TWiB 7/17 - 7/23

[Annabelle 0]

the tigers finally show they may be for real. winning this series has to have proved something. it proved something to them. its a vital hurdle they had to cross. look out, chisox.

 

They haven't shown that they are for real already? They have the best record in baseball and the BP's Playoff Odds have them at a 91.7% chance of making the playoffs. I don't think Chicago has the pitching to knock them off this year, unless they make some sort of deal at the deadline.

 

The main concern I'd have if I were the Tigers is that the pitching staff is a potential house of cards. The team is relying a lot on Verlander and Zumaya, who haven't pitched full big league seasons, as well as Rogers and Jones who could literally fall apart any moment. There are some OBP issues in the lineup, but it really hasn't hurt the offense much.

Let's face it, as long as the White Sox were constantly making the Tigers their bitches, there were going to be questions and doubts.

 

tigers took 2 out of 3 from them. thats hardly "constantly". the white sox are 5.5 out. hardly means the tigers have clinched, but its a good cushion for them.

[Vampiro69 0]

Well both teams should try to keep winning because the Twins have won 7 in a row.

[Guest Felonies!]

teams should try to keep winning

Expert analysis you can't get anywhere else!

[Vampiro69 0]

You knew what I meant smart ass.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

The sad part is that the Twins are probably the best team in the division but they were so poorly managed the first couple months that they probably did irreperable damage to their chances.

[Annabelle 0]

The sad part is that the Twins are probably the best team in the division but they were so poorly managed the first couple months that they probably did irreperable damage to their chances.

 

they have the best 1-2 pitchers in the league. they're near automatic. i dont know if they're necessarily better than the tigers.

[CanadianChris 0]

the tigers finally show they may be for real. winning this series has to have proved something. it proved something to them. its a vital hurdle they had to cross. look out, chisox.

 

They haven't shown that they are for real already? They have the best record in baseball and the BP's Playoff Odds have them at a 91.7% chance of making the playoffs. I don't think Chicago has the pitching to knock them off this year, unless they make some sort of deal at the deadline.

 

The main concern I'd have if I were the Tigers is that the pitching staff is a potential house of cards. The team is relying a lot on Verlander and Zumaya, who haven't pitched full big league seasons, as well as Rogers and Jones who could literally fall apart any moment. There are some OBP issues in the lineup, but it really hasn't hurt the offense much.

Let's face it, as long as the White Sox were constantly making the Tigers their bitches, there were going to be questions and doubts.

 

tigers took 2 out of 3 from them. thats hardly "constantly". the white sox are 5.5 out. hardly means the tigers have clinched, but its a good cushion for them.

And they lost 8/9 before this series. THAT'S constantly.

[Annabelle 0]

before is past tense. now is current tense. they took 2 out of 3. worrying about the past will get you nowhere. how about the present? ya, score was 2-1 for the tigers. worry about your blue jays instead of dismissing my tigers.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

before is past tense. now is current tense. they took 2 out of 3. worrying about the past will get you nowhere. how about the present? ya, score was 2-1 for the tigers. worry about your blue jays instead of dismissing my tigers.

 

Somebody's really uptight about their team.

[CanadianChris 0]

Somebody needs some reading comprehension.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

If the Mets are thinking of trading Milledge, they ought to call Billy Beane and see if he'll part with Barry Zito. This team really needs starting pitching. As currently constructed, they are exactly the type of team that can run through the season and then fall on their faces when the postseason starts. I'm not really sure what Abreu will bring to the team this year.

The article explained the Mets examined the market and found that there were no easily acquireable starters that were better options than Mike Pelfrey. The benefit of Abreu is that he is under contract yet for the 2007 season, with an option for 2008 that he would require to be picked up in order to waive his no trade clause. Abreu's contract isn't a tremendous burden. He still has All-Star ability and while his home run power has waned, he remains just as productive. He will be just 34 when his contract expires.

 

As for the Mets' situation, they are third in least runs allowed behind the Padres (who benefit from a pitchers' park) and the Rockies (the FUCK?!). The Mets are also first in runs scored. They're in an odd situation in that barring some act of god, they are going to make the playoffs. No team in baseball is in as comfortable a situation. If they acquire Zito, they get marginally better in six games at most. Remember they won't need a fifth starter anyway.

 

My gut tells me the trade won't happen though. A decent rule of thumb with trade rumors is that if it were such a good trade, they would have done it already. Rumors that last more than a week or two almost NEVER come true.

[vivalaultra 0]

The Houston Astros have sent down Wandy Rodriguez and called up top AA pitching prospect Matt Albers. Wandy Rodriguez did lead the staff with 9 wins, but he also had a 5.22 ERA and walked almost as many as he struck out. Albers was 10-2 with a 2.18 ERA with the Corpus Christi Hooks. This Saturday when Brandon Backe rejoins the club either Fernando Nieve or Taylor Buchholz will be sent down. I suspect Nieve. I think this is a good move to send Wandy down, but I'm not sure why the Astros called up Matt Albers instead of the top pitching prospect Jason Hirsch who is all the rage in AstroLand these days.

[sfaJack 0]

Hirsch was probably not called up because he's apparently got some stiffness in his shoulder. They limited him to 5 innings in his last start because of it.

[vivalaultra 0]

Yeah, I just remembered that after I posted it. I imagine he'll be up in September. I also heard through the grapevine that there's serious negotiations with Baltimore about Tejada for Qualls, Everett, and Hunter Pence. I suspect the only way this deal would happen is if Tejada would be willing to sign a deal that would keep him in Houston past this year. Still, that's a good bit to give up even for Tejada...unless he's willing to share his "hitting secrets" with the rest of the team...

