Mets sign CF Carlos Beltran

[stevece80]

The fans stay away? You act like they showed up when they had the "big three". There was no drop in attendance when Giambi left. None when Tejada left. There will be no drop next year. They're not faithful, but they're damn consistent in attendance, even with 100+ win teams on the field. The only drop in attendance will be if the team totally sucks, it has nothing to do with adding and subtracting players.

[element1151]

1. A's

2. Angels

3. Rangers

4. Mariners

 

Are you on crack? No way A's finish above 3rd place. Maybe not last, but definitely not 2nd or 1st.

 

I'm with Crespo:

1. Angels

2. Rangers

3. Mariners

4. A's

 

Or: (If the Rangers fall)

1. Angels

2. Mariners

3. Rangers

4. A's

[CrespoBlows]

The fans stay away? You act like they showed up when they had the "big three". There was no drop in attendance when Giambi left. None when Tejada left. There will be no drop next year. They're not faithful, but they're damn consistent in attendance, even with 100+ win teams on the field. The only drop in attendance will be if the team totally sucks, it has nothing to do with adding and subtracting players.

 

Which they will next year, they'll go 70-92 next year.

 

BTW are you an A's fan?

[CrespoBlows]

You act like they showed up when they had the "big three"

 

Um, remember when the A's won 22 in a row? They sold out the Coliseum 5 consective times

[BoSox Rule]

Are you on crack? No way A's finish above 3rd place. Maybe not last, but definitely not 2nd or 1st.

 

I'm with Crespo:

1. Angels

2. Rangers

3. Mariners

4. A's

 

Or: (If the Rangers fall)

1. Angels

2. Mariners

3. Rangers

4. A's

There is no way the A's are going to finish last. There is no way.

[stevece80]

First off, no, I'm not an A's fan. Should I be? If you're up for some easy money, why don't you make a bet with someone about your prediction?

 

Secondly, I'm finding one game that looked like a sellout amongst the A's 20 consecutive game winning streak, the 20th game, in which 55,528 showed up for a Wednesday night game against the Royals. Tickets cost one dollar on Wednesdays in Oakland.

 

2000, the A's have Giambi, Chavez, Tejada, Ramon Hernandez, and Ben Grieve in the lineup. Mulder, Hudson, Zito, Appier in the rotation and Isringhausen still in the bullpen. They win 91 games, win the division, and just 1.6 million show up. Now to backtrack a bit from what I said earlier, the only thing that's going to put fans in the seats to watch the A's is relocating the franchise, or an outside chance a new stadium will do the trick. It will have nothing to do with the alledgedly poor quality of next year's squad.

[CrespoBlows]

So if people don't go it's because of the stadium? Doesn't make much sense considering Network Coliseum is a pretty nice place to go watch a game, you should get out in see one being an A's fan in all.

 

The Mariners had a steep drop in attendance this year, why? Because of the team's poor play.

 

The Devil Rays never sell out, but they sold half the stadium when they won 13 in a row.

 

People go to see winning teams, regardless of who's on it. And to quote moneyball "Lose with stars, and no one shows, "win with the unknowns, and they become stars."

 

That's what Beane is trying to do, and he has done a great job of doing it. But trying to win with all rookies? C'mon this isn't the NFL or NBA.

[Zenny]

Network Associates Coliseum is a nice place to see a game? Maybe if you like concrete. The place is a dump.

 

I'm through arguing with you about this. The A's have put a quality team on the field with an above average offense, the best bullpen in baseball and a rotation with tremendous amounts of upside. It's clear that you have something against the A's. Why that is, I don't know or care. Just don't be ignorant.

[CrespoBlows]

Their offense is really good, I agree with you there.

 

They have don't have much of a bullpen, if you consider Dotel a quality closer, then that's your opinion. Who else is in there besides Mecir? Don't bring up Street, he has failed to throw one pitch in the majors, and Garica got lit up in his apperance.

