TWiB 9/4 - 9/10

[naiwf 0]

I think the retarded thing about the Howard postseason argument is that it's entirely possible the Phillies will win as many (if not more) games as St. Louis and STILL not make it. Howard's post AS break numbers are insane, and I think he deserves it now. Beltran should still finish ahead of Pujols, but he won't because the media can't help but fellate Albert since he's the new Barry Bonds.

[Guest Felonies!]

Fun with White Sox Interactive.

The fear, of course, is that the media’s attempt to educate will be painfully flawed. Will they look beyond the ‘80s and the uprising of WGN and Harry Carey? [sic] Will they note that the Sox were Chicago’s premier baseball team for many decades? Will they understand that Sox fans don’t flock to the stadium like Cub fans because they demand a winner? Will they recognize that Sox fans are the only Chicago fans smart enough to send a message to management? While pathetic Bulls and Bears fans continue to support some of the worst managed teams in their respective leagues, Sox fans wait for ownership to give them a product worth watching. But you wonder how many in the media will accept that reasoning.

What a revolting lot. Nobody's going to accept that reasoning because it's fucking retarded. Support your team. So now that the White Sox might not make the playoffs this year, what are they gonna do? Stop showing up to Comiskey again for like ten years, sitting around some shitty dive in Bensenville talking about how they have too much pride to support anything less than a contender? "Demand a winner"? How fucking immature and petulant is that? As if to say the other 29 fanbases are totally complacent with the fortunes of their teams, but only the brave souls of the south side have the balls to abandon their team when the Twins are in first. And in spite of laughingstock attendance, if these are such great fans, why could I go around Chicagoland for years and years and hardly see any White Sox hats or other apparel until October 2005? I mean, the least you can do is wear your freaking hat when you're hanging around at Woodfield (or am I not venturing far south enough). It's cool, it's black, and makes you look like a gangsta. But none of that. Just cut the bullshit here and admit that you'll only follow the team if it's winning, and stop making excuses about it. Give me a fucking break, and if anything, leave the Bulls and Bears out of this. That's the stuff we're supposed to come together on, unless these are the same knuckle-draggers that actually support the Packers over the Bears because they couldn't support the old Wrigley Field football team after the Chicago Cardinals skipped town. Glad to see this guy spent his time writing this petulant bullshit instead of beating up his wife, though.

[KingPK 0]

Geez, Papi did it again. 2-out, 2-run single to cap a 6-run eighth inning and give Boston the lead.

 

And Mike Timlin did it again, giving the lead right back in the 9th. I think his windup is being affected by that giant fork sticking out of his back.

[CanadianChris 0]

Timlin hasn't been horrible, but there's a reason you don't see many 40-year-old pitchers in the majors. He's had a great career, three World Series rings -- he should just retire at the end of the season. It's only going to get worse.

[Guest Felonies!]

I agree, Timlin should hang 'em up. He did some good work for Boston in 2004, didn't he?

[naiwf 0]

Thank goodness David Wright's finally heating up again. The Mets lead 3-2, but should be trailing 2-1 since Tomko got squeezed on a pitch right before Wright gave us the lead on a 2 run single. You'll no doubt be stunned to know Cohen & Darling are questioning a few moves by Grady Little.

[the max 0]

I agree, Timlin should hang 'em up. He did some good work for Boston in 2004, didn't he?

 

In 2003 as well. A lot of fans felt that he should have come in for Pedro.

 

Timlin's been done since about June, it's just more noticeable now that Francona has to use him.

[jwest27 0]

Beltran should still finish ahead of Pujols, but he won't because the media can't help but fellate Albert since he's the new Barry Bonds.

I'm not sure what "the new Barry Bonds" is supposed to mean, other than being really good. Which I would think would be a good reason for the media to praise him.

[vivalaultra 0]

The 'Stros are rolling over the Brewers, 9-1 going into the 6th. Luke Scott's tripled and homered. He's got a shot at getting his second cycle of the season, which would be wicked awesome, yo. Presuming the 'Stros win and the Bucs hold off the Reds, the Astros will actually pass them both in the WC and the Division. They've got 7 games left against the Cards and 3 against the Reds, and if the Astros win at least 6-7 of them, I think they've got a great chance at taking the division.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

Beltran should still finish ahead of Pujols, but he won't because the media can't help but fellate Albert since he's the new Barry Bonds.

I'm not sure what "the new Barry Bonds" is supposed to mean, other than being really good. Which I would think would be a good reason for the media to praise him.

I'd imagine he just means constantly talked about and considered the standard. With Bonds, it was understandable, as it is with Pujols, since personal feelings aside, those two were/are the best hitters in baseball. That said, I don't mind it with Pujols, whereas I couldn't stand it with Bonds because of my disdain for Bonds.

 

Wade Miller made his first appearance on the year and not surprisingly, things didn't go well. I believe he only went three, walked four and gave up four runs. I only watched an inning, but I cringe at the sight of his piss-poor mechanics.

[devo 0]

Cincinnati loses to the Pirates. Considering they weren't supposed to do squat this year, I guess it's kinda silly to call them a disappointment. Still, I can't help but think that if certain mid-season deals hadn't been made, the Reds would be much better off right now.

