2008 Baseball Thread

I-94 North · Post by **I-94 North** » July 10, 2008 10:44 pm

One more game closer... Cubs & Cardinals lose, again!

drunkpirate66 · Post by **drunkpirate66** » July 10, 2008 11:17 pm

BottleofRum wrote:
drunkpirate66 wrote:Funny what happens to a team who one yeat makes it the ALCS and the next year loses their catcher. What else changed?

They lost their closer from last year who led the league in saves last season.

Borowski had a 5.07 ERA in 2007 with 5 losses Mr. I Like Naming People's Overly Black and White Stats.

(perhaps the reason they lost Borowski was because his catcher wasn't there for him . . . hmmmmm?)

The truth is that the Indians were overrated from the start. Lots of inflated stats last year.

BottleofRum · Post by **BottleofRum** » July 10, 2008 11:19 pm

And Tampa Bay has quietly lost 4 straight games shrinking their 7 game lead (in the loss column) down to 3 games.

Wino you know · Post by **Wino you know** » July 10, 2008 11:23 pm

The Pirates beat the Yankees 4-2 today.

Jeez, I thought all the exhibition games were played LAST month.

drunkpirate66 · Post by **drunkpirate66** » July 10, 2008 11:36 pm

Can't hit? Tek is 27th All Time For Catchers In Home Runs. You all love those long balls, right? 35 more for his career puts Tek at 16 All Time for his position. I think he will manage 35 over the next 3 years. 65 more homers and he is right there with the Top 10 . . . that might be a stretch, though.

16 All Time for Home Runs with 4 No Hitters . . . . name me another!

I-94 North · Post by **I-94 North** » July 10, 2008 11:46 pm

Congratulations, Corey Hart!!!

aeroparrot · Post by **aeroparrot** » July 11, 2008 8:26 am

drunkpirate66 wrote:
aeroparrot wrote:
drunkpirate66 wrote:Must be the lack of steroids because this will be the most boring trade deadline in many seasons. I can't remember the last time there was not atleast one big bat that would change the shape of the playoff picture.
It's still early yet.
Name one.

I'm not saying there is any yet but my theory is that if it is this quiet, there has to be a big deal in the works that will happen on the trading deadline but is being kept under the radar and will get huge press when it does.

This is my theory.

popcornjack · Post by **popcornjack** » July 11, 2008 8:29 am

Wino you know wrote:The Pirates beat the Yankees 4-2 today.

Jeez, I thought all the exhibition games were played LAST month.

Rain out from a few weeks ago.

BottleofRum · Post by **BottleofRum** » July 11, 2008 10:19 am

drunkpirate66 wrote:Can't hit? Tek is 27th All Time For Catchers In Home Runs. You all love those long balls, right? 35 more for his career puts Tek at 16 All Time for his position. I think he will manage 35 over the next 3 years. 65 more homers and he is right there with the Top 10 . . . that might be a stretch, though.

16 All Time for Home Runs with 4 No Hitters . . . . name me another!

Now HR's matter

He career averge is .264...... which for a catcher you can live with but my point is he is only a catcher and becuase he is a .260-ish hitter no team would sign him long tern with plans to convert him to DH or 1B in 2 year's (like NY did with Posada) because at 1B and DH you have to hit better than .260... in 12 season's he has only DH 12 times.

drunkpirate66 · Post by **drunkpirate66** » July 11, 2008 10:50 am

BottleofRum wrote:
drunkpirate66 wrote:Can't hit? Tek is 27th All Time For Catchers In Home Runs. You all love those long balls, right? 35 more for his career puts Tek at 16 All Time for his position. I think he will manage 35 over the next 3 years. 65 more homers and he is right there with the Top 10 . . . that might be a stretch, though.

16 All Time for Home Runs with 4 No Hitters . . . . name me another!
Now HR's matter

He career averge is .264...... which for a catcher you can live with but my point is he is only a catcher and becuase he is a .260-ish hitter no team would sign him long tern with plans to convert him to DH or 1B in 2 year's (like NY did with Posada) because at 1B and DH you have to hit better than .260... in 12 season's he has only DH 12 times.

