October -- Thoughts of the Day [Archive] - Sports Central Message Boards

catman

10-02-2006, 12:10 AM

Playoffs are here.
AL -- Detroit vs New York, Oakland vs Minnesota
NL -- Los Angeles vs New York, St. Louis vs San Diego
My predictions
New York over Detroit, Minnesota over Oakland. LA over the Mets, San Diego over the Cardinals.

Anthony

10-02-2006, 02:32 AM

The Yankees' loss on Sunday means that no major-league team managed even a .600 winning percentage this season - the second time in the new millennium this has happened (it also occurred in 2000).

So much for baseball's alleged lack of competitive balance.

boston_aloha

10-02-2006, 02:40 AM

New York over Detroit, Minnesota over Oakland. LA over the Mets, San Diego over the Cardinals.
I agree. Detroit just sort of lost their steam at the end of the season - I can't see them winning in 5.

bama4256

10-02-2006, 10:47 AM

Well at least my Atlanta Braves won their last game of the year. John Smoltz finished the season 16-9. Not bad for an old man.

da12ken

10-02-2006, 12:47 PM

Dave over at U.S.S. Mariner posted what he would do for the M's offseason if he were GM. One transaction includes trading Rafael Soriano, Jeremy Reed, and Francisco Cruceta for Manny Ramirez.

Some actually think this is a no-brainer for Boston. Some (like me) think this would be a coup for Seattle. $38m/2 year contract be damned, the Red Soxs would be fools to trade a superstar for three prospects, two with legitimate injury concerns.

NY Jay 05

10-02-2006, 12:51 PM

Yankees and Mets finished the season with the best records in the A.L. and N.L., pretty cool. I agree with all of catman's picks.

Alex

10-02-2006, 06:43 PM

I also agree with catman's picks. Yankees and Dodgers probably have the easiest LDS series. The Tigers have clearly hit the wall (then again, Chicago did the same thing at the end of last season and then rebounded) and the Mets are without Pedro.

I'm praying for two AL sweeps. Anything to keep ESPN2 from televising a play off game at 1 PM on Saturday.

Tarkus

10-02-2006, 10:14 PM

Cubs say goodnight to Dusty. Team President/CEO Andy MacPhail resigned yesterday...

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6023508

Let the healing begin....:rolleyes:

boston_aloha

10-02-2006, 11:11 PM

Finally they get rid of Dusty... A move that should of happened 2 seasons ago IMO. Who are the front runners for the job?

Tarkus

10-02-2006, 11:18 PM

Good question, Steve...

I learned after the '69 meltdown to not get too involved or get my hopes up to high....:rolleyes:

boston_aloha

10-02-2006, 11:45 PM

This was disappointing to read: I wouldn't expect it from the Twins...
September 29, 2006 -- CARL POHLAD may be the 78th wealthiest person in America with a 2005 net worth of $2.8 billion as gauged by Forbes Magazine, but the owner of the Twins sure seems to be suffering from some serious skyscraper envy.
Why else would he tell a writer from the St. Paul Pioneer Press: "I'd rather play the Yankees [in the first round of the playoffs] because I know we can beat them?"
http://www.nypost.com/seven/09292006/sports/yankees/pohlads_dollars_cant_buy_sense_yankees_larry_brooks.htm

Just close your mouth and play (or let your players play in this case) - why is that so hard for some people. The last team you wanna talk trash about is the Yankees.... geez!

Tarkus

10-02-2006, 11:53 PM

These rich boys are so used to speaking their mind in their Ivory Towers that they just feel insulated from saying something stupid.

I'm sure the Twins are just fuming that their owner is spoutin' off....

boston_aloha

10-02-2006, 11:55 PM

Yeah... when I give it more thought - the ways those guys have been playen ball - I doubt any "off the field" distractions will have an effect on them.

Tarkus

10-03-2006, 12:01 AM

Agreed...

