Uh yeah--it's not even February and I got the Tigers ad for season tickets today. Holy crap I can get season tickets to baseball for under $300? That works out to like 3.12 a game--I'd probably have to sit under the Tiger in the outfield but still. It'd cost me $7 in gas per game to drive out there so it's not happening.
Also--the Tigers signed Dontrell? WTF? Why is it that when there's an interesting pitcher in the NL who can actually hit the ball he always heads to the AL right when I start paying attention? The only time this has happened in reverse is Pedro and Johnson, but still.
They didn't sign him, he was involved in the Miguel Cabrera deal where the Tigers mortgaged their future for Cabrera, who they probably won't be able to re-sign for the monster contract he's probably going to command long-term. Willis' numbers have gotten progressively worse and worse the past few years, and I don't expect it to get any better playing in a much tougher division in the A.L.
tigers were able to get cabrera to agree to at least one year for 11 mil., IIRC.
i see willis snapping back to form as long as he isn't concealing an injury. his recent fall from cy young form has to do with control issues/mechanics out of whack. he's still quite young, and should be rejuvenated playing for a serious contender. plus, lots of guys in the AL haven't seen much of him which could give him an edge in the 1st half.
the tigers got better, the indians are maturing and the white sox have added new parts. the AL central should be excellent this year.. still waiting for johan santana to be traded from minnesota. they need to, they have little chance to win the division even if he stays.
the reds should be better this year with their new additions, but i still can't see them winning that crappy division. the wild card mos def won't come from the NL central either.
i wouldn't have traded hamilton. the pitcher they got was a top prospect in the rangers system, and the reds sorely need pitchers, but you just aren't supposed to trade away a guy with mickey mantle caliber ability.
watch for joey votto. maybe he'll win rookie of the year, and there will be something to smile about in cinci in 2008
No, as a matter of fact, it does not. It just makes me a pissed-off Reds fan.
If the Mets play the Reds early enough and if I'm done with my article then I'm totally coming to the 'natti to catch one of the games. Hopefully a Pedro game if he's still playing .
Don't forget Matt Cain. The starting pitching should be outstanding and at least you could say the offense is improved from last year. Hopefully Rowand can put up similar numbers like he did last year, and maybe one of the young players like Frandsen, Ortmeier, or Rajai Davis will have a breakout season. The team also has a lot of speed on the bases.
The NL west is a tough division, so it's going to be tough to make the playoffs, but I don't think they'll be in last place. Maybe they can compete for the wildcard, if a lot goes right for them.
i didn't forget cain. he's got plus stuff. i just think he's in for another 16 loss season.
rowand's numbers were skewed by playing 81 games in the hitters paradise known as citizen bank park. he hit 7 more home runs and hit 20 points higher at home last year. at&t park is more pitcher friendly.
i'm not as excited about those 3 rooks as you are. frandsen isn't quite dustin pedroia. davis (don't forget the pirates gave up on him) isn't quite juan pierre. ortmeier's 2006 numbers in the minors (last time he was an everyday player) are that of a AAAA player. he needs to walk more.
all these guys are a little long in the tooth to be considered serious prospects. their upsides are limited.
lincecum pitches nothing like sandy koufax, and is actually often compared to roy oswalt.
the giants are talking about acquiring joe crede from the white sox. that would definitely help their cause if his back injury is fully healed. looks like spring training will be a showcase for those interested as the white sox are ready for the josh fields era to firmly take hold.
homer bailey is involved in trade rumors. the a's are asking the reds for homer (bad name for a pitcher, eh?) AND joey votto for workhorse joe blanton. i wouldn't do it. i'm sure there will be plenty of interest in blanton across the board. i'm not totally sure why the cost conscious, rebuilding a's want to move him as he's not immediately due for a raise.
the twins are officially in quick rebuild mode after trading santana in hopes to field a contender when they open their new park in 2009.
Sunday, February 10, 2008 at 12:26 PM Edited Sunday, February 10, 2008 at 12:28 PM
i like the brewers chance of winning the division. i feel their chief competitors are the cubbies.
let's start off by getting ben sheets out of the way. the "should be" ace of the staff is hurt every year, but is damn good when he's available. having him for an entire season would be HUGE. the starting rotation behind sheets is about average. however, it will be interesting to see to what extent 21 year old, top pitching prospect yovanni gallardo develops. he looked good over 100 innings last year.
the brewers have rolled the dice in handing the closer role to free agent signee eric gagne. gagne was once on top of the world with the dodgers, but shoulder injuries have slowed his career dramatically the last few years. he was acquired late last year to shore up boston's bullpen for the pennant drive, but was knocked around often, and relegated to mop up duty. if he can regain his form, they have a real winner.
last year's rookie stud ryan braun will move from 3rd to left field because he's a defensive liability. they signed veteran CF mike cameron in the off season to play center so that they could move bill hall to 3rd base. cameron will miss the first 25 games of the season due to a positive drug test for stimulants. hall was a HUGE disappointment last year after bopping 30 homers in 2006. they are hoping he rebounds. personally, i've always liked hall, and hope he does.
prince fielder, rickie weeks and j.j. hardy are all still young and improving offensively. this team, offensively, has a chance to be american league-esque without the HUGE price tag the yanks and bosox pay.
i don't see the cardinals as contenders, and i never pull for the cubs, so..