The key word in that sentence is "you". (and I was referring to his spot among the best catchers in the history of the MLB . . . but, no, homeruns, for a catcher should not matter as much as many other aspects of the game).

BottleofRum · Post by **BottleofRum** » July 11, 2008 12:44 pm

drunkpirate66 wrote:
BottleofRum wrote:
drunkpirate66 wrote:Funny what happens to a team who one yeat makes it the ALCS and the next year loses their catcher. What else changed?

They lost their closer from last year who led the league in saves last season.
Borowski had a 5.07 ERA in 2007 with 5 losses Mr. I Like Naming People's Overly Black and White Stats. (perhaps the reason they lost Borowski was because his catcher wasn't there for him . . . hmmmmm?)

The truth is that the Indians were overrated from the start. Lots of inflated stats last year.

Yes, Borowski did have a high ERA last season but he still saved 45 games, (5 more than the second place person) and won 4 games so of the 69 games he pitched at least 49 (an likely more) were wins. But I do agree the Indians were overrated, they were like the 2005 White Sox and the 2006 Tigers, one year wonders.

And I still don't know how it is possible to be involved with at least 49 wins and have an ERA over 5.00 like Borowski. Look at his game log form 2007 http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/gl ... &year=2007 his era never got below 4.74.....

BottleofRum · Post by **BottleofRum** » July 11, 2008 12:50 pm

Cory Hart made the all star team as the final fan selection...... and his teammates celebrated by scaring his daughter for life

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6371f ... art_latino

chippewa · Post by **chippewa** » July 11, 2008 12:52 pm

BottleofRum wrote:

Cory Hart made the all star team as the final fan selection...... and his teammates celebrated by scaring his daughter for life

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6371f ... art_latino

damB, they couldn't have waited until he put the kid down?

BottleofRum · Post by **BottleofRum** » July 11, 2008 12:59 pm

This should be a poll question...what minor league manager meltdown is the best?

The newest one......
Stinky Armpit, Stink Shoe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJ3DaaowVmo

Slide Reenactment
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AKWeQbkA6g

Hand Grenade
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ggy6WGUFaYs

BottleofRum · Post by **BottleofRum** » July 11, 2008 1:00 pm

chippewa wrote:
BottleofRum wrote:

Cory Hart made the all star team as the final fan selection...... and his teammates celebrated by scaring his daughter for life

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6371f ... art_latino
damB, they couldn't have waited until he put the kid down?

Would we call that child abuse or alchol abuse

chippewa · Post by **chippewa** » July 11, 2008 1:15 pm

Went to a minor league game last week where the entire field was artificial turf. I mean the entire field. The infield area was brown turf, as was the warning track. (that wouldn't warn you of anything, would it?) The batter's box was turf, the pitcher's mound was turf. It was funny to watch batters go to the plate and try to "dig in". Plus, they were all standing about 6 inches in front of where they usually do after the chalk lines are wiped out. The stadium was only about 3 years old, they used to have a beautiful grass field.

aeroparrot · Post by **aeroparrot** » July 11, 2008 1:20 pm

chippewa wrote:Went to a minor league game last week where the entire field was artificial turf. I mean the entire field. The infield area was brown turf, as was the warning track. (that wouldn't warn you of anything, would it?) The batter's box was turf, the pitcher's mound was turf. It was funny to watch batters go to the plate and try to "dig in". Plus, they were all standing about 6 inches in front of where they usually do after the chalk lines are wiped out. The stadium was only about 3 years old, they used to have a beautiful grass field.

That's wrong.

aeroparrot · Post by **aeroparrot** » July 11, 2008 2:09 pm

Obviously Sports Illustrated has nothing better to do.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/e ... index.html

CaptainP · Post by **CaptainP** » July 14, 2008 9:52 am

Time to review some of my pre-season predictions!!!