[Conspiracy_Victim 0]

Lance Berkman just hit a ball about as far as I've ever seen in Milwaukee. Ended up clanking the centerfield scoreboard about halfway up. They're saying 445, but it looked closer to 470.

 

Astros are demolishing the Brewers 10-1 in the 7th. They'll be 3 back after tonight. Every time I try to write them off and move on to football season, they pull me back in.

[vivalaultra 0]

I don't know why you'd wanna move on to football season. Maybe the Astros know that the Texans aren't going to do anything this season...yet again, so they're trying to extend their season as long as possible to give Houston sports fans something to get excited about.

 

I'm not surprised about Wade Miller's piss-poor mechanics. That's why he didn't last in Houston. The coaching staff told him to do change something, but he never did...and now look at him.

[Conspiracy_Victim 0]

I don't know why you'd wanna move on to football season. Maybe the Astros know that the Texans aren't going to do anything this season...yet again, so they're trying to extend their season as long as possible to give Houston sports fans something to get excited about.

 

It's a Pavlovian response. Late summer/fall=football. Grew up playing football, family always watched football over baseball. Plus the newness of the Texans still hasn't worn off for me.

[vivalaultra 0]

I can't really give you shit for being a Texans' fan. I'm not a big football guy, but when I do root for a team, I root for the Saints. I grew up watching them in the late 80s/early 90s when they were REALLY bad. Maybe if I had lived in Houston during that time period, I would've gotten into the Oilers or something, but meh.

 

Uh...just to make this baseball related....Go 'Stros!

[devo 0]

Marlins dodge another bullet as the Phillies leave the bases loaded in the top of the tenth. Hell of a game so far.

 

Edit: And that's that. In the bottom of the 10th, a RBI single from Cody Ross brings the game to a close in the favor of the Marlins. Way to go, Fish.

[naiwf 0]

Thank you for reducing our magic number to 5 Florida.

 

The Tigers are now just 2 up in the loss column over the Twinkies, and 3 over the Sox. The chokejob of chokejobs is that much closer to becoming reality.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

Thank you for reducing our magic number to 5 Florida.

 

The Tigers are now just 2 up in the loss column over the Twinkies, and 3 over the Sox. The chokejob of chokejobs is that much closer to becoming reality.

Still wouldn't be even close to the biggest team collapse.

[KingPK 0]

 

"A full house, a British inmate, and the Boston Red Sox bullpen"

 

*Rip*

*Poof*

 

"Name three things that can't beat a Royal."

 

SIX fucking runs in the 12th? To the ROYALS? 1:05PM tomorrow can't come fast enough.

[naiwf 0]

I don't see how a team that was 40 over .500 on August 8th or so, failing to make the playoffs when there's a WC to fall back on is not the biggest collapse ever.

[jwest27 0]

Watching your team face Brandon Webb when he's on his game is very depressing. Groundball after groundball after groundball after groundball. Blah.

[KingPK 0]

Webb better be on his game next week as well. I've got a bye this week in my league's playoffs and it's kind of annoying to see all your guys doing well but having it not count.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

Travis Hafner's season is over because of that fucking hit by pitch and my fantasy team weeps.

[CanadianChris 0]

The Tigers are now just 2 up in the loss column over the Twinkies, and 3 over the Sox. The chokejob of chokejobs is that much closer to becoming reality.

The '95 Angels say hello.

[Vern Gagne 0]

They have the benefit of an easier schedule than either Chicago or Minnesota.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

I don't see how a team that was 40 over .500 on August 8th or so, failing to make the playoffs when there's a WC to fall back on is not the biggest collapse ever.

The Tigers then were on pace for 109 wins. Right now they are on pace for 97 wins. Their problem is that they have two teams chasing them that are on pace for 94 and 93 wins, respectively. But they haven't missed the playoffs yet. Baseball Prospectus considers it a 100:1 longshot that the Tigers miss the playoffs at this point.

 

The biggest collapse will always be the 1964 Phillies.

[Guest NYankees]

I don't see how a team that was 40 over .500 on August 8th or so, failing to make the playoffs when there's a WC to fall back on is not the biggest collapse ever.

The Tigers then were on pace for 109 wins. Right now they are on pace for 97 wins. Their problem is that they have two teams chasing them that are on pace for 94 and 93 wins, respectively. But they haven't missed the playoffs yet. Baseball Prospectus considers it a 100:1 longshot that the Tigers miss the playoffs at this point.

 

The biggest collapse will always be the 1964 Phillies.

 

 

Nothing will beat the 78 Red Sox regular season collapse in terms of Baseball History.

[vivalaultra 0]

Didn't the 64 Phillies have a 10 game lead with 6 games to go? And wasn't Jim Bunning pitching like...every other day and twice on Sundays?

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

They had a 6.5 game lead w/ 12 games left in the season, then proceeded to lose 10 straight.

[naiwf 0]

August 7th

 

Detroit 76-36 --

ChiSox 65-45 10 GB

Minny 65-46 10.5 GB

 

Since

 

Minny 17-13

ChiSox 17-15

Detroit 10-21

 

If Minnesota or Chicago were really hot over the last 5 weeks, Detroit would already be trailing in the WC standings. They should still make it, and get beat by Oakland in the ALDS. The Yankees vs White Sox or Twins will probably be the best series of the entire playoffs.