| 0 |
Subject: 2009 Post Season action and discussion
Posted by: JeffG
- Leader [01584348] Tue, Oct 06, 2009, 16:48
Figured I'd see if we could generate some chatter.
Lost of story lines.
We have 9 teams with a shot at the championship, but it will be 8 by the end of the day. (Wasn't 9 equals 8 last year's theme?)
No teams crashing the party like last season. The playoff teams this year have been in quite a few Octobers this decade.
The Twins are hosting the Tigers shortly to see who joins the party. They Yankees are awaiting the winner, and already have some controversy brewing with Girardi announcing that Posada will not catch Burnett's first start. story
The other AL series has Boston and the Angels renewing what feels like an annual early October matchup.
In the NL, Joe Torre, a post season fixture since 1996 has LA limping into the post season with a tough run to end the season, and has MVP Pujols and the Cards coming to town in what may be the most interesting of the 4 Division Series. The hot Rockies start out against the World Champion Phillies in the other series.
Alot of interesting possibilities for the World Series.
LA has two teams and hoping for a Freeway Series. The Yankees can face old nemisis Pedro, or their other nemisis Manny teamed with old manager Torre and his familiar coaching staff, or Manny can return to Fenway to face his old club. Philadelphia tries to be the first NL club in 30+ years to repeat. Minnesota can close out their Metrodome run where they always play well in October.
The Vegas odds have the Yankees as a big favorite to win the AL, while the packed NL odds show St Louis is the slight favorite.
Anyway, I'm pumped for my favorite sports month and some fall baseball. |
Only the 50 most recent replies are currently shown. Click on this text to display hidden posts as well.
[Lengthy or complex threads may require a slight delay before updating.] |
| 109 | blue hen
Dude
ID: 710321114
Thu, Oct 29, 2009, 14:20
|
I actually wear suits to work a couple times a week, but as Zen (who has met me) notes, they aren't always of the highest quality. I'm looking to buy a new one, actually.
|
| 110 | Perm Dude
ID: 154552311
Thu, Oct 29, 2009, 14:22
|
When I lived in NYC, the only time someone saw me with a suit was when all my other clothes were in the laundry.
|
| 111 | Electroman
ID: 565182111
Thu, Oct 29, 2009, 19:37
|
Watching Pedro in NY tonight, looking forward to seeing that.
|
| 112 | Skidazl
ID: 280401016
Thu, Oct 29, 2009, 20:10
|
yeah electroman, should be a good matchup...
rooting phillies all the way but just want a good series, if phils sweep, that means baseball is over 3 games earlier than it could be...
|
| 113 | Electroman
ID: 565182111
Thu, Oct 29, 2009, 20:47
|
Is that 4 K's for A-Rod in 5 at bats? Ouch.
|
| 114 | Skidazl
ID: 280401016
Fri, Oct 30, 2009, 01:11
|
nope it's 6 in 8 at bats...sweet...
|
| 115 | Electroman
ID: 565182111
Fri, Oct 30, 2009, 08:02
|
That was a good game last night. But the umps again come into the equation. The bad call against the Yankees was tough to see, but he could have gotten an indication from Howards reaction. But at least they did get together. But calling Utley out, that was really bad. You could say it evened out, but Utley was safe, and you could see it in real time.
|
| 116 | Skidazl
ID: 280401016
Fri, Oct 30, 2009, 11:08
|
agree totally electroman, officiating should never figure into the equation. Both those calls could have screwed either team, but not moving the runners on utley's 3-2 count also was a bad call...
|
| 117 | Perm Dude
ID: 154552311
Fri, Oct 30, 2009, 11:47
|
I think technology has caught up with the officiating. Next year I wouldn't be surprised to see a separate replay umpire to overturn clearly bad calls in certain circumstances.
|
| 118 | Electroman
ID: 565182111
Fri, Oct 30, 2009, 12:25
|
I think that the powers that be in baseball still think of it as a game with rich history, which it has, but the nostalgia has caught up to them. Stop living in the past, they are playing in state of the art billion dollar stadiums. Use technology.
|
| 119 | Seattle Zen
Leader
ID: 055343019
Fri, Oct 30, 2009, 12:33
|
Hideki Matsui's homer was amazing. Pedro was dealing and that was a great pitch that Godzilla somehow got down and reached.
Of course, in 30 other MLB parks, he would have been out. A 320 foot homer? I've played on slow pitch softball diamonds with fences farther out than that.
