This Week in Baseball 5/5 - 5/11

[Bored 0]

ESPN/FOX/TBS Games to Poison Our Youth

 

MONDAY

Red Sox (Daisuke Matsuzaka) at Tigers (Jeremy Bonderman), 7:00/4:00 PM, ESPN

 

WEDNESDAY

Indians (Cliff Lee) at Yankees (Chien-Ming Wang), 7:00/4:00 PM, ESPN

 

SATURDAY

Yankees at Tigers, 3:55/12:55 PM, FOX

Diamondbacks at Cubs, 3:55/12:55 PM, FOX

Cardinals at Brewers, 3:55/12:55 PM, FOX

 

SUNDAY

Yankees at Tigers, 1:00 PM/10:00 AM, TBS

Red Sox at Twins, 8:00/5:00 PM, ESPN

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

One month in, would you change any of your preseason predictions?

[Bruiser Chong 0]

The Cubs sucked this past week and I think it's clear a couple things should change. Namely, playing Felix Pie and Ronny Cedeno with regularity. Reed Johnson has brought more patience to this team, but Felix is supposed to be the centerfielder of the future. That isn't going to happen sitting on the bench and getting the occasional late-inning defensive replacement treatment. It makes no sense not to play him, especially when Johnson's hot start is becoming a distant memory and Lou was supposedly working with Pie on his swing.

 

Then there's Theriot, who is looking more baseball retarded everyday. I believe he's almost got as many caught stealing as he does successful swipes. Ronny, meanwhile, has 16 RBI in less than 50 AB's. Give the kid a chance. He's got much more upswing than Theriot at this point.

 

And that's my Cubs rant for the week.

[Dobbs 3K 0]

The umpiring crew sucked in the Brewers/Astros game yesterday. I'm not going to blame the loss strictly on the umps, but there were some pretty questionable strike zone calls, especially when Gagne was pitching.

 

I wish they'd just start using the damn Questec thing and let the umps just relay the calls.

[CanadianChris 0]

One month in, would you change any of your preseason predictions?

Not really. I still think the AL Central will settle into what most people thought it would be. I'd probably flip Texas and Oakland, but that wouldn't affect the playoffs any. I'm loving my "Seattle isn't nearly as good as everyone thinks" statement right now.

 

I will say that Baltimore will not lose 100 games. But they'll still finish last in the East.

[Guest College Party]

Wikipedia abuse:

For games in New York, Baltimore, Chicago, and Tampa Bay, the increase in "commuter fans" has been attributed to relatively inexpensive air fares and, conversely, the difficulty and expense of obtaining tickets to home games at Fenway Park. This phenomenon among Red Sox fans has been exacerbated by Red Sox Nation references in popular culture, e.g., films such as Fever Pitch and J. Crew catalog covers during the summer of 2007. However, it should be noted that the Yankees have a higher percentage of gay fans filling away ballparks.

Good point.

[CanadianChris 0]

Has anyone seen what the Yankees are going to be charging for their better seats in the new ballpark next year? One season ticket for a seat in the front row between the dugouts will cost over two hundred thousand dollars. Hell, a seat in the first row in the upper deck behind home plate will cost over ten grand.

 

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball...are_insane.html

[Guest College Party]

[alfdogg 0]

 

"Right now everyone in Chicago is making lineups -- 'Call up this guy, call up that guy.' ... If we had 50 people allowed on the roster, we could do that. That's what ticks me off about Chicago fans and Chicago media: They forget pretty quickly. A couple of days ago we were the [bleeping] best [stuff] in town. Now we're [bleep]"

 

"We won it a couple years ago, and we're horse[bleep]," Guillen said, according to the Chicago Tribune. "The Cubs haven't won in [100] years, and they're the [bleeping] best. [bleep] it, we're good. [bleep] everybody. We're horse[bleep], and we're going to be horse[bleep] the rest of our lives, no matter how many World Series we win. "

 

"We are the [bleep] of Chicago. We're the Chicago [bleep]. We have the worst owner [Jerry Reinsdorf]. The guy's got seven [bleeping] rings, and he's the [bleeping] horse[bleep] owner."

 

"How about the Cubs celebrating that Lee Elia bull[bleep]? How many times do I curse people out? I will make a lot of money with my [stuff]. I have to keep going because in the future Ozzie will need money, and I can say, 'Here, give me money, here's the 10-year anniversary of my time I called [Jay] Mariotti stuff and the time I went on the radio and cursed out Mike North.' "

[Bruiser Chong 0]

The Mets are considering acquiring Derrick Turnbow. Yeah, I can see that working out pretty well.

[Guest College Party]

I wonder how this will affect White Sox house organ WSCR's new "the media is easy on Lou but mean to Ozzie" talking point, which probably came down from a Reinsdorf memo, and is not even based in fact. Let's break it down.

