2010-11 MLB Offseason Thread

[KnoxHarrington]

a's are doing well this season

when is it not too early to have legitimate hope that this isnt just early season fluke?

I would neither make playoff plans nor completely write a team off until June at the very earilest.

[cougarjake13]

The new Twins park look very nice

wait til the 5th consecutive snow out

[hanso]

The Twins look strong to me. They-could-go-all-they-way.

[cougarjake13]

The Twins look strong to me. They-could-go-all-they-way.

all the way to a first round exit

[Snoogans]

i know you are all sad that your favorite inspiration was removed from youtube


but not scott stapp's blog!

<embed src="http://v.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/video/flvplayer.swf?ver=1.21" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="224" seamlesstabbing="true" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" overstretch="true" flashvars="guid=Vl6EJ9HQ&amp;width=400&amp;height=224&amp;locksize=no&amp;dyn amicseek=false&amp;qc_publisherId=p-18-mFEk4J448M" title=""></embed>

[Tenbatsuzen]

YES had a really stupid phone poll today.

If you were at a game, and it went 20 innings, would you stay?

nearly 90 percent said yes.

These people are detached from reality.

Playoff game, yes.

But if a regular season game that started at 7pm, I am not staying.

I know the Mets-Cards game started at 3, but that's an abberation. The majority of ball games start at 7pm, which means the game would not end til 2am. No way. Especially in a stadium where everything costs 3x what it should and the beer was turned off at the 8th inning.

[epo]

YES had a really stupid phone poll today.

If you were at a game, and it went 20 innings, would you stay?

nearly 90 percent said yes.

These people are detached from reality.

Playoff game, yes.

But if a regular season game that started at 7pm, I am not staying.

I know the Mets-Cards game started at 3, but that's an abberation. The majority of ball games start at 7pm, which means the game would not end til 2am. No way. Especially in a stadium where everything costs 3x what it should and the beer was turned off at the 8th inning.

That's because you are a terrible fan.

[KnoxHarrington]

wait til the 5th consecutive snow out

Yeah, the World Series is gonna be fun in that ballpark if they make it.

Because I don't know about you, but there's nothing I'd rather do than sit outside for 4 or 5 hours at night in late October in Minneapolis.

[hanso]

i know you are all sad that your favorite inspiration was removed from youtube


but not scott stapp's blog!



When I first heard this. I could swear he sings "You will suck".
I saw the game he sang the national anthem. And he did the yea-uh singing on it like metallica.

[KingModem]

Yeah, the World Series is gonna be fun in that ballpark if they make it.

Because I don't know about you, but there's nothing I'd rather do than sit outside for 4 or 5 hours at night in late October in Minneapolis.

There is a fire pit on the Budweiser Roof Deck and ample heating lamps all around the stadium. It will be sweet.

[brettmojo]

How in the hell did the Mets get three nationally televised games in as many days?

[cougarjake13]

How in the hell did the Mets get three nationally televised games in as many days?

couldnt figure that one out myself either



esp the saturday game that blocks out every other game, luckily they had a 20 inning game and mlb prob got a shizzload of extra advertising

[NickyL0885]

How in the hell did the Mets get three nationally televised games in as many days?

This will be on Sunday Night Baseball again this week vs the Braves. In fact, I think they are on Sunday 3 straight weeks. Vs the Cards this past Sunday, vs Braves this coming Sunday and, Im not sure on this, vs the Phillies in 2 the next Sunday.


I just check, they WILL be playing the Phillies that sunday. Also, the play again Sunday Night on the 23rd of May vs the Yankees. So, lots of Mets on national tv.

[hanso]

Rays best in baseball for now.

[Barnaby Jones]

Edinson Volquez suspended for 50 games due to PED use!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/21/sports/baseball/21doping.html

[KingModem]

Edinson Volquez suspended for 50 games due to PED use!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/21/sports/baseball/21doping.html

He will probably never recover from Tommy John anyways. He probably figured the only way he will get back on track is to use PEDs. Nothing to lose.

[TripleSkeet]

Thats win #4 for Halladay. 21 to go.

[PD]

Epo has got to be smiling.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2010_04_22_milmlb_pitmlb_1

[KingModem]

Anyone see the Yankee Triple Play? If that is the everyday YES announcer, I would rather listen to Chip Carey or just start cutting myself.

http://deadspin.com/5522388/

[razorboy]

The palehose are soooooooooooo fucking awful.

[epo]

Epo has got to be smiling.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2010_04_22_milmlb_pitmlb_1

When R&F started annoying me today, XM183 treated me very, very well.

[Barnaby Jones]

Every single Midwest baseball team is terrible! What a waste of baseball!

[KnoxHarrington]

Anyone see the Yankee Triple Play? If that is the everyday YES announcer, I would rather listen to Chip Carey or just start cutting myself.

http://deadspin.com/5522388/

That honestly was one of the best triple plays I've ever seen. A-Rod made a nice throw over to 2nd.

The ground ball triple play is damn hard to pull off. Most of them happen on a line-out with runners moving.

[TripleSkeet]

That honestly was one of the best triple plays I've ever seen. A-Rod made a nice throw over to 2nd.

The ground ball triple play is damn hard to pull off. Most of them happen on a line-out with runners moving.

This guy laughs at its difficulty.
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/8756/77516762.jpg (http://img156.imageshack.us/i/77516762.jpg/)

[razorboy]

Woooo.

David Price was fucking awesome today.

[Barnaby Jones]

The Phillies are paying Ryan Howard $25 million a year for the next 5 years! What kind of dope are those dopes smoking?!?!?!?!?!?!?

[TripleSkeet]

The Phillies are paying Ryan Howard $25 million a year for the next 5 years! What kind of dope are those dopes smoking?!?!?!?!?!?!?

So you dont know shit about baseball either huh?

[TheGameHHH]

Can the Red Sox stop winning one run games?!

[Barnaby Jones]

So you dont know shit about baseball either huh?

A declining, streaky, limited skill set 30-year-old locking up $25 million a year for 5 years? That's just dumb! Unless the contract is heavily front loaded or they're paying that contract out into his twilight years, it's a bad move!

[A.J.]

Can the Red Sox stop winning one run games?!

Problem is: they shouldn't be one run games.

And you're worried about the Sox????????

[TripleSkeet]

A declining, streaky, limited skill set 30-year-old locking up $25 million a year for 5 years? That's just dumb! Unless the contract is heavily front loaded or they're paying that contract out into his twilight years, it's a bad move!

Declining? It seems like every year the MVP is between him and Pujols. If hes not the best hes the 2nd best 1st baseman in the game. Yea you dont let guys like that walk.

[Barnaby Jones]

Declining? It seems like every year the MVP is between him and Pujols. If hes not the best hes the 2nd best 1st baseman in the game. Yea you dont let guys like that walk.

There's a big difference between letting him walk and then paying him an annual salary that should only be offered to a guy like Pujols! Guys with a limited skill set like his tend to decline very quickly once they're on the wrong side of 30! He's crappy defensively, streaky as hell and is arguably a platoon player with how horrendous he is against lefties! Definitely not a $25 million a year player!

[Barnaby Jones]

Here is Rotoworld's take:

Already, Howard has shown signs of decline as his walk rate has declined every year since 2007 and sits at a paltry 3.6% thus far in 2010. His BABIP has been lower as more and more teams have employed an infield shift against him. Opposing teams have also been bringing in more left-handed relievers to face Howard and his production against them has swiftly dropped. His strikeout rate has declined gradually but so has his isolated power. Using FanGraphs' pitch type linear weights, Howard's production against the fastball has dropped every year since 2006. He has swung at more and more pitches outside of the strike zone every year since he came into the Majors. Finally, his whiff rate (swinging strike percentage) has increased every year since 2006. This will be a fun ride for two, maybe even three more years, but it will quickly become tumultuous.

Put that together and you've got a huge WTF for an organization that had been doing things pretty smart for a while!

[TripleSkeet]

I dont give a fuck what Rotoworld says. Hes one of the Top 5 players in baseball. Hes already brought us one championship and 2 NLCS titles.He averages 45 home runs a year and will be the 2nd Phils player in the 500 club. He deserves Pujols money.

[Barnaby Jones]

You don't "give a fuck about what Rotoworld says?" Talk about ignoring reality! And 1 of the top 5 players in baseball? I hope you actually meant to say hitters, because even that would be tough to argue! He's obviously not going to keep averaging 45 HR's a year for much longer for exactly the reasons Rotoworld spelled out. He's incredibly easy to pitch around, he's getting worse against fatsballs, he's showing less patience and he's swinging at more bad pitches! It's just goofy to act like he's anywhere near as good as someone like Pujols! And saying he brought all of that to your team is a discredit to the reast of the team! The Phillies have and had a ton of talent! It's hardly just the Ryan Howard Show because if it was they never would have gotten this far!

[PD]

dunno if this is elsewhere; Matty Tenbats retweeted this:
Brewers broadcaster Bob Uecker to have heart surgery Friday and is expected to miss 10-12 weeks.

Ueck was good old time listen- one thing I enjoy about XM.

[TripleSkeet]

You don't "give a fuck about what Rotoworld says?" Talk about ignoring reality! And 1 of the top 5 players in baseball? I hope you actually meant to say hitters, because even that would be tough to argue! He's obviously not going to keep averaging 45 HR's a year for much longer for exactly the reasons Rotoworld spelled out. He's incredibly easy to pitch around, he's getting worse against fatsballs, he's showing less patience and he's swinging at more bad pitches! It's just goofy to act like he's anywhere near as good as someone like Pujols! And saying he brought all of that to your team is a discredit to the reast of the team! The Phillies have and had a ton of talent! It's hardly just the Ryan Howard Show because if it was they never would have gotten this far!

Im not saying its all him, but without him they wouldnt have won shit. The shit Rotoworld says has been said for the last 5 years. "He cant hit lefties, he cant beat the shift, he strikes out too much" Yet every years hes in the Top 5 in the NL as far as HR's and RBI's goes.

Hes a power hitter. Thats the only numbers that matters. I dont care how many times he strikes out. If he still ends up with 40 Homers and 130 RBI's hes still doing his job. And hes gotten alot better in the field. If you dont watch them alot you wouldnt know it.

I mean, is the point of this that he wont be as good 5 years from now as his now? Because that can be said about half the league. Including Pujols. But if youre trying to say hes done and all of a sudden is going to be awful in like a year, well, If I knew you Id put some money on that against you.

