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2009 MLB Thread - Page 23

post #661 of 1171
7/3/09 at 11:31pm
Thread Starter 
Hard to believe that was 33 years ago...

There are some inaccuracies in the piece...but it's always a treat to hear Vin Scully.

www.youtube.com/watch
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post #662 of 1171
7/4/09 at 7:50am
When I hear the name of Rick Monday, all I can think of are his days with the Oakland Athletics, just prior to their three World Series Championships. I had a baseball card or two of him as well.
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post #663 of 1171
7/5/09 at 6:31am

Does this sort of thing happen in US baseball?

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/cricket/article6642133.ece

A cricket umpire got beaned and died from it. 

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post #664 of 1171
7/5/09 at 7:57am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dennis Nicholls View Post

Does this sort of thing happen in US baseball?  



If it does, it is incredibly rare.  Certainly a few players have died over the years (hence batting helmets, etc.), and I seem to recall a freak accident or two involving foul balls or line drives (mostly in high school, college or minor league games, though, not the majors.)  But those, two, involved either players or spectators, not officials.  When I did a Google search on "baseball umpire killed" I got a single story related to U.S. baseball - a New York Times article from 1899.  And that was a case where a player attacked and killed the ump for what he thought was a bad call.    (Boy, the game really has changed.) 

Regards,

Joe
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post #665 of 1171
7/5/09 at 12:25pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Joseph DeMartino View Post

When I did a Google search on "baseball umpire killed" I got a single story related to U.S. baseball - a New York Times article from 1899.  And that was a case where a player attacked and killed the ump for what he thought was a bad call.    (Boy, the game really has changed.) 

 

Today, that guy would be found innocent by a jury...but get a 400-year suspension from Bob Watson. 

The only two US major leaguers to die from injuries received on the field:

Doc Powers  and Ray Chapman

Full disclosure:  I had never heard of Doc Powers until I went to retrieve Ray Chapman's wiki page.  I always thought Ray Chapman was the only on-field fatality. 

I've seen plenty of umpires take some pretty bad foul tips behind-the-plate...to the point of having to leave the game...but nothing like what was described in that article.  Which is pretty strange considering the age and health and danger associated with the activity. 
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post #666 of 1171
7/5/09 at 3:27pm
The BoSox avoided a sweep today by defeating the Mariners, 8-4. Papi had another home run, and a couple of RBIs. Through one-half of the season, the Sox are 49-32. It's not great, but it is second-best in the majors.  Hopefully they can pick up their pace a bit after the All Star game.

Speaking of which, six players from Boston made the All-Star squad this year.  I think the AL has a good chance of winning it.  I hope it doesn't go into extra innings like last year.  That was a bit tenuous player-wise; I think Francona was even feeling it a bit in the twelfth inning.
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post #667 of 1171
7/6/09 at 8:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ockeghem View Post

the Sox are 49-32. It's not great, but it is second-best in the majors.

Repeat after me: LA doesn't count! LA doesn't count!!! LOL
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post #668 of 1171
7/6/09 at 9:25am
Thread Starter 
Prediction:  The AL will, once again, kick the NL's a$$ in this year's All-Star Game. 

AL 11-0-1 vs. the NL since 1997.

And don't get me started on that tie. 

Makes up for all those years when I was a kid...   From 1963 to 1982, the junior circuit only came out on top ONCE (1971)!  There has been a decided pendulum swing in superiority. 
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post #669 of 1171
7/6/09 at 12:22pm
Yep, that pendulum swing has been a sight to behold.  Let's keep it going this year! :)
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post #670 of 1171
7/6/09 at 8:25pm
does anyone know what the AL vs NL interleague record was in NL stadiums?
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post #671 of 1171
7/7/09 at 6:18am
And I hear Nomar got a standing O in his first game at Fenway as a visitor.
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post #672 of 1171
7/7/09 at 10:44am
Quote:
Originally Posted by EricW View Post

does anyone know what the AL vs NL interleague record was in NL stadiums?

Looks like AL: 137 / NL: 114
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/story/11786188

Only 2 teams in the NL with double digit wins. The AL has 9 teams
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post #673 of 1171
7/7/09 at 1:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Walter C View Post

And I hear Nomar got a standing O in his first game at Fenway as a visitor.
Despite the best efforts of the schmucks in the Beantown media.  Good for him!

They just mentioned that Pedroia's wife is in the hospital because she went into labor yesterday, 7 weeks early.  The doctors are working to delay the birth and she told him to go play tonight.

Speaking of on-field deaths, either last year or the year before, a minor-league coach was killed by a foul ball.  His name escapes me.  There have also been some instances of kids getting killed or seriously injured by line drives hit off metal bats.
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post #674 of 1171
7/7/09 at 1:39pm
Thread Starter 
I heard the radio call (of the Nomar ovation) on WRKO as a highlight after the game and I thought it sounded nice and hearty.

But then I got to see a replay (still likely abridged) of the event on SportsCenter today and, my goodness, Nomar stood in the batter's box for what must've seemed like an eternity as the cheers wafted down.  Very nice. 

