3b Rolen out May 10 - June 18 July 21 -- season
LF Sanders out since July 16th
RF Walker on and off since May
C Molina out from July 8th - Aug 18th
Posted on 09/12/2005 7:28:05 AM PDT by ken5050
actually, only a few games separate Boston and LAA..you could come down to the final weekend wher all four playoff teams have been decided, but what they're "playing" for, or not, is seeding..who plays who....
Yeah, they're only separated by a few games, but Boston is better...much more formidable in my estimation.
Oh, btw, in your scenario, I'd play my staff trying to win the pennant. Definitely.
The following starters--four of the eight--have missed large numbers of games due to injury:
3b Rolen
LF Sanders
RF Walker
C Molina
That's half the lineup, and the first three are power guys.
Now 2b Grudz is missing some games, too.
they ran away and hid..wire to wire..everyone has the sense that it was an easy race..which perception hurts Albert.
Yes, and I think that is very unfair.
3b Rolen out May 10 - June 18 July 21 -- season
LF Sanders out since July 16th
RF Walker on and off since May
C Molina out from July 8th - Aug 18th
Try and win it?..or rest your staff? any preference whom you'd like to face in the first round?
Try and win, you owe it to the fans who pay good money for the seats. But if you are thinking about manipulating it, you first have to look at records as it effects home field. Second criteria would be the pitching staff of potential opponents and who you match up with the best.
Is resting your staff, giving key players a day's rest.."manipulating?" in the scenario I described, where ALL foou teams have already made the playoffs..not sure?
Is resting your staff, giving key players a day's rest.."manipulating?" in the scenario I described, where ALL four teams have already made the playoffs..not sure?
Is resting your staff, giving key players a day's rest.."manipulating?" in the scenario I described, where ALL foou teams have already made the playoffs..not sure?
IMO if your team has a chance to win the division, 'resting' players is cheating the fans. In manipulation, the manager would decide to 'rest' players knowing that the probability of a loss is very high, and the results of the loss would be a more favorable play off position. I don't say that it has happened, but it could.
Based on seeing TLR over the years..say the Cards wrap it up by the weekend..which seems likely...do you expect him to play all his starters...or start resting them..limit the pitchers to 5 innings...if he does it for every remaining game, he's not going in the tank...
That's the point I was making. It's chosen by group of opinionated idiots who set their own criteria.
Then you will want no part of the Yankees either. Both teams will grind down your pitching staffs and will out hit you.
If the Yanks have the lead in a close game in the 9th...
Enter the Sandman
OK...got it now..BTW..right now..what are your pics for the 8 playoff slots..
I propose a permanent ban on referring to David Eckstein as 'Eck'.
Some of those you can't really factor in though. It's like Juan Gonzalez or Kevin Brown or Griffey being injured. You have to assume old folks and injury-prone players are likely to miss games from day one. Rolen, I'm not so sure if he's injury-prone or just had a couple of bad breaks.
Based on seeing TLR over the years..say the Cards wrap it up by the weekend..which seems likely...do you expect him to play all his starters...or start resting them..limit the pitchers to 5 innings...if he does it for every remaining game, he's not going in the tank.
Tony's motto is 'play a hard nine'. He will rest players but it will be situational. He has already sorta started with Carp. He pulled him after 97 pitches the other day, even though he wasn't in trouble and looked good. I would expect to see Albert get some innings off if not whole games, but this is a BASEBALL TOWN and the fans want to see their players. Walker will get a cortizone shot probably the last week of the season. That will turn him back into the .300+ hitter he really is. I would expect Molina to get some rest. You won't see situations where a game is played by 'call ups' from AAA and AA though.
Its likely that they will clinch on the road and thats a bummer.
I'll stick with the folks in the division lead right now, Tribe for AL WC (similar to Red Sox, solid starting pitching and good offense -- Sox have better O, Tribe better 'pen so far), and ... I'll have to think about NL WC.
Amazing statistic: Mariano Rivera has never blown a save in the postseason. He's automatic!
Right?
Some of those you can't really factor in though. It's like Juan Gonzalez or Kevin Brown or Griffey being injured. You have to assume old folks and injury-prone players are likely to miss games from day one. Rolen, I'm not so sure if he's injury-prone or just had a couple of bad breaks
These weren't 'dings' that 'old folks' get. Molina suffered a fractured hand (not an old folk). Sanders a broken leg. The only one in that category would be Walker and his neck problems.
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