[Barnaby Jones]

Im not saying its all him, but without him they wouldnt have won shit. The shit Rotoworld says has been said for the last 5 years. "He cant hit lefties, he cant beat the shift, he strikes out too much" Yet every years hes in the Top 5 in the NL as far as HR's and RBI's goes.

It's been said because it's been happening! He's benefited by being the middle of a stacked lineup, but that's not gonna last as his weaknesses become more obvious and they start losing guys because they've locked up so much money!

Hes a power hitter. Thats the only numbers that matters. I dont care how many times he strikes out. If he still ends up with 40 Homers and 130 RBI's hes still doing his job.

He's not going to keep that up! That's the point! Teams are already making him a non-factor with lefty relievers. He's useless against lefties! The strikeouts and lack of walks and slipping isolated power numbers and swinging at more bad pitche sare indicative of a hitter being exposed! He's got talent, but he also has glaring weaknesses!

And hes gotten alot better in the field. If you dont watch them alot you wouldnt know it.

Sir, I'm assuming you weren't serious with this. One can easily chart a player's ability without watching every single game they play in. To say "fuck Rotoworld" and their sound analysis based on facts and to then say that people will truly see a player's skills if they watch all the games is just goofy!

I mean, is the point of this that he wont be as good 5 years from now as his now? Because that can be said about half the league. Including Pujols. But if youre trying to say hes done and all of a sudden is going to be awful in like a year, well, If I knew you Id put some money on that against you.

He's going to likely be pretty bad in about 2-3 years! Not just as good, but a liability. Guys like him typically are when they have such obvious flaws in their game. Bad, bad move by the Phillies! They should have signed him for much less! Something like $20 million/4 years and a player opt out option after 3 and a team option for a 5th year would have made much more sense!

[TripleSkeet]

Ill tell you what dude, when he starts playing bad, then you can talk shit. So in 3 years or whatever its gonna take for him to be a "liability" then you can talk. Right now hes one of the best hitters out there, his fielding HAS improved, and hes on a team thats most likely gonna be in another World Series come October. Not to mention 95% of the teams in the league would kill to have him right now.

So screaming about how bad hes GOING TO BE, is just silly.

Talk to me when he stinks. Whenever that is.

[Barnaby Jones]

What are they going to do when Utley's deal comes up? He's much more valuable to this team! Are they going to pay him $30 million a year? It's bad business! There's no reason to pay him that much money given the type of player he is! And 95% of the teams in baseball would not kill to have him right now because every single team besides the Phillies would be smart enough to not pay him $25 million a year! This is a team that just got done explaining why they had to trade Cliff Lee because of money because they're "not the Yankees" and then they turn around and pull a boneheaded blunder like this!

And I did figure out a top 5 list he'd made: NL offensive first basemen! Though even on that list I'd rank him 4th behind Pujols, Prince Fielder and Adrian Gonzalez, and only one of those guys should be making $25 million a year! Though definitely not for his defense, which has remained below league average to this day!

[TripleSkeet]

What are they going to do when Utley's deal comes up? He's much more valuable to this team! Are they going to pay him $30 million a year? It's bad business! There's no reason to pay him that much money given the type of player he is! And 95% of the teams in baseball would not kill to have him right now because every single team besides the Phillies would be smart enough to not pay him $25 million a year! This is a team that just got done explaining why they had to trade Cliff Lee because of money because they're "not the Yankees" and then they turn around and pull a boneheaded blunder like this!

And I did figure out a top 5 list he'd made: NL offensive first basemen! Though even on that list I'd rank him 4th behind Pujols, Prince Fielder and Adrian Gonzalez, and only one of those guys should be making $25 million a year! Though definitely not for his defense, which has remained below league average to this day!

Youre fucking crazy. Prince Fielder and Adrian Gonzalez. LMAO

Like I said, you dont watch the games. His defense has been much improved last season and this one. I dont need Rotoworld to tell me. I watch every game.

They will re-sign Utley and let go of Jayson Werth. And it doesnt matter because we've already got Werths replacement in Dominic Brown. Youll see. They arent letting Utley leave.

Heres a top 5 List for you:
2009 - NL HR's - 3rd
NL RBI's - 2nd

2008 - NL HR's - 1st
NL RBI's - 1st

2007 - NL HR's - 2nd
NL RBI's - 2nd

2006 - NL HR's - 1st
NL RBI's - 1st

Youre right. He sucks.

[Kevin]

Brown is a lefty, you are already a lefty heavy lineup WITH JW. You will be even more nutralized by a decent lefty then you are. Letting JW go would be stupid. And don't count your eggs before they hatch. You have no idea what Dom Brown will do until he does it. JW has proven it.

[TripleSkeet]

Brown is a lefty, you are already a lefty heavy lineup WITH JW. You will be even more nutralized by a decent lefty then you are. Letting JW go would be stupid. And don't count your eggs before they hatch. You have no idea what Dom Brown will do until he does it. JW has proven it.

JW is gone dude. Its already been decided. I personally love the guy, but I mean around here thats the big consensus.

And youre talking about a team that won a world series and then made it to another. And is favored to make it to another. I dont think theyve been THAT neutralized.

[TheGameHHH]

Problem is: they shouldn't be one run games.

And you're worried about the Sox????????

Of course I am, if you think some April games make me take the Red Sox lightly than maybe you think I don't know baseball. It's not to say I'm not also worried about other teams, I certainly am. But to say the Sox don't worry me would just be a flat out lie.

[Kevin]

JW is gone dude. Its already been decided. I personally love the guy, but I mean around here thats the big consensus.

And youre talking about a team that won a world series and then made it to another. And is favored to make it to another. I dont think theyve been THAT neutralized.

Dude, you can make it passed the NL with flaws, But like iit was showed last year, you face a team with good lefties, its a prob.

[Tenbatsuzen]

In a scene out of "Rookie of the Year", some dude at the Orioles game grabbed Posada's HR ball, and then threw it back.

From beyond the right center field fence, it landed at the mound.

[epo]

dunno if this is elsewhere; Matty Tenbats retweeted this:


Ueck was good old time listen- one thing I enjoy about XM.

He's calling the game tonight...damn I love that guy.

[TheGameHHH]

In a scene out of "Rookie of the Year", some dude at the Orioles game grabbed Posada's HR ball, and then threw it back.

From beyond the right center field fence, it landed at the mound.

I'm just watching it now cause I DVR's the game, I'm pretty sure that kid should sign with the Nats like now. I HATE the whole "throwing the HR ball back" tradition, but that was awesome.

[Adolf]

that happens all the time doesn't it... i've seen it in person at least twice in the last year


go twins


to hell with TB


i can't believe the orioles beat the yankees today


the milwaukee/pitts thing was cool until today... how embarrassing


i saw that pirate take a line drive to the head on saturday.... disturbing. i regret seeing it actually.


baseball rools


i'm drunk and stoned and wide awake


going to at least 2 games next week


yeahbuddy, go twins

:wub:

[Barnaby Jones]

DANGER! DANGER! BLIND HOMERISM ALERT!

Youre fucking crazy. Prince Fielder and Adrian Gonzalez. LMAO

Why is this so crazy, pal? Unless you're focusing only on home runs, which would be dense, they're clearly much better hitters! For one thing, they can clobber both lefties and righties! Gonzalez is especially impressive since he's put up the numbers he has playing in the caverns out west! Plus night games out there kill balls hit in the air with the humidity! He's a monster that clobbers everyone! These guys beat it up everywhere against everyone, they don't have Howard's flaws and he plays in a band box!

Like I said, you dont watch the games. His defense has been much improved last season and this one. I dont need Rotoworld to tell me. I watch every game.

This is crazy! You don't know more than the analysts! His defense has actually gotten WORSE! Making the "I watch the game so I know everything" argument is what's crazy! LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!

They will re-sign Utley and let go of Jayson Werth. And it doesnt matter because we've already got Werths replacement in Dominic Brown. Youll see. They arent letting Utley leave.

How can you just assume this?!? Jeepers! Utley is much more valuable to the team! Why is he going to to sign for less than Howard when he knows and everyone knows he's better?

Heres a top 5 List for you:
2009 - NL HR's - 3rd
NL RBI's - 2nd

2008 - NL HR's - 1st
NL RBI's - 1st

2007 - NL HR's - 2nd
NL RBI's - 2nd

2006 - NL HR's - 1st
NL RBI's - 1st

Youre right. He sucks.

LOLOLOLOL! Nobody said he sucks now, champ! The point is that guys like him with obvious flaws that get more obvious and worse every year this early in their career tend to fall off a cliff once they're past 30! The point isn't that sucks now, but that it's a miracle he'll be anywhere this good from 32 onwards, and they signed him through the age of 35 for a crazy $25 million a year!

You must think Adam Dunn is the third best hitter in the NL! Crazy!

[weekapaugjz]

Is it possible to use more exclamation points?

[foodcourtdruide]

Youre fucking crazy. Prince Fielder and Adrian Gonzalez. LMAO

Like I said, you dont watch the games. His defense has been much improved last season and this one. I dont need Rotoworld to tell me. I watch every game.

They will re-sign Utley and let go of Jayson Werth. And it doesnt matter because we've already got Werths replacement in Dominic Brown. Youll see. They arent letting Utley leave.

Heres a top 5 List for you:
2009 - NL HR's - 3rd
NL RBI's - 2nd

2008 - NL HR's - 1st
NL RBI's - 1st

2007 - NL HR's - 2nd
NL RBI's - 2nd

2006 - NL HR's - 1st
NL RBI's - 1st

Youre right. He sucks.

If I had to choose between Howard, Gonzalez or Fielder I'd choose in this order:

Gonzalez
Howard
Fielder

I think you could probably make an argument for any of them.

Howard is a fantastic player, but I think the Phillies overpaid a bit. Not a terrible thing though, becasue I think he'll still be extremely productive.

EDIT: Being in the 5th year of this deal will be a bear on the Phillies.

[foodcourtdruide]

They just showed the Endy Chavez catch in the '06 game 7 of the NLCS. Was that the best catch ever? Or am I biased because:

1. I'm a Mets fan.
2. I was at the game.

[TripleSkeet]

If I had to choose between Howard, Gonzalez or Fielder I'd choose in this order:

Gonzalez
Howard
Fielder

I think you could probably make an argument for any of them.

Howard is a fantastic player, but I think the Phillies overpaid a bit. Not a terrible thing though, becasue I think he'll still be extremely productive.