CaptainP wrote: AL EAST
Red Sox They haven't really regressed at all since last year
Yankees They head into uncharted territory....ROOKIES. They've faded, but not all the way back to the pack
Rays I love this up-and-coming team. Almost ready to compete with the big boys
Blue Jays Not a bad team, but lost in this division
Orioles What a mess. What a freakin' mess.

Rays have been better than expected, the Orioles not as bad as we thought. Otherwise, this was a pretty good set of picks!!!

CaptainP wrote: AL CENTRAL
Tigers Now following the pattern of the Evil Empire (Yanks) and Evil Empire Mark II {Red Sox). Spend to win
Indians Talented team, just not enough to stop the $142,000,000 Tigers
Twins The departures hurt, but they'll recover quickly. Good farm system
Royals Starting to look like they'll contend sooner rather than later. Just not yet
White Sox Enjoy your last (partial) season, Ozzie.

Just invert this list....and I'm right on!!!
Wow...I was way off about the Sox and Indians.
The Tigers are resurfacing....I think they'll be there in the end.

CaptainP wrote: AL WEST
Angels Easy choice. Nobody else in this division seems to be trying
Mariners Actually, I kinda like these guys, but they are worlds behind the Angels
Rangers Do they have any idea what they are trying to do?
Athletics Poor Eric Chavez. At least he can take solice in that he should be the next one traded.

Why do I keep underestimating the A's?
Mariners are a disaster. Too bad the Rangers lack pitching....they sure could use a guy like Edinson Volzquez, but they aren't complaining!!!

CaptainP wrote: NL EAST
Mets Johan Santana puts them over the top in the most top heavy division in Baseball
Braves This could just as easily be Philly. Both really good teams.
Phillies I took the Braves just because I'm not totally sold on Phillies pitching
Marlins They'll squeeze out the Nats for 4th place. Big deal.
Nationals At least the Marlins seem to be building for the future.

Most of this division has under-achieved, except the fast-fading Marlins.

CaptainP wrote: NL CENTRAL
Brewers This may be a homer pick, but I love this team. Fixed their few issues from last year.
Cubs The spending spree may put them over the top, but I'm betting on year 100 being the same as the last 99.
Reds The upstart team, they'll actually compete until Dusty puts half the pitching staff on the DL
Cardinals Team in transition. Still have talent, but not nearly enough.
Pirates A non-losing season isn't too far off. But not yet.
Astros Their 2nd baseman is out with a torn a$$hole. Do I need to say more?

Cardinals are a big surprise to me, Reds have been disappointing....otherwise, this has been a pretty decent set of picks. Go Brewers!!!

CaptainP wrote: NL WEST
Diamondbacks Pitching puts them over the top in an incredibly tough division.
Padres Once again, not quite enough. But darn good.
Dodgers Joe Torre learns what it's like to have a payroll under $150 million.
Rockies Still a very good team, but last year's run was a once-in-a-lifetime
Giants Step 1...distance yourselves from Barry. Step 2...rebuild. They're still on step 1.

The picks aren't that bad here, but I severely over-estimated EVERYONE in this division, except the Giants.

CaptainP wrote: AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez
NL MVP: Ryan Braun
AL Cy Young: Justin Verlander
NL Cy Young: Johan Santana (Was thinking of picking Aaron Harang until they got Dusty)
AL Rookie: Jacoby Ellsbury
NL Rookie: Justin Upton

A-Rod....no chance
Braun....still could get there
Verlander....pitching better, but in too deep of a hole
Santana....disappointing so far
Ellsbury....looks like a great pick
Upton...struggling, but showing flashes

aeroparrot · Post by **aeroparrot** » July 14, 2008 10:15 am

I have told people that Tampa isn't ready yet to make the playoffs. They have been playing over their heads. I also mentioned to them that they are good enough to finish with a record over .500 but probably will come in third following the Yankees and Red Sox. IF Tampa finishes with a record over .500, I think they would be more of a playoff contender than they currently are and possibly get a playoff spot, but I am not sure if they will win the division or get the wild card.