sfaJack

I think my biggest problem with the save is the retarded "3 run lead with no outs/nobody on in the ninth inning" scenario. How THAT is worthy of some sort of special stat in the box score is beyond me. I agree that there are better ways to measure a pitcher's effectiveness. Few things irritate me more than watching managers overusing relievers or bringing in a guy to get only one out just so he can get the "S" next to his name. But since it's doubtful that the save is going anywhere, they should at least modify the rules for earning a save, particularly in regards to blown saves. If one of the requirements of a save is that you have to finish the game, why are middle relievers given blown saves when they blow a lead, especially if it's before the ninth inning? If they don't finish the game, why the blown save? How is it any different than a starting pitcher coughing up a lead? Question is, and Al can probably answer this: the precedent of saves has been set, so if it's junked, what will the Hall voters do in regards to relievers? So few of them make it as is, would junking the save cause even fewer of them to get considered/elected?

How about just junking saves altogether?

Clemens would be in game 4 on short rest, Oswalt in game 5. As for whether they'll 3 or 4 guys: Phil Garner has said it depends on how the series is going, and how hard Clemens has to work today. If he throws a ton of pitches today, I don't think he'll be back on 3 days' rest, unless they're facing elimination.

I thought the Braves moved Hampton up to Game 2 and are going to hold Thomson back for another couple of days. Brandon Backe will go in Game 3 for the Astros.

Apparently Bush isn't going to, either. Hell, the only political ads that run here are for the local races.

Just to chime in here, I've not seen (or heard) a single commercial for either side. I guess I'm either watching the wrong channels or both candidates figure spending money in Texas is a waste.

Cabrera was awesome last year, no doubt, but Brennaman was just ridiculous with it.

Al's gonna yell at you, dude.

He'll never top Thom Brennaman's man-love for Miguel Cabrera last year.

I didn't know that the no-bid contracts were conspiracy theories? Or the fact that Cheney stills receives a hefty annual check from them either? Or the fact that have pretty much locked out Iraqi's from being a part of the rebuilding process. You mean those payments made as part of the deferred compensation he got when he left the company? Those payments that are guaranteed to be made to him, whether Halliburton earns $1 or loses $100 million? The payments that are in no way tied to the profitability of the company? Those payments? How come no one had a problem when KBR got the contracts to fix the oil fields after the first Gulf War but now it's suddenly a huge scandal/conspiracy just because they're now owned by Halliburton? Couldn't just be a desperate political attack, could it?

The BCS ceased being relevant when they re-adjusted the formula (and took out strength-of-schedule, a move that sucks) and made the human polls so much of the equation, so who gives a shit? Might as well just junk it and go back to the old poll system.

NLDS Cardinals over Dodgers (fairly easily) Astros over Braves (as much as it will make me puke, it will be REALLY tough to beat Clemens/Oswalt, especially since the Astros can do no wrong right now) ALDS Red Sox over Angels (should be a fun series) Yankees over Twins (Santana won't win 2 games in the Stadium, which is what it will take for the Twins to win) NLCS Cardinals over Astros (in 6) Yankees over Red Sox (c'mon...it's NY/Boston...we know who wins this, though the thought of this series sickens me) World Series Cardinals over Yankees (Yankees are too flawed to beat the Cards)

So, which pitcher would you rather see the Yanks face in a potential seventh game at the Stadium: Weaver or Rocket?

Blew out his left elbow, had surgery, and is supposed to start throwing again in December.

Kinda loses its luster a bit, since Pettitte has been done for the year for a while now. I honestly have no fucking clue who is going to emerge to win the World Series this year. Save the St. Louis/LA series (because I just don't see the Dodgers beating the Cards), I really don't see a clear favorite in any series. I'm pulling for a Cards/Twins Series though. And I'm damn sure hoping it isn't a Boston/NY ALCS again, simply because I don't think I could stomach how much Fox would overhype it.

I blame the Giants for allowing the Astros into the postseason, since it's useless to pile on the Cubs at this point. If they hadn't pissed away the third game of their series with Houston last week in the ninth inning like they did, the Astros would have come out of it 4 games back instead of only 2, and wouldn't have been a factor this last week. Goddamn this sucks. GO BRAVES!

While it might prove to be a massive headache, I think you can make enough cuts to save some real money while keeping within the rules of Title IX. Sometimes you just have to make tough decisions. Regardless of whatever you do, you piss SOMEBODY off--whether it be whiny hippie parents whose kid's life is forever destroyed because he can't play junior varsity badminton anymore, or people like 2Gold who bitch because teachers have the audacity to ask for/get a 2% raise. But it doesn't even have to be athletics. I know of a couple of schools that offer advanced robotics--is something like that REALLY essential to a quality high school education? No.

What state do you live in? Because I can attest to you that that is NOT the case here in Texas. My mother has been teaching for 23 years, last got a raise 5 years ago, and will NEVER get another raise (not even an "inflation adjusted" raise) unless the state changes the salary structure for teachers. Hell, I made more money my first year out of college than she does now. You're an idiot if you think teachers are overpaid. Teachers do not get every dime of the school budget. If you want to give more money per student, you'd be better off axing some things like athletics (i.e. don't offer every fucking sport known to mankind).

Randy Johnson did not collapse in '98--he got out-pitched by Kevin Brown (Or the Astro bats choked...again, depending on your viewpoint).

I actually think they do that due to the NFL's ridiculous TV rules. I'm fairly sure that only one (FOX and CBS) is allowed to show 2 games a week. I have yet to figure out how they decide that. -=Mike The biggest of the NFL's over-the-air TV crimes is the retarded rule that if a team is playing at home, then their TV market can get only that game until it is over. Thus, being in Houston, I'm stuck with only the uninspiring Texans/Raiders game until 3:00 or so. Bleh.

Hmmm...this could be interesting. Probably works out better for the Astros though, especially if they win today. http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/topstory2/2828215

I'd move Wood to the bullpen before I'd trade him. Make that boy your closer--who the hell would want to face him in the ninth inning? But I don't think they should do either. Even though he hasn't been a 15-20/yr win guy, he's still a better option than most anyone you could get to replace him, and starting pitchers are always worth more than bullpen guys.

Anyone else think the Astros might be a little dumb in throwing Clemens tomorrow? The worst they can do tomorrow is end up in a tie, so if you pitch Clemens and he somehow loses to Colorado (and SF wins), now you've got to go with Backe or Hernandez in the tiebreaker. On the other hand, even if he wins, you're stuck with Backe or Hernandez in Game 1 of the LDS, which I don't think I want. Just seems to be a bit risky to me. Why not set it up so your best arm is trying to either save your season or win Game 1?

First of all, having last licks doesn't mean you're always going to come back. Secondly, the Sox had just as many outs as the Yankees did. I really don't see how it's relevant that Boston didn't get to bat again--they already had their turn.

The Braves should be cheering hard for the Astros to win it, because we all know what happens when the Astros and Braves hook up...