EDIT: Being in the 5th year of this deal will be a bear on the Phillies.

The Phillies basically paid him what a guy with his numbers is supposed to get plus a little extra considering he wasnt making much when getting Rookie of the Year, MVP and a World Series ring.

I dont get the love for Gonzalez. He had a good year last year with HR's but wasnt even in the top 5 in RBI. I mean, hes not a bad player but Id never take him over Howard.

And I cant even talk to this Barnaby Jones anymore. Watching a guy play shows you how good he is at defense. Stats dont tell you the story when it comes to defense. A perfect example was a play tonight, an incredible double play by Castro to Utley, that Howard made an awesome dig at first base to get. In the box score it just goes in as a regular put out. Anyone that watches the Phils on a regular basis can tell you how much his defense has improved the last 2 years. Tell Rotoworld to eat a dick.

And I focus on HR's and RBI's. Those are the two most important stats for a cleanup hitter. Not K's or batting average. The top 3 set the table, its the cleanup guys job to clear it. This is basic little league 101. RBI total shows how good a player is at clearing that table. And hes been either 1st or 2nd the last 4 years at clearing that table.

[TripleSkeet]

This is crazy! You don't know more than the analysts! His defense has actually gotten WORSE! Making the "I watch the game so I know everything" argument is what's crazy! LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!


Analysts like this guy???

http://multimedia.foxsports.com/m/video/30547312/rosenthal-howard-here-to-stay.htm

[Barnaby Jones]

Nothing like that guy, you goofball! Dinks like that just spit out the same going by the gut "analysis" that guys like you eat up! Why is he right but the numbers are wrong? Do you see miracles every day?

Do you think the statistical break downs of Howard are wrong? If so, how is that the case? Is someone out to get him and they're fudging the numbers?

[Barnaby Jones]

The Phillies basically paid him what a guy with his numbers is supposed to get plus a little extra considering he wasnt making much when getting Rookie of the Year, MVP and a World Series ring.

I dont get the love for Gonzalez. He had a good year last year with HR's but wasnt even in the top 5 in RBI. I mean, hes not a bad player but Id never take him over Howard.

And I cant even talk to this Barnaby Jones anymore. Watching a guy play shows you how good he is at defense. Stats dont tell you the story when it comes to defense. A perfect example was a play tonight, an incredible double play by Castro to Utley, that Howard made an awesome dig at first base to get. In the box score it just goes in as a regular put out. Anyone that watches the Phils on a regular basis can tell you how much his defense has improved the last 2 years. Tell Rotoworld to eat a dick.

And I focus on HR's and RBI's. Those are the two most important stats for a cleanup hitter. Not K's or batting average. The top 3 set the table, its the cleanup guys job to clear it. This is basic little league 101. RBI total shows how good a player is at clearing that table. And hes been either 1st or 2nd the last 4 years at clearing that table.

RBI's are reliant on the rest of the team! Of course you look at a guys ability to hit with people on base, but RBI totals speak more to the ability of the players to get on base, not anything special that Howard can do! He has high RBI totals because he's on a really good team! Why were Gonzalez's RBI totals lower? Because he plays for the terrible Padres! D'uh! This is just common sense! That's why his offensive output is so much more impressive because it's much more balanced, he's a smarter hitter and he's producing on a terrible team and in pitchers' parks that eat up hitters! Howard is in a stacked lineup that plays most of their games in a band box! Follow the clues, amigo!

You clearly have no idea how defensive metrics work! I suggest you look into them before making more uninformed statements like how you can better judge a player's defense because you watch games! It just makes you look very silly and oafish. You're like the Insane Clown Posse of baseball! Do you get mad at magnets and scientists, too?

And you're idea of what a player "should make" is doggone goofy! $25 million is what one of the very best makes! The elite! Ryan Howard isn't elite, and that's obvious to anyone with a little baseball common sense! An elite player isn't someone who is worthless against anyone who throws a ball with their left hand or who costs their teams around 10 runs a year with their defense!

[joeyballsack]

For a guy who was questioning someone elses baseball knowledge..Tripleskeet has gotten a bitch smacking.

[TripleSkeet]

For a guy who was questioning someone elses baseball knowledge..Tripleskeet has gotten a bitch smacking.

How do you figure? Because he quotes what he reads in a stat book? He loves to quote stats, but when I put out Howards numbers the last 4 years...he ignores them. Or better yet discounts RBI's as meaningless! "That just means your teams great". Thats funny, I was taught that was a guy that could get hits when they are needed most.

Im not trying to convince you people. You keep Adrian Gonzalez and Prince Fielder, and they can keep sitting home watching Ryan Howard playing in October like theyve been doing.

[Barnaby Jones]

Howard has great home run numbers! That doesn't make him a great hitter! Do you think Adam Dunn is in the elite top tier that you put Howard in? Why do you think Adrian Gonzalez has lower RBI numbers when his stats with guys on base (.283 .383 .508 .891) and RISP (.296 .412 .532 .944) are fantastic? TS, I don't understand how you don't see that RBI's are a product of a lineup! It's not like Howard willed those guys on base or got extra runs for hitting a home run extra hard! Those guys had to be on base for him. Because he's been a useful hitter up until now despite his flaws and he's lucky to be in the middle of an excellent lineup he's reaped the benefits! Take him off the Phillies and he's likely Adam Dunn at best and probably actually would have worse numbers than Dunn! You pay guys who can hit everyone and everything anywhere $25 million. Howard is not one of those guys. He can't hit lefties at all! He plays most of his games in a band box and he's in the middle of a stacked lineup. Those factors go a long way to helping overcome his obvious flaws, but the point is that you can't keep all those factors going indefinitely! The Phillies are locking up too much money in too few players! The less protection he has the more exposed he'll be and the more you'll see guys pitch around him and managers manage around him by exploiting his obvious flaws. It's not a bad move to re-sign him! It's a bad move to re-sign him for that much and for that many years!

[TripleSkeet]

Howard has great home run numbers! That doesn't make him a great hitter! Do you think Adam Dunn is in the elite top tier that you put Howard in? Why do you think Adrian Gonzalez has lower RBI numbers when his stats with guys on base (.283 .383 .508 .891) and RISP (.296 .412 .532 .944) are fantastic? TS, I don't understand how you don't see that RBI's are a product of a lineup! It's not like Howard willed those guys on base or got extra runs for hitting a home run extra hard! Those guys had to be on base for him. Because he's been a useful hitter up until now despite his flaws and he's lucky to be in the middle of an excellent lineup he's reaped the benefits! Take him off the Phillies and he's likely Adam Dunn at best and probably actually would have worse numbers than Dunn! You pay guys who can hit everyone and everything anywhere $25 million. Howard is not one of those guys. He can't hit lefties at all! He plays most of his games in a band box and he's in the middle of a stacked lineup. Those factors go a long way to helping overcome his obvious flaws, but the point is that you can't keep all those factors going indefinitely! The Phillies are locking up too much money in too few players! The less protection he has the more exposed he'll be and the more you'll see guys pitch around him and managers manage around him by exploiting his obvious flaws. It's not a bad move to re-sign him! It's a bad move to re-sign him for that much and for that many years!

Im not saying Howard doesnt play on a great team. The bandbox theory is a little flawed as his home runs are usually blasts that would be out of any park. But Im sorry, you know what, where you play, and who is on your team is just a factor of baseball. When you hear people talk about old time Yankee players, you never hear them say "Well they may not have been as good if they had to play on the Cubs". It is what it is. He plays where he does and with the team he does. Saying "Imagine what THIS guy would do with that lineup" is just silly and doesnt prove anything.

And I tried to explain this to you earlier, they werent just paying for the next 5 years. This contract had make up money in it for those years he was tearing up the league and making shit money. And I dont care what anyone says, if he had waited til this contract was up in 2011 and went free agent, I believe he wouldve definitely gotten $25 mill a year from another team out there. They want to keep him a Phillie, so I cant fault them. And until Utley is no longer a Phillie you cant say "this move cost them Utley". You cant because hes still there!

[epo]

I have one problem with the Howard signing: this now sets the bar extremely high for Prince Fielder who is much younger and arguably the same or better.

Fuck you Philadelphia.

[TripleSkeet]

I have one problem with the Howard signing: this now sets the bar extremely high for Prince Fielder who is much younger and arguably the same or better.

Fuck you Philadelphia.

This definitely means the end of Fielder in Milwaukee. They predict he will get around $20 mill a year. Sorry Epo.

[epo]

$20 million? Sorry to tell you, but he'll easily out do Howard's deal.

[foodcourtdruide]

How do you figure? Because he quotes what he reads in a stat book? He loves to quote stats, but when I put out Howards numbers the last 4 years...he ignores them. Or better yet discounts RBI's as meaningless! "That just means your teams great". Thats funny, I was taught that was a guy that could get hits when they are needed most.

Im not trying to convince you people. You keep Adrian Gonzalez and Prince Fielder, and they can keep sitting home watching Ryan Howard playing in October like theyve been doing.

TS, I have to agree with barnaby that using RBI is meaningless. Those are team stats. It would be like judging a pitcher based on wins. Howard has enough going for him that you don't have to use RBI to prove he's a great hitter. I'd say he's clearly one of the top 4 1B in the NL, which is impressive considering the other 3 on that list.

[foodcourtdruide]

$20 million? Sorry to tell you, but he'll easily out do Howard's deal.

I think he'll match Howard's deal, and Pujols will get $30million AT LEAST.

[foodcourtdruide]

Also, defensive metrics have grown since the old days of fielding%. You should check them out, they're pretty impressively put together.

[TripleSkeet]

$20 million? Sorry to tell you, but he'll easily out do Howard's deal.

Last night on Baseball tonight they said look for Prince to get a little less like $20 mill, and Pujols to get more like $30 mill. Just going by what they said.

[TripleSkeet]

Also, defensive metrics have grown since the old days of fielding%. You should check them out, they're pretty impressively put together.

Ok, so I took your advice and checked them out. Heres what I found from the Baseball Daily Digest:


First, we start at first base. To look at first base defense, here are the categories used and where I pulled the numbers from:

Fielding % (Multiple Sites)
RF/9 (Multiple Sites)
UZR/150 (FanGraphs)
F2O% (Baseball-Reference)
bF2O% (Baseball-Reference)
RZR (Hardball Times)
OOZ (Hardball Times)
Fielding Value (FanGraphs)
+/- (Bill James Online)
Before getting on to the results, this exercise does not argue the merits of one statistic against another but rather treats them as equals since the premise is that we’re unable to determine with certainty which defensive statistics are more valuable than others. Also, no statistic was excluded for any other reason than ignorance or to avoid redundancy. (Note to reader: Commenting with metrics you feel would add value would be greatly appreciated.)