How about that story about Jeter and the umpire after the botched call at third base in the first inning of yesterday's Yankee game?  "You don't have to be tagged out to be called out." 

Looks like it might have actually stirred up a little conflict, though, between Jeter and Girardi. 
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post #675 of 1171
7/7/09 at 3:30pm
Quote:
Looks like AL: 137 / NL: 114

that's the overall win/loss; i was looking for the record in NL stadiums where there's a level playing field (NL teams have a disadvantage in AL parks since NL DH's are not full time players that are hired as such... (actually the NL obviously has the advantage in NL parks since it's the home park and also NL pitchers are probably slightly better at the plate.

also Blue Jays GM JP Richardi says Halladay is available!  will the Sox/Yankees have a bid war or do the Santana thing? 
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post #676 of 1171
7/7/09 at 4:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aaron Silverman View Post

There have also been some instances of kids getting killed or seriously injured by line drives hit off metal bats.



I can remember being at a Phillies game, and saw a kid getting hit in the head, by a line drive foul ball, and had to be carried away by his father from the ballpark. Just absolutely terrible to see. 
 
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post #677 of 1171
7/7/09 at 8:17pm
Thread Starter 
I think many of the dangers of young people getting hurt on the field come from hits and pitches to the chest area.  Ugh.  I hate even thinking about it. 
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post #678 of 1171
7/7/09 at 8:32pm
Well, with Beckett notching his tenth win tonight, that makes three Red Sox pitchers with ten wins before the All-Star break.  That's not too shabby. :)

1) Josh Beckett
2) Tim Wakefield

















and

3) Roy Halladay

:)
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post #679 of 1171
7/7/09 at 10:55pm
Quote:
and

3) Roy Halladay

:)

the Red Sox may actually over-bid for Doc just to spite the Yanks for Tex :)

but seriously, Doc joining the Sox rotation?  talk about too good to be true (for Sox fans).  i'd hold my breath because the universe usually course-corrects and something's bound to happen. :)  look at Dice-K :)
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post #680 of 1171
7/8/09 at 8:33am
Quote:
Originally Posted by EricW View Post


(NL teams have a disadvantage in AL parks since NL DH's are not full time players that are hired as such... (actually the NL obviously has the advantage in NL parks since it's the home park and also NL pitchers are probably slightly better at the plate.
 
The disadvantages definitely work both ways, so it all evens out.

I mean, don't forget that the AL also has a big disadvantage in an NL park because they have to decide to either A.) take their DH out of the lineup (and lose a great bat) or B.) Keep the DH in and sacrifice one of their fielders...DH's don't always make the best first basemen. LOL
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post #681 of 1171
7/8/09 at 9:39am
Quote:
Originally Posted by EricW View Post


the Red Sox may actually over-bid for Doc just to spite the Yanks for Tex :)

but seriously, Doc joining the Sox rotation? talk about too good to be true (for Sox fans). i'd hold my breath because the universe usually course-corrects and something's bound to happen. :) look at Dice-K :)
Eric,

Oh, how I'd love to see a pitcher of Halladay's calibre join the Red Sox. I'd then be satisfied with 70-80% of the rotation, and maybe even higher than that. In such a scenario, I'd also opt for the Red Sox to go to a four-man rotation (e.g., Beckett, Lester, Halladay, and Wakefield). It can work. I think the tiredness of arms is inflated and exaggerated in today's baseball climate.
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post #682 of 1171
7/8/09 at 9:51am
Quote:
The disadvantages definitely work both ways, so it all evens out.

i'm all for AL superiority, but i'd have to disagree... i think the advantage AL teams have in AL parks far outweighs the advantage that NL teams have in NL parks.
Quote:
I'd also opt for the Red Sox to go to a four-man rotation. It can work. I think the tiredness of arms is inflated and exaggerated in today's baseball climate.

Doc is awesome.  occasionally the Jays have put him in one or two month stretches where he was in a 4 day rotation.  i don't remember if the others also pitched on 3 days rest or if they skipped for Doc :P  it was years ago.  
but with those 4 guys, why bother with a 4 man rotation?  even with a slightly below average 5th starter you'd win the division by a landslide.  why put them on short days rest just to pad the lead? :)  
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post #683 of 1171
7/8/09 at 10:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by EricW View Post


i'm all for AL superiority, but i'd have to disagree... i think the advantage AL teams have in AL parks far outweighs the advantage that NL teams have in NL parks.

Doc is awesome. occasionally the Jays have put him in one or two month stretches where he was in a 4 day rotation. i don't remember if the others also pitched on 3 days rest or if they skipped for Doc :P it was years ago.
but with those 4 guys, why bother with a 4 man rotation? even with a slightly below average 5th starter you'd win the division by a landslide. why put them on short days rest just to pad the lead? :)

Eric,

I tend to think a three-man rotation would be pushing it. That would mean that with four starters, each pitcher would get no more than two+ days rest, excluding the occasional off day. Hmmm. I don't know. Do you think that could work?  I like the four-man rotation the best.
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post #684 of 1171
7/8/09 at 11:38am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ockeghem View Post


Oh, how I'd love to see a pitcher of Halladay's calibre join the Red Sox. I'd then be satisfied with 70-80% of the rotation, and maybe even higher than that.

