MLB Game Chatter

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

The two best teams in the American League are battling it out, not only for first place, but for homefield advantage and the preferable first round opponent.

 

If the Red Sox would have swept, the Yankees would have had only a 1 1/2 game lead, going into a series with Minnesota, with Boston having won the season series.

 

It's 4 1/2 games (now 5 1/2). The Red Sox catching the Yankees was highly unlikely. And the opponents are dependant upon their own records as well. Minnesota and Oakland are very close in the standings.

 

Meanwhile, four teams are fighting in the West, with the risk that the loser will go home for the season. That makes the series more important than Yankees/Sox.

[Guest Staravenger]

You know, after seeing these responses and responses in other threads, I am hoping far a Twins/Angels ALCS.  It would be a nice change of pace, forcing Fox and ESPN to follow a small market club like the Twins and the bastard child of LA, the Angels.

Okay. Number A, that was the ALCS two years ago. How is a repeat of 2002 any better than a repeat of 2003? Give me another Yanks-BoSox ALCS, by far. Number B, Fox and ESPN had to build up the Florida Marlins after they were all ready for Cubs and Red Sox. Number C, the Metrodome sucks. Your argument is weak like Johnny Damon's throwing arm.

Let's see....two teams with no real history, or the greatest rivalry in baseball...I think I'll go with the meaningless series that has no "drawing power" to it. [sarcasm]

[Brett Favre 0]

It's 4 1/2 games (now 5 1/2). The Red Sox catching the Yankees was highly unlikely. And the opponents are dependant upon their own records as well. Minnesota and Oakland are very close in the standings.

 

Meanwhile, four teams are fighting in the West, with the risk that the loser will go home for the season. That makes the series more important than Yankees/Sox.

But it's Yankees, Red Sox man. YANKEES AND RED SOX!

[Guest GreatOne]

Meanwhile, four teams are fighting in the West, with the risk that the loser will go home for the season.  That makes the series more important than Yankees/Sox.

Only thing the Mariners are fighting for is some decent pitching prospects in '05, an offensive threat not named Ichiro or Raul Ibanez, and the ever-looming 100 losses. I assume you meant three.

 

On a side note, in three straight road games, the M's have put up 7, 16, and 7. I didn't know they had it in 'em (and unless the Ranger relievers are throwing chairs at him, Ichiro will get at least five or six more hits in this series)

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Only thing the Mariners are fighting for is some decent pitching prospects in '05, an offensive threat not named Ichiro or Raul Ibanez, and the ever-looming 100 losses. I assume you meant three.

 

By West, I meant both the AL and NL West divisions.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

So, the Braves officially clinched the NL East tonight and Johan Santana won his 20th game, but hey, Sox/Yanks > everything else, right?

[Guest GreatOne]

Ichiro K's to end the 7th so he's 2-4.

 

On a side note might Ichiro possibly be the best shot of anybody to get .400 in the next year or two, or at least the closest to it?

[Guest Staravenger]

So, the Braves officially clinched the NL East tonight and Johan Santana won his 20th game, but hey, Sox/Yanks > everything else, right?

I don't know, I haven't heard anything on ESPN about any of it yet. Right now looks like College football is on.

 

Besides, ESPN didn't care about Maddux's 17 consecutive 15-win seasons, so why should they care about someone getting 20 in one?

[Brett Favre 0]

Ichiro K's to end the 7th so he's 2-4.

 

On a side note might Ichiro possibly be the best shot of anybody to get .400 in the next year or two, or at least the closest to it?

I'd say Barry Bonds since he gets like 80 bats a year. But Ichiro is the next closest, probably.

[Guest Smues]

Braves won their 13th straight division title (10 for those of you that count 94, no I'm not getting into that arguement, but if you think that way they now have 10 and the record). And on a year everyone thought they were done and wouldn't break .500. We'll go out in the playoffs I'm sure, the pitching staff has been dragging a lot lately, but just getting to the post season is great.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

I have to give credit to the Braves as well. I did give them a better chance than most, but I never expected them to run away with the division. With Giles, Furcal, Andruw Jones up the middle, and Chipper at third, they are still a formidable team.

[Guest GreatOne]

I only expect the Cardinals to beat them--going out on a limb I'm sure......

 

Then again the last series they lost I really expected them to lose was the '99 Series--and maybe the 2001 NLCS.

[Guest Staravenger]

Like I always say, the only guranteed teams in the playoffs will be the Yankees and Braves, although this year I thought the Braves would be the Wild Card team, not the division champions again. I doubt either of them will win the World Series (especially the Braves).

[Guest GreatOne]

Ichiro won't get up again unless the M's either score (or get something going) in 9th or the game goes into extras.

 

Your pitchers are Ron Villone and Doug Brocail (unless Texas scores here), MAIN EVENT ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY I TELL YA!

[Bored 0]

Eric Byrnes two-run homer puts the A's up 5-1 in the 4th.

