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2009 MLB Thread - Page 32

post #931 of 1171
9/21/09 at 6:39am
Thread Starter 
Brian:  That's a sad post. 

I cannot imagine which team, at this point, would even consider taking-on Bradley...no matter how talented he is.

I'm always intrigued by the different personalities which make it to the major league level.  I guess the 750 players which make up the Major Leagues at any given time are a microcosm of society (although a rather skewed one).

But Brian's post mentions two players who have made me 'wonder' on many occasions:  Bradley and Soriano. 
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post #932 of 1171
9/22/09 at 8:03pm
Greinke adds more scoreless innings, holding Boston at bay...  In the last 3 starts, he's .26 ERA.. and drops his season ERA to 2.08.  15W, with six ND in which he allowed 1 or No runs.  (wow)
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post #933 of 1171
9/22/09 at 8:10pm
As good as Greinke is, I'd rather have Sabathia at this time of the year.  Then again, the Royals haven't really had much to cheer about in the post season lately.  Perhaps Greinke would shine there as well.  Where are Freddie Patek and Lou Paniella when you need them? ;)
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post #934 of 1171
9/26/09 at 1:40am
nice to see Chamberlain finally having a decent outing.  also with Posada catching - it seems like alot of times his catching ability comes into question. 

also, this was the first time i've heard an Eckersley broadcast.  Mike: what's the story with this guy?!?!?  i know you complain about the Yankees broadcasters, but this guy is worse than ANY of them.  he brings absolutely NOTHING to the game :)  no analytic value whatsoever.  listening to him, you'd never guess he was a major league pitcher, much less one of the best of his time.  and he just doesn't come across as very bright :)
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post #935 of 1171
9/26/09 at 7:16am
I have the baseball package and watch all of the broadcasting teams so even though the Yankees broadcasters have their issues too, they're a lot better than many of the others I have watched including the Red Sox announcers. 

I'm sure Mike will disagree with me, but that's fine as grading broadcasters is a subjective thing like grading movies.:)
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post #936 of 1171
9/26/09 at 1:09pm
Thread Starter 
I dunno.  I NEVER get to see the Sox TV announcers. 

The only thing I know about their situation this year (and about Eck in particular) is that he was brought in as a mid-year replacement for Jerry Remy who had some health issues.  Critics haven't been kind.  It doesn't help that Remy is some kind of beloved figure in the Sox broadcast booth.  Again, I wouldn't know because I've never seen a NESN broadcast.  But, everything I've read on the subject is that Eck is pretty bad. 

I hear the Sox' radio announcers (Castiglione & O'Brian) and can discuss them and compare/contrast with Sterling and Waldman.  But I got nothin' on the Sox' TV side.  Sorry.
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post #937 of 1171
9/26/09 at 1:23pm
Eck is just Eck.  He's got his own language and style, and although he's knowledgeable, he's also a Hall of Fame caliber flake.  It helps to remember this when Eck's in the booth.  I don't mind him, because at least once a game he cracks me up by referring to a pitch as"high cheese."
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post #938 of 1171
9/28/09 at 4:31pm
Deleted.
Edited by Ockeghem - 9/28/09 at 6:23pm
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post #939 of 1171
9/28/09 at 8:06pm
Thread Starter 
Hmmm.  Now I'll never know what Scott said.  It was up there for a couple of hours...and then I see the "deleted." 

I always get left with so many unanswered...questions. 

===================

The Red Sox seem to have fallen off a cliff.  Lester gets hit, Wakefield can't find his legs, now Beckett's got back spasms...and on and on...
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post #940 of 1171
9/28/09 at 8:10pm
it was pretty innocuous, don't know why it was deleted.
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post #941 of 1171
9/28/09 at 8:42pm
Mike, Tony,

Yeah, I deleted it myself.  I was ranting against Francona's decision to start Bowden tonight.  The more I looked at the post, the more I disliked what I had written.  But I still wonder if Beckett really has back spasms. ;)
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post #942 of 1171
9/28/09 at 10:23pm
Thread Starter 
Well, FWIW, I think Bowden was a pretty bad choice (and not just in hindsight).  He really has thrown that kid to the wolves this season. 

