2009 MLB season discussion*

[Gregorio]

Aaaannnd Lidge doesn't blow it!

[Kang]

Need Fuentes back, rooting for the Angels now.

[Trichocyst]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...5397547403.jpg

[Orph]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y24...hillieguy8.jpg

[Bozo]

On Ryan's go ahead hit I didn't know what to do. I screamed "Oh my god" when I thought it was a homer, then screamed "No!!!!" cause it looked like it was going to be caught, then finally finished with another "Oh my god".

[Penthesilea]

I left the bar when the Rockies went ahead 4-2 and got to my friends apartment. She had the game on the radio cause no cable, but we started jumping up and down fist pumping and yelling when howard got his hit.

[Abraxas]

almost as good as the twins/tigers game.....

....almost

[Trichocyst]

Phillies playing the underdog again to the general public. They can beat the Dodgers.

How do you get from Denver to LA?

Spoiler: show

Huston Street

[TT]

NLCS doesn't really interest me. I wanted/thought the Cards were going to be a real contender... The Phils have more seasoned names in their pitching rotation and bullpen and that might just be enough to put them over the Dodgers. Dodgers look hot though, taking out the NL best in a sweep.

On the other hand the Angels and Yankees match up good. Think that series will have more fireworks and action while the NLCS will have more pitching and coaching situations that aren't entirely exciting to the casual fan.

[Cephius]

NLCS doesn't really interest me. I wanted/thought the Cards were going to be a real contender... The Phils have more seasoned names in their pitching rotation and bullpen and that might just be enough to put them over the Dodgers. Dodgers look hot though, taking out the NL best in a sweep.

On the other hand the Angels and Yankees match up good. Think that series will have more fireworks and action while the NLCS will have more pitching and coaching situations that aren't entirely exciting to the casual fan.

Did you really just suggest that the Phillies bullpen is better than the Dodgers pen? Have you watched the games this year? The Philly bullpen is an absolute mess, they've put guys on late in every single game. Ask a Philly fan how they feel about Brad Lidge in a one run game.

I'm sorry but right now comparing Sherill/Broxton and Madson/Lidge is like night and day.

[Akiyama]

JA Happ could be a huge addition to their bullpen along with Pedro. Sure Pedro isn't Pedro of old, but he's still fucking good. Did you seem to forget that Broxton struggled at the end of the year with the Dodgers? Or that they have one of the most overused bullpens in the entire MLB? Sherill has looked good since coming to LA, and they needed him desperately due to everyone else's wear and tear, but seriously. It's not as far apart as you think.

[GRT]

gimme my freeway (world) series! gimme gimme gimme!

[Bozo]

The Daily News Live guys seem to think Kershaw is the only Dodgers starter that will give the Phillies trouble. I'm not saying Dodger's are bad but if it's anything to how "good" Rockies bullpen was... Phillies probably won't go down quietly. In my opinion, the Phillies pen proved everyone wrong in the Rockies series. Aside from Madson struggling last night they really pulled through. Obviously, not every outing will be perfect but the Phillies pen really did well this series. And to boot, Chan Ho Park may be good to go who has been really, really good in most of his relief appearances.

Oh and if it's brought up again of how Lidge "walked" 2 guys in game 3 it's bullshit. Gonzales was struck out but we're all aware how crappy the umpires have been in all of the postseason so far. They pitched around Helton.

[Cephius]

JA Happ could be a huge addition to their bullpen along with Pedro. Sure Pedro isn't Pedro of old, but he's still fucking good. Did you seem to forget that Broxton struggled at the end of the year with the Dodgers? Or that they have one of the most overused bullpens in the entire MLB? Sherill has looked good since coming to LA, and they needed him desperately due to everyone else's wear and tear, but seriously. It's not as far apart as you think.

Yes, Broxton was overused. It's Joe Torre after all. But Lidge can't even get anybody out, and gives fans a heart attack in the 9th inning whenever it's close. I still say they're far apart. Middle relievers (Happ, Pedro) don't count when you consider bullpen strength in the playoffs unless you're using them in the 7th/8th/9th innings. (Weaver is as good out of the bullpen as either of them anyway, as evidenced by game 1)

[Melena]

Lidge made things interesting, in part due to some horrible ball/strike calls, but in all honestly, him and Rivera were the only two closers to not get lit up during the divisional series.

