P-p-p-playoffs! '08

[Counterfit]

3 days until October. One game* left in the regular season.

Can the Mets take advantage of Santana's gem? Can the Brewers become the first club to fire their manager in September and make the Playoffs? What's October like without the Yankees? (That's not rhetorical)

Standings as of 7pm EDT 9/27
AL
East: Rays (96-64)
Central**: White Sox (87-73)
West: Angels (99-61)
Wild Card: Red Sox (94-68)
NL
East: Phillies (91-70)
Central: Cubs (96-63)
West: Dodgers (83-77)
Wild Card**: Mets and Brewers (both 89-72) Who wants it less?

*: Red Sox have a doubleheader on Sunday.
**: Not clinched

[swiftaw]

Any reason why this can't be in the MLB 2008 thread we already have?

[furcalchick]

white sox may have to play a makeup game on monday against the tigers if they are within 1/2 game on either side of the twins.

[Counterfit]

Previous threads:
2007 (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=362981)
2005 (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=152950)
2004 (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=91517)

[swiftaw]

Previous threads:
2007 (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=362981)
2005 (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=152950)
2004 (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=91517)

What happened in 2006?? :D

If White Sox and Twins are within 1/2 a game come Sunday night, then the White Sox and Tigers will have to play their makeup game on Monday. However, the result of that game could leave the Twins and White Sox tied. Does that mean they would have to play a tiebreaker on Tuesday?

[Counterfit]

What happened in 2006?? :D

I try to not remember that season (aside from the short-lived team fielding percentage record).


Edit: Twins lose.

[yg17]

Go any team besides the Red Sox, Mets and Cubs!

[donga]

Go any team besides the Red Sox, Mets and Cubs!

you wouldn't want to see the cubs end 100 years of misery?

[MacNut]

Go any team besides the Red Sox, Mets and Cubs!I agree on the Red Sox and Mets but I would like to see the Cubs make a run. Of course they might have to face the Dodgers who are picking up steam.

The 2 big story lines the next few days are, can Sabathia go again on 3 days rest, and can Santana go on Monday if need be. These 2 might be spent before the playoffs even start.

Non playoffs but will Mussina get 20 wins tomorrow for the first time in his career.

[Counterfit]

Non playoffs but will Mussina get 20 wins tomorrow for the first time in his career.

Pff, no. :rolleyes:

[MacNut]

Judging by the radar they might not get any games in this weekend in Boston.

White Sox and Twins both lost today. 4 teams 2 spots left.

[zioxide]

Non playoffs but will Mussina get 20 wins tomorrow for the first time in his career.

Only because he'll be facing the Pawtucket Red Sox.

[Teh Don Ditty]

Hey counterfit, could you kindly link this thread to the MLB thread next time please? :)

Once the teams are set, I will be posting my predictions in here.

[yg17]

you wouldn't want to see the cubs end 100 years of misery?


No, as a lifelong Cardinals fan, I enjoy seeing the 100 years of misery and want to see it continue for 100 more :D

[Counterfit]

No, as a lifelong Cardinals fan, I enjoy seeing the 100 years of misery and want to see it continue for 100 more :D

You're no better than a Yankees fan. :mad:




Well, pre-2004 anyway. :p

[thechidz]

op you need to edit you post. and I wouldnt say it was who wanted it less. the brewers with 90 wins are only 1 game behind philly and ahead of the dodgers

[MacNut]

Paperboy wasn't too happy today.:p

[MacNut]

Josh Beckett is questionable for game 3 with an oblique injury.

[zioxide]

With Beckett hurt, Lester needs to step up big. He was the ace of the staff all year. Now he just needs to continue it in the postseason.

[Counterfit]

I can't think of any reason why he won't. He was the same in game 4 last year as he had been in all his starts up until then. 5-6IP, a few too many walks, but only a few runs.


Edit: Hmm, Collectively, the Angels are 27 of 74 against him (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/bvsp?playerId=28487&teamId=3).
I don't know how many starts in 06 or 07 that includes though. At least Teixeira is ofer.

[wvuwhat]

Red Sox...


That is all I have to say

[Illuminated]

Go Phillies!


Phightin' Phils!

[zioxide]

I can't think of any reason why he won't. He was the same in game 4 last year as he had been in all his starts up until then. 5-6IP, a few too many walks, but only a few runs.

Wait, are you talking about the same Lester? That was the old Lester. The new Lester (top 10, possibly top 5 in the AL this year) has gotten his walks under control and is getting much deeper in to games. He's averaged 6 1/3 innings per start, and had 16 starts of 7 innings or more.

Since April 29th, the day Lester went 8.0IP 1H 0R against Roy Halladay (the day Lester started becoming an ace), in 27 starts each, probable AL Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee was 18-3 with a 2.91 ERA while Lester was 15-4 with 2.82 ERA [Boston Globe].

[Counterfit]

Wait, are you talking about the same Lester? That was the old Lester. The new Lester (top 10, possibly top 5 in the AL this year) has gotten his walks under control and is getting much deeper in to games. He's averaged 6 1/3 innings per start, and had 16 starts of 7 innings or more.

What I mean was, his performance didn't change from the regular season last year, to the playoffs. So I think we'll get pretty much the same from him as we have all year.

[MacNut]

Good ole Bud has got to be sweating. W Sox/Tigers in a rain delay.

[zioxide]

What I mean was, his performance didn't change from the regular season last year, to the playoffs. So I think we'll get pretty much the same from him as we have all year.

Lets hope so.

In other Lester news:

If Jon Lester's October is as successful as his September has been so far, the Red Sox could be in for a fun postseason ride.

The 24-year-old lefthander this afternoon was named the American League Pitcher of the Month for September. Lester went 4-1 with a 2.14 ERA and 28 strikeouts in five starts this month. In 33 2/3 innings, allowed eight earned runs on 26 hits and 13 walks.

It is the second time this season (and in his career) that Lester has won the honor, the first coming in July, when he was 3-0 with a 2.05 ERA.

Lester, who will start Game 1 of the ALDS at Anaheim Wednesday night, finished the regular season with a 16-6 record and a 3.21 ERA.

He collected 152 strikeouts in 210 1/3 innings pitched, including two complete-game shutouts, one of which was his no-hitter at Fenway Park May 19th against the Kansas City Royals.

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/

[MacNut]

Tigers up 2-1

[Teh Don Ditty]

6-2 White Sox Bot 7. Alexi Ramierz hit a Grand Slam.

[MacNut]

Bah, I really want to see the Twins get in.

[thechidz]

boy I really feel bad for Benny Sheets. You can tell the guy is hurting bad that he can't participate in the playoffs and how is injury is affecting him.

[furcalchick]

with the white sox in the playoffs, we can now start thinking about world series storylines for each of the playoff teams. i already got us started with a few.

rays vs. cubs -losers for a long time, one will win a ws
rays vs. phillies -
rays vs. dodgers -
rays vs. brewers -two surprise teams

angels vs. cubs -
angels vs. phillies -
angels vs. dodgers -freeway series, all la
angels vs. brewers -

red sox vs. cubs -the cursed teams
red sox vs. phillies -
red sox vs. dodgers -manny's teams
red sox vs. brewers -two wild card teams

white sox vs. cubs -all chicago series
white sox vs. phillies -
white sox vs. dodgers -
white sox vs. brewers -old rivals

and btw, are network execs saddened because there is no ny teams in the playoffs, making it a disaster? i bet they wanted the mets and yankees to replace the brewers and rays to get high ratings (but then again, all they will get is the northeast, chicago and la markets and everyone else thinking they are nothing to the tv networks and their elitism).

