It wouldn't work because I don't like it," basically. Well, it would work, as far as correcting bad calls. But it would interrupt the flow of the game and change the character of the game, which I like just fine the way it is, bad calls and all.

The Rays pen is looking a little shaky lately. Some youthful errors are starting to cost them as well. Zobrist playing short yesterday should have helped out Longoria at third on a pop fly he lost in the sun. He was nowhere near him. Hopefully they can bounce back in Oakland. ... After two crappy losses, still just a game out of first.

[Dan Gould]

Well, I guess there was nothing so wrong about the Sox that some home cooking and the Brew Crew couldn't help fix.

Mostly, with weak pitching and abysmal defense. In the second game Saturday, the Sox did all they could to let the Brewers get a split, but like good guests, they just kept insisting.

The Yanks are at the same point they were last season as far as W-L goes, but they are about half as many games out, which is certainly to their advantage. To win 92 games, they have to play .610 ball the rest of the way. A-Rod is back Tuesday and it looks like Posada might not be too long either, but the problem is that too much of this team is underachieving. That is going to add up to a lot of pressure on Rodriguez, it will be interesting to see how he starts off and particularly how the fans treat him if the 2-runs-a-game offense continues.

After counting the Yanks out last year, I'd never make the same mistake now but one factor working strongly against them is that last year they were underperforming their Pythag W-L and this year they are right where they "should" be. The former was a scenario for improvement but the latter is a scenario for treading water.

[Dan Gould]

One other thing I wanted to add, and that is that I realized over the weekend that the Sox have one of the best records in the league, and that is almost entirely because of their performance at Fenway. And yet, they had also played the most road games in the majors heading into this weekend. I'd say that suggests there is significant room for improvement in their winning percentage if they've got a good deal more home games coming up.

I will say this: Take the Boston offense and the Tribe's rotation, you'd have a 110 win juggernaut.

[Dan Gould]

And one last thing:

All hail Jacoby Ellsbury, who got caught stealing for the first time in his major league career after 25 straight swipes. He was only two behind the major league record set by Rock Raines in the late 70s. It took a pitchout and a perfect throw to catch him.

What is remarkable about the Red Sox offense is the combination of speed and slugging. They are tied for third in the league in stolen bases (when was the last time that happened?) and third in home runs (and first in slugging percentage).

Youkilis hit his ninth homer in their 46th game, he didn't reach nine last year til their 90th game. He seemed pegged to be a 16-18 homer guy but with the move down in the order I think he's changed his approach a bit (his pitches per plate appearance is much lower) and now could hit 30.

[zen archer]

One other thing I wanted to add, and that is that I realized over the weekend that the Sox have one of the best records in the league, and that is almost entirely because of their performance at Fenway. And yet, they had also played the most road games in the majors heading into this weekend. I'd say that suggests there is significant room for improvement in their winning percentage if they've got a good deal more home games coming up.

I will say this: Take the Boston offense and the Tribe's rotation, you'd have a 110 win juggernaut.

YES ....BUT the problem is after the next 4 against the Royals the SOX hit the road for another loooooooong trip.

Seattle, Oakland and i think back to Baltimore.

Who came up with this schedule ? it really seems that the Red Sox have had the hardest schedule so far in the Majors and they started in Japan.

The Cubs have played the least road games.

[zen archer]

I will say this: Take the Boston offense and the Tribe's rotation, you'd have a 110 win juggernaut.

I'm not worried about pitching , this week finally Colon gets a start and if he stays healthy this could be a GREAT

pick up. ( wouldn't the Yankees like to have him )

Schill says he feels great , they have Masterson starting this week, though he has slumped a little down in the minors.

The biggest concern is Beckett , to me he just doesn't seem into it ?...maybe a WS hangover ....i dunno his velocity

is there but his head isn't!

[Dan Gould]

I will say this: Take the Boston offense and the Tribe's rotation, you'd have a 110 win juggernaut.

I'm not worried about pitching , this week finally Colon gets a start and if he stays healthy this could be a GREAT

pick up. ( wouldn't the Yankees like to have him )

Schill says he feels great , they have Masterson starting this week, though he has slumped a little down in the minors.