Finally, the players evaluated were chosen by playing time at position per team with one representative per team chosen.

And the results...

http://img203.imageshack.us/img203/3082/81618007.png (http://img203.imageshack.us/i/81618007.png/)


ANALYSIS: Based on watching the game, my first thoughts would be to put Albert Pujols and Adrian Gonzalez at the top of the list and Ryan Howard as the most improved defender at first. From everything I have seen from Joey Votto, it’s not surprising he ranked out as 16th of 16. (Although I think a case could be made for Gil Hodges’ dead corpse finishing ahead of Votto at first.)

So what is it that Im missing?

[epo]

Last night on Baseball tonight they said look for Prince to get a little less like $20 mill, and Pujols to get more like $30 mill. Just going by what they said.

I'm sorry, did you just reference Baseball Tonight?

[Barnaby Jones]

Im not saying Howard doesnt play on a great team. The bandbox theory is a little flawed as his home runs are usually blasts that would be out of any park. But Im sorry, you know what, where you play, and who is on your team is just a factor of baseball. When you hear people talk about old time Yankee players, you never hear them say "Well they may not have been as good if they had to play on the Cubs". It is what it is. He plays where he does and with the team he does. Saying "Imagine what THIS guy would do with that lineup" is just silly and doesnt prove anything.

Sure it does! You keep talking about baseball players like they're these mysterious characters that nobody can break down or predict how they'll likely turn out! Howard is clearly a product of his limited talent being maximized by where he plays and who he plays for! That's relevant because the Phillies can't surround him with a team this good for much longer and because it's getting more and more clear how to pitch and manage around him! He's the kind of player to get the most out of for less than a decade and then bail!

And I tried to explain this to you earlier, they werent just paying for the next 5 years. This contract had make up money in it for those years he was tearing up the league and making shit money. And I dont care what anyone says, if he had waited til this contract was up in 2011 and went free agent, I believe he wouldve definitely gotten $25 mill a year from another team out there. They want to keep him a Phillie, so I cant fault them. And until Utley is no longer a Phillie you cant say "this move cost them Utley". You cant because hes still there!

How are they going to get away with paying him less than Howard! They won't unless Utley and his agent are idiots since he's a much more valuable player and much more of a reason of why their team is so good and the ring they won! And thinking he'd get $25 million elsewhere is the same Phillies homerism that created that Howard for Pujols nonsense earlier this year! The Phillies and their fan have seriously overrated a guy who is very good but not great! They could have easily made up for his lower pay with a deal like the one I proposed before: $20 million a year, with a player option after 3 and a team option for the 5th.

[Barnaby Jones]

Ok, so I took your advice and checked them out. Heres what I found from the Baseball Daily Digest:




And the results...



So what is it that Im missing?

Baseball Prospectus, Baseball Reference, FanGraphs and Rotoworld! Howard is consistently just below the league average in fielding and on average costs his team 8-10 runs due to his defensive limitations! Go with the gold standards, sir! That fella is making a noble effort to create a new defensive metric by cherry picking from pre-existing metrics, including from some of the sites I just listed! We'll have to wait and see if his metric holds any water!

[foodcourtdruide]

Ok, so I took your advice and checked them out. Heres what I found from the Baseball Daily Digest:




And the results...



So what is it that Im missing?

I'm with you. Howard is about average as a 1B. Not a liability. I like UZR/150 as the best defensive stat. It's pretty amazing.

http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/primate_studies/discussion/lichtman_2003-03-14_0/

[foodcourtdruide]

Baseball Prospectus, Baseball Reference, FanGraphs and Rotoworld! Howard is consistently just below the league average in fielding and on average costs his team 8-10 runs due to his defensive limitations! Go with the gold standards, sir! That fella is making a noble effort to create a new defensive metric by cherry picking from pre-existing metrics, including from some of the sites I just listed! We'll have to wait and see if his metric holds any water!

Wouldn't you say 0 is average by default?

[foodcourtdruide]

Wouldn't you say 0 is average by default?

I think using "league average" for something like UZR isn't a fair way to judge a fielder. A few exceptional fielders could really distort this.

[Barnaby Jones]

I think using "league average" for something like UZR isn't a fair way to judge a fielder. A few exceptional fielders could really distort this.

He's just below average for a 1st baseman, and has consistently been so for almost his entire career! He's not a disaster there (nobody who sticks at 1st is), but he's far from ideal defensively, especially as his offensive stats drop. A 1st baseman who is consistently below average defensively is not someone you can point to as being a plus as a defender!

[TripleSkeet]

I'm with you. Howard is about average as a 1B. Not a liability. I like UZR/150 as the best defensive stat. It's pretty amazing.

http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/primate_studies/discussion/lichtman_2003-03-14_0/

Thats all Im saying. Im not trying to say hes Larry Bowas clone, but to here BJ talk you would think he has two bricks where his hands should be.

[TripleSkeet]

He's just below average for a 1st baseman, and has consistently been so for almost his entire career! He's not a disaster there (nobody who sticks at 1st is), but he's far from ideal defensively, especially as his offensive stats drop. A 1st baseman who is consistently below average defensively is not someone you can point to as being a plus as a defender!

The exclamation points are seriously starting to distract me.

Ok, I understand what youre trying to say, but what is your point? That hes not worth $25 mill? Ok well I dont think any player is so I cant disagree with that. Is it that hes just an average 1st basebman? Or below average? Who are all these players better then him? Explain. And use more periods this time.

And I honestly believe Utley will re-sign and for less money. We will just have to wait and see.

[Kevin]

Anyone who gets their head handed to them by Phil Coke and Damaso Marte, does not deserve to be making anywhere near 25mil a year.

By all counts that ive heard, He pretty much despised the whole Org for keeping him in the minors as long as they did. Esp by signing Jim Thome.

The fact that he jumped at the chance to sign this deal, leads you to believe that he thought there was NO WAY he was getting anything close to it on the FA Market. Esp not with Pujols and Prince available.

[Barnaby Jones]

The exclamation points are seriously starting to distract me.

Ok, I understand what youre trying to say, but what is your point? That hes not worth $25 mill? Ok well I dont think any player is so I cant disagree with that. Is it that hes just an average 1st basebman? Or below average? Who are all these players better then him? Explain. And use more periods this time.

And I honestly believe Utley will re-sign and for less money. We will just have to wait and see.

Guys like him tend to decline very quickly once they're on the wrong side of 30. He's showing all the signs of that decline already, as the Rotoworld breakdown made very clear! Those aren't made up stats! He's showing clear trends of swinging at more junk, having less success with fastballs and having less patience in addition to already being unable to hit well against lefties! You don't lock your team into a player for $125 million with such obvious warning sings and when he's already arguably a platoon player! I don't dislike Howard or having anything against him. He's got talent and he's helped his team, but he's likely not going to be that guy for much longer. It's just not smart to spend that much money on such a high risk player now that he's already 30!

[TripleSkeet]

You don't lock your team into a player for $125 million with such obvious warning sings and when he's already arguably a platoon player! I don't dislike Howard or having anything against him. He's got talent and he's helped his team, but he's likely not going to be that guy for much longer. It's just not smart to spend that much money on such a high risk player now that he's already 30!

LMAO In one sentence you say hes got talent, in another you call him a platoon player. So he shouldnt be starting everyday now?

I mean, the only thing that can you prove you right or wrong is time. So at the end of the season we'll see how hes done. Then next season we will do the same thing.

[Barnaby Jones]

LMAO In one sentence you say hes got talent, in another you call him a platoon player. So he shouldnt be starting everyday now?

Platoon players can't be talented? That's news to me, compadre! And no, if the Phillies have a better option to play first against lefties he shouldn't be starting against them! Here are his career numbers against lefties:

.225 .308 .442 .750

And again, that's for his career! He's getting worse! Here are his numbers against lefties last year:

.207 .298 .356 .653

2008:

.224 .294 .451 .746

It's nuts to pay a guy $25 million who is that bad against a LH pitcher.

I mean, the only thing that can you prove you right or wrong is time. So at the end of the season we'll see how hes done. Then next season we will do the same thing.

Yes and no! Some of this is predictions, but most of it is tracking things that have already happened!

[TripleSkeet]

Yes and no! Some of this is predictions, but most of it is tracking things that have already happened!

I guess, but in my opinion he has yet to have a bad year.

[Barnaby Jones]

I guess, but in my opinion he has yet to have a bad year.

Even when the Phillies won the WS and he was second in MVP voting he was flat out terrible for 3 entire months of the season! Look at the splits! The final numbers don't always tell the whole story!

[TheGameHHH]

They just showed the Endy Chavez catch in the '06 game 7 of the NLCS. Was that the best catch ever? Or am I biased because:

1. I'm a Mets fan.
2. I was at the game.

It was a fantastic catch, but you're biased. I still remember where I was that night though. I swear till this day I've still never heard an entire bar (majority non-Mets fans, and im sure plenty werent even baseball fans in general) yell as loud in unison as they did at that sports play.

[NickyL0885]

Don't look now but the Mets have won 7 in a row and just went 9-1 on a 10 game home stand. Heading into Philly in first place. WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!

[TheGameHHH]

Don't look now but the Mets have won 7 in a row and just went 9-1 on a 10 game home stand. Heading into Philly in first place. WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!

Nobody's looking, trust me

[NickyL0885]

Nobody's looking, trust me

Jealous are we?

[disneyspy]

anyone watching this philly/sf game on MLB network? why the f wouldnt you pull a pitcher that walks everyone? especially walking in a run in a tied game?

[foodcourtdruide]

Guys like him tend to decline very quickly once they're on the wrong side of 30.

I really agree with this part, which is why I think the 5th year will be a killer for the Phils.

[K.C.]

Just my quick take on the Howard deal.

I think they paid market value, so it's a fair deal. As far as him living up to the contract goes, the difference between him and Mo Vaughn and other lumbering 1B is that Howard has progressively gotten in better physical shape each year, never had an injury history, and has improved an aspect of his game each offseason for the last three seasons (i.e. went from being a horrendous fielder, to an adequate fielder).