He must've had other choices.

Magic number for Boston is now down to one, though, with the Angels beating up on Texas tonight. 
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post #943 of 1171
9/29/09 at 10:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon View Post

Well, FWIW, I think Bowden was a pretty bad choice (and not just in hindsight).  He really has thrown that kid to the wolves this season. 

He must've had other choices.

Magic number for Boston is now down to one, though, with the Angels beating up on Texas tonight. 
 

Mike,

I too wondered if Francona had another choice.  Hmmm.  As I go down the roster, all I can come up with (not messing up the current rotation, of course) are McBeth, Jones and Richardson (the latter two both pitched last night), Gonzalez, Tazawa, Bowden (also pitched last night), and Doubront.  In hindsight, I think Tazawa would have been the first best choice last night.

Of course, there's always Nick Green. :)

Have a peek at what Bowden said.  Now I feel a bit badly for him:

"It's inexcusable," said Bowden, who did not blame the short notice for his struggles. "They could have told me at 7:05 and I should have been able to put forth a better effort than I did tonight. It's just a terrible feeling, going out there and letting the team down and giving up that many runs so early."

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=290928102

Let's hope Buchholz wraps it up tonight.  (Or will he too have back spasms? ;))

Without regard to specific ordering at this point, I really hope that Francona uses the following rotation in the post-season:

Beckett
Buchholz
Lester
Wakefield
Matsuzaka

Win or lose any series, I could live with this rotation -- especially given how Matsuzaka has pitched his last three starts.
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post #944 of 1171
9/29/09 at 11:15am
Thread Starter 
Wow.  Lester at #3? 

There's been a lot of analysts who think he should be the Sox #1 in the postseason.  Personally, I find those guys crazy.  As soon as the calendar turns to October, I would put a lot of faith in guys like Beckett, or Schilling...or Pettitte (guys who have proven themselves in the past on that stage).  Not that Lester can't or won't.  But I think I'd put Lester #2 in front of Buchholz in that order. 
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post #945 of 1171
9/29/09 at 11:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon View Post

Wow.  Lester at #3? 

There's been a lot of analysts who think he should be the Sox #1 in the postseason.  Personally, I find those guys crazy.  As soon as the calendar turns to October, I would put a lot of faith in guys like Beckett, or Schilling...or Pettitte (guys who have proven themselves in the past on that stage).  Not that Lester can't or won't.  But I think I'd put Lester #2 in front of Buchholz in that order. 

Mike,

Please see above.  That's why I wrote "Without regard to specific ordering at this point...".  I was just listing the five-man rotation that I dearly hope Francona uses -- and sticks to -- throughout the post-season.  I haven't given any thought to ordering yet.  There is so much to consider -- playoff schedule, quality of pitcher, the other team's lineup, etc.

The Tigers and Twins are locked in quite a battle in the first of their two games today.  It's currently 1-1 in the bottom of the ninth inning.  I've been wondering which team -- Detroit or Minnesota -- would give the Yankees the most trouble, and I keep coming back to Detroit, what with Verlander and Jackson, and (to a lesser extent) Porcello.

This game is crucial for the Twins.  If they win the first one, watch out.  But if they lose this game, it's all but over.  I'm wondering which Tiger may be the hero here in the bottom of the ninth inning.

No heroes yet.  We've gone to extra innings.
Edited by Ockeghem - 9/29/09 at 11:37am
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post #946 of 1171
9/29/09 at 11:46am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ockeghem View Post

I'm wondering which Tiger may be the hero here in the bottom of the ninth inning.

No heroes yet.  We've gone to extra innings.
 

Start considering which Tiger pitcher may end up being the goat in the top of the 10th. 