The biggest concern is Beckett , to me he just doesn't seem into it ?...maybe a WS hangover ....i dunno his velocity

is there but his head isn't!

Well, the reasons to worry about the pitching are:

The bullpen is far weaker than it was last year;

Clay has been very inconsistent (on the plus side I'd say Lester looks closer to what I hoped for and better than I feared)

As you acknowledge Beckett hasn't been dominant

You don't know what you'll get with Colon or, in the summer, with Schilling

Put it this way, we wouldn't be in the position we are without the bats. There is potential to dominate again if the pitching gets straightened out. But in our own way, we are dealing with the same potential pitfalls the Yankees are: two young pitchers in the rotation (until now) plus young guys being asked to step up in the bullpen.

As far as the road trip goes, remember this: Seattle is stinky and shouldn't be much of a threat. Oakland isn't hitting either. The O's are hot and cold, hopefully enough Boston fans will show up that it won't feel like a road series. And after that, with all of those road games behind us, we'll have a lot of games at Fenway. In fact, one advantage of this schedule is that after mid-August, the Sox never go further away than the central time zone. That's a great scheduling advantage for the dog days and the pennant drive to not have a single west coast trip on the calendar.

[Dan Gould]

Ladies and gentlemen, JON LESTER!

The question I have and hope to find out in the reporting of this grand occasion is if any other team has had two pitchers 24 or younger throw no-nos within three months of each other.

If this is the way Lester pitches going forward, with confidence and command, it will really be a great thing for him and the team. Of course, its just one game and sometimes it takes the right pitcher against the right team. The Royals aren't exactly tearing the cover off the ball, though their offense hasn't been too bad lately.

But if this is a touch of the Lester of the future, we could be in really good shape pitching-wise. And they might want to hold off on the script for The Jon Lester Story. He keeps righting new chapters.

[Patrick]

I will say this: Take the Boston offense and the Tribe's rotation, you'd have a 110 win juggernaut.

Sadly, the pens on both teams are showing some shortcomings so far.

Boy that ballpark in Cincy is real small. Cliff Lee came back to earth a bit and the Tribe got swept. Ouch. Brandon Phillips still finding motivation by his stay in Cleveland. [Let's remember that trade one more time: Bartolo Colon rental and used fungo bats in exchange for Cliff Lee, Grady Sizemore, and Brandon Phillips. Wow.]

Rumors about Indians trading for Matt Holliday??

Congrats to Lester. Couldn't happen to a guy with a better comeback story.

[zen archer]

Ladies and gentlemen, JON LESTER!

The question I have and hope to find out in the reporting of this grand occasion is if any other team has had two pitchers 24 or younger throw no-nos within three months of each other.

If this is the way Lester pitches going forward, with confidence and command, it will really be a great thing for him and the team. Of course, its just one game and sometimes it takes the right pitcher against the right team. The Royals aren't exactly tearing the cover off the ball, though their offense hasn't been too bad lately.

But if this is a touch of the Lester of the future, we could be in really good shape pitching-wise. And they might want to hold off on the script for The Jon Lester Story. He keeps righting new chapters.

What a Game !!!.....very touching moment when Francona hugged Lester.

[papsrus]

Ladies and gentlemen, JON LESTER!

The question I have and hope to find out in the reporting of this grand occasion is if any other team has had two pitchers 24 or younger throw no-nos within three months of each other.

If this is the way Lester pitches going forward, with confidence and command, it will really be a great thing for him and the team. Of course, its just one game and sometimes it takes the right pitcher against the right team. The Royals aren't exactly tearing the cover off the ball, though their offense hasn't been too bad lately.

But if this is a touch of the Lester of the future, we could be in really good shape pitching-wise. And they might want to hold off on the script for The Jon Lester Story. He keeps righting new chapters.

Yes. Very nice. Didn't get to see anything but the end of the game. Quite a moment.

[Big Al]

The question I have and hope to find out in the reporting of this grand occasion is if any other team has had two pitchers 24 or younger throw no-nos within three months of each other.

When was the other one?

In any event, this is truly a heartwarming and inspiration story. I'd forgotten about his bout with cancer (hey Dan, remember that asshole who polluted this Board when Lester was diagnosed? I'd love to offer that fuckhead a great big FUCK YOU, ASSHOLE!!!!). The mob on the mound was a sweet sight!

