2008 In-Game Discussion

[The Dude]

NESN is the bomb-diggity

[nuclearjew]

Anyone know why Lincecum got pulled?

[Penguin Rick]

The BoSox/Texas game is an offensive sploogefest.

[nuclearjew]

Anyone know why Lincecum got pulled?
Why yes, I know why he got pulled!

Lincecum leaves game after taking liner off knee

HOUSTON (AP)—San Francisco Giants ace Tim Lincecum left in the fifth inning of Tuesday’s game against Houston after he was struck in the right knee by a line drive.

Lincecum allowed only one hit and struck out seven through 4 1-3 innings. He left after Brad Ausmus drove a 3-1 pitch straight back to the mound. Lincecum tried to dodge it, but the ball hit him on the side of his knee.

The 24-year-old Lincecum fell to the ground as manager Bruce Bochy and the team’s medical staff rushed to check on him. Lincecum limped off the field and was replaced by right-hander Keiichi Yabu.

Ausmus was out on the play. The Giants led 3-2.

The right-hander came into the game 12-3 with a 2.68 ERA, fourth best in the majors.

[ADD]

Let's play two... tomorrow

I hate rain outs. Then again, if the Marlins game is called, I love rain outs.

[ShitBreak]

Let's play two... tomorrow

I hate rain outs. Then again, if the Marlins game is called, I love rain outs.

Wasn't called...but same fucking result. Good game though. Now we both just need San Diego to stop sucking.

[Hanover Fist]

Ummm, What's up with the Tribe? It's like they commit an error every play today.

[nuclearjew]

Midway into the second inning and Jose Reyes has a homer and a triple. I see a cycle in his future.

[nuclearjew]

Or not. Fuck you!

[UNC]

Cubs road streak ended.

Damn shame too...we only allowed 4 hits.

[Pollo]

holy shit, Corey Hart just made a sick catch to steal a double from Casey Blake slamming into the wall. ouch.

[Hanover Fist]

I hope Scioscia leaves Speier and GMJ off the post season roster, they can both go suck a rotten dick.
Speier is 1-6 on a team 30 games over .500 and basically gives up 1-2 runs every time he takes the mound. No thanks.

[Pollo]

wasn't Speier lights out last year?

[Hanover Fist]

wasn't Speier lights out last year?

He was 2-3 with a 2.88 ERA last year, this year he is 1-6 with a 5.23 ERA

So last year his numbers were good, but he has been abysmal this year. I can't remember an outing where he didn't give up a run lately. It's gotten ridiculous.

[Pollo]

holy shit, Ramirez just hit a bomb off of Suppan to center field. jesus christ.

[UNC]

Cubs 9, Marlins 2. (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=280817128)

I have been very reserved so far this year...but fuck it, I'm a shit talking Cub fan from here on in.

ps...white sox suck

[Pollo]

fuck, Milwaukee scores 4 runs in the top of the 9th to tie the game up, and Ethier hits a 2-run winning HR to close this shit out.

[Hanover Fist]

While I will probably jinx it by saying something, I just thought I would mention that a certain pitcher is throwing complete filth tonight.

[ShitBreak]

I'm watching that same certain pitcher.

He's fucking on fire.

[Hanover Fist]

Until I said something of course, uncanny how often that works like that.

[Genius]

Also uncanny how the bullpen shits it away, and now I lose my win. Why the fuck is Darren Oliver even on the Angels' roster?

[Hanover Fist]

Also uncanny how the bullpen shits it away, and now I lose my win. Why the fuck is Darren Oliver even on the Angel's roster?

Are you kidding? He's been awesome this year.
This blown save was all Shields fault anyway. He fucking loaded the bases with no out.

[Genius]

Yeah, after looking at everything, I suppose I was too quick with all of that. But they still fucked up Santana's gem, and I'm pissed.

[Penguin Rick]

Were you guys talking about Ervin Santana?

[Penguin Rick]

I hate the Yankees bullpen right now.

[Hanover Fist]

Were you guys talking about Ervin Santana?

Yeah. Santana was looking as dominant as ever through 6 and the pen came in and promptly pissed away his gem. The Angels pen is in kind of a funk right now. They need to work all that shit out in the next month and be straight for the playoffs.

[Pollo]

Are you kidding? He's been awesome this year.
This blown save was all Shields fault anyway. He fucking loaded the bases with no out.

the box scores says Oliver took the blown save (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore;_ylt=AkkAigs3nc.7SYZ2USUt4MM5nYcB?gid=280 819130).

[Celtickliq]

HUGE METS comeback.

[Genius]

HUGE METS comeback.
Please tell me Dave Wright did something.

[Hanover Fist]

the box scores says Oliver took the blown save (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore;_ylt=AkkAigs3nc.7SYZ2USUt4MM5nYcB?gid=280 819130).


Yeah Oliver got the BS, but it was Shields that fucked the game up and took the loss. Shields was charged with all 3 runs.

[Celtickliq]

Please tell me Dave Wright did something.

Run scored and a walk. Nothing big.

[Genius]

He's gonna bat this inning. Giant donger.

[nuclearjew]

HUGE METS comeback.
Wow, and I thought the Mets had a shitty bullpen.

[Genius]

I can't believe I'm rooting for a guy named Ubaldo tonight...what has my life come to?

[nuclearjew]

Harden pitched a hell of a game tonight. Too bad Mr. Glass can't throw 100 pitches.

[Genius]

Carlos Quentin is such the sexy bamf. The night he takes off from hitting homers, he swipes a base. Most Valuable Playa.

[Draven X 23]

WTF was Youk doing at 2B? Well either way thanks for giving Mora 3rd on a walk.

[awonderful]

Chipper Jones is a fag

[Hanover Fist]

50th save for Rodriguez today, and that Tex deal seems better and better every day.

[ADD]

Sox wins. Twins lose. Thanks Angels and Rays pen.

[Pollo]

50th save for Rodriguez today, and that Tex deal seems better and better every day.

and I know you're were someone that was skeptical about this deal. Kotchman sure is looking great in Atlanta.

[Stax]

Casey Kotchman is an offensively meh 1B. You don't make up for that big a positional difference with the glove at a position like 1B.

[Hanover Fist]

and I know you're were someone that was skeptical about this deal. Kotchman sure is looking great in Atlanta.

I haven't actually followed Kotch since he went to Atlanta, I usually don't even look at NL scores. I just liked him as a player, I don't think I ever said he was better than Tex. My concern was losing a decent player like him for a rental. From what I've been hearing, Arte will spend whatever he needs to spend to have Tex in an Angels uniform for many years.

Strange now though that the Angels are scoring lots of runs and all of the sudden the pitching looks kinda shaky. Maybe it's a good thing so they can get it all out of their system and peak right at the playoffs.

[Stax]

Replay implemented Thursday (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3554357)

NEW YORK -- Major League Baseball reversed its long-standing opposition to instant replay and will allow umpires to check video on home run calls in series that start Thursday.