During the post match interviews with the Indian team we were talking about how cricket was introduced by the British to all of their empire and everyone has taken it up and loved it, yet the USA insist on playing baseball. The resulting theories were, not for the first time, contrived:
The British living in the Americas were desperate to create a separate identity from the British in the rest of the world so they stubbornly refused to play cricket. For the same reasons incest and an avoidance of the higher arts was also robustly adopted into the new way of living in North America.
You don't need to be athletic to be a baseball star. This goes all the way down the line; the casual neighbourhood player is commensurately less than the cricketer.
And that's all we came up with. Why do south asians have such amusing accents when they speak english?
i feel their chief competitors are the cubbies As always. Hate the damn cubbies.
let's start off by getting ben sheets out of the way. the "should be" ace of the staff is hurt every year, but is damn good when he's available. having him for an entire season would be HUGE. Wait, so is he hurt right now or not?
One thing that seems certain from your post and the various Brewers games I caught last year is that we have a young team as opposed to the aging Yankees.
THANKS plurry. I'm pumped for Opening Day now. I'll probably head down to SD to catch a Padres/Brewers game this summer, or maybe up to San Fran.
Sunday, February 10, 2008 at 3:05 PM Edited Sunday, February 10, 2008 at 3:06 PM
Wait, so is he hurt right now or not?
well, i haven't asked him about how he's feeling today, but stay tuned. based on his history, something will go wrong soon enough. sheets has failed to make at least 25 starts since 2004, and failed to reach the 200 inning mark as well during that time. he's made 27 million while missing over half of his starts the last three years.
good, healthy, starting pitchers usually take the hill 34 times a year, and are good for 200 innings or more.
THANKS plurry. I'm pumped for Opening Day now. I'll probably head down to SD to catch a Padres/Brewers game this summer, or maybe up to San Fran.
try to meet up with jezebel, and buy her a big ol' ballpark frank for me. she'll love you/us for it. then take her home, and get her drunk. pix pls. post n00dz.
i almost joined the women's rugby team, but i decided against it for two reasons: 1. i don't like getting hit and i'm kind of a baby when it comes to injuries. i won't cry or anything, but i'll complain a lot. 2. i didn't want people to think i was a lesbian. being on the executive board of the glbt group was enough.
No pictures, plurry, but you can watch on webcam if you want. It will definitely cost you.
i'll gladly sign up. i'm more than happy to help support you and feed your pathology, but i need you to be wearing nothing other than red rain boots. see, whores don't wear red rain boots, and it's always been my fantasy to spank one out to a whore wearing nothing but rain boots. they must be red. yes, this is a deal breaker.
Monday, February 11, 2008 at 3:27 PM Edited Monday, February 11, 2008 at 3:28 PM
I heart you again, unless you're being sarcastic, because you know this about me, I'm not good at getting sarcasm. So if you're sarcasming me, we're still fighting.
Monday, February 11, 2008 at 11:24 PM Edited Monday, February 11, 2008 at 11:32 PM
I'm calling it now: BOS vs. NYM in the World Series. BOS takes it in five. Don't bother watching the baseball season since you already know what happens. You're welcome.
I like the Mets out of the N.L., and bah humbug, los Tigres out of the A.L. Fuckin' Tigers. Turning into the Fucking Yankees of the Midwest. Let's see how many more high priced assholes they can assemble on their team. Actually, I don't think they'll reach the W.S. because of their complete lack of a bullpen. I'm really glad they mortgaged their future for an overweight, potentially overrated Miguel Cabrera (who will have to face much tougher pitching than he did in the NL East) and a declining Dontrelle Willis.