As far as the media reaction, the thing you need to understand is that these sabermetric disciples like Keith Law, Rob Neyer and that whole cabal loathe the Phillies organization, because the Phillies give no consideration to sabermetrics and refuse to hire a specialized stat guy for a position of power in their front office.

So it chaps their collective asses that the organization has done so well despite defying their "sabermetrics is law" attitude towards the game.

Are the Phillies probably going to look like they're overpaying him in 2016? Yeah. But that's the case with most contracts that extend past 3-4 years.

The bottom line is they weren't signing him for less if he hit the open market.

[hammersavage]

I think its a fair deal. The way he's gotten in better shape as he's gotten older and like you said, got to be a pretty good fielder, means he'll be good for almost the length of the contract.

[Kevin]

Just my quick take on the Howard deal.

I think they paid market value, so it's a fair deal.



The bottom line is they weren't signing him for less if he hit the open market.

WHICH MARKET?

The one in 2000 or this one?

Players aren't getting nearly the type of money they want now.

And if he hit the Open market in 12, he would be the 4th best 1B on the market.

Albert
A-Gone
Prince
Howard.

NO WAY he was getting anywhere NEAR 25mil.

[razorboy]

I think its a fair deal. The way he's gotten in better shape as he's gotten older and like you said, got to be a pretty good fielder, means he'll be good for almost the length of the contract.

Fat first basemen don't tend to fair too well after thirty. I hope he proves me wrong. I love the guy, I just think the contract is a mistake.

[Kevin]

Look at Texiera..

He was 5 years younger at the time of his FA (27 ) Howard would be 32

Better all-around 1B (If you say no, you are retarded)

Had The Yankees, Sox, Angels and a few others bidding for him.

And what he get.. 22m avg?



Howard would be the 4th 1B on the market without the Yanks or Sox wanting him. (Gonzo, Prince A-Gone would be the ones they would go after) Gozo Albert for the Sox and prob Prince as a DH for the Yanks.

No way he would get near 25mil

Just a retarded contract anyway you look at it.

[razorboy]

Just a retarded contract anyway you look at it.

A-Rod calling.

[Kevin]

A-Rod calling.

Yea, that was stupid too..

They gave Arod way too much.

No one else wanted him for the money.

But even still. You cant't compare Howard to Arod when you look at All around stuff.

And Yankees could do it and not have to cut payroll and not sign other guys

Philly can't

[razorboy]

But even still. You cant't compare Howard to Arod when you look at All around stuff.

And Yankees could do it and not have to cut payroll and not sign other guys

Philly can't

Meh. I'll take a fat clutch kid over a choking cheating 35 year old anyday of the week.

[Kevin]

Meh. I'll take a fat clutch kid over a choking cheating 35 year old anyday of the week.

errr....


Did you happen to see what each did in the World Series last year??

[razorboy]

errr....


Did you happen to see what each did in the World Series last year??

errr....


Did you happen to see what what R.H. did in the playoffs two years ago?

[Kevin]

errr....


Did you happen to see what what R.H. did in the playoffs two years ago?

Yea...

TWO YEARS AGO

TWO

[razorboy]

Yea...

TWO YEARS AGO

TWO

Yep.

Ryan Howard is still worlds better than A-Rod.

WORLDS.

[Pestz4Evah]

Ryan Howard's career late-and-close OPS is lower than his OPS in all other plate appearances.

[/JustRepeatingSomethingKeithLawSaidToSoundSmart]

[Kevin]

Yep.

Ryan Howard is still worlds better than A-Rod.

WORLDS.

By WORLDS, do you mean the insane earth 2 WORLDS that you seem to be living in?

Or are those the Jealous Met fan worlds?

[HBox]

I used to think that if you were going to make 25 million you should have the ability to hit a curve ball.

[Barnaby Jones]

The Phillies phans here are crazy!

[Kevin]

The Phillies phans here are crazy!

SHUT UP O'S FAN

You can talk after you get OUT OF LAST PLACE.

[Barnaby Jones]

I picked the Orioles only out of pity for them, their fans and their wonderful ballpark!

[Kevin]

I picked the Orioles only out of pity for them, their fans and their wonderful ballpark!

Bailing out already

Typical LA fan.

Its not even the 7th inning yet!!!

[TheGameHHH]

Jealous are we?


of a team that routinely chokes down the stretch? nope. i'll stick with the world champs thanks

[NickyL0885]

of a team that routinely chokes down the stretch? nope. i'll stick with the world champs thanks

Pot, have you met Kettle?

[TripleSkeet]

Howard would be the 4th 1B on the market without the Yanks or Sox wanting him. (Gonzo, Prince A-Gone would be the ones they would go after) Gozo Albert for the Sox and prob Prince as a DH for the Yanks.

No way he would get near 25mil

Just a retarded contract anyway you look at it.

Sorry, but I dont see Gonzalez or Fielder as better then Howard. And when they are free agents, I think we will see the market will show that. Pujols? Yea, Im not gonna argue that one.

[Kevin]

Sorry, but I dont see Gonzalez or Fielder as better then Howard. And when they are free agents, I think we will see the market will show that. Pujols? Yea, Im not gonna argue that one.

The fact that Prince will be 6 years younger and just entering his prime, makes it so.

And you put Gonzo in the middle of that line up in that park, he would MURDER Howards stats.

[Kevin]

Pot, have you met Kettle?

What does that even mean?

What are we supposed to be jelouse of?

Not winning a title?

Jerry Maual?

Or as Snoogans boy put it

NY ANOMITY?

[NickyL0885]

What does that even mean?

What are we supposed to be jelouse of?

Not winning a title?

Jerry Maual?

Or as Snoogans boy put it

NY ANOMITY?

What I mean is, he said the Mets are chokers. But Yankees fans seems to forget a certain ALCS some years ago.

[Kevin]

What I mean is, he said the Mets are chokers. But Yankees fans seems to forget a certain ALCS some years ago.

It was like 8yrs ago

Once you win a title

Thats forgotten..


Besides..

















That never happened..


There was a strike in 2004.. Remember??

[TripleSkeet]

And you put Gonzo in the middle of that line up in that park, he would MURDER Howards stats.

If you put balls on my aunt, youd have my uncle. He doesnt play here. He doesnt match his numbers. It could be the park, but then again, its not like Howard is putting the ball right over the fence. His home runs almost hit the street.

[Kevin]

If you put balls on my aunt, youd have my uncle. He doesnt play here. He doesnt match his numbers. It could be the park, but then again, its not like Howard is putting the ball right over the fence. His home runs almost hit the street.

The point is


Gonzo has a shit team, NO Protection, and a HUGE park. And he puts up those numbers.

With Howards weakness of Leftys and curves, he would never get anything.

[brettmojo]

I used to think that if you were going to make 25 million you should have the ability to hit a curve ball.

Or at the very least not have Damaso Marte make you his bitch in the World Series.

Yep.

Ryan Howard is still worlds better than A-Rod.

WORLDS.

Jealous are we?
I can't figure out which one of these two would be the opener for this comedic duo.

[disneyspy]

the tigers ended the twins series wins streak today,your welcome

[Adolf]

fuck the fucking tigers. they ruined my day,,,, and yesterday :wallbash:

it was a weird series.. our lineup was all out of whack, the umps were faggots, gardy got ejected, span got ejected, blablablah.. excuses, excuses

either way the twins are strong as shit..... see ya next week at target field for a rematch

http://www.nationalsportsbeat.com/images/logos/mlb/Minnesota_Twins.jpg

can we please have this year..... for christ's sake. i'm sick of the playoff teases

[Kevin]

the tigers ended the twins series wins streak today,your welcome

fuck the fucking tigers. they ruined my day,,,, and yesterday :wallbash:

it was a weird series.. our lineup was all out of whack, the umps were faggots, gardy got ejected, span got ejected, blablablah.. excuses, excuses

either way the twins are strong as shit..... see ya next week at target field for a rematch

http://www.nationalsportsbeat.com/images/logos/mlb/Minnesota_Twins.jpg

can we please have this year..... for christ's sake. i'm sick of the playoff teases


ZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Oh im sorry, were you guys talking about AL Central Baseball?????????




ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzz

[epo]

April 29, 1983. What an anniversary...

<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/uv23pqH9iG0&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/uv23pqH9iG0&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

[Adolf]

ZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Oh im sorry, were you guys talking about AL Central Baseball?????????




ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzz

baseball is baseball... why would you limit yourself to NYY

just for that i hope the orioles get the win today, and arod snaps a leg on the way home

[Kevin]

April 29, 1983. What an anniversary...

<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/uv23pqH9iG0&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/uv23pqH9iG0&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

This goes right up there with the Lou Gehrig speech as the greatest speech in the history of sports

[Kevin]

baseball is baseball... why would you limit yourself to NYY

just for that i hope the orioles get the win today, and arod snaps a leg on the way home

Just joking around heir Hitler.:drunk:

[Adolf]

:drunk:

[A.J.]

This goes right up there with the Lou Gehrig speech as the greatest speech in the history of sports

Don't forget the always inspirational Earl Weaver:

<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9YKxf3OkpJc&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9YKxf3OkpJc&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

[TripleSkeet]

Boy Howard really knocked the shit out of Santana. Actually, the whole lineup pretty much did. Good thing hes not a lefty. Oh....wait...

[Barnaby Jones]

Boy Howard really knocked the shit out of Santana. Actually, the whole lineup pretty much did. Good thing hes not a lefty. Oh....wait...

Yeah, because he pulls it out of his ass every so often means he's suddenly good at hitting lefties! Is that career line of .226 .308 .444 .753 against lefties suddenly erased?

[TripleSkeet]

Yeah, because he pulls it out of his ass every so often means he's suddenly good at hitting lefties! Is that career line of .226 .308 .444 .753 against lefties suddenly erased?

Yes.

[Adolf]

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nEiGkmbueAk/R9v0SrE0e3I/AAAAAAAAC18/tPfgub0hKjA/s400/twins+territory.jpg

:smoke:

[TripleSkeet]

Don't forget the always inspirational Earl Weaver:

<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9YKxf3OkpJc&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9YKxf3OkpJc&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

Holy shit what was that??? Was that some kind of joke interview they never erased? Whatever it was, it was phenominal. That tomato plant advice was classic!

[sailor]

Yes.

last night reversed the erasing.

[KingModem]

Minnesota Twins batting .127 with bases loaded on the season, still manage to sweep the Tigers and tie for best record in the Majors.

