ORS

I was starting to gain a lot of respect for your posts. Most of them have been rooted in reason and rationality. That is not the case here. Not committing hari-kari when the season ends doesn't mean we want it any less, and our degree of desire as fans will not make the pitchers pitch better nor the hitters hit better. Seems to be a bit of muckraking to me.

I think the end of your post shows realization to this fact, but I'll mention it just in case. The deal breaker wasn't the length of Pedro's contract. It was paying him that kind of money that last year when he was 4 years older (and most likely very much less effective). If we get him, then the Mets would have gotten 1 of the 3 years we were willing to pay for.

I would like to add my thanks to the Sox here. I someone told me before the season started that Shilling would hardly play the first half, and when he came back he'd be ineffective for a month one he came back. And then told me that Foulke would be ineffective the first two months due to injury, and he would miss the remainder of the season because of that injury. I would have said they would finish with about 85 wins. They did better than that, and I truly appreciate the effort as a fan. Is it February yet?

Have you seen Pedroia play? I haven't, but I'm impressed with how quickly he handled each level of development. His numbers were very good in Pawtuckett before he got plunked on the wrist, which seems to have plagued him the 2nd half of the season. There is a team playing right now that has auctioned off a lot of its future to get big name players in order to win now. The only problem is, they aren't winning championships now. However, they did go on a run where they won 4 in 5 years thanks largely to a core of players that came from their farm system. I think it would be wise of the Red Sox to follow that model. Just like the Yankees, the Sox have the resources to keep system talent that can perform in the bigs and suplement it with FA market players that can fill holes.

That is flat out wrong. The White Sox play semi-small ball, and it works for them. It works because their roster is set up to play that type of ball. The Red Sox roster isn't. It is set up to play moneyball, and the farm system is chock full of players that will support that philosophy. Also, given that the White Sox one more HR than we did, I'll bet you that your team scores 50-100 more runs on the season if they are a little more cautious on the basepaths and a little less interested in using an out to get a runner over. It amuses me how many White Sox fans think that Ozzie's approach to the game is the only way to go. Well before the steroid-era, Earl Weaver used a moneyball type approach to some good success. He valued outs as a commodity and didn't want to use them just to try and get a runner into scoring position. Two of my favorite (and IMO very poignant) baseball quotes are his: "If you play to score one run, that is often all you will get." "The key to baseball is: pitching, defense, and 3-run homers." The move to get Konerko is a necessary one IMO if, and only if, they trade Manny. Ortiz will need a big bopper to protect him in the lineup (preferably a RH one), and Konerko is the best RH power hitter on the market this FA season.

Believe it or not, but the MLB doesn't schedule games to make life easier on east coast high school kids. Game 1 of the series started at 5:00 pm local time in LA, and there were a bunch of empty seats in the first couple of innings due to the start time. People work and LA traffic sucks, so many couldn't make it by game time. Yesterday's game was for the east coast market, tonight's will be for the west coast. Seems fair to me.

The things that lurk in our dreams became a reality today. Clement just flat out sucked and Contreras showed his second half performance was no fluke. I think we look good for the next three games though. We have our three big pitchers on the hill against Buehrle, Garcia, and Garland, two of which have had tough outings against us, and aren't proven pitchers in big spots.

The Angels approach at the plate has been pretty bad. If they continue like this tomorrow, and if Wang has the sinker going, RJ may be pitching to close it out.

I don't think 'Stros or Angels picks are due to any trend shift. They have the best pitching staffs IMO. Picking pitching in short series has always been the trend.

MC Hammer, is correct on the same record as the Rockies, but his timeframe is off. The records are the same from Aug. 1 to the end of the season. Both went 30-28 the last two months of the regular season. EDIT: Beat me to it.

Get off your high horse. Both small-ball and money-ball have worked to win championships. Neither is right nor wrong. Your team believes in sacraficing outs in order to get a small lead and having the pitching and defense hold that lead. Our team believes in cherishing outs as a sacred commodity in order to produce big innings, putting enormous pressure on the opposing teams lineup. This should be a classic matchup of opposing philosophies.

What you say has merit, but I have one major concern with Delcarmen. Tito hasn't used him in any high leverage spots but has with Hansen. I'd hate to be giving the kid his first hi-lev spot with all the chips on the line. It's not Manny's fault, but it is something to consider.

Here's my two cents on the 3 pitchers for the final 2 spots discussion. DiNardo should definitely be in. He's a potential long guy and a lefty to boot. He's been effective down the stretch and has earned a spot IMO. I'd take Hansen over Gonzalez. I like what Gonzo has done for the team in the 2nd half, but the playoffs boil down to situations. Suppose we need to yank a starter in spot where you have 2nd and 3rd with less than 2 outs and it is before the 7th inning. Ideally you want a K in that situation, but it's a little too early for Papelbon, our only power arm in the BP. Hansen has the best stuff to get that done. Besides, Gonzo is more of a long guy than a situational guy, and with Arroyo and DiNardo I feel we will be OK in situations that call for long relief.

A whole season of baseball sets a pretty good precedent.

Johnson is better than Colon and Byrd = Small, but the rest of their rotation is better than the rest of yours. #2: Lackey is better than Mussina. Yes, Mussina has had a better career, but Lackey is better right now. #3: Washburn is better than Chacon. This may be a marginal difference, but Washburn has better stuff and has more experience in big spots. #4 (the rookies): Santana is better than Wang. Wang looks like a very promising young pitcher, but Santana is a stud that brings some serious heat and has some filthy breaking pitches.

The biggest knock on them the entire year has been how they have struggled scoring runs. Vlad is great, but he has nobody protecting him. Figgins is a good leadoff hitter, but Erstad hasn't done a good job in the #2 hole. They get pretty poor production from the 5-8 hitters. I have no idea why Adam Kennedy bats 9th.

If the first two games split, the Angels could be down 2-1 and fighting for their life at Yankee Stadium. They aren't the games most patient team at the plate, and with a sinkerballer on the bump that could lead to a lot of easy outs and DP's. I think Anaheim's pitching staff is better than NY's, but the Yankees' pitchers will benefit from the Angels having a fairly weak lineup.

They are young and inexperienced with the stage/pressure. I think this led to them pressing a little too hard the final week. EDIT: Typo.

The Yankees road to their 27th title got a little rougher today when they lost homefield advantage to the Angels. Pitching Matchups Game 1: Mussina vs. Colon Game 2: Chacon vs. Lackey Game 3: Johnson vs. Washburn If needed Game 4: Wang/Small vs. Santana/Byrd Game 5: Mussina vs. Colon I think the Angels really need to take the first two in this series to have a chance. The way RJ has been pitching lately you have to figure game 3 is going to the Yankees. Colon struggled against NY this year, but he has really pitched much better in the 2nd half. The Angels bullpen has been bolstered by the return of Kelvim Escobar. With him, Brendan Donnelly, Scott Shields, and Francisco Rodriguez it will be tough to come back after the 7th inning. Another big arm could be added to their BP if Byrd is the game 4 starter and Santana is thrown into the BP.

Game 1 is huge. If we can get a good pitching performance from Matt and knock Contreras around a little (he's had a stellar 2nd half), then we will have some serious momentum when Boomer takes the hill. I like our chances in less than 4 games, but I have serious doubts about Clement in a winner take all game.

Here we go, it is now a 5 game season. Pitching Matchups Game 1: Clement vs. Contreras Game 2: Wells vs. Buehrle Game 3: Schilling vs. Garcia If needed: Game 4: Wake vs. Garland Game 5: Clement vs. Contreras I'm suggesting that Schilling start game 3 for two reasons. (1) Curt has shown that he can elevate his game when it is a big one. Nothing is bigger than the playoffs. With Thursday being an off day, he will be on normal rest for the game. (2) Game 3's are pivotal in 5 game series, and I would rather have Tek's bat in the lineup.

Unlikely. See you guys next week. I wouldn't have it any other way.

I think it is in the "Post Your Pic" thread.

It looks likely. Round 3 of the ALCS. Ding. Ding.

No, it doesn't.