Er..Twins signed Livan Hernandez (*starts praying immediately he won't turn out like Sidney Ponson, Tony Batista, Rondell White, etc*). I actually have been wishing the Twins would sign a horse like him for the last few years since he's been available on the trade wire. He's a solid innings eater, and he can throw as many pitches as he needs to.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 11:32 PM Edited Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 12:27 AM
..and bah humbug, los Tigres out of the A.L. Fuckin' Tigers. Turning into the Fucking Yankees of the Midwest. Let's see how many more high priced assholes they can assemble on their team.
your homerism badly skews your rationale. you're incapable of being objective.
first off, be pissed off at your city/fans/ownership that they can't spend with the tigers as far as the budget, and that tigers' management has simply been a cut above. they have done a stellar job building a team through free agency and trades. verlander, granderson and zumaya are impressive home grown talents. jim leyland is the best manager in the american league. that doesn't hurt. i've never been a gardenhire fan.
I'm really glad they mortgaged their future for an overweight, potentially overrated Miguel Cabrera (who will have to face much tougher pitching than he did in the NL East)
much? no not rly. check out this divisional ERA comparison:
clev - 4.05 vs. atl - 4.11 minn - 4.14 vs. mets - 4.26 phil - 4.73 vs. white sox - 4.77 kc - 4.48 vs. wash - 4.58
cabrera is as good a hitter as pujols. he reminds me of manny ramirez in the way that his body is soft, and he seems like a slacker, but at the end of the year, his numbers are better than people who appear to be busting ass.
and a declining Dontrelle Willis.
the 2005 runner up for the cy young award is only 26 years old, and should be coming into his prime. he's walked too many hitters the last 2 seasons which has to be just a kink in his unorthodox delivery. plus, the marlins offense outside of 4 guys was miserable last year. he had a small margin for error every time out, and pitched like it. he's an adjustment and a team that can score some runs for him away from winning another 15 to 20 games. in fact, barring injury, i guarantee 15 wins out of d-train in 2008.
Actually, I don't think they'll reach the W.S. because of their complete lack of a bullpen.
"complete lack" is an overblown statement. fernando rodney, bobby seay and todd jones form a formidable core in the tigers bullpen. zumaya is hurt, and is/was scary good. a ruptured tendon in a finger on his pitching hand ruined his 2007. in october, he hurt his shoulder while moving things out of a house quickly during the cali wildfires. if they can get him back mid season, it will be a huge boost. he was throwing 102MPH in 2006.
Twins signed Livan Hernandez.
livan will throw you 200 innings. he's a nice stop gap during the rebuild. pray they score tons of runs when he pitches. he'll give up 5 every 9. rest assured he won't be another white, bastista or ponson. twins' brass were retarded to believe any of those guys would be anything other than money wasted. this is largely why the tigers have fielded better teams recently - better personnel decisions. period.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 12:31 PM Edited Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 12:45 PM
Obviously it wasn't a trial, but today's coverage of the Clemens appearance before the judiciary committee looked really bad for Clemens. It's gotten to the point where to believe Clemens' claims you'd have to think that Jose Canseco's nanny, Clemens' trainer, and Andy Pettitte have all entered into a conspiracy to refute everything the man says. Possible, but not likely. The guy juiced and all likelihood just lied to congress while under oath. That at least gets you Martha Stewart time.
edit 1: Just read the final entry. Clemens seems to think if he objects vehemently and often enough in multiple forums (press, congress, church?) everyone will go "well he must be innocent." Duh. This is why you have the right to REMAIN SILENT. You're just giving them more rope to hang you with if you keep nailing down specifics. Interrupting during the final summation is a class act--or roid rage. As a taxpayer I want waterboarded for wasting my elected officials' time.
Am I weird that as a baseball fan I really don't give a damn about the 'roids controversy?
first off, be pissed off at your city/fans/ownership that they can't spend with the tigers as far as the budget, and that tigers' management has simply been a cut above. they have done a stellar job building a team through free agency and trades.
Believe me, I am pissed off at that. Every time the Twins lose a player to free agency, I want there to be a state-wide uproar that we find Carl Pohlad, and bring him to the streets and just have a mob beating for him.
todd jones
When is he going to wake up and realize he's really old?
I think it's bizarre that the government is getting involved in NFL's "Spygate," considering that the only valid reason they have for getting involved in baseball right now is that steroids are illegal and all.
Clemens is a douche, but McNamee is a weasel. I couldn't stop watching the hearing today, it was like a soap opera, but better, because it's not a soap opera.
How about that congressman who was like "you're one of my heroes and I don't believe you."
Really? How the fuck old are you? I personally don't believe in heroes, but a pitcher who has been suspiciously beefed up for nearly a decade who is essentially a hired gun who could give a flying fuck about fans and is at best ambivalent towards his teammates is your hero? Nice choice congressman. Time to shop for a new hero. Maybe MLK?
but McNamee is a weasel.
Definitely. No one comes off well in this, but Roger looks the worst.
And how about Clemens' sob story? "My dad died when I was nine...I had a sister-in-law killed because of drugs..." and then the chairman goes, "You've got a very compelling story, Mr. Clemens. Anyway..."
I laughed.
I think McNamee looks worse than Clemens. Who the fuck saves syringes because they "don't trust" someone? Plus, how many lies has he been caught in? A million, a million and four, something like that?
When is he going to wake up and realize he's really old?
baseball will let him know. as long as he continues to save games at a high percentage, he'll remain employed. they were grooming zumaya in 2006-07 for 2008, but after his injury, they're going to have to squeeze another year or half year out of 40 year old (in april) todd jones.
i didn't watch the hearings, you guys know more than i do.. and will continue to.
anyone who plays close attention to the game knows how to interpret stats in the era they occurred. i think most cheaters won't make it to the hall of fame. i do hope the government backs off after this round of busts. it should serve as a decent deterrent. i think MLB can/will police itself as needed for here on out.
FUCKING DESIGNATED HITTERS. THAT'S WHAT RUINS THE AL. Seriously, if you're good enough to play baseball, play fucking baseball. Don't make someone else play it for you.
I think it's bizarre that the government is getting involved in NFL's "Spygate," considering that the only valid reason they have for getting involved in baseball right now is that steroids are illegal and all. — jezebel
Though I think it's a waste of time overall (I'm sure there are three or four thousand other things the government can focus on - butthash, for instance) I can see some community value in it. People spend a lot of money on the NFL from tickets to games to TV packages to merchandise and of course, gambling. And if there is some trickeration going on then it needs to be cleaned up. Unfortunately Goodell really dropped the ball on it, so it opened up things for this Congressional douche to stick his head in it and waste taxpayer money. Had Goodell taken care of things in a better more open manner, this wouldn't be happening. I think he's scared of Belichik.
However with steroids and baseball, it's trickier. I get the records thing, I guess (but I don't truly care) but if so many people are using then it kind of evens the field anyway. The guys in the olden days didn't have the diet science either to bulk up "naturally" like we do now, so you can't say that steroids alone make things unfair in the grand history of the sport. Human science is advancing and people are becoming bigger and stronger as time goes on without enhancements.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 10:24 PM Edited Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 11:19 PM
Am I weird that as a baseball fan I really don't give a damn about the 'roids controversy?
ahah, no I'm the same way, I couldn't give a rat's ass, if they wanna mess themselves up cause they're that dedicated to their sport, let em. Or better yet, make steroids mandatory, that would level the field again. Fixed.
Thursday, February 14, 2008 at 12:24 AM Edited Thursday, February 14, 2008 at 12:35 AM
I get the records thing, I guess (but I don't truly care) but if so many people are using then it kind of evens the field anyway.
It might even it out in the era it occurs in, but it tilts but it makes other eras stats look puny. I'm actually pro-steroids/HGH--I think we need to get real about them and realize that they might actually have some benefits to us as we age, but no one wants to have that conversation.
i didn't watch the hearings, you guys know more than i do.. and will continue to.
You have to understand that for me this is the equivalent of Griffey Jr. going on trial for jez.
Rugby union or rugby league? Union is about the same sweetness as gridiron. League is the most brutal football, followed by soccer. I suppose australian rules can come third. Do any men play softball, or women baseball?
i don't, but my best friend, who manages the team and is the best player, plays fast pitch softball. they won the illinois state title in '05 or '06. i forget.
Sunday, February 17, 2008 at 2:18 PM Edited Sunday, February 17, 2008 at 2:20 PM
fast pitch is way more serious than slow pitch/beer league softball.
a softball is used, and pitched underhand, but the pitcher delivers the ball somewhere around 60 to 70 MPH and from 46 feet vs. ML baseball where the average pitcher throws 85 to 90 MPH and from 60 feet 6 inches.
p.s. also, they play only 7 innings rather than 9.
Ah, duh me, so a softball is a baseball that is literally soft and malleable? I remember the first time I caught a real cricket ball. After years of playing in the park with a tennis ball the leather cricket ball's hardness and weight smacked my hands with quite a painful surprise. I watched the games on tv with a newfound horrified admiration for the toughness of those players. But I just had soft child hands, I'm sure I wouldn't be so bothered now. Now let me do the conversion maths, fuck it where's a conversion webpage?
a softball is used, and pitched underhand, but the pitcher delivers the ball somewhere around 96 to 113 kph and from 14 metres vs. ML baseball where the average pitcher throws 136 to 145 kph and from 18.5 metres.
Wikipedia says: A typical fast delivery has a speed in the range 136 to 150 km/h (85 to 95 mph). The fastest delivery that has ever been officially recorded clocked in at 161.3 km/h (100.2 mph)... After all that run up, cricket bowlers aren't much faster than pitchers. That's werid, I thought they were much faster.