[Teh Don Ditty]

Predictions '08

Tampa Bay over White Sox in 4
Angels over Red Sox in 5
Cubs over Dodgers in 4
Brewers over Phillies in 5

Angels over Tampa Bay in 7 (I honestly feel this could go either way)
Cubs over Brewers in 6

Cubs over Angels in 7

[furcalchick]

my predictions

Angels over Red Sox in 5
Rays sweep White Sox
Brewers over Phillies in 4
Dodgers over Cubs in 5

Rays over Angels in 6
Brewers over Dodgers in 6

Rays over Brewers in 5

[MacNut]

I really wanted to see the Twins get in.

Rays over W Sox in 4
Angels over R Sox in 3
Dodgers over Cubs in 5
Brewers over Phillies in 4

Rays over Angels in 6
Dodgers over Brewers in 7
Dodgers in 6

[Counterfit]

Angels over R Sox in 3

You would want to see that, wouldn't you? :p

[MacNut]

You would want to see that, wouldn't you? :pI would wet my self many times over.:p As much as I want to see Manny and Torre beat the Sox in game 7 I just can't take that chance.

The Brewers have made some costly fielding mistakes.

[MacNut]

Game #1
Phillies beat Brewers 3-1

Game#2
Dodgers beat Cubs 7-2

Game#3
Red Sox @ Angels

It is bad when the TBS main announce crew is the worst one.

[yancey47]

Anybody see the home run Man Ram hit? The ball was right about ankle high, and he hit it 400 feet to left. AMAZING.

[MacNut]

Anybody see the home run Man Ram hit? The ball was right about ankle high, and he hit it 400 feet to left. AMAZING.I have watched him do that for years against the Yankees.

[TwinCities Dan]

Edit: Twins lose.

Booo! 0-1, what a slap in the face! :(

Bah, I really want to see the Twins get in.
You and me both!

[IJ Reilly]

Great game in Chicago today! What a surprise to see the Dodgers go long for all of their runs.

[thechidz]

Great game in Chicago today! What a surprise to see the Dodgers go long for all of their runs.

yeah that was awesome, I wish the brewers could have hit one out. They seemed to be playing for game 2. with gallardo pitching I think they were looking forward to game 2 and hoping for a split in philly and a possible upset in 4 at home in miller park. Gallardo pitched well just got in trouble and the cameron miss allowed the 2 winners. the pen actually came through but the bats were dead.

[MacNut]

The Brewers problem was fielding errors.

[yancey47]

The Brewers problem was Cole Hamels.

[berkleeboy210]

Jason Bay, 2 run HR in Top of 6th. Sox ahead 2-1.

[yg17]

Great game in Chicago today! What a surprise to see the Dodgers go long for all of their runs.

I'm rooting for the Dodgers for at least the NLDS. I hope they sweep the Cubs :D

[MacNut]

Well that was a **** play.

[wvuwhat]

Ballgame. Sox win 4-1, up 1-0 over the Angels.

In other news, is anyone else disappointed with TBS HD quality. I don't know what is going on, but it looks like it's slightly better than SD, but way worse than HD? Am I going crazy here?

[zioxide]

Lester is ****ing nasty.

[Counterfit]

Yeah he is! :D
Anybody see the home run Man Ram hit? The ball was right about ankle high, and he hit it 400 feet to left. AMAZING.
I've seen him hit one that low, and further inside. It went over the Monster.
Well that was a **** play.

Which play?:confused:

[MacNut]

Which play?:confused:I'll just steal 3rd on a bloop single.

[tWoSour]

Angels over R Sox in 3


is there anything better that Yankees fans being dead wrong? What is Jeter's tee time tomorrow?

[Counterfit]

I'll just steal 3rd on a bloop single.

Yeah, that was pretty dumb. Great throw though. :D

[robo]

The Brewers problem was Cole Hamels.

Thank you;););)

[thechidz]

The Brewers problem was Cole Hamels.

that may be true for the first 8 but it still came down to the last at bat with fielder k'ing with a runner on. I didnt expect much from Hart after that but it was exciting up until the fielder K

[IJ Reilly]

I'm rooting for the Dodgers for at least the NLDS. I hope they sweep the Cubs :D

Since I've got tickets for games 3 and 4, I guess I win either way!

Loney had the big blast obviously, but Manny's solo homer was a thing of beauty, hit practically off his shoes deep into the bleachers. That kind of hitting ability has to give you chills.

[aloofman]

Great game in Chicago today! What a surprise to see the Dodgers go long for all of their runs.

I especially liked how patient they were with Dempster. They were getting baserunners and wearing him down before Loney cashed in. I'm very interested to see how Billingsley handles the playoff pressure tonight. We know he has the stuff.

Re TBS: I've never heard a play-by-play announcer make as many mistakes in one game as Dick Stockton did last night. Mixing up names, mistaking one word for another, over and over. I seriously started wondering if he's healthy.

[IJ Reilly]

I especially liked how patient they were with Dempster. They were getting baserunners and wearing him down before Loney cashed in. I'm very interested to see how Billingsley handles the playoff pressure tonight. We know he has the stuff.

Re TBS: I've never heard a play-by-play announcer make as many mistakes in one game as Dick Stockton did last night. Mixing up names, mistaking one word for another, over and over. I seriously started wondering if he's healthy.

New territory for Billingsley, and he didn't look great in his last start. I hope the extra days off they gave him help.

I didn't notice Stockton's mistakes last night. I was happy that we didn't have to endure those clowns at ESPN so it was relatively tolerable. I understand Vin is on KABC, but we can't get that station here and I don't know of any local affiliate broadcasts.

[aloofman]

I didn't notice Stockton's mistakes last night. I was happy that we didn't have to endure those clowns at ESPN so it was relatively tolerable. I understand Vin is on KABC, but we can't get that station here and I don't know of any local affiliate broadcasts.

Off the top of my head, I can think of several mistakes. At the very start of the broadcast he said that calling it a big series "would be an understudy." He confused Derek Lowe with Derrek Lee. He also said that Piniella's 2001 Mariners (of 116 win fame) had lost to Torre's Dodgers in the playoffs that year.

I guess I'm going to have to get used to TBS covering the playoffs, but I don't have to like it. Skip Caray is terrible. If someone wants to tie up and gag him in their basement for the next month, I'd be glad to provide an alibi. I had no idea that Joe Simpson had a broadcasting job. (Frankly I only knew him as a Dodger role player in the 1970s.) Shows how much I've avoided Braves broadcasts.

[MacNut]

The sad thing is that TBS puts their marquee crew on the Angels/Sox game and that is the worst crew they have.

[Counterfit]

Re TBS: I've never heard a play-by-play announcer make as many mistakes in one game as Dick Stockton did last night. Mixing up names, mistaking one word for another, over and over. I seriously started wondering if he's healthy.

He out-McCarver'd McCarver? :eek:

[MacNut]

He out-McCarver'd McCarver? :eek:At least McCarver has a knowledge of the game.

[IJ Reilly]

Off the top of my head, I can think of several mistakes. At the very start of the broadcast he said that calling it a big series "would be an understudy." He confused Derek Lowe with Derrek Lee. He also said that Piniella's 2001 Mariners (of 116 win fame) had lost to Torre's Dodgers in the playoffs that year.

I guess I'm going to have to get used to TBS covering the playoffs, but I don't have to like it. Skip Caray is terrible. If someone wants to tie up and gag him in their basement for the next month, I'd be glad to provide an alibi. I had no idea that Joe Simpson had a broadcasting job. (Frankly I only knew him as a Dodger role player in the 1970s.) Shows how much I've avoided Braves broadcasts.

In the small mercies department, at least they didn't blabber endlessly like some we could mention, and the cameras stayed on the field instead of being diverted frequently into the broadcast booth. And although it seemed to me that the commentary was clearly biased towards the Cubs, it wasn't as egregious as when ESPN broadcasted the Dodgers and Mets games two years ago.

[tWoSour]

At least McCarver has a knowledge of the game.

