This Week In Baseball

[treble 0]

Ok, I am seriously getting annoyed with the way the Jays are playing.

Join the club. Not going to get any easier with the Red Sox coming in next, either. Maybe they'll catch another break and the Sox plain will get held up again somewhere.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

I still say you can't completely blame this all on Maddux. Wrigley is nearly impossible to pitch in when the wind is blowing straight out and it was doing just that today. Granted, he got tagged for seven runs and had several BB, but he looked a lot better today than he did in his first two outings. He was also not getting too many calls going in his favor which has been a trend in this series.

[The Czech Republic 0]

Cubbies were fools for falling for Maddux's demands. His career is done and yet the Cubs are stuck with him for a guarenteed 2 years and 3 years if he reaches so many innings in the first two...with Baker not going to the bullpen say hello to 3 years of Maddux.

Can't we move him to pitching coach like he's supposed to be in a way?

AHHH the Cubs rotation sucks now. Prior is gone, Maddux is a shell, Clement is spotty, and Zambrano loses his cool. Greg Maddux sure did screw the Cubs over didn't he. Wow. I demand trades.

 

Yyyep. Just call me the Anglesault of Chicago.

[Fuzzy Dunlop 0]

I'm probably going to have a heart attack from this series, with one game still left for tomorrow. To the other Cubs fans-- is it too early to be worried? We're at .500 now.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

When you just barely edge out the opposition by a game to win the division, it's never to early to worry. I expected a back and forth game today, and unfortunately, it didn't go our way. I think the starting pitching has been okay lately. Mitre is of course going to have his ups and downs, Zambrano is still very reliable, Clement is definitely spotty (but then again, he always has been), Wood is still solid and Maddux didn't look awful today like he did during his last start.

 

I think things will pick up once Sosa and Lee really start to heat up, as they're traditionally slow starters.

[The Czech Republic 0]

If Prior doesn't get back soon, and Maddux doesn't start playing like a major-leaguer, then yes, start worrying, because the Astros aren't having any struggles at the moment.

[sfaJack 0]

I'm probably going to have a heart attack from this series, with one game still left for tomorrow. To the other Cubs fans-- is it too early to be worried? We're at .500 now.

Yes, it is.

 

If they're still .500 or below in a month, then I might start to worry. It isn't as if the Cubs are looking lifeless or anything. For instance, the wind was the big factor today, and shoddy umpiring cost them severely yesterday. There isn't much you can do about either of those things. Getting beat 11-10 is as much bad luck as it is shoddy play...hell it makes up for the improbable back-to-back homers they hit to win on Friday.

 

The good news is that they're at least hitting the ball now, which was a big problem a week ago. Let's not abandon ship just yet - remember, they were right around .500 at the beginning of August last year before they turned it on and stormed to the division title.

 

Let's wait another month or two and/or until Prior gets back after the ASB (my prediction, if he comes back) and see what happens, okay?

[sfaJack 0]

If Prior doesn't get back soon, and Maddux doesn't start playing like a major-leaguer, then yes, start worrying, because the Astros aren't having any struggles at the moment.

Beating the shit out of the Brewers isn't all that impressive. And the Cardinals aren't going to be very good this year, either. In fact, after watching the Reds this weekend, they look like they could finish third in the division.

[Vern Gagne 0]

Good to see the Twins 8-4 despite injuries and inconsistent pitching. Take care of business in the bad Central, and play .530 ball against the rest of the league.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

I'd agree that the Reds are looking better than the Cards at this point, but once the injuries begin to pile up for the Reds (which you'd have to figure they will), I'd look for them to cool off considerably.

[geniusMoment 0]

Todays Reds/Cubs game was great. I apparantly had a heart attack in the 6th inning, when I awoke both Madduxs and Borowski's wives were servicing me. Apparantly they wanted to join their husbands in sucking.

 

--Credit Meltzer

[Guest Anglesault]

I repeat, Greg fucking Maddux better not ruin my World Series.

[geniusMoment 0]

Actually, I think Mussina is much more likely to ruin it for you. Without him pitching well the Yankees are done. You might as well fold up the pinstriped tents and go back into one of the 5 burrows of hell.

[sfaJack 0]

Ok, did I miss something? What's your beef with Maddux, AS?

[Guest Anglesault]

I've never liked him.

[Styles 0]

Ok, did I miss something? What's your beef with Maddux, AS?

This is a very simple concept to learn.

Anglesault likes: Current Yankees that are playing well.

Anglesault doesn't like: Current Yankees that are not plaing well and players that are not Yankees.

Anglesault hates: Former Yankees playing well.

[Guest Choken One]

I'm sure he Hates Maddux because Maddux had the gall to say no thanks to Yankees once.

[MrRant 0]

Ok, I am seriously getting annoyed with the way the Jays are playing.

Join the club. Not going to get any easier with the Red Sox coming in next, either. Maybe they'll catch another break and the Sox plain will get held up again somewhere.

You're annoyed?

