FR weekly baseball discussion thread: W/E 8/21..it's really getting intersting

one man's opinion.......

[GraniteStateConservative]

Yankees are in BIG TROUBLE..In case you didn't realize it, the Little Pinkie ( or, the player formerly known as the Big Unit) turns 42!!! in Sept...and yesterday he pitched like it...he looks older on the mound than Sheets does on the Senate floor..the 4th home run ..the pitch was heading for the backstop..

He's just pitching like he did the last time he was in the AL, in 1998-- 4.33 ERA vs. 4.34 now.

[ElTianti]

I wonder how much of a fire sale ensues in NY if the Yanks actually miss the playoffs?

I'm sure Johnson, Giambi, and B. Williams all exit stage left. Who else do you think gets axed?

Joe Torre..?

[.cnI redruM]

That would be a terrible mistake.

[SCALEMAN]

and BTW, what are the odds on a Cleveland/Houston World Series?

Please get series.

[ken5050]

Sorry..but you're wrong....RJ signed a two year extension to come her..he's due about $20 mill/per..so no one will take him..he's a replay of Kevin Brown....Williams's contract is over this season..the team has a $10moill or so option for next year..they can buy him out for $1 mill, I believe..which they will...I think he retires...Giambi now in a huge slump..his contract is toxic....Yankees are stuck..big time..

[#1CTYankee]

Easy teams coming up for the Sox? true but bad teams have good times as well. The Sox pitching is a real mess and I wouldn't call any of their starters stoppers, last year we had two.
I'm hoping they bring up this kid Hansen, stick him in middle relief and maybe move him up to setup while Folke is out.

[SCALEMAN]

NL CENTRAL: Cardinals!!! CARDINALS!!! CARDINALS!!! I like it.

Scott Rolen is going to have surgery on his left shoulder so, he's out for the season. Molina is back, but Grudzielanek is on the 15-day DL with a knee infection.

The team that has had 4 starters (count them folks FOUR) out since before the all star break, and still playing .750 ball.

Name another team that could withstand losing FOUR starters for over 2 months.

[ken5050]

Have you seen/heard anything about the Sox trying to get a deal done with Damon..you know, if I were his agent, I'd have to tell him..the way he plays hard...runs into walls..well..look at Torri Hunter..

[misterrob]

Schilling returning to the rotation is no guarantee of success. His control is off and his velocity is inconsistant. If he can throw a split/curve/slider combo for strikes consistantly then he can be effective without a good heater but I have not seen enough yet to be impressed with his stuff.

As a warrior he is without peers though.

Up your Pedro.

[SCALEMAN]

I wonder how much of a fire sale ensues in NY if the Yanks actually miss the playoffs?

I'm sure Johnson, Giambi, and B. Williams all exit stage left. Who else do you think gets axed?

Joe Torre..?

The loss of Torre would't effect anything. He wasn't a good manager at STL or Atl.

His success as a manager depends on who the Yankee's buy for that immediate season.

[misterrob]

Both of those teams are built with offense and ones that will grind you down if you cannot throw strikes. Boston has better young arms to draw upon but this race is far from over. Each has a lot of games against Toronto and Baltimore to play and neither the Sox or the Wanks have dominated them.

[ken5050]

"Up my Pedro?'"...LOL

BTW..yesterday was "Jewish Heritage Day" at Shea..so MIke Jacobs, called up from AA while PIazza is hurt, pinchs hit yesterday, and in his first ML at-bat..hits a three run homer..and everyone is trying to figure out if he's Jewish..(he ain't)..only in NY..

[misterrob]

Williams is done after this year and so is Kevin Brown. No one will touch Giambi's bloated contract and Johnson's either. The worst thing is that Jeter's, Mussina's and Giambi's contracts get more expensive in their outlying years. Too much back loading.

[SCALEMAN]

Williams is done after this year and so is Kevin Brown. No one will touch Giambi's bloated contract and Johnson's either. The worst thing is that Jeter's, Mussina's and Giambi's contracts get more expensive in their outlying years. Too much back loading

So much for fiscal responsibility.
These kind of contracts hurt all of the teams, not just the ones who offer them.

[ken5050]

Jeter's worth whatever thewy pay him..Giambi's backsliding..if he finishes up this way, they will cut him at the end of the season..and eat it..Mussina has one more year...he's overpriced...but still a good #2....what are the odds that Mussina and A-Rod never win a WS with the Yankees..

[newgeezer]

We have to thank So Taguchi for a lot of the short-handed success. He found a bat and knows how to use it.

Of all the Cards' great stories, Taguchi takes the prize

He went 4-for-5 with 3 doubles Aug. 16 in what may be the last game I see at Busch.

[misterrob]

This is simply an issue of pitching for the Wanks. The overpaid for Pavano and Wright, they traded for an over the hill guy in Johnson and still have one more year of Mussina. Their bullpen got old and they have kept trading the farm system to stay on top.

That said, they can take the $30 plus million that come off the payroll and buy Burnett, Morris and anyone else out there and be back in the saddle.

[SCALEMAN]

We have to thank So Taguchi for a lot of the short-handed success. He found a bat and knows how to use it.

And Mabry, J-Rod and Nunez etc etc.

He went 4-for-5 with 3 doubles Aug. 16 in what may be the last game I see at Busch

Great game to see. I will probably get to at least 3 more games before the playoffs. The lady that I date has access to season tickets (her sisters) and we will be lobbying for playoff seats big time.

[.cnI redruM]

I wouldn't be shocked to see Cashman experience some troubles. He, after all, had to have at least nodded and smiled when Stienbrenner inked some of these ballooning contracts.

[L,TOWM]

Clemens has'nt had to "do it all by himself" even before Pettite returning to his usual form. I'd sign Oswalt in a heartbeat if I were stocking a team.