MLB 2008

[MartyJazz]

Nice fuckin' offense, Oakland.

thanks a lot.

Hey, c'mon, Dan.

BoSox gotta lose once in a while.

More than once in awhile when they're on the road. A .400 team when away from the Green Monster.

Edited July 20, 2008 by MartyJazz

[Soulstation1]

dan the man shouldn't be allowed to post when the bosox are on the road

[Dan Gould]

Nice fuckin' offense, Oakland.

thanks a lot.

Hey, c'mon, Dan.

BoSox gotta lose once in a while.

More than once in awhile when they're on the road. A .400 team when away from the Green Monster.

With a staggering 12 one run losses, which are universally regarded as a measure of luck rather than talent. If half of those games turned out the other way, they'd be above .500 on the road. Hell, if they only won 40% of those games, they're at .500 on the road. There's no guarantee that statistic will change over the final 65 games, but it in no way signifies the talent on the roster or the worthiness of making the playoffs.

[GregK]

I am so fed up with this. Every single national game lately seems to be Red Sox!! Tonight's ESPN, yesterday's Fox, last week's TBS, last week's Fox, and on and on. So TBS gave up the Braves to show Red Sox about 90% of the time?? Why? They were going to be on every other Fox and ESPN game anyway!!! Why am I unable to see any of this exciting, young Tampa Bay team's games? Or Florida's? When do you ever see the division leading White Sox on anything other than WGN (and that's only when the Cubs have an off day or are on ESPN!)? One more reason why I am finding it more and more difficult to be interested in baseball anymore. I hate "Manny being Manny".

[Dan Gould]

I am so fed up with this. Every single national game lately seems to be Red Sox!! Tonight's ESPN, yesterday's Fox, last week's TBS, last week's Fox, and on and on. So TBS gave up the Braves to show Red Sox about 90% of the time?? Why? They were going to be on every other Fox and ESPN game anyway!!! Why am I unable to see any of this exciting, young Tampa Bay team's games? Or Florida's? When do you ever see the division leading White Sox on anything other than WGN (and that's only when the Cubs have an off day or are on ESPN!)? One more reason why I am finding it more and more difficult to be interested in baseball anymore. I hate "Manny being Manny".

I don't think Manny Being Manny has anything to do with national broadcast schedules, so I presume that's just a gratuitous parting shot.

But the fact is that the Red Sox are a nationally popular team, the number one road attendance team in the league last year, and almost certainly again this year. That makes them a popular ratings attraction. The White Sox have their own contract with WGN and they are on when they are supposed to be. Again, the Cubs are a stronger draw nationally, so how can you blame WGN if they run more Cub games than Chisox games? And finally, the Rays are the year's surprise team. Schedules are chosen a significant time in advance, except for September, when national networks choose based on pennant race implications. You can expect to see a lot of Rays then.

[WorldB3]

Nice fuckin' offense, Oakland.

thanks a lot.

Hey now, they traded their #2 and 3 starters for more bats.

The 08 season is done, this year was all about building for next year. Not sure what they got for Blanton but I like the pieces they got for Harden and the trades in the off season for Haren and Swisher already are paying off big time, not the Haren trade wasn't also good for the DBacks as well. Time to see what the kids can do.

Does anybody need a closer who can't close, he is really cute, very marketable and a great guy. just that closing the game thing.. but besides that he can be had.

Like GregK I am also sick of the Red Sox. So go Rays!! Go Angels (puke, at least for today) and since my season is over I guess go Yankees. puke.

[Soulstation1]

Dangerous Dan

You OK?

[Dan Gould]

Dangerous Dan

You OK?

when you consider that by the time Papi returns Friday, it will be virtually a full two months without him, and at worse, we'll still be within five games of first, I think I'm doing OK.

Of course, him in the three-hole doesn't solve the bullpen problem or the fact that Ellsbury looks lost. I think that Tito has to do the smart thing when Papi is in the lineup, and put Pedroia and Youk first and second in front of Papi and Manny, and drop Drew back to his usual 6. Put Ellsbury back at seven or eight, drop the pressure on him to start hitting and let him find his way. But Francona has to be smart and give themselves the best chance for the offense to click and put the Yankees away when they get back from their final West Coast trip.