No replay in baseball, EVER!
|
| 120 | Perm Dude
ID: 154552311
Fri, Oct 30, 2009, 12:41
|
We've already got replays, Zen--on possible home run calls. Of course, they handle it the worst possible way, by pulling off all but one umpire, then going to a room to watch replays to make sure they got the call right.
|
| 121 | judy
Leader
ID: 7771722
Fri, Oct 30, 2009, 21:49
|
Rumors here that the flu bug is biting some of the Phillies -- I sure hope not.
|
| 122 | Electroman
ID: 565182111
Sat, Oct 31, 2009, 23:01
|
I wonder if that close call to Texiera caused Hamels to get off his game? Was like night and day after.
|
| 124 | dogga55
ID: 53315514
Sat, Oct 31, 2009, 23:18
|
As for ARod's home run...
Was the camera actually overhanging the field by a few inches as FOX intimated? If it was, who in the hell allowed that? Whose camera was it? Whether it was a FOX camera or MLB's, who made the decision to place it close enough to fair ground to make it any sort of issue? It appears that they did get it right, but the camera shouldn't have been in a position to make it a bone of contention
|
| 125 | JeffG
Leader
ID: 01584348
Sun, Nov 01, 2009, 10:41
|
My 2009 World Series game 3 photos
|
| 126 | Electroman
ID: 565182111
Sun, Nov 01, 2009, 10:55
|
Thanks for sharing, those were great.
|
| 127 | Seattle Zen
Leader
ID: 055343019
Sun, Nov 01, 2009, 11:39
|
JeffG
Did Harold Reynolds hit on your wife?
Congrats on getting to see your team win a World Series game in person, I'm jealous.
|
| 128 | Skidazl
ID: 280401016
Sun, Nov 01, 2009, 23:56
|
another poorly over-managed game. Congrats yankees, hopefully you guys will thank the phillies for giving you the series as did the angels and twins...
|
| 129 | JeffG
ID: 47112621
Mon, Nov 02, 2009, 00:05
|
On the precipice
|
| 130 | Da Bomb
Donor
ID: 487112814
Mon, Nov 02, 2009, 00:49
|
Re: 128 Right, because it has nothing to do with the Yankees playing well..
|
| 131 | Skidazl
ID: 280401016
Mon, Nov 02, 2009, 02:26
|
ok just thank manuel for this series then, not the whole team... LOL
|
| 132 | Species
Dude
ID: 07724916
Mon, Nov 02, 2009, 12:31
|
125: NICE Jeff G -- did you check out my ALCS videos??
|
| 133 | JeffG
Leader
ID: 01584348
Mon, Nov 02, 2009, 13:16
|
Species - One of the photos I took and put up in the game-3 album I specifically did thinking of you - remembering some of my favorite shots from your spring training photo essays.
Yes I did check out your vid links, both the ones you shot, and the one from MLB of the ARod HR where we can quickly see you reacting in the stands. Nice!
|
| 134 | JeffG
Leader
ID: 01584348
Thu, Nov 05, 2009, 08:27
|
Great series. It is nice to not have to see someone mockingly posting a 'Yankee offseason' thread in these forums as was done the last several years as soon as the Yankees were knocked out. I am really going to soak it all in. I just am going to have to tune out all this 'bought the championship' chatter as is already being heard and written by the national media and on the net on the social networks.
Matsui had a great game last night, but I wish Mariano would have won the WS MVP. Most all of the Yankee haters are also ARod haters, but I was most glad to see him hold up the WS trophy. If you take all three rounds into account, he was easily the Yankees post season MVP (Mo of course too) and hope with this he finally can shed all of the harsh criticism he had to endure.
Now on to the quest for #28 !
|
| 135 | blue hen
Dude
ID: 710321114
Thu, Nov 05, 2009, 10:22
|
I'm happy for the real fans like JeffG and Species and 500 others that I know. I won't ever question Jeff's fanhood - I ran into him at the Stadium in 35 degree weather for an exhibition game. Enjoy the parade and enjoy the feeling.
I'm still happy for the Phillies. This was a great year and all the pieces are in place for another run. And it's amazing to have very special players like Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, and even Pedro Martinez on this team. I just hope they can bring back Brad Lidge.
