ORS

Hopefully you don't think too often because you aren't very good at it. What happened prior to the questionable spot and missed call happened with clean officiating. Saying something "shouldn't" have happened is just plain stupid because it did happen. If a team gets beat on the field, then they truly lost. That wasn't the case here. USC got a good spot (which happens from time to time) and the refs blew an illegal assitance call. If they make the call, USC loses the game. That's not a cop out, that's the truth. Your approach to the issue is the copout because you totally avoid the issue; it was a missed call. The touchdown wasn't scored on the 4th and 9 play; it was scored on the missed call play.

The argument has merit when you consider Eckstein's AB though. He threw him nothing but sliders, which allowed Eck to get his timing set. A couple of FBs in that AB keeps him off balance, and maybe he doesn't start the 2-out rally.

Those should be some quick games too. I doubt we have any 4 hour games. Although, if they go extras, with those two bullpens, they could go several extra frames.

Yeah, Helton is under contract until 2011 (yes, you read that right 2011), so they don't have a space for Shealy. The more I look into it, the more I hope it isn't just another Gammons pipe-dream rumor. Here's what Shealy did in the PCL this year before his callup: 411 AB, 85 R, 135 H, 30 2B, 2 3B, 26 HR, 88 RBI, .328 AVG, .393 OBP, .601 SLG, .994 OPS The PCL did seem a little light on pitching this year; that, combined with the move to a higher level means we shouldn't expect anything near this from him. But it would be an improvement over what Millar gave us. I'd be happy with this infield: 1B Shealy 2B Pedroia/Cora SS Rent 3B Youk

Personally, I think USC would have scored anyway. They just have that "it" factor about them. The argument that a team "shouldn't have put themselves in that postion" is a f***ing cop out. It avoids the issue, the call. Woulda, coulda, shoulda's about what has already happened doesn't change the fact that a questionable call has been made. I've said it once, and I'll say it again. If a team plays well enough to tie, then they should tie, not lose (obviously not the case here, but the point is the same). When calls tip the advantage one way or the other, then there is a problem.

What can I say? Narcissism isn't a new human disorder, and the desire to be famous is pure narcissism. EDIT: The point I mean to convey is that the desire to get recognized has been around a long time, and TV isn't to blame. This was in response to ChiTown, not Sizzlin.

I didn't neglect that stat. All the stats I used are pitching rate stats, which use the total number of innings pitched in their calculations. I'd agree that he still had something to prove if he had only pitched 25 or so innings, as that would constitute a small sample size. But I feel 84 innings over 3 months is a large enough sample to evaluate his rate stats.

Whoa, Nelly! Lighten up a bit. That show is pure entertainment; those aren't real jobs people are losing. Everyone of the contestants, yes contestants, is successful prior to going on that show and will be afterwards. It's just a TV show, not real life. As far as Trump goes, I think the guy is a tool. But he was asked his opinion, and he gave it. Is he a credible source? Of course not. I think the true idiot here is the reporter.

Is your desire to keep Stern enough to shelve the deal? I'd pull the trigger on that trade. My only concern would be losing Shoppach, but we still have 3 more years on Tek's contract to locate his replacement.

If you look at the format of my post, it shows that jimmycarter suggested a one year contract in response to your post about Soriano.

Quoting: [.QUOTE.] text [./QUOTE.] without the periods. I added them to show you the syntax.

He's into the game, whoop-de-do. There is nothing disrespectful about what he does. He plays the game with his heart on his sleeve; there's nothing wrong with that. Personally, none of that bothers me. I only mentioned Jeter to show that some people show emotion on the field, some don't. Rivera doesn't do that because he's not that emotional (which IMO adds to his consistency).

There was another big factor in this series aside from the dominant starting pitching by the White Sox. The Angels highly touted defense gave up 2 unearned runs in game 2 (2-1 final score) and 3 unearned runs in game 5 (6-3 final score). Not only did they outpitch and outhit them, but they showed they are clearly better at the fundamentals.

He's an emotional player; lay of the Haterade. His exuberance is no different that Jeter's patented fist pump.

