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Yes, Helton's career is largely due to the thin air up there. He's about a .900-.950 OPS guy in another ball park. I'd love to get Santana, but I don't see it happening. If you are going to propose we trade for a player, I'd appreciate it if you outline a strategy to do so.

I think the bad numbers for them are largely dependent on their wretched first half. Ensberg, Berkman, and Lane all have good pop. Biggio continues what he has done for the last 15 years and the emergence of Burke looks good for them. And don't forget, Bagwell will be a factor as the DH in Chicago. That said, I don't think they are as imposing as Chicago's well balanced lineup. I think the key to the series will be how well Clemens and Pettitte can pitch. Both had stellar years, finishing #1 and #2 in ERA, and #3 and #4 in WHIP, but both have already had a rocky outing in the postseason. If they step up, and Oswalt continues to do what he has done in the playoffs, it will be tough for the Sox to take 3 of the games they pitch (I'm figuring Garcia beats Backe). EDIT: Houston's offensive production increase from the first half to second half was fairly marginal. They increased runs per game from 4.15 to 4.37 and OPS from 0.723 to 0.738. However, their pitching did get substantially better. They improved from a 3.88 team ERA to a 3.09 and the team WHIP improved from 1.28 to 1.17. The combination of the two is what accounts for their dramatic turnaround.

Beltran hit 38 last year between KC and Houston. If you neglect last year, which I think was a bit of an anomaly, he's averaged 28 HR and 104 RBI in his 5 full seasons. Certainly nothing to scoff at.

Thanks for looking out Cape. We got it settled. I agree; let's get back to baseball.

ChiTown, I saw your edit, but I responded before the "this is intended...." part was added, so it certainly appeared as if you were directing it at me. I even empathized in the post above it with.. in response to... Let's put it behind us. I only offer one piece of advice. Get all your facts straight before you fly off on a rant. Truce?

Moose linked it first, I was just bringing it back to your attention because you appeared to have overlooked it. I'm aware of plagarism laws. And if someone other than you created that post, it does not constitute plagarism. It doesn't even come close. That is, of course, unless you hold the copywright to the username ChiTownSox77, which I seriously doubt. Nice try. Now who is the moron? An intelligent person would look at my public profile before making such rash assumptions. Virginal? My daughter and pregnant wife beg to differ. As a veteran of a US Marine infantry unit, I've had more tail all over the globe than you'd know what to do with. College dropout? I'm 2 semesters away from completing an Electrical Engineering degree with a minor in Mathematics. Given the level of intelligence you've shown here, I doubt you could get beyond freshman calculus.

Fair enough. I didn't put that thought totally out of my mind. At this point, I'm of a "let's wait and see" mindset.

Ask and you shall receive. There's your link. I'll be interested on how you spin this.

For what it's worth, Manny's line from Sept. 1 looks like this: 110 AB, 20 R, 34 H, 12 HR, 29 RBI, .309/.418/.654/1.072 Then he did this in the playoffs: 10 AB, 2 R, 3 H, 2 HR, 2 RBI, .300/.417/.900/1.317 His slightly off-career numbers were due to his very cold May, where he did this: 94 AB, 11 R, 22 H, 4 HR, 16 RBI, .234/.321/.404/.725 EDIT: All in favor of trading Manny, I give you one key fact to consider. There are only 10 players in the history of the game with a minimum of 3000 plate appearances that have a career OPS of 1.000 or higher. Manny Ramirez is one of them, coming in at #10. Here's the list: 1. Babe Ruth - 1.1636 2. Ted Williams - 1.1155 3. Lou Gehrig - 1.0798 4. Barry Bonds - 1.0533 5. Todd Helton - 1.0404 6. Jimmie Foxx - 1.0376 7. Albert Pujols - 1.0372 8. Hank Greenberg - 1.0169 9. Rogers Hornsby - 1.0103 10. Manny Ramirez - 1.0076 source I'm not in favor of trading away someone whose production cannot be replaced. Yes, Pujols and Helton could do that, but Albert's not getting traded and Helton's deal is worse than Manny's. He's getting less money, but his contract runs until 2011. Yikes!

While I do agree that some run manufacturing would be helpful at times, the idea that our offensive strategy failed is a bit overboard IMO. Manny and Papi combined for 5 of the 9 RBI for the Sox. There respective OPSs' were 1.317 and 1.083. The reason we didn't score that many runs is the guys in front of them didn't get on all that often. If the #1 and #2 guys aren't getting on base, you aren't scoring a lot of runs no matter what your offensive philosophy. We lost because we got outpitched. The Angels held the White Sox to less than 3 ER in 5 of the 6 games they played. We do that and we probably win the series. If I recall correctly, the Braves lost just as many postseason games because they had bullpens that couldn't hold a lead as they did because they couldn't hit the ball out of the yard.

No, his postseason OPS was 1.558. I wouldn't expect that for a whole season from Barry Bonds pre-Balco investigation. I think his .744 OPS this year was a complete anomaly due to injury and pitcher friendly Shea stadium. I don't think it is any stretch of the imagination to suggest that he could produce a consistent .900 OPS playing half his games in Fenway.

I wouldn't mind trading Manny for Beltran if we can get Giles in the FA market. Giles (1.000 OPS outside of Petco Park) and Beltran circa 2002-2004 (.910 OPS) would be able to make up for Manny (career 1.000 OPS) and Damon (.784 career OPS). This would also be a defensive upgrade at two outfield positions. The Sox would save money on this scenario over the next 2-3 years (depending on Giles contract length) as well. Manny is due $19M over the next 3 years, and Johnny will command $10M per year in the FA market this year. Beltrans contract pays him an average of $17M over the next 6 years, and Giles can probably be had for $8-9M per year. That's letting $29M go and replacing it with $25-26M. The extra money could be spent on BP help. EDIT: By saying "I wouldn't mind", I mean to say that I think we would be OK with this scenario in terms of relplacing value. I do not want to see Manny traded.

