MLB 2008

[WorldB3]

You mean the evil empire with only the fourth highest payroll, the one that does it by drafting and developing great young talents (Pedroia, Lester, Ellsbury, Youkilis, Buchholz, Masterson, Lowrie)? What's evil about that?

Yes the same that had the 2nd highest payroll the 4 seasons before that, the same evil empire that has the 2nd biggest media market in the country behind them and the same evil empire that pays Dice K and Beckett more in salary than some other teams entire payroll. Yes, the same team that has won 2 of our the last 4 world series and had the best record in baseball with a seven game winning streak going into the weekend. The Yankees have developed young talent also but like the Red Sox they can afford to make mistakes on a player here or there due to the high revenue they that get. For the Rays and A's to compete everything has to break the right way. You have a great GM but lets see how good he is with the payroll of the A's. Come on Dan, the Red Sox are anything but a underdog. I don't blame them for reaping the benefits of the location they play in but enough of the poor little Red Sox how will ever compete against the big bad Yankees bull shit. I can't take it. Besides the Yankees will be in free fall mode by the all star break with that pitching staff. Bank on it.

Sorry for the rant, btw Pedroia and Ellsbury are two of my favorite younger players in the league and are fun to watch, I hope they have long careers.

Hopefully the A's won't get over excited about the weekend and stay focused and not get routed by the Jays. For those of you with MLB TV the Halliday vs Harden matchup in this series will be must see tv.

[Dan Gould]

You mean the evil empire with only the fourth highest payroll, the one that does it by drafting and developing great young talents (Pedroia, Lester, Ellsbury, Youkilis, Buchholz, Masterson, Lowrie)? What's evil about that?

Yes the same that had the 2nd highest payroll the 4 seasons before that, the same evil empire that has the 2nd biggest media market in the country behind them and the same evil empire that pays Dice K and Beckett more in salary than some other teams entire payroll. Yes, the same team that has won 2 of our the last 4 world series and had the best record in baseball with a seven game winning streak going into the weekend. The Yankees have developed young talent also but like the Red Sox they can afford to make mistakes on a player here or there due to the high revenue they that get. For the Rays and A's to compete everything has to break the right way. You have a great GM but lets see how good he is with the payroll of the A's. Come on Dan, the Red Sox are anything but a underdog. I don't blame them for reaping the benefits of the location they play in but enough of the poor little Red Sox how will ever compete against the big bad Yankees bull shit. I can't take it. Besides the Yankees will be in free fall mode by the all star break with that pitching staff. Bank on it.

Sorry for the rant, btw Pedroia and Ellsbury are two of my favorite younger players in the league and are fun to watch, I hope they have long careers.

Hopefully the A's won't get over excited about the weekend and stay focused and not get routed by the Jays. For those of you with MLB TV the Halliday vs Harden matchup in this series will be must see tv.

So let's see - they have more revenue than most teams because their fans support them.

Sounds real evil to me.

You haven't heard anything about "poor little Red Sox" since 2006, and that is because since then the team is now reaping the benefits of the "player development machine" Theo endeavored to create. If there is indeed going to be a dynasty, it won't be because of free agents signed with all that terrible revenue they get from their fans. It will be because Pedroia, Ellsbury, Buchholz, Lester and many, many others excel in the major leagues.

Now, I am sure you will bitch even more if the coming dynasty extends beyond four or five years because the team can afford to keep those players even when they reach free agency.

[MartyJazz]

Meanwhile with nearly a third of the season over, the only two teams that are playing at least .600 ball are based in Florida (i.e., the Rays and the Marlins), are leading their respective divisions, and comparatively speaking, are among the lowest in payrolls in the majors. Go figure. As a transplanted New Yorker diehard Yankee fan living in Florida, even I think it's kind of nice. (Note to Dan who resides scarcely 8 or so miles from me, you agree?)

[Dan Gould]

Meanwhile with nearly a third of the season over, the only two teams that are playing at least .600 ball are based in Florida (i.e., the Rays and the Marlins), are leading their respective divisions, and comparatively speaking, are among the lowest in payrolls in the majors. Go figure. As a transplanted New Yorker diehard Yankee fan living in Florida, even I think it's kind of nice. (Note to Dan who resides scarcely 8 or so miles from me, you agree?)

Makes no never mind to me. The Marlins are playing over their heads and aren't likely to keep it up. The Rays are playing the way I feared they might. There is no reason they shouldn't be in it for the duration, barring any major rash of injuries.

[Dan Gould]

Not to worry, Rays fans, Matsuzaka is making sure that you'll hang on to first place.

[Quincy]

And is it possible for the Rangers to get above .500 this year? I think that's as good as they're gonna get this year.