Commissioner Bud Selig was scheduled to make the announcement at 5 p.m. ET Tuesday.

Three series are scheduled to start Thursday, with Philadelphia at the Chicago Cubs, Minnesota at Oakland and Texas at the Los Angeles Angels. For other games, replays will be available to umpires starting Friday.

The start date comes nearly 10 months after general managers voted 25-5 to use the technology and following MLB agreements with the unions for umpires and for players.

For now, video will be used only on so-called "boundary calls," such as determining whether fly balls went over the fence or whether potential home runs were fair or foul.

Video will be collected at the office of Major League Baseball Advanced Media in New York. If the crew chief at a game decides replay needs to be checked, umpires will leave the field, technicians at MLBAM will show umpires the video and the crew chief will make the call.

Baseball had been the last holdout among the major professional sports in the United States. Replays were first used in the NFL in 1986.

[MDiver01]

I think them having to leave the field is not a good idea.

[BooBooBear]

Replay implemented Thursday (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3554357)

Good rule. Every other major sport has replay.

[nuclearjew]

I'm not sure how I feel about this. My gut feeling is that baseball shouldn't have replay.

[iKnowJohnStamos]

I can't believe the phillies came back to tie this game up. J Roll has had a ridiculous game...its too bad he won't be playing for us next season.

[Stax]

I think them having to leave the field is not a good idea.

I don't think they'd go far, I imagine the monitors would be just off the field like in football. Whatever, the amount of bitching that goes on after any kind of close call would more than cancel out the time it takes to walk to and from monitors.

[ViewAskew]

Ryan Church is looking more concussed than ever: 0-6.

[MDiver01]

I don't think they'd go far, I imagine the monitors would be just off the field like in football. Whatever, the amount of bitching that goes on after any kind of close call would more than cancel out the time it takes to walk to and from monitors.
if anything it should be over by the photog's little section instead of down in the dugout or what not.

[Pollo]

I'm not sure how I feel about this. My gut feeling is that baseball shouldn't have replay.

at first I was iffy on this proposal, but I think it's necessary for purposes in the postseason especially when every play matters like hits that appear to hit the chalk, home runs that are close to call by foul poles, etc.

the issue is that it will just make the game longer, for which we all know it's long enough.

and on another note, the fucking Dodgers are just killing me going 0-5 on a 10-game road trip thus far. how they lost to the Nats (arguably the worst team) is sad since I figured that should be an easy sweep.

[Stax]

at first I was iffy on this proposal, but I think it's necessary for purposes in the postseason especially when every play matters like hits that appear to hit the chalk, home runs that are close to call by foul poles, etc.

It's not for calls on the chalk, and it's for the regular season too.

the issue is that it will just make the game longer, for which we all know it's long enough.

How will it make the game longer to look at a TV and say what happened as opposed to 5 minutes of bitching by both sides on a close call.

[Hanover Fist]

Damn, Lackey may have some fucked up teeth but he can throw the pill. It would have been a good battle this year for the Cy Young between him and Lee if he had had a full season. I can only imagine what the Angels staff would have been like with a healthy Escobar and Lackey the whole year.

I also like the replay. I don't think it will add any time to the game since like Stax said, most of those close plays that need to be reviewed end up getting argued for 3-5 minutes anyway. This is a much better and conclusive solution imo.

[ADD]

Red Sux land Kotsay

The Red Sox are expected to finalize the deal to acquire Mark Kotsay from the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday.

Part of the issue that had been slowing the completion of the deal was the discussion between the Red Sox and Kotsay over the assignment fee he was contractually expected to receive for going there. Under his contract, Kotsay was to receive money if he was traded. Theo Epstein and Kotsay's representatives talked into Tuesday night to resolve that issue.

The teams are in the process of exchanging and reviewing medical information with the full expectation that deal will be formally finalized Wednesday.

Kotsay on Wednesday morning was in the process of gathering his stuff to go join the Red Sox.

The 12-year veteran is batting .289 with six home runs and 37 RBIs this season. His on-base percentage is .338, compared to .319 for Red Sox center fielder Coco Crisp, who is batting .257.

A move for Kotsay could be in response to earlier news on Tuesday that right fielder J.D. Drew was heading to the disabled list with a lower back strain. The All-Star was batting .289 with 19 homers and 64 RBIs.

The Red Sox ended Tuesday 3½ games behind the first-place Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East. They hold a 2½ game lead over the Minnesota Twins for the wild card.

ESPN.com's Keith Law reports the player going back to Atlanta in exchange for Kotsay is 19-year-old outfielder Luis Sumoza, who is currently playing for Class A Lowell, Mass.

[Draven X 23]

Wow, Drew on the DL... couldn't see that coming. Well at least he had a great June again.

[Pollo]

It's not for calls on the chalk, and it's for the regular season too.

How will it make the game longer to look at a TV and say what happened as opposed to 5 minutes of bitching by both sides on a close call.

first off, I know it's going to start this Thursday -- I'm just saying this is going to be beneficial for the playoffs. and why wouldn't replay be used for hits that appear to hit the chalk or that are borderline fair/foul balls which may come at a crucial time in a game?

I also brought up the time issue since that seems to be the main complaint most people have with replay -- slowing down the game.

[ADD]

Adding an extra 5 mins to a game is nothing. People act like there are disputed home run calls 5 times a game every game.

[ShitBreak]

Adding an extra 5 mins to a game is nothing. People act like there are disputed home run calls 5 times a game every game.

Have you guys not watched a game where a HR was disputed? This replay will actually SPEED THINGS UP.

Before, the manager would come out. Then the umpires would all gather. Then they'd go talk to the manager. Then the opposing manager would come out.

...now they just run to the room, check it, and run back. Boom. Done.

[Stax]

Have you guys not watched a game where a HR was disputed? This replay will actually SPEED THINGS UP.

Before, the manager would come out. Then the umpires would all gather. Then they'd go talk to the manager. Then the opposing manager would come out.

...now they just run to the room, check it, and run back. Boom. Done.

I hate to agree with Mike, but exactly.

first off, I know it's going to start this Thursday -- I'm just saying this is going to be beneficial for the playoffs. and why wouldn't replay be used for hits that appear to hit the chalk or that are borderline fair/foul balls which may come at a crucial time in a game?

Because as I understood it it was purely on home run fair/foul calls. Is it all fair/foul stuff?

[ADD]

No, just HRs for now.

But along with fair/foul also lines and fan interference.

[nuclearjew]

Not bad, it only took St. Louis 15 innings to score a run.

[Pollo]

Not bad, it only took St. Louis 15 innings to score a run.

heck, I would kill to have that type of offense on the Dodgers they way we're playing offensively -- this road trip (0-6) has been a disaster so far. the only good thing is that Arizona is losing some games concurrently and we're luckily 3 games out sadly.

[nuclearjew]

Poor Dodgers are allergic to RISP.