Except he is so biased that you can't take what he says seriously....but then again, you probably like his biased opinion

[furcalchick]

I guess I'm going to have to get used to TBS covering the playoffs, but I don't have to like it. Chip Caray is terrible. If someone wants to tie up and gag him in their basement for the next month, I'd be glad to provide an alibi. I had no idea that Joe Simpson had a broadcasting job. (Frankly I only knew him as a Dodger role player in the 1970s.) Shows how much I've avoided Braves broadcasts.

it's chip caray. skip caray, his father, died two months ago. and yes, chip is awful, all he does is non stop talking and alot of braves fans don't like him. skip was funny and classy, chip is blabbering and annoying. joe simpson has been doing braves games for at least 15 years on tbs, but i think he took too much time away from smoltzie to talk some.

In the small mercies department, at least they didn't blabber endlessly like some we could mention, and the cameras stayed on the field instead of being diverted frequently into the broadcast booth. And although it seemed to me that the commentary was clearly biased towards the Cubs, it wasn't as egregious as when ESPN broadcasted the Dodgers and Mets games two years ago.

tbs is awful ever since they stopped doing braves games. it's like they sold out to new york and red sox and cubs and forgot about all of the other teams out there. their coverage is not that great (espn wasn't much good though) and they need to step it up fast.

[MacNut]

Except he is so biased that you can't take what he says seriously....but then again, you probably like his biased opinionAre you kidding, he certainly is not Yankee biased.

I don't know why MLB gave TBS the rights. How much money was offered to Buddy.

[aloofman]

Are you kidding, he certainly is not Yankee biased.


You're kidding, right? McCarver and Buck's man-crush on Jeter almost got my TV wet. They talked about Torre every chance they got. Tim couldn't wait to gush over Rivera. By the 2000s, they seemed bored when they were calling a postseason game that didn't include the Yankees.

it's chip caray. skip caray, his father, died two months ago. and yes, chip is awful, all he does is non stop talking and alot of braves fans don't like him. skip was funny and classy, chip is blabbering and annoying. joe simpson has been doing braves games for at least 15 years on tbs, but i think he took too much time away from smoltzie to talk some.


You're right, I meant Chip.

I never liked Skip either though. He always sounded like a cross between Grover on Sesame Street and a kazoo. I also remember seeing several Braves-Dodgers games on TBS in the 1990s in which he and his boothmates blathered about something for so long that they had to backtrack to tell you about a good play that had just happened. I remember when he died people were saying that he was very willing to criticize the Braves, but he must have been off his form during the dozen or so times that I heard him. I distinctly remember him interrupting a conversation to note that Piazza had hit a monster home run the opposite field.

[MacNut]

I agree, I remember watching a Braves game years ago on TBS because nothing else was on and the announcing was just as painful then as it is now.

[IJ Reilly]

Speaking of irritations, as a fan I was annoyed when they interviewed James Loney on the field after yesterday's game, and after giving him an opportunity to talk about his grand slam at-bat, he was asked the now inevitable questions about Manny. He handled it well but I'm sure he was thinking as I was that it was Loney who hit the slam, not Manny.

[MacNut]

I have never seen Tropicana Field that full.

[furcalchick]

that's a good start to the rays playoffs. if anyone hasn't noticed by now, i'm pulling for the rays this time around, mostly because they are the local team around these parts.

[MacNut]

Nice to see Harold Renolds doing a game. The stupidest thing ESPN ever did was fire him.

[zioxide]

Wow the Rays actually have fans. :eek:

[furcalchick]

Wow the Rays actually have fans. :eek:

what was that? of course the rays have fans, it's just they all came out of the closet this year because they weren't horrid.

[furcalchick]

i hate playoff baseball.

[robo]

that may be true for the first 8 but it still came down to the last at bat with fielder k'ing with a runner on. I didnt expect much from Hart after that but it was exciting up until the fielder K

Didn't Lidge strike out the side in the ninth?:D: Get over it the Mets lost:D

[Galley]

Longo has two homers already to put the Rays up 4-3 in the 4th. :)

[furcalchick]

1 down, 10 to go!!!

[robo]

Phils 5 Brewcrew 2

[MacNut]

Do you believe in curses, you do if you are a Cubs fan.

[tWoSour]

Nice to see Harold Renolds doing a game. The stupidest thing ESPN ever did was fire him.

I agree. I loved Baseball Tonight when it was Ravi, HR, Kruck, and Peter Gammons. If HR got fired, why didn't Salisbury get fired for what he did?

[MacNut]

What did steak do?

[thechidz]

Didn't Lidge strike out the side in the ninth?:D: Get over it the Mets lost:D

no he didnt. he gave up a single to durham and a double to Braun. fielder k'd with a man on 2nd.

it's nice to see a team like the Phils get some home town umpiring calls. teams don't take advantage enough

[thechidz]

at least my second favorite team is kicking butt.... (whoever plays the Cubs)

[IJ Reilly]

The Cubs sure didn't look like "the best team in the National League" in the last two games.

[tWoSour]

What did steak do?

He took pictures of a certain part of his body and was showing it to female employees. ESPN suspended him for 30 or 60 days (cant remember), but didn't announce that they did it....kinda swept it under the rug.

[Counterfit]

You're kidding, right? McCarver and Buck's man-crush on Jeter almost got my TV wet. They talked about Torre every chance they got. Tim couldn't wait to gush over Rivera. By the 2000s, they seemed bored when they were calling a postseason game that didn't include the Yankees.
McCarver also loves the Cardinals, which might be another reason he has a boner for Torre.
it was Loney who hit the slam, not Manny.
Manny hasn't hit one in 3 years. I'm beginning to think he may never tie Mantle.
I have never seen Tropicana Field that full.
And I bet it still wasn't sold out. :D
i hate playoff baseball.

See, the Rays were on to something when they sucked for all those years. :p

[robo]

no he didnt. he gave up a single to durham and a double to Braun. fielder k'd with a man on 2nd.

it's nice to see a team like the Phils get some home town umpiring calls. teams don't take advantage enough

Just like a Mets fan, blame it on the umps:):):)

[yg17]

lol@The Cubs. I see the fall choke-a-thon has finally come upon us. I just hope the Dodgers take care of them on Saturday.

[robo]

The Flyin' Hawaiian!!:):):)

[IJ Reilly]

What a great photo of Manny catching Edmund's long out against the ivy. Too bad it's not larger (it was printed large in today's paper edition) but the various expressions on the bleacher bums are priceless. A wonderful frozen baseball moment.

http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2008-10/42720890.jpg

[thechidz]

Just like a Mets fan, blame it on the umps:):):)

Dude, I am not a mets fan. I am actually a Brewers fan.

[rhett7660]

Isn't looking to good for the Cubies right now..............

[furcalchick]

The Cubs sure didn't look like "the best team in the National League" in the last two games.

i knew the cubs would cop out. but i didn't expect them to completely shut down as they have.

And I bet it still wasn't sold out. :D

yes it was.

See, the Rays were on to something when they sucked for all those years. :p

we'll see. the reason i hated the playoffs for so long was because the braves kept failing in them because they looked like they were playing way different than they did before. but if the rays win this, i think i'll get over my playoff fears.

lol@The Cubs. I see the fall choke-a-thon has finally come upon us. I just hope the Dodgers take care of them on Saturday.

me too. the cubs are awful.

[rhett7660]

lol@The Cubs. I see the fall choke-a-thon has finally come upon us. I just hope the Dodgers take care of them on Saturday.

me too. the cubs are awful.

You are not the only one!

[robo]

Dude, I am not a mets fan. I am actually a Brewers fan.

My condolences:D:D:D

[IJ Reilly]

Give the Dodgers some credit -- they made the most of the Cubs' mistakes, which is what a team needs to do to win. And it's not like these first two games were even close. You need to look at plays like Furcal's drag bunt and Martin's bases-clearing double. The Dodgers are making things happen.