Break 'em up - they're a run scoring machine!

Seriously, make a point of enjoyng Josh Hamilton's season. He's moved beyond the "great comeback human interest story" to now being a very dangerous & exciting hitter.

The reason why the Reds felt they could part with him was because they had Bruce in the wings. Bruce goes 3 for 3 in his debut, with 2 R, 2 RBI and 1 SB. Fantasy players rejoice!

[Dan Gould]

Not to worry, Rays fans, Matsuzaka is making sure that you'll hang on to first place.

Well I expected them to lose but I didn't expect to wake up to find out that Dice-K walked off the mound holding his back and hip - and supposedly its "shoulder fatigue". The guy who was described as having a bionic shoulder when the Red Sox got his medical records is now out with a bad shoulder. Jesus Christ. If this doesn't guarantee that the Sox won't "run away" with the division I don't know what would.

[Big Al]

And is it possible for the Rangers to get above .500 this year? I think that's as good as they're gonna get this year.

Break 'em up - they're a run scoring machine!

Seriously, make a point of enjoyng Josh Hamilton's season. He's moved beyond the "great comeback human interest story" to now being a very dangerous & exciting hitter.

Well, we get our fifth try to get above .500 today, so we'll see how that goes. I really hope they win: it would keep their streak of series wins/ties alive.

And yeah, this Ranger fan is really enjoying Hamilton's resurgence, especially given everything he's been through (or put himself through).

The Rangers are finally starting to play like a good team. I hope it lasts, but the real test will be in July and August. But it's certainly an improvement over last year, when the season was already over by this time last year.

[Big Al]

Not to worry, Rays fans, Matsuzaka is making sure that you'll hang on to first place.

Well I expected them to lose but I didn't expect to wake up to find out that Dice-K walked off the mound holding his back and hip - and supposedly its "shoulder fatigue". The guy who was described as having a bionic shoulder when the Red Sox got his medical records is now out with a bad shoulder. Jesus Christ. If this doesn't guarantee that the Sox won't "run away" with the division I don't know what would.

Ah, quit yer bitchin'. You just said yesterday that you have a deep lineup/rotation/platoon/pocket. The loss of Dice-K won't kill you guys, and if it does then maybe this team wasn't as good as advertised to begin with.

And last I checked, you guys were still in first place or tied for it. Thanks to the Rays losing to..... THE RANGERS of all people! Who'da thunk?

Edited May 28, 2008 by Big Al

[Dan Gould]

Not to worry, Rays fans, Matsuzaka is making sure that you'll hang on to first place.

Well I expected them to lose but I didn't expect to wake up to find out that Dice-K walked off the mound holding his back and hip - and supposedly its "shoulder fatigue". The guy who was described as having a bionic shoulder when the Red Sox got his medical records is now out with a bad shoulder. Jesus Christ. If this doesn't guarantee that the Sox won't "run away" with the division I don't know what would.

Ah, quit yer bitchin'. You just said yesterday that you have a deep lineup/rotation/platoon/pocket. The loss of Dice-K won't kill you guys, and if it does then maybe this team wasn't as good as advertised to begin with.

And last I checked, you guys were still in first place or tied for it. Thanks to the Rays losing to..... THE RANGERS of all people! Who'da thunk?

Yesterday I referred to the youngsters who may fuel a "dynasty". That doesn't have a lot to do with replacing the only pitcher who has done consistently well all season. If he is out for any length of time, I will bet that the Rays will find themselves with a nice 3-5 game bulge soon enough. Unless Beckett gets his shit together and Colon somehow pitches like a number two when all we really wanted with him was an extra good #5.

So excuse me, but I am going to continue to bitch, because I do not in any way feel the same way about this team as I felt about the 2007 team.

[Big Al]

Well, if you didn't bitch about your team, we'd think there was something wrong with ya.

Anyway, isn't Lester doing well? There's a nice young arm I'd like to have on my team!

Edited May 28, 2008 by Big Al

[Chalupa]

Josh Hamilton

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Hamilton_(baseball)

Wow. He's been through a lot.

[papsrus]

Josh Hamilton

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Hamilton_(baseball)

Wow. He's been through a lot.

We ran a nice story in the paper today about how he turned his life around by going to what is basically a Christian baseball boot camp in Clearwater. Cleaned toilets, slept on an inflatable mattress, couldn't practice until all his obligations were taken care of, and was free to leave at any time. He stayed. There was a great photo of him sort of tipping his cap to the Rays dugout prior to their first game here Monday. I think he's being paid about $300,000 this season. I hope he tears it up for years to come.