Congrats White Sox fans. Four straight complete games. Absolutely unbelievable pitching performance by their rotation. If Houston can close it out tomorrow and set their rotation, it should be one hell of a pitching duel in the Series.

This year's stats speak for themselves: King Felix: 8.2 K/9, 3.35 K/BB, 1.02 WHIP, 162 ERA+ Kazmir: 8.4 K/9, 1.74 K/BB, 1.56 WHIP, 114 ERA+

I realize that now. I have been in and out of the room and the announcers just mentioned that LaRussa was tossed. If my dad was Fred Sanford, he'd say, "You big dummy!"

That could be very true. I don't know if the Card's FO is as impatient as a certain someone in Tampa though. He did lead them to the best record the last two years.

The Matsuzaka sweepstakes could be interesting this offseason. He's supposedly got some great stuff; his FB is listed at 98 mph (is that tops, or regular?), and a strikeout pitch called a gyroball (the description of it sounds like a cutter/screwball combination) that he throws in the low 90's. I don't think it is a forgone conclusion that he will go to the Yankees. Here are some things to consider: 1) Will the Yankees go hard after him? He's quite a risk, a la Hideki Irabu, who also threw very hard, but didn't quite work out. Plus the Yankees have 5 starters under contract (Johnson, Pavano, Wright, Mussina, and Wang) plus the arbitration of Shawn Chacon to consider. Although, if they are interested, you know they will have the biggest offer on the table. 2) Are the Yankees at the top of his list? Matsui entered the market as a lock to sign with the Yankees as they were the only team he was interested in playing for. I haven't read anything to suggest this is the case with Matsuzaka. 3) Will be influenced by the presence of Japanese superstars on other teams? If this is the case, then Matsui will make the Yankees attractive. Other teams that could benefit from this are Seattle, NYM, and the ChiSox (who could stand to lose Garland and Hernandez next year in the FA market). EDIT: I've also read reports him having some arm trouble. Apparently he has had several seasons with very high inning counts prior to becoming a professional (common in Japan). Another question mark?

Meredith, Alvarez, Zink, and Pauley's value would be maximized if they were used as supplements to a package deal, so in that scenario any of them could go. I agree with the sentiment that none of them would be useful as the centerpiece of a trade. As far as Alvarez goes, we have two of the same thing with him and DiNardo. Both are soft-tossing lefties. I'd be surprised if both make it through the trade season before spring training.

Weis not stopping the clock did strike me as odd. If he stops it, he at least gives his QB a chance to be a hero (again). That said, not stopping it makes sense too. Perhaps he wanted USC hurrying because most mistakes are made in haste. As far as coaching the game goes. Weis owned Carroll. Carroll won that game because he had the horses. Without Reggie Bush's amazing evasiveness, ND wins that game by two TDs IMO.

Nobody is crying; we are commenting. And yes, if the roles were reversed, I think you'd be commenting too. That said, I'm not even rooting in this series. I have no emotional attachment to either team. I just don't like bad officiating, that is all. Where does anyone blame the Sox? Another thing, mentioning a fact (it is a fact that the Sox have benefitted from every bad call in this series) is not anti-anything. Stop being so defensive. Are you kidding me? We aren't trying to tarnish anything you nutjob. You may feel that your victory is being cheapened, that is your problem, not ours. Yes, the Sox are playing much better this series. That is inarguable, and it is a good thing. If last night's game was closer, then the controversy would be greater, and baseball doesn't need anymore controversy. They do need to do something about the umpiring crews this offseason though.

Have you watched Hernandez yet? I watched about four of his starts this year. He's still got some learning to do, but he's the real deal. His stuff's so good I can't even think of someone to compare him to.

USC still has two good offenses to face. UCLA and Cal. Neither defense looks that strong, so USC should rack up the points, but USC's D hasn't amazed me yet against a good team.

Haha, right.....it's FOX's fault. Are you serious? They replay every close call. In game two they replayed the Rowand play at home and the Crede play at second. As it turns out, both calls were correct. If you weren't rooting for the White Sox, you'd think it was B.S. like everyone else. But since you are pleased with the result of all these bad calls, you fall back to old reliable, "s*** happens, it's part of the game" excuse. Very transparent.