TWiB 9/18 - 9/24

[vivalaultra]

Clemens will never pitch again anywhere but Houston. I'm as sure of that as I am that the most tasty of all cheeses is sharp cheddar.

[CanadianChris]

Clemens will never pitch again anywhere but Houston. I'm as sure of that as I am that the most tasty of all cheeses is sharp cheddar.

Ah, a Clemens virgin. You can't understand, but you will soon.

[devo]

Also, Roquefort.

[Guest Felonies!]

Pepper jack, and Clemens sucks.

[jwest27]

i like swiss

[Guest Felonies!]

Much like Swiss cheese, Fat Rodge's claims of retirement have many holes in them.

[Bored]

I just realized I might be seeing Barry Zito's final start at home in an A's uniform tonight depending how the playoffs shakeout.

[jwest27]

It'd be really nice if the Cardinals could get Barry Zito in the offseason. I like Barry Zito.

[vivalaultra]

Pepper Jack? Pepper Jack?!?!?!?!?! I could see maybe provolone, but pepper jack?!?!?!? Pepper Jack is much too..."busy" for real cheese lovers. I do like Swiss, however. And I don't see what the "Clemens virgin" comment was about. It's not like he's played for oodles of teams. Sox, Jays, Yanks, 'Stros in 20 years. He's not exactly been team-hopping. And I think the rumors of his greediness have been greatly exaggerated.

 

And admittedly, I haven't been keeping up with the end of the season as much as I kept up earlier in the season, but I saw on the ESPN ticker something about a dust-up between the Giants and the Rox on Tuesday. Anybody got the story on that? And I saw that Jose Lima was involved. When did Jose Lima join the Rockies?

[Guest Felonies!]

Are you sure you didn't see Jose Mesa? It's probably a continuation of the Vizquel/Mesa rivalry.

[vivalaultra]

Yeah, it just ticked by again and it said Mesa. I coulda sworn in the 1st inning it said Jose Lima. Probably was a continuation of the Vizquel/Mesa saga. I just find that whole situation hilarious...as hilarious as someone hailing pepper jack as a superior cheese.

[Cheech Tremendous]

I don't know how I feel about the Barry Zito sweepstakes. On one hand, he's had declining peripheral numbers for several years, he's struggled against some of the better hitting teams in the league and even though he's perceived as an ace starter, his numbers suggest he's actually more like a number 2. I'd be hesitant to offer him 6/$80 mil or whatever Boras is seeking.

 

On the other hand, he's the best pitcher by far on the free agent market and he's young, incredibly durable, is a lefty, has had continuing success in the American league and is fairly consistent (both in performance and innings pitched).

 

I'm a Red Sox fan, and I know that their offseason shopping list starts and ends with starting pitching, but I don't know if Zito is worth it. Do you overpay for the known commodity like Zito, or do you maximize upside and risk in going after Matsuzaka, or two of the lesser FAs (Schmidt, Lilly, Padilla, etc.)

[tominator89]

Howard with 58 HRs.

[Bruiser Chong]

Rich Hill probably won't go more than six and has given up three runs, but he's got eight more K's and just one walk so far. Aside from Zambrano, Hill's been the only bright spot for this team.

[Cheech Tremendous]

And I don't see what the "Clemens virgin" comment was about. It's not like he's played for oodles of teams. Sox, Jays, Yanks, 'Stros in 20 years. He's not exactly been team-hopping. And I think the rumors of his greediness have been greatly exaggerated.

 

Red Sox - Gets the biggest contract in team history, turns into a fat tub of lard and sucks in the last couple years of his contract. Signs with the Jays, slams Boston on the way out, gets on the juice and wins back to back Cy Youngs.

 

Blue Jays- Signs as a free agent, regains form, and then forces the team to trade him to the Yankees.

 

Yankees- Declares himself a Yankee lifer and admirer of Joe Torre, goes on a farewell tour in pinstripes and then turns around and joins the Astros in the offseason.

 

Clemens has made a living off of burning bridges with his former team. He'll do it to you, too.

[vivalaultra]

I certainly don't believe Clemens is on the juice. And he wouldn't burn a bridge in Houston. Pitching in the Northeast is different than pitching in your hometown. He's got too much going on in Houston to burn a bridge here.

 

Edit: Norris Hopper with 1 HR. The chase for Bonds begins.

[KingPK]

I just noticed that, with only a week or so to go in the season, we might not get a single 20-game winning pitcher this year. Most guys are going to have to pitch three or four more times this weekend/next week and earn the win each time to reach it (Santana only needs two and he pitched last night). When was the last time that happened?