[KnoxHarrington]

http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/files/2010/05/Cocka.jpg

Nice job Braves

http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2010/05/05/cake-honoring-bobby-cox-has-unfortunate-misspelling/

[El Mudo]

Barry Zito's 5-0, but i'm not convinced yet. BABIP is .225, which is insanely low. I expect that to even out at some point.

[underdog]

Barry Zito's 5-0, but i'm not convinced yet. BABIP is .225, which is insanely low. I expect that to even out at some point.

Yeah, something has to turn around at some point.

[TheGameHHH]

Barry Zito's 5-0, but i'm not convinced yet. BABIP is .225, which is insanely low. I expect that to even out at some point.

me neither, but he's doing wonders for my fantasy team right now and im gonna stick with him for as long as he wants to take me.

[KingModem]

It is May 7th.
Twins vs Orioles at Target Field in Minneapolis.
Forecast is 1-2 inches of snow & slush.

:ohmy:

[K.C.]

Moyer is god.

That is all.

[NickyL0885]

Ike Davis is a beast!! This kid is going to be good.

[disneyspy]

<div style="float: left; margin-right: 10px;"><embed src="http://media.entertonement.com/embed/OpenEntPlayer.swf" id="1_d09d5928_5ade_11df_ac65_001422242c9f" name="1_d09d5928_5ade_11df_ac65_001422242c9f" flashvars="auto_play=false&clip_pid=tlbzkrzyfw&e=&id=1_d09d5928_5ade_11df_ac65_001422242c9f&skin_pid=wfxswdnlkf" width="300" height="30" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" allowscriptaccess="always" wmode="transparent"></embed><div id="1_d09d5928_5ade_11df_ac65_001422242c9f_anchor" style="font-size: 8px; color: black; text-decoration: none; display: block; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.entertonement.com/clips/tlbzkrzyfw--The-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-sucks" style="font-size: 8px; color: black;" target="_blank">The rock and roll hall of fame sucks sound bite</a> &nbsp;<a href="http://www.entertonement.com/collections/78278/30-Rock-Winter-Madness?ht_link=1_d09d5928_5ade_11df_ac65_00142224 2c9f" style="font-size: 8px; color: black;" target="_blank">30 Rock - Winter Madness sound bites</a></div><img alt="The rock and roll hall of fame sucks sound bite" border="0" height="0" src="http://www.entertonement.com/widgets/img/clip/tlbzkrzyfw/1/1_d09d5928_5ade_11df_ac65_001422242c9f/blank.gif" style="visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px; margin:0; padding:0; float:right" width="0" /></div>

[cougarjake13]

http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/files/2010/05/Cocka.jpg

Nice job Braves

http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2010/05/05/cake-honoring-bobby-cox-has-unfortunate-misspelling/





fucking hilarious

[joeyballsack]

Looks like no one walked on Dallas Bradens mound today.

19th perfect game in ML history.

The Rays are snake bit I guess, they were the victims of Mark Buehrles perfect game last year.

[K.C.]

Looks like no one walked on Dallas Bradens mound today.

19th perfect game in ML history.

The Rays are snake bit I guess, they were the victims of Mark Buehrles perfect game last year.

He just cost me my undefeated record in Fantasy Baseball.

Pitched a sick game, though.

[Kevin]

Looks like no one walked on Dallas Bradens mound today.

19th perfect game in ML history.

The Rays are snake bit I guess, they were the victims of Mark Buehrles perfect game last year.

I guess now he can tell Arod that he isn't worthy of talking to him now.

Has Arod done something that only 19 people have ever done before?

NO!

[NickyL0885]

I guess now he can tell Arod that he isn't worthy of talking to him now.

Has Arod done something that only 19 people have ever done before?

NO!

how long until he is a Yankee?

[brettmojo]

I guess now he can tell Arod that he isn't worthy of talking to him now.

Has Arod done something that only 19 people have ever done before?

NO!
Kate Hudson?

[Kevin]

Kate Hudson?

Im pretty sure more than 19 people have done Kate Hudson..

[brettmojo]

Im pretty sure more than 19 people have done Kate Hudson..
Yeah, you're probably right.

Flat chest = Low self esteem

[TripleSkeet]

He just cost me my undefeated record in Fantasy Baseball.

Pitched a sick game, though.

LOL He just snagged me high week in mine.

[HBox]

This is going to be a great chapter in Dallas Braden's autobiography, "Dallas Braden's Imaginary Rules of the Game."

[Tenbatsuzen]

I guess now he can tell Arod that he isn't worthy of talking to him now.

Has Arod done something that only 19 people have ever done before?

NO!

Triple play?

[Tenbatsuzen]

I will put BRaden in the "Mike Witt / Len Barker / Kenny Rogers" perfect game pantheon than the Koufax/Martinez/Johnson pantheon.

[KingModem]

I guess now he can tell Arod that he isn't worthy of talking to him now.

Has Arod done something that only 19 people have ever done before?

NO!

Hate to defend A-Rod....but...
Um, hit 580+ home runs?

[TheGameHHH]

I will put BRaden in the "Mike Witt / Len Barker / Kenny Rogers" perfect game pantheon than the Koufax/Martinez/Johnson pantheon.

I put it on equal plane of all 19 guys. Do I think he's as good as the later trio? Of course not. But you can't deny that perfection is just insanely impressive, I dont care how he did it.

[goreds2]

Reds win tonight. In second place 3 games behind STL. :smoke:

[Suspect Chin]

Reds win tonight. In second place 3 games behind STL. :smoke:

If the Cubs can't win the division I just hope it isn't the Cards.

[goreds2]

If the Cubs can't win the division I just hope it isn't the Cards.

The Cubs and Cards are an under-rated rivalry.

The Reds and Cubs are starting to be somewhat of a rivalry. Your team travels well. The Reds stadium seems like it was half Cub fans over the weekend. This has happened the past few years.

[hanso]

Guy hit for cycle over the weekend.

# Jody Gerut
# #22
# Center Field
# Milwaukee Brewers

May 8 Gerut has hit for the cycle against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Advice: Gerut hit a solo home run in the second inning Saturday, singled in the third, drove in a run with a triple in the fifth and added a two-run double in the ninth. It is the sixth cycle in Brewers history (last one was 6 yrs. ago.) and the first for Gerut, who had one hit in his last 18 at-bats coming into Saturday.

I saw this on the ESPN ticker at bottom of the tv screen . Then the perfect game happend. And no other mention of this afterwards. Poor fella.

[K.C.]

The Cubs and Cards are an under-rated rivalry.

The Reds and Cubs are starting to be somewhat of a rivalry. Your team travels well. The Reds stadium seems like it was half Cub fans over the weekend. This has happened the past few years.

Every NL team is irrelevant to the equation except one:

http://i.a.cnn.net/si/2005/writers/mark_bechtel/08/17/daily.blog/p1_phanatic.jpg

[Suspect Chin]

What about...

http://unclebobsballparks17.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/olympicstadium008.jpg

[Barnaby Jones]

Ken Burns will be putting out a 4-hour sequel to his baseball documentary this September!

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5183177

he film essentially covers Major League Baseball since 1994. Covered are the rise in performance-enhancing drugs, the sport's international flavor because of Asian and Latino players, a new Yankees dynasty and the breakthrough of the Boston Red Sox.

Sweet!

[Adolf]

Mint!

Kick Ass!

Dildos!





"Every NL team is irrelevant"

[KnoxHarrington]

Dallas Braden makes his first start since his perfect game tonight.

Of course, no one has ever thrown back to back perfect games in baseball history, and only Johnny Vandermeer has thrown back-to-back no hitters. The record for most consecutive batters retired by any pitcher is 45, set by Mark Buerhle last year.

Checking his last start, Braden retired the last 3 batters he faced in his previous start. So his streak is now at 30, and he'd need to be perfect through 1 out in the 6th inning to break the record.

So there you go.

[KnoxHarrington]

Ken Burns will be putting out a 4-hour sequel to his baseball documentary this September!

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5183177



Sweet!

Will he have Billy Crystal in this part to tell more vaguely Freudian, homoerotic tales of running through a dark tunnel with his dad into the light?

[underdog]

Ubaldo Jimenez - 0.99 ERA, 8-1 record, 58K

Ridiculous.

[underdog]

Also, in my fantasy dynasty league, at the beginning of the season, I traded Stephen Strasburg to another team for Aroldis Chapman & Michael Stanton. I'm really starting to regret trading possibly the greatest pitcher ever.

[KnoxHarrington]

I have no idea how Omar Minaya and Jerry Manuel still have their jobs with the Mets. That team is a mess.

That whole clusterfuck with John Maine being pulled after 5 pitches just shows what a clueless bastard Manuel is. If Maine was that badly hurt, why was he pitching at all? And if he wasn't, why not give him a little more time to see if he can pull it together? Shit, when Rick Ankiel was throwing pitches into the upper deck, he got more time than that.

[Suspect Chin]

Jose Lima dead (http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bb/7018516.html) of massive heart attack at 37.

[brettmojo]

Jose Lima dead (http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bb/7018516.html) of massive heart attack at 37.
I guess God thought it was Lima time...

[Snoogans]

first thing i thought when i heard is something steroids. Maybe his heart wasnt as good cause of taking roids

[razorboy]

I guess being a fat herpetic loser doesn't pay off.

[Kevin]

first thing i thought when i heard is something steroids. Maybe his heart wasnt as good cause of taking roids



His best steriods was when he was a Met.

[Suspect Chin]

I guess being a fat herpetic loser doesn't pay off.

Those were non-herpetic according to Dr. Steve.

[brettmojo]

I guess being a fat herpetic loser doesn't pay off.
I think he made out alright...

http://cdn.wl.uproxx.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/jose-lima-with-wife.jpg

[brettmojo]

Steve Phillips is on Francesa right now proclaiming that he would trade Strasburg for Roy Oswalt if he was the National's...

Why is this guy out of baseball again?

[cougarjake13]

I think he made out alright...

http://cdn.wl.uproxx.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/jose-lima-with-wife.jpg


ill be on the next flight to console her if she needs

[hanso]

Lima time is no more :sad: He was flamboyant but not arrogant like so many divas in sports now days.

José Desiderio Rodriguez Lima (September 30, 1972 – May 23, 2010) r.i.p.

[Barnaby Jones]

Chase Utley just might be the best player in baseball right now!

http://actasports.com/sow.php?id=248

Good thing the Phillies didn't just waste a ton of money! Oh, wait! LULZ!

