This Week in Baseball 9/15 - 9/21

[naiwf 0]

To watch the Mets do this again for a second straight year is truly amazing.

You'll have to direct me to the point where the Mets had this in the bag. Running the race and falling short (assuming they do, considering the deficit is HALF A GAME), is not the same thing as blowing a seemingly insurmountable lead.

 

I guess blowing a 3 1/2 game lead with 17 to go doesn't qualify as a chokejob anymore simply because you blew a 7 game lead in the same number of games the previous year. Let's not quibble with the fact that the Mets have lost 4 out of 5 to two teams with nothing to play for anymore and that they ended up getting beaten twice by the Braves who they held in check for all but one inning in each game, and then ended up giving up a 7 spot to the Nats and then couldn't score against the immortal Odalis Perez.

 

In summary they lost 4 games in the standings in 6 fucking days while they played bottom feeders and Philly had to deal with the Brewers who are doing their very best to keep the Mets in the hunt by not winning either. As far as I'm concerned that's the definition of choking and the magnitude really doesn't matter.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Umm what about Tampa/Boston? Boston is only a game behind Tampa for the East crown.

Yeah, but it's not really an important race when both teams have essentially locked up playoff spots.

 

Considering if Boston beats Tampa tonight, Boston would move into first as well, and Tampa has a four game series with Minnesota coming up. That could make it a race in the wildcard between Minnesota and Tampa. It's hardly "essentially locked up". The only team that essentially locked up a spot is the team that DID lock it up, that being Anaheim.

Tampa is eight games up on the Twins with 13 to play (11 for Minnesota). The best Minnesota can do is be 3 back with 6 to play. It would be the biggest collapse in the history of modern sport if the Rays were to miss the playoffs at this point. Literally.

 

And it's doable. Especially after seeing the Mets shit the bed last season.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

The problem is if the Twins got that hot, they would win the division outright. Notwithstanding the Mets, the Rays' lead is bigger, and there are less games left in the schedule. And bigger than that, the Rays haven't shown a reason they would go on an extended losing streak.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

The Rays aren't going to choke. No way, no how. Have you seen that team play? There is no evidence whatsoever that this Rays team would blow a lead down the stretch. I still think they'll win the AL East comfortably.

[KingPK 0]

Last night's game basically convinced me that the Rays are winning the division. That was the second time in a week that they lost big the previous night but bounced right back. They probably have the best bullpen of all the playoff teams right now.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

The 2008 NL Wild Card Race: Who's less choke-y?

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

If they both choke, the Houston Astros are the wild card. Of course, they would help their chances greatly if they quit whining and just played baseball.

 

 

[Open the Muggy Gate 0]

NY Mets: Fernando Martinez (Yeah, I considered Wilmer Flores and it's close)

 

I'm a freakin dork. I saw that name and immediately thought of him as the sex expert on Grand Theft Auto.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

If they both choke, the Houston Astros are the wild card. Of course, they would help their chances greatly if they quit whining and just played baseball.

 

You know, Florida and St. Louis aren't exactly dead yet either. Long shots, yes, but still hanging around.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Albert Pujols is hitting .357 now, with a .461 OBP. And Gold Glove defense. With the Cardinals at least finishing above .500, he really should get the MVP.

[KingPK 0]

NY Mets: Fernando Martinez (Yeah, I considered Wilmer Flores and it's close)

 

I'm a freakin dork. I saw that name and immediately thought of him as the sex expert on Grand Theft Auto.

 

 

"I love you all."

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

2009 schedules are out. Only three Mets/Phillies game in Sept. next year, again.

 

Phillies score four in the first. Fantastic start considering this is a very weak pitching matchup on their side.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

Albert Pujols is hitting .357 now, with a .461 OBP. And Gold Glove defense. With the Cardinals at least finishing above .500, he really should get the MVP.

I've heard Howard's name come up a few times recently, but really, is there any chance that Pujols doesn't win the MVP award in a landslide?

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Albert Pujols is hitting .357 now, with a .461 OBP. And Gold Glove defense. With the Cardinals at least finishing above .500, he really should get the MVP.

I've heard Howard's name come up a few times recently, but really, is there any chance that Pujols doesn't win the MVP award in a landslide?

Yeah, mostly via the usual sportswriting stupidity.

 

I've watched Howard all year. NO WAY is this guy the MVP. He was absolutely awful at the plate most of the year, and doesn't contribute anywhere else.

[strummer 0]

There's no way the sportswriters aren't giving the MVP to Howard after than homerun last night.

 

Pujols should win in a landslide but it's not going to happen

[KingPK 0]

Guys I don't want on Boston's playoff roster:

 

1) Mike Timlin

2) Tim Wakefield

[the max 0]

Irony:

 

Sign seen during "Fan Time" on the FSN:Florida feed of Red Sox/Rays:

 

"BANDWAGON NATION: GO HOME!"

 

 

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

Guys I don't want on Boston's playoff roster:

 

2) Tim Wakefield

 

He has a 3.92 ERA. You're going to let one bad outing keep him off the playoff roster? Talk about a kneejerk reaction. By that logic, the Rays should keep Kazmir off their roster for shitting the bed the other night.

[KingPK 0]

We already have Dice-K's schizophrenic ass to watch in October. I don't need to wonder which Wake is going to show up as well.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

I don't need to wonder which Wake is going to show up as well.

 

So you prefer knowing the versions of Paul Byrd (shitty) and Bartolo Colon (fat, injured) that will show up?

[MFer 0]

Freddy Garcia starting tonight for the first time in over a year.

[Prophet of Mike Zagurski 0]

Bartolo Colon is still pitching? I'm shocked.

[NYU 0]

Aaron Heilman does it AGAIN! Puts men on first and third with no outs in the eighth. He truly is useless, and I really need to question why Jerry Manuel would trust him in such a pivotal game.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

SNY ran a poll stating that 85% felt Argenis Reyes should start over Luis Castillo. What am I missing on Reyes? He's 25, has absolutely no power and his OBP's aren't impressive.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Also for Met fans, the press box at Washington is very high and that creates a bad camera angle for television. Agree?

[jimmy no nose 0]

SNY ran a poll stating that 85% felt Argenis Reyes should start over Luis Castillo. What am I missing on Reyes? He's 25, has absolutely no power and his OBP's aren't impressive.

Nothing that I can see. His career OBP in the minors was only .329. He never walks and doesn't hit for a good enough average to make up for it. You can definitely count on Castillo to pick up a few BBs since he actually has pretty decent plate discipline and hit for a better average, although he's having a bit of an off year in 08. I think Reyes got off to a semi-hot start average-wise in the majors and everyone decided he should be the every day starter and ignored everything else.

[NYU 0]

This bullpen is just astounding. You can't take an 8-3 lead and turn it into a squeaker against the Washington Nationals! Especially after just losing two straight games against them. A team that is inching ever closer to the 100-loss mark. They will not get away with this against the Cubs next week.

[Smartly Pretty 0]

Reyes is much better than Castillo defensively, and offensively they're both inept.

[jimmy no nose 0]

It looks like Arizona will finally gain a game on the Dodgers tonight as they lead late against San Francisco and the LA got beat up in Pittsburgh. Assuming an Arizona win it will be a 3 game lead for LA. Arizona play 1 more with San Francisco, 6 with Colorado, and 4 with St. Louis. The Dodgers walk right in though since they have 1 in Pittsburgh, 6 with the Giants, and 3 with the Padres.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

Ben Sheets left with alleged forearm tightness tonight, but he revealed afterward that his elbow has been bothering him for some time. There it is.