This Week in Baseball

[MikeJordan23 0]

A big playoff series between the Astros and the Phillies started last night. Didn't see it live, but saw the highlights and looked like a good game. Tonight it's R. Oswalt vs. J. Lieber.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

That game was disgusting. One run losses are terrible to sit through, and there's really nothing you can do about it. Stuff happens. Outside of one pitch to Lance Berkman, the Phillies had everything going for them. Roy Oswalt will be a tough mound to conquer, but if we can pull this game out, we're in good shape going into Wednesday.

 

I'm attending Friday's Marlins/Phillies game live. AJ Burnett versus Eude Brito. This would actually be the fourth time this season I've seen Brito start a game, and his seventh overall pitching appearance.

[C Dubya 04 0]

Heading to the Phils Friday night as well.

 

Last nights game ended with Endy Chavez having one of the worst at bats I've ever seen from a major league player. He was so overmatched the only chance for him to get on was to get hit by a pitch. He took the walk out of the picture by swinging at a ball that bounced in front of the plate (I wish I was kidding). This is the same guy that Ed Wade was really excited to get in a trade for Marlon Byrd. The lesson as always, Ed Wade is an idiot.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Heading to the Phils Friday night as well.

 

I'm in Section 426.

 

Last nights game ended with Endy Chavez having one of the worst at bats I've ever seen from a major league player. He was so overmatched the only chance for him to get on was to get hit by a pitch. He took the walk out of the picture by swinging at a ball that bounced in front of the plate (I wish I was kidding). This is the same guy that Ed Wade was really excited to get in a trade for Marlon Byrd. The lesson as always, Ed Wade is an idiot.

 

No argument here on that point. I've still got my Phillies hat autographed by Byrd hanging on my wall.

[C Dubya 04 0]

I think we're section 144. The woman is excited because we're right behind Pat Burrell. Again I wish I was kidding.

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

I've been to more away games (3) than home games (2) for the Phillies this year. 2 years running, for that matter.

[CanadianChris 0]

Why do weeks now begin on Tuesday and end on Monday?

[The Czech Republic 0]

Who cares? One week was like two weeks and a half.

[Bored 0]

I'm going to the A's/Mariners game tonight. Need to win these next two as they can't afford to keep losing series at home.

[Mik 0]

"My age doesn't matter," (Felix) Hernandez said. "I'm a good pitcher. ... Once I'm on my game, I can't fail."

 

Love that quote. I'm going to go out on a limb (maybe?) and say he wins 20 games and a Cy Young either next year or 2007.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

"My age doesn't matter," (Felix) Hernandez said. "I'm a good pitcher. ... Once I'm on my game, I can't fail."

 

Love that quote. I'm going to go out on a limb (maybe?) and say he wins 20 games and a Cy Young either next year or 2007.

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It counts as a limb. Doc Gooden had his last great season at 20. Felix could get injured, you never know.

[Vern Gagne 0]

Or he becomes a huge cokehead.

[Guest OSIcon]

Tonight is the 10 year anniversary of Cal playing in his 2131st consecutive game. There is going to be a ceremony for it at the O's/Blue Jays game tonight. If I didn't have a class, I'd be there.

 

Doesn't seem like its been 10 years already.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Or he becomes a huge cokehead.

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Lots of cokeheads have become successful major leaguers. There's a great deal of speculation that the real problem was Gooden was overuse. He pitched 276 innings in 1985 as a 20 year old, and 250 the next year.

[mike546 0]

Just announced on YES that Leiter is out of the roation, with Small starting against the Sox on Saturday, and Wang against the Rays on Thursday. I think their rushing Wang back too quickley, but I've just about had enough of Al Leiter.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

"the Phillies had everything going for them."

 

Until they turned to the worst collection of pinch hitters since...

 

Actually, this is the worst collection of pinch hitters ever assembled.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

"the Phillies had everything going for them."

 

Until they turned to the worst collection of pinch hitters since...