Wow, Scott!    With a rotation of Beckett, Halladay, Lester, Wakefield & Matsuzaka/Penny/Smoltz/Buchholz you'd be "satisfied with 70-80% of the rotation?!?"

Have you looked around at what's in the starting rotations for the rest of the teams in baseball?  Look at the number of rookies that have pitched against the Red Sox in the past couple of weeks.  Most other teams don't have nearly the depth of pitching that the Red Sox do.  How greedy would you want to be? 

I'm telling you, we should consider our team blessed to have the arms, this year, that it has. 
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post #685 of 1171
7/8/09 at 11:59am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon View Post




Wow, Scott! With a rotation of Beckett, Halladay, Lester, Wakefield & Matsuzaka/Penny/Smoltz/Buchholz you'd be "satisfied with 70-80% of the rotation?!?"

Have you looked around at what's in the starting rotations for the rest of the teams in baseball? Look at the number of rookies that have pitched against the Red Sox in the past couple of weeks. Most other teams don't have nearly the depth of pitching that the Red Sox do. How greedy would you want to be?

I'm telling you, we should consider our team blessed to have the arms, this year, that it has.
Mike,

I may have actually 'met' someone whom is more optimistic than I. And that's rare. :)

I should have been clearer.  Yeah, I would be very satisfied with such a rotation. My percentages had more to do with what I believe would be the success rate of the rotation taken in its entirety. I have to allow for some off (as in subpar) days. I figured that in any given week, four of the five starters (that's high praise, isn't it?) are going to have a good game. I think it still may be a bit high (hence my adding the 70% figure, or less than four-out-of-five), since having two pitchers pitch only average or subpar is probably more common in a week than we might think. I think that most 20-game winners lose at least 20% percent of their starts, don't they? I know there are a few exceptions to this, but I think that's got to be close.
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post #686 of 1171
7/8/09 at 1:27pm
Thread Starter 
Well, I'm only optimistic because the new ownership has positioned the team to do well and has made good move after good move. 

But I look at those names I listed and think I've got to be 100% pleased with that rotation (in particular, the depth) because I can look at no other rotation in baseball right now that is as stacked with quality arms that are as likely to give quality starts. 

This particularly hit me just yesterday when I was reviewing the numbers of the yesterday's starter for the Athletics, Dana Eveland.  I was thinking about how happy I was that the Red Sox don't need to rely on someone so unseasoned to start a game right now. 
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post #687 of 1171
7/8/09 at 3:12pm
Quote:
I tend to think a three-man rotation would be pushing it. That would mean that with four starters, each pitcher would get no more than two+ days rest, excluding the occasional off day. Hmmm. I don't know. Do you think that could work?  I like the four-man rotation the best.
?  i never mentioned a 3 man rotation.... i think i meant 4 man rotation with 3 day rests.
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post #688 of 1171
7/8/09 at 8:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by EricW View Post

?  i never mentioned a 3 man rotation.... i think i meant 4 man rotation with 3 day rests.

 

Eric,

My mistake.  I thought when you wrote "Why bother ...," that you meant to reduce the rotation.
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post #689 of 1171
7/8/09 at 8:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon View Post

Well, I'm only optimistic because the new ownership has positioned the team to do well and has made good move after good move. 

But I look at those names I listed and think I've got to be 100% pleased with that rotation (in particular, the depth) because I can look at no other rotation in baseball right now that is as stacked with quality arms that are as likely to give quality starts. 

This particularly hit me just yesterday when I was reviewing the numbers of the yesterday's starter for the Athletics, Dana Eveland.  I was thinking about how happy I was that the Red Sox don't need to rely on someone so unseasoned to start a game right now. 
 

Mike,

I do think that they have an excellent rotation.  And at least to me, Penny has been a pleasant surprise.  Dating back to the Penny - Sabathia game, he's pitched very well.

Wakefield gets his eleventh victiory tonight, which is tops in the AL.  How about that?

The Yankees and Rays both won, unfortunately.  But at least the Dodgers lost.

BTW, the Yankees sure do play the Twins tough, even away from New York.  The Yankees close out their series with the Twins tomorrow, and then head off to play the Angels.  Normally I'd say this would be a possible sweep for L.A., but they've had their hands full with the (very much for real) Texas Rangers.
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post #690 of 1171
7/8/09 at 9:11pm
in terms of the Halladay sweepstakes, the big teams (Yanks/Sox) are probably hoping the Jays' asking price will be too high, since if they lose Halladay to free agency the Jays get draft picks anyways.  then once Doc goes on the open market to the highest bidder, it's a smaller field of suitors.  the Yanks will get him since Burnett will probably have some kind of injury by then anyways :P
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