[rhett7660]

I am hoping the bosox go down too........... :)

[rhett7660]

Give the Dodgers some credit -- they made the most of the Cubs' mistakes, which is what a team needs to do to win. And it's not like these first two games were even close. You need to look at plays like Furcal's drag bunt and Martin's bases-clearing double. The Dodgers are making things happen.

Of course a base clearing grand slam never hurts too!

;)

[Counterfit]

What a great photo of Manny catching Edmund's long out against the ivy. Too bad it's not larger (it was printed large in today's paper edition) but the various expressions on the bleacher bums are priceless. A wonderful frozen baseball moment.

http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2008-10/42720890.jpg
They seem so surprised! Were they expecting to get high-fived?

Related to the Cubs: Cubs/WSox attack ads (http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/10/cubs_vs_sox_attackads_imagine.html).
Of course a base clearing grand slam never hurts too!

;)

As opposed to a non-bases-clearing grand slam?



Let's hope Dice-K can do better than his ALDS start against the Angels last year.

[thechidz]

My condolences:D:D:D

when the phillies get blown out by the dodgers and another wasted year down the tubes we will see who is smiling

[furcalchick]

you know that espn is still doubting the rays? they said the rays are in high pressure and must win today otherwise the white sox will beat them up? when will the rays get respect? this reminds me of the time back in august when they said they were done after losing by one to the angels after winning the first two games of the series. they have been waiting for the rays to plummet all year long, and probably won't stop until the rays win the whole thing.:mad::mad::mad:

[robo]

[QUOTE=thechidz;6347165]when the phillies get blown out by the dodgers and another wasted year down the tubes we will see who is smiling[/QUOTEn
Now your a LA fan make up your mind dude
I was born in Philly :)

[MacNut]

The worst call EVAR.

[zioxide]

who needs manny ramirez.

jason bay 3-run hr in the 1st.. 4-0 Sox before the Angels even bat.

[thechidz]

[QUOTE=thechidz;6347165]when the phillies get blown out by the dodgers and another wasted year down the tubes we will see who is smiling[/QUOTEn
Now your a LA fan make up your mind dude
I was born in Philly :)

I'm not an LA fan. I'm a fan of whoever plays the cubs and then phillies. born in philly? I am so sorry

[robo]

[QUOTE=robo;6348458]

I'm not an LA fan. I'm a fan of whoever plays the cubs and then phillies. born in philly? I am so sorry

Let me rephase that,I'm proud to be from Philly What's your excuse:D

[thechidz]

[QUOTE=thechidz;6348650]

Let me rephase that,I'm proud to be from Philly What's your excuse:D

you think because I live in NYC now I must have been born here? Some people move around the world you know, and even meet people outside of their own family:p But yes I was born in the beautiful clean state of wisconsin and have been a Brewers fan ever since.

[Martin C]

What's up with the quoting in this thread?

[tWoSour]

Nancy Drew with another CLUTCH Post-season HR!!!!

2-0 heading back to Boston, and Beckett is pitching game 3

[zioxide]

K-Rod must really hate Game 2 of the ALDS.

[Counterfit]

The worst call EVAR.
The unseen tag on Jermaine Dye? Yeah, that was pretty bad. I don't know how the ump missed that. Rays still turned two though.
K-Rod must really hate Game 2 of the ALDS.

GOOD! :D

I want to see what almost happened last year, all 4 *LDSs to end in a sweep.

[rhett7660]

Who would of thought:

Angels on the verge
Cubs on the verge

Yikes......... Doesn't look good.......

[IJ Reilly]

Yikes......... Doesn't look good.......

That depends entirely on where you're standing, doesn't it? The view from here is pretty fine.

[Jschultz]

White Sox down 2-0.

We're 4-18 on artificial turf this year. Isn't that crazy?

Whatever happens, I'm just happy the WSox are here this year. Everyone was a doubter, and we still managed to get in without a 5th starter, Carlos Quentin, or a legit 3rd baseman. The Cubs, on the other hand, should be pooping bricks. That's embarrassing stuff.

[zioxide]

We're 4-18 on artificial turf this year. Isn't that crazy?

Artificial turf should be banned.

[MacNut]

Artificial turf should be banned.Good idea, now we need to find a way to grow grass indoors.

I wonder if Lou wants to manage the Rays again.

[yg17]

HAHAHA. 100 more years for the Cubs fans!

[furcalchick]

the cubs are cursed for sure. try again in 2045.

[zioxide]

Good idea, now we need to find a way to grow grass indoors.

Ban domes too. Or just make them build the fields like University of Phoenix Stadium.

[yg17]

the cubs are cursed for sure. try again in 2045.

Nah, 2108. Lets see if they can go 200 years without winning.

[MacNut]

Ban domes too. Or just make them build the fields like University of Phoenix Stadium.If you really want to make it fair every park should have the same field dimensions. No nooks or crannies or monsters or short right fields.

[yg17]

Is it me or are all of the Cubs fans whiners? I'm on another forum and all of the Cubs fans are whining as if the World Series win that they were somehow entitled to was suddenly taken from them. Here in St. Louis, when the Cardinals don't win, we tend to mutter a couple 4 letter words and then say "better luck next year." We don't whine and bitch about it. No wonder no one outside of Chicago likes the Cubs :rolleyes:

[MacNut]

I thought it was the Yankees that nobody likes, didn't know the Cubs were hated more.:confused:

[furcalchick]

Nah, 2108. Lets see if they can go 200 years without winning.

i chose 2045 because the curse was placed back in 1945 to mark 100 years of the curse (the curse was that they were not going to win the pennant ever again, curse is broken if they make the world series).

and btw, this article is no longer valid: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs2008/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=3617228

[furcalchick]

Ban domes too. Or just make them build the fields like University of Phoenix Stadium.

i don't think most big league cities have that type of real estate...

[zephead]

Woohoo, 8 more to go for the Dodgers. :D

Here's something that TBS and FSN apparently haven't thought of: This is the very first time that the Dodgers have won a division series. Last time they won a postseason series, 1988, there was no division series, and there were only West and East divisions. The Central division, Wild Card, and division series didn't come about until '94.

[SFStateStudent]

Well, the Los Angeles Dodgers swept the Cubbies in three games. Sorry Cubbie Fans, maybe next year, (Lucky Lou almost did it.). Yes, I admit it, I'm a Dodger fan from way back. Went to my first Dodger when I was 5 years old. My favorite team is the Dodgers and my 2nd favorite team is whomever is beating down the Frisco Giants...:cool:

[yg17]

I thought it was the Yankees that nobody likes, didn't know the Cubs were hated more.:confused:


Yankees too :D

I guess the Cubs are the Yankess of the NL. Then again, I'm a huge Cardinals fan living in St. Louis. No one here likes the Cubs ;)

[MacNut]

I thought the Braves were the NL team everyone hates.

[yg17]

I thought the Braves were the NL team everyone hates.

I dunno, I never got that feeling. I've got nothing against the Braves

[zioxide]

If you really want to make it fair every park should have the same field dimensions. No nooks or crannies or monsters or short right fields.

Things like that don't really give that much advantage to one of the two teams playing though. The monster is 305 ft away and 37 ft tall whether the sox are batting or the visitors are batting.

Playing every day on an artificial surface is a definite advantage though. Players who play 82 games on turf are going to be better at fielding on turf than guys who might only play 15 games a year on turf.

i don't think most big league cities have that type of real estate...

true. but there's nothing preventing them from building retractable roof stadiums and just leaving the roof open so the grass can grow. Safeco, Miller, Minute Maid, etc all have roofs but still have real grass fields. There's no excuse for the Rogers center to have turf.

[IJ Reilly]

The way I look at this series, it was Dodger fans vs. Cub fans. The house rocked tonight, from the very first pitch to the very last. I'll post some photos tomorrow when I recover.

Or if I recover. What an event.

[thechidz]

wooohooo go cubs and another 100 years of losing!

