New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

2009 MLB Thread - Page 11

post #301 of 1171
5/21/09 at 9:03am

Re: 2009 MLB Thread

I haven't been paying that much attention. This is a "Baseball season doesn't start until someone raises the Cup" year for me.
Reply
post #302 of 1171
5/21/09 at 11:45am

Re: 2009 MLB Thread

Awesome piece on Sterling.

Incidentally, Schilling is co-hosting the Big Show on WEEI this afternoon. You can listen online.
Reply
post #303 of 1171
5/21/09 at 12:31pm
Thread Starter 

Re: 2009 MLB Thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aaron Silverman
Awesome piece on Sterling.


Even Mike Francesca was piling on this afternoon with his bloviated home run calls from last night's game. He said Sterling was "out of control." MF was also ranting on Sterling toeing the company line on the fact that the new stadium is a bandbox. Francesca believes it "illegitimizes" Yankee homeruns.

I actually think Sterling can be a really good play-by-play man. I really do. He knows the game really well...and "gets" its rhythms and history. But he feels the need to do this lame schtick in the name of entertainment. It might draw interest in the casual fan...but for those of us fans who tune in on a regular basis...it's painful. And repetitive. And lame.

I find Sterling's pairing with Suzyn Waldman fairly painful to listen to. I liked it when he was paired up with Michael Kay. They seemed to keep each other's annyoing characterisitcs in check. Sterling with Charlie Steiner was the worst of the worst--two pompous play-by-play guys each trying to out-do the other with over-the-top rhetoric and analysis.

He's got a lot of talent. He just needs to use it for good.
Reply
post #304 of 1171
5/21/09 at 2:55pm

Re: 2009 MLB Thread

Sterling must be the voice espn used for the 3 homers the other day.

whoever it was made each homer seem as if it was flying completely out of the stadium.

The other announcers that annoy me to no end are the guys who do the white sox.
they're fine until a ball goes over the fence, the "put it on the board, yeh"
is just awful.

I miss Harry Kalas.

Tom Mcarthy is a nice guy but he's a bore and never shuts up.
today the phils won 12-5. every half inning he reminded us that the phils had a 6 run lead then a 1 run lead until the phils broke it open.

Fly balls to the warning track are "pop ups" line drives to the second baseman are "bloops".
Reply
post #305 of 1171
5/21/09 at 3:13pm

Re: 2009 MLB Thread

Congratulations to Big Papi for tying his fellow Ortizian, pitcher Russ Ortiz, with 1 home run on the season. Let's see who can get to 2 first.

OK, that was my obligatory Red Sox reference. Now onto some real baseball news. The Padres have agreed to trade Jake Peavy to the White Sox for 4 prospects, pending Peavy's approval. He has a full no-trade clause and it isn't a guarantee that he'll approve the deal. Having lost 20-1 this afternoon, the White Sox could use some pitching help.
Reply
post #306 of 1171
5/21/09 at 3:38pm

Re: 2009 MLB Thread

Check out the videos in this piece about Sterling
Can’t the Yankees do better than John Sterling? | River Avenue Blues
Reply
post #307 of 1171
5/21/09 at 5:51pm

Re: 2009 MLB Thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by LewB
Check out the videos in this piece about Sterling
Can’t the Yankees do better than John Sterling? | River Avenue Blues

after listening to O & A play his clips I know sterling is the
"thuuuuuh Yankees win" guy. jeez just awful.
I guess he if espn stopped playing his calls and played the tv calls
maybe he would be forgotten.

"another a-bomb from a-rod"



I remember back about 15-20 years ago the phils had a guy named Andy Musser, he occasionally missed a call, but it turned out he had a vision problem and the missed calls were a result of that.

language nsfw
Reply
post #308 of 1171
5/22/09 at 7:45am

Re: 2009 MLB Thread

Andy Musser... now that's a name that takes me back. Reminds me of the days when listening to the games on the radio on my walkman, or on the car radio, even though my parents didn't care for baseball.

In other news, the Indians have changed their caps for Memorial Day, which would be less offensive this season.