It's not about the .300 success rate of the best hitters. Aggressive teams (or small-ball) teams waste outs moving runners over and getting caught on the basepaths. You only get 27 outs per game. That is why teams like the Sox and Yankees score more runs every year than teams like Chicago. I can't believe you are trying to argue that a system that scored 741 runs is better than a system that scored 910.

Why on God's green earth would you want Brandon Backe starting two games for the 'Stros when their big three can all pitch twice on normal rest? EDIT: I mean, seriously, one of these things is not like the others..... Clemens: 1.01 WHIP, 7.88 K/9, 2.98 K/BB, .542 OPSA, 221 ERA+ Pettitte: 1.03 WHIP, 6.92 K/9, 4.17 K/BB, .613 OPSA, 174 ERA+ Oswalt: 1.20 WHIP, 6.85 K/9, 3.83 K/BB, .688 OPSA, 141 ERA+ Backe: 1.46 WHIP, 5.85 K/9, 1.45 K/BB, .772 OPSA, 87 ERA+

We scored 910 runs to their 741. They hit 200 HR to our 199, meaning a greater portion of their offense was dependent on the long ball. We walked over 200 more times than they did and hit over 100 more extra base hits. Our offensive strategy is working fine. We just need better pitching to increase the runs scored to runs allowed differential, and we will win more games. If we get more aggressive at the plate and on the basepaths, then we will score less runs (history proves this), and the pitching will have to get that much better.

Look at their peripherals this year. It isn't even close. Pettitte: 1.03 WHIP, 6.9 K/9, 4.17 K/BB, 1.65 GO/FO, 174 ERA+, .613 OPSA Buehrle: 1.18 WHIP, 5.7 K/9, 3.73 K/BB, 1.30 GO/FO, 143 ERA+, .672 OPSA Pettitte leads him in every category and has more postseason experience. I'd take him over Buehrle every day of the week and twice on Sunday. Here's my list (based on the way they are pitching right now, not the past) 1. Oswalt 2. Contreras 3. Pettitte 4. Clemens 5. Buehrle EDIT: Added OPSA stat.

I listed those as probable starters. He's been your best pitcher in the second half and he hasn't dissappointed in the playoffs. I'd be surprised if he didn't get the ball in game one.

I think it is huge that Houston won tonight vs. tomorrow. Now they can set the rotation and avoid having to have Backe pitch two WS games.

It is set, Houston vs. Chicago. This year, like last year, baseball fans will get to see their team win the Series for the first time in their lives. Probable Pitching Matchups: Game 1 @ Chicago: Clemens vs. Contreras Game 2 @ Chicago: Pettitte vs. Buehrle Game 3 @ Houston: Oswalt vs. Garland Game 4 @ Houston: Backe vs. Garcia Game 5 @ Houston: Clemens vs. Contreras (IF NEC) Game 6 @ Chicago: Pettitte vs. Buehrle (IF NEC) Game 7 @ Chicago: Oswalt vs. Garland (IF NEC)

I don't think you know what hypocrisy means. When I mention the 4th and 9 play, I use it and other plays as examples of things that could have changed the outcome of the game, but then I qualify those instances with this... Which explains why, IMO, that a deconstruction of the game is irrelevant. When a game hinges on a blown call, then the call should get some of the blame for the outcome (without and crying, whining, or bitching). It's not petulant; it's what happened. When you say "they shouldn't have let them get 61 yds on 4th and 9", that is when Captain Obvious swoops in and says, "NO s***, SHERLOCK". But, regardless of what you think they "should" or "shouldn't" have done, they lost the game because the refs screwed up. You cannot change that fact.

Clearly, you cannot read and comprehend. I have conceded that if ND stops USC on 4th and 9, then they win the game. Just like if they had tackled Bush more frequently they win the game. Or if they had converted on 3rd down and gone on to score a TD it wouldn't have resulted in a missed FG. You can deconstruct the entire game and "woulda, coulda, shoulda" it to death, but that doesn't change the fact that the last play resulted in a missed call by the refs. No matter how you try to spin it, a call was missed. I'm not attacking your intelligence; I'm drawing attention to the lack of it.

Pujols, like all great sluggers, can mash the FB. But those hanging breaking balls are the ones they hit out of the park at the highest rate. Every slider you throw has a chance to hang. I'm not saying you can get away with throwing a hitter like Albert nothing but cheese, but you have to mix it up.

No one is crying about it. Mentioning a fact, such as the fact that the refs blew the call (just like they did in the Miami game), isn't bitching, whining, moaning, or crying. It is what it is, discussing how a call changed the outcome of the game. Unfortunately, you aren't intelligent enough to tell the difference between discussion and whining. ND isn't even my team. I didn't care who won that game, and as a fan, that last quarter was one of the most exciting I have seen in quite some time. Despite the lack of emotional interest, I still find it bothersome that the officials determined the outcome of that game. To deny that they did is utter stupidity. I stand by my original assertion; you should refrain from thinking.

I'm fairly confident that they will get Theo signed; however, if they don't, it's not the end of the world. There are several competent replacements, both in-house and out, available. The GM meetings start on Nov. 6, if I recall correctly, and Theo's contract is up on October 31. He has already publicly stated that he will not come in after October 31 without a contract.

I'm wrong. The BBTN analysis covered Lidge's 9th pitch-by-pitch .