===========================

I completely missed that you said "Without regard to specific order..."  Sorry. 
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post #947 of 1171
9/29/09 at 12:05pm
Well, both the Twins and Tigers scored in the tenth -- but the Twins scored more, winning 3-2.

The nightcap has Verlander on the mound for Detroit, so that's a win.  (No, I don't believe in hexes. ;))
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post #948 of 1171
9/29/09 at 12:12pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ockeghem View Post

The nightcap has Verlander on the mound for Detroit, so that's a win.  (No, I don't believe in hexes. ;))

You may not believe in hexes...but I also don't believe in sure things.  Verlander's got 9 losses this year.  There's nothing guaranteed in sports.  "That's why they play the games."

You never know when the other pitcher will elevate his game.  And, the Tigers might be kinda flat coming off this afternoon's tough loss.  They may be hearing some footsteps...
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post #949 of 1171
9/29/09 at 12:22pm

Anyone think the Braves can catch the Rockies and make up 2 games with 6 games to go (home games against the Marlins and the Nationals), with a super-hot win streak going into the final week of the regular season?   I have tickets for the Saturday game (Fox had the start time changed to 4 p.m. to accomodate the NL wildcard race coverage).
 

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post #950 of 1171
9/29/09 at 1:14pm
Thread Starter 
Absolutely, Patrick!  They are on quite a run!  And, their pitching has been superb. 

It's been fun to watch...in the standings.
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post #951 of 1171
9/29/09 at 3:42pm
I just worry that a NL East collapse is in the making, like the past 2 seasons, only the Phillies are in the role of the Mets, and the Braves being the Phils. And they are still winless against the Astros!

I will say this, the Braves GM is looking like a genius now!
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post #952 of 1171
9/29/09 at 3:56pm
Walter, take it easy. they are up 4 with 6 left.

The Rockies better watch out though.
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post #953 of 1171
9/29/09 at 5:45pm
if the Phils score holds up and the Marlins hold up the PHils clinch a minumum of  tie for the Division.
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post #954 of 1171
9/29/09 at 7:31pm
Phils win Braves lose.
Phils guarantee at least a first place tie.
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post #955 of 1171
9/29/09 at 7:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon View Post




You may not believe in hexes...but I also don't believe in sure things.  Verlander's got 9 losses this year.  There's nothing guaranteed in sports.  "That's why they play the games."

You never know when the other pitcher will elevate his game.  And, the Tigers might be kinda flat coming off this afternoon's tough loss.  They may be hearing some footsteps...

 

Mike,

As I said, "that's a win." ;)

How about Boston?  They almost came back.  I don't really like them backing in, but at this point it looks like they will.  I love the Red Sox, but I really don't see them going very far in the playoffs this year.  I'd love to be wrong, of course.  But they have been very inconsistent, and IMO don't really look like a championship calibre team at this point.

Patrick,

I'd love to see the Braves get into the playoffs.  I wanted the Giants to make it, but that's pretty much a wrap now.  And the Braves -- in the 1990s -- gave me some of my most thrilling moments in World Series history.  At least Chipper is still there.  And they've got the right coach, too. :)
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post #956 of 1171
9/29/09 at 7:47pm
The right coach for only 1 more season.
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post #957 of 1171
9/29/09 at 7:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by TonyD View Post

The right coach for only 1 more season.
 

I heard rumblings on the radio two or three days ago that he may be coming back for more than just one more season.  Either way, it really doesn't matter to me.  The team could help him go out on a very high note. :)
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post #958 of 1171
9/30/09 at 6:49pm
I know the Phils game isn't over but the Braves are down 3 in the 9th and the Phils are up 10 - 3 in the 8th. So I'm gonna declare them the National League East champs for 2009.
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post #959 of 1171
9/30/09 at 6:59pm
And I can rest easy. For now! :)
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post #960 of 1171
9/30/09 at 7:16pm
And the Red Sox get blanked, 12-0.  I realize the game didn't mean anything, but this is still somewhat of a concern to me.  It's almost as if the team has gone into sleep mode during the Blue Jays series.
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