[TripleSkeet]

Chase Utley just might be the best player in baseball right now!

http://actasports.com/sow.php?id=248

Good thing the Phillies didn't just waste a ton of money! Oh, wait! LULZ!

They are both going to be Phillies for a LONG LONG LOOOOOOONG time so whats the point?

[Barnaby Jones]

Tying up $40+ million a year in just two players is pretty stupid if you're not the Yankees, especially when only one of them is worth anywhere near that type of money!

Or Utley is a moron if he accepts less money a year or less total money than what Howard is getting within a comparable time frame!

Either way, someone didn't think this through!

[TripleSkeet]

Tying up $40+ million a year in just two players is pretty stupid if you're not the Yankees, especially when only one of them is worth anywhere near that type of money!

Or Utley is a moron if he accepts less money a year or less total money than what Howard is getting within a comparable time frame!

Either way, someone didn't think this through!

I really dont give a fuck. If they get another Wordl Series trophy they can overpay as many players as they want.

To be honest, after the 2008 win the Phillies have a pass from me for anything they do until 2018.

Oh and theres no way they ever let Utley leave. Bank on that shit.

[Kevin]

I really dont give a fuck. If they get another Wordl Series trophy they can overpay as many players as they want.

To be honest, after the 2008 win the Phillies have a pass from me for anything they do until 2018.

Oh and theres no way they ever let Utley leave. Bank on that shit.



I think he means they don't have the financial abilty to spend all that money on two guys and not cut corners on the rest of the team.

[Barnaby Jones]

I really dont give a fuck. If they get another Wordl Series trophy they can overpay as many players as they want.

But they can't! That's the point! You've really only got one team that can sink that much money into only two players. The Phillies can't overpay for as many players as they want!

To be honest, after the 2008 win the Phillies have a pass from me for anything they do until 2018.

Apparently! I've never seen fans respond like the Phillies fans here who defend everything that they're team does! You don't HAVE to agree with everything they do to be a fan!

Oh and theres no way they ever let Utley leave. Bank on that shit.

How can you be so sure? The Phillies don't have an unlimited payroll and Utley isn't an idiot. He knows how good he is and how highly regarded he is around baseball. He knows how much they just overpaid for Howard. Why would he accept anything significantly less than a comparable deal? It might end up being a case of them not being able to afford him! Or they give the money to Utley but the rest of the team falls into the crapper because they've tied up around a third of their salary in just two players!

[brettmojo]

But they can't! That's the point! You've really only got one team that can sink that much money into only two players.
That really couldn't be farther from the truth. It's a want, not a can't. Most owners won't spend that much of their profits even if it means having a winner. There are far far more wealthy owners than the Steinbrenners out there but they'd rather line their pockets than produce a winner.

[Barnaby Jones]

That really couldn't be farther from the truth. It's a want, not a can't. Most owners won't spend that much of their profits even if it means having a winner. There are far far more wealthy owners than the Steinbrenners out there but they'd rather line their pockets than produce a winner.

If they established a ceiling they're not going to go past then it might as well be like the money isn't there in the first place. Baseball is baseball, but it's still a business, and sinking that much money (likely around $45-50 million a year) into just two players simply isn't smart business!

Also, you're confusing total wealth with revenue actually from the baseball team and its associated profits. Sure, there are owners who have more individual wealth than Steinbrenner, but nobody is making more money off of their baseball investment than him!

[TripleSkeet]

We dont defend every move the Phillies make. They still get crucified for letting Cliff Lee go. Thats actually the first time Ive ever heard Philly fans descirbed that way.....ever. Some of us just arent into the whole "moneyball" strategy thats so popular these days. The Phillies win despite buying into it.

I believe in paying the players when they earn it. Ryan Howard did more in his first 5 years then most 1B do in their entire careers. And he did it while being underpaid. So if the Phillies want to overpay him to make up for it, Im not gonna have a problem with it.

If they have to let Victorino and Werth go and replace them with rookies like Domanic Brown in order to come up with money for Utley...Im good with that too. If they decide that since they broke a team record for ticket sales last year and are going to break it again this year that they are gonna spend more to try to keep more of this team together, even better.

But what Im not gonna do is sit and bitch when the Phillies are one of the best teams in the NL. Im enjoying the ride. Thats what fans do. Im not going to let decisions by millionaires that I have no control over affect my enjoyment of a great season.

[Barnaby Jones]

We dont defend every move the Phillies make. They still get crucified for letting Cliff Lee go. Thats actually the first time Ive ever heard Philly fans descirbed that way.....ever. Some of us just arent into the whole "moneyball" strategy thats so popular these days. The Phillies win despite buying into it.

Who is talking about Moneyball? This a big difference between being Billy Beane-frugal and dumping a retarded amount of money into just two players!

I believe in paying the players when they earn it. Ryan Howard did more in his first 5 years then most 1B do in their entire careers. And he did it while being underpaid. So if the Phillies want to overpay him to make up for it, Im not gonna have a problem with it.

I'm sorry, but this is just silly. Ryan Howard in no way "earned" being paid $25 million a year! Again, you're leaping from one extreme to another! Just because someone is "underpaid" (and really, is a guy making $18 million a year being underpaid? NOPE!) doesn't mean you turn around and pay him a ridiculous amount per year when you have a much better and more valuable player on the team who, unless he's a moron, is going to expect comparable compensation!

If they have to let Victorino and Werth go and replace them with rookies like Domanic Brown in order to come up with money for Utley...Im good with that too. If they decide that since they broke a team record for ticket sales last year and are going to break it again this year that they are gonna spend more to try to keep more of this team together, even better.

What??!?? The point is that they're NOT spending to keep the team together! They're spending in such a way where it will be difficult for them to to put a team on the field that will draw in those sell-out crowds! Two guys are not a whole team, no matter how great Utley is.

But what Im not gonna do is sit and bitch when the Phillies are one of the best teams in the NL. Im enjoying the ride. Thats what fans do. Im not going to let decisions by millionaires that I have no control over affect my enjoyment of a great season.

It's easy to enjoy the ride and recognize a bad business decision! I have nothing against the Phillies and have been impressed in recent years with how they were able to put together such a good team through both internal development and smart trades and FA signings! Now they're setting it up to be in a position where they have to over-rely on their farm system because they can't afford to trade anyone really worth anything or sign anyone worth a damn if they're paying 2 players $50 million a year! I'm confused as to why they're suddenly seemingly reversing course and acting spend-crazy and forgetting what got them the success they're basking in right now!

[brettmojo]

What? (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5218267) How did I not hear about this?


PHILADELPHIA -- A 21-year-old New Jersey man pleaded guilty Tuesday to vomiting on another spectator and his 11-year-old daughter in the stands during a Philadelphia Phillies (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=phi) game.


Matthew Clemmens, of Cherry Hill, N.J., pleaded guilty to one count each of simple assault, disorderly conduct and harassment for his conduct during an April 14 Phillies-Nationals game at Citizens Bank Park.


Clemmens stuck his fingers down his throat and vomited on Michael Vangelo, an off-duty Easton police captain, and one of Vangelo's daughters after Clemmens' companion was ejected from the park, assistant district attorney Patrick Doyle said.

Clemmens and his friend were spilling beer, cursing and heckling Vangelo and his daughters from the time they arrived at their seats, according to a statement of facts read in court.


Vangelo's 15-year-old daughter asked the pair to stop the profanity, and Vangelo complained to security that Clemmens' friend was spitting, with some of it hitting his 11-year-old daughter, Doyle said.
After the friend was ejected, Clemmens was sitting alone behind the Vangelos when he answered his cell phone and said, "I need to do what I need to do. I'm going to get sick," the prosecutor said.
Clemmens then put his fingers down his throat and threw up on the father, with vomit splashing onto Vangelo's younger daughter, Doyle said.


He then punched the father several times in the head before other fans in the stands subdued him, the prosecutor said. He screamed expletives at the crowd as he was led out of the park, Doyle said.
Clemmens' mug shot showed him with a swollen black eye, and authorities acknowledged he was hit as he was being subdued. No one else was charged in the case.


In exchange for Clemmens' guilty pleas, charges including reckless endangerment and corruption of minors were dropped.


Doyle said the Vangelos were satisfied with the case's resolution and plan to attend Clemmens' sentencing, which Family Court Judge Kevin Dougherty scheduled for July 30. Sentencing guidelines call for Clemmens to get probation, Doyle said.


Dressed in a navy suit and accompanied by his parents, the defendant appeared nervous as the charges against him were read. He did not address the judge beyond quietly replying, "Yes," as the description of events was read.


Public defender Richard Hark said his client has had no prior run-ins with the law and his behavior, which outraged fans in Philadelphia and beyond, was out of character.


"It's probable he consumed too much alcohol," Hark said, adding that Clemmens only turned 21 in March. "It's not a justification for his behavior, just an explanation."


Neither Clemmens nor his parents would comment as they left the courthouse.

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2010/0525/mlb_a_clemmens01_300.jpg

A real winner right there.

[TripleSkeet]

What? (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5218267) How did I not hear about this?


http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2010/0525/mlb_a_clemmens01_300.jpg

A real winner right there.

That kids a jackass, but I dont buy that story. I really think its a bullshit story that the media loves to run with.

If I had to guess what happened Id say this kid and his friends were drunk, obnoxious assholes. The one guy got kicked out and he stayed drinking, and he got sick and started to throw up, some of which probably splattered on the off duty cop. The cop has had enough, got up and kicked the shit out of the kid. Then when they arrested him thats the story they came up with rather then "Off Duty Cop Beats Up Kid For Getting Sick". Look at that fat bastards eye in his mug shot. You dont get that while "getting subdued".

Understandable.

And please dont say it doesnt happen. I bounced in Philly nightclubs for years this kind of shit would happen on a weekly basis. Whenever we had a problem and was throwing someone out a cop would literally write down exactly what "happened" and then each of the bouncers would copy it word for word. If they did that for us theyd do it to help one of their own.

[KnoxHarrington]

Ozzie Guillen fucking rules. Check out this autograph he gave a fan in Cleveland:

http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/11/2010/05/500x_105878667.jpg

Gotta love that crazy Venezuelan bastard.

That said, as much as Ozzie amuses me from afar, I'm not sure I'd want him as the manager of my team. As funny as he is, you've always gotta worry that the big blowup that destroys him and the team is just around the corner.

http://deadspin.com/5548316/ozzie-guillen-has-no-sympathy-for-clevelanders

[Kevin]

What? (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5218267) How did I not hear about this?


http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2010/0525/mlb_a_clemmens01_300.jpg

A real winner right there.



