This Week In Baseball: 4/14-4/20

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

National Games

 

MONDAY

Boston @ Cleveland, ESPN 7pm ET

 

WEDNESDAY

Boston @ NY Yankees, ESPN2 7pm ET

 

SATURDAY

Fox Baseball, Check Local Listings

 

SUNDAY

LA Dodgers @ Atlanta, TBS 1pm ET

NY Mets @ Philadelphia, ESPN 8pm ET

 

There you go Smues, Braves are back on TBS for an encore. Odd scheduling as the Red Sox go to Cleveland for two games, and then the Yankees again for two before going home to face the Texas Rangers.

 

Question here for Yankees/Red Sox fans only. What is your view of the rivalry now, in 2008?

[KingPK 0]

Question here for Yankees/Red Sox fans only. What is your view of the rivalry now, in 2008?

 

The 2003 and 2004 ALCS were the pinnacle. I don't think we'll ever get the kind of drama that those series provided again. Now it's just two good teams whose fanbases and ownership really hate each other (well, we know Hank Steinbrenner's feelings anyway).

[Brett Favre 0]

Question here for Yankees/Red Sox fans only. What is your view of the rivalry now, in 2008?

 

The 2003 and 2004 ALCS were the pinnacle. I don't think we'll ever get the kind of drama that those series provided again. Now it's just two good teams whose fanbases and ownership really hate each other (well, we know Hank Steinbrenner's feelings anyway).

 

I guess Anglesault was right when he said the rivalry won't be as good as when it was before they broke the "curse".

 

As long as the Red Sox keep winning games, I'll hate them.

 

[Bored 0]

Aww and I was going to put a Mo Vaughn joke in the subtitle.

 

FOX games are Dodgers/Braves, Mets/Phillies, and Indians/Twins. So the TBS and ESPN Sunday games are the same match-ups as on FOX the previous day. Who needs variety?

[Boon 0]

Question here for Yankees/Red Sox fans only. What is your view of the rivalry now, in 2008?

 

The 2003 and 2004 ALCS were the pinnacle. I don't think we'll ever get the kind of drama that those series provided again. Now it's just two good teams whose fanbases and ownership really hate each other (well, we know Hank Steinbrenner's feelings anyway).

Aye. For me, the most interesting part of comparing the Sox and Yankees are watching them use more homegrown talent. The payrolls are still obscenely high, but the youth movements are fun.

[Guest Smues]

FOX games are Dodgers/Braves, Mets/Phillies, and Indians/Twins. So the TBS and ESPN Sunday games are the same match-ups as on FOX the previous day. Who needs variety?

 

Holy crap I might actually get the Braves game as my FOX Saturday game. I can't remember the last time that happened.

[naiwf 0]

NEW YORK - Yankees reliever Joba Chamberlain left the team after his father collapsed at his home in Lincoln, Neb., the Daily News reported Monday on its Web site.

 

Harlan Chamberlain was hospitalized Monday at St. Elizabeth Regional Medical Center in Lincoln. Hospital spokeswoman Jo Miller said the family requested that no further information be released. The Daily News said he was in critical condition, according to a nursing supervisor.

 

Chamberlain, the Yankees' primary setup man, planned to return to Nebraska rather than accompany the Yankees to St. Petersburg, Fla., for a series against Tampa Bay starting Monday night.

 

That sucks. His dad seems like a really cool guy from the rare times I've seen him interviewed. I hope his condition improves.

[TheDevilAndGodAreRagingInsideMe 0]

To me, the rivalry is more intense (fan-wise) than I can ever remember it being. It's good old fashion hate, and even though Boston is on top right now, to me the fanbase is still suffering from insecurities over the Yankees. They are an obsessed people. (See: Idiot buries Boston jersey in YSIII concrete) It has also spurned an absolute inordinate amount of people in Northeastern Pennsylvania claiming themselves to be Red Sox fans.

 

The coverage of it, of course, is absurd. I can't personally stand it as much as anybody else here. It doesn't help that for the large majority of the times they play each other each season, I have to deal with the national Fox or ESPN assclowns rather than the perfectly acceptable YES troupe.

 

The worst part of this weekend was that at every turn, during each of the games, at several different points in each, they just HAD to tell me how great of a 3B Youkilis was, even though he is mostly a 1B. This was the theme of the weekend. YES, Fox, ESPN, and WCBS (radio).

[HarleyQuinn 0]

I'll agree that the rivalry is possibly more intense fan-wise, in part because the Red Sox have won 2 World Series in recent times while the Yankees have been on a "slide" so to speak in that regard. It reminds me, like Bauer said, of just good old fashioned hate between the two. I'd like to think that the fans wouldn't kill each other but to be honest, it really wouldn't surprise me either.

 

In terms of on field play... I hate to say that any year(s) are the pinnacle like King said just because there may be future years that are equal or better. Although 2003/2004 definitely ranks up there with the back to back ALCS meetings.

 

As a Boston fan I have an inherent dislike of most things New York as is, with the Yankees just being a larger focal point of the package.

 

I'd also make the argument that the rivalry continues to maintain the heat with the A-Rod fiasco from 2003, Johnny Damon's signing with the Yankees, and the recent back and forth from the management.

[Guest Teal-y Dan]

The Yankees are sort of coming around and becoming the good guys. Sort of. The increasing commodification of the "Red Sox Nation" concept is really starting to irritate me. I can't fault the John Henry cabal for making as much money as they can, nor am I in any position to criticize intense marketing as a fan of the Warm-and-Fuzzies, but I know annoying when I see it. Hal Steinbrenner is right: ESPN is an arm of the Red Sox. Or maybe that was Hank Steinbrenner.

