MLB Week 1 LD
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Joe's Gonna Kill You
The Hunt is On
Tie Game
Stormtrooper
Championship Contender
Burnett has in every year except 2010.
Hughes was an All Star last year.
Nova is a top prospect in the farm system.
Garcia is an innings eater.
Comparably, the Sox starters are worse.
Oh, and lets also remember that this team will trade for someone by the Deadline.
You take the O's, I'll take the Yankees.
Lets bet on it.
And this is why you don't pull guys when they're dominating. Tie game on a bloop to right.
Little Jerry Lawler
Sigmund Freud On Ritalin And Roids
Teixiera is basically carrying me in my fantasy league so far.
Stormtrooper
Championship Contender
Robertson got a raw deal too, having to come in with the bases loaded (tying run on 1st). He gives up a little bloop and gets fucked over.
Soriano didn't have it. He's no Mariano Rivera, that's for sure. Of course Girardi should have known better then to put a (former) closer in a non-save situation in the 8th inning. Closers generally don't perform well when they come in non-save situations.
Soriano didn't have it. He's no Mariano Rivera, that's for sure. Of course Girardi should have known better then to put a (former) closer in a non-save situation in the 8th inning. Closers generally don't perform well when they come in non-save situations.
Stormtrooper
Championship Contender
not surprising. He's a beast.
Of course don't say that here, because he sucks according to most people on here.
Note: Major nerdy baseball talk upcoming:
Burnett's ERA has been 4+ (being 5.26 last year) in the past 3 years. His WHIP has risen from 1.19 to 1.34 to 1.40 to 1.51 last year. Plus, he's 34. I would think it's safe to say unless he takes a drink from the fountain of youth he's not going back to his prime years at Florida.
Don't get me started on Hughes. He tailed off in the second half (started 11-2 w/ 3.65 ERA//ended 7-6 in 2nd half with 4.19 ERA) and benefited with more run support per start then any other starter. Sure, the stadium he plays in isn't pitchers heaven, but when you get 6 or 7 runs a game you should be getting 17 or 18 wins.
Nova's only in his second year, and he only had 40 some innings of work last year. His ERA was 4.50 and his WHIP was Burnett-esque (1.45). However, with it only being a small sampling I'll give him the benefit of the doubt at the moment.
And Garcia shouldn't be expected for pretty much anything except eating innings. He hasn't had a sub 4 ERA since 2005, and had a combined 23 starts between 2007 to 2009. Yes, he came back with 28 starts last year.
So honestly, there's a definite 10 rotations better then the Yankees, with only Sabathia as your sure thing. Honestly, I might be hard pressed to put them in the top half of the league. Everyone but Sabathia has major question marks.
Yes, a bet on a team that hasn't had any success in the past decade with their first year manager against a surefire 90 win team. Even if they've had the best record since Showalter has come over, it's not in my odds.
But tell me, what would the wager even be.
Are you talking about Soriano? Because walking a run in and loading the bases doesn't sound very dominant to me.
Stormtrooper
Championship Contender
you mean his best year being 2008 with Toronto, right?
And this guy still has dominant stuff. He just is too inconsistent.
Don't worry, I'll get you started with a 2010 All Star who tailed off a bit in the 2nd half, but still was an All Star and an excellent starting pitcher in the first half.
Nova was a rookie who had excellent stuff but didn't have any length (couldn't get through the 6th last year).
Garcia will be expected to do what all 5th starters jobs are to do. EAT INNINGS. He'll do that, because that's what he does.
Not really. And I love how you say there's definitely 10 rotations better, yet refuse to name any.
O's win division, you win, Yankees win division I win. Sox win division nobody wins.
And you're the one who said "go O's in the east." I just confirmed that you're not really believing what you said.
No einstein. I was talking about SABATHIA, who was DOMINANT (retired is last 17 hitters, 7 shutout innings).
His 2002 and 2005 seasons with Florida were better overall years. Yeah, he had more wins in 08, but his ERAs were both sub 3.50 and WHIPs both lower.
And your #2 or #3 (whatever he's classified as) guy is inconsistent and you're saying they have a great rotation? What? Normally your #2 is the guy who is just on par or a notch below your #1, if you want to have a good rotation. He's notches below CC.
So in other words, he was inconsistent. And he's definitely going to have to have a stronger second half then last year, and he didn't exactly make a statement in his first start. Last year he didn't have as much pressure because he was only the #4 guy. Now he's either 2 or 3 (depending on where Burnett is, idk which is which) with 1 rookie and 1 washed up veteran behind him. Which means more pressure.
And due to him being still young, I'd expect them to watch his innings carefully and give him extra days of rest. So not much of a lock there.
Unless he goes and gets hurt again, or just suck badly, which he did each year from 07 to 09.
So I don't see how this rotation, behind Sabathia, is anything more then average.
Phillies, Giants, Brewers, Athletics, Angels, Cubs, White Sox, Dodgers, Rangers, Rays, Braves, Padres I'd all have before the Yankees, since most have a dominant #1 (like the Yankees) and stronger followings. That's 12.