Sheepy?

[TheGameHHH]

i feel like matt cain is a younger version of a.j. burnett

[Kevin]

i feel like matt cain is a younger version of a.j. burnett



Funny...

I see AJ Burnette as an older version of Matt Cain.

[hammersavage]

Halladay is definitely gonna throw a perfect game. No doubt

[Kevin]

Halladay is definitely gonna throw a perfect game. No doubt

i have no idea wtf you're talking about.

He will never throw a perfect game because Big Pelf is better and he still hasn't!

[Snoogans]

Halladay is definitely gonna throw a perfect game. No doubt

why would you do that fag? Its gonna make papi met look so stupid. let it be. Dont be so fuckin bitter

[hammersavage]

I think papi does a fine job of that himself.

[Snoogans]

I think papi does a fine job of that himself.

thats what you get for tryin. Now im happy a fuckin phillie thru a perfect game. You dickhead

[K.C.]

fuck You Hammersavage!!!!

[K.C.]

yes!

[NickyL0885]

yes!

What happened? Did I miss something? :tongue:

[Kevin]

yes!

KC read like the last 5 pages or so of the Mets thread.

You will see how much more awesome this is.

[NickyL0885]

KC read like the last 5 pages or so of the Mets thread.

You will see how much more awesome this is.

Not as awesome as the Mets sweeping the Phils, with shut outs in each game.

[K.C.]

<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nBOZQGa5nbQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nBOZQGa5nbQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

[Snoogans]

Not as awesome as the Mets sweeping the Phils, with shut outs in each game.

come on admit it. nothing on this board has ever been funnier than how dumb papi met looks right now

[hammersavage]

Wow, Kendry Morales, you suck

[NickyL0885]

come on admit it. nothing on this board has ever been funnier than how dumb papi met looks right now

I didnt read much of the argument. But I'll just agree with you guys about it.

[underdog]

come on admit it. nothing on this board has ever been funnier than how dumb papi met looks right now

Who is papi met?

Wow, Kendry Morales, you suck

What did he do?

[Kevin]

Who is papi met?





What did he do?


Read from post 220 on in the mets thread for Papi Mets


He hit a walk off granny then broke his leg in the pile up celebration after..

Who the fuck has a pile up celebration in May?

[Pestz4Evah]

<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nCMSMs3ANIM&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nCMSMs3ANIM&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

[TripleSkeet]

thats what you get for tryin. Now im happy a fuckin phillie thru a perfect game. You dickhead

This makes me smile. :)

[Kevin]

This makes me smile. :)

If you want a bigger laugh, read the Mets thread from post 220 on..

So funny.

[underdog]

Read from post 220 on in the mets thread for Papi Mets


He hit a walk off granny then broke his leg in the pile up celebration after..

Who the fuck has a pile up celebration in May?

WINS AND RBI ARE THE ONLY WAY TO JUDGE PLAYERS!

[TripleSkeet]

If you want a bigger laugh, read the Mets thread from post 220 on..

So funny.

I dont have time to read 100 posts in a Mets thread. The Flyers are 5-5 in the 3rd.

[Kevin]

I dont have time to read 100 posts in a Mets thread. The Flyers are 5-5 in the 3rd.

Basicaly...


A Met fan was saying Big Pelf was having a better year than Halladay becauce he had one more win.

[TripleSkeet]

Basicaly...


A Met fan was saying Big Pelf was having a better year than Halladay becauce he had one more win.

WOW.

[hammersavage]

Jim Joyce needs to be fired on the spot. Unreal

[Kevin]

Jim Joyce needs to be fired on the spot. Unreal

Yea, holy shit.

What a horrid call.

And what a catch by AJax for the 1st out.

[dino_electropolis]

Jim Joyce needs to be fired on the spot. Unreal

just saw the replay on the mets game....

damn shame....where's the instant reply on that???

[HBox]

Jim Joyce needs to be fired on the spot. Unreal

That wasn't even close. Galarraga showed remarkable restraint in not killing the guy and pissing on bis corpse.

[Tenbatsuzen]

Matt vasgersian on MLB said that Joyce was gonna need some sort of escort out of the park. Liz: "He's gonna need a fucking armored car!"

[Tenbatsuzen]

I still can't get over Joyce called him safe. I think Joe West has to step up his game now.

[joeyballsack]

DH for both leagues would fix this peskey perfect game issue we now have.

Two perfect games in a week ?

[Kevin]

Gallaragha has to be on something.

I just saw his post game interview..

HOW CAN HE BE SO CALM AND SMILE AFTER THIS?

He looked like he didnt give a shit.

[Suspect Chin]

They just locked Jim Joyce's wikipedia entry because it got fucked up instantly.

[hammersavage]

DH for both leagues would fix this peskey perfect game issue we now have.

Two perfect games in a week ?



2 of the possible 3 had a DH

[HBox]

MLB Network replayed the final inning. Joyce and Miguel Cabrera were jawing the entire final at bat and most of the Tigers were screaming at him as he left the field.

[Kevin]

2 of the possible 3 had a DH

Don't forget CC and Hughes had no no into the 8th.

[joeyballsack]

Don't forget CC and Hughes had no no into the 8th.

Dice K also.

[Kevin]

Dice K also.

Wasn't Dice K in an NL park though?

[Tenbatsuzen]

Don't forget CC and Hughes had no no into the 8th.

CC was a no-hitter, not perfecto. Not sure about Hughes.

[Kevin]

CC was a no-hitter, not perfecto. Not sure about Hughes.

Yea, thats why i said No no..

[Crippler]

Jim Joyce needs to be fired on the spot. Unreal

...and somewhere Don Denkinger quietly raises a glass, "Thank you Jim Joyce, it's your turn in the barrel now, my friend."

[Kevin]

...and somewhere Don Denkinger quietly raises a glass, "Thank you Jim Joyce, it's your turn in the barrel now, my friend."



Which is worse, fucking up on a perfect game or World Series..

I'm not sure. This one was pretty bad.

[A.J.]

If Selig was worth a damn as a Commissioner, he reverses the call and gives him the perfecto.

And then he explains again why baseball shouldn't have instant replay.

[KnoxHarrington]

If Selig was worth a damn as a Commissioner, he reverses the call and gives him the perfecto.

And then he explains again why baseball shouldn't have instant replay.

If baseball had a real Commissioner, we'd have instant replay in place tomorrow. But we won't, the reaction out of that son of a bitch is going to be something like this:

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/blogs/photos/small_lg_selig_ap.jpg

[King Hippos Bandaid]

Armando, still the second best Galaragga in all of Baseball

Andres keeps the title thanks to Jim Joyce



bad call, remorseful ump, angry fans and players...


no new Instant Replay rules or anything like that should in instituted based on a judgment error


Selig could reverse this, but the Tigers didnt even Protest the game


it sucks... Joyce's above average 22 yr Career is now defined by this 1 play....



still not as bad as the Dude who blew the call in the ninth inning (1-0 Cards 3-2 Cards in the Series) Game 6 1985 and helped the Royals become the Kings of Missouri

[Suspect Chin]

...and somewhere Don Denkinger quietly raises a glass, "Thank you Jim Joyce, it's your turn in the barrel now, my friend."

I can't find Denkinger's video anywhere. Fuck MLB for shutting down all the YouTube clips and not providing them on their site.

[Fallon]

I can't find Denkinger's video anywhere. Fuck MLB for shutting down all the YouTube clips and not providing them on their site.

http://i50.tinypic.com/se0qyf.jpg

<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GleGWBXpc-4&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GleGWBXpc-4&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>

[KingModem]

I can't find Denkinger's video anywhere. Fuck MLB for shutting down all the YouTube clips and not providing them on their site.

It was the same exact thing. Grounder to First base, pitcher covers, should have been an out, but called safe.

Except this was with 0 outs in a World Series game, not the 3rd out in a perfect game.

[Suspect Chin]

It was the same exact thing. Grounder to First base, pitcher covers, should have been an out, but called safe.

Except this was with 0 outs in a World Series game, not the 3rd out in a perfect game.

Yeah I'm familiar with the game I just wanted to see the actual clip again.

[Suspect Chin]

http://i50.tinypic.com/se0qyf.jpg

<object height="385" width="640">


<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GleGWBXpc-4&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="640"></object>

Yeah I saw that shitty video. Was hoping for the actual clip.

[disneyspy]

mother fucker ump must die

[disneyspy]

watching the tigers game,galley just shook joyce's hand

[KnoxHarrington]

I think all the calls for Joyce to be fired or punished for this are stupid: he did his job. In a way, I think it speaks well for him as an umpire that he didn't just think, "Ah, I think he's out, but this is the last out of a perfect game, I better call it safe." He called it the way he saw it, and that's what an umpire should do. You can't have umpires scared that they have to keep in mind the circumstances of their game or they'll be punished: he should call that play as he sees it whether it's the first out or the last out.

That said, there should have been a tool available to him and the other umps to take a second look and go back and make sure. I've been ambivalent about instant replay in baseball, but I'm not anymore. It needs to be implemented as soon as possible. The question for me now is just what should be reviewable, and under what circumstances -- that is, just at the discretion of the umpires, sort of like in college football, or should managers get challenges they can use, like in the NFL?

[disneyspy]

I think all the calls for Joyce to be fired or punished for this are stupid: he did his job. In a way, I think it speaks well for him as an umpire that he didn't just think, "Ah, I think he's out, but this is the last out of a perfect game, I better call it safe." He called it the way he saw it, and that's what an umpire should do. You can't have umpires scared that they have to keep in mind the circumstances of their game or they'll be punished: he should call that play as he sees it whether it's the first out or the last out.

That said, there should have been a tool available to him and the other umps to take a second look and go back and make sure. I've been ambivalent about instant replay in baseball, but I'm not anymore. It needs to be implemented as soon as possible. The question for me now is just what should be reviewable, and under what circumstances -- that is, just at the discretion of the umpires, sort of like in college football, or should managers get challenges they can use, like in the NFL?

balls and strikes-no review everything else,review in my opinion

if they show the way gallaragua treated joyce today with the shake and the detroit fans cordial applause i think joyce will be ok

ps- burner in the D today,its 6-6 in the 6th

[disneyspy]

BreakingNews MLB Commissioner Bud Selig says he will not reverse umpire's call that cost Detroit's Armando Galarraga a perfect game

spy report- tigs up 7-6 now in bottom of the 6th