I hate the cubs much worse than the yankees. I don't even really hate the Yanks, I just hate gAy-Rod...:p

[SactoGuy18]

Is it me or are all of the Cubs fans whiners? I'm on another forum and all of the Cubs fans are whining as if the World Series win that they were somehow entitled to was suddenly taken from them. Here in St. Louis, when the Cardinals don't win, we tend to mutter a couple 4 letter words and then say "better luck next year." We don't whine and bitch about it. No wonder no one outside of Chicago likes the Cubs :rolleyes:

No, it's more like the psychosis (a word that may apply here!) of everyone expecting the Cubs to fail at some point in the season. The team desperately needs a manager that can either deal with the psychological issues of the "curse" on the team (read: Terry Francona) or just be oblivious to the whole "curse" thing (read: Ozzie Guillèn). Lou Piniella's personality just doesn't cut it when it comes to dealing with this "curse." :rolleyes:

[IJ Reilly]

This "curse" thing is taken way too seriously. I don't know why it's so hard for some people to accept that the Dodgers simply outplayed the Cubs in every way. After Loney hit that slam in game one, the air just went completely out of the Cubs. They were never heard from again.

A couple of pics from last night. The flag unfurling at the beginning of the game and the victory celebration at the end.

[zioxide]

No, it's more like the psychosis (a word that may apply here!) of everyone expecting the Cubs to fail at some point in the season. The team desperately needs a manager that can either deal with the psychological issues of the "curse" on the team (read: Terry Francona) or just be oblivious to the whole "curse" thing (read: Ozzie Guillèn). Lou Piniella's personality just doesn't cut it when it comes to dealing with this "curse." :rolleyes:

"I don't believe in curses. I think you make your own destination." -Manny Ramirez, 10.27.04

[zephead]

A couple of pics from last night. The flag unfurling at the beginning of the game and the victory celebration at the end.

Great pics. Those look like some pretty good seats too, right behind home plate. :eek:

[IJ Reilly]

"I don't believe in curses. I think you make your own destination." -Manny Ramirez, 10.27.04

A philosopher too. Who'd have guessed?

Great pics. Those look like some pretty good seats too, right behind home plate. :eek:

Thanks. Aisle one, reserve section, ten rows from the rail. My season ticket club has had these seats for something like 25 years.

[fotografica]

This "curse" thing is taken way too seriously. I don't know why it's so hard for some people to accept that the Dodgers simply outplayed the Cubs in every way. After Loney hit that slam in game one, the air just went completely out of the Cubs. They were never heard from again.

A couple of pics from last night. The flag unfurling at the beginning of the game and the victory celebration at the end.

Congrats to you for getting to see it firsthand,at home!.Great pics and great seats..Curses are made up by the mediots that have nothing else to bring to the table or their own agenda (ie,Dan Shaughnessy)..

[robo]

Bring it on

[Counterfit]

(ie,Dan Shaughnessy)..
I don't think it's a coincidence that his initials are D.S. He certainly is a dipshit.
Bring it on

I hope the Phillies lose, if only for being the first (and hopefully only) team to break up the all-sweep LDS round this year. They're going to be the Indians of '08. :mad:

[IJ Reilly]

Sometimes LA fans are tagged with being less engaged and enthusiastic than fans in other cities. You know, come late, leave early. I don't think anybody who was at Dodger Stadium last night would ever say that again. Last night was an even greater baseball experience than seeing those four home runs in the bottom on the ninth two years ago, and that was one a hell of a game -- and mostly because of the stupendous fan support. I'd rank Dodger fans right up there with the fans in any baseball city -- New York, Boston, Chicago, St. Louis. You name the place, they've got nothing on LA after last night, assuming they ever did.

I don't know if it was shown on TV but after a whole lot of champaign was sprayed around the clubhouse, several of the team members came back out onto the field and sprayed it on the fans. Russell Martin and Manny actually climbed the left-field wall and into the pavilion and ran down the rail shaking fans' hands. The security guard in that section seemed kind of miffed. I don't know think he knew quite what he was supposed to do.

Alright, enough said about last night. The Dodgers meet the Phillies in the NLCS.

[thechidz]

Alright, enough said about last night. The Dodgers [cream all over the] Phillies [faces] in the NLCS.

fixed that for ya;)

[robo]

fixed that for ya;)

You think so :p Will see:D

[MacNut]

There's no excuse for the Rogers center to have turf.In theory you are right but Rogers center is used year round for other things than baseball.

And why are more and more open air football stadiums going with field turf. Probably because it is cheaper than laying new sod every month.

[MacNut]

The Angels don't deserve to be a team anymore. If you win 100 games and can't close the deal you suck.

[furcalchick]

The Angels don't deserve to be a team anymore. If you win 100 games and can't close the deal you suck.

we did that a couple of times in the playoffs and probably the reason why i still am scared of the playoffs (currently in recovery mode with the rays).

but should i panic with the rays? i feel like panic, probably because of braves flashbacks, but my rays instinct says otherwise.

[IJ Reilly]

The Angels don't deserve to be a team anymore. If you win 100 games and can't close the deal you suck.

Hey, whatever. Teams built for the regular season don't always do well in the postseason. So what else is new? The regular season is a marathon, the postseason is a sprint.

[mkrishnan]

Yeah for the Chi Sox surviving to fight another day. :D Maybe the World Championship will come back to the South Side this year after all. :)

[MacNut]

Hey, whatever. Teams built for the regular season don't always do well in the postseason. So what else is new? The regular season is a marathon, the postseason is a sprint.Why build a team that can only produce in the regular season. It is kinda stupid when the idea is to win in the post season.

I really hate short 5 game series, they don't give time for a team to get moving.

[IJ Reilly]

Why build a team that can only produce in the regular season. It is kinda stupid when the idea is to win in the post season.

Why not create an infallible stock market system? That way we can all be rich.

[Antares]

I surprised with all of the negative comments about the Cubs. I understand the St Louians with the rivalry and all... But I always thought that the Cubs were pretty much universally loved by everyone, no matter what city you're from.

Anyway, I'm a Northsider yet I'm still happy if the Sox win too. And the Sox are our last hope this year, apparently.

[thechidz]

I always thought that the Cubs were pretty much universally loved by everyone, no matter what city you're from.

you thought wrong

[MacNut]

Pedrofile thrown out, on to the 12th.

[zephead]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5F136 Safari/525.20)

Erick Aybar's 0 for 13 is now 1 for 14 with a GW RBI. :D

[aloofman]

No wonder no one outside of Chicago likes the Cubs :rolleyes:

I think that's incorrect in two ways.

1) The Cubs don't generate much hate because they never beat anyone. So many teams have lost to the Yankees over the years that of course people hate them. But why hate the Cubs unless you're a longtime division rival like the Cards?

2) There are many Cubs fans all over the country. I've been to some Dodgers-Cubs during the dog days of summer that didn't sell out and there were quite a few Cubs fans in the crowd. It's safe to say that they didn't all make the trip from Chicago to see the game.




Or if I recover. What an event.

Awesome that you got to go. My girlfriend didn't understand my excitement watching on TV, even after I explained that it was their greatest success since I wasn't old enough to shave.




I don't know if it was shown on TV but after a whole lot of champaign was sprayed around the clubhouse, several of the team members came back out onto the field and sprayed it on the fans. Russell Martin and Manny actually climbed the left-field wall and into the pavilion and ran down the rail shaking fans' hands. The security guard in that section seemed kind of miffed. I don't know think he knew quite what he was supposed to do.

They did show it on TV. During the postgame coverage while the studio talking heads were jabbering, they showed Russell Martin high-fiving the fans in the left field corner, then hopping up in front of the left field pavilion. It looked like a great time.

Why build a team that can only produce in the regular season. It is kinda stupid when the idea is to win in the post season.


