Running Baseball Thread, Part the XII

[Chi City 81]

We've reached 40 pages on the last one; might as well start a new one. I think this is my first running MLB thread.

Cubs 2 1/2 up on the Brewers, 3 up on the Cardinals. I remain nervous as hell.

 

[friend of a friend]

I can't imagine anything bad happening.

 

[mike311gd]

I can't imagine anything bad happening.

No, neither can I.

 

[Gutter]

I can't imagine anything bad happening.

Me neither.

 

[Chi City 81]

Post a picture of Alex Gonzales booting the ball at short, and I'd agree. I was at the game; Bartman meant nothing, despite what a few thousand drunks and part-time fans think.

 

[mike311gd]

Post a picture of Alex Gonzales booting the ball at short, and I'd agree. I was at the game; Bartman meant nothing, despite what a few thousand drunks and part-time fans think.

I couldn't find a picture of that play. Your argument reminds me of the old Bill Buckner debate about Bob Stanley and Calvin Schiraldi in 1986. If those to yahoos would have held the Mets down, the game most likely wouldn't have come down to Buckner and his weak knees.

 

[writing irish]

McNamara is mainly to blame for the Sox' loss in 86. Yeah, Buckner, Schiraldi, Stanley all took big dumps, but McNamara is to blame. His failure to throw Oil Can (either in relief or to start Game 7) was a huge mistake. Pinch-hitting Greenwell instead of Baylor was stupid, too, as was leaving Buckner out there when Stapleton had been the defensive sub for Buckner all season. But Wilson might have made it to first even had Buckner fielded the ball cleanly. Mac's utter assclownery in handling the pitching staff was the main culprit.

 

[JackyJackBN]

Here's a guess; on September 1, Rick White will either be back in Tacoma or down the road. Just a guess, mind you. Looks like McClaren comes from the Earl Weaver school of reliever utilization: if you give 'em to me, I'm gonna use 'em.

It's time for Bavasi to take this one away.

Notification: the Mariners are officially not dead. Sez me.

 

[Simon_Cowbell]

Post a picture of Alex Gonzales booting the ball at short, and I'd agree. I was at the game; Bartman meant nothing, despite what a few thousand drunks and part-time fans think.

Bartman and Buckner have that in common.

Their gaffes weren't even close to the most damaging plays in the meltdowns.

 

[Armchair_QB]

I think "Ryan Dempster" is Canadian for "Mitch Williams"

 

[mike311gd]

I think "Ryan Dempster" is Canadian for "Mitch Williams"

I don't know. There was a point where Williams came out of that door and you believed the game was won. I've never gotten that feeling about Dempster. No matter what the stats say, I don't think I'd ever feel comfortable with him slinging in the ninth.

 

[Armchair_QB]

Mitch Williams' first appearance in Chicago, Opening Day 1989, Cubs lead the Phillies by one in the ninth

Hit
Walk
Walk
Strikeout
Strikeout
Strikeout

 

[outofplace]

I think "Ryan Dempster" is Canadian for "Mitch Williams"

I don't know. There was a point where Williams came out of that door and you believed the game was won. I've never gotten that feeling about Dempster. No matter what the stats say, I don't think I'd ever feel comfortable with him slinging in the ninth.

People forget how good Mitch Williams was at one point because eventually the wildness got to be too much. Dempster has never been as good a closer as Williams at his best. But he is their best option at this moment. Howry has always been better in a set-up role and do you really want to turn the 9th inning over to a young kid like Marmol when the veteran is doing an ok job?

I do think they should open it up and give Marmol the opportunity to win the job next spring. He has been outstanding this year.

 

[casty33]

If I may be allowed to repeat what I wrote here more than a week ago, before the Mets-Phillies series. The Mets will be out of first place by Sept. 15 is what I wrote then. I was wrong. It will be a lot sooner than Sept. 15.

And for all Jose Reyes MVP folks, I like the guy, too, but his bat has disappeared the last two weeks. He still helps with his legs but right now David Wright is the Mets' MVP. As for league MVP, almost impossible to decide right now. Let's see if Fielder can get the Brewers back on top and check out Howard-Rollins as the Phillies come down the stretch.

 

[mike311gd]

I think "Ryan Dempster" is Canadian for "Mitch Williams"

I don't know. There was a point where Williams came out of that door and you believed the game was won. I've never gotten that feeling about Dempster. No matter what the stats say, I don't think I'd ever feel comfortable with him slinging in the ninth.