 

I'm not saying the A's are going to suck forever, they'll be really good a year from now, but trying to have rookies win it all? I don't think that's going to go so well, espically this year.

 

BTW, I went to the Coliseum to see a day game, it was a nice place to go, cheap tickets, good view, and good food. They need to fix up the outfield seats, and elimate those s*** seats way up on top.

[stevece80]

So I'm an A's fan because I don't think they'll come in last place? I could give a crap less about them, but I'm not about to write them off because of it.

[CrespoBlows]

Either your a closet A's fan or an extremly pessimistic Red Sox fan

[ahhchon]

First off, no, I'm not an A's fan. Should I be? If you're up for some easy money, why don't you make a bet with someone about your prediction?

 

 

he did, he bet me ten bucks, when i upped it to twenty i got no responce.

 

john

[stevece80]

Hahahahahaha. Yeah, I'm a pessimistic Red Sox fan. I really don't think anyone has ever referred to me as even the slightest bit of a pessimist when it comes to them. I think you're addressing the wrong person in this thread if you're going to put that tag on me.

 

How in the world am I pessimistic in any way shape or form towards the Boston Red Sox? I'm dying to know.

[yeszir]

On a completely unrelated note, how come no one can seem to quote other people correctly? I've gone through and fixed maybe 4 quotes already today....I didnt think it was so hard to use the correct tags.

[CrespoBlows]

Hahahahahaha. Yeah, I'm a pessimistic Red Sox fan. I really don't think anyone has ever referred to me as even the slightest bit of a pessimist when it comes to them. I think you're addressing the wrong person in this thread if you're going to put that tag on me.

 

How in the world am I pessimistic in any way shape or form towards the Boston Red Sox? I'm dying to know.

 

Papelbon = decent reliever

 

And you seemed so willing to back the Mets on another subject

 

And here, you love Moneyball a lot.

[CrespoBlows]

he did, he bet me ten bucks, when i upped it to twenty i got no responce.

 

john

 

I'll do 20

[Zenny]

They have don't have much of a bullpen, if you consider Dotel a quality closer, then that's your opinion. Who else is in there besides Mecir? Don't bring up Street, he has failed to throw one pitch in the majors, and Garica got lit up in his apperance.

So you're going to judge Garcia on less than 10 innings as opposed to the nearly 100 innings of pure dominance in the minors (all with very good peripherals, which are extremely important in judging future success)? Also, Huston Street was brilliant at every stop last year, again with excellent peripherals. You also forgot Kiko Calero and Juan Cruz, who both posted very good seasons last year. Playing in the spacious NAC should keep their number transfers from NL to AL intact. Dotel isn't an ideal closer, but he did pitch much better after the initial struggles he had after the trade. I should know, he was on my fantasy team. Granted, I should've taken Lidge over Dotel, but I didn't see that trade coming.

 

I'm not saying the A's are going to suck forever, they'll be really good a year from now, but trying to have rookies win it all? I don't think that's going to go so well, espically this year.

When did I say they were going to win it all this year? I said within the next five and they would not finish in last this year. I don't know if they have what it takes to beat the Angels (as overrated as I believe they are), but Seattle's pitching staff is still bottom-tier and Texas made no real improvements. The A's are going to finish first or second, depending upon the rotations of both teams.

[stevece80]

Papelbon = decent reliever

 

And you seemed so willing to back the Mets on another subject

 

And here, you love Moneyball a lot.

 

I said if Papelbon didn't bust out at AA, which I'm hoping will happen, his upside is a decent reliever. What's wrong with that statement? How many minor leaguers are ever "decent relievers" in the majors? How many pitching prospects fail? Most?

 

I'm willing to back the Mets because it's ridiculously petty to bash another team, when the team you alledgedly love is just as guilty of doing what you were ripping them for.

