2010 MLB Season

[Brad]

I suppose it was a bit of a generalization but generally I think it holds true and otherwise agree with Dan. If the sole reason for Lee staying in Texas vs. coming to NY was the tax issue, that wouldn't hold the Yankees back, considering they could probably make up that number with increased merchandising sales, higher ad fees on YES and what have you, not to mention the extra revenue derived from going to the World Series, if that's what Lee would do.

[Chalupa]

Holiday might have been smart to re-think the long-term prospects of the Phillies, actually. Change is coming - like Werth leaving - and Ryan Howard is on the decline and will take up a big part of the budget as he goes downhill. I don't know enough about their farm system but it seems that what they've given up (to get him) and what they got (sending Lee away) wasn't much. Is this a final hurrah for the Fightins?

Not even close. With Halladay and Hamels locked up for the next 3 years and Oswalt for 2 they should still be a lock for the postseason. Unfortunately, I have the feeling that they are going to turn into this decade's version of the 1990's Atlanta Braves - always the bridesmaid never the bride.

Howard's seen his production fall but it's not as bad as you may think. Remember he was on the DL for close to 3 weeks this season. And while his contract looks like a potential albatross in 2010 baseball economics who knows what it will look like 5 years from now? We might be saying,"Wow $25 million per for Ryan Howard? What a bargain!" Though I tend to agree with you in that the fuckwad GM in Philly probably out smarted himself on that extension. What scares me the most about Howard is that he has just not shown up in October 2009/10. WTF?

The Phillies will miss Werth's right handed power bat in a lefty dominated lineup. However, they will not miss his abysmal 10 for 72 with RISP w/ 2 outs. That works out to a .138 avg. - dead last in the NL. If Domonic Brown is as good as advertised they'll miss Werth even less.

[Tim McG]

Boo-ya!!!

One game season now, Guys.

Here's hoping it's sooner rather than later vs. not at all.

[BERIGAN]

Holiday might have been smart to re-think the long-term prospects of the Phillies, actually. Change is coming - like Werth leaving - and Ryan Howard is on the decline and will take up a big part of the budget as he goes downhill. I don't know enough about their farm system but it seems that what they've given up (to get him) and what they got (sending Lee away) wasn't much. Is this a final hurrah for the Fightins?

Not even close. With Halladay and Hamels locked up for the next 3 years and Oswalt for 2 they should still be a lock for the postseason. Unfortunately, I have the feeling that they are going to turn into this decade's version of the 1990's Atlanta Braves - always the bridesmaid never the bride.

Howard's seen his production fall but it's not as bad as you may think. Remember he was on the DL for close to 3 weeks this season. And while his contract looks like a potential albatross in 2010 baseball economics who knows what it will look like 5 years from now? We might be saying,"Wow $25 million per for Ryan Howard? What a bargain!" Though I tend to agree with you in that the fuckwad GM in Philly probably out smarted himself on that extension. What scares me the most about Howard is that he has just not shown up in October 2009/10. WTF?

The Phillies will miss Werth's right handed power bat in a lefty dominated lineup. However, they will not miss his abysmal 10 for 72 with RISP w/ 2 outs. That works out to a .138 avg. - dead last in the NL. If Domonic Brown is as good as advertised they'll miss Werth even less.

I think it's way too early to say Howard is on the decline. Like you said, his numbers are down because of being on the DL, plus Utley and Rollins had very subpar seasons, giving him fewer RBI chances. Unlike say, Big Papi, Howard is in very good shape, and has made himself a decent 1st baseman. Plus, I don't think there is a leftie alive that has to face more lefties. (Quincy, quick find out for me! ) He may not have any homers , but hitting .385 against that pitching staff(.500 OBP ) if that's not showing up....

Werth, on the other hand. Quick, who has more RBI's, Werth, or Jonny Gomes??? Yep, Gomes by one RBI (86) And Gomes is tagged as a guy you can't hit righties(not really true this year) So, I don't think the Phils will miss Werth all that much, though he too has really improved as a fielder.

Edited October 21, 2010 by BERIGAN

[vajerzy]

Whoo-Hoo!!! Phils are now on top!

[Tim McG]

Congratulations Philly fans!

Good luck against Texas/Yankees in the World Series.

Giants are done. It's over. Fun while it lasted.