MLB pulls Chief Wahoo off Cleveland's '09 Stars and Stripes cap
Reply
post #309 of 1171
5/22/09 at 9:51am

Re: 2009 MLB Thread

Well, I was very pleased to see the BoSox sweep the Jays. That doesn't happen all that often for Boston against that team. They moved from 3.5 to .5 games of first, too.

How about them Yankees? I think they'll cool off a bit when they play the Rangers in Texas, but if they don't -- watch out. The Yankees could very easily become a legitimate baseball team again over the next couple of weeks.

I hope Matsuzaka has a strong outing against the Mets today. I like interleague play -- it's interesing, and brings about some neat matchups that we don't really see all that often for obvious reasons.
Reply
post #310 of 1171
5/22/09 at 10:16am

Re: 2009 MLB Thread

I understand the offense, but wouldn't it also be just as offensive to sing the National Anthem at Clevelands stadium (or Atlanta)?

Wouldn't it be better to dump the Native American references altogether (and further separate any kind of reconciliation)? IMO, that would be more offensive than keeping it, but it seems that's what they want.
Reply
post #311 of 1171
5/22/09 at 10:21am
Thread Starter 

Re: 2009 MLB Thread

Hey, TonyD. I'm root, root, rootin' for your team this weekend!

I hope they bring their "A game" to the Bronx. I hope they've heard about the jetstream to right field!

Interesting match-up tonight @ Fenway: Matsuzaka vs. Santana. Talk about disparate styles!

Has anyone else realized that MLB has practically turned the month of June into "Interleague Month?" I was just studying the schedule recently and realized that we're looking at 2-1/2 solid weeks of interleague play from June 12 thru 28. Ugh.

EDIT**

Scott: I just read your comment about liking interleague play. I've always hated it. Besides screwing up (severely limited) intra-league match-ups...members of each league were only meant to meet in the World Series. You could look it up!

It's right near the top of the list of things Commissioner Frezon would eliminate in baseball: instant replay, interleague play, the designated hitter...
Reply
post #312 of 1171
5/22/09 at 11:30am

Re: 2009 MLB Thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon
Scott: I just read your comment about liking interleague play. I've always hated it. Besides screwing up (severely limited) intra-league match-ups...members of each league were only meant to meet in the World Series. You could look it up!

It's right near the top of the list of things Commissioner Frezon would eliminate in baseball: instant replay, interleague play, the designated hitter...
Mike,

I understand. I agree that members of each league were only meant to meet in the World Series, but since it's been spoiled, I guess I'm making the most of it these days.

I became disheartened years ago when the wild card teams were created in baseball. I'm from an even older school too, when a pennant was won for each league (no ALDS or NLDS, wild card teams, etc., in other words). I was watching baseball in 1967. Those were the days....

Check this out, Mike. I didn't realize that Steve Carlton had pitched against Jim Lonborg in the 1967 World Series!

http://www.boston.com/sports/basebal..._revived_hope/
Reply
post #313 of 1171
5/22/09 at 12:04pm

Re: 2009 MLB Thread

Scott, then how would you work the teams so that there's no wildcard? Keep only 2 divisions in each league and just put more teams into each division? or would you have just kept MLB from adding teams in the first place?

And yes, I too hate interleague baseball. But baseball is screwy to begin with. For 90% of the season, they face teams that they'll never see in the World Series, and with the addition of Interleague, they now face teams that they may never face in the World Series.

Man, who would love to see the Red Sox and Yankees play in a *real World Series??

* No offense to those outside of this area, but around these parts, they say that the AL East IS the World Series!!!
Reply
post #314 of 1171
5/22/09 at 12:29pm

Re: 2009 MLB Thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkHastings
I understand the offense, but wouldn't it also be just as offensive to sing the National Anthem at Clevelands stadium (or Atlanta)?

I don't know. But I do know those caps are so freaking ugly, and should be banned, just like the green caps and t-shirts that are infesting MLB stores.

Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkHastings
And yes, I too hate interleague baseball. But baseball is screwy to begin with. For 90% of the season, they face teams that they'll never see in the World Series, and with the addition of Interleague, they now face teams that they may never face in the World Series.

