fathom

QUOTE(BigSqwert @ Aug 26, 2006 -> 12:53 AM) AJ looks like he could use a couple of days off. Too bad we don't have a competent backup. Can Brian Anderson catch?

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Aug 26, 2006 -> 12:52 AM) No, if for no other reason than the fact that it's impossible for me to imagine that some of these guys in the starting 5 won't revert towards their career numbers. Each and every one of them is having a worse year than what they should be having, and in baseball, usually that evens out at some point. If we're able to increase the payroll to like 110 million next year, I'm real excited about some of the possibilities.

Great start!!! You can never hit them out far enough with Hunter out there. Just as I blame our pitchers for dumb pitch selection, there's no way he should have thrown PK an outside fastball there. PK has been struggling with the changeup for a few weeks now.

QUOTE(CYGarland @ Aug 26, 2006 -> 12:47 AM) We definitely need a new 1-2 punch next year..... Iguchi just seems to be lacking focus at the plate now. He's been very streaky from game to game this season, which is symbolized by having a lot of 3 hit games this year.

Another amazing AB from Pods. If he has a terrible night tonight, he might lose his starting position by the time Sunday comes around.

We have to root for no rain in Baltimore this weekend. That way, we won't have to face Kazmir next week.

Are we getting in a full game tonight?

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Aug 25, 2006 -> 04:54 PM) For the love of God, if Mack is in CF any of these games..... You were saying.....

I heard the lineup announced on the radio, and I could only laugh. Also, I can't believe that Chris Rongey is paid for talking about baseball. That would be like myself being paid to be a motivational speaker.

I wonder what Ozzie will do with the Pods/Anderson/Mackowiak trio. Mackowiak hit a bomb off of Radke last time, but Anderson has also been playing well. We know Pods will unfortunately be playing though, so I hope we keep our best defensive CF in the game.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Aug 25, 2006 -> 12:49 PM) Just for arguement's sake... -To start the 4th and final game of the series, with the final result either being ahead by 5.5 or 7.5 games, he leaves on the bench Ivan Rodriguez, Omar Infante, and Marcus Thames, while starting Neifi Perez. -Also in the key 4th game Leyland does not take his starting pitcher out multiple different times in the middle innings when he could have theoretically stopped the bleeding and tried to give the offense a chance to get back in it. Instead Robertson goes 6.2 innings and gives up 10 earned runs. -Casey finished the game at first base after being thrown out first by Pablo Ozuna from left field because he was too busy throwing a temper tantrum and not paying attention to the fact that Joe Crede did NOT catch his line drive. Just to play devil's advocate: - Thames has lost his starting spot with the Tigers, so you can't count him as a "starter" being on the bench. Also, every manager in baseball would have had IRod sit out the 4th game in a series when it's a day game after a night game. As for Neifi....well, I'd rather just sit back and laugh at that situation. - Robertson was the sacrificial lamb for the Tigers. Leyland was so proactive on Wednesday night that he ended up burning his long relievers (Ledezma and Lewis). With the score 7-0, I don't blame him for leaving Robertson in to "die", and being able to rest his big 4 relievers for this wknd. With the way Garland was dealing, it's not like the Tigers were getting a lot of chances to make a huge rally. - That was a fluke play. Casey's one of the most professional players in all of baseball. It's similar to someone complaining that Thome didn't hustle on a play. It's not like Ozzie has pulled anyone this year during a game due to lack of hustle. The Tigers ended up splitting this series, which should have been their goal coming into it. As Thome pointed out, they should be thrilled that 4 games went off their schedule and they didn't lose any of their lead. If I had no interest in who won the game, I would have been extremely impressed by two of the wiser managerial moves I've seen all year (Leyland not pulling Rogers due to Sandy being up, as well as the masterful job of bringing in Walker w/2 strikes). So that I don't leave Ozzie out, he handled the bullpen very well in game 3, and he let our big 3 relievers win it or lose it for us.

