Guest Queen Leelee Report post Posted March 20, 2007 What about the Royals? They have a pretty stadium! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
USC Wuz Robbed! 0 Report post Posted March 20, 2007 the detroit tigers still don't get any respect. their rotation is 4 deep, the twins is pretty much only 1 deep. arguably the best pitcher in the league, but he can't pitch every night. Why should they.... yet? The White Sox were "5 deep" in the pitching in 2005. Then 2006 came. The Twins are like the Yankees in that no matter what, they seem to always rise to the top. It's a safer bet to pick the Twins, who with "1 deep/2 deep" still managed to outlast the Tigers for the division. Cheech- I keep thinking the Indians are going to bust out big, but if they haven't, then somehow I get the sense they won't. Beyond C.C. Sabathia, their pitching sucks, and Sabathia himself is no Johan Santana. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted March 20, 2007 Hilarious stuff here. This might be our favorite quote from him in a while, actually. Guillen was asked, while talking about a past reunion of the 1983 White Sox team, if he thought there would ever be a 20-year reunion of the White Sox 2005 champions. His response was achingly true to life, which is why it was hilarious. ''Those ceremonies -- 'Oh, let's bring back those guys from 2005,' we're all crippled and fucked up, pushing wheelchairs, kids crying because his dad was on the ballclub -- fuck that,'' Guillen said. ''I don't need that bull. A bunch of fat guys, another one is broke. 'Hey, where's your ring?' 'Oh, I don't know, I sold that son of a bitch two years ago.''' I happen to agree with him, from that end. As a fan, I love seeing that shit, but I can see why the guys that have to take part in the ceremony wouldn't like it. I always thought that the guys get a little pissed, considering that they can't be on the field anymore, but whatevs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted March 21, 2007 The Phillies lost Justin Germano on waivers to the San Diego Padres. I suspect Karim Garcia is going to make the team so they need a roster slot. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted March 21, 2007 My thoughts on the Central. I'm not tremendously high on the Indians. Their runs scored/allowed was better than their record, but even better luck doesn't make them a 90 win team. They added good role players but their rotation is still probably third or fourth in the division. I am high on the Twins. People forget they actually won the Central last year, and four of the last five. Their key position players are returning, and they have young talented pitching coming up still. There is no reason to think they can not win again, and at this point they deserve the benefit of the doubt. The Tigers' season was the result of an entire pitching staff coming together. Look at Nate Robertson's peripherals from 2004-06 and tell me what the difference was. This stuff can be fickle, and if they didn't beat the Twins with all that coming together last year, I can't see it happening this year. The White Sox haven't made tremendous moves either and it's hard to see much on that team getting better besides Brian Anderson. I think the Sox need to cut ship with some of their 2005 regulars who have become unproductive, particularly Scott Podsednik and Jose Uribe. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cheech Tremendous 0 Report post Posted March 21, 2007 This is certainly excellent news. NEW YORK -- Baseball's "Extra Innings" package of out-of-market games might wind up staying on cable television. IN Demand said Wednesday it will offer to match the terms of DirecTV's $700 million, seven-year deal with Major League Baseball on behalf its owners, who are affiliates of the companies that own Time Warner, Comcast and Cox cable systems. As part of the offer, iN Demand also said it would carry The Baseball Channel when it launches in 2009 to at least the same number of subscribers who will get the channel on DirecTV. "As the current home for 'Extra Innings' for more than 200,000 cable subscribers, we have extended ourselves to do our best to be able to continue to provide this package to baseball fans and our customers," iN Demand president Robert Jacobson said. "This offer meets all the conditions set forth by MLB last week. Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer, said he would have to find out details of iN Demand's offer before commenting. "Extra Innings" had more than 500,000 television subscribers last year plus about 60 percent more on MLB.com, the sport's Web site. EchoStar Communications Corp.'s Dish Network also has carried the "Extra Innings" package. There was no immediate word whether Dish also would match the offer. IN Demand is owned by Time Warner Entertainment-Advance/Newhouse Partnership, Comcast iN Demand Holdings Corp and Cox Communications Holdings Inc. Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2806948 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Queen Leelee Report post Posted March 21, 2007 Alan, how don't you see the Indians having potential? If Sowers has a full year like last year, and Byrd returns to how he pitched before last year... that's not a bad staff. Especially with Sabathia, who is coming into his prime years. And they have a very strong lineup, that's only gotten better. If Barfield or Dellucci have a big year like they're capable of, that's scary. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
