EVIL~! alkeiper

Sault, I know you don't like Weaver because he pitched poorly for the Yankees, but what exactly makes him an asshole?

But honestly, are fans going to care less about a rivalry because the Cubs sucked 30 years ago? The Cubs/Cards rivalry is very much like the Brooklyn Dodgers/Yankees rivalry, where fans lived and worked together.

In 2000, with Varitek catching 128 games, the Red Sox allowed 745 runs. In 2001, with Varitek catching 50 games, the Red Sox allowed 745 runs. There is no evidence that catchers influence the quality of a pitching staff. Look, Varitek is likely going to make somewhere in the $10 Million range. Is some mythical ability to control a pitching staff worth that money? I don't think so. The Sox are going to have money to spend this offseason, and they don't have to re-sign their own guys. Players like Magglio Ordonez or Lance Berkman might fit nicely. But they have to spend wisely. I don't think Jason Varitek is the right use of the money.

Rob Neyer summed it up well in a chat. The best rivalries depend on region. East coast, and its Yanks/Sox. Midwest, its Cubs/Cards. And west coast, its either Dodgers/Giants or A's/Mariners (I'm not sure).

You're not. I was trying to figure out why Tomas was hitting.

You'll also see alot of players with bad contracts on the table.

Perhaps you should give boxing a try.

So, I'm guessing that despite "DIPS" saying otherwise, yet another pitcher is bombing. Actually not. Hernandez had a 3.18 ERA coming into tonight. I am pointing it out because it is completely out of context with his recent performance.

Of course, given Hernandez's K/BB ratio of 10:1, I should keep my mouth shut.

Why is Roberto Hernandez allowed to pitch?

D'backs defense doing a good job of costing the Big Unit the game. Good for the Phillies at least.

I don't see why the Sox really NEED to re-sign any of those guys. Jason Varitek: Good catcher, but last year was the first time in four years he put up quality numbers. Meanwhile, the Sox have a worthwhile catching prospect in Kelly Shoppach. David Ortiz: Another good hitter, but he can not hit lefties, and he is best used as a DH. Why sign a guy long term to DH, especially when you need to platoon him? Derek Lowe: Overrated. His K rate as a starter does not bode well as a top-flight pitcher. He put up a gaudy ERA and win total in 2002, but has regressed since. Are you willing to bet big money that he'll return to those numbers? Meanwhile, a veritable shitload of free agents are available this offseason. Carlos Beltran, Magglio Ordonez, Jose Vidro, etc. These guys could help the Sox more than the aforementioned three.

Does anyone outside of college actually read college newspapers?

The amusing thing was that HF advantage was the "solution" to the 2002 All-Star game, which ended in a tie. The only problem is that is doesn't answer the issue of what happens in case of a tie, and in fact makes the problem WORSE.

I think MLB audio is quite worthwhile. It comes in clear on my system (broadband). Essentially, every game is available, and a handful are also available in alternate languages.

Perfect games/no hitters are jinxed from the start. Everyone made a big deal when Jeter went 0-32. For a no hitter, you need a team to go 0-27. That's an extremely lofty goal. Add a pitcher's fatigue level, and its near impossible.

Back-to-back home runs from Abreu and Thome, and its 4-0 Phillies.

Its coming in this time, barely.

With the Flyers game on tonight, the Phillies game is once again on CN8. God Fucking Damn It.

Never touched that option. Its quite amusing to see the moves the computer makes for other teams. Benching Jose Reyes for a pathetic second baseman because he doesn't have 2B listed is quite silly.

Perhaps the fan felt that getting Dusty suspended was the only way to save the Cubs' pitchers. Good move, says I. They do have to face Johnson, on Saturday.

Buster Olney decides to stir my ire by writing another "column" praising the virtues of productive outs. Unfortunately, I do not have time at the present to diseminate it properly, but tomorrow I should have plenty of time to rip it a new one.

Its a ridiculous list. Shouldn't a list of top 10 ATHLETES consist of more track & field stars? Where are Jesse Owens and Carl Lewis?

I think the baseball All-Star game is the best. The core of baseball is the batter/pitcher matchup. Two sets of unfamiliar teams doesn't effect that. So you don't see the problems that a lack of team familiarity brings like you do in the Pro Bowl and other games. When you watch an All-Star game in other sports, you see insane scoring games. An all-star baseball games bears a resemblance to a REAL baseball game.

Agreed. Looking at Win Shares, Brown has outpitched Pettitte seven of of nine seasons.