[Guest Felonies!]

Is Joe Crede departing from the White Sox? I heard that he and Podsednik are going to be replaced.

[devo]

I just noticed that, with only a week or so to go in the season, we might not get a single 20-game winning pitcher this year. Most guys are going to have to pitch three or four more times this weekend/next week and win each time to reach it (Santana only needs two and he pitched last night). When was the last time that happened?

 

1995. Greg Maddux and Mike Mussina won 19 games apeice and led their respective leagues.

[the max]

And I don't see what the "Clemens virgin" comment was about. It's not like he's played for oodles of teams. Sox, Jays, Yanks, 'Stros in 20 years. He's not exactly been team-hopping. And I think the rumors of his greediness have been greatly exaggerated.

 

Red Sox - Gets the biggest contract in team history, turns into a fat tub of lard and sucks in the last couple years of his contract. Signs with the Jays, slams Boston on the way out, gets on the juice and wins back to back Cy Youngs.

 

Don't forget his 20K game against the Tigers when the team was, like, 65 games out of contention. Where was that Clemens earlier in the contract? He'd already gotten his money so he decided to see if they could make milkshakes out of bacon grease.

[CanadianChris]

I just noticed that, with only a week or so to go in the season, we might not get a single 20-game winning pitcher this year. Most guys are going to have to pitch three or four more times this weekend/next week and win each time to reach it (Santana only needs two and he pitched last night). When was the last time that happened?

 

1995. Greg Maddux and Mike Mussina won 19 games apeice and led their respective leagues.

That was a short season, though. When was the last time it happened in a full season?

 

EDIT: I checked. It has never happened in a full season. The only other times it happened were 1994 (Jimmy Key had 17 for the Yankees, Ken Hill and Greg Maddux each had 16 in the NL) and 1981 (Tom Seaver, Jack Morris, Dennis Martinez, Pete Vukovich and Steve McCatty all had 14).

[vivalaultra]

Hmmm...I gotta take the heat offa Clemens. Uh...at least he's more clutch than A-Rod...yeah...just make an A-Rod comment and that diverts all the attention.

[devo]

I just noticed that, with only a week or so to go in the season, we might not get a single 20-game winning pitcher this year. Most guys are going to have to pitch three or four more times this weekend/next week and win each time to reach it (Santana only needs two and he pitched last night). When was the last time that happened?

 

1995. Greg Maddux and Mike Mussina won 19 games apeice and led their respective leagues.

That was a short season, though. When was the last time it happened in a full season?

 

Well, I don't remember which years were strike-shortened, so I suppose you could just look here.

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/W_leagues.shtml

[CanadianChris]

I just noticed that, with only a week or so to go in the season, we might not get a single 20-game winning pitcher this year. Most guys are going to have to pitch three or four more times this weekend/next week and win each time to reach it (Santana only needs two and he pitched last night). When was the last time that happened?

 

1995. Greg Maddux and Mike Mussina won 19 games apeice and led their respective leagues.

That was a short season, though. When was the last time it happened in a full season?

 

Well, I don't remember which years were strike-shortened, so I suppose you could just look here.

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/W_leagues.shtml

See above.

[EVIL~! alkeiper]

The intentional walk hurts the Marlins as Conine hits a single. I'm amazed by it. When is the intentional walk ever a good strategy with a three run deficit and two outs?

[devo]

Ricky Ledee hits his first home run as a Met, absolutely walloping a ball to right field that easily escapes Shea Stadium's confines.

[Conspiracy_Victim]

Man, if only the Astros had done this a couple of months ago. Biggio with the walkoff single and the Astros come back from a 5-2 8th inning deficit to win 6-5.

[vivalaultra]

My fuckin' God. I still beeeeelieve!!!!! As long as Wandy Rodriguez doesn't start another game for Houston this year, there's still a chance.

[Conspiracy_Victim]

My fuckin' God. I still beeeeelieve!!!!! As long as Wandy Rodriguez doesn't start another game for Houston this year, there's still a chance.

 

Doesn't look like we have to worry about that. Four man rotation with everybody going on short rest. But I think Roger, Andy, and Roy O can handle that for a couple of weeks. Hirsch is a bit more problematic.

[vivalaultra]

Hirsch really has pitched pretty well ever since he got rocked in Cincy. The only start coming up I'm worried about is that Matt Albers is penciled in to start on Monday against the Phils.