And the Orioles, Blue Jays, Tigers, and Cardinals have stronger top ends (as in 1-2-3) with about the same amount of questions in the back end.
So at least 12, and up to 16 I'd rotations I'd consider better then the Yankees, who are 1 Top guy and a bunch of average ones or unknowns.
Win what?
And just because I said 'Go O's" doesn't mean I think they're the best team. If that was the case, I'd think the Tigers are gonna win the World Series each and every year (which I don't). In fact, if you would've seen my predictions, I had the Orioles just below the Yankees. I never said they were better, I'm cheering for them. You took what I said completely out of context.
Generally with a 3 run lead you expect your 30 million dollar man to send it to the best closer in the game. Even if it's your ace. If Girardi would've kept Sabathia in there and he loses the lead people would've been wondering why they didn't use their big free agent signing to finish the 8th. It's baseball 101 nowadays. If your starter gives you 7 strong innings, you normally turn it over to your 8 and 9 guys, since that's what they're paid to do (unless it's something like a no-hitter or perfect game, obviously). Sure, Sabathia probably would've finished the twins in the 8th, but I'm sure Girardi was thinking that one of the best closers in baseball last year wouldn't have had much trouble getting 3 outs.
And hindsight is 20/20. I know you wouldn't have said that had it been 1-2-3.
justinsayne
Cody Rhodes is an excellant
Thank you Twins for FINALLY beating the fucking Yankees... now we just need to do it in the playoffs...
Stormtrooper
Championship Contender
Well I say "Yankees will win the division" You say Go O's. You imply that the O's will win the division by saying Go O's immediately after hearing "Yankees will win the division." Sorry if I misread what you were trying to say. It wasn't perfectly clear.
1. It was a 4 run lead, not a 3 run lead.
2. Soriano has pitched the past few days (and thus will be unavailable tomorrow, when he might be needed for a bigger jam).
3. What are you talking about "sending it to the best closer in the game? That would have been Sabathia to Rivera. That was the best option there, so you can keep Soriano for tomorrow.
4. With a 4 run lead, you don't need to go to your setup guy, you can go to your "lower" tier guys (like Robertson) and give them a shot. Setup guys are for close 8th innings, not "not close" 8th innings. If they don't get it done, then Soriano is the last resort. Girardi used Soriano as a first resort, which was stupid.
5. Nobody would have a chance to wonder about Sabathia giving up the lead, because there would be no way he survives 2 baserunners, yet alone 5. If CC/lower bullpen guys can't get through the 8th, THEN (and only then) do you go to the big guns on the 3rd consecutive day.
6. Contrary to popular belief, when a pitcher is getting outs at will, regardless of what a guy is making to pitch in a "role," you don't need to pull the dominant starter.
7. It wasn't even a situation for the setup man, yet he came in.
8. Why put someone else in if you're sure the guy that has proven to be dominant today can get he job done? It's a pointless move that only hurts your chances.
See, you're mis-reading the roles as 8th and 9th inning. It's Setup and Closer. This wasn't a Save/Hold situation (at least not until the bases were loaded).
No, I was among the wide array of people who first guessed it as soon as they saw Soriano. I'd rather have given him the day off so we have him for tomorrow and the next day. It's not hindsight. It was immediate sight. I would have said it if he struck out the side on 9 pitches. I would be happy to get through the 8th, but not happy with not having him when they might have needed him tomorrow.
I'm not taking anything away from the Twins. They deserved the win today, they outplayed the Yankees at the end. I just think that the Soriano move was stupid, and nothing good could have come out of it.
He was used yesterday, but didn't get anything the 3 days before (Yankees lost on Sunday, had a comfortable lead on Saturday, and were off on Friday). It's common for guys to be used for 2 games in a row, if needed.
30 million dollar man = Soriano. He would retire the 8th and send it to Mariano.
Even if it's not a save situation, you wouldn't expect a guy who had a sub 2 ERA last year to give up 4 runs. Girardi was just playing his odds. It just bit him in the ass today.
Then it might be too late. Who's to say they don't let the bases loaded before they can even get Soriano in there?
And where are you getting this 3rd straight day? Soriano and Rivera didn't pitch on Sunday, Rivera pitched to 1 guy on Saturday, and neither pitched on Friday. It's not like Girardi was running them on E. In fact, they probably were given innings today to keep them fresh.
Girardi was simply playing his odds. Sabathia reached above 100 pitches, and even though he's a horse, you don't wanna work him too hard in only his 2nd start of the season. And when you have two guys who each had 40+ saves last year in the 8-9 spots, you are usually pretty confident about your chances.
It could've possibly to get Soriano some work. Again, he had only pitched once in the past 4 days. Or maybe he didn't wanna run Sabathia out there for another inning, knowing that if he would've went all the way he would've (more then likely) been above 120, which is a lot in his 2nd start.
He's playing the odds, and had he run out Sabathia for another inning, his pitch count would've been around 120, which is a lot for a second start when you're playing in only decent pitching weather.
