MLB '08 Season Discussion

[Cephius]

How does he look like too much of a reliever? You do realize one of the biggest components into whether a hard thrower can be an effective starter, is if he can maintain that velocity deep into games? Joba hit 100 and hovered around 97 in the 7th inning in the minors. He was on a strict pitch count (the Jays knew it and capitalized) and there was a ridiculous amount of hype..expecting good results in his first outing was a longshot.

He's gonna be the goods in a few years (or could pull a Lincecum and dominate next season) Either way, the next few years for this team are gonna be golden. We're gonna whore the shit out of the International market (Michael Inoa hi2u)

He's never pitched more than 3 innings in the majors... how do you know what his velocity will be in the 4th or 5th? He has dominating stuff for 2 innings... but even the hardest throwing starters don't consistently throw 98-100. They just dial it up when they need to. Chamberlain hasn't shown he can do that, it look like he -tried- to be more economical but ended up walking people, then had to fall into his 8th inning mentality in order to get guys out. Plus I think the Yankees are taking a strength (7/8 bridge to rivera) and making it a weakness while throwing Joba into the unknown. It really doesn't add up for me anymore.

Uh... Shields admitted after the game that he was trying to hit Coco.

So? If the Yankees retaliated like that every time a Boston pitcher hit Jeter or A-rod... well there wouldn't be many Red Sox pitchers left by now. The point is Coco already made a dirty play by sliding into their shortstop hard and then got pissed when they tried to get even. If you get hit out of retaliation you bow your head and go to 1st base and let the MLB take care of it. You don't charge the mound like an idiot and make a international incident out of it.

[Kurp]

I wish Shields' first punch would have landed and just flattened Crisp.

[blister1]

He's never pitched more than 3 innings in the majors... how do you know what his velocity will be in the 4th or 5th? He has dominating stuff for 2 innings... but even the hardest throwing starters don't consistently throw 98-100. They just dial it up when they need to. Chamberlain hasn't shown he can do that, it look like he -tried- to be more economical but ended up walking people, then had to fall into his 8th inning mentality in order to get guys out. Plus I think the Yankees are taking a strength (7/8 bridge to rivera) and making it a weakness while throwing Joba into the unknown. It really doesn't add up for me anymore.

I never said I expect him to sit 97-100, but what difference does pitching in the majors make when we're talking about holding velocity deep into games? The Yanks have PLENTY of guys in the minors who have he ability to setup/close after Mo is gone, they don't have a guy like Joba who's ready to slide into the rotation and be dominant. Worst comes to worst, he fails as a starter and shifts to the pen. Not giving him the chance to start only hurts him and the Yanks in the long run.

As for the Sox brawl; Gomes is a fucking pussy.

[Akiyama]

Did you guys see the Coco Crisp interview? Smug little bastard. I hope someone nails him in the head, and I don't say that often. :/

[jmc]

Did you guys see the Coco Crisp interview? Smug little bastard. I hope someone nails him in the head, and I don't say that often. :/

I missed it, what was said?

[Viq]

Did you guys see the Coco Crisp interview? Smug little bastard. I hope someone nails him in the head, and I don't say that often. :/

I missed it, what was said?

He basically said that the Rays fight "like little girls" because they pulled his hair, and scratched him.

In more relevant news, Coco got a 7 day suspension. Lester got 5 days, and Sean Casey got an inexplicable 3 day suspension. For the Rays, Shields got 6 games. Gomes and Edwin Jackson each got 5 games. Crawford got 4, and Iwamura ended up with a 3 game suspension. I don't remember seeing Casey or Jackson really doing anything during the brawl.

[archibaldcrane]

He basically said that the Rays fight "like little girls" because they pulled his hair, and scratched him.

Yeah it was pretty hilarious, he said "I don't think Lester knew whether he actually wanted to hit me or not" because of that really pussy terrible swing he made. Pro athletes fighting is generally a joke (except in hockey) and this "brawl" reinforced that yet again.

So apart from the two most annoying teams in baseball, how bout them Brewers? Won 9 of their last 10, starting pitching seems to have solidified, bats are going again...if only the Cubs hadn't won 9 of their last 10 as well we'd...be close to them. /cry

[Akiyama]

He basically said that the Rays fight "like little girls" because they pulled his hair, and scratched him.

