MLB (Baseball)

[Jasper]

Re: MLB (Baseball)

Don't know your level of baseball knowledge, but a team in the Yankees position typically does exactly what they did - namely, play their starters for only half the game, and not use their elite closer at the end. Rest is super important at the end of a 162 game season, and this is done by pretty much all teams (making the Phillies triumph over the Braves even more impressive).

My level of baseball knowledge is reading anything Bill Simmons writes which fair to say is "slightly" Boston-centric.
This includes the immortal 500 page opus "Now I can die in Peace".
In game strategy of this nature does not get much of a run.

I could tell you which Beverly Hill 90210 characters were most like Pedro Martinez and Nomar Garciaparra though........

[Jasper]

Re: MLB (Baseball)

Slightly off topic from the play offs. I saw a preview last week of the movie Moneyball and it looks like my kind of movie. Just wanted to know if anyone has read the book and whether you recommend reading it.

Agree that the book is great reading.
The reality of what happened to a lot of the players Bill Beane valued back in 2002 throws it off in a historical context, but that is a minor flaw

[The Underdog]

Re: MLB (Baseball)

The Rays will be starting rookie lefty Matt Moore in game one vs the Rangers in Texas. It will be his 2nd major league start.

And he's pitched 2 hit shutout ball over 5 innings and the Rays are leading 8-0, through 2 homers & by Kelly Shoppach (yes really) and 1 from Johnny Damon (yes really)

[anfo27]

Re: MLB (Baseball)

And he's pitched 2 hit shutout ball over 5 innings and the Rays are leading 8-0, through 2 homers & by Kelly Shoppach (yes really) and 1 from Johnny Damon (yes really)

Just watching the game now and I'm not surprised to see the Rays leading. All the experts have not really given the Rays much of a chance of advancing but doesn't good pitching and defense always beat good offfense in the play offs?

[The Underdog]

Re: MLB (Baseball)

The Red Sox and Francona have parted ways too...come on Cubbies get in on that action.

[The Underdog]

Re: MLB (Baseball)

Just watching the game now and I'm not surprised to see the Rays leading. All the experts have not really given the Rays much of a chance of advancing but doesn't good pitching and defense always beat good offfense in the play offs?

True but I felt that the differences in starting pitching weren't that great on output and that the Rangers had a massive advantage in relief pitching and that their lineup is vastly better than Tampa's. Anyway still 4 games to go from here.

[anfo27]

Re: MLB (Baseball)

True but I felt that the differences in starting pitching weren't that great on output and that the Rangers had a massive advantage in relief pitching and that their lineup is vastly better than Tampa's. Anyway still 4 games to go from here.

Thats true and if last year is anything to go by this will go all the way down to game 5. Funny that last year when these teams met the home team lost every game.

[Raw Toast]

Re: MLB (Baseball)

My level of baseball knowledge is reading anything Bill Simmons writes which fair to say is "slightly" Boston-centric.
This includes the immortal 500 page opus "Now I can die in Peace".
In game strategy of this nature does not get much of a run.

I could tell you which Beverly Hill 90210 characters were most like Pedro Martinez and Nomar Garciaparra though........

Simmons is glorious, and the ESPN literary sports-writing website he created - http://www.grantland.com/ - is well worth looking at. I see there's a game 162 diary to read plus angry Red Sox mutterings to feast upon, grin.

(San Diego was on the wrong side of a semi-similar loss last year when WC rival won against a better opponent, but no mutterings despite pulling out of key players bc that is the tradition if you're already through to playoffs.

The Yankees were bad in the 8th inning comeback by Rays, but the players on the field were still trying to impress their manager, and Rays made some incredibly clutch hits...)

The Red Sox and Francona have parted ways too...come on Cubbies get in on that action.

Wow, Red Sox fans were v, v angry yesterday, but I didn't think that the head they were calling for would actually roll given the success he has presided over.

[anfo27]

Re: MLB (Baseball)

Got up early this morning to watch the Tigers Yankees game and I'm glad i did. Great result for us and now we take it back to Detroit for game 3 & a Verlander CC Sabathia showdown take 2. Rapt with the result this morning particulary after game 1 where we come out and didn't fire a shot. We were poor in every area and Fister did i great job for the most part.
Valverde did give me heart palpatations though but it doesn't matter how he finished it as long as he finished it.
Not sure if anyone else caught the game but one thing that really ticked me off was a couple of times when Yankee players were struck out they made it known to the umpire that they were not happy with the 3rd strike call. I don't usually have an issue with this but when the strike is an obvious strike and players like Jeter & Swisher who are very experienced ball players question the call it seems to me that they are trying to influence the calls. Am i wrong in thinking this?
It was also good to see the Cards take one off the Phillies.

[Remi Moses]

Re: MLB (Baseball)

Always great to see a Yankee loss
Nearly as amusing as the Boston Yankees meltdown

[anfo27]

Re: MLB (Baseball)

Always great to see a Yankee loss
Nearly as amusing as the Boston Yankees meltdown

Make that another loss to the Yankees. You little beauty the tigers lead the series 2-1 with a Rick Porcello and AJ Burnett match up to come tomorrow. What a game that went right down to the wire with Valverde again leaving 2 runners on. JV was jumped on early but after that he was exceptional, he did lose it for 3 batters there that got them back in it. CC battled all night and would have walked 6 or so i think.
Anyway hopefully Rick can come through with the goods tomorrow so we don't have to go back New York and face Nova again.

[The Underdog]

Re: MLB (Baseball)

Make that another loss to the Yankees. You little beauty the tigers lead the series 2-1 with a Rick Porcello and AJ Burnett match up to come tomorrow. What a game that went right down to the wire with Valverde again leaving 2 runners on. JV was jumped on early but after that he was exceptional, he did lose it for 3 batters there that got them back in it. CC battled all night and would have walked 6 or so i think.
Anyway hopefully Rick can come through with the goods tomorrow so we don't have to go back New York and face Nova again.

Massive game to win. Porcello vs Burnett is a total lottery. Both capable of pitching a shutout, both capable of being knocked out with a 7 run first. Detroit have to be favourites now though.

[anfo27]

Re: MLB (Baseball)

Massive game to win. Porcello vs Burnett is a total lottery. Both capable of pitching a shutout, both capable of being knocked out with a 7 run first. Detroit have to be favourites now though.

You're right, both have had periods of pitching really well and then have had periods of not getting past the 3rd inning. I'm worried about this game cause hitters like A Rod & Teixeira have done nothing thus far so Rick really needs to get that sinkerball working and hit his spots for us to have a chance. Ricks last 4 outings have been good ones so at least he is coming in with some form.
Reading the forums it seems as though even the Yankees fans are not confident with AJ taking the hill.
I'm spewing I have to go to work tomorrow so I won't be able to watch Jim and his boys pull off a 3-1 series win, heres hoping anyway.
I'm hoping Arizona can pick up a game or 2 off the Brewers cause they have been a great story this year and it would be a shame to see them get swept.
The Rays still a chance tomorrow with Hellickson, not a bad pitcher to come out as your 4th starter. They are up against it but you never rule out these guys.
GO TIGERS

[The Underdog]

Re: MLB (Baseball)

Rangers beat the Rays 3 games to 1 to be the first team through to the ALCS.
Beltre hits 3 solo homers in Game 4.
Hopefully the Tigers can get over the Yanks today.

[Remi Moses]

Re: MLB (Baseball)

Disappointing with the Rays being out.
Yippee get to see more of Jnr and old man Bush!