No, it wasn't a save situation, but again, he was playing his odds that his high paid 8th inning guy could make quick work in a clean inning.
Girardi was playing his odds. More often then not Girardi would've been right. But once in a while in baseball your odds come back to bite you. Today was one of those days.
Stormtrooper
Championship Contender
The whole time Soriano was in, all the YES guys were talking about was how Soriano won't be available tomorrow. They know Joe Girardi better then you. I'm gonna take their word for it.
AHHH, See, I was thinking Annual salary. CC makes 17, and Soriano 12 or something. And being that Soriano has a 35 million dollar contract (10, 11, and 14 million) with opt-outs every year, 30 million is a poor number to use.
But he wasn't playing his odds. Sabathia was his best odds, and he didn't go there. He was gambling that his 2nd best bullpen guy was gonna be on his game, when he knew his starter was.
Because Soriano comes in after the 2nd runner gets on, which makes it a SAVE/HOLD situation, what he's being paid to do.
Soriano pitched Monday. He wasn't given being "kept fresh". Same with Rivera. And they've pitched a couple times in 4 days. While I may have been off on how many in a row, the idea was still that Soriano would be unavailable based on people whom regularly speak with the manager. Relief pitchers don't usually go 3 days in a row, especially when there aren't any off days for a while.
He wasn't playing his odds. Sabathia was his best odds, and he didn't go there.
CC is a horse, as you admit. Allowing him to TRY the 8th isn't working him too hard. Especially after only 104 pitches. He hadn't struggled since the SECOND INNING (2 hits). It's not like he worked hard on those pitches since then.
And as I've said time and time again, I was fully confident Soriano would get the job done, I just thought bringing him in was stupid given that it wasn't a save/hold situation, and your ace starter was dominating, and there were other bullpen guys who needed to be kept fresh and given a shot.
CC was at 104 pitches for the day. OVER 120 would be highly unlikely. After he got out of trouble in the 2nd inning (he was at 38 after 2), he threw only 66 pitches the rest of the night (an average of 13.2 an inning), each of which was 1-2-3. An average inning would be 117.2 (round it up to 118). At that point he'd be pulled because either the inning would be over, or he'd be into a bit of trouble, then you use Soriano to get out of it (again, putting closers in in non-save situations is a very risky thing, they usually don't have their A-stuff then, because the adrenaline isn't there).
But he wasn't playing his odds. Sabathia was his best odds, and he didn't go there.
But he wasn't playing his odds. Sabathia was his best odds, and he didn't go there.
Again, Girardi wasn't playing his odds. Sabathia was his best odds, and he didn't go there.
Dr. Stinger A. Zoidberg
Stay in school and don't litter.
I don't care what Stormtrooper is saying - The Yankees had a 4-1 lead with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, they should've put in Rivera for a four out save.
Stormtrooper
Championship Contender
At that point, when Sabathia wasn't an option and Soriano couldn't do it, I would be perfectly fine with that. You need to do everything you can to ensure the win in the current game. I like Robertson, but Rivera over Robertson in a save situation with less then 6 outs any day of the week and 7 times on Sunday.
Father Uncle Oscar
Dot com.
FINALLY! The Red Sox are scoring runs! Tied at 2 against the Indians, ^2, and this is the best we've been all year!
And then there's Daisuke.
And then there's Daisuke.
Solid outing by Verlander. Especially with all of his past troubles in April. Avila finally got it going too.
Now hopefully Penny turns out a better outing and at least gives us a chance to win tommorow. I'd be happy coming back home 3-3, since .500 baseball on the road would really help us on our way to winning a division title.
Now hopefully Penny turns out a better outing and at least gives us a chance to win tommorow. I'd be happy coming back home 3-3, since .500 baseball on the road would really help us on our way to winning a division title.
Tigers finally get home today for their home opener against KC. They were a much better team at home then on the road last year, so I'm hoping the home success cotinues (obviously).
Also, there's a little rivalry game brewing on in Boston today. I'll keep one eye on it, because it'll be interesting to see if the Sox can get out of their embarassing start.
And the bases are loaded for them with no outs here in the 2nd.
Also, there's a little rivalry game brewing on in Boston today. I'll keep one eye on it, because it'll be interesting to see if the Sox can get out of their embarassing start.
And the bases are loaded for them with no outs here in the 2nd.
Dustin Pedroia has picked up the team today. 3 rbis already wit a home run and a single and the Saux have taken the lead 4-3 in the bottom of the 2nd.
From what I've seen, neither pitcher (Lackey or Hughes) has looked very good. And were only in the bottom of teh 2nd.
And Gonzalez just brought Pedroia home. 5-3 boston.
From what I've seen, neither pitcher (Lackey or Hughes) has looked very good. And were only in the bottom of teh 2nd.
And Gonzalez just brought Pedroia home. 5-3 boston.
Stormtrooper
Championship Contender
Sox up in this soon to be battle of the bullpens.
Good thing the Yankees bullpen >>>>> Sox bullpen.
Good thing the Yankees bullpen >>>>> Sox bullpen.
