Baseball Thread IV

[da man]

I'd take Tigers vs. Rangers in the ALDS. But I think the A's are playing possum. Wait till they have their traditional 20-8 June or July and check back.

A's aren't playing possum. They have two starters and three relievers on the DL, plus Milton Bradley. Wnen they're healthy, their the class of the division. Assuming everyone gets back OK, they go on their usual late-season tear and blow everyone away down the stretch.

Rangers won't even finish second. They'll wilt in the heat as usual, especially their pitching.

 

[Evil Bastard (aka Chris_L)]

When Theo Epstein walked away from the Red Sox this past winter - I was convinced that he was taking time off and waiting for the Nats ownership issue to be settled.

I think that Kansas City would be perfect for Paul Depodesta's comeback. They are the classic Moneyball situation - why not emulate the A's? Bill James is still a huge Royals fan. Wouldn't it be interesting to give him a shot at the big time? Bill James as GM of the Royals would make the Royals at the very least an interesting situation to follow.

BTW - spell check wants me to change Depodesta to "deposits" - Paul Deposits - I like that. Its like how spell check always wants me to change "Padres" to "faders"

 

[da man]

I wrote ``unhittable'' in a story yesterday and Microsoft Word changed it to ``knittable.''

 

[Evil Bastard (aka Chris_L)]

I wrote ``unhittable'' in a story yesterday and Microsoft Word changed it to ``knittable.''

Jose Lima is a very knittable pitcher

 

[Moderator1]

6-0 Nats in the fourth, my main man Zimmerman with a jack and Soriano just hit No. EIGHTEEN.

12 prospects, at a minimum. Before long, they'll have to demand someone's entire farm system.

 

[DyePack]

I saw in the latest SI again talk that Baker may get an extension.  It's almost as if the Tribune Co. likes the storyline that comes with the Cubs always losing. 

It gives them easy ways to write idiotic things, like the solution to the whole season was moving Matt Murton to first or re-signing Garciaparra.

 

[Who Knows]

The Tigers are clearly the most interesting story in the AL.  I just can't see them hanging on though, not with the young pitching.  Especially of concern later on will be Justin Verlander, who is on pace to close to doubling his innings pitched from last year.  He's been so good, but Leyland needs to walk a fine line so as not to blow him out for the next few years.

They only have one rookie pitcher in the starting lineup.

The lack of left handed hitting is more concerning.

 

[Flying Headbutt]

I never said anything about rookies. They're still young though, aside from Kenny Rogers and I'll give you Mike Maroth.

 

[Starman]

The Tigers are clearly the most interesting story in the AL. I just can't see them hanging on though, not with the young pitching. Especially of concern later on will be Justin Verlander, who is on pace to close to doubling his innings pitched from last year. He's been so good, but Leyland needs to walk a fine line so as not to blow him out for the next few years.

They only have one rookie pitcher in the starting lineup.

The lack of left handed hitting is more concerning.

You gotta know that Mike Ilitch, one of the great "small market" cut-and-dump artists in MLB over the last 15 years, is just shirtting his pants at the prospect of not only being IN the pennant race, but probably leading it, at the All-Star break, so the first time they lose three in a row, he won't be able to shut the season down, trade off the entire relief corps because they might want a bigger contract next year, and dump the rest of the season and "wait for next year," as he's done just about every year since 1991.

 

[Evil Bastard (aka Chris_L)]

Speaking of Tigers - happy 48th birthday to Kirk Gibson.

 

[markvid]

He's still an asshole. ;D

 

[casty33]

Lou, I've been off the computer for awhile so I must saw the question you say demands an answer. I'll have to go off the top of my head and tell you I was disappointed, though not surprised, when Andre Dawson won '87 MVP so easily. That went against everything I was taught by the veterans of the BBWAA (deck Young, Jack Lang, Leonard Koppett, Frank Dolson, Charlie Feeney, Bus Saidt) about the voting process. There are no hard and fast rules, as you all know, but the important word in the award is value. And everybody told me, the young (at the time) voter, that what a guy did "to help his team contend" was most significant.

Well, as you know, the Cubs never contended that year so for all Dawson's greatness that season, where was his value to team? I polled the Cardinals' clubhouse late that season and, based heavily on Whitey Herzog's suggestion, cast my vote for Ozzie Smith, who, I was told, they couldn't have won without.

People can call me an idiot if they choose, but it was an honest vote for what I felt was the most important part to the award. Dawson was the player of the year but I felt strongly that Ozzie was the MVP.

I will attempt to think of some more but that should give you all plenty of ammunition for now.