5/22 @ The Pretenders

[NativeBostonian]

I guess it all comes down to how you define an "ace". I think an ace is one of the top pitchers in the league-maybe in the top 10% or 20% statistically. I used ERA because I think that is the single most useful way to evaluate a pitcher: how many runs he gives up per nine innings. Others may want to bring in other stats. Who an ace is will change as the season progresses and the true aces won't be known until the final statistics for the season are available. Just my own opinion.....

 

The way I see it is he is an ace of this staff. He wouldn't be on a lot of teams. But, he's done more good then bad this year. More then anyone else on this staff, IMO.

[FredLynn]

It is when you factor in that he's been not just bad but awful in his bad outings. Simply looking at his ERA doesn't tell the story. He shut down Tampa a division rival' date=' held Texas to 3 thru 7 one night after they put up 18, and took care of a hot phillies team and out pitched Cliff Lee on the road. Seems pretty ace like to me. Pitching like a number 1 in 6 of 8 starts to start a year qualifies you as a number 1 in my book.[/quote']

 

I am not trying to convince you of anything here. Just expressing my own opinion. Look at this link and I think you will find it hard to locate a pitcher who has consistently pitched at their ERA level. Most if not all of them are up and down, with great games and poor games. The better pitchers just have more great games and fewer crappy ones.

Off to walk the dog.

 

http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/pitching/_/league/al/order/false/minip/40

[BornToRun]

We'll have to agree to disagree on this one.

[Cocos Disciples]

One game. It happens. I feel good about tomorrow.

 

we'll be out of the cellar for at least one night. For the first time in a long' date=' long time, I am feeling pretty pessimistic about my team and about the chances that the sox or the yanks make the playoffs. There is definitely a strong chance that the Yanks and Sox are on the outside looking in, and that would be a weird experience[/quote']

 

This could be the first time in the Wild Card era that the Sox and Yanks both miss out on the playoffs. Wow.

[jung]

We are seeing the thing we talked about all off season just play out during the season. The Sox have gone 9-3 in the last 12 games. Not a bad record at all, in fact a very good one. Have they even been able to climb out of the basement? No!

 

The problem is that there are many more good teams this year and while they may eventually not be in the hunt in September they are going to win enough games to make it very difficult to make the wild card out of the AL East.

 

Two things way different about this year than last...maybe even three. The Sox could not afford a s***** start this year...just could not and we are seeing why played out. It is almost June folks. It is no longer early.

 

1) there are more good teams in the AL East taking wins away....making it much more difficult to climb out of a hole

2) Does this team look like it is ready to really go on a run that is going to pull them past as many teams as they have to get past just to be in contention? They are in nothing like the shape they were in last year when they went on that mid-season rum. Agons can't find the baseball with two hands and a hunting dog. Youk is trying to climb back into shape. The entire outfield is on its third edition having run through God only knows how many guys

3) and the real kicker...the starting pitching has either been consistently bad (Buch) or inconsistent with regard to 1,2,3 in the rotation. 4 and 5 have been very steady as a 4 and a 5 but that simply describes the problem. When you have to look to your 4 and 5 to find guys that are competitive with their counterparts around the league, you know you are in trouble.

[Elktonnick]

We are seeing the thing we talked about all off season just play out during the season. The Sox have gone 9-3 in the last 12 games. Not a bad record at all, in fact a very good one. Have they even been able to climb out of the basement? No!

 

The problem is that there are many more good teams this year and while they may eventually not be in the hunt in September they are going to win enough games to make it very difficult to make the wild card out of the AL East.

 

Two things way different about this year than last...maybe even three. The Sox could not afford a s***** start this year...just could not and we are seeing why played out. It is almost June folks. It is no longer early.

 

1) there are more good teams in the AL East taking wins away....making it much more difficult to climb out of a hole

2) Does this team look like it is ready to really go on a run that is going to pull them past as many teams as they have to get past just to be in contention? They are in nothing like the shape they were in last year when they went on that mid-season rum. Agons can't find the baseball with two hands and a hunting dog. Youk is trying to climb back into shape. The entire outfield is on its third edition having run through God only knows how many guys

3) and the real kicker...the starting pitching has either been consistently bad (Buch) or inconsistent with regard to 1,2,3 in the rotation. 4 and 5 have been very steady as a 4 and a 5 but that simply describes the problem. When you have to look to your 4 and 5 to find guys that are competitive with their counterparts around the league, you know you are in trouble.

 

This is the best O's team in 15 years . Barring injuries they will be a contender all year.

[Bellhorn04]

I guess it all comes down to how you define an "ace". I think an ace is one of the top pitchers in the league-maybe in the top 10% or 20% statistically. I used ERA because I think that is the single most useful way to evaluate a pitcher: how many runs he gives up per nine innings. Others may want to bring in other stats. Who an ace is will change as the season progresses and the true aces won't be known until the final statistics for the season are available. Just my own opinion.....