Easy for a Yankee fan to say. When you have the budget to (usually) amass the players to make the playoffs, it's easy to fault other teams for building their teams wrong.

The whole concept of building a team for October is kind of ridiculous anyway. For one thing, it's all for naught if you don't make the playoffs first. It's really not the makeup of the team that wins games in October vs. during the regular season. It's how well the players are producing in the most pressure-filled situations and exploiting mismatches between teams. A great team can lost three of five or four of seven games in the middle of the season and still be great. The same team can't do that in October. It comes down to making the plays in a very small number of games, something that a team with a lesser regular-season record is easily capable of doing. We've all seen it happen. That's why October matters so much.

The Cubs were the better team on paper, but head-to-head they didn't have the lefty bats to challenge the Dodgers' righty starters and didn't pitch, hit or field when they really needed to. The Phillies, on the other hand, do have the lefty bats. Who will make the plays? We find out starting Thursday!

October is so much more fun when your team is still in it. It's been so long. :D

[IJ Reilly]

October is so much more fun when your team is still in it. It's been so long. :D

You're telling me!

For the record, I sat next to some Cubs fans on Saturday night. They were pretty glum throughout but I will say they congratulated me before they left. I guess Cub fans have learned to be gracious in defeat.

I also have tickets to NLCS home game three on 10-15.

[Counterfit]

Easy for a Yankee fan to say. When you have the budget to (usually) amass the players to make the playoffs, it's easy to fault other teams for building their teams wrong.

I wouldn't exactly hold the Yankmes as the bastion of October teams recently. They haven't won a postseason series since 2004.




Meanwhile, I guess I should turn my loathing of the Phillies into props to the Dodgers for being the only team to finish it off in game 3.


Erick ****ing Aybar.

[aloofman]

I wouldn't exactly hold the Yankmes as the bastion of October teams recently. They haven't won a postseason series since 2004.


As I said, the Yankees have had the budget to buy the players to get them into the playoffs. But no amount of money can guarantee that a team will win three of five games. Or 11 of 19.

[rhett7660]

I wouldn't exactly hold the Yankmes as the bastion of October teams recently. They haven't won a postseason series since 2004.

Yeah but they still get there... unlike the some of the other teams. But hey what are you going to do.

Cubs down, phillies are next! Bring it on.

[Galley]

WooHoo! Rays up 6-2 in the 7th. :D

[Teh Don Ditty]

The Rays Are Going To The ALCS!!!!!

[robo]

Red October baby... Bring it on. Yeah but they still get there... unlike the some of the other teams. But hey what are you going to do.

Cubs down, phillies are next! Bring it on.

[Galley]

The Rays Are Going To The ALCS!!!!!

Yeah, and if the Red Sox win, the Rays will have home-field advantage. :)

[mkrishnan]

Sob... oh, well, it was a good run for the White Sox while it lasted. :(

[furcalchick]

woot!!! we're in round two and about to pound the snot on whoever's next. we're not going away!! 9=4!

[rhett7660]

Down with the White Sox...... Angels tied it in the 8th........ Getting interesting.

[rhett7660]

Red October baby... Bring it on.

That made me laugh.. :D

[zioxide]

woot.. going to the alcs. jon lester is ****ing nasty.

[furcalchick]

okay, it's time for the evil empire to go down, you took down the yankees four years ago, now your reign is over...time for the rays to take over.

[MacNut]

Paperboy sounds just as slow as he looks.:p

Should be interesting to see the Rays. They lead the season series.

[Counterfit]

and about to pound the snot on whoever's next.
HA!
woot.. going to the alcs. jon lester is ****ing nasty.
And Kotsay can flash some leather!
okay, it's time for the evil empire to go down, you took down the yankees four years ago, now your reign is over...time for the rays to take over.
Whoa whoa whoa. The evil empire went down in 04, and the Sox still have about 72 years left.
Should be interesting to see the Rays. They lead the season series.

So did the Angels. :p

[Galley]

The ALCS is going to be epic. I predict the Rays will win it in six. :cool:

[rhett7660]

The ALCS is going to be epic. I predict the Rays will win it in six.

We can only hope!

I am also hoping the Phils will be done in 5!

[thechidz]

Dodgers and Rays in the WS

[zephead]

We can only hope!

I am also hoping the Phils will be done in 5!

*looks at your location*

A little more southern than the Dodgers, perhaps? ;)

Dodgers and Rays in the WS

Now that's more like it! :D

[robo]

We can only hope!

I am also hoping the Phils will be done in 5!

Keep on hoping:rolleyes: Evenly matched series:cool: Phils in seven:D What can I say

Red October...

[Teh Don Ditty]

Red October...

I have yet to see Sean Connery or Alec Baldwin hit the field for any of the teams.

Give me a ping, Vasili. One ping only, please.

[rhett7660]

*looks at your location*

A little more southern than the Dodgers, perhaps?

LOL....nah... just good ole sunny cal........ Just outside of LA......... My team is out so I am going with the local crew now.

[furcalchick]

here's my question: why is everyone rooting for the red sox like they are the cursed underdog and diss the rays as illegit also rans? i would like an answer.

[MacNut]

Red Sox fans don't like to admit it but they are just like Yankee fans. Their teams is better than yours and you better like it.

[thechidz]

here's my question: why is everyone rooting for the red sox like they are the cursed underdog and diss the rays as illegit also rans? i would like an answer.

people tend to like the red sox if they dont like the yankees. also, many people view all the rays new fans as bandwagon jumpers and thats a little annoying. if they can sit through a 30 year stretch of losing seasons then we'll talk

[aloofman]

here's my question: why is everyone rooting for the red sox like they are the cursed underdog and diss the rays as illegit also rans? i would like an answer.

I don't think that's true. I think a lot of people whose teams are out of it don't want to see the Red Sox win it all again. They no longer have the tortured fanbase that provoked sympathy five years ago. Now they're winners. And if you're a fan of a non-winning team, you're more likely to want to see the champs go down.

I see a lot of people wanting to see the Rays fairytale continue. It just seems like a lot of people don't like the Rays because Red Sox fans are loud and numerous.

[robo]

I have yet to see Sean Connery or Alec Baldwin hit the field for any of the teams.

Give me a ping, Vasili. One ping only, please.

Are the NY Islanders playing in NLCS:p Oh yah and Go Flyers...

Peace

[robo]

here's my question: why is everyone rooting for the red sox like they are the cursed underdog and diss the rays as illegit also rans? i would like an answer.

You can bet one thing, that Fox is rooting for a Dodgers/Red sox series so they can play up the Manny angle;)

Peace

[fotografica]

here's my question: why is everyone rooting for the red sox like they are the cursed underdog and diss the rays as illegit also rans? i would like an answer.

Who's "everyone" that you refer to?I'm hearing the opposite..

You can bet one thing, that Fox is rooting for a Dodgers/Red sox series so they can play up the Manny angle;)

Peace

Yeah,just what I want to hear..McCarver drone on and on about how shallow Manny plays left in Fenway..The past eight years of that weren't enough :rolleyes:
Lowe would love an opportunity to come back and stick it to the Sox as well..

----
Terry Francona announced the Red Sox' rotation for the ALCS at a press conference at Fenway Park this afternoon, and Rays manager Joe Maddon later confirmed his plans during his meeting with the media at Tropicana Field.

Here's the breakdown:

Game 1: Daisuke Matsuzaka vs. James Shields
Game 2: Josh Beckett vs. Scott Kazmir
Game 3: Jon Lester vs. Matt Garza
Game 4: Tim Wakefield vs. Andy Sonnanstine
Game 5*: Matsuzaka vs. Shields
Game 6*: Beckett vs. Kazmir
Game 7*: Lester vs. Sonnanstine
(*if necessary)

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2008/10/rotation_set_ma.html

[aloofman]

Lowe would love an opportunity to come back and stick it to the Sox as well..


