chw42

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Mar 12, 2010 -> 10:42 PM) Sox with no hits through 5. I wonder what Cubs fans will say if we get no hit in this game. lmao.

It's never good when a speed guy like Mitchell has to have surgery anywhere near his legs/ankle.

Crap. Damn it...

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ Mar 12, 2010 -> 09:59 PM) Jones looking at lot like a corner OF playing CF tonight. There was no way he gets to that ball that Soto hit. He was shaded towards right, that ball was nearly in the left center gap.

We're just staring at Gorzelanny's fastballs.

Lawl

Linebrink will be a decent pitcher for two months. Just tell Ozzie not to use him anytime after that.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Mar 11, 2010 -> 12:42 PM) Here's an argument that the number is about 3 wins, and that it's not all that important. My immediate thought is...3 wins, that's a little less than I'd say, but still pretty big. Only 8 runs? I think it might be a little more than that. The domino effect might have more effect than the lack of Nathan in the closers' role. But then again, the Twins have decent depth in middle relief. Condrey will now replace Rauch, maybe 8-10 runs will be the difference there. Who knows.

We should have traded Bobby when we could have.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Mar 11, 2010 -> 08:09 AM) This was actually printed in Minny today. That would be absolutely insane. I doubt Minnesota cheaps out for Mauer. Although, if they can't give him enough, it's just another case of "it's all about the money" or "money talks".

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Mar 11, 2010 -> 09:31 AM) 4 #3 starters and one of the top offenses in the league could certainly do that, especially if they have a solid bullpen and defense. The lineup they do have, the bullpen, probably not anymore. And the defense is eh.

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Mar 11, 2010 -> 12:42 AM) Tiger fans getting excited about Willis. Again. So Gullible.

QUOTE (sircaffey @ Mar 10, 2010 -> 05:57 PM) According to FIP though, he's improved his effectiveness? Using your same sound logic, Jake Peavy is "declining." Peavy (28 years old, 1 day younger than Zambrano): ERA/FIP since 2007 2007: 2.54/2.84 (223.1 innings) 2008: 2.85/3.60 (173.1 innings) 2009: 3.45/2.99 (101.2 innings) Avg FB velocity: 2007: 92.5 2008: 92.1 2009: 91.8 I don't think many here would label Peavy as "declining," but I guess you would. Just a note, but I don't really buy into FB velocity as a sign of decline. I mean, Lincecum's avg FB velocity has dropped each of his 3 seasons. Peavy is declining. He's not the 6 WAR pitcher he was in 2007. Zambrano's decline is going to be uglier than Peavy's though, provided that Peavy is healthy. His stats aren't going to look any better by moving to the AL and to the Cell.

I know a place where you can get jerseys for $16 (shipping will cost you a lot though). Not authentic, probably from the pawn shops of China, but word has it, they look and feel like the real thing.

QUOTE (knightni @ Mar 10, 2010 -> 04:27 PM) PI doesn't fly with MLB. Expect community service of some sort for Hunter in the Caribbean next winter. Yeah, but he is right though, there is a difference between black baseball player and black Hispanic baseball players. I think Dusty Baker made a point of this by saying that Hispanics need to play in warm weather, lol.

Although that's very politically incorrect, he is somewhat right on this issue.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Mar 10, 2010 -> 03:15 PM) Umm....yeah I wrote that in a hurry, but the general meaning was... Had we played that game 163 in Minnesota and had the Sox lost the game, you wouldn't have heard much from our side because we lost the season series to begin with. There's no leverage there to back up a valid argument from our side. However, at that time, the decision of where the game is played was based on a coin toss and that's been the case since forever. In fact, in 1951, the Dodgers won the coin toss for a 3 game playoff and deferred home field to the Giants. So obviously, this wasn't a real issue until Joe Nathan made it one. Here are the winners and the site of the most recent tie-breaker games in the new playoff format. These are the results of the season series of those games and where it was played. Winners with *. 1995: Mariners* vs. Angels (King Dome, Seattle lost season series 7-5) 1998: Giants vs. Cubs* (Wrigley, Cubs won season series 6-2) 1999: Mets* vs. Reds (Cinergy, Mets lost season series 5-4) 2007: Padres vs. Rockies* (Coors, Rockies won season series 10-8) For the most part, this system had it right. The very first of these tie-breakers in the new playoff format actually had the Angels, who had won the season series, on the road. Apparently, none of the Angels players were all that bitter, at least not bitter enough to go out and try to change the rule. So this is something that has been in baseball for a while, just like the coin toss to determine who gets the ball in overtime for the NFL. Not a perfect rule by any means, but one nobody really cared for until Joe Nathan decided to voice his opinion because his team lost. I commend Nathan for being active and trying to make the most sense of the situation, but the fact of the matter is, had the Twins won the game, he wouldn't have said a word. I call that being a sore loser and not really being the professional that some of you proclaim him to be.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Mar 10, 2010 -> 12:55 PM) Had we had to play in Minnesota that final game, I have a hard time believing we wouldn't have heard some complaining done from our side. Hardly, we lost the season series. We shouldn't have gotten home field for that game in that perspective. However, since it was based on luck, and we had luck on our side, what can you do? A coin toss decides who gets the ball in the NFL for overtime. There's no NFL players complaining about that rule out loud.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Mar 10, 2010 -> 12:41 PM) Of course not, there would have been no need. They play 162 games. Home field advantage is a huge factor in a ballgame. That factor, for the deciding game, is determined by flipping a freaking coin. Finding that such a ridiculous manner in which to determine such a vital factor leaves a bit to be desired hardly makes him unprofessional. But hey, whatever floats your boat. If he was professional, he would have done the same thing regardless of the Twins winning or losing the game. But as you admitted, he probably wouldn't have had they won.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 10, 2010 -> 08:12 AM) Who was imitating him? The batting stance guy.