There's another reason not to completely panic - iirc, no more west coast visits, no more road trips of ten games, and no more travel that entails more than one time zone change. That, plus a majority of home games, should keep us in the pink.

[Big Al]

Does anybody need a closer who can't close, he is really cute, very marketable and a great guy. just that closing the game thing.. but besides that he can be had.

I can just picture the scene in the Rangers front-office: Tom Hicks is salivating, Nolan Ryan and Jon Daniels are playing keep away with Hicks' cel phone...

Also, as much as I hate seeing the Red Sox and/or Yankees on national TV, fact is Dan's right: they're a draw, they bring in the advertising dollars. End of story. When the Sox or the Yankees are here, Rangers attendance is through the roof. In fact, package deals or free tickets always come with the stipulation that they CANNOT be used for games when the Yankees or Red Sox are in town. That ain't no coincidence.

Edited July 21, 2008 by Big Al

[WorldB3]

Does anybody need a closer who can't close, he is really cute, very marketable and a great guy. just that closing the game thing.. but besides that he can be had.

I can just picture the scene in the Rangers front-office: Tom Hicks is salivating, Nolan Ryan and Jon Daniels are playing keep away with Hicks' cel phone...

I think your ok, I think most AL general managers know not to deal with Beane. However Street is from Texas and is dad is famous for when he was a qb for the University Of Texas. Might put fans in the seats. Got any good third or short stop prospects?

I am thinking the Brewers need a closer and have a couple of highly touted infielders in their system who can play 3rd or short. I am kind of rooting for the Brewers to blow a couple games late this week and for the Rays to sweep the A's so they can get something done. If the A's think they have a shot at the wild card it will ruin the development for next year.

As for Boston fans consider your self lucky that you don't transplants moving to Texas.

Edited July 21, 2008 by WorldB3

[tkeith]

Interesting to read the thoughts on the Sox/Yankees on national TV. As a rule, I prefer out-of-market games on national broadcasts (and motherfuck Fox for their stupid regional schedule), but I was just commenting to my wife how sick I was getting of Chicago getting the national telecasts. A few weeks back, they had Cubs/Chisox for Saturday AND Sunday. I'm so bloody sick of Ozzie F. Guillen that I don't care to ever see him gaze at the dugout cam again... and as for Lou Piniella, he's owed one blinded-by-the-sun baseballs in the face by my count.

30 years... not too long to hold a grudge.

[Chuck Nessa]

[Dan Gould]

Interesting to read the thoughts on the Sox/Yankees on national TV. As a rule, I prefer out-of-market games on national broadcasts (and motherfuck Fox for their stupid regional schedule), but I was just commenting to my wife how sick I was getting of Chicago getting the national telecasts. A few weeks back, they had Cubs/Chisox for Saturday AND Sunday. I'm so bloody sick of Ozzie F. Guillen that I don't care to ever see him gaze at the dugout cam again... and as for Lou Piniella, he's owed one blinded-by-the-sun baseballs in the face by my count.

30 years... not too long to hold a grudge.

Wow. Even I let that one go after 2004.

[Chuck Nessa]

Jerome Holtzman has died.

[papsrus]

Nice win by the Rays tonight ... Kaz finally had his slider and change-up going, so he didn't have to rely so much on the heater, thus his pitch count was much lower than his previous 3 or 4 starts and he was much more effective. A world of difference. ... Seems like they've shaken off that pre-break funk and are playing confidently again. Solid pitching and tight defense mixed in with some timely hitting (although they did leave some runs out on the bases).

Twins are sucking wind in NY, unfortunately.

And how 'bout the Dodgers ringing up 8 runs in the top of the first at Colorado ... Yoikes!!

[papsrus]

Jerome Holtzman has died.

The guy who came up with the "saves" stat. As my boss would say, "He had a good run."