I don't think much if anything'll distract those guys focus but they're so quiet on the woofin' side of things that'll it'll probably irk the **** out of 'em to have someone else talkin' for 'em when they've made their play usually do it...

catman

10-03-2006, 02:15 AM

As to "Uncle Carl", he is a bit too old to run a team. He really should turn over his assets to those that can.
The statement may make Gardy and the team a bit irritated, and they may just play a bit better against the A's and then the Yankees.
As to the Cubs job, I think Girardi will get it, although he isn't as clear a choice as he was a couple of weeks ago. Maybe Alou?

boston_aloha

10-03-2006, 02:33 AM

I do like the Twins chances better ina 5 game series instead of a 7 against the Yankees (if that makes sense!)

HibachiDG

10-03-2006, 11:25 AM

I do like the Twins chances better ina 5 game series instead of a 7 against the Yankees (if that makes sense!)

It makes a ton of sense. Look at the Tigers series, even if the Tigers get down 0-2, they come home to face an injured Randy Johnson (Cory Lidle coming in in the 2nd inning most likely) and Jaret Wright. Any team in the playoffs should expect to win both of those games.

catman

10-03-2006, 11:30 AM

It is much easier to win 3 games than 4 against any team. I expect the league championship series to be very close in both leagues.

doublee

10-03-2006, 06:31 PM

I'd say Joe Girardi is the front runner, but I heard a Cubs beat writer on the Cowherd Show say he was not so sure that it would be Girardi as Hendry is believed to be interested in someone that has a bit more of a proven track record in Girardi as Hendry will be the next to go if the Cubs don't turn this around any time soon.

But, given what Girardi did in FLA this year and that the Cubs, by in large, appear to be looking to cut some of the 'dead weight' veterans they have this winter and re-tooling with prospects and young veterans I have to think Girardi would be the perfect fit for the job.

I have heard some speculation that the Cubs may be interested in luring Lou Pinella out of the booth as well.

catman

10-04-2006, 01:58 AM

Pinella in Chicago would be interesting. He would certainly get Hendry off his butt to get some decent players.

boston_aloha

10-04-2006, 02:03 AM

I'd love to see Lou in Chi-town.

catman

10-04-2006, 12:30 PM

Lou Pinella would command a large salary to come out of retirement. He would give the team automatic credibility and would use the pitchers better than Dusty did, IMO -- not that anyone could have predicted Prior's injuries (seperated shoulder running bases, getting hit by a line-drive in the arm). Wood would go to the bullpen under Pinella and guys like Rich Hill, Sean Marshall and Angel Guzman would step into the rotation.
On the field, the Cubs have a decent team, barring injuries to key players again (Derrek Lee). I like the direction the team is going, but they need to make some moves with pitchers.

doublee

10-04-2006, 08:47 PM

Pinella in Chicago would be interesting. He would certainly get Hendry off his butt to get some decent players.

I don't know it is kind of hard to argue that the Cubs have not had the talent to win the past few seasons they have just been snakebitten something fierce by the injury bug. Who knows how things may have turned out if Wood and Prior manage to stay healthy the past couple of seasons.

Tarkus

10-05-2006, 01:46 AM

I wouldn't mind seein' Sweet Lou over in Chicago. Of course with all the big bucks the Cubs have shelled out the last few years, the Trib Co. may just want to recoup by goin' cheap for the time being.

Hey Catman...

What's your breakdown on the 2-0 hole the Twins are in? Looks like the end of the regular season took the wind out of their sails a bit....

boston_aloha

10-05-2006, 02:13 AM

Hey Catman...
What's your breakdown on the 2-0 hole the Twins are in? Looks like the end of the regular season took the wind out of their sails a bit....
I realize you asked catman the question - but I wanted to bring this up. So if you don't mind, I'll throw in my 2 cents.

I'm gonna go Twins in 5. Oakland has had this 2 game lead plenty of times in the ALDS (now I don't know, if any, how many times they won the 1st 2 on the road) and lost the series.

