EVIL~! alkeiper

Reports are AA manager Torey Lovullo met with the Dodger organization as well. Given that Lovullo is a former Red Baron and someone I got to meet in person, I would love to see him get the job.

This went under the radar. Mark Bellhord declined a demotion to Columbus, and becomes a free agent. Bellhorn had a bad year, but considering he's a second baseman with 15-25 home run power and has the potential to produce a .370 OBP, some team should take a shot. The Twins for example could benefit.

I didn't really consider my Astros/Cards pick a prediction, but they did make my comments look foolish. I said at the beginning of the year that I was through making predictions and this is no exception. Looking at the numbers though, these teams are very well matched... -While the White Sox won 99 games and the Astros just 89, both teams finished with identical pythagorean records. -The White Sox' cumulative OPS+ is 95, compared to 97 for the Astros. -The White Sox' cumulative ERA+ is 123, compared to 118 for the Astros. -The Astros finished 11th in runs scored, the White Sox 9th. Both teams finished in the second division in walks. However, both teams ranked third in stolen bases, 137 for the Sox and 115 for the Astros. -The Astros led their league in least runs allowed. The White Sox finished third, but led the American League in ERA. -Both teams lack a good bench bat. Bagwell's good, but has not shown power since his return. I think this could be a very good series.

Obviously I'll defend Iverson as a Sixers fan. I think the comments by Iverson and other NBA players have been blown out of proportion. Sure, any job has a dress code and we usually abide by it gladly. But I am sure many of us have had the experience at a job where we enjoy certain privileges, and then someone cracks down on them, and we are unhappy. The NBA players have enjoyed a great deal of freedom in their dress, and now that it is suddenly rigidly enforced, of course there is going to be some grumbling. That doesn't mean they are one step from rebellion. Let them blow off steam.

I carved a Phillies "P" into a Jack-O-Lantern.

And if the new Braves aren't the old Braves, shouldn't they be the Yankees?

1. There IS an offseason thread. 2. The separate thread has 21 replies. That indicates a worthy thread.

Like game 6 of the 2001 World Series where he imploded? Or his horrific start against the Angels in 2002? Or his start in Atlanta in 1999 where he was knocked out in the 4th? Or against Cleveland in 1998 where he allowed 6 runs in less than five innings? How about 1997 when the Indians knocked out the Yankees in the first round, thanks to Pettitte losing two games and surrendering 11 runs? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> You could turn that around and list all his good postseason starts though and his 2001 ALCS MVP. He has something 16-17 wins. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> He's 14-9 with a 4.11 postseason ERA. And that's in an environment where less runs are scored. I never understood it. Pettitte is a good pitcher, but he's not some sort of postseason demi-god. He ranks tied for first in postseason wins all-time because he's first in postseason innings. EDIT: Pettitte's second in postseason innings. He'll top Smoltz again as soon as he makes it out of the first inning in the World Series.

Oakland/New York from 2001, I'm thinking. Either that or the Subway Series.

And to top it off with a four-game sweep? Good god.

Everyone's bitter it seens. Listen people. I had to withstand FOUR Yankee world championships. The White Sox and Astros in the World Series doesn't begin to approach my personal hell.

1. There's a difference for a lefty between pitching in Yankee Stadium and Great American Ballpark. 2. I advocated up to a certain price. I wouldn't have matched the Reds' offer.

Like game 6 of the 2001 World Series where he imploded? Or his horrific start against the Angels in 2002? Or his start in Atlanta in 1999 where he was knocked out in the 4th? Or against Cleveland in 1998 where he allowed 6 runs in less than five innings? How about 1997 when the Indians knocked out the Yankees in the first round, thanks to Pettitte losing two games and surrendering 11 runs?

That was from a small sample. He'd been a great postseason pitcher for us for years. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Whitey Ford was a great postseason pitcher for you as well. Why not trot him out again?

Hernandez had a 5.12 ERA. He wasn't that good. And Pettitte did miss most of last year, and the Astros are on the hook for $17 million next season.

I picked the Braves to beat the Astros. I picked the Cardinals to pick the Astros. I was wrong. I seriously underestimated the 'Stros. Roy Oswalt perhaps enters the realm of great pitchers where he belongs. Congratulations to the Astros and all their fans, who have waited a hell of a long time for this.

Live AIM chat at TSMBaseball if anyone is interested.

With at least five players on the bench, what good is having them if you are not going to use them? One of the worst habits of managers is saving a useful player for a situation that doesn't happen. And speaking of bad managerial moves, what's the deal with the double switch in the eighth inning? What the hell is the point of double switching to use a reliever who's going to face one batter?

Of course Bream was such a slow runner that he stole six bases in six tries that year, and only grounded into three double plays in 372 at bats. And since there were two outs, Bream was going on contact. But I'm sure Jim Rome has never let facts get in the way of a good bashing.

Buck's the big one that I forgot. Mike Shannon's call last night was pathetic.

Sadly, there is a whole generation of announcers in their 70s. In my lifetime we've lost Red Barber, Mel Allen, Harry Carey and Richie Ashburn. It feels like you lose a piece of your life every time.

I was just about to post this myself. When I picked up MLB Radio, I listened to many Athletics' radio broadcast as they have Philly roots, and the time difference made it convenient listening. King and Ken Korach were a tremendous team and a real joy to listen to. I'm going to miss Bill.

Baseball-reference.com and Retrosheet.org can answer these questions for you. I'm amazed that not everyone knows about these sites yet.

Indeed. Mike Shannon's call was one of the most underwhelming calls of a historical moment I have ever heard.

One thing that's been missed is that Pujols home run literally saved Busch Stadium.