Baseball Season 2006

[Sayhey]

No, I don't take the subject personally. Far from it, in fact. What can't help taking personally is the implication that my views (not to mention, the views of quite possibly several millions of baseball fans) are based on an "obsession" and are therefore instantly dismissible as irrational.

Let's be clear, IJ, I've never dismissed your views as irrational on this topic or any other. I questioned your view on one, to me, very minor take on baseball behavior that only you seem to raise and have done so repeatedly. I don't see how we can reach an agreement on this subject, at this point, so your suggestion to drop the topic is probably best.

 

[Counterfit]

Meanwhile, "we're" heading into the bottom of the 19th in Chicagoland. 6 hours, 13 minutes so far.

 

[Counterfit]

And it's over. Iguchi hit a bases-loaded walkoff something in the bottom of the 19th. 6 hours and 20 minutes of baseball.
I wonder if that guy they showed on NESN is still asleep like he was after the 15th and 17th innings...

 

[saabmp3]

Yeah, even though we lost, I'm still quite pleased with the bull-pen. For such a ....dissapointing bullpen, they basically pitched an entire game for 2 runs. Not bad.

Ben

 

[Kwyjibo]

Yeah, even though we lost, I'm still quite pleased with the bull-pen. For such a ....dissapointing bullpen, they basically pitched an entire game for 2 runs. Not bad.

Ben

thats pretty helpful ... especially in spring training

The white sox should have won in the 12th, their players just had a rare mistake in baserunning.

 

[saabmp3]

thats pretty helpful ... especially in spring training

The white sox should have won in the 12th, their players just had a rare mistake in baserunning.

The season is bigger than any one game. That's the key point to remember. This is probably going to be a preview of a future playoff series. You have to remember that coming into this game, the Red Sox already easily took the first two games. This is against a team that has done amazing while at home (32-14 coming into today).

It could be argued that the Red Sox should have won it in regulation. Pap doesn't blow a save very often. There are quite a few "should have" arguments.

Ben

 

[IJ Reilly]

Let's be clear, IJ, I've never dismissed your views as irrational on this topic or any other. I questioned your view on one, to me, very minor take on baseball behavior that only you seem to raise and have done so repeatedly. I don't see how we can reach an agreement on this subject, at this point, so your suggestion to drop the topic is probably best.

While we're being clear, I long ago abandoned any thought of us agreeing on the substance. I was simply taken aback by having my views characterized as obsessional. Where I come from, that's a form of dismissal.

 

[Kwyjibo]

The season is bigger than any one game. That's the key point to remember. This is probably going to be a preview of a future playoff series. You have to remember that coming into this game, the Red Sox already easily took the first two games. This is against a team that has done amazing while at home (32-14 coming into today).

It could be argued that the Red Sox should have won it in regulation. Pap doesn't blow a save very often. There are quite a few "should have" arguments.

Ben

I won't argue that ... and at the same time i don't think the white sox fall quite as easily next time.

I have respect for papelbon, that was his third earned run of the year .. RIDICULOUS!

I don't find much value in late inning games to be honest, especially ones today. I mean there were no consequences and there is no tomorrow, that makes it easier to send starters out there. Now of course this has some playoff implications but at the same time there's plenty more baseball to be played and neither of these teams has exactly locked a playoff spot. They both look really really good right now but the Yankees has a history of spoiling the second half for the sox and the Tiger are just amazing right now.

After the embarrassing results of the interleague play would anyone else laugh really really hard if the NL won the game tuesday? The same kind of chuckle I'd have if the NL won the World Series ( well except the cards,stros or NL west ... right now that leaves the Mets)

 

[Counterfit]

right now that leaves the Mets)

Alright, they got swept by the Sox, and lost one game to the Skanks 16-7. What the hell was Willie thinking leaving Soler in after a ****** play like that? And to think, they have the best record in the NL.
So my WS prediction: as long as the AL team is from the East or Central, it'll be AL all the way, and there won't be a thing El Duque can do about it.

 

[aloofman]

While we're being clear, I long ago abandoned any thought of us agreeing on the substance. I was simply taken aback by having my views characterized as obsessional. Where I come from, that's a form of dismissal.

Could you guys take this to the Bonds thread? And it's not like he's particularly relevant these days.

 

[Sayhey]

As the break starts, I'd like to ask if anyone has any guesses, hunches, or hopes on trades we might see in the next few weeks that may shake up a division or two? I keep seeing rumors the Braves maybe shopping Andruw Jones (hoping the Giants get him) and rumors that the Giants' Jason Schmidt is at the top of many teams wish list (I'm hoping he stays where he is.) Anyone else see any semi-informed gossip that might stir things up?

 

[IJ Reilly]

Only that nearly everybody still in contention seems to want starting pitching, but there's virtually none to be had above the journey level. I've heard that Washington might be shopping Alfonso Soriano.

 

[MacNut]

Only that nearly everybody still in contention seems to want starting pitching, but there's virtually none to be had above the journey level. I've heard that Washington might be shopping Alfonso Soriano.

The Yankees are looking for a bat and a pitcher, Soriano is a possibility but not sure is he's ready to play left field in a big game.

 

[Tanglewood]

Ryan Howard wins 2006 Homerun Derby

Ryan Howard beat out David Wright to when the Homerun derby last night landing six of 23 homeruns in the Allegheny River.

- - -

All-star game is tonight, though I'm going to miss it heres to NL homefield advantage in the World Series!

 

[Kwyjibo]

Its a flawed system when I can vote Carlos Zambrano for MVP when he hasn't played in the game and will probably not.

 

[nsutt22]

Ok... it has been done... the Tigers are still number one at the all star break! Finally we are ligit! Anyone happy/excited/amazed?

