1061 replies to this topic

[Meff Nelton]

It feels like it's been forever.

The Yankees find themselves in the ALCS for the second year in a row. The Texas Rangers have reached new heights in the history of their franchise.

In the opener, the Rangers are throwing CJ Wilson. While a serviceable pitcher, slight fortune in his 2010 BABIP and HR/FB% (.271 and 5.1% respectively) have hidden his propensity for walking opposing hitters. Wilson in fact led the American League in BB for 2010 with 93, finishing second overall in MLB to Jonathan Sanchez.

For the Yankees goes CC Sabathia, an elite Major League starting pitcher.

The matchup decisively favors the Yankees, but it is a single game. Who knows.

What I do know is that the Yankees are 8 wins away from winning another championship, and they better take another step forward tonight.

Get to four wins.

Edited by Meff Nelton, 15 October 2010 - 12:33 AM.

[jon abbey]

Meff, getting ready to roll. Meff, getting ready to roll. Meff meff meff meff...



No rust tonight, just a cold-blooded execution.

[SemperFidelisSox]

Win it for Juan Gonzalez.

[Wingack]

For the Yankees goes CC Sabathia, an elite Major League starting pitcher.

The matchup decisively favors the Yankees.

Not according to rembrat.

[terrynever]

I'm going with JA's cold-blooded execution. Just an efficient 6-1 win would be fine by me. CC for 8, Mo in the 9th. Maybe score 6 in the first so we can all relax.

[quiggy]

That October switch? Let's keep it flicked.

[TheoShmeo]

Good to see Mr. Teixeira with a little pre-series recruiting of the Rangers' game three starter.

"It was the chance to win every year. Simple as that,” Teixeira said yesterday. “Greatest franchise in sports history. I hate losing. I absolutely hate it, with a passion. So when you’re with the Yankees, you have a chance to win every single year.”

Teixeira wasn’t done gushing.

“It has everything,” he said of New York. “It’s the center of the earth. It’s the center of the baseball world, the greatest stadium in baseball, the greatest fans, New York City . . . you can’t say enough about it. As long as the contract is acceptable, it’s really hard to turn them down.

“It was a very tough decision for me, but putting on those pinstripes every day is special. I wish every major leaguer had just one day to put on the pinstripes to see what it feels like. To hear that roll call in the starting lineup at Yankee Stadium is pretty special.”

Tomase link

I understand the whole bit about signing with a team that has the chance to win. Losing isn't fun. But why was it a tough decision? It sounds like it should have been the easiest decision in the world.

[Foulkey Reese]

I hope Mark Teixeira gets Groats disease.

[abty]

Good to see Mr. Teixeira with a little pre-series recruiting of the Rangers' game three starter.



Tomase link

I understand the whole bit about signing with a team that has the chance to win. Losing isn't fun. But why was it a tough decision? It sounds like it should have been the easiest decision in the world.

IIRC, he is a Maryland kid and the talk was he really wanted to be in Baltimore (or nearby) and be as close to his family as possible. Since the Orioles were awful
he had to give up that boyhood dream which, I would imagine, was somewhat difficult to do.

With that said, I have to agree that he, as well as the Yankees, don't really need to resort to pitching Lee during this series. All they have to do is
open Scrooge McDuck's vault and say "Let's go skinny dipping" - as they have done with CC, Arod and Tiexiera.

[abty]

I can see C.J Wilson and Lee combining for 3 wins so long as their pen doesn't hairball the lead.
I just can't see Hamilton, an older Vlad and that bullpen getting it done, though.

Yankees in 6. I figure one of the Lee/Wilson games will be a nice lead coughed up by Texas.

[Jack Sox]

Good to see Mr. Teixeira with a little pre-series recruiting of the Rangers' game three starter.



Tomase link

I understand the whole bit about signing with a team that has the chance to win. Losing isn't fun. But why was it a tough decision? It sounds like it should have been the easiest decision in the world.

Man, I don't care how talented he is, I'm glad as shit the Sox offer was not good enough. I would hate to root for a fraud like that.

[cromulence]

Man, I don't care how talented he is, I'm glad as shit the Sox offer was not good enough. I would hate to root for a fraud like that.

