This Week in Baseball

[bob_barron 0]

Last year we lost to Houstin 5 in and it hit me like a ton of bricks (yes yes much like the game 5 loss to chicago the year before and the game 5 loss the year before that to the Giants). This year we're going out in 3 to Houstin. MAYBE 4. Same thing if we get San Diego, but maybe out in 5. But I don't care. We shouldn't have gotten this far, everything at this point is a bonus. Even if we get blown out in all 3 games I'll still enjoy seeing the Braves in the post season once again. Go Braves.

 

The loss to San Fran was much worse. Watching Glavine and Sheffield completely fall apart at the worst possible time really sucked. If they had won that series, I think they could've gone all the way. It's why I hate Glavine and Sheff to this day.

 

I knew in my heart we wouldn't beat the Cubbies. The loss to Houston sucked because I had to miss the games where they won (come on!). When Cox put in Reitsma, I knew we were fucked. I was never more right.

 

Last year was special too, since they were 33-39 at one point. I just hope the Jones' don't chose those games to go into a slump. I really hope Cox just plays the scrubs the rest of the year, since I don't want a repeat of last year where Chipper got hurt.

[Richard 0]

We didn't choke this time!

[The Czech Republic 0]

I run around screaming, doing the tomahawk and wooooing.

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Bad mental picture. Bad mental picture. Bad mental picture. Bad mental picture.

[Fökai 0]

I'll celebrate if and when we win the pennant...scratch that...division championships.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

The Phillies do not deserve the playoffs after losing to fucking Ishii.

 

JE-SUS.

 

I'm not gonna bash the team. They brought some good games to us with some awesome comeback wins.

 

But they're not good enough to be in the playoffs.

 

The bottom 1/3 of the order, the bullpen, and the pinch hitters are HORENDOUS.

 

Argue otherwise and I'll point you to this series. The most important series of the year. Way to go.

 

Eskin reports that Ed Wade will probably be gone, despite the 2-yr extension, due to its low payout and the potential buyout. Good fucking riddance. Get rid of the League's Worst Manager while you're at it, as well as Leibethal, Bell, Urbina, Chavez, Tucker, Perez, Geary, Madson, and THE WORST RELIEF MAN EVER who I won't even name.

 

(Wait, someone will say "HEY! WE CAN'T UNLOAD ALL OF THEM! And try to defend their spots...wait for it...wait for it...)

 

The symbolic "E-A-G-L-E-S, Eagles!" chant that came 2 nights ago in the 8th when fans less enthusiastic but apparently more intelligent and future-seeing than me was correct. Gut this team, with the exception of Myers, Rollins, Utley, Howard, and I guess Burrell.

 

Eh, for what it's worth...it was a fun last couple of weeks. But in the grand sceme of things, IT WAS A POOR SEASON, based on what they were capable of and the horrible quality of NL teams contending for the postseason.

 

Break a leg, next year, guys.

 

Perhaps you'll amaze me just like David Bell did tonight. Because as he was being thrown out BY TEN FEET with the *TEAM'S BEST HITTER* up next in a CLUTCH situation, he amazed me by somehow hurting his finger, which somehow, for once, wasn't stuck up his rear end on the bases.

[Fökai 0]

Gut this team, with the exception of Myers, Rollins, Utley, Howard, and I guess Burrell.

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Bobby Abreu says...

 

 

"We don't want you either".

[The Czech Republic 0]

Eskin reports that Ed Wade will probably be gone, despite the 2-yr extension, due to its low payout and the potential buyout.  Good fucking riddance.  Get rid of the League's Worst Manager while you're at it

 

But the League's Worst Manager is on the North Side

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

Elmer Fudd disagrees.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

The Phillies do not deserve the playoffs after losing to fucking Ishii.

 

JE-SUS.

 

I'm not gonna bash the team.  They brought some good games to us with some awesome comeback wins.

 

But they're not good enough to be in the playoffs.

 

The bottom 1/3 of the order, the bullpen, and the pinch hitters are HORENDOUS.

 

Argue otherwise and I'll point you to this series.  The most important series of the year.  Way to go.

 

Eskin reports that Ed Wade will probably be gone, despite the 2-yr extension, due to its low payout and the potential buyout.  Good fucking riddance.  Get rid of the League's Worst Manager while you're at it, as well as Leibethal, Bell, Urbina, Chavez, Tucker, Perez, Geary, Madson, and THE WORST RELIEF MAN EVER who I won't even name.

 

(Wait, someone will say "HEY!  WE CAN'T UNLOAD ALL OF THEM! And try to defend their spots...wait for it...wait for it...)

 

The symbolic "E-A-G-L-E-S, Eagles!" chant that came 2 nights ago in the 8th when fans less enthusiastic but apparently more intelligent and future-seeing than me was correct.  Gut this team, with the exception of Myers, Rollins, Utley, Howard, and I guess Burrell.

 

Eh, for what it's worth...it was a fun last couple of weeks.  But in the grand sceme of things, IT WAS A POOR SEASON, based on what they were capable of and the horrible quality of NL teams contending for the postseason.

 

Break a leg, next year, guys. 

 

Perhaps you'll amaze me just like David Bell did tonight.  Because as he was being thrown out BY TEN FEET with the *TEAM'S BEST HITTER* up next in a CLUTCH situation, he amazed me by somehow hurting his finger, which somehow, for once, wasn't stuck up his rear end on the bases.

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You're an idiot.

