Vern Gagne 0 Report post Posted October 28, 2006 I just read a story in the Houston Chronicle that made me sadder than this sorry ass World Series. Joe Niekro died today of a brain aneurysm in Florida at age 61. I didn't get to see him pitch much for the 'Stros in the 80s, but...he was a Hall of Famer...wait...no, he was the Brother of a Hall of Famer. In addition to pitching for my 'Stros, he also pitched for the Cubs, Padres, Tigers, Braves, Yankees, and Twins. He was 221-204 with a career 3.59 ERA and is the father of sometimes-Giant 1st baseman Lance Niekro. RIP. How is it that none of the major online sports news sources have reported this yet? You'd think ESPN would have a story somewhere on the front page, or even the baseball page. I remember watching the nail file incident back in 1987. The file falls out of Niekro's pocket, and Kent Hrbek nonchalantly tries to cover up the evidence before the umpire can see anything. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Precious Roy 0 Report post Posted October 28, 2006 He'll go to the Yankees or Angels if he even does leave, which I doubt. I would love to see him in Pinstripes, but I just can't see it happening. It's not Cashman's style, and it's not an ideal fit given that they want Giambi to basically be a full-time DH. The Yankees are going to be in the market for a defensive minded first baseman , backup catcher and utility infielder, I'd be very surprised if they went after a big bat. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see him go to Anaheim, but Anaheim seems to have the buzz on almost every big name out there (Soriano, Sheff) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dobbs 3K 0 Report post Posted October 28, 2006 I'd love to see Gary Sheffield and Barry Bonds end up on the same team so I can direct all my hatred at just one team, for the sake of convenience. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vivalaultra 0 Report post Posted October 28, 2006 Just one last interesting thing about the late Joe Niekro I found out reading an article on the Astros' homepage: Joe Niekro hit his only career homerun against his brother, Phil, May 29th, 1976. The Astros won that game 4-3 with Joe the winning pitcher and Phil the losing pitcher. Yeah, so...how 'bout that Matsuzake guy? $30 million dollars just to negotiate with him? I know he's supposedly ridiculously good, and he looked good in the WBC, but...still...somebody (IE: Yankees) is going to end up paying him $20 million a year and who knows if he'll be as good as advertised? I wish I could pitch..or hit...or catch balls...or walk without bumping into things. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest NYankees Report post Posted October 28, 2006 Just one last interesting thing about the late Joe Niekro I found out reading an article on the Astros' homepage: Joe Niekro hit his only career homerun against his brother, Phil, May 29th, 1976. The Astros won that game 4-3 with Joe the winning pitcher and Phil the losing pitcher. Yeah, so...how 'bout that Matsuzake guy? $30 million dollars just to negotiate with him? I know he's supposedly ridiculously good, and he looked good in the WBC, but...still...somebody (IE: Yankees) is going to end up paying him $20 million a year and who knows if he'll be as good as advertised? I wish I could pitch..or hit...or catch balls...or walk without bumping into things. I heard on Mike and the Mad Dog that Scott Boras is his agent. The rumors are that his team is going to get 20 million and Matsuzake is going to get a 5 year 50 million dollar contract. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest NYankees Report post Posted October 28, 2006 It looks like Joe Girardi is going to sign with the Yes network to become an in game analyst for the Yankees. This news is according to the NY Post. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheDevilAndGodAreRagingInsideMe 0 Report post Posted October 28, 2006 He also did that in 2004, then became the bench coach in '05. ESPN reported the other day that Mattingly is replacing Mazzilli as bench coach next year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CanadianChris 0 Report post Posted October 28, 2006 He also did that in 2004, then became the bench coach in '05. ESPN reported the other day that Mattingly is replacing Mazzilli as bench coach next year. No World Series for the Yankees next year either, then. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
randomguy 0 Report post Posted October 28, 2006 How doe Joe Girardi get the Marlins to almost make the post-season then not get a coaching job? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Paul Report post Posted October 28, 2006 I believe he chose not to coach. He's waiting for Torre to be gone, maybe? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Smues Report post Posted October 29, 2006 So what's the award schedule this year? 2nd week of November? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheDevilAndGodAreRagingInsideMe 0 Report post Posted October 29, 2006 http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/awards/y2006/index.jsp Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vivalaultra 0 Report post Posted October 29, 2006 If Roy Oswalt and Adam Everett don't win the Cy Young and the GG for SS, I'll vomit out of anger. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CanadianChris 0 Report post Posted October 29, 2006 I'm pretty sure at least one out of those two won't be happening. Oswalt's got two strong candidates for Cy Young ahead of him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the max 0 Report post Posted October 29, 2006 I'm sure they already gave the AL Cy to Santana a month ago. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CanadianChris 0 Report post Posted October 29, 2006 Oh, and I'm sure they'll revisit the Gold Glove vote and give it to Eckstein. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vivalaultra 0 Report post Posted October 29, 2006 I think Oswalt's an extremely strong candidate himself. He led the league in starter's ERA. He won 16 games with a horrible, horrible offense. He had the best K/BB rate of starters. He gave up less homeruns, had less wild pitches, and less HBP than Chris Carpenter...and he doesn't have squnity eyes. Not that squinty eyes have anything to do with pitching, but still... I guess I might have to resign myself to the fact that if Roy didn't get the Cy in '04 or '05 when he won 20 games, he might never get it, but Adam Everett should be a no-brainer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the max 0 Report post Posted October 29, 2006 Oh, and I'm sure they'll revisit the Gold Glove vote and give it to Eckstein. Nah, just rename the award and start using grit in terms of % Eckstein. Like that scrappy Podsednik would be a .7 Eckstein (enough to win the gold glove). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
naiwf 0 Report post Posted October 29, 2006 Oswalt wasn't the best starting pitcher on his team. 'nuff said. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the max 0 Report post Posted October 29, 2006 Oswalt wasn't the best starting pitcher on his team. 'nuff said. Who was better? And don't say Clemens... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vivalaultra 0 Report post Posted October 29, 2006 I dunno...Chris Sampson DID look rather impressive for the 39 or so innings he pitched this year. Oswalt was a better pitcher for the Astros than Clemens was. For one, he pitched the whole season. For two Oswalt pitched a helluva lot more innings than Clemens in their respective starts. Clemens threw alot of pitches and usually only went 6 innings. Oswalt is one of the most efficient pitchers in baseball. He throws strikes. Lots of strikes. Oswalt coulda had 5 or so CGs this year, I'd say, but, by nature of the Astros' terrible offense, he usually had to come out after 7 for a pinch-hitter. Oswalt's best pitching performance of the season came against the Mets, too, I think...the one where the Astros won 1-0 depsite being one-hit by El Duque. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vern Gagne 0 Report post Posted October 29, 2006 I don't get why the wait so long to announce the winners of these awards. I think Johan Santana deserves some consideration for a Gold Glove. Same goes for Joe Mauer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brett Favre 0 Report post Posted October 29, 2006 They won't announce them till the playoffs are over because some guy did horrible in the World Series after being named MVP. I forgot who it was though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vivalaultra 0 Report post Posted October 29, 2006 Bah...curses and superstitions in baseball? Yeah right... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vern Gagne 0 Report post Posted October 29, 2006 They won't announce them till the playoffs are over because some guy did horrible in the World Series after being named MVP. I forgot who it was though. They can start this week. Instead they wait for two weeks after the season ends. I'm also suprised they haven't turned this into a ESPN Awards show. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vampiro69 0 Report post Posted October 29, 2006 They could have Anna Benson there to just stand beside the host. That would draw in viewers. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phoenixrising 0 Report post Posted October 29, 2006 They won't announce them till the playoffs are over because some guy did horrible in the World Series after being named MVP. I forgot who it was though. Roger Peckinpaugh, 1925 Washington Senators. He was named the MVP before the Series, then proceeded to commit eight errors during the series (Washington lost to Pittsburgh, 4 games to 3). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
devo 0 Report post Posted October 29, 2006 Thanks in part to my picking the Cardinals to win the World Series, I finished second in Baseball Prospectus' Predicatron. $500 would have been pretty nice, but the accomplishment and the year's subscription (especially since mine had lapsed) is pretty cool regardless. I'd have put this in the Comments That Don't Warrant a Thread thread if I didn't have to bump it from the dead to do so. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
naiwf 0 Report post Posted October 29, 2006 It doesn't matter if we all KNOW that Oswalt is better than Clemens, you have to remember that the people who are voting wouldn't recognize Roy on the street unless he was wearing his uniform. Clemens won't finish higher than Roy, but he will take away some of his points. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vivalaultra 0 Report post Posted October 30, 2006 They'd recognize him if he were driving his bulldozer. I wish I had me a bulldozer. I'd go plow things. I was going to say that I don't think that there are BB writers misguided enough to give Clemens any high votes for Cy Young, considering he only pitched a half season, but then I forgot that there are...and lots of them. O.k. If Roy doesn't win it, Hell's Bells all the way, man. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