[Guest GreatOne]

Francisco Cordero pitching for the Rangers in the 9th, so the M's either need to do something or get to the 10th for Ichiro to come up again.

[Guest GreatOne]

Ichiro up next unless Lopez hits into a DP/runner gets picked off

 

EDIT: IT'S EDGAR TIME!!!!!!!

[Guest GreatOne]

Edgar strikes out, CRAP!!!!

 

Here we go

[Cuban Linx 0]

And Ichiro is intentionally walked to load the bases.

[Guest GreatOne]

They WALKED him? I thought the Rangers, from the last three days, were trying to CATCH the A's, christ.........................

 

EDIT: And Winn singles to put the M's in the lead, but then again what the hell would I expect from the guy that intentionally walked in a run (walking Bonds)?

 

EDIT II: Boone 0-6 with 8 LOB, anyone wanna give the reasons why the M's should dole out to keep him around next year?

[Cuban Linx 0]

Boone 0-6 with 4 strikeouts to boot.

 

Cordero blows it, but at least Texas have the right guys up to get a run in Blalock, Young and Teixeira, if Texas are to have a chance to making the playoffs they can't be losing to Seattle.

[Guest GreatOne]

Oh christ, here comes the aptly named JJ Putz........................

 

Good thing is Young, Texiera, and Mench are 1-11 tonight, as if that means anything................

[Guest Staravenger]

And Ichiro is intentionally walked to load the bases.

I wasn't watching, but I can assume it was with 1 out to force for a double play? If not, that is so retarded, but it probably was 1 out.

[Guest GreatOne]

It was 2 with Wilson on 1st and Bloomquist on 3rd. Winn gave the M's the lead with a single, and Boone grounded out.

 

Whoa, they did it!!!!!!! JJ Putz with the save.

 

Bored, the Mariners accept your thanks in advance for plowing the A's road to their third straight division title

[Cuban Linx 0]

I'm almost certain it was with two out (Reed and Martinez), so yes, retarded.

[Guest GreatOne]

Actually Cuban, I do predict the Rangers will win the Series, the year after Showalter leaves--for a third time.

 

It just occurred to me that that was the M's first win in Texas this year, damn...................

[bob_barron 0]

13 years in a row. Beautiful.

 

Smoltz getting the winning out was fitting.

[Bored 0]

Big bounce back night for the A's. Now back to three games up on the Angels and Rangers. Magic number is 7.

 

Nice bonus for me, Dodgers beat the Giants.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

That game had a great finish. After easily retiring the first two batters, Gagne issued a walk on four straight bad ones, which brought up Bonds. Obviously he intentionally walked him, much to the dismay of the crowd. He then walked JT Snow, who was pinch-hitting, before getting the final out on a line drive flyball. I'd say if the Cubs can sweep the Mets and take at least two out of three from the Reds and Braves, they've got the WC locked up, since the Giants may find the Dodgers to be their undoing.

[Hektik 0]

Okay. Number A, that was the ALCS two years ago. How is a repeat of 2002 any better than a repeat of 2003? Give me another Yanks-BoSox ALCS, by far.

Ok, I know it was the ALCS two years ago, but I threw out those two teams because it is two teams that people have taken shots at in the Twins thread and in this thread.

 

Number B, Fox and ESPN had to build up the Florida Marlins after they were all ready for Cubs and Red Sox.

What does Fox have to do with it? Seriously Fuck Fox and their monopoly on Baseball.

 

Let's see....two teams with no real history, or the greatest rivalry in baseball...I think I'll go with the meaningless series that has no "drawing power" to it. [sarcasm]

I don't care if it is the Royals and the Devil Rays, if they made it there, they deserve to be there. This is very personal to me because I am San Diego Padre fan, a team that will be dumped on whenever they make the post season. This is something that has happened in their history. I'll give you an example:

 

In 1984 the Padres went to their first NLCS, against the Cubs. Everybody in the national media wanted it to be a Detroit Tigers/Chicago Cubs World Series. The Cubs went up 2-0 in the series and it looked like it was going to happen. But the Padres came back to win the series 3-2. It was almost as if the national media was outraged that the Padres went to the World Series over the Cubs. In fact, after that series MLB changed the LCS to a best of 7 series, because the Padres didn't beat the Cubs, the Cubs just ran out of games.

 

In 1998 the Padres spoiled the plans again. 98 was a so called magical year in baseball. It was the McGwire/Sosa home run chase and the year the Yankees won 114 games. It seemed everyone wanted another Braves/Yankees World Series but Padres spoiled by soundly defeating the Braves. Bob Costas almost had a heart attack. The media said they were grateful that at least the Yankees made the series and they were not stuck with a Padres/Indians World Series.

 

You're not going to sell me on history or tradition because they really have no place in baseball today. It's nice to look at during the off season but has no place during the season. I learned at an early age to dislike baseball elitist and will always take joy when a team spoils there big plans.