See you in 2011.

[Chalupa]

I'm gonna have a serious ulcer after this NLCS.

[BERIGAN]

See, you Giants, Phils, Rangers, and Yankees fans have it rough...all this worrying, fearing your team might not win it all. The rest of us have it made....Take this Braves fan for example. Big news here. Melky Cabrera was released. We might be able to ship Kenshin Kawakami back to Japan, and have a team there pick up half of his 6 + million dollar contract! With the saving right there, the Braves will easily be able to pay Carl Crawford 20 Mil a year for the next 6 seasons!

Yep, I really feel y'alls pain!

[Brad]

Here's another example of money talking, but not in this sport: Wayne Rooney of Manchester United in the English Premier League announced earlier this week that he was unhappy being at Man U. His manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, later announced that he was resigned to losing him and there were demonstrations outside of Rooney's home. Rooney is one of the top players in English footbaball.

Today, it's announced that he's signed a new five year extension with Manchester.

Oh, mi god, what a shock. Don't tell me most of them (regardless of sport) aren't motivated by the dollar or pound. But you know that's the way it probably should be. This is a business and it's their livelihood and they don't have that long to cash in on it.

[Big Al]

All I know is this is the longest baseball season I've ever had the pleasure to enjoy as a Rangers fan, or even a baseball fan (if the Rangers can finish off the Yanks, they'll have gotten further than the Cubs have in the last 40 years)! If anyone had told me at the beginning of this season that there would be a Ranger game on October 22, I woulda laughed my ass off. The laughing would've subsided a bit, though, once Nolan & Co. took over and kicked that crook Hicks outta the picture. Now every day is gravy! Win or lose (although a win would be SO much more enjoyable), this has been the best season ever for me, and there has never been a time in my life when I've felt this positive about the future of the Rangers. Especially if Lee stays, but if he jumps ship, I still feel pretty good about this team's future.

Still, I like what my wife said the other night when A-Rod came to bat: "Must be nice to be the only player on the field getting paid by BOTH teams."

[MartyJazz]

See, you Giants, Phils, Rangers, and Yankees fans have it rough...all this worrying, fearing your team might not win it all. The rest of us have it made....Take this Braves fan for example. Big news here. Melky Cabrera was released. We might be able to ship Kenshin Kawakami back to Japan, and have a team there pick up half of his 6 + million dollar contract! With the saving right there, the Braves will easily be able to pay Carl Crawford 20 Mil a year for the next 6 seasons!

Yep, I really feel y'alls pain!

Heard the news about Melky. I can't understand it. I liked him when he was with the Yanks. Threw people out taking the extra base, a switch hitter with pop and the ability to hit in the clutch. What happened with the Braves?

[BERIGAN]

See, you Giants, Phils, Rangers, and Yankees fans have it rough...all this worrying, fearing your team might not win it all. The rest of us have it made....Take this Braves fan for example. Big news here. Melky Cabrera was released. We might be able to ship Kenshin Kawakami back to Japan, and have a team there pick up half of his 6 + million dollar contract! With the saving right there, the Braves will easily be able to pay Carl Crawford 20 Mil a year for the next 6 seasons!

Yep, I really feel y'alls pain!

Heard the news about Melky. I can't understand it. I liked him when he was with the Yanks. Threw people out taking the extra base, a switch hitter with pop and the ability to hit in the clutch. What happened with the Braves?

The NL is just a much tougher league! Actually, a few things happened. He went from a much better hitting team, to the Braves. I think anyone hits better if they don't feel the pressure to do something, when no one else is hitting. GM Frank Wren was commenting on SS Alex Gonzalez, and said he was hitting fine in August, and put too much pressure on himself when the top of the order stopped hitting in September.

Melky hit only 4 homers this year. I just checked, he hit 9 of his 13 homers in Yankee stadium in 2009.

He hit .268 last year batting right handed, just .233 with the Braves.

He did hit well in May, June, and July. (.294, .283, .289) but only .238, and .246 in August and September.

Since he only hit .249 in 2008, perhaps he just has an off year every other year. He played hard for the Braves...

I don't think Terry Pendleton has really helped anyone as a hitting coach, including the Melk Man(Next year, our first base coach)

Edited October 22, 2010 by BERIGAN

[Dan Gould]

Mellky Cabrera's modest hitting skills were almost entirely a function of batting lefty at Yankee Stadium. I'll bet dollars to donuts that his very best (yet still mediocre) numbers came at home for the Yankees from the left side.