I just have to say I'm disgusted with the attendance that the Rays are getting right now. My God, if I lived up there I'd be at the stadium at least once a week. As it is, living more than an hour away, I make it to half a dozen games a year or so. May go up for the White Sox this week. ... If they can't draw regularly now, I wouldn't blame them for trying to leave for greener pastures. In fact, I'd be all for it. They deserve better than 13,000. Shitty. Really shitty.

[BERIGAN]

Josh Hamilton

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Hamilton_(baseball)

Wow. He's been through a lot.

We ran a nice story in the paper today about how he turned his life around by going to what is basically a Christian baseball boot camp in Clearwater. Cleaned toilets, slept on an inflatable mattress, couldn't practice until all his obligations were taken care of, and was free to leave at any time. He stayed. There was a great photo of him sort of tipping his cap to the Rays dugout prior to their first game here Monday. I think he's being paid about $300,000 this season. I hope he tears it up for years to come.

I just have to say I'm disgusted with the attendance that the Rays are getting right now. My God, if I lived up there I'd be at the stadium at least once a week. As it is, living more than an hour away, I make it to half a dozen games a year or so. May go up for the White Sox this week. ... If they can't draw regularly now, I wouldn't blame them for trying to leave for greener pastures. In fact, I'd be all for it. They deserve better than 13,000. Shitty. Really shitty.

It appeared on ESPN over the last week or so more people were in the stands, but they never mentioned numbers....still around 13,000???

[WorldB3]

I just have to say I'm disgusted with the attendance that the Rays are getting right now. My God, if I lived up there I'd be at the stadium at least once a week. As it is, living more than an hour away, I make it to half a dozen games a year or so. May go up for the White Sox this week. ... If they can't draw regularly now, I wouldn't blame them for trying to leave for greener pastures. In fact, I'd be all for it. They deserve better than 13,000. Shitty. Really shitty.

The Marlilns draw even less but at least they play outdoors. The Rays are an exciting team but you couldn't pay me to watch a game in their park.

I think even with new stadiums I am not sure if they would draw as Football seems to be the #1 sports passion.

[Big Al]

We ran a nice story in the paper today about how he turned his life around by going to what is basically a Christian baseball boot camp in Clearwater. Cleaned toilets, slept on an inflatable mattress, couldn't practice until all his obligations were taken care of, and was free to leave at any time. He stayed. There was a great photo of him sort of tipping his cap to the Rays dugout prior to their first game here Monday. I think he's being paid about $300,000 this season. I hope he tears it up for years to come.

That was also very cool when the Rays fans gave him a standing ovation for his first trip to the plate in first game back the other night. Very classy on the part of the Rays fans!

I just have to say I'm disgusted with the attendance that the Rays are getting right now. My God, if I lived up there I'd be at the stadium at least once a week. As it is, living more than an hour away, I make it to half a dozen games a year or so. May go up for the White Sox this week. ... If they can't draw regularly now, I wouldn't blame them for trying to leave for greener pastures. In fact, I'd be all for it. They deserve better than 13,000. Shitty. Really shitty.

I don't think it's unique to the Rays; the same thing is happening to the Rangers right now, who are playing as good as (if not better than) they've ever played before; yet they haven't sold out a game since Opening Day. Some towns are baseball towns, some aren't. Chicago, New York, Boston; those are baseball towns. St. Petersburg (retirement community, mostly), Arlington, TX (the most boring city in the world, located inside a state where football is the 2nd major religion behind Southern Baptists); these aren't baseball cities. Just IMO of course, but it seems that wherever there's a strong sense of community is where you'll find support for that community's baseball team.

Of course, winning once in a while helps, too.

[WorldB3]

Now, I am sure you will bitch even more if the coming dynasty extends beyond four or five years because the team can afford to keep those players even when they reach free agency.

Not bitching, developing a farm system and keeping the good players and adding bits and pieces via free agency is the way to go. Hell the Giants should pay Theo a couple hundred grand to just give them a clue for a day. I am just pointing out that the Red Sox have a advantage that 90% of the other teams don't have and their is a huge media bias in their favor. Ex: the lead story on ESPN Sunday night was again the Red Sox but about John Lester's no hitter from earlier in the week instead of how a small market team that was expected to lose over 90 games swept them.

[Dan Gould]

Now, I am sure you will bitch even more if the coming dynasty extends beyond four or five years because the team can afford to keep those players even when they reach free agency.

Not bitching, developing a farm system and keeping the good players and adding bits and pieces via free agency is the way to go. Hell the Giants should pay Theo a couple hundred grand to just give them a clue for a day. I am just pointing out that the Red Sox have a advantage that 90% of the other teams don't have and their is a huge media bias in their favor. Ex: the lead story on ESPN Sunday night was again the Red Sox but about John Lester's no hitter from earlier in the week instead of how a small market team that was expected to lose over 90 games swept them.