[Stax]

Anyone following this Pedro Alvarez/Scott Boras/Pirates story (and now Eric Hosmer and Royals caught in the crossfire)? Apparently Boras tried his usual moves around trying to use the trading deadline to force teams into upping their offer, not even talking with the Pirates about Alvarez's deal until mere hours before the deadline. Alvarez though, tired of the dicking around and long negotiations, wanted to play so he signed a deal with the Pirates. Boras thought he could get more, and managed to convince Alvarez of this after signing. Thus, despite an already fully signed contract, Boras filed a grievance claiming the contract was signed after the deadline and was therefore invalid.

The Pirates came back, saying MLB had allowed other players to finish up negotiations AFTER the deadline. The Pirates didn't want Boras to pull Alvarez and stick him in an independent league (to kill his 'amatuer' status so he could come back a free agent) or whatever, so they got MLB to stick him on the restricted list until this is dealt with. As this BP article notes, (http://baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=8004) quoting the Pirates statement:

At the Pirates' request, the Office of the Commissioner today placed Pedro Alvarez on Major League Baseball's Restricted List. The Pirates were forced to request that Pedro be placed on the Restricted List because we were informed by his agent, Scott Boras, that Pedro will not sign the contract to which he agreed on August 15. Boras further informed us that Pedro will not report to the Club unless we renegotiate his contract and agree to pay him more than the $6 million signing bonus to which he agreed.

The Major League Rules provide that a player who refuses to sign a Uniform Player Contract to which he has agreed and report to the signing Club shall, upon a report of the signing Club, be placed on the Restricted List until he signs a contract reflecting the terms to which he has agreed. Such a player may not sign a contract with or play for any other Club. While demanding that we renegotiate his contract and pay Pedro more than the $6 million signing bonus to which Pedro agreed, Mr. Boras has contended that the contract we reached with Pedro was consummated after the August 15 deadline. This claim was not raised on the evening of the 15th when we informed Mr. Boras that Major League Baseball had confirmed that the contract was submitted in a timely fashion. Mr. Boras asserted this claim several days later, after all of the draft signings had become publicized

The Pirates are confident that the contract reached with Pedro Alvarez was agreed to and submitted to Major League Baseball in a timely fashion and properly accepted by Major League Baseball. In fact, the contract between the Kansas City Royals and Eric Hosmer, another Boras client, was submitted to the Office of the Commissioner after our contract with Pedro was submitted. Mr. Boras is apparently satisfied with the $6 million bonus that he secured for Mr. Hosmer and has not challenged the validity of that contract. Mr. Boras has been informed that if he pursues a claim that our contract with Pedro was not timely he puts Eric Hosmer's contract with Kansas City in jeopardy.

In simpler words, as BP puts it:

Wow. This is a huge power play for so early in the process. This is sitting down at the World Series of Poker and going all-in on your first hand before the flop. Hosmer is suddenly hit by shrapnel—at risk of becoming collateral damage in a war that went from skirmish to blitzkrieg in about three seconds flat (or more literally, twelve days). Also a Scott Boras client, Hosmer got his six million and is already playing, going 3-for-6 with a pair of doubles in his first two games for Idaho Falls in the Pioneer League. But once again, we see the term "timely fashion." Not the midnight deadline, simply a timely fashion. According to multiple sources, Hosmer did not come to terms with the Royals until after the midnight deadline. He turned down $5.5 million just minutes before, and agreed to the $6 million offer after midnight. With the deadline approaching, the Royals seemingly contacted major league baseball and asked for some kind of window in which they could finish negotiations, and that request was granted. In multiple discussions with industry insiders, nobody that I spoke with had ever been through such a process themselves, but they universally believed that baseball would likely allow such a thing in some cases, since an extension window would be in the best interests of both sides in the negotiation.

Now Hosmer, who had absolutely nothing to do with the Pirates, has been pulled off the field (literally midgame, according to BP) by MLB and cannot play until the situation is resolved (http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/08/29/sports/BBA-Royals-Hosmer.php).

The Pirates statement goes on to say:

The Pirates made several attempts to commence negotiations immediately following the draft and were willing and ready to agree to pay Pedro a $6 million signing bonus from the very outset. Predictably, however, Mr. Boras refused to engage in any negotiations at all until shortly before the August 15 deadline and even then an agreement was reached only after Pedro took control of the negotiations.

Regrettably, we are not surprised that Mr. Boras would attempt to raise a meritless legal claim in an effort to compel us to renegotiate Pedro's contract to one more to his liking. We are, however, disappointed that Pedro would allow his agent to pursue this claim on his behalf. Pedro showed tremendous fortitude and independent thinking when he agreed to his contract on August 15.

The Office of the Commissioner has assured us that we have a valid contract with Pedro and that it will vigorously defend any claim to the contrary. Despite our disappointment, we continue to believe in Pedro Alvarez the person and the baseball player and remain excited to add Pedro to our system. We will sit down with Pedro and his family as soon as Mr. Boras' claim is rejected to chart a new and much more productive start to Pedro's career with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

[MDiver01]

Jesus thats too much to read


synopsis?

[Stax]

Jesus thats too much to read


synopsis?

Pirates signed a guy after the deadline. He's a Boras client, Boras convinced the kid he could get more, tried to get MLB to void the contract since it was made after the deadline. Pirates shot back, noting that a KC player (also a Boras client) had a similar contract situation. Now both guys are sitting, out of baseball, until the shit gets sorted.

Is the signing deadline really a deadline is basically the question.

[MDiver01]

thanks, that really helped and not that wasnt sarcasm.

[iKnowJohnStamos]

B Webb is never going to get 20 wins....He's had mad problems keeping the ball down lately

[Clownbaby]

B Webb is never going to get 20 wins....He's had mad problems keeping the ball down lately

I'm glad he's struggling right now. he's helping the dodgers get into the playoffs.

[Pollo]

if only the Dodgers played the way they did in the last 2 games vs. Arizona (against their two aces) on the rest of their abysmal road trip to Philly and Washington, going a pathetic 2-8 yet out 2.5 games to Arizona.

[Hanover Fist]

The Tigers-Yankees game just officially became crazy.

[Stax]

The Tigers-Yankees game just officially became crazy.

I hate UConn not having YES.

[CrazyCarl]

move out of the dorms

[Stax]

move out of the dorms

Fuck that, then I've gotta pay for shit.

[TheImpossibleMan]

Fuck that, then I've gotta pay for shit.
Who's a bitch?

Youse a punk bitch

[ninja33]

ben sheets: 5 innings of 2 hit shutout ball, 54 pitches......and he gets pinch hit for in the bottom of the fifth. uhoh.

[TheImpossibleMan]

VERY BAD SIGN

[ninja33]

indeed. although he is hanging out in the dugout...didnt head back to the clubhouse to get looked at or anything, which may be an ok sign. either way, not good.

please get some insurance runs off of santana (uhoh), because this bullpen cant hold a 1 run lead for 4 innings.