RIP

[WorldB3]

Nice win by the Rays tonight ... Kaz finally had his slider and change-up going, so he didn't have to rely so much on the heater, thus his pitch count was much lower than his previous 3 or 4 starts and he was much more effective. A world of difference. ... Seems like they've shaken off that pre-break funk and are playing confidently again. Solid pitching and tight defense mixed in with some timely hitting (although they did leave some runs out on the bases).

Twins are sucking wind in NY, unfortunately.

And how 'bout the Dodgers ringing up 8 runs in the top of the first at Colorado ... Yoikes!!

Paps,

Don't get too excited about the Rays pitching shutting down the A's offense. They can't hit out of a paper bag right now, they are young team that got younger the last two weeks and the players are bummed that their GM doesn't think they have shot this year. I don't blame the players they have to think they can win to get on the field but realistically the first half was a nice surprise but this year was always about building for the next.

Big Al should be happy as the Rangers move into 2nd place.

Since my team is done GO RAYS!!

Edited July 22, 2008 by WorldB3

[papsrus]

Nice win by the Rays tonight ... Kaz finally had his slider and change-up going, so he didn't have to rely so much on the heater, thus his pitch count was much lower than his previous 3 or 4 starts and he was much more effective. A world of difference. ... Seems like they've shaken off that pre-break funk and are playing confidently again. Solid pitching and tight defense mixed in with some timely hitting (although they did leave some runs out on the bases).

Twins are sucking wind in NY, unfortunately.

And how 'bout the Dodgers ringing up 8 runs in the top of the first at Colorado ... Yoikes!!

Paps,

Don't get too excited about the Rays pitching shutting down the A's offense. They can't hit out of a paper bag right now, they are young team that got younger the last two weeks and the players are bummed that their GM doesn't think they have shot this year. I don't blame the players they have to think they can win to get on the field but realistically the first half was a nice surprise but this year was always about building for the next.

Big Al should be happy as the Rangers move into 2nd place.

Since my team is done GO RAYS!!

True 'nuff. ... I know that frustration of watching your team being unable to generate any offense consistently (a problem Big Al doesn't have to worry about).

Hop on the old bandwagon WB3! There's still plenty of room.

[GA Russell]

Here's Jerome Holtzman's AP obituary:

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsBaseball/home

[Big Al]

Big Al should be happy as the Rangers move into 2nd place.

True 'nuff. ... I know that frustration of watching your team being unable to generate any offense consistently (a problem Big Al doesn't have to worry about).

Consistent offense??? Hell, they scored a total of three runs against the Twins in their three-game series against them before heading to Chicago!

But..... the way things are going, I'm willing to write off that series as a fluke, especially if they can continue to get the timely hitting like they did against the White Sox.

As for the A's, I know the Rangers can identify with their predicament: for the longest time, it was always about next year. I can't help but think that Nolan Ryan came in and said "Enough of that shit. It's all about THIS year!"

Wow..... 2nd place.... it's been a LOOOOOOOOOOOOONG time, and I'm gonna enjoy it while it lasts!

[jlhoots]

Brewers beat Cardinals in St. Louis 6 -3.

Cubs lose again.

[BFrank]

And how 'bout the Dodgers ringing up 8 runs in the top of the first at Colorado ... Yoikes!!

It's now 16-8, Dodgers, in the ninth inning........and only ONE home run!

[BERIGAN]

Hey, Big Al....How many damn catchers you have on that team??? Is Taylor Teagarden the great, great, grandson of Jack??? Looks like you have a glut of catchers. Not a bad problem to have!

[Big Al]

Our catcher/pitcher ratio is 10/1!

I think they've been worrying so much about Hank Blalock's return (breaking news: Blalock sneezed! He's back on the 15-day DL again!) that they forgot about the other players.

[tkeith]

Our catcher/pitcher ratio is 10/1!

I think they've been worrying so much about Hank Blalock's return (breaking news: Blalock sneezed! He's back on the 15-day DL again!) that they forgot about the other players.

Good, trade us Salty -- we *need* a catcher... oh captain, my captain is *done* (don't be fooled by that shot last night).

Dan, now that's Lowrie's had a few games, are you still thinking he's an adequate solution? I've been busier than a hooker at a firemen's convention and haven't caught any games since the break (lame, I know).