Are you seriously saying that "media bias" led ESPN to have Jon Lester as the subject of their "Sunday Night Conversation" instead of, say, plain human interest in a 23 year old who beat cancer and followed up winning the clinching game of a World Series with a no-hitter?

I am certain you are not saying that.

[Big Al]

He's not saying that at all, Dan. What he IS saying is that, as important and inspiring a story as Lester's no-hitter was, let's not overlook the fact that the Red Sox got swept by a small-market team that ESPN doesn't give a shit about.

I hope that you aren't saying that their ISN'T a media bias towards the Yankees and the Red Sox. Fact is, if Lester pitched for any other team besides the Red Sox and the Yankees, the story would've been discussed, but not until whatever was brewing in New York and Boston was taken care of first.

No media bias, my ass.

[Dan Gould]

He's not saying that at all, Dan. What he IS saying is that, as important and inspiring a story as Lester's no-hitter was, let's not overlook the fact that the Red Sox got swept by a small-market team that ESPN doesn't give a shit about.

I hope that you aren't saying that their ISN'T a media bias towards the Yankees and the Red Sox. Fact is, if Lester pitched for any other team besides the Red Sox and the Yankees, the story would've been discussed, but not until whatever was brewing in New York and Boston was taken care of first.

No media bias, my ass.

I am sure that ESPN mentioned the fact that the Red Sox got swept on Sunday by Oakland. This is supposed to lead the reporting? Why? Good teams get swept, particularly on the road, every month of every season. The Earth didn't stop spinning, and unless you do your reporting through "woe is us, we can never compete with those evil big market clubs" filter, there is no reason to even mention that the A's were supposed to be bad. The reality is that Beane has turned over his roster and continued to win. Why should this be shocking, let alone be expected to lead the news?

If Texas or Oakland were widely regarded as the best team in the majors, they'd get the coverage that you seem to think is skipped because of Boston and New York. And I completely disagree that they would have led with New York and Boston before covering a freaking cancer patient's no-hitter, if he were on a different team. It leads Sportscenter. Did they bury the coverage of that NL pitcher who came back in no time from thyroid cancer surgery? I'm pretty sure they didn't and he doesn't play for the Red Sox, Yankees or Mets for that matter.

If there is bias toward New York and Boston, its because those are the teams that are expected to compete, year-in and year-out. Allow me to apologize for having an ownership and management that is committed to putting a decent product on the field.

[Big Al]

Allow me to apologize for having an ownership and management that is committed to putting a decent product on the field.

Well, ya got me there on that one. I have no idea what that must be like. Seriously.

Had another chance to go above .500 today. Looks like we'll be waiting for the next chance again.

Edited May 28, 2008 by Big Al

[papsrus]

It appeared on ESPN over the last week or so more people were in the stands, but they never mentioned numbers....still around 13,000???

Apparently, they are actually up something like 20 percent so far this year, so I guess it's not so terrible. And there have been good some crowds of 20,000 - 30,000, but not consistently. It may have been the Memorial Day weekend that sapped the crowds away to other "outdoor" activities. We'll see. An outdoor stadium on the bayfront would help. But as bad as the dome is, they've dressed it up pretty nice inside. And you can't argue with air conditioning when it's like an oven outside.

I think the general economic blues may also have something to do with why the crowds are sporadic. People are just watching their dollars more closely lately, waiting for the damn economy to turn. At the same time, I think you can get in the dome for as little as $12. And there's plenty of room to upgrade your location as the game moves along.

[Dan Gould]

Well, what are the odds on the rest of this fucking disastrous road trip? 0-3 in Oakland, 1-2 to the fucking horrid Mariners. I'm predicting 1-3 to the resurgent Orioles, wrapping it up at 2-8. Sounds about right. 4-6 last time, 2-8 now, 0-10 at the end of June.

Motherfucking pathetic.

[WorldB3]

Great game last night in Oakland with Harden going against Halliday. However the game was ruined by stubborn management.

You make the call: 1-1 game going into the 9th. As the manager of the A's do you you A. Go with the lefty Chad Guadan who was lights out in the 8th to face two lefties coming up in the 9th who was a starter earlier in the season and can give you some innings in case it goes extra innings or do you B. Go stubbornly with your 8th inning or in this case your set up guy Foulke who is a righty because well he is you set up guy. Of course you you go with B and give off a lead off double to the left handed hitter and lose a tough one 2-1.

Hate to be an arm chair manager but sometimes you have to improvise and go on a feel instead of doing the same thing every night.

Edited May 29, 2008 by WorldB3

[zen archer]

MANNY hit #500 Tonight !