 

"Right now everyone in Chicago is making lineups -- 'Call up this guy, call up that guy.' ... If we had 50 people allowed on the roster, we could do that.

Given how barren the system is, I don't see how adding 25 players inferior to Pablo Ozuna improves anything.

 

We won it a couple years ago, and we're horse[bleep],"

Well, yes, you did, and yes, you are part of a horseshit organization from ownership to management to public relations to players. You're a shitty unprofessional employed by a shitty unprofessional who also employs other shitty unprofessionals. All true here.

 

[bleep] it, we're good.

Not since the 2006 All-Star break

 

"We are the [bleep] of Chicago. We're the Chicago [bleep]. We have the worst owner [Jerry Reinsdorf]. The guy's got seven [bleeping] rings, and he's the [bleeping] horse[bleep] owner."

Don't know what the bleep is, but you probably are. You're probably the plural noun of that as well. You do have one of the worst owners. He does have seven fucking rings, but has publicly disregarded six of them, and that's precisely why he is considered a fucking horseshit owner.

 

How many times do I curse people out? I will make a lot of money with my [stuff]. I have to keep going because in the future Ozzie will need money, and I can say, 'Here, give me money, here's the 10-year anniversary of my time I called [Jay] Mariotti stuff and the time I went on the radio and cursed out Mike North.' "

You're dealing with a fanbase that can't even be arsed to buy tickets to its own team's ballgames. They're not going to shell out for Ozzie Guillen's Greatest Hits in ten years when you've finally worn out your welcome with even the thickest of the meatballs.

 

Mike North does need to be told to shut the fuck up more often, though.

[Guest]

The Dodgers went from being an awful offensive team to one with great numbers, over the last week or so. Things have changed. For one, Andruw Jones is either sitting or being pushed down in the order. That's key. Of course, Rafael Furcal has played fantastic, but (ugh) Juan Pierre is playing great too. Of course, I don't expect him to keep an OBP near .400, but he's walking a lot. Or should I say, a lot of walks for Juan Pierre. Russell Martin has bounced back from a poor start. Life is good.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

- The Tigers DFA Jacque Jones.

 

- There's word that the Cubs might send Felix Pie down to the minors. What bullshit. They've got one of the best offenses in the league and are a game and a half behind a suspect team. What is it going to hurt to let the job be Felix's to lose? Reed Johnson isn't even hitting like he was to start the season. I guess they're having Ronny Cedeno take flyballs in center, but I'm not sold on that idea. Felix hasn't wow'ed anyone this season, but the way they're messing with him again, it looks like we might have another Corey Patterson on our hands.

[Annabelle 0]

- The Tigers DFA Jacque Jones.

 

don't wanna sound off any alarms but this coule be a prelude to

 

b____y b_____s

 

never'no!

[Bruiser Chong 0]

Which would make no sense for several reasons. Aren't he and Sheffield like mortal enemies now? And since when does Bonds pitch in relief?

[Annabelle 0]

one of two things

 

1. you are right, sheffield and bonds are "enemies"

 

2. you are wrong, the tigers bullpen is not exactly their sore spot right now.

 

offense is an area they are struggling in. a lot, actually. and starting pitching. but their bullpen is not looking bad right now, outside of a few zach miner appearences...and the departed jason grilli.

 

not a knock on chong, this is even directed at me, but people often times just makes assumptions about teams weaknesses based on perception or off-season projections. the tigers bullpen has been really impressive. before bautista went on the dl, he was lights out in the 8th inning. clay rapada has a microscopic era, if any, as their lefty specialist. todd jones hasn't blown any saves. and now they have francisco cruceta who has great in the minors and has done well in his few appearences. aquilino lopez has been great as a long relief guy.

 

their problem is starting pitching and offense. just because they torch the texas rangers for 40 runs in 3 games does not mean they scrape 1 run over two games against the twins.

 

 

[Bruiser Chong 0]

I disagree. Their hitting hasn't mashed up pitching as suspected, but that's not likely to continue. Even if they fail to meet lofty expectations, their hitting won't be the reason behind any ultimate futility in the quest to play October baseball.

 

Their pen was projected to be bad and it is. The starting pitching isn't free of any guilt, but it's crazy to suggest their bullpen isn't their weakest spot right now. They currently have the third worst ERA from the 7th inning on. We know their starters aren't getting that deep into the game most of the time, so that's the bullpen at work.

[strummer 0]

It's becoming clear that the Mets need to make a change in their regime.

 

The Randolph/Peterson/Minaya trio had their chance in 06 but came up a game short. They were the best team in the NL and didn't win. That happens. It's baseball. But it's clear that they are no where near that level anymore. They are regressing.

 

If the Mets don't make the playoffs this year, Randolph is going to be fired. That's certain.