Exactly why I like interleague play. Some teams have yet to make it to the World Series, and some have not been there for a long time. Now if teams kept playing the same corresponding divisions year after year, then I would have hated it myself.

And I am rooting for the Red Sox, and I know Mets and Yankees fans will be rooting for the other team this weekend.

Also, I'm not a big fan of the unbalanced schedule. I would like to see more games against teams in other divisions within the same league, but really hard now, with so many teams.
Reply
post #315 of 1171
5/22/09 at 12:41pm

Re: 2009 MLB Thread

Quote:
It's right near the top of the list of things Commissioner Frezon would eliminate in baseball

Heck I wonder what you would think of Commissioner Nicholls.

- Stealing home would count for 2 runs
- Grand slam counts as 5 runs
- Starting pitchers must finish a game or be prohibited from playing for a week

Bring the razzamataz back to the game.
Reply
post #316 of 1171
5/22/09 at 12:57pm

Re: 2009 MLB Thread

they should also make the bullpen pitch a minimum number of batters. I don't like this "one pitcher for one batter" deal.
Reply
post #317 of 1171
5/22/09 at 5:06pm

Re: 2009 MLB Thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkHastings
....

Man, who would love to see the Red Sox and Yankees play in a *real World Series??

* No offense to those outside of this area, but around these parts, they say that the AL East IS the World Series!!!

well saying "no offense" doesn't make an insult not an insult.

Not sure were "around these parts" is but around HERE that wouldn't be a real world series.
and i'm not even sure what that means.
I guess it would make sense if the Red sox or Yanks won the series every year.
Reply
post #318 of 1171
5/22/09 at 6:03pm

Re: 2009 MLB Thread

i think there should be a separate pitchers-only home run derby at the all-star game
Reply
post #319 of 1171
5/22/09 at 6:33pm

Re: 2009 MLB Thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by TonyD
and i'm not even sure what that means.
It's just what they say around here in CT because the AL East has had so much participation in the World Series.

Case in Point: In the past 16 years, the AL East has gone to the World Series 11 times and won 8 World Series.

So we always talk about how the AL East is like the World Series for us in CT because it seems like the only way you get to the World Series is to beat the Yankees. It has always felt like beating the Yankees was/is the hardest thing in baseball. The 2004 World Series was such a let down after the AL Championship game. THAT should have been the real world series.

It's similar to the US Olympic Hockey team beating the Russians. No one talks about the game that actually got them the medal. They only remember the Russian game because it meant more.
Reply
post #320 of 1171
5/22/09 at 6:39pm

Re: 2009 MLB Thread

there's always a good team or two in the al east.
Reply
post #321 of 1171
5/22/09 at 6:44pm

Re: 2009 MLB Thread

Yeah, and being a Sox fan, up until recently, I've never been a fan of the World Series

But seriously, in 2004, other than the joy of winning the World Series, I could have cared less about beating the Cardinals. It wouldn't have mattered who it was. Neither did beating the Rockies. I wish the World Series wins would mean more than just the win.

Beating the Yankees wasn't the World Series in 2004, but it meant SO much more than beating the Cardinals.


EDIT: I just had to edit my previous post. The AL East has actually been to the World Series 11 times in the past 16 years.
Reply
post #322 of 1171
5/22/09 at 9:41pm

Re: 2009 MLB Thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkHastings
Scott, then how would you work the teams so that there's no wildcard? Keep only 2 divisions in each league and just put more teams into each division? or would you have just kept MLB from adding teams in the first place?
Mark,

I honestly don't know. It was much harder to make the playoffs back in the 1960s (and slightly later than that). But I do think expansion (to a degree) is good for several sports. But who draws the line?

As for the one pitch for one batter, I do understand the appeal of having a relief pitcher pitch for a longer stint. But I think the 'no save' situation is part of the resolution to that (although it may not have been intended as a remedy). Bring back Rollie Fingers!
Reply
post #323 of 1171
5/22/09 at 10:44pm
Thread Starter 

Re: 2009 MLB Thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dennis Nicholls
Heck I wonder what you would think of Commissioner Nicholls.