 

Actually, this is the worst collection of pinch hitters ever assembled.

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What a stupid statement. The Phillies' pinch hitting OPS isn't even the worst this year (its 10th). Division leaders Atlanta and St. Louis have worse production off the bench than the Phillies.

[mike546 0]

Sorry, nothing was worse than the Yankees August bench of Bubba Crosby, Felix Escolona and John Flatherty.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Willy Taveras should be ordered 20 push-ups every time he hits the ball in the air. There's no reason whatsoever for him to try and drive the ball.

[the max 0]

John Lackey with one of the worst and slowest innings of my entire life escapes only allowing two runs. He gave up a single to Damon, walked E6, walked Ortiz, walked Manny forcing in a run, threw a wild pitch to Nixon getting in another run and then "beared down" to get Nixon and Mueller to finally end the inning. This process took 25 minutes and around 35 excruciatingly slow pitches.

[mike546 0]

The Yankees fucking refuse to finish off bad pitching. This game is gonna be another one of those games.

[Mik 0]

Willy Taveras should be ordered 20 push-ups every time he hits the ball in the air.  There's no reason whatsoever for him to try and drive the ball.

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Ah, the ol' Willy Mays Hays treatment. Nice.

 

In other news that may be of interest to others, Jack McKeon has told Mike Lowell in no uncertain terms that he is benched for the rest of the year. Good news for the Marlins - bad news for the other wild card contenders. The Marlins just lost their biggest liability. Jeremy Hermida got his first start tonight and is hitting in the #2 hole...where he should be hitting. He's responded with an RBI double and three at bats where he didn't look clueless - more than Lowell has done in the past three weeks.

[the max 0]

Isn't Lowell in a contract year? I thought only Derek Lowe was crazy enough to tank his contract year.

 

And Lackey needs only 8 pitches to retire the side in the bottom of the sixth. He went from Matt Young to Cy Young within the span of eight minutes.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Isn't Lowell in a contract year? I thought only Derek Lowe was crazy enough to tank his contract year.

 

Lowell's under contract through next year I believe, at $8 million a year.

[mike546 0]

Isn't Lowell in a contract year? I thought only Derek Lowe was crazy enough to tank his contract year.

 

Lowell's under contract through next year I believe, at $8 million a year.

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And people bash the Yankees for trading him. We knew this would happen.

 

[Guest]

He went from Matt Young to Cy Young within the span of eight minutes.

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Nice.

[Mik 0]

Isn't Lowell in a contract year? I thought only Derek Lowe was crazy enough to tank his contract year.

 

Lowell's under contract through next year I believe, at $8 million a year.

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And people bash the Yankees for trading him. We knew this would happen.

 

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What about the 3 All-Star seasons, the game winning homerun in game one of the 2003 NLCS, and the career numbers practically keeping the Marlins in the wild card race single handedly until he broke his hand on August 31st... did you know that all would happen too?

 

I believe Lowell is under contract through 2007. His contract was originally tied to the stadium, but last offseason that was wavied and the contract went into effect without clauses. Whoops.

[Precious Roy 0]

So our rotation now is Johnson, Chacon, Wright, Small and Wang? It also sounds like they're not optimistic about Pavano or Mussina pitching again this year, and Wright or Wang could get reinjured at any time. It'll be tough to win with that staff, but none of the other AL playoff rotations really scare me.

 

I like what they're doing with Bonds, making their opponents think he could be in the lineup any day. Smart managing, but I don't see him doing more than pinch hitting and playing an inning or two in the field yet.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Isn't Lowell in a contract year? I thought only Derek Lowe was crazy enough to tank his contract year.

 

Lowell's under contract through next year I believe, at $8 million a year.

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And people bash the Yankees for trading him. We knew this would happen.

 

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The best part is that Baseball Prospectus praised that trade, for the Yankees. They were convinced Ed Yarnell was the next great lefty.

[Guest]

The Angels rotation is nice, but their problem is that they have no one that they can count on for a sure victory.