He may get even more chances. Rumor has it that the Yankees are interested in signing Lowe as a free agent if they can't land Sabathia. (Or maybe even if they do!) Lowe will be in very high demand this winter.

[fotografica]

He may get even more chances. Rumor has it that the Yankees are interested in signing Lowe as a free agent if they can't land Sabathia. (Or maybe even if they do!) Lowe will be in very high demand this winter.

That doesn't surprise me one bit..If the 04 playoffs were any indication,I'd expect Lowe to have a strong finish from here on out. I never liked the fact that ownership didn't even make him an offer here and let him walk..

[furcalchick]

after two days of nothing, we're starting the lcs!!

[yancey47]

Why would Maddon have Andy Sonnanstine pitch game 7 over Matt Garza? Sonnanstine is decent but Garza always has the chance to just pull out a two hit shutout. Furcalchick, maybe you can give a good reason.

[furcalchick]

Why would Maddon have Andy Sonnanstine pitch game 7 over Matt Garza? Sonnanstine is decent but Garza always has the chance to just pull out a two hit shutout. Furcalchick, maybe you can give a good reason.

garza has a bad habit of spitting the bit one start after a great game. look at his records between his shutouts (and his one hitter vs. the fish) and it's not pretty. he's an on/off pitcher, and andy has proven himself to be more reliable in a big spot. i trust andy more here, joe is making the right call.

[rhett7660]

Great game last night..... Dodgers are down 0-1.

[robo]

Great game last night..... Dodgers are down 0-1.

I was there:) You could feel the momentum shift in the fifth:D Last night it was Utley, today it's Howard's turn:cool:

Peace

[thechidz]

I was there:) You could feel the momentum shift in the fifth:D Last night it was Utley, today it's Howard's turn:cool:

Peace

phils barely squeaked by the dodgers at home with their best pitcher. its gonna be fun watching the dodgers dismantle them.:p

[aloofman]

Pretty much what I thought would happen. If the Dodgers keep the ball out of the seats, they'll win. If Philly gets home runs, they'll win instead. Really could be a back-and-forth series.

[robo]

phils barely squeaked by the dodgers at home with their best pitcher. its gonna be fun watching the dodgers dismantle them.:p

Still upset about Brewers?:D Get over it:cool:RED OCTOBER BABY...

[zephead]

Wow, Nomar's at-bat to end the game was probably one of the worst at-bats by a Major Leaguer I've ever seen. With 2 on and 2 outs in the 9th, the 3 straight pitches he swung at were out of the strike zone. Torre should've left Blake in. :mad:

[yancey47]

Wow, Nomar's at-bat to end the game was probably one of the worst at-bats by a Major Leaguer I've ever seen. With 2 on and 2 outs in the 9th, the 3 straight pitches he swung at were out of the strike zone. Torre should've left Blake in. :mad:

That was pretty pathetic. And even more so after Blake nearly ripped one out in the 7th!

[rhett7660]

Yikes... Dodgers loose again. Down 0-2. Thank god the series is coming back to LA. Lets hope they can pull the next three out...

[robo]

Yikes... Dodgers loose again. Down 0-2. Thank god the series is coming back to LA. Lets hope they can pull the next three out...

How's it feel guys:) Face it the better team won:D

[furcalchick]

that was lousy. i thought i was watching the braves playing playoff baseball tonight with their errors, lack of offense and what not. the rays were just off, likely due to playoff pressure, and the red sox played well tonight. when i just gotten over it, it's starting again, and the rays need to win game two, otherwise, i put their chances of winning this series at slim to none. i don't see them winning two games at fenway. i sure hope the phillies can stop the new yankees.

[Counterfit]

Wow, Nomar's at-bat to end the game was probably one of the worst at-bats by a Major Leaguer I've ever seen.
I saw Manny pinch-hitting vs. Mariano Rivera earlier this year. Three pitches, three strikes, no swings.
the new yankees.

:rolleyes:
What about the Blue Jays in the early 90's, where they the middle-aged Yankees?


Did anyone catch Chip Caray's "the clock strikes midnight on the Cinderella Rays" line? I realize it had just hit 12AM, but it's game one! Midnight can't come until Tuesday at the earliest.

[zioxide]

Only Dice-K would have the bases loaded in the 1st but still have a no hitter through 6.


I saw Manny pinch-hitting vs. Mariano Rivera earlier this year. Three pitches, three strikes, no swings.

Completely different scenario. Nomar swung at 3 sliders in the dirt. Manny didn't swing at three nasty cut fastballs right on the black.

[furcalchick]

:rolleyes:
What about the Blue Jays in the early 90's, where they the middle-aged Yankees?

Did anyone catch Chip Caray's "the clock strikes midnight on the Cinderella Rays" line? I realize it had just hit 12AM, but it's game one! Midnight can't come until Tuesday at the earliest.

i was saying that the red sox are becoming the yankees, the team everyone loves to hate.

and i don't think clock has struck midnight yet, but the rays 15 minutes are just about up i'm afraid, especially if they lose the next game.

[rhett7660]

How's it feel guys:) Face it the better team won:D

Oh boy..... suddenly the Phils are up two games to none and all hell is breaking loose... :D

Sloooooopy play last night. But hey, the Phils took advantage. Lets hope it doesn't happen again. :cool:

[Counterfit]

Completely different scenario. Nomar swung at 3 sliders in the dirt. Manny didn't swing at three nasty cut fastballs right on the black.

He just stood there with the bat on his shoulder. I don't even think he planned on swinging even if there was something in his wheelhouse.

[MacNut]

Nomar swung at balls way off the plate. I don't think any of those pitches came anywhere close to the strike zone. He looked like a blind man swinging wildly hoping to hit something.

[zioxide]

He just stood there with the bat on his shoulder. I don't even think he planned on swinging even if there was something in his wheelhouse.

Sorry, but that's ********. He didn't swing at the first two, but they were both borderline strikes right on the edge of the zone. Pitch 2 was probably a bit outside iirc. On the third pitch, he started to swing but then stopped and watched a nasty cutter just catch the edge of the plate. No, he didn't tank that at-bat. He just got owned by the best closer in the history of baseball.

[robo]

Oh boy..... suddenly the Phils are up two games to none and all hell is breaking loose... :D

Sloooooopy play last night. But hey, the Phils took advantage. Lets hope it doesn't happen again. :cool:

What's going on with your starting pitching? They look alittle frazzled:D They better turn it around in LA NOT:rolleyes:

Peace

[rhett7660]

What's going on with your starting pitching? They look alittle frazzled:D They better turn it around in LA NOT:rolleyes:

Peace

Lowe was doing fine until he made a mistake and like any good baseball player should do, is take advantage of that mistake. I won't go into last nights pitching. Uggggh

[Counterfit]

On the third pitch, he started to swing but then stopped and watched a nasty cutter just catch the edge of the plate.

That's exactly the kind of pitch you need to foul off, rather than watch. Why leave it to chance?

[MacNut]

I really hope Craig Sagar is color blind. Or his wife picks out his clothes and forces him to wear it.

And someone tell Buck Martinez to stop smoking, it sounds like he is going to blow a lung every time he laughs.

[MacNut]

Nice!! Rays win, Paperboy gets hit. Series tied 1-1.:D

[tWoSour]

Nice!! Rays win, Paperboy gets hit. Series tied 1-1.:D

Yankee's are still playing golf tomorrow

[furcalchick]

Nice!! Rays win, Paperboy gets hit. Series tied 1-1.:D

sorry, no he didn't. timlin got the loss. and buckett gave up 8 er, which is always nice to see...i can't stand josh beckett. i know it's 1:40 in the morning, but i'm ringing my cowbell and celebrating this great win. i stayed a bit more humble in this game compared to game one when i got burned and started to revert to braves playoff mode. looks like it's 1-1 going into boston...rays need to win at least one game in fenway.