 

However, during the season I would like to see Peterson go. His hackneyed philosophy of "Don't throw a strike until you *absolutely* have to" on pitching has gotten around the league. It's why Met starters have 110 pitches by the 5th inning and the bullpen is overused. It's why Aaron Heilman is 3-2 on every hitter and is afraid to challenge hitters with his fastball. Two years ago hitters were swinging at the pitches out of the zone but now they're taking them and mashing the ball when they get ahead in the count. The team's overall pitching numbers might not look that bad but again it's caused an absurdly high pitch count for the starters.

 

The offense is maddening at times. Sometimes they show some semblance of plate discipline and at others they just go up there hacking. The complete lack of power so far is also alarming.

 

I don't know if any of what I just typed made any sense. Just had to get that rant out.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

I just saw this about the Nationals poor attendance figures..lets try and figure out why they're not selling out a new ballpark! Could it be the Capitals/Wizards playoff runs? Could it be the poor early spring weather? Could it be the fact that Nationals suck (well actually it could be that but..)

 

Part of Washington’s allure, when Major League Baseball planned the move from Montreal, involved the potential fan base. Smart, fanatical and, best of all, with loads of disposable income.

 

Then Jack Abramoff tried to buy off all of Washington. New lobbying laws soon followed, and now the maximum gift given to a lawmaker cannot exceed $50. Which means all the Presidential tickets – $325 for single-game ones, $335 on Saturday and $400 for the front row, all more than the best seat at Yankee Stadium, which goes for $250 – that should have gone from lobbyist to Congressman to hard-working staffer no longer exist, and the market won’t get any hotter unless the Nationals do, too.

 

aww..

 

they might want to rethink their ticket prices just a wee bit.

 

 

[Guest College Party]

I'm torn between being irritated by frequently empty seats behind home plate, and being glad that the relocation of the Expos is a failure. Besides, where's this "smart, fanatical" Washington sports fanbase for the Capitals and Wizards that nobody seemed to care much about in the not-quite-best of times? I know Redskins fans are fanatical, but I've never heard them celebrated for being football's best and brightest. Yeah, we get it, there are educated people working in DC, but that doesn't mean they know or care about (bad) baseball.

[Dandy 0]

One month in, would you change any of your preseason predictions?

Yes. I had the Tigers being an offensive juggernaut with a couple of capable enough arms for them to be at .650 or so. I fully expected this to be the team to beat until the playoffs, where their arms just wouldn't be good enough.

 

I figured the Mets would have been a lot better than they are, even though they have plenty of time to turn it around.

 

I actually figured the Reds to be in third place behind Chicago and Milwaukee in a vastly improved NL Central. Bullpen is better, but there are still four pitchers (including starters) that are just throwing gas on the fire. I didn't think St. Louis would be doing this well this year. Pretty shocking to me, actually.

[Guest College Party]

However, during the season I would like to see Peterson go. His hackneyed philosophy of "Don't throw a strike until you *absolutely* have to" on pitching has gotten around the league. It's why Met starters have 110 pitches by the 5th inning and the bullpen is overused. It's why Aaron Heilman is 3-2 on every hitter and is afraid to challenge hitters with his fastball.

I can fix Rick Peterson in like 10 minutes.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

Barry Zito returns to the rotation tomorrow. The quest for 20 lives!

[Annabelle 0]

holy shit, how bad are the tigers right now?

 

they are being 1 hit by tim wakefield into the 8th.

 

nate robertson gets rocked again. he's detroit's third starter with an era above 6. bonderman has had a few ok starts, but has been rocked in his other ones.

 

miguel cabrera isn't hitting shit. sheffield demands LF when he can barely bit. guillen can't play defense.

 

there is so much wrong with this time, and age isn't on their side.

 

so disappointing right now. so so disappointing.

[Guest College Party]

In minor league baseball, the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs are now 4-28. I can't prove this, but I think the reason they have such a bad record is that their name is the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

In minor league baseball, the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs are now 4-28. I can't prove this, but I think the reason they have such a bad record is that their name is the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs.

5-28. They won tonight. Brian Mazone is claiming the Steve Carlton award for winning four of those games.

[naiwf 0]

David Delucci just CRUSHED a Joba fastball for a 3 run pinch hit HR. That was nice to see while flipping through the channels.

[Mik 0]

Hey anybody who can get to a TV or a video feed might want to check out the White Sox game.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Hey anybody who can get to a TV or a video feed might want to check out the White Sox game.

I'm rooting for this one.

[Guest College Party]

GAVIN FLOYD HAS A NO-HITTER GOING

GAVIN FLOYD HAS A NO-HITTER GOING

GAVIN FLOYD HAS A NO-HITTER GOING

GAVIN FLOYD HAS A NO-HITTER GOING

GAVIN FLOYD HAS A NO-HITTER GOING

GAVIN FLOYD HAS A NO-HITTER GOING