As for "buying the championship," there a reason people say it. Take a great team with great players like Jeter, ARod, Cano, Posada, Pettitte, Rivera, Matsui, and even Joba, and add two top shelf talents (Teixeira and Sabathia) and other key players (Burnett and to a lesser extent, Swisher), and you better win the championship. If the Twins, with great players like Mauer, Morneau, Nathan, Cuddyer, and Kubel, had added those four players, they would have been a force to be reckoned with. Same with the Brewers, with Fielder, Braun, et al. But which team did it? You got it.
That said, they played within the rules. I have no problem with it, but it's just like rooting for the sun to rise.
|
| 136 | Perm Dude
ID: 154552311
Thu, Nov 05, 2009, 10:26
|
I only caught some of the last game, but I have to tell you that I am extremely pleased that a guy like Hideki Matsui won it for the Yankees. A quiet and unassuming player--a team made up of Matsui's would truly be America's team.
|
| 137 | Great One
ID: 101045312
Thu, Nov 05, 2009, 11:27
|
Like rooting for a billionaire to win the lottery?
|
| 138 | Electroman
ID: 565182111
Thu, Nov 05, 2009, 11:36
|
interesting that 3 of the bigger performers are free agents to be with mileage. Damon, Matsui and Pettite were very clutch this postseason. Even though it is easy to hate on them, and I loath them, it is tough not to enjoy watching those three I mentioned along with Jeter, Texiera, Mo with their work ethic. They make watching baseball enjoyable when you put away the hate. This team makeup has the well oiled machine look of the late 90's, and that scares me.
|
| 139 | Perm Dude
ID: 154552311
Thu, Nov 05, 2009, 11:39
|
GO: I think there is a huge difference between ARod (for instance) and Matsui. It has nothing to do with the salary.
|
| 140 | walk
ID: 291046510
Thu, Nov 05, 2009, 11:46
|
It was great to see Jeter, Mo, Posada and Pettitte be integral to the NYY winning. I love those guys. Love my guys. Great to win the championship in a new stadium, too. Tomorrow = parade, 1.5 blocks from my office. Looking forward to it.
|
| 141 | filthy
ID: 388531216
Thu, Nov 05, 2009, 12:49
|
That is awesome. Should be a productive work day.
Olympic torch relay passed by my place just before sunrise the other day and it was a loud enough occurance that it woke me. Not close enough to see though. A World Series parade in New York should trump that.
It's been a while since the Yankees have spent smartly. It's not exactly a new thing that they're 'buying' the championship. Putting that much money into the rotation has burned them in the past, but it paid off this time. They will always spend as long as the fans expect a winner. The Yankees are built for another dynasty run. Age is the only question, the guys that are aging are gonna be pretty tough to replace.
Congrats Yankee fans.
|
| 142 | Great One
ID: 101045312
Thu, Nov 05, 2009, 14:23
|
by billionaires winning the lottery i meant the Yankees as an organization, not Hideki -- he's a great and humble player I can honestly say I like most of the team - guys that annoy me are A-Rod, Joba, Cano and Melky (he's like the guy on your softball team that hits 9th and talks the most garbage). I was finding it humorous that people are saying this is the start of the next dynasty! seriously? aren't Jeter and Mo just about done? and Posada, Pettite, Hideki, Damon etc. And those guys are really the heart, but they are all pretty ancient.
|
| 143 | Perm Dude
ID: 154552311
Thu, Nov 05, 2009, 14:29
|
he's like the guy on your softball team that hits 9th and talks the most garbage
Heh. Exactly!
|
| 144 | Mith
Dude
ID: 01629107
Thu, Nov 05, 2009, 14:59
|
GO #142 - Agreed. Similar to how Jeter plays well above his already very respectable numbers, Robinson Cano plays somewhat below his, in my opinion. He and Hughes are both young, so perhaps they'll yet grow into prominance. Teix is young enough that he can be reasonably expected to produce near MVP level for some time and Jeter and ARod should still have a bit of life left in them, especially on an AL team without a full time DH. Obviously Posada should be the first major benefactor of the sad and regrettable departure of Hideki Matsui. Damon will benefit as well.
CC sure doesn't look like a player built for longevity and Burnett is so enigmatic that I have no idea what to think of his long term outlook. But there are still plenty of live arms in the minors, even though formerly highly regarded farmhand pitchers J. Brent Cox and Humberto Sanchez don't appear to be panning out. Bring on Mark Melancon, Luke Prihoda and Zachary Kroenke. OF Austin Jackson, who won the International League ROY award in 2009, should be up for all of 2010, 24 year old IF Kevin Russo has improved at each level of the minors, hitting .326 this year in AAA, and stud prospect Jesus Montero has lived up to his billing at every step as well.
So the farm system is much better stocked than in recent years and I believe the question will be whether the current core will have enough left in the tank to hand the reigns over to the next crop of callups and acquisitions to avoid a messy transition period.
|
| 145 | Great One
ID: 101045312
Thu, Nov 05, 2009, 15:20
|
I think Posada will make for a weak DH - will he still catch some? or "can he" still is more like it -- and are his numbers in line with other DH's? Teixeria is a good player and certainly he and A-Rod is a formidable core of the lineup, but like I said - they are like the bones... but Jeter, Posada... the fear of Mariano shortening games by 2 innings... thats the heart of these championships.
|
| 146 | Perm Dude
ID: 154552311
Thu, Nov 05, 2009, 15:30
|
The key is Mariano, I think. They've been grooming Hughes it seems to take over, but Hughes and Joba looked pretty weak earlier in the playoffs. If Hughes can continue doing what he did as a middle reliever at the end of games this will help the Yankees out a ton--this will shorten games for the Yankees by an inning.
As usual, the Yankees will take the salary freed up from retiring/leaving veterans to plug-and-play into their starting pitching. This year it worked for them because of the great middle relief pitching they enjoyed, plus CC's dominance.
|
| 147 | Mith
Dude
ID: 01629107
Thu, Nov 05, 2009, 16:00
|
Posada is still a fine catcher. His shoulder seems to be completely healed from last season's surgery and since he was converted to C from 2B while in the minors, his knees supposedly don't have quite the typical wear and tear of a guy who has caught 1600 mlb games, including the playoffs. Still, he turned 38 this year and one can't expect him to continue as an every day catcher for much longer. I'm thinking he'll start 90 or 100 games at C next year and get the largest share of DH time.
The 162 game average looks to be in line with a decent, Matsui-quality DH: 25hr 98rbi .859ops.
By comparison, Matsui's line is 25/106/.852.
Where the Yankees lose on that deal is that you don't get Posada's bat in the catcher slot.
PD, they have not been grooming Hughes to take over at closer. Hughes will get another inside-track shot at the rotation next year. It will be interesting to see if you're right about another free agent pitcher though. Halladay will be out there. Not sure who else. They may well bring back Petitte and give Hughes and Joba each another shot at starting.
Personally, I'd like to see Hughes in the back of the rotation and Joba returned in the setup role, where he has the best chance for early success -- and traded as soon as his value is back up. It breaks my heart because I so badly wanted him to pan out but I've had enough of wondering if he's every going to grow up.
|
| 148 | Perm Dude
ID: 154552311
Thu, Nov 05, 2009, 16:09
|
Yeah, it really is too bad, since they even rejected offers for Joba when he was in the minors because they were so high on the guy.
The Yankees might do what Torre did in LA, and bring in a decent closer from somewhere and stick him in as a late inning guy. Hughes, however, was awful as a starter so I just don't see Girardi putting him back there unless there is an emergency. The Yankees started putting it together when he left the starting rotation!
|
| 149 | Mith
Dude
ID: 01629107
Thu, Nov 05, 2009, 16:28
|
That's not exactly true, PD. The Yankees turned their season around in mid May, when ARod returned. He came back on the 8th and they started a 9 game winning streak on May 13th and pretty much never looked back after that.
Hughes started his last game on May 31st and was sent down for a week, returning on June 8th in the bulpen. He entered a game in the 8th inning for the first time on June 12 and didn't do so again until July 3rd, when he became the regular setup pitcher.
I agree Hughes disappointed as a starter but at 23 years old, it's way too early to give up on him. His mental makeup is far superior to Joba, even if his stuff isn't on the same level.
|
| 150 | Great One
ID: 101045312
Thu, Nov 05, 2009, 16:30
|
I found a chart recently which has the guaranteed salaries for the next 4 years for all the teams. Anyone else come across this? I can't remember where I saw it. Found it interesting to see how much people are on the books for for the next few years (i.e. Vernon Wells, ugh!).
|
| 151 | Perm Dude
ID: 154552311
Thu, Nov 05, 2009, 16:33
|
Well, I don't want to quibble, but my understanding is that the Yankees turned it around in all those games except when Hughes started. Except for one game @ Texas, Hughes was so-so at best during May.
Arod's coming back was a great emotional boost to the Yankees as I recall.
|
| 152 | Mith
Dude
ID: 01629107
Thu, Nov 05, 2009, 16:48
|
You might recall that even though ARod took some time regaining his form atthe plate, the moment he returned Teixeira, who was in desperate slump in the first 6 weeks, suddenly turned it on.
Teix was hitting .192 on May 8th with 5hr and 15rbi on the season to that point.
From May 9th to 31st he hit .384 with 11hr and 29rbi. By June 1st had risen his batting average to .282.
You are completely right in that putting Hughes in the setup role was a terrific shot in the arm for the team, especially after the injuries and inconsistancies from Marte and Bruney. But I'm certain Hughes will be given the inside track on a rotation spot in 2010.
|
| 153 | Mith
Dude
ID: 01629107
Thu, Nov 05, 2009, 16:49
|
Great One
The best resource I know of is Cot's Baseball Contracts.
|
| 154 | Skidazl
ID: 280401016
Thu, Nov 05, 2009, 20:47
|
Congratulations to the Yankees, except a-rod, still can't bring myself to say anything positive regarding this guy...
Though he has disproved the old saying "Cheaters never Prosper"
|
| 155 | Great One
ID: 101045312
Fri, Nov 06, 2009, 09:30
|
MITH that was exactly it - more specifically this chart... Some interesting stuff there, who the heck do the Orioles have on the hook for so much for 4 years? Red Sox have about 50 MM to spend this offseason I'd predict so they better get it done with Bay.The Dodgers seem to have a lot of expiring contracts too.
|
| 156 | Mith
Dude
ID: 01629107
Fri, Nov 06, 2009, 10:18
|
Epstein has a lot of work to do this offseason. That $46.4m the Sox have coming off doesn't include the $12m club option on Beckett and $7m club option on VMart, both of which I'd think they will pick up. They have a recurring $4m club option on Tim Wakefield, which looks like a bargain and a no-brainer. There's also a $5m club option/$3m player option on Varitek. I'd imagine Tek will gladly take the pay cut given his declining offensive production over the past few years. That leaves about $20.4m.
There's a $6m club option on Alex Gonzalez; no idea if there's a SS waiting to be promoted from the minors (Jose Iglesias can't be ready, can he?) or if there's a free agent or trade they're targeting. Assuming they spend about the same on a SS for 2010, that leaves $14.4m.
Other Red Sox players currently unsigned and their 2009 salary:
Jason Bay - $7.8m
Papelbon - $6.25m (Not sure if he's still arbitration-eligible, I'm guessing no)
Kotchman - $2.885m
Jeremy Hermida - $2.25m (I didn't even know he was in Boston)
Hideki Okajima - $1.75m
|
| 157 | Mith
Dude
ID: 01629107
Fri, Nov 06, 2009, 10:21
|
Didn't see the offseason thread. Guess that's the place to continue this.
|
| 158 | PuNk42AE
Donor
ID: 036635522
Fri, Nov 06, 2009, 12:40
|
Mith Hermida just got traded to Boston, and they retain his rights for 2 more years, so he'll be one of the Arb Elig guys
|
| 159 | Seattle Zen
ID: 1410391215
Fri, Nov 20, 2009, 13:47
|
Walk It was great to see... Posada and Pettitte be integral to the NYY winning. I love those guys.
Hey, walk, I was going through a box of old baseball stuff that I keep and found a program from a game I went to in old Memorial Stadium in Baltimore in 1993. This was the first season of the Bowie Baysox and their stadium wasn't built yet, so they played in Charm City. The Baysox played the Albany Yankees. I don't remember much from the game, but looking at the rosters, I think the biggest attraction at the time was Brien Taylor.
Looking a little further down the list - Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte.
|
| Rate this thread: | If you wish, you may rate this thread on scale of 1-5. Ratings should indicate how valuable or interesting you believe this thread would be to other users of this forum. A '5' means that this thread is a 'must read'. A '1' means that this is a complete waste of time. If you have previously rated this thread, rating it again will delete your previous rating. If you do not want to rate this thread, but want to see how others have rated it, then click the button without entering a rating, or else click here. |
|
|
|
Post a reply to this message: (But first, how about checking out this sponsor?)
|