Posted on 07/24/2005 4:54:14 PM PDT by ken5050
OK, all you Freeper baseball afficionados. It's early Sunday evening..it was a hell of a week for the national pastime, and I wanted to get our weekly thread up and running...I won't have a chance late tonight, early tomorrow, and there is much to talk about..
Yep he seems to be back in form.
Since I am a Bears fan as well you just KNOW I am looking over my shoulder at the slightest sound.
Or even more amazingly, 21 teams are within FOUR-and-a-half games of a playoff berth!!!!!!
Right now...name the 8 hwo make the post season..
The Indians are one of those teams. Big series for the Tribe in Oakland. CC against Zito tonight. Will the Tribe be a buyer or seller before the trading deadline? Probably depends on how this west coast trip goes. Millwood and Wickman are most talked about to be traded if the Indians decide to sell and look to '06. Both have one year deals. The front office will catch it from the fans if they do decide to look to next year. GM Shapiro and owner Dolan have talked for the last few years, since trading Bartolo Colon in '02, that '05 would be the year to contend. Still a lot of holes on this team this year, though. Aaron Boone and Casey Blake both had an awful first half.
9 teams. AL wild card is tied.
AL: BoSox, ChiSox, Los Anaheim; Minnesota, Oakland (tie)
NL: Atlanta, Washington (tie), St. Louis, San Diego
But to have another 12 teams within 4.5 games of the playoffs . . . 21 out of 30--that's 70% . . . only two spots (ChiSox, Cards) locked up . . . this late in the season . . . wow.
Good-bye Nats. The way they've been playing lately, they probably won't even win the wild card. While I'd like to see the Cubs get it, the Astros will probably get win it.
After last year I learned never to count the 'Stros out of the race. I was tempted to this year in May, especially around the time they bottomed out at 15-30, but they've been phenomenal of late. Even without Bagwell they have suddenly found their bats. Craig and Lance are on fire, and much of the credit for recent wins must go to Orlando Palmiero and Mike Lamb. Plus the stellar pitching. If Houston continues to play like they have in the last couple of weeks, the Cards themselves better keep an eye on that rear-view mirror (long shot, I know, but I want revenge for last year's NLCS).
BTW..know which team won a divison with the WORST record...sorry all you Padres fans..again, twas my Mets..think it was 1972..they were 82-80..
You're right, Piazza vs. Clemens one last time would have had a grandiose quality to it. Of all sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are these: it might have been.
This should be a great series. With Pedro on the mound (and Astacio for the 'Stros), I'd have to say that tonight will be tough for Houston. It will be interesting to see Belting Beltran's return. I was trying to go to the game tonight, but I couldn't recruit anyone else to go--even for $1 hot dog night. So I'll have to content myself watching the game in the comfort of my cold, empty apartment.
I look forward to the game, and you're correct in the assessment that this series will have repercussions on the entire Wild Card race.
I'll be watching also.....see you here tonight..regards
That was a great game. I was pleased with the performance of Astacio (second good start from him in a row). I got scared in the 1st, but he recovered well. Pedro was masterful as expected--he suffered from the Clemens syndrome of no run support. Brad Ausmus got the squeeze bunt down for the second straight game, and the GW single to boot. All in all, a superbly played game from both sides, with an unexpected but altogether welcome ending from my end.
Wish I could have been there. I feel kind of bad for Beltran--but I probably would have booed him too. Anyway, good luck in the rest of the series. :)
I was bummed....Pedro wanted to pitch another inning..He had is helmet on in the dugout..we'll get you today..Benson has been pitching beautifully of late..
Also: Manny deal hits another snag (Boston Globe)
And... Look who's a Yankee now! ;-D
Looks like the Manny-Mets deal is dead. Which is just as well. Payroll flexibility is worth sh!t mid-season. I think this will get done in the offseason. Even with Manny's no-trade rights coming into play, he'll waive them to go to the Mets if he really wants to get out of town.
Looks like it might be alive, but without the Drays. $$ + Cameron + stud OF prospect Lastings Milledge. The Drays wanted Hanley Ramirez and Jon Lester, along with us giving up Manny and who knows what else.
Cardinal fan.
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