[Brett Favre 0]

It was Hank, who also said (regarding that guy who buried Ortiz's jersey under the New Yankee Stadium):

 

"I hope his coworkers kick the s- - - out of him,"

[Bruiser Chong 0]

I don't find either team terribly compelling anymore. Yes, both are developing some of their own players, but for the most part, this rivalry has degraded into a pissing contest. I'm hoping the Rays continue to improve, because I'd love to see some fresh rivalries flourish in the AL East. Obviously nothing is going to match or at least be as hyped as the Sox/Yanks, but I think we've got a good shot at seeing some new storylines develop in the coming years.

[Cartman 0]

I'm getting sick of the "Rivalry" too. I mean they play 19 regular season games against each other plus playoffs and it's overkill. I hate the scheduling overall on top of that. The fact that division teams play each other 18-19 times a year is sickening now, to me anyways.

[the max 0]

Riveting "inside" information from Mark Shapiro on ESPN. Apparently, get this, he has a big board with free agents to be, a depth chart for his team AND he reads minor league reports every morning! HOW DOES HE HAVE ALL THIS TIME TO BE IN THE BOOTH?!

[CanadianChris 0]

Around 11,000 at Camden Yards tonight to watch two first place teams. It's only April, but still, that's terrible.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Around 11,000 at Camden Yards tonight to watch two first place teams. It's only April, but still, that's terrible.

 

Its cold.

 

Rios just hit a PH 2 Run HR to make it a 1 run game off of Sherrill..ouch

 

Os win!

[MFer 0]

Great comeback by the Tigers...too bad I couldn't watch it

[treble 0]

The Jays have 6 losses now, 5 of them by 1 run.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

From last week's thread.

 

This latest discussion leads me to a good question for all. Do you enjoy watching ANY baseball game regardless of who is playing, or do you only really enjoy watching your favorite/home teams? I guess I could ask this for all sports in general too.

 

I'd say any baseball game. It's more enjoyable to see the Phillies, but one of the most fun experiences of my life was watching the Orioles/Rangers live.

[Boon 0]

How does Joe Borowski still have a job as a major league closer?

[Vampiro69 0]

Great comeback by the Tigers...too bad I couldn't watch it

 

Twins had a horrible meltdown in the 8th. Tigers had two doubles and two triples in the 8th to score 6 runs to come back from 5-9 to win 11-9.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Erik Bedard still is one of my favorite pitchers despite getting traded which kinda has me concerned over the his sore hip = degenerative hip = career ending rumors. Hes already missed 2 starts and could possibly go on the DL. If he's out for any period of time, the historical record on the trade will make it look completely lopsided. That would really be something considering there were early rumors that it was Adam Jones that possibly had the hip condition.

 

 

 

 

[Bored 0]

How does Joe Borowski still have a job as a major league closer?

Once you're a PVC, you're a PVC for life.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

I won't bore with my minor league adventures, but let me say that Coca-Cola Park in Allentown is the best minor league park I have ever been to. Outstanding on every level.

[Guest Teal-y Dan]

Around 11,000 at Camden Yards tonight to watch two first place teams. It's only April, but still, that's terrible.

Pittsburgh was already into the 8,000s last week. Different scenario, but still, THAT'S terrible.

 

That Allentown park was just built, right? I'll have to look at some pictures. In my neck of the woods, I want to check out this new "Road Ranger Stadium" where Rockford's team plays. It looks really open and relaxed, like you can just hang around on the giant concourses and get a great view of the game. The naming rights should've gone to Beef-A-Roo, though.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Yeah, the Allentown park is new. There are some great features. $6 lawn seating beyond the outfield, an entirely open concourse that allows you to see the game from the concession areas.

 

 

 

 

Attendance is low all over the northeast. April just isn't a good time for attendance, with colder weather and kids still in school. Things pick up June-August when group sales really kick in.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Tonight half the league will wear #42 in honor of Jackie Robinson. Cute, but it's going to make things a real pain in the ass to watch from center field.

[Guest Teal-y Dan]

That's such a dopey promotion. I appreciate the sentiment, but the execution is silly, as is the leaguewide retirement. The only teams that should have 42 retired are the Dodgers and the Mets. Making teams put 42 up with their actual retired numbers for their actual distinguished players is kind of disingenuous, too. Example: the Brewers have Aaron, Molitor, Yount, Rollie Fingers...and Jackie Robinson. He has nothing to do with the city or the team. What he did for professional sports was invaluable, but it's not sensible to forbid everyone everywhere (bar Rivera) from wearing 42, except one day when everyone everywhere can wear it at once. It's like they're tripping over themselves to Celebrate Diversity, y'know? Hard to blame them when your players spout off "ten years from now you'll see no blacks at all" and "Latinos are easier to control."

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

It's not as bad as hockey retiring 99 altogether. That was the dumbest fucking thing I've ever seen.

[Guest Teal-y Dan]

Probably, yeah, but at least Gretzky has the distinction of shattering almost every possible record to smithereens. I always found it almost arrogant that he even chose to wear 99 in the first place.

 

The most retarded number retirement was the Miami Heat retiring Jordan's 23 on a split Bulls/Wizards jersey. That's a big ball of head-scratchers right there.