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2005 Baseball Season
- Thread starter Sayhey
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Yikes, Javier Vasquez, yikes.
Is it too late to take May 7th as the day that Pedro finally snaps and tries to kill Branden Looper? Enjoy that fourth year, buddy. I'm going to miss those Ks.
Aloof,
That's kind of what I thought, in re: LAAoA. Moreno must think it's going to add significant revenue, or else it's really not worth the trouble. Clearly, it's an attempt to tap into the Dodgers' market, but I don't know how successful that's going to be.
Is it too late to take May 7th as the day that Pedro finally snaps and tries to kill Branden Looper? Enjoy that fourth year, buddy. I'm going to miss those Ks.
Aloof,
That's kind of what I thought, in re: LAAoA. Moreno must think it's going to add significant revenue, or else it's really not worth the trouble. Clearly, it's an attempt to tap into the Dodgers' market, but I don't know how successful that's going to be.
MacNut said:Don't bad mouth Pedro you have Wells as your second starter.
Wow, they really let Boomah have it last night, didn't they?
I think he's more of our 3rd-4th starter, even farther down if he's pitching in a 33-degree rainstorm. Clement would have fared much better last night (like RJ) because he's got significant power. Wells is a control pitcher and needs precise grip and touch to be effective. Same with Wakefield. Boomah got the start because he's a "big game" pitcher. And that Schilling guy is injured. Something about an ankle.
To be honest, I'm going to miss the Pedro Martinez Era. From 98-2001, he threw a baseball better than any other human alive. I hope he wins the Cy Young.
But he won't, because the Mets bullpen couldn't get anyone on this board out, let alone major league hitters. Pedro knew that going in (I think), but his leaving came down to some nebulous definition of "respect." He would have been a god in New England until the end of time, but now you just don't know.
You have no idea (or maybe you do) how agonizing it is to try to follow a game through ESPN gamecast. There's a ridiculously long lag, nothing's accurate, it's terrible. My MLB TV didn't come through at work today (bandwidth problem) so I spent the entire afternoon having heart attacks.
I speed home during the seventh, and get back in time to see Jeter tagging Foulke. Argh.
The wonderful thing about baseball, is that no matter how frustrating a game can be, there's always a brand new clean slate the next day.
Pavano looked (supposedly, hard to tell through radio snippets and the gamecast) very good. Clement was a bit erratic, and wasn't helped by the defense, or lack thereof. I do think that Trot needs to be batting sixth in between Tek and Millar, and Bellhorn should slide back into the second slot.
I speed home during the seventh, and get back in time to see Jeter tagging Foulke. Argh.
The wonderful thing about baseball, is that no matter how frustrating a game can be, there's always a brand new clean slate the next day.
Pavano looked (supposedly, hard to tell through radio snippets and the gamecast) very good. Clement was a bit erratic, and wasn't helped by the defense, or lack thereof. I do think that Trot needs to be batting sixth in between Tek and Millar, and Bellhorn should slide back into the second slot.
Giants win 4-2 over Bums
OK, I'm officially happy! Another opening day win and this one over the hated Dodgers. Last year's team would have lost this game, but the improved Giants defense put on a show. And I've got to say I like this new slimmer version of Alfonso. Giants win, Dodgers lose - all's right with the world.
(ok the may be few problems left, but the baseball world is spinning in the right direction!)
OK, I'm officially happy! Another opening day win and this one over the hated Dodgers. Last year's team would have lost this game, but the improved Giants defense put on a show. And I've got to say I like this new slimmer version of Alfonso. Giants win, Dodgers lose - all's right with the world.
(ok the may be few problems left, but the baseball world is spinning in the right direction!
)Sayhey, I think you're going to enjoy the Derek Lowe Era in Dodgertown. Unless you meet him in the playoffs.
Yes, it's an almost insurmountable 2 game lead. I don't know what will happen if the Sox lose a third game to the Yankees. Down 0-3, wow, I don't think any team has ever come back from such a hole. Can you think of any?
Yes, it's an almost insurmountable 2 game lead. I don't know what will happen if the Sox lose a third game to the Yankees. Down 0-3, wow, I don't think any team has ever come back from such a hole. Can you think of any?
Koodauw said:
Well, gee, over the first two games of the season, it's been pretty mediocre, and hasn't been helped by the defense. As for the year? Well, I think I'll have to reserve my judgement until everyone plays a few more games. Don't you think that's a good idea?
I'm thrilled at your overconfidence after your #1 and #2 beat our #3 and #4 at home in Stade Fasciste. I'm sure Randy Johnson's knee and back won't give out, Pavano won't regress to the mean (remember, this guy has a .500 record pitching all his games in the NL in a pitcher's park with stellar defense), and Jaret Wright is going to be the first pitcher who's been successful after leaving Atlanta (Mazzone knows pitchers). Oh, and who's your fifth starter? Kevin Brown? That Chen Wing AAA guy?
As long as 764 year-old Bernie Williams is patrolling centerfield, Tom Gordon is puking in the dugout, and Rivera keeps going to the well with that cutter, I like the Sox pitching, thanks.
Sox said:
Actually, I was impressed with Lowe yesterday. I've taken note of his much documented struggles in the regular season versus his heroic effort during last year's playoffs, but he has one of the better sinkers in the game and that means a lot if he continues to throw like yesterday. I know a very big "if," but like you Red Sox fans we followers of the Orange and Black have a long history of looking for the black cloud in the silver lining.
Sayhey said:OK, I'm officially happy! Another opening day win and this one over the hated Dodgers. Last year's team would have lost this game, but the improved Giants defense put on a show. And I've got to say I like this new slimmer version of Alfonso. Giants win, Dodgers lose - all's right with the world.