[Akiyama]

Yes, Broxton was overused. It's Joe Torre after all. But Lidge can't even get anybody out, and gives fans a heart attack in the 9th inning whenever it's close. I still say they're far apart. Middle relievers (Happ, Pedro) don't count when you consider bullpen strength in the playoffs unless you're using them in the 7th/8th/9th innings. (Weaver is as good out of the bullpen as either of them anyway, as evidenced by game 1)

Lidge has two straight saves, though they weren't the neatest things. If he can get his shit straight, the league should be scared.

My point is the difference isn't that huge, thought the Dodgers may have the slight advantage. The Phillies have the advantage in the fact that they have Cliff Lee. Who do the Dodgers have? Are you really going to depend on Randy Wolfe, Chad Billinsley, or Clayton Kershaw?

[Penthesilea]

Lidge has two straight saves, though they weren't the neatest things. If he can get his shit straight, the league should be scared.

My point is the difference isn't that huge, thought the Dodgers may have the slight advantage. The Phillies have the advantage in the fact that they have Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels. Who do the Dodgers have? Are you really going to depend on Randy Wolfe, Chad Billinsley, or Clayton Kershaw?

Added something. Hamels against the Dodgers this season has given up 1 run in 16 innings.

[Cephius]

Lidge made things interesting, in part due to some horrible ball/strike calls, but in all honestly, him and Rivera were the only two closers to not get lit up during the divisional series.

He pitched once, and walked two guys in that inning. He didn't get lit up but.. still. Let's not act like he's suddenly figured out what's plagued him all year. He hasn't been sharp.

My point is the difference isn't that huge, thought the Dodgers may have the slight advantage. The Phillies have the advantage in the fact that they have Cliff Lee. Who do the Dodgers have? Are you really going to depend on Randy Wolfe, Chad Billinsley, or Clayton Kershaw?

Kershaw pitched pretty well. Padilla pitched about as well as anyone has this postseason. Do you trust Cole Hamels more than Wolfe at this point? I'd say starting pitching is even, if anything. Also, while the Rockies were a decent team, they weren't on the same level as the Cards offensively, and the Dodger starters and relievers all held them down as team.

I guess we'll see in the end, but I see the Dodgers winning this series because of their pitching.

[Akiyama]

He pitched once, and walked two guys in that inning. He didn't get lit up but.. still. Let's not act like he's suddenly figured out what's plagued him all year. He hasn't been sharp.



Kershaw pitched pretty well. Padilla pitched about as well as anyone has this postseason. Do you trust Cole Hamels more than Wolfe at this point? I'd say starting pitching is even, if anything. Also, while the Rockies were a decent team, they weren't on the same level as the Cards offensively, and the Dodger starters and relievers all held them down as team.

I guess we'll see in the end, but I see the Dodgers winning this series because of their pitching.

Okay, pitching I can understand... but wait, did you just say the Rockies weren't 'on the level' with the Cardinals offensively? Whaat? Take Pujols away and the Cardinals are an average hitting team, as you saw in the Dodgers/Cards series when Torre took Pujols away. Sure Holliday is nice, but all year, he was really hot and cold. Hot when he got to the Cards, then the league saw him back in the NL, adjusted, and boom. Shutdown. The Rockies have a good bit of pop and speed from top to bottom and the Phillies still managed to keep them in check for the most part. You know your offense is a problem when you have to bat Julio Lugo as apart of your main line-up. DeRosa was fair, but again.. take Pujols away and they are very average.

Oh and about Hamels.. yeah. I didn't include him with Cliff Lee because he hasn't pitched like a #1 stud in a long time and I don't get what his problems are. We'll see how it goes when the series starts, but honestly, I think the Phils have the advantage here.

Also... what? Lidge only pitched once? Or Rivera? Because last I checked.. Lidge has two saves this postseason.

[Bozo]

Honestly, Cole only made a few mistakes and the Rockies got a cheap run in the first inning. I mean, how many times did Helton hit the ball a grand total of 70 feet this series? Take away that hanging curveball to Torrealba and Cole probably would have went atleast 6-7+ with 7 or 8 strikeouts.

The Dodgers were able to walk one guy and that was Pujols. They can't walk Howard, Werth, Ibanez, and Utley and still expect to win.