[Patrick]

Buccholz last fall.

[Chalupa]

Wow. That Jon Lester no-no is an amazing accomplishment. Congrats.

[Dan Gould]

The question I have and hope to find out in the reporting of this grand occasion is if any other team has had two pitchers 24 or younger throw no-nos within three months of each other.

When was the other one?

In any event, this is truly a heartwarming and inspiration story. I'd forgotten about his bout with cancer (hey Dan, remember that asshole who polluted this Board when Lester was diagnosed? I'd love to offer that fuckhead a great big FUCK YOU, ASSHOLE!!!!). The mob on the mound was a sweet sight!

I'd forgotten about him with his "chemo unit in the clubhouse" crap. Heck, I'd also forgotten that he figured the collapse of 2006 would send the Sox into the toilet for a few more years instead of winning another WS the very next year.

[Chalupa]

Andruw Jones update

LOS ANGELES -- Andruw Jones underwent an MRI on Monday that revealed a slight cartilage tear in his right knee, and the Dodgers will wait a few days to see if the center fielder will have to undergo surgery.

"Hopefully, I can do it [surgery] in the offseason," Jones said, according to The Los Angeles Times.

Jones was scratched from Monday night's game against Cincinnati because of swelling due to fluid buildup. He said he felt discomfort during the Dodgers' weekend games against the Angels.

Jones signed a two-year, $36.2 million contract with the Dodgers in the offseason but hasn't rewarded them. He is batting .167 with two home runs, seven RBIs and a .275 on-base percentage.

Jones was hitless in 11 at-bats in the Dodgers' interleague series against the Angels.

[Chalupa]

The question I have and hope to find out in the reporting of this grand occasion is if any other team has had two pitchers 24 or younger throw no-nos within three months of each other.

When was the other one?

In any event, this is truly a heartwarming and inspiration story. I'd forgotten about his bout with cancer (hey Dan, remember that asshole who polluted this Board when Lester was diagnosed? I'd love to offer that fuckhead a great big FUCK YOU, ASSHOLE!!!!). The mob on the mound was a sweet sight!

I'd forgotten about him with his "chemo unit in the clubhouse" crap. Heck, I'd also forgotten that he figured the collapse of 2006 would send the Sox into the toilet for a few more years instead of winning another WS the very next year.

Who was that??

Edit Heatwave. What a troll.

Edited May 20, 2008 by J.H. Deeley

[Dan Gould]

That Jones injury could be brutal. Look at Ortiz: when his knee is killing him, his power goes down because he doesn't have that solid foundation to swing from. And at least David only has to hit and run the bases, not patrol CF. That will cause more wear and tear on his damaged ligament.

Really the best thing for Andruw, and I'll be shocked if they don't go this way, is to have the surgery and miss four weeks. Lay off the crullers while he rehabs and maybe he comes back feeling strong and a little mentally refreshed and can start going after 'em again. Otherwise he will probably just struggle all season long, build up a lot of ill-will with the fans and be completely untradeable on top of that.

[Dan Gould]

The question I have and hope to find out in the reporting of this grand occasion is if any other team has had two pitchers 24 or younger throw no-nos within three months of each other.

When was the other one?

In any event, this is truly a heartwarming and inspiration story. I'd forgotten about his bout with cancer (hey Dan, remember that asshole who polluted this Board when Lester was diagnosed? I'd love to offer that fuckhead a great big FUCK YOU, ASSHOLE!!!!). The mob on the mound was a sweet sight!

I'd forgotten about him with his "chemo unit in the clubhouse" crap. Heck, I'd also forgotten that he figured the collapse of 2006 would send the Sox into the toilet for a few more years instead of winning another WS the very next year.

Who was that??

Edit Heatwave. What a troll.

Here's one of his Greatest Hits:

Bad management. Bad front office. Bad team. And nothing looks to improve for 2007. Enjoy all that. Maybe if they put a chemo unit in the clubhouse, Cancer Boy can provide the "leadership" you covet?

Bad front office - that went after Dice-K because they knew they needed him.

That drafted and signed Clay Buchholz, Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Jon Lester - who as a group could see two no-hitters and two RoY awards in successive seasons.

And then of course there is this: