Forum: base
Page 19982
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.
 
1blue hen
      Dude
      ID: 710321114
      Tue, Oct 06, 2009, 17:12
Go Phillies.
 
2beebop
      ID: 19930616
      Tue, Oct 06, 2009, 17:30
Phillies will dominate the Rockies. Cardinals will win it in 6 or 7 over the Dodgers. I want the Yankees to lose because they suck! Boston will be too good for the Angels.

I think the Phillies offense will be too good for the Cardinals and they will meet the Red Sox in the World Series.

Cardinals will win the World Series with either Pujols or Carpenter getting the MVP!
 
3blue hen
      Dude
      ID: 710321114
      Tue, Oct 06, 2009, 18:41
Doesn't look good for the Twins. It's 3-1 in the 6th, and Porcello appears to be getting better.
 
4Razor
      ID: 16946617
      Tue, Oct 06, 2009, 18:46
Doubt you'll see the Dodgers-Cards series go past 5 games.

LA has the goods to beat St. Louis. There is a reason why the Dodgers finished with the best record in the NL. Opening against Carp and Wainwright is tough though. I kind of like our chances in St. Louis as much as I like them in LA to open the series.
 
5biliruben
      ID: 461142511
      Tue, Oct 06, 2009, 19:29
Ethier and Manny need to find their swings. Fast.

Wainright and Carpenter ain't too shabby. I'd feel more confident if Billingsley was dealing instead of dying.

Upside is Kemp is tearing it up, and Kershaw is turning into quite a pitcher. Broxton seems to be over his toe thingy, so the bullpen is good to go.

If they can get to the 6th close, I have confidence. St. Louis bats beyond Albert and that mercenary they got are less than special.

I'm a little surprised the series is a pick 'em the way the press is tearing the Dodgers apart. I'll take 'em even for sure. Go Dodgers!
 
6Skidazl
      ID: 280401016
      Tue, Oct 06, 2009, 22:00
What an amazing game tonight. What a way to end the season!!! Too bad the Twins will be a bit worn out tomorrow in NY, but they're on a hot streak(17-4) so hopefully it will keep going...

Angels will beat Boston in 4...

And Beebop, just one question. How `do the cards beat the Red Sox in the WS if Phillies knocked them out because their "offense was too good for them"? LOL ;-)
 
7JeffG
      ID: 47112621
      Wed, Oct 07, 2009, 00:39
I'm still surprised that some folks forget the ALDS and NLDS series are 3 of 5.

What a classic game tonight. Great way to kick off the post season.
 
8Seattle Zen
      ID: 238441010
      Wed, Oct 07, 2009, 01:13
Woo Hoo Twins!

The Tigers are the first team in baseball history to blow a three game lead with four games to go. Miguel Cabrera's face nicely encapsulates the end of the Tigers' season.

The Twins have been winning with smoke and mirrors, no real studs outside of Mauer. It's time to smack the Yankees around.
 
9beebop
      ID: 4640253
      Wed, Oct 07, 2009, 04:32
Yea, im getting excited about NBA starting up too, so for some reason i was thinking it was 7 games.
Dont i feel stupid?!?
 
10Seattle Zen
      ID: 238441010
      Wed, Oct 07, 2009, 13:54
Hey JeffG, what is the Yankees record in their last 17 post season games?


Just wondering?
 
11Perm Dude
      ID: 438132822
      Wed, Oct 07, 2009, 13:57
Yankees are going to smoke the Twins. No offense, Zen, but have you looked at the last seven games the Twins had against the Yankees?

The best-of-five AL Division Series is slated to begin on Wednesday night at 6:07 p.m. ET, with 19-game winner CC Sabathia going for New York and five-game winner Brian Duensing getting the start for Minnesota in a battle of left-handers.

How cute--those midwesterners brought a guy with 5 wins to start it off.
 
12Seattle Zen
      ID: 238441010
      Wed, Oct 07, 2009, 14:07
How cute, the Yankees are starting an offensive lineman with a 8.00 ERA in the post season against a team that is the hottest in baseball.
 
13JeffG
      Leader
      ID: 01584348
      Wed, Oct 07, 2009, 14:17
Hey JeffG, what is the Yankees record in their last 17 post season games?

I know, I know. That record would be 4-13 Zen. Can't escape recent history. But if we are talking a similar time frame and go back just one more additional year to 2003, the Yankees post season record vs Minnesota is 6-2 (2-2 in NY, 4-0 in the Metrodome). NY won both series 3 games to 1 in the ALDS of '03 and '04, losing both game ones at home, then sweeping the next three.

Many pundits taking the Twins lightly and not giving them much of a chance. I like Minnesota's lineup and their bullpen and think you have to give them a shot to 'upset'. Not that Twinkie fans should get their hopes up or anything! :)
 
14Perm Dude
      ID: 438132822
      Wed, Oct 07, 2009, 14:22
Is that all you have, Zen? You keep comparing the Yankees (or Sabathia's) records against real opponents, as if the Twins match up simply by virtue of winning the Central Division.

Anyone who pins their hopes on Pavano winning twice against the Yankees deserves to be a Twins fan, I guess.
 
15Seattle Zen
      ID: 238441010
      Wed, Oct 07, 2009, 14:30
Anyone who pins their hopes on Pavano winning twice against the Yankees deserves to be a Twins fan, I guess.

In this American game we call Baseball, there is this rule where the chief executive, called the manager, can walk to the point of pitch release, called a mound, where he may point to his arm, summoning a another pitcher from his reserves, gathered in a bullpen. This pitcher will be credited with a win if his team takes the lead in the next half of the inning and they continue to hold that lead until the end.

Being an Indians fan, you might not have known that.
 
16Perm Dude
      ID: 438132822
      Thu, Oct 08, 2009, 00:02
Love your passion. Even when it is misplaced. That's what makes this particular discussion so delightful--you cannot post dispassionately, so when your Twins get beaten by the hated Yankees it is really just a matter of a little poking on my part.

You're absolutely right--when Pavano gets into trouble by letting in runs (which we use to determine "wins") his manager can, indeed, save us all the trouble of watching him try to get 27 outs altogether.

He can do the same for Liriano and Duensing I believe as well.

I understand this is Duensing's first trip to New York City. Ever.
 
17Steve Biz
      ID: 139486
      Thu, Oct 08, 2009, 07:32
Phillies looked dominant last night... I'm excited for this afternoon's game! Go Phils! Hope Hollywood pitches a gem.
 
18biliruben
      Leader
      ID: 589301110
      Thu, Oct 08, 2009, 09:19
Well Carpenter certainly looked human. Since I don't believe Wainright is as good as he managed to pitch in 2009, I'm starting to feel a little better about the Dodger's chances.

And boy oh boy does that Stl. lineup go down hill after Holliday. And before Pujols.
 
19Razor
      ID: 16946617
      Thu, Oct 08, 2009, 23:59
Holliday's error send LA to St. Louis up 2-0. Cards will be in desperation mode to even make it back to LA. Carpenter will have to throw on short rest in Game 4 for the first time ever. Even though a series never really starts until a road team wins a game, the Dodgers have jumped out to a huge edge having bested the Cards' aces.
 
20holt
      ID: 308491916
      Fri, Oct 09, 2009, 01:40
bleh, Holliday. how can you drop the ball like that?
 
21biliruben
      ID: 461142511
      Fri, Oct 09, 2009, 14:05
Larussa's reaction was amazing; particularly in contrast to Torre, who when I saw him interviewed after the game, I would have thought the Dodgers had lost, for all the emotion he was showing.
 
22JeffG
      Leader
      ID: 01584348
      Fri, Oct 09, 2009, 14:26
Saturday's weather in Denver calls for 28 degrees and snowfall for the Phils @ Rockies game tomorrow night. Yikes.
 
23Razor
      ID: 57854118
      Fri, Oct 09, 2009, 14:44
I wanted Girardi bad after Tracy was fired and was only lukewarm on Torre who worked with a very different type of team in New York, but so far, Torre has been nothing but great. A few blips like batting Kemp 8th for so long, but he is a fine manager. The Dodgers won't get outmanaged by anyone, something that was not true with all the managers we've had since Lasorda retired. Tracy was a fine manager until his last season in LA too when he lost it completely. He has since gained it back, but he is still prone to being outmanaged in-game.
 
24Skidazl
      ID: 280401016
      Fri, Oct 09, 2009, 22:36
why do they always get the least competent umpires for the postseason?

Last night's angel game had at least 4-5 ridiculously bad calls, fortunately none had an outcome in the game...

But the call on mauer's double was the worst call i think i have ever seen. And that "may" have cost them the game...
 
25Electroman
      ID: 565182111
      Fri, Oct 09, 2009, 22:57
Phil Cuzzi. He lives in New Jersey according to his bio, should stay home for the rest of the playoffs. A mess-up like that is inexcusable.
 
26Perm Dude
      ID: 438132822
      Fri, Oct 09, 2009, 23:00
He was obviously screened out by the player from seeing where the ball landed, but the fact that it hit the glove should have made it moot.
 
27Skidazl
      ID: 280401016
      Fri, Oct 09, 2009, 23:04
#25 exactly, that is the exact reason there are 2 extra umps down the line...
 
28Skidazl
      ID: 280401016
      Fri, Oct 09, 2009, 23:15
and why can't we have our own home announcers? listening to -uck Martinez kiss Beckett's and the rest of the Red Sox' arses really gets old. He didn't even play for them...
 
29JeffG
      ID: 47112621
      Sat, Oct 10, 2009, 13:36
Saturday night's NLDS game 3 in Denver between the Rockies and Phillies was postponed. G3 will be played on Sunday night, G4 is now on Monday. The off day is lost. If G5 is needed in Philadelphia, it will still be Tuesday.
 
30blue hen
      Dude
      ID: 710321114
      Mon, Oct 12, 2009, 10:04
Go Phillies, although I'll admit there were more than a couple bad calls last night. The Utley foul ball was the most obvious, but have a look at Matt Stairs' strike zone some time.
 
31Perm Dude
      ID: 438132822
      Mon, Oct 12, 2009, 11:52
I hate Papelbon, and therefore am still floating in joy...
 
32Skidazl
      ID: 280401016
      Mon, Oct 12, 2009, 13:10
I hate Papelbon, and therefore am still floating in joy...

ditto

I really hope they get rid of the pitch trax on every pitch, because it really shows how awful and inconsistent these umpires really are...
 
33Seattle Zen
      ID: 238441010
      Mon, Oct 12, 2009, 13:48
But the call on mauer's double was the worst call i think i have ever seen.

As much fun as it is to be a passionate baseball fan, it has its drawbacks. Nothing angers me more, and the resentment burns longer, than a blown call.

In a cost cutting move that cuts deep in October, we got rid of all channels except the most basic cable, so no ESPN or TBS. To watch my Twins, I had to go to the gym and walk on the treadmill. I walked for over an hour for both games one and two. (When you get off, the world is as unsteady as a sailor coming into port for the first time in months...) Oh, the gym is prepaid at $100 for TWO YEARS or $4.17/month!

I saw the unspeakable baserunning blunder by Carlos Gomez. I stuck around to see Harris make Johnny Damon look like a fool in left and the Twins take the lead. That was long enough, I had traversed about five miles.

I would have smashed something when Nathan blew the save and probably the destroyed the TV watching the Cuzzi blown call, so it's for the best that I went home.

Twins v. Yankees in the playoffs reminds me far too much of George W. Bush. Now with Joe Torre, probably the best guy involved back then, long gone, it's like having a Dick Cheney-led squad getting the benefit of bad calls.

I now leave it to the Angels to dispatch the Evil Doers. They will have the baseball gods on their side.
 
34JeffG
      Leader
      ID: 01584348
      Mon, Oct 12, 2009, 14:02
The umpires are inconsistent but I think the pitch trax is also very inaccurate in terms of the size of the strike zone relative to the batter, and in relation to where the ball crosses the plane of the plate. There were a few times I saw pitches that finished out of the strike zone that pitch trax seemed to think were right down the middle.
 
35JeffG
      Leader
      ID: 01584348
      Mon, Oct 12, 2009, 14:07
Zen - just because the Yankees were the beneficiaries of some awful calls don't hold it against them (and for some strange reason, the former Republican administration) and think karma should reward the Angels in the next round.

Bad calls suck. I hate it just as much when my team wins on a bad call as if it happens against me.

But reality check. The Twins ran themselves out of a few games too, and lost it themselves more than the bad calls which did hurt them. They had tons of missed opportunities to drive in runners in scoring position.
 
36Perm Dude
      ID: 438132822
      Mon, Oct 12, 2009, 14:08
I agree. The graph is two dimensional but the umpires are looking to see if the ball crosses any part of an area, not a plane.

Umpires can, and do, miss pitch calls. But I don't think the graph is an altogether accurate picture of what the umpire is seeing because it is measuring something different. That's why the replay shot above the plate looking down is often useful for close calls pitch calls.

Of course, since umpires routinely don't call pitches at the letters as strikes I'm not sure we're on the same page anyway.
 
37Skidazl
      ID: 280401016
      Mon, Oct 12, 2009, 16:45
The umpires are inconsistent but I think the pitch trax is also very inaccurate in terms of the size of the strike zone relative to the batter, and in relation to where the ball crosses the plane of the plate

I agree 100% but isn't that all the more reason to not use it on every pitch?
 
38judy
      Leader
      ID: 7771722
      Mon, Oct 12, 2009, 17:55
Every pitch to Stairs was in the same vertical plane -- outside -- except one. Two
were called balls and two were called strikes and he was forced to swing at the rest
of them. How is a batter supposed to hit?

That Mauer hit was inexcusable -- did he even have his eyes open? He was right
there staring at it!

They blew the Utley call too but at this point play everything as if it is fair and let the
umps screw it up. (Inge HBP anyone?)

GO PHILLIES ! GO LEE!

 
39judy
      Leader
      ID: 7771722
      Mon, Oct 12, 2009, 22:14
YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
 
40judy
      Leader
      ID: 7771722
      Tue, Oct 13, 2009, 22:24
I think Lidge got into Tulo's head -- last out two nights in a row...
 
41Skidazl
      ID: 280401016
      Thu, Oct 15, 2009, 01:10
judy, i don't think all those pitches were on the same vertical plane, that is only as far as pitch trax goes. same with the other side of the plate. either way, they were outside and BS
 
42judy
      Leader
      ID: 7771722
      Fri, Oct 16, 2009, 14:47
Good thing we are not playing in Philly -- it is miserable here -- rainy and cold (low's 40's). i
wonder what they will do about the Yankees game tonight -- East Coast weather supposed to
last through Saturday...

GO PHILS -- Nice game last night -- Ruiz for MVP (He woulda got my vote LAST year...)
 
43biliruben
      ID: 461142511
      Fri, Oct 16, 2009, 19:10
Come on, Broxton...
 
44biliruben
      ID: 461142511
      Fri, Oct 16, 2009, 19:13
Sweet Jebus.
 
45Perm Dude
      ID: 154552311
      Fri, Oct 16, 2009, 19:23
Man--the Phillies wasted a a hell of a game out of Pedro.
 
46judy
      Leader
      ID: 7771722
      Fri, Oct 16, 2009, 21:58
YOu bet -- why not let Pedro finish it out -- he only had 90 pitches and it's not like he is going to
pitch again in this series... HUGE manager mistake.

What's with Utley's lousy footwork on DP's? That's two games in a row...
 
47Perm Dude
      ID: 154552311
      Sat, Oct 17, 2009, 13:39
When is a game a sellout? When we say it is!

Yankees overpriced tickets continue to hamper on-site support.
 
48Mattinglyinthehall
      ID: 37838313
      Sat, Oct 17, 2009, 14:30
What a stupid article. How does this guy not understand that you can have both a sellout and sub-capacity attendance? Or that on a night when the wind chill was in the 20 at field level (who knows how low it was up in the stands) you might get a few no-shows, even at an ALCS game.
 
49Perm Dude
      ID: 154552311
      Sat, Oct 17, 2009, 14:38
No shows are not the same as not selling out. Did the Yankees sell every seat? I doubt it. Their pricing scheme makes it extremely difficult to do that even for the playoffs. And that's the point of the article.
 
50Mattinglyinthehall
      ID: 37838313
      Sat, Oct 17, 2009, 14:50
The only source that I know of for information about whether Yankee Stadium sells out for a Yankees game is the New York Yankees, which reported yesterday that the game was sold out. Accuse them of lying if you want, but I don't see how this dolt or anyone else can support that claim.

Here's the most ridiculous sentence I've read today (and that's saying something, since I've also read through some of FNC's coverage of the Limbaugh/NFL story):
The team later amended its announcement, insisting that it had sold all of the available tickets, even if its own official Web site notes that total capacity at new Yankee Stadium is 52,325.
 
51Perm Dude
      ID: 154552311
      Sat, Oct 17, 2009, 15:01
Heh. Well, I think the whole point is that the Yankees, like MLB in general, use "sellout" as a publicity tool rather than a fact.

This is, of course, the same group which convinced the city to borrow money to build them a new workplace, at a cost of $1.6 billion. It certainly isn't in their best interest to report information which reflects poorly upon their ticket sales performance, and with no oversight it seems unlikely that all the truth is being told.

At least, to me. It might be true that the only source for Yankees sellouts is from the Yankees. This doesn't make that information accurate, however. This is like saying Rush Limbaugh is the only source for whether Rush Limbaugh is a racist and leaving it at that.
 
52Electroman
      ID: 565182111
      Sat, Oct 17, 2009, 15:02
“I’m a worker. I’m not the one who makes prices. I want every fan of New York to come – to be able to come – and enjoy the game.”

Wouldn't the bloated contracts of the Yankee players have something to do with the prices of the tickets? Or is it the handouts they recieve from taxpayers?
 
53Mattinglyinthehall
      ID: 37838313
      Sat, Oct 17, 2009, 15:11
This doesn't make that information accurate, however.

Of course not. But unlike the question of Rush's racism there isn't much to go on, including anything like an extensive pattern of statements and behavior to consider.

I don't dismiss the possibility that they might be lying about ticket sales, but the writer of that article attempts that very case by pointing to the attendance numbers.

The writer also claims that a pair of still available $100 tickets for tonight's game, which he describes as "excellent seats, at the cut of the outfield grass, near the edge of an upper deck that offers a sweeping view of the field" are unsold because "average Yankees fans are now conditioned to believe they can’t afford a ticket". What an ass.
 
54Perm Dude
      ID: 154552311
      Sat, Oct 17, 2009, 15:21
Well, I don't think you can dismiss out of hand the ongoing problems of clearly overpriced tickets. Perhaps the writer is overreaching with the "why" of "why isn't the game already sold out?" but not selling out games has been a season-long problem for the team.

Frankly, I think $100 tickets are far out of reach for "average Yankees fans" but that's just me, I think.
 
55Mattinglyinthehall
      ID: 37838313
      Sat, Oct 17, 2009, 15:38
I don't think you can dismiss out of hand the ongoing problems of clearly overpriced tickets

I'm not quite sure just how ongoing they are, but I haven't and don't dismiss that there certainly was and might still be a problem.

Frankly, I think $100 tickets are far out of reach for "average Yankees fans" but that's just me, I think.

I should have provided a longer excerpt, the writer describes the cost of those seats as "reaonable", though I wouldn't have paid that to sit up on the stands in last night's weather. Incidentially, I was at last night's game, several sections further from home plate in section 307. Face value of our seats was $80, which also would have been too much for me last night (they were a gift).

But before you can call that a "Yankee" problem, you should at least check the face value of comparable seats at the other three LCS stadiums. I tend to think that in general, most playoff baseball tickets are usually pretty far out of reach for average fans of any team.
 
56Electroman
      ID: 565182111
      Sun, Oct 18, 2009, 00:13
Stupid bandbox stadium!!!!!
 
57Perm Dude
      ID: 154552311
      Sun, Oct 18, 2009, 00:42
Heh.

I tuned in at the beginning of the 11th. Turned out to be a great time to start watching!

Say what you want about ARod (and I've said plenty), but the difference between this year and last year is that ARod's hits this season have been meaningful.
 
58Seattle Zen
      Leader
      ID: 055343019
      Sun, Oct 18, 2009, 01:32
Wow, I hope you got to go to that one, as well, MITH, that was a hell of a game. You had to be pretty hard core to stick around to 1:00am in that weather, but what a payoff.
 
59JeffG
      ID: 47112621
      Sun, Oct 18, 2009, 02:40
Another epic Yankee game tonight. Wow!. It was pricey for me tonight, but well worth the money.
 
60Skidazl
      ID: 280401016
      Sun, Oct 18, 2009, 17:13
unlike the twins, i expected the angels to not give the games away to the yankees...

oh well, gotta pay for that stadium and those contracts somehow...
 
61Species
      ID: 2591161
      Sun, Oct 18, 2009, 19:18
I am going to Game 3. Left field stands between the foul pole and the bullpen.....behind the short little 3-foot high fence. Second row. Look for the stud in the dark blue Yankees jersey.
 
62Skidazl
      ID: 280401016
      Sun, Oct 18, 2009, 19:53
cool, you gonna throw back Hunter's dinger when you catch it? LOL
 
63Seattle Zen
      Leader
      ID: 055343019
      Mon, Oct 19, 2009, 00:25
This team goes to ELEVEN!

The Dodgers' amp shorted out.

cool, you gonna throw back Hunter's dinger when you catch it?

He'll be too busy getting that chick's digits two rows down that he won't even notice the tater.
 
64biliruben
      Leader
      ID: 589301110
      Mon, Oct 19, 2009, 00:34
Man am I glad I didn't make too much of an effort to watch that game. Saw innings 5-8, and that was plenty. Yuck. Small comfort, but glad to see Billingsley vaguely decent.
 
65JeffG
      Leader
      ID: 01584348
      Mon, Oct 19, 2009, 16:13
It is five years later, but the dozen or so times I heared or read some version of the following today, I still cringe:

With a win today, the Yankees would take a commanding 3-0 lead in the ALCS

Yes, I want them to be up 3-0 and not 2-1, but it still hits a sour spot.
 
66J
      Leader
      ID: 049346417
      Mon, Oct 19, 2009, 16:43
Anyone else dreading the unavoidable Philthies-Yankees World Series?

Mets fan worst nightmare...I'd say I'd root for the Yankees, but I just can't watch :(
 
67mith
      ID: 459591915
      Mon, Oct 19, 2009, 16:59
Hey we had to live through 1986.
 
68Electroman
      ID: 565182111
      Mon, Oct 19, 2009, 17:17
Yeah, but you have to like the way it ended even though, right?
 
69mith
      ID: 499101917
      Mon, Oct 19, 2009, 18:10
It was the less regretable of two possible results.
 
70Skidazl
      ID: 280401016
      Mon, Oct 19, 2009, 19:08
gotta love the moronic yankee announcers.. they took the Angels out of the post season as soon as jeter hit his HR...

and how are you a professional broadcaster and not know the players? Who(NOBODY) calls maicer Macer? And it's erick aybar, not Manny, moron...
 
71Skidazl
      ID: 280401016
      Mon, Oct 19, 2009, 19:31
WOW, i went into this series pretty confident seeing the yankees being given the ALDS by the Twins base running, thinking that the angels would not do the same...

well, I could not have been more wrong. Abreu's baserunning error probably gave the yankees another win. Series should be 2-1 angels...
 
72mith
      ID: 129391918
      Mon, Oct 19, 2009, 19:39
Not the first time yankee fans have seen abreu make a mistake on the basepaths.
 
73Da Bomb
      Donor
      ID: 487112814
      Mon, Oct 19, 2009, 19:54
gotta love the moronic yankee announcers

They aren't Yankee announcers, they are ALCS announcers.
 
74Skidazl
      ID: 280401016
      Mon, Oct 19, 2009, 20:29
maybe not officially, but listen to them talk, they are in love with the yankees, thus they may as well be yankee announcers

 
75Seattle Zen
      Leader
      ID: 055343019
      Mon, Oct 19, 2009, 20:42
You may have avoided a "sour spot", JeffG, but that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach should still be familiar..
 
76Skidazl
      ID: 280401016
      Mon, Oct 19, 2009, 20:48
JeffG, feeling better? It's not 3-0.... LOL
 
77JeffG
      ID: 47112621
      Mon, Oct 19, 2009, 22:13
No worries here. Not even going to get me to second guess like everyone else because it all worked until now. Of course all three games so far could have went either way.
 
78Species
      ID: 2591161
      Mon, Oct 19, 2009, 23:00
What a great game to attend. I was in the 2nd row of the LF bleachers, between the LF foul pole and the exit from the bullpen. Anyone on my FB can see plenty of videos of me yelling at the Yankee pitchers as they are making their way to the field. Alfredo Acevas gave me a high 5 as he went out to the pen before the game.

The crowd was into it pretty big. Lots of frustration for the Yankees with at least 2 men on 3rd with one out and they didn't get them home. Girardi completely OVERMANAGED the game.....running into an out with Posada up in the 8th.....getting stuck having to put Rivera into the batting lineup. And Robertson was doing just fine....with two more right handers coming up, what was the point of bringing Acevas in???? WTF?

Awesome game though. Great seats. Had a blast.
 
79Skidazl
      ID: 280401016
      Mon, Oct 19, 2009, 23:56
too walk off hits today, what a post season...

Jeff, totally, been a good series, a lot of excitement...
 
80judy
      Leader
      ID: 7771722
      Tue, Oct 20, 2009, 00:32
BEAT LA!

BEAT LA!

BEAT LA!

Dodgers, that is...
 
81Da Bomb
      Donor
      ID: 487112814
      Tue, Oct 20, 2009, 21:41
Two awful calls in the bottom of the 4th inning (2nd base pickoff attempt and Swisher called out for not tagging). Makes it a little better that one call helped the Yankees and the other the Angels, but instant replay needs to be used for more than homeruns.
 
82Skidazl
      ID: 280401016
      Tue, Oct 20, 2009, 21:49
yeah, as i stated above these umps are supposed to be the best of the best, and they have been the worst of the worst, IMHO...

At least the 3rd base ump made up for the 2nd base ump's bad call. Wonder if he knew...
 
83Skidazl
      ID: 280401016
      Tue, Oct 20, 2009, 21:54
are you fricking kidding me? that guy needs to be fired!!!!!!!!!
 
84Da Bomb
      Donor
      ID: 487112814
      Tue, Oct 20, 2009, 21:54
Meant the top of the 4th.

Appears that law of averages has set in for Arod in the playoffs. Now if only Teixeira would stop playing like Arod of years past.

This 3rd base ump must be either half asleep and/or drunk.
 
85Skidazl
      ID: 280401016
      Tue, Oct 20, 2009, 22:30
worst call i have ever seen, still not even sure what the call was. both runners were 2 feet off the base...
 
86Skidazl
      ID: 280401016
      Tue, Oct 20, 2009, 23:14
scioscia trying to be like girardi and over-managing, no reason to pull santana when he did. if earvin was a reliever, then i would understand.
 
87judy
      Leader
      ID: 7771722
      Thu, Oct 22, 2009, 01:09
GO PHILLIES!!!!
 
88astade
      Sustainer
      ID: 214361313
      Thu, Oct 22, 2009, 22:22
Angels-Yankees Game 5, Inning 7. A boring game except for 2 huge flashes of offense. Hopefully the ending will be interesting.
 
89Electroman
      ID: 565182111
      Thu, Oct 22, 2009, 23:34
How big is that blown save in game 2? Makes you realize the value of Rivera, when is he going to retire???
 
90Seattle Zen
      Leader
      ID: 055343019
      Thu, Oct 22, 2009, 23:50
How big is that blown save in game 2? Makes you realize the value of Rivera...

Well, it reminded me of Alex Rodriguez's value to the Yanks and their ungrateful fans.
 
91Skidazl
      ID: 280401016
      Thu, Oct 22, 2009, 23:56
How big is that blown save in game 2?

yeah i was having flashbacks, fuentes is as scary as Frankie was, just with not as good stuff. good thing swisher sucks too...

2 bad, potentially fatal moves by scioscia tonight, pulling lackey too early and pulling weaver too early...
 
92judy
      Leader
      ID: 7771722
      Thu, Oct 22, 2009, 23:56
astade -- you certainly got your wish!!
 
93astade
      Sustainer
      ID: 214361313
      Fri, Oct 23, 2009, 02:01
judy -- the yankees winning would have been icing on the cake :)
 
94Skidazl
      ID: 280401016
      Fri, Oct 23, 2009, 03:13
home plate ump sure helped on the 3rd strike to posada...

again, the officiating in this years postseason has been pathetic. Regardless who you are rooting for, we all want a fair and accurate game called. I'm referring to the bad call at first against the yankees as much as the ridicous strike calling...
 
95Electroman
      ID: 565182111
      Wed, Oct 28, 2009, 22:57
If I could get the pulse of Yankees fans. Is this year World Series or bust? Or if they end up losing to the Phillies, is there some satisfaction that they got back? Basically would it be a failed year, beyond the obvious answer yes?

 
96astade
      Sustainer
      ID: 214361313
      Wed, Oct 28, 2009, 23:04
As a Yankees fan (who is watching Cliff Lee dismantle the lineup), I think this year is positive no matter what. We are seeing the team get back to the World Series (which I never took for granted in the last decade) and more importantly playing good baseball. The team chemistry and play makes them enjoyable to watch.

I think alot of Yankees fans are cast in the same light as the NYY mgmt/media, which is unfair. I have never seen it as win or bust. I'd be interested to hear what other fans (Walk, MITH, etc) have to say.

 
97Skidazl
      ID: 280401016
      Thu, Oct 29, 2009, 02:36
good game tonight wish cliff lee had been able to get the shutout though...
 
98JeffG
      Leader
      ID: 01584348
      Thu, Oct 29, 2009, 09:18
I think from a Yankee fan perspective, this year would still be deemed a success even in the unlikely event they do not take down the Phillies. From a pure fan perspective, it was one of the most exciting regular seasons in memory, with all the wins via walk offs and come backs, Jeter breaking both the all time SS hit mark and all time Yankee hit mark, CC and Tex making an impact from the start and probably having the best first year seasons for new free Yankee free agents where the year-1 track record is not good overall, Mo getting save #500 and still showing his dominance, and most importantly ARod's pre-season injury scare ended up not showing any impact, and his off the field nonsense seemed to die down. A good post season for ARod and alot of his demons go away. Looking forward to 2010 and beyond they have alot to look forward to with their core starters and young bullpen, and will have some spots to address this off season (but now is not the time to detail).

At the beginning of the season, there was more trepidation about how the new stadium would play with Yankee fans both in terms of would it still seem to give the Yankees a home field edge and would the fans still give the players the same experience (noise, buzz, etc). Towards the end of the season I think it happened and the Stadium buzzed like the old one used to and now definitely has the same feel. Plus, what a place to see a ballgame for the rest of my lifetime!

It will sure be a dissapointment if they do not win the series, and I'm sure the media blame game would be in force, but the sun will still rise.

As for WS G1, hats off to Cliff Lee. Yankees swung at quite a few 3-2 pitches that would have been ball four. Having more baserunners would have certainly had the game play out a little differently. The bullpen struggled tonight, but not concerned. NY won quite a few post season games this year because of capitalizing on opponent mistakes, they'll likely have to win these games just making their own opportunities.
 
99Great One
      ID: 209121913
      Thu, Oct 29, 2009, 09:56
Why is it an "unlikely event they don't take down the Phillies"? The Phillies are as good as they are, and now have home field advantage?

And whats up with all the empty seats? thats embarrassing for a World Series game, I don't care what they cost.

 
100Perm Dude
      ID: 154552311
      Thu, Oct 29, 2009, 10:22
Shhh. Yankees fans are very sensitive about those empty seats...

:)
 
101Building 7
      ID: 471052128
      Thu, Oct 29, 2009, 10:28
My betting site is showing it dead even to win the world series. -110 for both teams. And you don't want to get me started on home field advantage. I'm hoping it goes 5 games.
 
102blue hen
      Dude
      ID: 710321114
      Thu, Oct 29, 2009, 11:48
The Phillies are good. Really good. And it feels really good to say it.
 
103Seattle Zen
      Leader
      ID: 055343019
      Thu, Oct 29, 2009, 11:53
And whats up with all the empty seats?

Everyone showed up. it's that they were all in the airport-like concourse eating fruit and vegetables, buying art and memorabilia and stuff...
 
104Great One
      ID: 209121913
      Thu, Oct 29, 2009, 12:23
And who the heck wears a suit to a game? especially an 8 o'clock start... not like it was a businessman special.
 
105blue hen
      Dude
      ID: 710321114
      Thu, Oct 29, 2009, 12:41
Hey! I've worn a suit to an 8 o'clock game at Yankee Stadium...
 
106Seattle Zen
      Leader
      ID: 055343019
      Thu, Oct 29, 2009, 13:25
Hey! I've worn a suit to an 8 o'clock game at Yankee Stadium...

Your PinSTRIPE suit from JCPenney's ;)
 
107Building 7
      ID: 471052128
      Thu, Oct 29, 2009, 13:46
I like those old baseball films from the 20's where everbody wore a suit. And a hat. I don't know why they did that, though. Jeans weren't invented yet? Different era. That changed sometime before the 50's.
 
108Great One
      ID: 209121913
      Thu, Oct 29, 2009, 14:03
Yeah, like in The Natural they are all in suits, hat.
 
109blue 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.
 
110Perm 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.
 
111Electroman
      ID: 565182111
      Thu, Oct 29, 2009, 19:37
Watching Pedro in NY tonight, looking forward to seeing that.
 
112Skidazl
      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...
 
113Electroman
      ID: 565182111
      Thu, Oct 29, 2009, 20:47
Is that 4 K's for A-Rod in 5 at bats? Ouch.
 
114Skidazl
      ID: 280401016
      Fri, Oct 30, 2009, 01:11
nope it's 6 in 8 at bats...sweet...
 
115Electroman
      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.
 
116Skidazl
      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...
 
117Perm 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.
 
118Electroman
      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.
 
119Seattle 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!
 
120Perm 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.
 
121judy
      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.
 
122Electroman
      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.
 
124dogga55
      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
 
125JeffG
      Leader
      ID: 01584348
      Sun, Nov 01, 2009, 10:41
My 2009 World Series game 3 photos
 
126Electroman
      ID: 565182111
      Sun, Nov 01, 2009, 10:55
Thanks for sharing, those were great.
 
127Seattle 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.
 
128Skidazl
      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...
 
129JeffG
      ID: 47112621
      Mon, Nov 02, 2009, 00:05
On the precipice
 
130Da Bomb
      Donor
      ID: 487112814
      Mon, Nov 02, 2009, 00:49
Re: 128 Right, because it has nothing to do with the Yankees playing well..
 
131Skidazl
      ID: 280401016
      Mon, Nov 02, 2009, 02:26
ok just thank manuel for this series then, not the whole team... LOL
 
132Species
      Dude
      ID: 07724916
      Mon, Nov 02, 2009, 12:31
125: NICE Jeff G -- did you check out my ALCS videos??
 
133JeffG
      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!
 
134JeffG
      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 !
 
135blue 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.
 
136Perm 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.
 
137Great One
      ID: 101045312
      Thu, Nov 05, 2009, 11:27
Like rooting for a billionaire to win the lottery?
 
138Electroman
      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.
 
139Perm 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.
 
140walk
      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.
 
141filthy
      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.
 
142Great 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.

 
143Perm 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!
 
144Mith
      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.
 
145Great 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.

 
146Perm 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.
 
147Mith
      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.
 
148Perm 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!
 
149Mith
      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.
 
150Great 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!).
 
151Perm 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.
 
152Mith
      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.
 
153Mith
      Dude
      ID: 01629107
      Thu, Nov 05, 2009, 16:49
Great One

The best resource I know of is Cot's Baseball Contracts.
 
154Skidazl
      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"
 
155Great 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.

 
156Mith
      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
 
157Mith
      Dude
      ID: 01629107
      Fri, Nov 06, 2009, 10:21
Didn't see the offseason thread. Guess that's the place to continue this.
 
158PuNk42AE
      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
 
159Seattle 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.