Obviously the key is, win game 3 - which will prob go extras, then you have Santana game 4 who should be lights out in an elimination game. Then game 5 is anybody's - usually the team with the momentum, which would be the Twins in this case. :thumbup:

suedon1970

10-05-2006, 09:10 AM

I'm gonna go Twins in 5. Oakland has had this 2 game lead plenty of times in the ALDS (now I don't know, if any, how many times they won the 1st 2 on the road) and lost the series.

I agree Steve - I heard that the A's have lost like 9 straight deciding games in the playoffs since 2000, so I wouldn't count the Twins out just yet.

catman

10-05-2006, 12:17 PM

The A's came into the Dome ready to kick some butt and did just so. Torii Hunter will not let the Twins get swept by the A's. He and Brad Radke will step up and give some great performances in game 3 in Oakland. Radke has not lost there is several years.
A, too, am not ready to count the Twins out just yet. If they win the games in Oakland, Santana gets another chance against Zito in the Dome.
This said, I would much rather be in the position the A's are in, as opposed to the one the Twins are in.

catman

10-05-2006, 12:21 PM

By the way to the Cubs fans out there. Adam Harben was the player the Twins sent the Cubs for Phil Nevin. Harben is one of the better pitchers the Twins farm system has had recently, but has slipped a bit on the depth chart, with Kevin Slowey moving up. He was expendible, but is very good. He'll not be ready for "prime-time" next season, but should be in 2008.

NY Jay 05

10-05-2006, 06:11 PM

Damn, Yankees blew it today. Oh well, the series is tied 1-1. Props to Johnny Damon for a nice 3-run HR.

doublee

10-05-2006, 08:13 PM

Boy, oh boy is Yankees Nation going to be piling on A-Rod tomorrow. I wonder if the media will tone down all of the hyperbole they are throwing the Yankees way. Some how I doubt it.

I don't care what anyone says Pujols is simply the best in the game right now.

Why can't Weaver pitch that way every game, or at least more often than he does? Based on how he threw in September maybe Duncan is getting through to him.

How about Wainwright? He has stepped up big time for the Cards in being almost flawless in closing out the first two games. I cannot wait to see what he does next year when they move him into the rotation.

This series sets up perfectly for the Cards so that they can bring Carpenter back in Game Four on his full four days rest if need be.

boston_aloha

10-05-2006, 09:12 PM

A, too, am not ready to count the Twins out just yet. If they win the games in Oakland, Santana gets another chance against Zito in the Dome.
This said, I would much rather be in the position the A's are in, as opposed to the one the Twins are in.
I would rather see Santana go game 4. If the Twins can win game 3, then put your Ace out there for a game 4 win. Now the A's once again will be in a situation where they were up 2-0 and could be eliminated. I think game 4 will be the most important if they can take a game 3. Gotta go Santana IMO.

NY Jay 05

10-05-2006, 09:56 PM

Boy, oh boy is Yankees Nation going to be piling on A-Rod tomorrow. I wonder if the media will tone down all of the hyperbole they are throwing the Yankees way. Some how I doubt it.

Nothing new goin on there.

suedon1970

10-06-2006, 01:10 AM

Boy, oh boy is Yankees Nation going to be piling on A-Rod tomorrow. I wonder if the media will tone down all of the hyperbole they are throwing the Yankees way. Some how I doubt it.

For real. Checked the box score: 0-4 3 Ks....:tsk:

catman

10-06-2006, 01:44 AM

I agree about Wainright. He looks like a guy that's been in dozens of post-season games, rather than 2. He has stepped up and done a great job.
As to A'Rod, I suppose there is a reason he has never received a WS ring. He seems to choke in clutch situations.
Jeff Weaver has great stuff. He just needs to focus on the task at hand. He couldn't handle NYC and California may have been a bit too laid back for him. St Louis may be just perfect, more like Detroit was.

catman

10-06-2006, 01:45 AM

As to the Twins bringing Santana back in game 4, I guess that would be the wise thing to do. Let him be the one that brings the game back to the Dome.