(ok the may be few problems left, but the baseball world is spinning in the right direction!
What's that thumping noise I hear? Is it the sound of Kirk Reuter getting knocked on his ass?
Yesterday the naysayers had a ball talking about how Valentin's defense cost the Dodgers a game already. Will they say the same thing about how slow the Giants' outfielders looked last night? Probably not.
Whenever I get too caught up in the ups and downs of the Dodger-Giant rivalry, I just remember....
http://athleticsbleacherbums.com/giants.jpg
Sox said:
The point was your pitching staff is not as good this year as last year. You lost alot when Pedro went to the Mets. He may not be what he was, but he's still a better # 2 than Wells, Wakefield or that PAB Arroyo. As for the 5th starter, that would Brown if he's healthy, Sturtze if he's not.
As for 768 year old in the outfield, its better than that caveman you have runnin around out there. And Bernie's pretty darn good in the post season. Matsui can center too.
Rivera needs to find that groove again, there is 16 more games against the Bosux. He'll have his chance.
Johnson only gonna get better as the season wears on, Ill take the Yanks pitching. After all who took 2 out out of 3?
When you lose a Pedro Martinez, your pitching staff isn't improving. Just like the 2004 Yankees after losing Pettite and Clemens.
However, in 2004 through roughly 400 combined innings, the tandem of Clement and Wells had an ERA of 3.71. Pedro/Lowe combined for 4.66. Have we lost an Ace in Pedro? Absolutely. Is the staff worse? Time will tell, but the numbers say no. We've replaced the production, to be sure, but is "the presence" of Pedro worth any wins?
Not against the Yankees, obviously. Aren't you his Daddy? Would Pedro have fared any better than Wells on Sunday night in the cold at the Toilet?
If I were you, I wouldn't dismiss Timmy Wakefield like so much chaff. In his eleven starts against the Yankees since 2002:
70 IP
46 Hits
31 Walks
46 Ks
22 ER
2.83 ERA
1.10 WHIP
.179 BAA
At Yankee Stadium, his ERA is 2.58 in the same span (playoffs included). This doesn't even count his relief appearances, but I'm sure you remember Game 5.
The Sox relievers are markedly better as well, as proven over the last two postseasons. Timlin, Embree, and Foulke were absolute NAILS, while Gordon was puking in the bullpen and Rivera was busy blowing two games in the same day. International Serial Killer Mike Myers is a better LH specialist than whatever Stottlemeyer cobbles together.
Manny Ramierz has a 1.104 OPS against Tanyan Sturtze, the only man dumb enough to try to pick a fight with Gabe Kapler (World's Strongest Jew) during the brawl. I pray that Joe Torre trust Sturtze enough to use him in high-leverage situations the rest of this season.
Kevin Brown isn't healthy NOW, so was that your fifth starter throwing relief the last two games?
Do you really want Kevin Brown as your fifth starter? How exactly is he better than Arroyo? As far as PAB's go, I would think that ARod fits the description best, what with all the slapping going on.
And then there's Wade Miller. If he comes back healthy (granted that's a huge "if"), he's better than anyone on either staff other than RJ and Schilling.
What groove is that? The one where he isn't mortal against the Sox? Since 2001, 11 of his 27 blown saves have come against the Sox, including the last 4 in a row.
This is just plain wrong. Damon has no arm, but neither does Bernie. At least Damon still has his legs an reflexes. Every defensive metric known to man has Williams as one of the worst defensive centerfielders in the game. If I get around to buying the Neyer-James book, I'll throw the numbers up. Bubba Crosby is an upgrade at this point.
Look, I don't mean to go off on every little detail, and I apologize for the long post (it's better that actually working). Sorry.
Sox said:
I think the consensus is that Williams should have been moved to DH at least a year ago, but hasn't because:
1) Torre is a player's coach who gives his veterans a lot of leeway, and he doesn't want to force Williams to move.
2) Giambi is a mediocre first baseman, so he often has to DH instead.
The Yankees don't have anyone that's really well-suited to play centerfield, but moving Matsui there wouldn't be bad because he's very fundamentally sound. Assuming that he keeps hitting OK, putting Williams in left would be a better move, in my opinion.
2 - Chicago Cubs - a distant second. Nomar better bounce back in a big way for these guys to challenge.
[/QUOTE]Do you really think they'll be that good? I don't think so. 2 seasons ago was their year, and they blew it.
leekohler said:
Do you really think they'll be that good? I don't think so. 2 seasons ago was their year, and they blew it.
[/QUOTE]Assuming they get Prior and Wood back within the next two months or so, I think they could contend for the wild card. Figure the second-place team in the NL West will end up in the 88-90 win range, and the Cubs are capable of that too. But it's less likely in the NL East because everyone figures that the Braves and Marlins will have a close race and both could end up with more wins than that. The Cubs would seem to have second place locked up because Houston won't be as good as last year and St. Louis figures to take the division. Again, this is assuming that their two top pitchers can contribute.
aloofman said:Do you really think they'll be that good? I don't think so. 2 seasons ago was their year, and they blew it.
Assuming they get Prior and Wood back within the next two months or so, I think they could contend for the wild card. Figure the second-place team in the NL West will end up in the 88-90 win range, and the Cubs are capable of that too. But it's less likely in the NL East because everyone figures that the Braves and Marlins will have a close race and both could end up with more wins than that. The Cubs would seem to have second place locked up because Houston won't be as good as last year and St. Louis figures to take the division. Again, this is assuming that their two top pitchers can contribute.[/QUOTE]
We'll see. These guys have broken my heart so many times I just get cynical about them now. I'm sure you understand.