 

I love Moneyball a lot? I don't love it at all. I'm just not a moron who has some bizarre grudge against it for whatever reason. And let's talk about what a failure that draft was. It landed them one of the top prospects in the game, that's ready to step into the rotation this season in Joe Blanton. It yielded a quality prospect they were able to budge their way into the Beltran deal and come away with the best setup man in the game. It netted their starting right fielder, Nick Swisher. I hope this year's draft for the Red Sox is as disastrous as their's was.

 

I laugh, because this is the first place I've ever posted where my loyalty towards the Red Sox has been questioned. And to think, I've left certain Red Sox forums because I was tired of the negativity towards the Red Sox. Well, you're the boss. I'm just an A's fan, I guess.

[CrespoBlows]

I said if Papelbon didn't bust out at AA, which I'm hoping will happen, his upside is a decent reliever. What's wrong with that statement? How many minor leaguers are ever "decent relievers" in the majors? How many pitching prospects fail? Most?

 

I'm willing to back the Mets because it's ridiculously petty to bash another team, when the team you alledgedly love is just as guilty of doing what you were ripping them for.

 

I love Moneyball a lot? I don't love it at all. I'm just not a moron who has some bizarre grudge against it for whatever reason. And let's talk about what a failure that draft was. It landed them one of the top prospects in the game, that's ready to step into the rotation this season in Joe Blanton. It yielded a quality prospect they were able to budge their way into the Beltran deal and come away with the best setup man in the game. It netted their starting right fielder, Nick Swisher. I hope this year's draft for the Red Sox is as disastrous as their's was.

 

I laugh, because this is the first place I've ever posted where my loyalty towards the Red Sox has been questioned. And to think, I've left certain Red Sox forums because I was tired of the negativity towards the Red Sox. Well, you're the boss. I'm just an A's fan, I guess.

 

A guy with a 98 mph fastball, and two other plus pitches is a decent reliever?

 

Under the Theo regime, I haven't seen much of the bad contract

 

OK you don't like Moneyball, and your not an A's fan. Agreed.

[stevece80]

A guy with a 98 mph fastball, and two other plus pitches is a decent reliever?

 

Papelbon doesn't have a 98 MPH fastball. Try again.

 

I shouldn't expect much more from a Devil Rays fan such as yourself, anyways.

[CrespoBlows]

Uh, yeah he's hit 98 a couple of times

 

http://soxprospects.com/players/papelbon-jon.htm

[CrespoBlows]

I shouldn't expect much more from a Devil Rays fan such as yourself, anyways.

 

I haven't even brought up the Devil Rays, and you seem to be Billy Beane's f*** buddy.

[stevece80]

Uh, yeah he's hit 98 a couple of times

 

http://soxprospects.com/players/papelbon-jon.htm

 

Radar guns are wrong quite often, maybe he's approached it, maybe touched it, but I've seen absolutely nothing that has stated he touches that number consistently. Even the link you've provided explicitly states that his fastball is in the mid-90s, but I'd be willing to bet he operates mostly around 92-93. You gigantic gaylord.

[CalvnHobs6]

Guys, please keep the debate on topic, it really is very interesting and informative, and I would hate to have to move it to fights. Keep the debate active here, and bitch each other out in the Fights section.

[CrespoBlows]

Mid 90's meaning 95 mph, which isn't bad.

 

Gigantic gaylord, haha, so tasteless and orginal

[stevece80]

I wasn't trying to be tasteful or original. I was trying to be childish and petty. I think I hit on both counts.

 

Respek.

[yeszir]

As much as I want to, this thread is not splittable. The insults and fighting (one of the posts was reported to me) is intertwined with the semi-related baseball stuff.

[stevece80]

I'll stop posting then. I just came out of hiding at Netsports, so I'll just leave this forum open for CrespoBlows to whine about utility infielders and sabermetrics.

[CalvnHobs6]

Erection - Please keep posting, you're one of the most informed and opinionated posters here- which makes for an awesomely deadly combination.

[Zenny]

I knew HE was Steve from the moment the Ali G references came up.