I keep hearing this shit and I can't help but laugh. You know full well you would root wholeheartedly for him, because if he'd signed with the Sox, he wouldn't be a "fraud." What exactly makes him a fraud? Because you think he never seriously considered the Sox but led them on for a while? Even if that's true, that happens all the time and it certainly doesn't make him an A-Rodian douche. I'm not saying you should have a deep admiration for Tex but the hatred confuses me (it seems stronger than simply laundry-based hatred, and it's not just you).

[TheoShmeo]

I keep hearing this shit and I can't help but laugh. You know full well you would root wholeheartedly for him, because if he'd signed with the Sox he wouldn't be a "fraud." What exactly makes him a fraud? Because you think he never seriously considered the Sox but led them on for a while? Even if that's true, that happens all the time and it certainly doesn't make him an A-Rodian douche. I'm not saying you should have a deep admiration for Tex but the hatred confuses me (it seems stronger than simply laundry-based hatred, and it's not just you).

Of course that's true. Boston fans who wouldn't fully support a player as talented as Teixeira on the Red Sox are few and far between.

That doesn't change the fact that he's a doofus who looks like Buzz Lightyear and makes ridiculous comments from time to time.

But having introduced this topic to this game thread, I note that it was intended to be a somewhat humorous aside, and not turn into a separate thread on Teixeira's douche baggery. We can agree to disagree on that and move on, I hope.

Go Rangers!

Edited by TheoShmeo, 15 October 2010 - 11:04 AM.

[jon abbey]

We can agree to disagree on that and move on, I hope.

Please.

[terrynever]

When it comes to Tex, it's impressive that the Rangers traded him to Atlanta for five prospects -- Saltalamacchia, Andrus, Feliz, lefty pitcher Matt Harrison and a kid named Beau Jones. The Braves also got Ron Mahay in the deal. Two of those prospects -- Andrus and Feliz -- are key components of the AL West champs. And they will be around a long time.

In July of 2008, the Braves traded Tex for Casey Kotchman and a minor league pitcher, Stephen Marek. Not much of a return there.

Edited by terrynever, 15 October 2010 - 11:13 AM.

[cromulence]

Of course that's true. Boston fans who wouldn't fully support a player as talented as Teixeira on the Red Sox are few and far between.

That doesn't change the fact that he's a doofus who looks like Buzz Lightyear and makes ridiculous comments from time to time.

But having introduced this topic to this game thread, I note that it was intended to be a somewhat humorous aside, and not turn into a separate thread on Teixeira's douche baggery. We can agree to disagree on that and move on, I hope.

Go Rangers!

No, not interested in getting into it over Teixeira. Just curious as to the source of the hatred, and I think my question was answered. Buzz Lightyear though? Didn't put that one together before...

[cromulence]

When it comes to Tex, it's impressive that the Rangers traded him to Atlanta for five prospects -- Saltalamacchia, Andrus, Feliz, lefty pitcher Matt Harrison and a kid named Beau Jones. The Braves also got Ron Mahay in the deal. Two of those prospects -- Andrus and Feliz -- are key components of the AL West champs. And they will be around a long time.

In July of 2008, the Braves traded Tex for Casey Kotchman and a minor league pitcher, Stephen Marek. Not much of a return there.

Wow, I'd forgotten how little the Angels gave up to get him. That's a pretty terrible return for the Braves. Put it all together and they traded Salty, Andrus, Feliz, Harrison, and Jones for Kotchman, Marek, and two half-seasons of Tex. Ouch.

[Foulkey Reese]

Fucking Casey Kotchman.

[cheesypoofs]

I'm going with JA's cold-blooded execution.

You suck, cruel and momentarily Dyslexic Id.

[jon abbey]

Heh, that took me a minute but was funny once I got it.

[jon abbey]

Regular lineup against a LHP in there again:

Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher RF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Marcus Thames DH
Jorge Posada C
Curtis Granderson CF
Brett Gardner LF

Poor Berkman blasted two balls in his only postseason start so far and can't get back in the lineup, at least until Lewis in game 2.

[Meff Nelton]

Regular lineup against a LHP in there again:

Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher RF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Marcus Thames DH
Jorge Posada C
Curtis Granderson CF
Brett Gardner LF

Poor Berkman blasted two balls in his only postseason start so far and can't get back in the lineup, at least until Lewis in game 2.