 

You haven't had to watch the Mariners play.

Edited April 18, 2004 by MrRant

[Guest Anglesault]

I'm sure he Hates Maddux because Maddux had the gall to say no thanks to Yankees once.

I've disliked Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz ever since the 96 World Series where it was confimed that they plate Umpires were biased in their favor.

[the pinjockey 0]

CBP is teh awesome, now that I have seen it w/o a pouring rain.

 

Doug Glanville earned a free pass from hate for the next week. Seriously, allowing a walk-off homerun to Doug Glanville is just sad.

 

Fucking fans getting on Abreu's case for not catching a foul ball he was about 100 ft. away from.

 

And I now wonder if this is Thome's team or Wagner's team. They were running neck and neck in ovation and anticipation.

[Slayer 0]

I'd agree that the Reds are looking better than the Cards at this point, but once the injuries begin to pile up for the Reds (which you'd have to figure they will), I'd look for them to cool off considerably.

My greater concern is our less than stellar rotation. Lidle, Wilson, Harang and Haynes aren't exactly guys I'd trust to have a consistently good full season

[Styles 0]

I'm sure he Hates Maddux because Maddux had the gall to say no thanks to Yankees once.

I've disliked Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz ever since the 96 World Series where it was confimed that they plate Umpires were biased in their favor.

You won the World Series and you're still complaining?!

[Conspiracy_Victim 0]

I'd just like to say that Roger Clemens is now 3-0, and ERA in the range of 0.85, and 19 K's in 20 2/3 innings. The team is batting .300 and Bagwell, Biggio and Hidalgo have all started hot, which is unlike them.

 

9-4, 1st place in the Central, and won 7 of their last 8.

 

OK that's all I've got you can go back to your Yankee/Red Sox discussion.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

UPDATE: 7-0, as Javy Lopez drives in another, has an 11 game hitting streak and is on pace for the best offensive season in MLB history!

 

Here's a question to ponder. Javy Lopez hit 42 home runs last year, out of NOWHERE. He's continued hitting this year. He's an aging catcher. Why hasn't anyone levied the dreaded steroid acquisation? If anyone is on roids in MLB, based on stats alone, its this guy.

 

Why would I expect Jose Contreras to do anything properly?

 

Defensive Independant Pitching Statistics. Or Dips. Join the sabermetric revolution.

 

I'd like to keep AngleSault frustrated by letting him know that the Yankees bats were able to take advantage of a man who hasn't pitched in 12 days, however they have done nothing against our 1 year left hander and our rookie left hander.

 

Defensive Independant Pitching Statistics. Or Dips. Join the sabermetric revolution.

 

As per Maddux, I wouldn't worry just yet. When its an 11-10 game, its likely more a matter of the ballpark than the pitcher.

 

I'm getting excited again about this season. Sweep by the Phillies, and the Marlins get swept. A big series this week against the Marlins gives us a good chance to gain some ground.

[Guest Anglesault]

Why would I expect Jose Contreras to do anything properly?

 

Defensive Independant Pitching Statistics. Or Dips. Join the sabermetric revolution.

::Is clueless::

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Why would I expect Jose Contreras to do anything properly?

 

Defensive Independant Pitching Statistics. Or Dips. Join the sabermetric revolution.

::Is clueless::

This is quite useful. A few years ago, the theory developed that pitchers have almost NO control on hits allowed. Sounds crazy, but so far no one has dis-proved the theory, and it appears true. In any case, one can evaluate a pitcher's future potential well by looking at three key statistics. Home runs allowed, walks, and strikeouts. Strikeouts are the most important. A player with a high K rate has a much better chance of future success than one with a low K rate. Hence, I am high on Jose Contreras. On the other side, you have Derek Lowe. His K and BB rates are unimpressive, so he's prone to a downslide here or there. A player with more BBs than Ks, such as Nate Cornejo or Kirk Rueter, is likely headed towards disaster.

[Guest Anglesault]

Why would I expect Jose Contreras to do anything properly?

 

Defensive Independant Pitching Statistics. Or Dips. Join the sabermetric revolution.

::Is clueless::

This is quite useful. A few years ago, the theory developed that pitchers have almost NO control on hits allowed. Sounds crazy,

Sounds like something a pitcher came up with.

 

Something caused a two run double from Manny Ramirez.

 

Strikeouts are the most important. A player with a high K rate has a much better chance of future success than one with a low K rate. Hence, I am high on Jose Contreras.

 

Those stats don't seem to indicate that he has an awful habit of completely falling apart in one of the early innings after cruising for the first few. And then just never throwing another legitimate strike.

 

They also don't seem to indicate that he gets terrified with players on base.

[The Czech Republic 0]

What's the deal with Ichiro? Why is he just Ichiro?

[razazteca 0]

What's the deal with Ichiro? Why is he just Ichiro?

What you don't like one name sport heroes?

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Sounds like something a pitcher came up with.

 

Something caused a two run double from Manny Ramirez.

 

Yes, that something is Manny Ramirez.