[TheImpossibleMan]

MAYBE YOST IS JUST AN IDIOT

[nuclearjew]

0 Ks, 10 fly ball outs? Sounds like Sheets didn't have overpowering stuff today.

[TheImpossibleMan]

sorry i've got a joint in one hand so i hadn't noticed i'd left caps on

[nuclearjew]

omg ur so kewl

[ninja33]

yost isnt that dumb. sheets threw a LOT of offspeed stuff which is very odd. But he didnt look too uncomforatble. we shall see.

[TheImpossibleMan]

I think Yost sucks as a manager, no lie. Too many clubhouse fights, get your guys under control.

[ninja33]

yost is definitely an idiot, but there havent been that many fights...

just said sheets has some tightness in the groin. dont know how serious, thank god its not the arm.

[Penguin Rick]

I don't know, if it was me, I'd rather have arm issues than groin issues.

[nuclearjew]

If you were a pitcher, you would rather have arm issues than groin issues?

[Penguin Rick]

No, I'm not a pitcher. Just saying.

[TheImpossibleMan]

"Tightness in his groin"? That sounds like the opening to a porn movie.

[Stax]

"Tightness in his groin"? That sounds like the opening to a porn movie.

"Cumming to Bat" starring Jenna Haze, I can see it now.

[ADD]

Sheets faked a groin injury so the trainer would touch him

[MDiver01]

haha, Ben likes the peen.

[29a]

Correct me if I'm wrong but the only way guys like Ludwick and Quentin can get big contracts is through arbitration or if offered by the Cards/Sox respectively, right? They have a couple years before they can test the free agent market.

[ADD]

Correct. But I can't see the Sox not extending Quentin ASAP.

[Stax]

lol ARod passes Schmidt with #549 with the first ever reviewed home run in MLB history.

[Fletch]

lol ARod passes Schmidt with #549 with the first ever reviewed home run in MLB history.

Yeah, but it was totally meaningless home run...they were already up 6-3 in the 9th

[Hanover Fist]

Holy shit Figgins just hit a homerun.

[Draven X 23]

Yup the O's are finally playing like I thought they would this season.

[mbslugger89]

...and the cubs are gunna blow it again

[Stax]

...and the cubs are gunna blow it again

My God you're dumb.

[wacker]

Jays have won 8 in a row.

PLAYOFFS!!!!!

[Hanover Fist]

Gary Sheffield has 2 homeruns tonight. A solo shot and a grand slam. The game is in the 2nd inning.
His 2nd homerun of the game was the 250,000th homerun since the beginning of MLB.
The 100,000th homerun was hit in 1970, 100 years after the start of MLB. It took 38 years to hit 150,000 more.

[Stax]

He may be an asshole, but at least a decent HR hitter hit #250000 and not some random guy with like 37 career bombs.

[Hanover Fist]

What a crazy game, Hessman has been HPB twice in one inning. When's the last time that happened?


Edit: they just said that it was the 2nd time in baseball history that it has happened...

[ADD]

It's the Tigers, no one outside of Detroit will notice or care

[wacker]

I'm gonna go ahead and mention Burnett's no hitter, even though its only through 5 innings.

EDIT: Yup

[Hanover Fist]

Clinched bitches. Although I must say I am very uneasy about my team going forward with most of our infield on the DL. As long as we get Aybar and Kendrick back soon (Izturis is done for the year) we have a shot. I don't feel quite so comfortable with Brandon Wood, Sean Rodriguez, and Kendry Morales in the 7-8-9 slots, especially since Figgins quad is acting up again.

[Da Raider]

Fortunately, the Angels have plenty of time to rest, heal their injuries and set up their rotation...

[ADD]

Yay for bad divisions!

[Pollo]

Fortunately, the Angels have plenty of time to rest, heal their injuries and set up their rotation...

yes, but they're still in the race to get homefield advantage in the AL, so they're not on cruise control yet. and despite the Angels playing extremely well on the road this season, anything is possible come postseason time.

[ADD]

It's going to be weird when it's 2 Chicago teams and 2 LA team in the playoffs, and just 1 NY team.

[hatepoppy]

go twins.

[ADD]

go twins.

Fuck the Twins.

Oh look, they lost to the Royals today

[Stax]

yes, but they're still in the race to get homefield advantage in the AL, so they're not on cruise control yet. and despite the Angels playing extremely well on the road this season, anything is possible come postseason time.

Being healthy >> Home field. Home field is nice, and certainly you should continue to play if you have a shot at it and it won't hurt you, but keeping everything regular and people healthy is sooo much more important.

[Pollo]

Being healthy >> Home field. Home field is nice, and certainly you should continue to play if you have a shot at it and it won't hurt you, but keeping everything regular and people healthy is sooo much more important.

yes, but in this decade come postseason time, the Angels have relished being at home -- especially since they're currently in play to face Boston in the ALDS. I think the Angels are hoping the Rays cool down a bit and face them rather Boston, which has been red hot lately.

[Hanover Fist]

Oh man, our lineup tonight:

Matthews .236
Anderson .288
Vlad .299
Rivera .228
Morales .190
Quinlan .279
Wood .186
Mathis .191
Rodriguez .190

Even considering they clinched yesterday, that's a pretty ugly lineup to have out there.

[Penguin Rick]

Well if you take out bats like Hunter and Teixiera from any lineup, it doesn't look pretty.

[ADD]

Cubs win!

11 to go

[Pollo]

Oh man, our lineup tonight:

Matthews .236
Anderson .288
Vlad .299
Rivera .228
Morales .190
Quinlan .279
Wood .186
Mathis .191
Rodriguez .190

Even considering they clinched yesterday, that's a pretty ugly lineup to have out there.

well, it doesn't take much to beat the Mariners now in days, so just rest some guys.

[Stax]

K-Rod's #57 last night rather sums up the issue with the save. He enters the game with a FOUR RUN LEAD that is a save situation because two men are on. Now did he get a DP and then a ground out, so he could've saved even a 1 run lead? Sure, but that doesn't change the fundamental silliness that he could've allowed 3 runs and still 'succeeded'.

http://baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=8060

Sometime soon, Francisco Rodriguez will get a signal from the dugout, make one last toss to his bullpen catcher, have a door opened for him and stroll into history. He'll step onto the rubber, assume the awkward set position he's grown comfortable in, and deliver a pitch—maybe a 95 mph fastball, maybe a sharp breaking ball, maybe a deceptive changeup—and with that pitch, he will break a record that has stood for nearly 20 years: the record for save opportunities in a season.

While all of the focus on Rodriguez has been on the column one to the left of that—he's in line to set the record for saves in a season, currently held by Bobby Thigpen, who notched 57 in 1990—you cannot separate that chase from his march towards the opportunities mark. Rodriguez has had 62 save opportunities this season, the second-highest total of all time, three behind Thigpen's mark of 65 set in '90. Just three other relievers—John Smoltz in 2000 (55/59), Rod Beck in 1998 (51/58) and Randy Myers in 1993 (53/59) have ever had enough opportunities to break Thigpen's record.