Presuming it's a close game in either direction, he probably gets off the bench for an AB tonight.

[SemperFidelisSox]

Ron Washington uses Darren Oliver more than coke, and Berkman is 4-6 against him in his career with a walk. A small sample size, but no doubt Berkman probably gets an at-bat if Oliver comes in.

[jon abbey]

Ron Washington uses Darren Oliver more than coke, and Berkman is 4-6 against him in his career with a walk. A small sample size, but no doubt Berkman probably gets an at-bat if Oliver comes in.

Those four hits were all in 2001 and 2003, not too relevant now. Berkman may very well get a chance to pinch-hit, but it's not going to be for Thames against a lefty.

[abty]

Ron Washington uses Darren Oliver more than coke

That's uncalled for.

I mean, there HAS to be another pitcher he can use in a big spot. Right?

[PandaSox]

Go Texas!

[Ho Chi Minh]

The ALCS is awesome. Go Yankees!

[jon abbey]

Nelson Cruz and Kinsler are the guys who I think NY needs to control, they both really scare me.

Enough waiting, let's get this fucker started already.

[cromulence]

Ughhhh. Playoff baseball is awful in the best way.

[jon abbey]

One thing I like about this series is that since both SPs throw from the same side in each game, we won't get one of those games where one pitcher gets an edge because the ump can see that side of the plate better (Pettitte/Pavano was like this, for instance).

[Meff Nelton]

Let's do this.

[Bob Montgomery's Helmet Hat]

I like this announcing crew.

[jon abbey]

Joelsherman1

"Nolan Ryan delivers dart from mound for ceremonial 1st pitch. Initial impression: Better than Burnett"

[cromulence]

I like this announcing crew.

I like them all as people, but EJ sucks at play by play. In his defense he hasn't done much of it (that I know of), so he could definitely improve, but he was pretty weak with the calls in the ALDS. Otherwise I like the crew.

[Meff Nelton]

Joelsherman1

"Nolan Ryan delivers dart from mound for ceremonial 1st pitch. Initial impression: Better than Burnett"

Is it a good or bad thing that he didn't hit any of his players to get in their heads?

[Bob Montgomery's Helmet Hat]

I like them all as people, but EJ sucks at play by play. In his defense he hasn't done much of it (that I know of), so he could definitely improve, but he was pretty weak with the calls in the ALDS. Otherwise I like the crew.

I think he get out of the other guys' way pretty well. Darling is as good as it gets, and Smoltz seems like a natural. Compared to what FOX throws at us, this is bliss.

[greek_gawd_of_walks]

The bottom of the strike zone is available it seems.

[Meff Nelton]

The bottom of the strike zone is available it seems.

I hope the Yankees have their golf clubs ready.

[Bob Montgomery's Helmet Hat]

I hope the Yankees have their golf clubs ready.

Because they'll need them after this series?

[cromulence]

Because they'll need them after this series?

Walked into that one.

[Rough Carrigan]

You suck, cruel and momentarily Dyslexic Id.

He's got a real instinct killer.

[mikeot]

Joelsherman1

"Nolan Ryan delivers dart from mound for ceremonial 1st pitch. Initial impression: Better than Burnett"

They might still want to go to him as a setup man

[Rough Carrigan]

Nelson Cruz and Kinsler are the guys who I think NY needs to control, they both really scare me.

Enough waiting, let's get this fucker started already.

Is that a boom stick in your pocket or do you just love the game?

[Rough Carrigan]

Andrus turned 22 in August. C.C. weighed 22 stone in August.

[greek_gawd_of_walks]

Will the heat effect Sabathia at 84 degrees? I doubt it being the playoffs, but it's a thought.

[scottyno]

yankees should put a cheeseburger in posadas glove, maybe then CC could find it

[Bob Montgomery's Helmet Hat]

Young is underpaid

[Seabass177]

Great start so far. Rangers are showing great plate discipline, and it's paying off.

[johnmd20]

A fantastic start for Texas. Now, more hits, some runs, bury them and bury them early.

[cheekydave]

Excellent start.