Yeah it was pretty hilarious, he said "I don't think Lester knew whether he actually wanted to hit me or not" because of that really pussy terrible swing he made. Pro athletes fighting is generally a joke (except in hockey) and this "brawl" reinforced that yet again.

So apart from the two most annoying teams in baseball, how bout them Brewers? Won 9 of their last 10, starting pitching seems to have solidified, bats are going again...if only the Cubs hadn't won 9 of their last 10 as well we'd...be close to them. /cry

You know what's hilarious about this post? Lester's on the Red Sox and wouldn't be hitting Coco Crisp. It's Shields you are thinking of. You may dislike the Red Sox and the Rays for that matter, but at least get a different name from a different team.

Brewers are doing pretty good, but it won't last. They aren't too great away from home, and it's only a matter of time before Sheets goes down with yet another injury. Ryan Braun is awesome to watch though. Kid is a beast. If it's one thing you guys do well, it's draft talent.

[archibaldcrane]

You know what's hilarious about this post? Lester's on the Red Sox and wouldn't be hitting Coco Crisp. It's Shields you are thinking of. You may dislike the Red Sox and the Rays for that matter, but at least get a different name from a different team.

Meh, I just scanned the list of players for a pitcher and figured that's the dude that threw at him. I don't know my Red Sox from my Devil Rays, you're right - I don't have any players from either team on my fanta...wait. Jon Lester? Oh fuck me that asshole got suspended? ... I picked him up a couple weeks ago - he came out of the dugout and got into that fight? I know I know SPs getting suspended never matters, they only play every 5 days anyway so his start will be pushed back one day maybe. But still.

Oh and fuck you brewers all the way. Yeah they draft well, because of this dude:

Zduriencik is so good at what he does that Baseball America named him the 2007 Major League Executive of the Year. He was the first non-general manager to win the award. Well, all he did was draft Prince Fielder (2002), Rickie Weeks (2003) and Ryan Braun (2005) in the first round, grab J.J. Hardy (2001) and Yovani Gallardo (2004) in the second and pluck Corey Hart in the 11th (2000).

Brewers scouts 4tw.

[Viq]

The Brewers became my NL team of choice two years ago when I lived out in Madison. It's a shame that the largest crowd I saw at Miller Park was during the three Angels vs. Indians games last year (damn you Orlando Cabrera for not signing my jersey. I know you were only on the Red Sox for half a season, but c'mon...) The Crew looked awesome when I went to see them in Shea early in the season, but they got hammered at Fenway for the game that I went to there. I really hope they can find a way to make up the deficit and at least make another run at the playoffs like they did last year.

[Akiyama]

You know what's hilarious about this post? Lester's on the Red Sox and wouldn't be hitting Coco Crisp. It's Shields you are thinking of. You may dislike the Red Sox and the Rays for that matter, but at least get a different name from a different team.

Meh, I just scanned the list of players for a pitcher and figured that's the dude that threw at him. I don't know my Red Sox from my Devil Rays, you're right - I don't have any players from either team on my fanta...wait. Jon Lester? Oh fuck me that asshole got suspended? ... I picked him up a couple weeks ago - he came out of the dugout and got into that fight? I know I know SPs getting suspended never matters, they only play every 5 days anyway so his start will be pushed back one day maybe. But still.

Oh and fuck you brewers all the way. Yeah they draft well, because of this dude:

Zduriencik is so good at what he does that Baseball America named him the 2007 Major League Executive of the Year. He was the first non-general manager to win the award. Well, all he did was draft Prince Fielder (2002), Rickie Weeks (2003) and Ryan Braun (2005) in the first round, grab J.J. Hardy (2001) and Yovani Gallardo (2004) in the second and pluck Corey Hart in the 11th (2000).

Brewers scouts 4tw.

Yeah, I didn't mean to sound like a know-it-all asshole about it, lol. Sorry.

Also, sucky deal about O. Cab there, Viq. Good thing he sucks anyway. I've got an autographed Chipper Jones jersey. That's pretty awesome.

[blister1]

Sucks, Sheets is gonna bail, him and Gallardo could have been a beastly 1-2 punch. I'd take him if the contract was fucking loaded with incentives.