 

So you are on record that Beckett was an ace in 2011. (5th in the AL in ERA)

[jacksonianmarch]

Pumpsie, ERA is not something entirely under the control of the pitcher, hence it fluctuates from year to year and is NOT a strong indicator of pitcher's performance. If that were the case, Aaron Small and Shawn Chacon should have been in the running for Cy Young in 2005

[a700hitter]

We're reaching Limbaugh levels of stupidity here' date=' folks.[/quote']Are you talking about that stupid radio guy who has had politicians from both sides of the aisle and in the White House reacting to the stuff he says on the radio for the last 20+ years-- that stupid guy? The guy who has been defining the national political dialogue for more than 2 decades? The one whose success has spawned dozens of other successful talk radio personalities and helped springboard conservative alternative media into a formidable force? What a dope!

[a700hitter]

The Orioles are no longer doormats. They are a fairly well-balanced team. Their weakness is a lack of starting pitching depth. They seem pretty solid everywhere else. I read today that Duquette is looking to shore up his starting pitching, and if they stay in the hunt through June, I think there is a good chance that he will acquire some starting help. All of the teams in the ALE have some holes and deficiencies. I don't see their problems as being any more severe than those of the other teams. As a young group like this stays in the hunt their confidence will increase. The next month will tell you what direction they will take. I don't think they are going away. They are no longer a soft opponent.

[Dojji]

Are you talking about that stupid radio guy who has had politicians from both sides of the aisle and in the White House reacting to the stuff he says on the radio for the last 20+ years-- that stupid guy? The guy who has been defining the national political dialogue for more than 2 decades? The one whose success has spawned dozens of other successful talk radio personalities and helped springboard conservative alternative media into a formidable force? What a dope!

 

Yeah, Limbaugh is many things. He is a boor and a demagogue, and he is guilty of oversimplifying countless complicated issues into one line catch phrases, but he is not an idiot. He is a very sharp self promoter and he has made a national icon of himself from pretty much the ground up.

 

I don't respect everything the man says, but I respect his success.

[Dojji]

And let me say this before I forget because I wasn't actually on for the gamethread.

 

Doubront was BRILLIANT last night. Hate to waste a start like that. That rookie is currently our second best SP and he looks a lot like 2008 Lester.

[BornToRun]

Are you talking about that stupid radio guy who has had politicians from both sides of the aisle and in the White House reacting to the stuff he says on the radio for the last 20+ years-- that stupid guy? The guy who has been defining the national political dialogue for more than 2 decades? The one whose success has spawned dozens of other successful talk radio personalities and helped springboard conservative alternative media into a formidable force? What a dope!

 

Rush Limbaugh is a fat, oxy addicted, racist and sexist *******. He's a piece of s***, pure and simple. If there is a hell, he belongs in it. The man is pure scum

[Bellhorn04]

Political discussions only belong in a thread of their own.

[a700hitter]

Rush Limbaugh is a fat' date=' oxy addicted, racist and sexist *******. He's a piece of s***, pure and simple. If there is a hell, he belongs in it. The man is pure scum[/quote']I'll not argue about any of that, other than to say that none of it is true, but he is certainly not dumb.

[a700hitter]

Political discussions only belong in a thread of their own.

Your are correct, which is why I avoided any mention of politics. It speaks to the success of Rush that the mere mention of his name is considered a political statement.

[BornToRun]

I'll not argue about any of that' date=' other than to say that none of it is true, but he is certainly not dumb.[/quote']

 

A quick google search will do more than enough to confirm those charges. That man is a disgusting tub of lard and anyone who actually listens to him is stupid beyond comprehension.

[kapsis21]

with the amount of depleted Outfield we have and closer bullpen issues, i think i find solace that we are still in the mist of things. tonights game and next couple series would be definitive of where we are going to stand, we have been playing good ball last 10-12 games and we need to continue that streak.. keep it rolling ...

i say Bard is going to stymie Orioles tonight.. its about time ..

[VA Sox Fan]

Rush Limbaugh is a fat' date=' oxy addicted, racist and sexist *******. He's a piece of s***, pure and simple. If there is a hell, he belongs in it. The man is pure scum[/quote']

 

 

Yes, he's fat. No longer addicted to RX. If he were racist or sexist I sure as hell wouldn't listen to him.

 

Your hatred is strong young one

[Dojji]

A quick google search will do more than enough to confirm those charges. That man is a disgusting tub of lard and anyone who actually listens to him is stupid beyond comprehension.

 

Now now, we have a little rule about personal attacks. Your sally against Limbaugh is fine, but you're hitting some members of this forum with that sweeping generalization there.

 

BTW the only bias you're exposing by continuing this rant is your own. Just sayin'.

[a700hitter]

A quick google search will do more than enough to confirm those charges. That man is a disgusting tub of lard and anyone who actually listens to him is stupid beyond comprehension.

And a Google Search no doubt reveals the truth. You don't listen to him, because you think it would make you stupid beyond comprehension, so you are in no position to have an opinion about him. It's not like baseball where there are stats to tell the story. Unless you listen to him, you opinion has no validity.

[User Name]

The f*** does Limbaugh have to do with the shittiness of last night's OF and getting owned by a guy that's sucked ass all year?

 

Focus on baseball plz.