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

Bell's an idiot for even thinking about going to 3rd on that hit, but he shouldn't even have been on 1st base to begin with. Manuel pinch-runs for Burrell every chance he gets late in games (even down by 3 runs when Burrell was the only guy on base), but w/ the season on the line and down by 1 run in the 8th, he leaves Bell on 1st base? Why wasn't Chavez on 1st? Get some speed out there. Terrible non-move by Manuel.

 

And why use Tucker as the PH? I realize Tucker should have been walked if not for 2 terrible calls by the home plate ump, but outside of 1 clutch hit, Tucker hasn't done squat since joining the team. I'd rather have Jason Michaels up there.

 

and this team is a patch or two away from making a good run. There's no reason to upset the boat at this juncture.

I disagree. This team can't even make it in as a wild card, and have choked down the stretch the last several years. That doesn't scream "a patch or 2 away" from making a good run. A patch or 2 might get you in the playoffs, but it won't make this team a championship contender. A patch or 2 gets very good teams over the hump. The Phillies have holes/questions in too many spots (C, 3B, bullpen, starting rotation) to be looking for patches.

 

This team is so, so frustrating.

[Guest Smues]

Hey Smues-

 

Your avatar is my desktop background.

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It's also the background on my laptop, but not desktop.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

Okay Al, I'm an idiot.

 

Everything I said was true. The reason I didn't include Abreu on my list of keepers is because there's no way both Burrell and Abreu are coming back, and due to Abreu's big fat lazy-man contract, he most likely won't be shopped.

 

So I picked Burrell because he at least tries, as poor as the results are.

 

Have fun when the Phillies are forced to keep Thome and Howard is jolted into the outfield or another of Elmer Fudd's GENIOUS moves is made.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Are you sure you're a Phillies fan?

[the max 0]

I was about to ask the same thing.

[Mik 0]

Sure, when they are winning.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Edit: nevermind.

[Guest MikeSC]

The Phillies are epic underachievers and have been for a few years now. The team doesn't need a tweak here and a tweak there. They need an overhaul.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

The Phillies are epic underachievers and have been for a few years now. The team doesn't need a tweak here and a tweak there. They need an overhaul.

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Epic underachievers? I don't see it. In any case, you don't overhaul an 86 win team unless their stars are about to fall over the edge, or you have a damned good reason otherwise. The Phillies have a core of talent under 30, including Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Pat Burrell, Ryan Howard, Ryan Madson and Brett Myers. Given that, you seek to build around them. Besides, knowing how this Phillies team is constructed, every position outside the bullpen is under contract through next year at least. If there is an major overhaul, next year is more desireable. Especially since there is a wasteland of talent on the free agency market.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

In a fitting end to the Cubs' home season, they load the bases with no outs down one in the ninth and don't score. Patterson goes down on strikes (shocking), Grieve swings at ball four, and Jose Macias needs no introduction. Unless they sweep the Astros (HAW!), this team will finish below .500.

[Vern Gagne 0]

Is Baker going to be back next year or not?

[Guest TheDon]

The Phillies had been picked to replace the Braves as the NL East champs for the past 3-4 years. I guess that is where calling them underachievers comes in.

[Fökai 0]

The Phillies are epic underachievers and have been for a few years now.

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How are they underachievers?

 

The starting positions have glaring holes that they failed to address over the offseason. There isn't much talent out on the market, so you've got to bring your farm system up or move the expendable talent, which starts with Ryan Howard and Billy Wagner. Pat Burell is finally playing into his potential, but Abreu had an quiet second half so it offset each other. How everyone quickly forgets that Abreu has had to carry the team on his back for what is now seven seasons, all while averaging a .950 OPS. Fuck UTSHU if he believes that's he a stat monkey - he's the reason that they're not a joke in the NL East, being passed by the Mets, Marlins and Expos. Their bench is strong enough to give a spark in the later innings - they're all young, improving talent anyway, so you let those players mature. Using one example, Shane Victorino has surprised everyone with his development over spring training and the current season. Al could probably fill you in on the rest of the talent down in AA and AAA.

 

If your entire team doesn't click at the same time, then you won't win the division. Downplaying the Braves' achievements by saying that everyone else "underachieved" is a cop-out. They're consistently the best-managed organization in the league.

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

Their bench is strong enough to give a spark in the later innings - they're all young, improving talent anyway, so you let those players mature.

Victorino and Michaels (I guess), but other than those 2 the bench consists of Endy Chavez, Tomas Perez, Tucker, and Ramon Martinez. All 4 of those are guys I'd scrap in a heartbeat.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

You forgot Todd Pratt. He's been one of the best backup catchers in the league the last few seasons.

[Precious Roy 0]

THE RED SOX ARE DOWN 5-1 IN THE 3RD INNING!!!!!

 

*runs around screaming, doing the tomahawk and wooooing*

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

 

And while I'm thinking about it, I intend to start a separate Sox/Yankees thread this weekend.

[mike546 0]

THE RED SOX ARE DOWN 5-1 IN THE 3RD INNING!!!!!

 

*runs around screaming, doing the tomahawk and wooooing*

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Doesn't mean anything if the Yankees aren't going to score.

[treble 0]

Frank Catalonotto's only a single away from the cycle and the Jays are leading 7-1 in the 4th.

[Brett Favre 0]

What a bullshit call at home. Although I admit, it was pretty funny listening to Michael Kay sound pissed; "He was AHHHHHHHOUT".

[mike546 0]

That wasn't even close. How could the ump call him out?!?