- Stealing home would count for 2 runs
- Grand slam counts as 5 runs
- Starting pitchers must finish a game or be prohibited from playing for a week

Bring the razzamataz back to the game.

I think if Commissioner Nicholls wants more razzamataz back in baseball, he should bring back people and antics like Bill Veeck and Eddie Gaedel!

Commissioner Frezon would also ban green hats and alternate uniforms from the game.

I would need to thoroughly study the schedule issue...but my gut instinct is to keep division play and wildcard status as it is. But if you eliminate interleague play you have a chance to play more teams in your league who are not in your division. That would be a good thing.
Reply
post #324 of 1171
5/23/09 at 7:52am

Re: 2009 MLB Thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon
Commissioner Frezon would also ban green hats
or for that matter, any color hat that does not represent the team colors.
Reply
post #325 of 1171
5/23/09 at 10:33am

Re: 2009 MLB Thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon
I would need to thoroughly study the schedule issue...but my gut instinct is to keep division play and wildcard status as it is. But if you eliminate interleague play you have a chance to play more teams in your league who are not in your division. That would be a good thing.

I guess you don't mind those easy W's against the O's.
Reply
post #326 of 1171
5/25/09 at 4:45pm

Re: 2009 MLB Thread

The BoSox hold on and take the first game of a four-game set with the Twins. With Penny in there, I never feel as though almost any lead is safe.

Here's somewhat of an oddity: Five of the six current division leaders have eighteen losses. Only the Dodgers have less (fifteen).

I was very surprised to hear what happened to Iwamura. Sure, he may not be huge at the plate, but his defensive skills are quite good, and at times, exceptional. Tampa Bay is going to miss him greatly, I fear. The first thing I thought of when I saw the replay today was Tom Brady....

Tampa Bay Rays' Akinori Iwamura out for season with torn ACL - ESPN
Reply
post #327 of 1171
5/25/09 at 5:43pm
Thread Starter 

Re: 2009 MLB Thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by Walter C
I guess you don't mind those easy W's against the O's.

Actually the Sox have always done pretty well in interleague play. And ending it wouldn't mean any more (or less) games with the Orioles. It would simply mean more games for the Red Sox against teams in the Western and Central divisions...which makes more sense when working towards an Al pennant winner. Currently, Al teams play different NL teams in interleague play a differing number of games. It's very confusing and "unfair." It's just not a logical system.

But, no, I don't mind easy wins against the O's. Although they're not pushovers. They've got some pretty decent players like Brian Roberts & Nick Markakis.

The Iwamura loss could really hurt the Rays for the rest of the season...except it might give that Zobrist kid more playing time...and he's been coming on strong.
Reply
post #328 of 1171
5/25/09 at 5:47pm
Thread Starter 

Re: 2009 MLB Thread

I was away for the weekend and just read about the game a few days ago in which Ray's manager Joe Maddon screwed up his lineup card by failing to designate his DH for the game. This meant that pitcher Andy Sonnenstine had to hit in the 3-hole (!) leaving Evan Longoria on the bench (!).

Crazy. But, wouldn't you know...Sonnenstine goes 1 for 3 with an RBI double! Love it!

Did I ever mention how Commissioner Frezon would get rid of the DH in the American League?!?
Reply
post #329 of 1171
5/25/09 at 6:54pm

Re: 2009 MLB Thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ockeghem
With Penny in there, I never feel as though almost any lead is safe.
When Bailey hit the home run, my bother and I cheered and my dad said "Yeah, but too bad he does it when it really doesn't count" and I said "What are you talking about? They were only up by two runs" - and of course that home run ended up being the game winner (thank GOD)!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon
Did I ever mention how Commissioner Frezon would get rid of the DH in the American League?!?
if my mom were commissioner, there'd be no spitting.
Reply
post #330 of 1171
5/25/09 at 7:05pm
Thread Starter 

Re: 2009 MLB Thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkHastings
if my mom were commissioner, there'd be no spitting.

I could co-commish with your mom...

BTW, Penny was really sick with a stomach bug, apparently, when he pitched today. He was throwing up between innings according to Francona.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: After Hours Lounge