[MacNut]

Yankee's are still playing golf tomorrowThey better be damn good at it come spring. Jeter better be able to beat Tiger like in that commercial.
sorry, no he didn't.
Weren't you watching, Paperboy got hit aha.

[Counterfit]

There sure were some absolutely ****** ball/strike calls in that last inning.

And I think it's time for some drills for the outfielders. They seem to have forgotten how to throw to the plate. I actually almost wish we had Manny back.

[rhett7660]

sorry, no he didn't. timlin got the loss. and buckett gave up 8 er, which is always nice to see...i can't stand josh beckett. i know it's 1:40 in the morning, but i'm ringing my cowbell and celebrating this great win. i stayed a bit more humble in this game compared to game one when i got burned and started to revert to braves playoff mode. looks like it's 1-1 going into boston...rays need to win at least one game in fenway.

You and me both... nice to see he was humbled up a little. This series may prove to be the better of the two if the Dodgers don't step up and win a few.

[furcalchick]

You and me both... nice to see he was humbled up a little. This series may prove to be the better of the two if the Dodgers don't step up and win a few.

i never liked josh beckett, ever since he was a marlin and he was pitching down here. he acted like a brat, especially after beating the yankees in the world series (which is fun) and he got a big head. he used to throw all types of hissy fits and act so immature, and wasn't universally liked with the fish. the old beckett would have thrown a hissy fit last night, especially when he bombed it big time, but i guess he grew up in boston like the rest of those sox.

[robo]

Props to the Dodgers for kick'n our butts last night:eek: The Phils will bring in today:D My pick for best bad acting award goes to the Dodgers catcher Martin:D

Peace

[thechidz]

Props to the Dodgers for kick'n our butts last night:eek: The Phils will bring in today:D My pick for best bad acting award goes to the Dodgers catcher Martin:D

Peace

and so it begins... booya!:p

[zioxide]

**** jason varitek.

can't catch a god damn fastball right at his ****ing chest.. ends up letting a run score.

worst ****ing catcher in the league.

[zioxide]

Francona's management of this series has been ****ING BRUTAL.

[rhett7660]

Props to the Dodgers for kick'n our butts last night:eek: The Phils will bring in today:D My pick for best bad acting award goes to the Dodgers catcher Martin:D

Peace

Oh boy.... here we go. :D

[zioxide]

Lester threw 159 2/3 innings last year. He's around 230 for this year, a 70 ip increase. Usually teams try to limit their young pitchers to 30ip increases every year. I'm pretty sure he's hit the wall. Shut him down and come back in the spring. There's no sense in risking injury to him.

[aloofman]

Lester threw 159 2/3 innings last year. He's around 230 for this year, a 70 ip increase. Usually teams try to limit their young pitchers to 30ip increases every year. I'm pretty sure he's hit the wall. Shut him down and come back in the spring. There's no sense in risking injury to him.

While it's true that the increased workload is risky, at this point in the season it's very difficult to tell a manager that your best pitcher today is unavailable, even if he's uninjured. The time to manage the innings is during the season. Pretty much any team will roll out any pitcher that can get it done.

Maybe the way to go is to keep an overloaded pitcher on a short leash and go to the bullpen at the first sign of trouble.

[furcalchick]

espn should learn their lesson, they were pumping up lester so much by being automatic wins for the sox and that game seven was going to be a sox win and blah blah blah about the sox going to win by default, and they get shelled, and garza works them. espn is still underestimating the power of the rays and i fear it will be too late for the sox when they realize this.

[robo]

Oh boy.... here we go. :D

Matt who...:D:D:D

[aloofman]

Man, what a bad time for the Dodgers bullpen to fall apart. Three wins in a row is a tall order. :(

[robo]

Man, what a bad time for the Dodgers bullpen to fall apart. Three wins in a row is a tall order. :(

What was Torre thinking:eek::eek::eek:

[aloofman]

What was Torre thinking:eek::eek::eek:

Torre probably made one too many pitcher changes. But the bottom line is that Broxton threw a fastball right down the middle to Stairs, a pretty risky thing to do. If Broxton puts that pitch where he wants it, then Torre's not a goat.

The Dodgers also left a lot of runners on base and had some bad luck on line drives that ended innings, especially Martin's scorcher with the bases loaded. Torre can't do much about that. It was a tough-luck loss and the Phillies got the hits when they had to. The team that does that deserves to win.

I think the Dodgers need to win Game 5 emphatically if they want to put doubt in Philly's minds and a have a chance for a series comeback.

[IJ Reilly]

I have tickets for tomorrow night's game. After seeing last night's game frittered away, along with any realistic hopes for the World Series, I'm almost dreading it. Oh well, at least we'll have our memories of game three of the division championship.

[thechidz]

I have tickets for tomorrow night's game. After seeing last night's game frittered away, along with any realistic hopes for the World Series, I'm almost dreading it. Oh well, at least we'll have our memories of game three of the division championship.

c'mon IJ! Your boys have to come back. the phils should not be in the WS. Go to the game and will them to win!

[robo]

c'mon IJ! Your boys have to come back. the phils should not be in the WS. Go to the game and will them to win!

I know one thing,the Mets/Brewers won't be in the WS:D:D:D

Peace

[Counterfit]

espn is still underestimating the power of the rays and i fear it will be too late for the sox when they realize this.

While I wouldn't say I'm not worried, the Red Sox have been in worse positions before. Don't count your pennants before they're won. ;)

[IJ Reilly]

I know one thing,the Mets/Brewers won't be in the WS

What are the Mets/Brewers -- one new team combined from two old ones? ;)

[robo]

What are the Mets/Brewers -- one new team combined from two old ones? ;)

Gtr Boy knows what I'm talk'n about:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Peace

[furcalchick]

grr...i'm so mad at the media right now. they kept claiming that the only way the rays were up 2-1 (and winning 3-0 tonight) was that lester, beckett and ortiz, among others were hurt and didn't want to claim the rays were just a better team than the sox this year (the won the season series 10-8).

[Banacek]

All I can say is...

go Phils!

[MacNut]

Great game tonight.

[MacNut]

Somewhere a few Fox executives just shot themselves.

[berkleeboy210]

Congrats to the Phillies.

Holding out some hope for my sox , but I think we're dead in the water.

[zephead]

Somewhere In Los Angeles, a few bunch of Fox executives Dodger fans + Furcal just shot themselves.

Fixed. ;) :(

P.S. Go Rays!!

[thechidz]

this is going to be the most pathetic ws ever. who even cares about these teams really?

[furcalchick]

Fixed. ;) :(

P.S. Go Rays!!

welcome to the fold.

btw, i'm so glad that fox is stuck with a ratings poison world series with their failure to recognize teams that don't have huge superstars or stick to their rigid storylines. i'm hoping they learn their lesson to start talking about things both ways instead of trying to put all their eggs in one basket and push for that matchup only. but they won't.:mad:

[robo]

this is going to be the most pathetic ws ever. who even cares about these teams really?

You want a little wine with that cheese...:p:p:p You really are clueless:eek::eek::eek:

[furcalchick]

this is going to be the most pathetic ws ever. who even cares about these teams really?

i do. the phillies are a big braves rival and i have a few friends from philly, and i've been checking in on that team. they are built with a bunch of second tier players and have great chemistry, unlike the mets. and of course you know about me and the rays this season.

btw, anyone watching espn right now? kruk is saying phillies win the world series. i don't think so.

[robo]

Fixed. ;) :(

P.S. Go Rays!!

Now you can go back to your Blackberrys and Sushi bars:D:D:D

[ucfgrad93]

this is going to be the most pathetic ws ever. who even cares about these teams really?

Obviously, the residents of those cities. I'm looking forward to a Phillies/Rays World Series. I love how the Phillies and the Rays combined have a payroll that is slightly higher than Boston's.

GO RAYS!!!!!!!

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=3324146