The need for certain circumstances to be met for a save to be available to a reliever is why the saves record stands a bit apart from many others in baseball. No matter how well Dennis Eckersley pitched in 1990, when he posted a 0.61 ERA, or how dominant Eric Gagne was in 2003, when he converted every single save opportunity the Dodgers gave him, those pitchers were limited by their teams' ability to create save situations by taking small leads into the ninth inning. Eckersley got 50 save opportunities because his A's teammates, which included Bash Brothers Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco, blew out a lot of their opponents on their way to a third straight AL pennant. Gagne saved nearly two-thirds of the Dodgers' 85 wins in '03, and a better team might have provided him the handful of additional opportunities he would have needed to break Thigpen's mark.

The Angels have been the Goldilocks of baseball teams this year, good enough to win a lot of games, but not good enough to win them by a lot of runs. With a good rotation, excellent set-up relief, and a mediocre offense playing in a league in which scoring is down a bit, the Angels have created a perfect storm for save situations. Sixty-two of the Angels 88 wins have come by three runs or fewer, a 70 percent rate that compares nicely to Thigpen's White Sox, who had 74 percent of their 94 wins come in the "save range." That is why Rodriguez is in line to make history.

Without being too critical of an effective pitcher, what Francisco Rodriguez has done with those opportunities isn't special. He has blown six saves for a 90.3 percent conversion rate this season, a figure that compares unfavorably with peers such as Mariano Rivera (33/34, 97.1 percent) and Joakim Soria (35/38, 92.1 percent). That rate is also unimpressive when compared to other closers with high save totals; among the 11 50-save campaigns in baseball history, Rodriguez's 2008 season features the seventh-highest total of blown saves and the seventh-highest save percentage, the eighth-highest ERA and RA, the ninth-highest Reliever Expected Wins Added total, the 10th-best strikeout-to-walk ratio, and the worst Value Over Replacement Player.

The fact is, Francisco Rodriguez's performance this season has not been special for any closer, and it's been below average for 50-save closers. Even among his peers in 2008, Rodriguez's run prevention has been ordinary; Rivera, Soria, and Joe Nathan have lower ERAs, RAs, and higher VORP scores. He's chasing the record not because he's having a season like Eckersley's '90 or Gagne's '03, one that raises the bar for short relievers, but because his teammates have given him more chances to save a game than all but one pitcher in MLB history has had. If the Angels had Nathan, Soria, or Rivera—pitchers who have a higher save percentage than Rodriguez has posted—they would perhaps have already set the record for saves in a season, and the Angels would have more wins. Quite frankly, earlier versions of Rodriguez would have been more productive as well; this is one of the lesser seasons in his six-year career.

Rodriguez's pursuit of the saves mark is comparable to Ichiro Suzuki's setting the record for hits in a season. In both cases, a player who is among the best—but not the best—in the game was able to convert opportunities created by their usage and by their teammates' performance into a record. In Ichiro's case, batting leadoff for the 2004 Mariners enabled him to come to bat more times than any player ever had in a single season. Ichiro's durability and approach at the plate enabled him to accumulate more at-bats than any player ever had in a single season. (Both records have since been broken.) Ichiro's .372 batting average that season was a career high that led to a MLB-record 262 hits, but his lack of walks and power meant that peers such as Vladimir Guerrero were actually more productive than he was. The record is Ichiro's to keep, but it occurred thanks to greater opportunity than any player who came before.

So, when Rodriguez punches his glove and raises his arms to the sky for a 58th time, stand and cheer. Enjoy the moment, because baseball's record book is a sacred place, and the men who find their names atop the lists deserve to be honored. When the moment ends, though, regard Rodriguez as exactly what he is: not the most valuable player in the league, not the best pitcher in the league, not even the best closer in the league. He's a good player who landed in the perfect situation for him to build up a big total in one particular statistic.

[Pollo]

awesome to see that half of today's games were postponed.

[ADD]

Doubleheaders are the sex... if you have tickets to them

[Pollo]

F-Rod closing the game now vs. the M's ... first chance to break the all-time record.

[Pollo]

and there it is ... F-Rod gets the record.

[ADD]

Thigpen forever

[Hanover Fist]

And he makes the record breaker a nail biter again even though he had a 3 run lead. Got Ibanez to strike out with runners at 2nd and 3rd. I remember the good ol' days when K-Rod would mow through three batters on his way to a save. I'm having a hard time remembering the last time he had a "clean" save.
As far as the actual games go, I don't care how we get the win. As long as he gives up one less run than the other team needs to tie, it's ok with me.
It just seems that he is becoming more and more Todd Jonesian and that can't be a good thing.

[ninja33]

the brewers sucks so much ass. unbelievable.

[ADD]

You should be used to it by now

[Hanover Fist]

Ichiro needs 5 more hits this year for his 8th 200+ hit season which would tie the record set by Wee Willie Keeler during the 1894-1901 seasons.
That's pretty impressive to me when you see the record is over 100 years old.

[Stax]

Ichiro needs 5 more hits this year for his 8th 200+ hit season which would tie the record set by Wee Willie Keeler during the 1894-1901 seasons.
That's pretty impressive to me when you see the record is over 100 years old.

I find it even more impressive because he's playing for such a terrible team. 2004, for example, when he set the single season hit record he hit a career-best .372 but also had one less than the (then) single season AB record at 704 so like K-Rod this year was hugely a product of opportunities. He's been top 3 in ABs every year, and led the league all but 2 years. Ichiro is just great at going out basically every single day (157 to 161 games played every year), and as a leadoff hitter ALWAYS he's basically guaranteed crazy AB chances even on a bad (this year) offensive team like the Ms.

[CrazyCarl]

Zambrano no hitter through 7 (jinxed)

[Hanover Fist]

Zambrano no hitter through 7 (jinxed)


3 outs to go....

will be facing Quintero, #9 slot, and Erstad

[ADD]

Z!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CUBS WINS!!! NO HITTER!!!!

Fuck you, and your jinxes!

[Hanover Fist]

Zambrano with a 110 pitch no-hitter. First Cubs no-no since 1972. Well done.

1 walk away from a perfect game to boot.

[Stax]

Gotta like finishing off a no-no with Erstad. But they'd better ride him easy next time out, 110 pitches coming off recent injury stuff ain't great.

[ADD]

He hadn't thrown a start in like 12 days. He's fine.

[Stax]

1 walk away from a perfect game to boot.

HBP too.

Also 12 days or not it's still a lot of pitches. *shrug*. He's probably fine, but no reason to ride him with the playoffs so obvious.

[ADD]

Yea, he faced only 28, but walked 1 (which then resulted in a double play on the next batter) and he hit that little bitch. Still impressive though.

I wish my friends weren't lame and cheap. Had I gone, this would have been my second no hitter in person (Buehrle 2007 vs. Texas)

[nuclearjew]

Zambrano with a 110 pitch no-hitter. First Cubs no-no since 1972. Well done.