I said from the start that Melky was at best a fourth outfielder/defensive specialist. We'll see if he can catch on someplace in that role.

[Tim McG]

OK.

I'm better now...still pissed, but better.

Somebody needs to point out to Sandoval where third base is, Sanchez committed a rookie baserunning mistake after Utley dropped the ball, Ramirez couldn't get me out and who was backing up Huff on that error at first?

I vote for benching Sandoval until the next Ice Age.

Grrrrrrr

Edited October 22, 2010 by GoodSpeak

[Brad]

Regarding the Milk man, he wasn't that great and I think he started to go downhill the last couple of years with the Yanks. Good move to get rid of him.

Re the Giants, you didn't really expect them to sweep at home?

[BERIGAN]

All I know is this is the longest baseball season I've ever had the pleasure to enjoy as a Rangers fan, or even a baseball fan (if the Rangers can finish off the Yanks, they'll have gotten further than the Cubs have in the last 40 years)! If anyone had told me at the beginning of this season that there would be a Ranger game on October 22, I woulda laughed my ass off. The laughing would've subsided a bit, though, once Nolan & Co. took over and kicked that crook Hicks outta the picture. Now every day is gravy! Win or lose (although a win would be SO much more enjoyable), this has been the best season ever for me, and there has never been a time in my life when I've felt this positive about the future of the Rangers. Especially if Lee stays, but if he jumps ship, I still feel pretty good about this team's future.

Still, I like what my wife said the other night when A-Rod came to bat: "Must be nice to be the only player on the field getting paid by BOTH teams."

A Big Al sighting, on the baseball forum! Glad to see you didn't just give up on them before this season. They play a very exciting brand of baseball.

Elvis Andrus, Neftali Feliz, Matt Harrison.... You are quite welcome!

[Dave James]

What I'd give for a rain out. Pettitte could pitch tomorrow and Sabbathia on Sunday. Unfortunately, Bud and MLB wouldn't call this game if you needed a rowboat to get to the mound.

Edited October 23, 2010 by Dave James

[Chalupa]

Remember during the 2008 WS how bad it rained in Philly before Selig had them suspend the game?? That was insane.

[Dave James]

Nice to see Phil Hughes pitching down to his normal level of post-season incompetence. Gets ahead of Andrus 1-2 and then gives up double. How many times in this series has he had two srtikes on a batter and then given up a hit? I will never understand why Girardi didn't go with Pettitte in Game 2. All he's done in his career is set the record for most post-season wins ever.

Edited October 23, 2010 by Dave James

[Aggie87]

Yankees just got a gift on the play where the batter was hit, but not a single ump saw it. A-Rod was able to score on the past ball which shouldn'ta been a past ball. Hope that play doesn't determine the outcome.

[Brad]

There's trouble brewing in River City.

[Brad]

Two run shot. Now they are in serious shit. Relief pitching is just killing them. Girardi's on the phone but you have to be ready. Doesn't look like they are. George must be fuming.

[Dave James]

Yankees just got a gift on the play where the batter was hit, but not a single ump saw it. A-Rod was able to score on the past ball which shouldn'ta been a past ball. Hope that play doesn't determine the outcome.

Not to worry, the Yankees are taking care of that as we speak. Why would you bring it that punching bag Robertson when he's been lit up every time you give him the ball? Time to fire Girardi and bring in Bobby Valentine. This team needs an ass kicker.

Edited October 23, 2010 by Dave James

[Brad]

I see Joba is up. Now, this makes no sense: having Kerry Wood in before Joba; the complete reverse of Game 4. You need to be consistent on how you use these guys.

[MartyJazz]

Yankees just got a gift on the play where the batter was hit, but not a single ump saw it. A-Rod was able to score on the past ball which shouldn'ta been a past ball. Hope that play doesn't determine the outcome.

I shouldn't worry. 6-1 Rangers, 2 outs in the top of the 8th. Yanks looking extremely pathetic. Give Rangers all the credit. They made lots of 2 out hits in this series with men on base, Yanks did not. As an AL fan, I wish you luck in the Series.

P.S. Love that Andrus fellow at short.