People forget how good Mitch Williams was at one point because eventually the wildness got to be too much. Dempster has never been as good a closer as Williams at his best. But he is their best option at this moment. Howry has always been better in a set-up role and do you really want to turn the 9th inning over to a young kid like Marmol when the veteran is doing an ok job?

I do think they should open it up and give Marmol the opportunity to win the job next spring. He has been outstanding this year.

I'm not saying Dempster is a bad pitcher. I watched him a lot over the past few seasons, and it seemed like he puts most games in jeopardy. I think, as long as the Cubs don't go after a stopper in the offseason, Marmol will definitely get the chance to close in spring training. I thought they should have went with Juan Cruz a few years ago, but that was when he struck out just about everyone he saw in April.

 

[Simon_Cowbell]

If I may be allowed to repeat what I wrote here more than a week ago, before the Mets-Phillies series. The Mets will be out of first place by Sept. 15 is what I wrote then. I was wrong. It will be a lot sooner than Sept. 15.

And for all Jose Reyes MVP folks, I like the guy, too, but his bat has disappeared the last two weeks. He still helps with his legs but right now David Wright is the Mets' MVP. As for league MVP, almost impossible to decide right now. Let's see if Fielder can get the Brewers back on top and check out Howard-Rollins as the Phillies come down the stretch.

Hey... Ryan Howard disappeared for the final three weeks last year, and you nuts gave MVP to him.

If things go as they have been the past week, Reyes will not be MVP.

But, as of yesterday when I posted, there shouldn't be anyone close.

 

[mike311gd]

If I may be allowed to repeat what I wrote here more than a week ago, before the Mets-Phillies series. The Mets will be out of first place by Sept. 15 is what I wrote then. I was wrong. It will be a lot sooner than Sept. 15.

And for all Jose Reyes MVP folks, I like the guy, too, but his bat has disappeared the last two weeks. He still helps with his legs but right now David Wright is the Mets' MVP. As for league MVP, almost impossible to decide right now. Let's see if Fielder can get the Brewers back on top and check out Howard-Rollins as the Phillies come down the stretch.

Hey... Ryan Howard disappeared for the final three weeks last year, and you nuts gave MVP to him.

If things go as they have been the past week, Reyes will not be MVP.

But, as of yesterday when I posted, there shouldn't be anyone close.

Reyes is my pick right now, right along with Prince Fielder. But I think it's a lot closer than some people want to believe. I think it's still a wide-open race in the NL. In the AL, I don't see a third name behind Rodriguez and Ordonez.

 

[Chi City 81]

Ummm ... yeah ...

 

[outofplace]

If I may be allowed to repeat what I wrote here more than a week ago, before the Mets-Phillies series. The Mets will be out of first place by Sept. 15 is what I wrote then. I was wrong. It will be a lot sooner than Sept. 15.

And for all Jose Reyes MVP folks, I like the guy, too, but his bat has disappeared the last two weeks. He still helps with his legs but right now David Wright is the Mets' MVP. As for league MVP, almost impossible to decide right now. Let's see if Fielder can get the Brewers back on top and check out Howard-Rollins as the Phillies come down the stretch.

Hey... Ryan Howard disappeared for the final three weeks last year, and you nuts gave MVP to him.

If things go as they have been the past week, Reyes will not be MVP.

But, as of yesterday when I posted, there shouldn't be anyone close.

David Wright: .319 average, .414 OBP, .537 slugging, 24 HR, 87 RBI, 92 runs, 30 SB (in 34 attempts)
Jose Reyes: .295 average, .369 OBP, .433 slugging, 9 HR, 48 RBI, 100 runs, 72 SB (in 89 attempts)

Sorry, but even 42 more steals don't make up for Wright's advantage in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging, homers and RBI. The only other edge Reyes has offensively is runs scored, but he's a leadoff guy and the difference is only eight.

And don't start with the distraction Reyes creates for Wright. They feed off each other and Wright also creates opportunities for the hitters behind him with his on-base percentage and speed. Pitchers can't exactly ignore Wright on the bases, either, and he's also on a good bit more than Reyes.

There are points worth arguing here, but there is no way you can rationally say that Wright isn't even close to Reyes right now as an MVP candidate.

 

[Chi City 81]

But ... but ... if you factor steals into his slugging percentage, Reyes is slugging .912, which would be a record!