1 walk away from a perfect game to boot.
Good thing I left him and Vazquez on my bench tonight!

[ADD]

Dewane Wise grand slam? Yes, please.

Take that, Detroit!

[awonderful]

the mets better not blow this one tonight.

[PWalk]

Howard just smacked a 2 run shot in the top of the 8th putting the Phils up 8-7. He's not the MVP but there is no better player this September.

[Stax]

Howard just smacked a 2 run shot in the top of the 8th putting the Phils up 8-7. He's not the MVP but if there is no better player this September.

I looked at some random good hitters (ARod, Pujols, Berkman, Grady, Bradley, Hamilton) to be snarky and find someone better but (of the guys even close):

ARod September line: .292/.397/.646 (1.043)
Josh Hamilton September line: .388/.483/.571 (1.054)
Pujols September line: .326/.426/.717 (OPS of 1.143, 'down' from his 1.236 August line of .398/.491/.745)
Howard September line: .354/.415/.917 (1.332)

A tiny sample size of 50ish ABs for everyone, but still.

[Stax]

Here's the ESPN list, setting a 25 AB requirement for September (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/stats/batting?sort=OPS&split=45&league=mlb&season=2008&seasonType=2&type=reg&ageMin=17&ageMax=51&minpa=25&hand=a&pos=all&startDate=null&endDate=null). Andre Ethier, Taylor Teagarden (Jesus fucking Christ another Texas hitter), Kelly Johnson, and Magglio Ordonez are the only guys with better Sept OPSs.

[PWalk]

Those stats are right there, I'm also looking at the clutch hits he's gotten over the last two weeks. Now I watch the Phils more than any other team so I can't really comment on those other guys except maybe ARod.

Cubs up now on the Brewers 4-2.

[Hanover Fist]

Fernando Rodney with another stellar appearance as the Tigers blow another game in the 9th.

Rodney(BS 0-6) 0IP 3H 3R 3ER 3BB

And that's after Zach Miner had a great start against the Rangers going 7-1/3 5H 2R 2ER 1BB 3K

[PWalk]

Lidge loaded the bases and then punched out the last Atlanta batter to remain perfect in save opp's. The Phillies are in first place.

[nuclearjew]

Fernando Rodney with another stellar appearance as the Tigers blow another game in the 9th.

Rodney(BS 0-6) 0IP 3H 3R 3ER 3BB

And that's after Zach Miner had a great start against the Rangers going 7-1/3 5H 2R 2ER 1BB 3K
Yahoo says it was Casey Fossum:

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=280916113

[Pollo]

Here's the ESPN list, setting a 25 AB requirement for September (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/stats/batting?sort=OPS&split=45&league=mlb&season=2008&seasonType=2&type=reg&ageMin=17&ageMax=51&minpa=25&hand=a&pos=all&startDate=null&endDate=null). Andre Ethier, Taylor Teagarden (Jesus fucking Christ another Texas hitter), Kelly Johnson, and Magglio Ordonez are the only guys with better Sept OPSs.

Ethier has been great (and hell the Dodgers) since Kent has been out of the lineup and is taking full advantage of having Manny batting after him.

the mets better not blow this one tonight.

whoops ... and as a result, Tatis is now out with a separated shoulder.

[Hanover Fist]

Yahoo says it was Casey Fossum:

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=280916113


That must be wrong because Fossum didn't throw a pitch in the 9th. Rodney came in to start the inning and gave up walk, single,triple,walk,walk,single.

[Stax]

For anyone interested, this file is quite a cool thing (http://rapidshare.com/files/146136499/Copy_of_Baseball_Prospectus_MVPs_1_5_By_Year-1.xls). It's a BP ranking of players in pure value 1-5 every year in MLB. Numbers are some version of WARP, I think, though don't seem to be any of the listed ones (WARP 1, 2, or 3). I got this from Baseball Think Factory's Yahoo group, I wish it had more explanation of precisely what the # is, it merely describes the file as "Baseball Prospectus Moving Average Best Players in Baseball".

[Hanover Fist]

The Tigers should make Rodney pitch the rest of the game and see if he can hold a 15 run lead. I'd say the odds are 50/50 at best.

[awonderful]

hey what the hell is up with carlos guillen. how bad can a pinched nerve be? pussy

[Pollo]

hell it's hard to know what's up with him because one day, he looks like he's ready and the next you hear Detroit will shut him down. my guess: the Tigers have been out of it for awhile, so why risk anything bringing him back? Carl should know more about this.

[BiōHazard]

So i forget how does the seeding for playoffs work?
Best vs WC and Division Winner vs DW?

[ADD]

So i forget how does the seeding for playoffs work?
Best vs WC and Division Winner vs DW?

Unless the WC comes from the division with the top seed

For example, the Cubs right now would play the Phillies. If the Brewers were to win the WC, the Cubs would get the Dodgers.

[Stax]

So yeah.

That was a fun Yankees game to go to.

[Pollo]

So i forget how does the seeding for playoffs work?
Best vs WC and Division Winner vs DW?

normally that's how it works, but if the WC comes within your division, then you cannot face the opponent in the opening series. so since you can't face the WC team, then you face the next "weakest" team record wise amongst the division winners, hence the Dodgers in this case.

for the Cubs, it's either the Dodgers (if Milwaukee wins the WC) or the Phillies/Mets (with both those teams getting either the NL East or WC).

[awonderful]

please please let lidge actual blow a game

[zaphrodesiac]

Giambi has a fucking world class stache goin

[UNC]

I love that the Mets are choking

[Pollo]

I love that the Mets are choking

pffft, and awonderful thought you guys would take it easy on them.

[UNC]

Lou said he owed it to baseball to not rest the entire lineup every night when he was playing teams in contention

[Hanover Fist]

Hard to believe that the Tigers will be last in the Central after tonight. I'm not sure you can bring Leyland back after an underperformance of that magnitude.

[Celtickliq]

Luck is with the Mets tonight. Santana needs to clear these bases!

[Celtickliq]

JOSE!!!!!!!!!!!

Coolest 200th season hit eva.

[ADD]

Hard to believe that the Tigers will be last in the Central after tonight. I'm not sure you can bring Leyland back after an underperformance of that magnitude.

Who says anything about bringing him back? He should quit after this "great" team quit on him.

Oh, and the Dontrelle Willis extension... AWESOME!!!

[29a]

Why was Ayala credited a save tonight?

[ADD]

Should have only been a 3-run lead. Gaudin throwing the ball away (error) made it so.

[29a]

So the score can be 10-1 and someone can get a save if the last 7 runs were unearned?

[ADD]

I guess so. At least that's what WGN said.

[29a]

That's fucking stupid. I never knew that rule and I don't like it.

[Draven X 23]

Yeah, umm thats not why he got the save.

There was a man on 1st and 2nd with one out. So...