[Soarian]

That Braves-Phillies game was pretty unbelievable last night. Chris Coste hits a pop fly right behind first base that should have ended the game but the 2nd baseman drops it and the tying run scores.

Then in the 10th the Phils put 2 on the board to take a 4-2 lead. In the bottom of the 10th with runners on 2nd and 3rd Escobar hits a single to center and Victorino nails Blanco at the plate with an absolutely perfect throw to seal the unlikely victory.

What a helluva ending.

[Akiyama]

That Braves-Phillies game was pretty unbelievable last night. Chris Coste hits a pop fly right behind first base that should have ended the game but the 2nd baseman drops it and the tying run scores.

Then in the 10th the Phils put 2 on the board to take a 4-2 lead. In the bottom of the 10th with runners on 2nd and 3rd Escobar hits a single to center and Victorino nails Blanco at the plate with an absolutely perfect throw to seal the unlikely victory.

What a helluva ending.

Yeah. The collective sigh you heard was Kelly Johnson making yet another error that cost us a game. He had quite a few of those towards the end of last year. As a Braves fan, seeing the Braves lose at home is not only bad, but horrible, because if we can't win at home... we won't win. We already don't win on the road for shit. Phillies are really good, and you guys are going to destroy Jo Jo Reyes today.

[Penthesilea]

I really really don't like the fact that Bobby keeps playing Johnson. He boots balls to his right constantly... Now he can't even handle a routine fly.

[Akiyama]

I really really don't like the fact that Bobby keeps playing Johnson. He boots balls to his right constantly... Now he can't even handle a routine fly.

In his defense, Bobby plays KJ mostly for his bat than his fielding, and he's most certainly improved. He just didn't get both hands on the ball this time. I'm sure he'll improve further as a fielder, but we can't really afford to lose the pop in his bat.

[terranova]

Atlanta has going on a slow downward spiral ever since their last World Series apparence. Now no longer winning divisions and NLCS's, I wonder about their future as a successful team. They were the only sport in my state that didn't suck -.-.

[Akiyama]

Atlanta has going on a slow downward spiral ever since their last World Series apparence. Now no longer winning divisions and NLCS's, I wonder about their future as a successful team. They were the only sport in my state that didn't suck -.-.

Now don't jump to conclusions just yet. They are still a good ball club, but they didn't improve as much as the Mets/Phillies did in the last few years. That and with the loss of some of their core players. They've got young guys like McCann, Frenchy, and such getting even better as they go on, and their Minor League players are always pretty good. I like this Anderson kid. He's got the speed we need on the basepads. I think they'll make a run, honestly. Once we get Mike Gonzalez back (assuming he stays healthy after Tommy John's surgery), then our bullpen will be a lot better. Can alternate saves between Soriano (assuming he stays healthy as well) and Gonzy. Don't fret just yet. We've got a while to go.

That and they didn't exactly go on a spiral since their WS considering they won a total of 14 straight division titles (up to 2005), so D: Not sure what you're getting at.

[terranova]

What I'm getting at is the trend they seem to be following. . .

From Division title to NLCS to just Division title to Wild Card and now. . Just wild card. Haven't won the NLCS or even got to that point since 2006? Correct me if I'm wrong here.

People like that player who error'd his ass off, don't need to be on the Braves. We don't need chokers.

Just to get this out there, I'm not putting blame on bad trades, like Maddox, Glavine, etc.

[Akiyama]

What I'm getting at is the trend they seem to be following. . .

From Division title to NLCS to just Division title to Wild Card and now. . Just wild card. Haven't won the NLCS or even got to that point since 2006? Correct me if I'm wrong here.

People like that player who error'd his ass off, don't need to be on the Braves. We don't need chokers.

Just to get this out there, I'm not putting blame on bad trades, like Maddox, Glavine, etc.

They haven't gotten to the NLCS in a longer time actually (2001, lost to eventual World Series Champs, Arizona). They've been the big one-hit wonders. Get to the playoffs by winning divisions and then stumbling in the Divisional series against Wild Cards/other division teams. They finished 3rd in 2006 and 2007.

Kelly Johnson is better than the alternative (Omar Infante), so I'm not sure why people would complain right now. He's made a few errors, yeah, but he's a young player. Young players are bound to make mistakes.