USC Wuz Robbed! 0 Report post Posted March 21, 2007 They had potential for maybe three years now and have not pulled the trigger on it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CanadianChris 0 Report post Posted March 21, 2007 That didn't last long... NEW YORK -- Cable television said it offered to match DirecTV's deal for the "Extra Innings" package of out-of-market games, but Major League Baseball said the proposal fell short. When baseball announced its $700 million, seven-year deal with DirecTV on March 8, it gave the other incumbent carriers until the end of the month to match the deal. IN Demand, owned by affiliates of the companies that own the Time Warner, Comcast and Cox cable systems, said Wednesday it was agreeing to the terms and that its partners would carry The Baseball Channel when it launches in 2009 to at least the same number of subscribers who will get the channel on DirecTV. "As the current home for 'Extra Innings' for more than 200,000 cable subscribers, we have extended ourselves to do our best to be able to continue to provide this package to baseball fans and our customers," iN Demand president Robert Jacobson said. "This offer meets all the conditions set forth by MLB last week." Not so fast, said Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer. "The communication sent to our office today by iN Demand is not responsive to that offer," he said. "In spite of their public comments, the response falls short of nearly all of the material conditions (among them requirements for carriage of The Baseball Channel and their share of the rights fees for Extra Innings) set forth in the Major League Baseball offer made to them on March 9." DuPuy said the March 31 deadline to match remains. "Extra Innings" had more than 500,000 television subscribers last year plus about 60 percent more on MLB.com, the sport's Web site. EchoStar Communications Corp.'s Dish Network has also carried the "Extra Innings" package. Dish spokeswoman Kathie Gonzalez did not return a call seeking comment. IN Demand is owned by Time Warner Entertainment-Advance/Newhouse Partnership, Comcast iN Demand Holdings Corp and Cox Communications Holdings Inc. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2806948 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vern Gagne 0 Report post Posted March 21, 2007 We made the change on Monday. It does suck for people unable to change from cable to DirecTV. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted March 21, 2007 Alan, how don't you see the Indians having potential? If Sowers has a full year like last year, and Byrd returns to how he pitched before last year... that's not a bad staff. Especially with Sabathia, who is coming into his prime years. And they have a very strong lineup, that's only gotten better. If Barfield or Dellucci have a big year like they're capable of, that's scary. They have potential, don't mistake me. If Barfield or Dellucci have a big year, they could win. The same goes for Daniel Cabrera with the Orioles, and 28 other teams with their potential breakout players. People don't seem to understand this and get upset with preseason predictions. There are a ton of variables involved that make it impossible to predict what will happen. The best you can do is set odds and enjoy the season. Forced to pick, I think the Twins will win. But there are four teams that all have a great shot at the division. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted March 21, 2007 The Indians have a lot of potential that looks like it will be untouched, or potential that, at best, has them struggling to make the playoffs as a Wild Card. They would need everyone to have career years, and that isn't feasible. I was all over them as a playoff team for the past two seasons, but in taking a step back, I realized that they need a lot of things to go right for them to get in (as currently constructed), and they need to have pretty much nothing go wrong. They're a pitching staff away. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cheech Tremendous 0 Report post Posted March 21, 2007 Alan, how don't you see the Indians having potential? If Sowers has a full year like last year, and Byrd returns to how he pitched before last year... that's not a bad staff. Especially with Sabathia, who is coming into his prime years. And they have a very strong lineup, that's only gotten better. If Barfield or Dellucci have a big year like they're capable of, that's scary. They have potential, don't mistake me. If Barfield or Dellucci have a big year, they could win. The same goes for Daniel Cabrera with the Orioles, and 28 other teams with their potential breakout players. People don't seem to understand this and get upset with preseason predictions. There are a ton of variables involved that make it impossible to predict what will happen. The best you can do is set odds and enjoy the season. Forced to pick, I think the Twins will win. But there are four teams that all have a great shot at the division. The biggest reason I foresee the Indians doing well is that their pythagorean wins the past two season have been 96 and 89. Of course, it's been shown that there are a myriad of reasons why teams underperform their pythagorean record. It's not always based on luck. But the reality is they've been putting up run differentials that indicate they are a 90 win team. At some point, it seems like the pendulum has to swing back their way, especially with their potent offense facing a division of what appears to be so-so pitching after the big guns (Santana and Bonderman). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tominator89 0 Report post Posted March 22, 2007 Al, how do you feel about the Phils announcing Lieber will go to the bullpen? I would think that it lowers his trade value. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Smues Report post Posted March 22, 2007 That didn't last long... NEW YORK -- Cable television said it offered to match DirecTV's deal for the "Extra Innings" package of out-of-market games, but Major League Baseball said the proposal fell short. When baseball announced its $700 million, seven-year deal with DirecTV on March 8, it gave the other incumbent carriers until the end of the month to match the deal. IN Demand, owned by affiliates of the companies that own the Time Warner, Comcast and Cox cable systems, said Wednesday it was agreeing to the terms and that its partners would carry The Baseball Channel when it launches in 2009 to at least the same number of subscribers who will get the channel on DirecTV. "As the current home for 'Extra Innings' for more than 200,000 cable subscribers, we have extended ourselves to do our best to be able to continue to provide this package to baseball fans and our customers," iN Demand president Robert Jacobson said. "This offer meets all the conditions set forth by MLB last week." Not so fast, said Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer. "The communication sent to our office today by iN Demand is not responsive to that offer," he said. "In spite of their public comments, the response falls short of nearly all of the material conditions (among them requirements for carriage of The Baseball Channel and their share of the rights fees for Extra Innings) set forth in the Major League Baseball offer made to them on March 9." DuPuy said the March 31 deadline to match remains. "Extra Innings" had more than 500,000 television subscribers last year plus about 60 percent more on MLB.com, the sport's Web site. EchoStar Communications Corp.'s Dish Network has also carried the "Extra Innings" package. Dish spokeswoman Kathie Gonzalez did not return a call seeking comment. IN Demand is owned by Time Warner Entertainment-Advance/Newhouse Partnership, Comcast iN Demand Holdings Corp and Cox Communications Holdings Inc. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2806948 Fuck Major League Baseball. Greedy bastards. If they want more cash jack up the price for Extra Innings, don't exclude tens or hundreds of thousands from even having the chance to order it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted March 22, 2007 Al, how do you feel about the Phils announcing Lieber will go to the bullpen? I would think that it lowers his trade value. The idea is to send the message to other teams that "we don't HAVE to trade this guy if we don't get a good offer." I think their intention is still to trade Lieber before the season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Man in Blak 0 Report post Posted March 22, 2007 Let the "Free Whitey Herzog" hysteria return anew: JUPITER, Fla. -- St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa was arrested early Thursday and charged with misdemeanor DUI after he was found asleep at the wheel in his running SUV at a green light. La Russa's SUV was stopped at a light that, according to police, went through two cycles of green. A driver behind La Russa had to go around his vehicle, police said. Police found La Russa slumped over in the driver's seat of the running SUV. The manager of the world champion Cardinals had his foot on the brake and did not respond to knocks on the window, police said. He finally woke up and parked the car. Police said they noticed the smell of alcohol on his breath, and a field sobriety test was conducted. The 62-year-old LaRussa was sent to the Palm Beach County Jail around 4 a.m., according to the jail's Web site. La Russa provided breath samples, which measured at a .093 blood alcohol level, police said. The legal limit for drivers in Florida is 0.08. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the max 0 Report post Posted March 22, 2007 If the Cards hadn't just won the World Series, we could have all made great wisecracks about LaRussa being "asleep at the wheel" and such. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Man in Blak 0 Report post Posted March 22, 2007 The local reaction should be very interesting; remember, the Cardinals dismissed Mitchell Page during the 2004-2005 offseason, due to struggles with apparent alcoholism. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted March 22, 2007 Ten years ago he would've been under the limit. .093 doesn't necessarily mean rampant alcoholism. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vivalaultra 0 Report post Posted March 22, 2007 As per the Phils/Sox ST game on ESPN, Papelbon's going back to the bullpen. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Queen Leelee Report post Posted March 22, 2007 Furcal injures leg in collision Dodgers shortstop collides with Repko in pursuit of blooper VERO BEACH, Fla. -- Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal was carted off the field with a left leg injury sustained when he collided with center fielder Jason Repko in the first inning of Thursday's game against Baltimore. Furcal was racing into shallow center field and Repko was charging for Corey Patterson's blooper when Repko slid and appeared to pin Furcal's left foot on the ground as they made contact. Furcal grabbed his left leg and rolled in pain until teammates and trainers attended to him. Furcal played in the opening game of the spring, then missed 10 days with a repeat of shoulder tenderness he experienced last spring. Otherwise, he has been something of an ironman for the Dodgers, playing in 159 games last season. Grar. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted March 22, 2007 Fuck motherfucking Spring Training in its fucking asshole Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Man in Blak 0 Report post Posted March 22, 2007 Given the prospect logjam that the Dodgers put themselves this offseason, there might be a silver lining here. They can slide Betemit over to SS and have Andy LaRoche slide into the 3B slot; they could even move Nomar to 3B and bring James Loney in to cover 1B for the duration of Furcal's injury (whatever it may be). Either way, it could get some valuable playing time for a prospect that wasn't going to get much of a spot in the crowded lineup beforehand. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted March 22, 2007 But regardless, Juan Pierre will be batting leadoff. That's my main concern. Nomar can't play anywhere but first without tearing something. Hell, one of the few times he slid last year he wound up spraining his ankle. I'm pretty glad that LaRoche will get a shot in the lineup as long as Pierre won't hit leadoff for too long. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Man in Blak 0 Report post Posted March 22, 2007 And, apparently, Joe Mauer has been diagnosed with some kind of a stress reaction in his left fibula. They're dropping like flies today. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted March 22, 2007 Watching the Phillies/Red Sox on ESPN. The announcers were discussing the notion of protecting Ryan Howard. Apparently Pat Burrell needs to prove he can be a run producer, or Howard won't see pitches to hit. It amazes me this kind of thing still receives merit. Ryan Howard spent last year with either Burrell (.258/.388/.502, .222 with RISP) or Aaron Rowand (.262/.321/.425, .248 with RISP) batting behind him. He hit .313 with 58 home runs, scored 104 runs and drove in 149. Protection does not exist. If you have a player who has an offensive zero batting behind him, he will get walked. Witness this game last season where the Phillies double-switched with the spot behind Howard and Howard saw three intentional walks in extra innings, two of which moved the winning run in scoring position. Otherwise there is no impact on the batter at the plate. Once the manager decides whether or not to pitch to the batter, that's it. I don't have statistics or a study to back that up, but I think Howard's performance last year with Burrell/Rowand behind him speaks for itself. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Man in Blak 0 Report post Posted March 22, 2007 Not sure what you're looking for in an "impact on the batter at the plate" - the walk directly impacted Howard by taking the bat out of his hands. The manager felt that any hit would jeopardize the lead/game, regardless of who was on base, so they were willing to pitch to Burrell or Rowand, who they perceived as being an easier out. It may not have significantly dented Howard's stats over the whole season, but it directly affected his ability to positively impact the game, which is the greater tactical concern. If the idea of protection doesn't exist, then why have opposing managers given Barry Bonds a free pass in every ten plate appearances over the last five seasons? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted March 22, 2007 Not sure what you're looking for in an "impact on the batter at the plate" - the walk directly impacted Howard by taking the bat out of his hands. The manager felt that any hit would jeopardize the lead/game, regardless of who was on base, so they were willing to pitch to Burrell or Rowand, who they perceived as being an easier out. It may not have significantly dented Howard's stats over the whole season, but it directly affected his ability to positively impact the game, which is the greater tactical concern. Looking over Howard's intentional walks through late August, 15 of 21 came with two outs. Except for that Cincy game, Howard mostly walked with first base open, situations where it made strategic sense to walk a hitter of his caliber. Might he get walked less with a better hitter behind him? Of course. But how often can you add a superstar of that caliber? But if the guy behind the hitter is a tougher out, then Howard is no longer the superstar we're discussing. If the idea of protection doesn't exist, then why have opposing managers given Barry Bonds a free pass in every ten plate appearances over the last five seasons? I grant that concept of protection. What I debate is whether or not Bonds would have a better season depending on whether it was Jeff Kent or Edgardo Alfonzo hitting behind him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted March 22, 2007 As an aside, it is all but announced that Jon Papelbon is the Red Sox' closer again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