He enters the game, regardless of the count (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Count_(baseball)), with the potential tying run either on base (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baserunning), at bat (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batting_(baseball)) or on deck (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball_field#On-deck_circles)

[MDiver01]

yeah, if 2 guys are on and there is only 1 out and are up by 4 then it is a save op

[Hanover Fist]

You can be up by 15 and as long as you throw the last 3 innings you get a save, that's the part of the save rule that kills me.

[Stax]

What kills me about the save is the most traditional save of all, the 1-2-3 9th. Unless pitching was pretty dominant up til then and the big hitters are up in the 9th I'd be willing to bet a bigger threat to the game state had come along before the 9th inning where the use of your best reliever would do more to 'save' the game.

[Celtickliq]

What an inning for the Mets thanks to Zambrano's fucking meltdown

[ADD]

More like what a 10th inning for the Cubs and it's awesome how the Mets can get the leadoff man on three straight innings with extra base hits (including a triple in the ninth), 6 innings overall, and score 1 run and blowing a 4-run lead in the process to lose by 3.

Oh, and ineptitude rules when everyone knows it


SI.com - At least 25-30 scouts are watching the Mets/Cubs' series and one consensus is clear: they hope the Mets make it to the postseason because they would be a favorable opponent due to their anemic bullpen.

"I hope we play the Mets," one NL scout said.

"Their bullpen is bleeping brutal,'' said another.

"They have nothing but situational relievers,'' said another scout.

"[Jerry Manuel] is managing like it's spring training. Four to five innings for the starter, then an inning -- or a batter -- at a time,'' yet another said.

[awonderful]

fuck fuck fuck

[awonderful]

i think we are going to yet again blow this game

[awonderful]

YES WE BEAT A MEDIOCRE CUB LINEUP

[Celtickliq]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[Pollo]

quick question: if the Mets and Brewers tie for the WC, where is the elimination game going to be played? I'm assuming NY.

[Penguin Rick]

I'm pretty sure it goes to the winner of the season series. After that, I'm not sure.

But if Shea is already knocked down...

[ADD]

quick question: if the Mets and Brewers tie for the WC, where is the elimination game going to be played? I'm assuming NY.

This is from Sept. 12, so Philly and the Mets probably are swapped right now, and if that's the case, it's in NY.

Postseason Tiebreaker Sites Determined12th September, 2008 - 4:44 pmPress Release - A series of coin tosses were conducted Friday by Major League Baseball to determine the sites for various potential two-team tie-breakers that would impact the 2008 postseason.

Teams within 5.5 games of a respective postseason berth were included in the coin flips, while additional coin tosses will be held if they become necessary over the rest of the 2008 regular season.

The site for a potential one-game tie-breaker to determine the American League East Champion is as follows:

Opponents Site
BOS vs. TB Fenway Park, Boston

The site for a potential one-game tie-breaker to determine the A.L. Central Champion is as follows:

Opponents Site
MIN vs. CWS U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago

The site for a potential one-game tie-breaker to determine the A.L. Wild Card is as follows:

Opponents Site
MIN vs. BOS Fenway Park, Boston

The site for a potential one-game tie-breaker to determine the National League East Champion is as follows:

Opponents Site
PHI vs. NYM Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia

The site for a potential one-game tie-breaker to determine the N.L. Central Champion is as follows:

Opponents Site
MIL vs. CHI Miller Park, Milwaukee

The site for a potential one-game tie-breaker to determine the N.L. West Champion is as follows:

Opponents Site
ARI vs. LA Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles

The sites for potential one-game tie-breakers to determine the N.L. Wild Card are as follows:

Opponents Site
PHI vs. MIL Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia
HOU vs. MIL Minute Maid Park, Houston
STL vs. MIL Busch Stadium, St. Louis
HOU vs. PHI Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia
STL vs. PHI Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia
STL vs. HOU Busch Stadium, St. Louis

If two clubs from the same division are tied but both are assured of participating in the postseason, then the first tie-breaker to determine which club is the Division Champion and which club is the Wild Card would be their 2008 season-series record.

The second tie-breaker is divisional record.

Or they just left out Mil-NY, and if so, who the fuck knows

[ninja33]

the brewers would play at shea. it would be pretty interesting if all three teams ended up tied. would the mets and philly play in philly to determine the division on monday, and then the loser of that game would host the brewers on tuesday. and whoever won that game would be scheduled to play a day game on wednesday to start the nlds. that could be kind of fun, probably wont happen with the phillies playing the nats, but still....

[Pollo]

here's your answer ninja, per ESPN:

Should the NY Mets, Philadelphia and Milwaukee or Houston finish the season with the same winning percentage, playoff games would be played as follows:

• The Mets and the Phillies would play a one-game tiebreaker in Philadelphia on Sept. 29, with the winner being declared the division champion.

• The losing team, either the Mets or the Phillies, would then host Milwaukee or Houston for the NL wild-card berth.

not sure why Houston is still involved in this seeing they're out of the WC by 3.5 games, unless there were some games they didn't play with the hurricane. correct me if I'm wrong.

[Penguin Rick]

Yea, one of the games vs. the Cubs got postponed due to Ike.

[ADD]

the brewers would play at shea. it would be pretty interesting if all three teams ended up tied. would the mets and philly play in philly to determine the division on monday, and then the loser of that game would host the brewers on tuesday. and whoever won that game would be scheduled to play a day game on wednesday to start the nlds. that could be kind of fun, probably wont happen with the phillies playing the nats, but still....

Sucks for that team that would have to play Mon, Tues and then at Wrigley on Wed. All the more reason to take care of business before the final weekend of the season. That team would have no one to blame but themselves.

The thing that scares me is that if the Asstrolls sweep this weekend, the Cubs would have to go to Houston Monday.

[ninja33]

Sucks for that team that would have to play Mon, Tues and then at Wrigley on Wed. All the more reason to take care of business before the final weekend of the season. That team would have no one to blame but themselves.

The thing that scares me is that if the Asstrolls sweep this weekend, the Cubs would have to go to Houston Monday.

well, the brewers wouldnt have to play monday, so just tuesday night and then wrigley on wednesday. and just wait til the philly and new york games get rained out tonight, doubleheaders and then tiebreakers? yikes.

And the cubs would only go to houston if they swept, AND the cubs swept, AND the marlins swept.

[BiōHazard]

I would love to see 3 teams get swept.

All this brooming is getting me hot and bothered.

[Pollo]

yeesh, what a damn mess for the playoff picture. it definitely screws up the Dodgers' game planning since we might not know who we're playing until Tuesday and then face whoever on Wednesday when the NLDS starts.

[Da Raider]

yeesh, what a damn mess for the playoff picture. it definitely screws up the Dodgers' game planning since we might not know who we're playing until Tuesday and then face whoever on Wednesday when the NLDS starts.

better than having to play in a tie-breaker game, which is pretty likely at this point.

[hatepoppy]

well, the brewers wouldnt have to play monday, so just tuesday night and then wrigley on wednesday. and just wait til the philly and new york games get rained out tonight, doubleheaders and then tiebreakers? yikes.