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Surprised this didn't get more attention. Oneonta beat Brooklyn in the NY-Penn League 6-1 yesterday, in 26 innings.

[Red Baron 0]

WTF is going on with Hillenbrand in Toronto.

[CanadianChris 0]

VERNON~!~!

[naiwf 0]

I love seeing Rivera get beat.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

Does it seem weird to anyone else that Yankees fans just seem to magically disappear when they are having a bad day or bad series? This was a nationally televised game and there wasn't one comment the whole time.

[Guest]

A trade BETTER be made, and SOON. This ship is sailing fast.

[naiwf 0]

Does it seem weird to anyone else that Yankees fans just seem to magically disappear when they are having a bad day or bad series? This was a nationally televised game and there wasn't one comment the whole time.

 

No, that's precisely why I despise the franchise. As a kid growing up in the '80s when the Yankees sucked ass, their "fans" were few and far between, now you've got people out there who have "loved the team since birth" but only when they're winning titles. I've KNOWN people who were Mets fans back then who now swear on a Bible that they are diehard Yankees supporters and always have been.

[Guest Princess Leena]

I still love the Yankees.

 

Besides, all Alexander has done his entire career is lose, anyway.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Does it seem weird to anyone else that Yankees fans just seem to magically disappear when they are having a bad day or bad series? This was a nationally televised game and there wasn't one comment the whole time.

 

No, that's precisely why I despise the franchise. As a kid growing up in the '80s when the Yankees sucked ass, their "fans" were few and far between, now you've got people out there who have "loved the team since birth" but only when they're winning titles. I've KNOWN people who were Mets fans back then who now swear on a Bible that they are diehard Yankees supporters and always have been.

This is true of virtually any franchise in professional sports.

[Guest Posada20]

I love seeing Rivera get beat.

 

Is it because he's 10x better than any closer the mets ever had?

[naiwf 0]

Does it seem weird to anyone else that Yankees fans just seem to magically disappear when they are having a bad day or bad series? This was a nationally televised game and there wasn't one comment the whole time.

 

No, that's precisely why I despise the franchise. As a kid growing up in the '80s when the Yankees sucked ass, their "fans" were few and far between, now you've got people out there who have "loved the team since birth" but only when they're winning titles. I've KNOWN people who were Mets fans back then who now swear on a Bible that they are diehard Yankees supporters and always have been.

This is true of virtually any franchise in professional sports.

 

That may be true, but in a two team town the effect is tenfold. It's one thing for everyone I know to "forget" that they too used to love the Knicks, but it's something else when people ride the hot team for a while, and then pretend like the other one was their favorite all along. It's the same thing with Giants & Jets fans who fluctuate season by season depending on how well things are going after about week 7 or 8. The only sport where I don't really see this happening in NYC is hockey. Rangers fans are always Rangers fans and Islanders fans are always Islanders fans and winning 4 straight Stanley Cups didn't do anything to change the perception that the franchise from LI is "inferior".

[Guest Felonies!]

The only sport where I don't really see this happening in NYC is hockey. Rangers fans are always Rangers fans and Islanders fans are always Islanders fans and winning 4 straight Stanley Cups didn't do anything to change the perception that the franchise from LI is "inferior".

Nobody actually likes the Devils except Barron, right?

[C Dubya 04 0]

The whole internet/baseball trade rumors thing is pretty annoying. Who in the world would believe the Yankee would trade A-Rod & Cabrera for Abreu, Burrell, Bell and Gordon?

[Annabelle 0]

The whole internet/baseball trade rumors thing is pretty annoying. Who in the world would believe the Yankee would trade A-Rod & Cabrera for Abreu, Burrell, Bell and Gordon?

 

i know, the yanks would be getting ripped off.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

Speaking of crazy trade rumors, Buster Olney has reported (and it was discussed on BBTN last night) the possibility of a Jake Peavey for Mike Lowell swap. Even as a Sox fan, I know that sounds insane. But apparently the rumor has some sort of legs, as it has been discussed in both chats this morning on epsn.com.

 

If there is a trade in the works, it's more like Woody Williams or Chris Young coming back with a 1B, or a third team would have to get involved. There's just no way the Padres would trade Peavey, especially for Mike F'n Lowell.

 

EDIT: Did a little snooping around, and if there were to be a deal, it would be in two parts. The Red Sox would send some combination of bullpen help (Seanez, Tavarez, ?) and money to Colorado for Ryan Shealy. They would then move Lowell and some combination of prospects for Peavy and Klesko's albatross of a contract. Still extremely unlikely, but there is some sort of talk going down.

 

DOUBLE EDIT: Forget everything I've posted, this all Buster Olney bullshit (the least credible mainstream reporter I've ever seen). He has also floated rumors that the Sox would trade for Bobby Abreu, and is now saying they are close to trading Pedroia and Ellsbury (the two best position players in the system) for Alfonso Soriano, a guy who fits in nowhere on this team! Why can't he keep his Yankee homer ass thoughts to himself and leave the real reporting to credible baseball writers.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

The whole internet/baseball trade rumors thing is pretty annoying. Who in the world would believe the Yankee would trade A-Rod & Cabrera for Abreu, Burrell, Bell and Gordon?

 

If, and I really mean IF, the Yankees are considering moving A-Rod, they should call the Dodgers, Anglels, Phillies, and Mariners, and tell them privately they have one week to come up with a bid for A-Rod. If they get a good offer, approach A-Rod and ask him if he would consider waiving his no-trade. If there are no offers, go on with the usual business.