I think it's quite the amazing stat that Garland has the most wins in the last two years in the AL. As I said earlier in the year, he was in one of those slumps where every bad pitch he made was hammered, and not right at someone. He just needs to trust his sinker, and stop getting hurt on his changeup.

All I know is that in the past few years, I haven't seen anyone get as consistently booed as Hawkins, Patterson, and even J. Jones have. Jones was getting booed out of the stadium after about a week of struggling.

QUOTE(shawnhillegas @ Aug 24, 2006 -> 06:54 PM) here comes the mariotti stuff His article today was baiting, plain and simple.

I can't watch the game, but how's the weather looking on the radar? A little off topic also, but for those living in the Wheaton area, the lightning storm around 5 this morning felt like a scene out of War of the Worlds.

We've got to start getting contributions from our 1-2 hitters, especially if Thome is out. Has there been any update on Thome's injury? Also, what's the expected time of the 2nd big storm?

QUOTE(Texsox @ Aug 24, 2006 -> 10:29 AM) Wow, not what I expected when I opened the thread. I've been thrilled that he's been as healthy as he has been so far this year. Assuming he wouldn't be out for longer than a week to two weeks, I think it might be just the rest he needs for the rest of the year. I know his numbers have looked good for the last 30 games or so, but I think it's obvious to anyone watching that his bat speed has slowed down. Hopefully he's back on Friday night, and this whole argument is a mute point.

According to SportsCenter, Thome will only miss one game and be back on Friday.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Aug 24, 2006 -> 03:47 AM) I agree with that if it turns out he's hurting. But some (you to a lesser extent) are making it sound like it'd be a cinch to replace him. So you're telling me to stop being optimistic? Quite the role reversal, isn't it?

QUOTE(MSHAWKS @ Aug 24, 2006 -> 03:11 AM) AJ, with his s***ty OBP and Slugging percentage, is extremely replacable. With who...Sandy Alomar and Chris Stewart? QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Aug 24, 2006 -> 03:35 AM) Seems like people want the '05 offense back. I know I don't. Not with this year's version of Podsednik/starting pitching. I'm the last person that you should group into this category. However, I think the 2 week break would do Thome well.

QUOTE(BigSqwert @ Aug 24, 2006 -> 02:58 AM) I'd love to see Dye move to the #3 hole in the meantime. I'd love to see this lineup if Thome is out: Mackowiak LF Iguchi 2B Dye RF PK Dh Crede 3B Gload 1B AJP C Uribe SS Anderson CF

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Aug 24, 2006 -> 02:55 AM) I agree that all those guys can't be replaced. I don't agree for a second that Thome is replaceable. Jim Thome pre-wrist injury was a difference maker. However, he just hasn't been as effective since his bat started to slow down. I know he's still put up great OPS numbers, but those haven't translated into a lot of runs lately. Also, if Gload does take his spot in the lineup, it will hopefully make us a little less station-to-station.

QUOTE(greg775 @ Aug 24, 2006 -> 02:50 AM) Fathom, not blasting you. I just wondered why you think Jim T. isn't as irreplaceable as those 3 you mentioned. Who we gonna have hit in JT's place? Gload...and I think it might help spark this team. I love Thome, but he was clearly not 100 pct before the injury (wrist). This team could use a gap hitter like Gload. QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Aug 24, 2006 -> 02:51 AM) Fathom, can I please have some of what you're smokin'? It must be some goood s***. Why's that? Those are three guys that we don't even have the slightest hint of a capable replacement for.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Aug 24, 2006 -> 02:43 AM) Strained left hamstring. Will know more tomorrow. It would be a devestating blow if we had to put him on the DL. There are three guys on this team that we absolutely can't replace, and they're Dye, Crede, and AJP.

BIG WIN! It wasn't pretty, but it was very meaningful. It was fun in here guys....too bad no good posters come in here anymore.