And the cubs would only go to houston if they swept, AND the cubs swept, AND the marlins swept.

the brewers will def not be at wrigley wednesday. it can only be philly, new york, or LA.

[awonderful]

the mets suck cock.

[Hanover Fist]

Sheffield with 498 and 499 tonight, we he make 500 this year?

[UNC]

the brewers will def not be at wrigley wednesday. it can only be philly, new york, or LA.

Wildcard winner goes to wrigley, am i right?

[CrazyCarl]

Wildcard winner goes to wrigley, am i right?
unless they're in the same division

[awonderful]

i want to take a shit on the met pen

[UNC]

unless they're in the same division

Yeah, that's right.

I'm a dumbass

[Pollo]

Wildcard winner goes to wrigley, am i right?

Carl pretty much said it, but if it's the Brewers -- then no. if the Brewers get the WC, you get the Dodgers. if the Brewers don't get the WC, then you get the WC team.

[awonderful]

lets go cubbies!!!

[UNC]

You jinxed tham

[awonderful]

yea being a mets fan gives me the power to turn everything i touch into shit

[awonderful]

i want to cry

[JT]

I had no idea McClung was such a ginger. He is one ugly mofo on HD.

[Pollo]

so it's official ... with Boston losing tonight, two things happen: (1) Tampa gets the AL East title and (2) the Angels will face Boston in the ALDS.

that should be a fun series with the success Boston has had on them recently, although the Angels have bullied them all season long.

[UNC]

I think the Angels get beat...I predict either the Red Sox or the Central winner to represent the AL

[ADD]

Tampa Bay FTW

[Hanover Fist]

I think the Angels get beat...I predict either the Red Sox or the Central winner to represent the AL

I'm feeling much more upbeat about our playoff hopes now. Vlad has started mashing like Vlad again, the Sox don't have Manny, and we have Aybar and Kendrick back.
I am open to AV bets from any RedSox fan for the series.

[Penguin Rick]

I don't think the Red Sox are the same as last year. Yea, they don't have Manny. But their pitching isn't all that great. Beckett is Beckett, but he hasn't pitched all that well this year. And Dice-K isn't even a good #2, he has a pretty record, but he has no control and doesn't last deep into games. Which is a problem since Boston's bullpen is pretty bad outside Papelbon.

[Pollo]

I don't think the Red Sox are the same as last year. Yea, they don't have Manny. But their pitching isn't all that great. Beckett is Beckett, but he hasn't pitched all that well this year. And Dice-K isn't even a good #2, he has a pretty record, but he has no control and doesn't last deep into games. Which is a problem since Boston's bullpen is pretty bad outside Papelbon.

the biggest different between the Red Sox in their title run last year compared to this year's team is their bullpen: they've been atrocious. come the postseason, having a stable, reliable bullpen is key -- and the Angels arguably have baseball's best bullpen. not having Manny killing the Angels also will be big, but Jason Bay hasn't looked like a bad replacement. obviously he doesn't strike the same fear in a pitcher as Manny, but he's good to deliver a clutch single/double when needed.

it will be a good series, and I say the winner of this series goes to the WS.

[ADD]

Agreed, and the revised updated possible play-in scenarios from ESPN

Based on a series of coin tosses conducted by Major League Baseball, the matchups listed below are the one-game tiebreakers to determine the remaining playoff teams. Check out an explanation of each possible scenario and Hunt for October (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/hfo) for more information.
AMERICAN LEAGUE


CENTRAL:
Minnesota at Chicago White Sox

From a rainout on Sept. 13, the White Sox still have a potential makeup game with the Tigers. If the White Sox and Twins are a half-game apart after the completion of Sunday's games, the White Sox would have to play the Tigers on Monday at U.S. Cellular Field. If the outcome of the game places Chicago in a tie with Minnesota, the White Sox and the Twins would play on Tuesday at U.S. Cellular Field to determine the AL Central champion. NATIONAL LEAGUE


EAST:
NY Mets at Philadelphia

The Phillies' magic number is now one; they need either a victory or a Mets loss to clinch the NL East title. If the Mets and the Phillies tie for the NL East lead and are both guaranteed a playoff berth, the Mets would be declared the NL East champion and the Phillies would earn the NL wild-card berth because the Mets own an 11-7 season-series edge over the Phillies
WILD CARD:
Milwaukee at Philadelphia
Milwaukee at NY Mets

Should the NY Mets, Philadelphia and Milwaukee finish the season with the same winning percentage, playoff games would be played as follows:
• The Mets and the Phillies would first play a one-game tiebreaker in Philadelphia on Monday, with the winner being declared the NL East champion. • The losing team, either the Mets or the Phillies, would then host Milwaukee for the NL wild-card berth on Tuesday. • Rainouts this weekend could impact the National League Division Series, scheduled to begin Wednesday. If a postponed game needs to be made up Monday and the outcome results in a three-way tie, the two tiebreaker games (for the NL East title and the NL wild-card berth) would each need to be pushed back a day.

[Hanover Fist]

I'm not exactly sure why the Angels have all their starters in tonights lineup. They already locked up homefield throughout the playoffs. Is 100 wins really worth that much that you can't give your guys the night off for a meaningless game?

I can see giving Aybar and Kendrick some AB's since they've been out a while, but why play Tex, Hunter, Vlad, GA and Figgy?

[Pollo]

I'm not exactly sure why the Angels have all their starters in tonights lineup. They already locked up homefield throughout the playoffs. Is 100 wins really worth that much that you can't give your guys the night off for a meaningless game?

I can see giving Aybar and Kendrick some AB's since they've been out a while, but why play Tex, Hunter, Vlad, GA and Figgy?

it's just to keep them fresh going into the postseason. what I would worry about is Lackey and Santana getting creamed these past two games. you'd hate for any of your top pitchers to be limping into the playoffs, especially since one of the two could be starting Game 1.

[awonderful]

crossing my fingers

[awonderful]

fukn wuertz

[Pollo]

bye bye Mets! that's all she wrote on this game.

Dodgers vs. Cubs in the NLDS, can't get harder than that.

[BiōHazard]

bye bye Mets! that's all she wrote on this game.

Dodgers vs. Cubs in the NLDS, can't get harder than that.
like erection? or skill?

[Draven X 23]

From Ralph Nader, after he'd been told by Washington Post editors that the lack of coverage of his presidential campaign was because he had no chance of winning:

"Then why are you covering the Nationals?"

[detroitwilly]

bwaaahahaha.
nice throw, gavin floyd

[UNC]

C'mon Tigers!

[ADD]

bwaaahahaha.
nice throw, gavin floyd


Nice throw Galarraga

[Hanover Fist]

Looks like the Sox will be playing the Twins tomorrow, nice fail again Detroit.

[ADD]

Alexi Ramirez another grand slam! See you in Hell, Twins!

[Stax]

Alexi Ramirez another grand slam! See you in Hell, Twins!

Moar liek see you in a one-game playoff, Twins!

[ADD]

You get the gist of it