 

[Tanglewood]

Dammit Trevor! I guess blown saves in the All-Star game doesn't effect my Fantasy League but still!

 

[MacNut]

As suspected the American League finds a way to just make the National League look bad.

 

[IJ Reilly]

Ok... it has been done... the Tigers are still number one at the all star break! Finally we are ligit! Anyone happy/excited/amazed?

Amazed. I'll leave to Tigers fans to be happy and excited. It's been a long drought for you guys. Enjoy while you can.

 

[MacNut]

Amazed. I'll leave to Tigers fans to be happy and excited. It's been a long drought for you guys. Enjoy while you can.

Im skeptical of the Tigers winning the central just as I am the Red Sox winning the east. In the end I see the White Sox putting on a show and the Yankees making a run as they always do in the second half.

 

[saabmp3]

Im skeptical of the Tigers winning the central just as I am the Red Sox winning the east. In the end I see the White Sox putting on a show and the Yankees making a run as they always do in the second half.

Tigers winning the central division? Maybe, maybe not. Basically, can they keep this amazing pace going. Now in the East, this has not been a typical year for the Yankee's. They're having trouble with almost every team they meet.

Another point to consider, the sox play great ball at home. Going into the second half of the season they've played 15 (approx) games extra on the road. Now they get to play 15 extra games at home.

The wild card will come from the central however.

Ben

 

[cycocelica]

Tigers winning the central division? Maybe, maybe not. Basically, can they keep this amazing pace going. Now in the East, this has not been a typical year for the Yankee's. They're having trouble with almost every team they meet.

Another point to consider, the sox play great ball at home. Going into the second half of the season they've played 15 (approx) games extra on the road. Now they get to play 15 extra games at home.

The wild card will come from the central however.

Ben

They aren't having a normal year that is true, but they are also short some of their star players. Shefield and Matsui are both out due to injury. Randy Johnson is not pitching good. And with the injuries we have had to callup rookies, like Cabrera. He started off pretty weak but has definitely improved. Andy Phillips is in the same situation, although he is still a little shaky. With those two gone too, it effects batting order, as you can see with the end of the lineup basically empty.

And people keep praising the BoSox for a great year. Considering where they Yankees are right now, only 3 games out and with multiple injuries, they are playing just as well.

 

[saabmp3]

They aren't having a normal year that is true, but they are also short some of their star players. Shefield and Matsui are both out due to injury. Randy Johnson is not pitching good. And with the injuries we have had to callup rookies, like Cabrera. He started off pretty weak but has definitely improved. Andy Phillips is in the same situation, although he is still a little shaky. With those two gone too, it effects batting order, as you can see with the end of the lineup basically empty.

And people keep praising the BoSox for a great year. Considering where they Yankees are right now, only 3 games out and with multiple injuries, they are playing just as well.

That's exactly what I meant by not having a normal year. I haven't seen a ton of praise for the Red Sox, most of it has been directed at either the Mets, Reds, ChiSox or Tigers. Now, the Red Sox swept the Mets in interleague (no surprise), toyed with the ChiSox. The Yankee's go vist the ChiSox this weekend, it'll be intresting to see how they do.

The BoSox have also had their share of devastating injuries as well. David Wells is basically done (thank goodness), Matt Clement got hit AGAIN on the mound in a AA start, Coco Crisp broke a finger and can't hit the same anymore, Willy Mo Pena is out as well. When the last two were playing, they did some decent stuff. The difference between the two team injuries are in the age of the players. When Coco goes down, it's much easier to bounce back up compared to Sheff.

On another topic, I've read some very convicing arguments to splt the Sox/Yanks into different leagues. It would be nice to count one of them as a central team (I know geographically it doesn't work) just to even out the level of play. Make either the ChiSox and Tigers play against the Yanks/Red Sox, Blue Jays, Birds & Devil Rays half the time and see how they hold up. It is, without a doubt, the hardest division to play in baseball.

Ben

 

[cycocelica]

That's exactly what I meant by not having a normal year. I haven't seen a ton of praise for the Red Sox, most of it has been directed at either the Mets, Reds, ChiSox or Tigers. Now, the Red Sox swept the Mets in interleague (no surprise), toyed with the ChiSox. The Yankee's go vist the ChiSox this weekend, it'll be intresting to see how they do.

The BoSox have also had their share of devastating injuries as well. David Wells is basically done (thank goodness), Matt Clement got hit AGAIN on the mound in a AA start, Coco Crisp broke a finger and can't hit the same anymore, Willy Mo Pena is out as well. When the last two were playing, they did some decent stuff. The difference between the two team injuries are in the age of the players. When Coco goes down, it's much easier to bounce back up compared to Sheff.

On another topic, I've read some very convicing arguments to splt the Sox/Yanks into different leagues. It would be nice to count one of them as a central team (I know geographically it doesn't work) just to even out the level of play. Make either the ChiSox and Tigers play against the Yanks/Red Sox, Blue Jays, Birds & Devil Rays half the time and see how they hold up. It is, without a doubt, the hardest division to play in baseball.

Ben

I have just heard recently, "Oh the BoSox are doing so well and they are beating the Yankees.", too often. But yes, the ChiSox and Tigers are definitely taking the spotlight, as they should, they are playing well. I think people just have to factor in teams situation.

And you make a good point with the BoSox injuries. I forgot Coco got hurt and totally forgot about Wells (no wonder I haven't heard his name recently). Still the two teams, in my mind at least, are playing well for each of their situations.

I think your idea of moving around the teams would be interesting. It would be an interesting race.

 

[steamboat26]

Yankees all the way!!!