QUOTE (Reddy @ Mar 10, 2010 -> 08:35 AM) so if i were to tell you to do Wilson Betemit's you could on the spot? or JJ Hardy? or Pablo Sandoval? I expect a youtube video by the time I'm back home from work. Betemit is in a crouch, slightly open, bat usually hanging over the head and bent downwards. JJ Hardy is in a slight crouch arms extended out, slightly open stance. Pablo Sandoval is open, slight wiggle with the bat near his shoulder. And I don't do YouTube videos, lol. I edit batting stances in baseball games a lot, it's only natural I know these.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Mar 10, 2010 -> 10:13 AM) Right, because a f***ing coin toss is a great solution to determine which team gets home field advantage in the event of a tie. I can't imagine that has anything to do with why they changed that as the solution though. If the Twins would have won, I doubt he would have said anything.

QUOTE (sircaffey @ Mar 10, 2010 -> 10:57 AM) Just because Zambrano isn't what he was 4 years ago, doesn't mean he's in steady decline. I never said he was going to improve, but I don't see reason to believe he is going to get worse. I guess you have read different reports on Lilly than I. I haven't seen anything that even hints at him not being 100% 4-5 weeks into the season. He says he'll be ready to pitch in ST later this month. The loser of Marshall/Gorzelanny will go to the pen. My money is on Marshall winning. Or they'll go with John Gaub, one of their better prospects. ERA/FIP since 2006 2006: 3.41/4.14 (214 innings) 2007: 3.95/4.58 (216 innings) 2008: 3.91/4.23 (188 innings) 2009: 3.77/3.61 (169 innings) A decline in innings for the past three. Avg Fastball velocity since 2006 2006: 92.2 2007: 91.6 2008: 91.3 2009: 91.2 I'd call that a steady decline. CHONE and MARCEL have him for 181 innings and 164 innings pitched respectively. CHONE projects a 4.2 ERA, MARCEL is projecting a 3.84. He's not going to get any better.

QUOTE (sircaffey @ Mar 10, 2010 -> 01:40 AM) Huh? Zambrano's been in "decline" the last 2 years except for last year? And thus is declining? What kind of statement is that? His numbers went down after he was fantastic 3 years ago giving up 50 less hits than IP. And he's starting to make 27-28 starts annually? He's never made less than 28, once. One year constitutes annually? I'll have to remember that one. He's not an ace, but he is a solid SP. You are exaggerating Lilly's injury. That's exactly what I think of Wells. Regression is going to happen. Nothing wrong with middle of the rotation. Hell, I even said average #4. Why even talk about Carlos Silva? Marshall and Gorzelanny are ahead of him on the depth chart. Dempster, Zambrano, Lilly, Wells, and Marshall isn't bad at all. It's going to keep the Cubs in a lot of games. The offense/pen are going to be the determining factors. You don't decline for two, have one slightly better year, and then go back to being better. He pitched fewer innings last year and his lower FIP could be due to a lack of sample size. The truth is, even though Zambrano is a decent K pitcher, he relies heavily on contact outs, which is why his FIP is usually in the 4s. His FIP has been in the 4s since 2006 with the exception of last season. Zambrano's health issues in the past few seasons also tell me that he will start making less and less starts, he's starting to reach his 30s and with his stature, he looks to be a guy who is going to regress very early. It has already started to show up. And I am definitely not exaggerating Lilly's injury. He has both a shoulder and a knee problem. He's coming off surgery on the shoulder and now his knee is banged up. Try pitching with those two body parts hurting. It's going to affect him for at least two months this year. I have a feeling that Cubs management will have to put Silva somewhere in order to save face. He will get a couple of starts and Marshall, as a left hander, is very big for that bullpen since it's extremely right handed outside of Grabow. Once Lilly gets back, it's a formidable bunch, but until then, it could go real bad.

QUOTE (sircaffey @ Mar 10, 2010 -> 12:03 AM) I don't get why their rotation will be their downfall. They have 3 established above average SP, 1 breakout SP who will likely regress to an average #4, and an open #5 spot. In comparison to the rest of the league, that doesn't look bad at all. You have a fake ace in Zambrano. The guy's peripherals have declined for the past 2-3 years with the exception of last season, which was a smaller sample size than usual. Before last year, his FIP was constantly in the 4s and you can expect more of that from him and health is another issue with him. He's starting to make only about 27-28 starts now annually and that's not going to go up any time soon. Dempster's a pretty good pitcher. He took a 1.5 WAR dip last year in comparison to 2008 and that's where he'll probably stay for 2010, a 3.5 WAR pitcher. Good, but not great. He's probably the best pitcher on the staff. Ted Lilly is hurt and he might not be ready for a month or two. Then you have a recovering period with him and he might not be the same guy he was until June or July. Randy Wells overachieved considerably last year. His xFIP and FIP say he's a guy who will post a ERA around 4.2, not 3. He'd be your average middle of the rotation starter on most teams. Tom Gorzelanny is nothing special and I doubt they get 2007 production from him, although that is still somewhat possible. Carlos Silva is a mess and we all know that. He shouldn't even make the team. However, they'll need to find somebody to fill Lilly's role for a good month or two. So I see one declining "ace", one good pitcher, one pitcher who is hurt that is decent, one overachieving rookie who will regress, one mediocre back end starter, and one of the worst pitchers in baseball. If things don't go right with Lilly, this rotation will probably blow up. That is unless Wells does what he did last year, which I very much doubt.