#99

10-06-2006, 01:48 PM

If they A's don't win today, I'm going to get mighty nervous. Breaking out the whiskey at midday nervous.

catman

10-06-2006, 02:11 PM

That sounds a bit serious, #99. The only time I've done something like that was when I worked night shift and was off the next night.

boston_aloha

10-06-2006, 04:10 PM

For real. Checked the box score: 0-4 3 Ks....:tsk:

Me too Sue - I checked the box score and saw that. Then I heard on the radio one of those K's was with the bases loaded. I wonder what point of the game it was - I bet it was w/ 2 outs and when they were down a run :eek:
EDIT: Nope - it was early with the scrore 0-0

doublee

10-06-2006, 05:48 PM

I agree about Wainright. He looks like a guy that's been in dozens of post-season games, rather than 2. He has stepped up and done a great job.

Being a Cards fan I have seen him throw quite a bit and when he is rested his stuff is downright nasty. I saw him hit 96/97 on the gun a few times this year and his breaking stuff has some serious bite to it. He seemed to hit some rough spots this year, but I think that was due this being the first season he has ever had to relieve and he was not used to the mental aspects of pacing oneself for that type of pitching.

Jeff Weaver has great stuff. He just needs to focus on the task at hand. He couldn't handle NYC and California may have been a bit too laid back for him. St Louis may be just perfect, more like Detroit was.

They also mentioned yesterday that Duncan has gotten him to settle on a consistent release point and to quicken his pace on the mound so he goes from one pitch to the next so he doesn't stew over a basehit or a bad pitch. They think a lot of it with him is mental in the sense that when he gives up a hit or makes a bad pitch he starts thinking too much and loses his focus.

catman

10-06-2006, 07:08 PM

Congratulations to the A's on winning the series from the Twins today. They played very well and took advantage of every opportunity they were given.
The team that plays them in the ALCS will have their hands full.
The A's are an outstanding team.

Tarkus

10-06-2006, 08:33 PM

Damn, Cat...

Now what do I do with this Twins cap & jersey????

I'll see ya over in the Losers Lounge later...

boston_aloha

10-06-2006, 09:42 PM

C-man sorry to see your team go buddy. Uhhh... I was pulling for the Twins. Sorry to say I think Tori Hunter will be remembered for losing game 2 for a while.
Twins will be back. With Santana and a healthy Liriano I see them in the post season for a long time.

catman

10-06-2006, 10:07 PM

They will be a better team next season, if they can find one more bat. Too bad they didn't reach an agreement with Frank Thomas to be their DH this season. He could have made quite a difference. He, his people, and the Twins all agreed that playing on the field at the Dome for 81 games would have been too hard on his feet and ankles.

catman

10-06-2006, 10:08 PM

The Twins were beaten by a better team this week.

Tarkus

10-06-2006, 10:39 PM

The Twins were beaten by a better team this week.

Operative words: this week...

Always the hardest thing to do at this time of year...to peak. It's just a shame the Twins hit a lull & were without Liriano. I was really looking forward to a long run in this post season....

catman

10-06-2006, 11:15 PM

How about the Tigers? Who would have thought that Kenny Rogers would have done what he has done tonight? 6-0 over the Yankees.
Tomorrow, the Yankees send Jarret Wright out to face Jeremy Bonderman in Detroit. Will this be the 2nd "upset" this post-season in the AL?

boston_aloha

10-06-2006, 11:56 PM

Wow... Tigers were really exciting to watch tonight!

bama4256

10-07-2006, 10:17 AM

What about those Twins Catman? Man they looked awful in Minnesota and in Oakland. They committed just too many mental errors.

catman

10-07-2006, 11:00 AM

I agree Bama. The Twins did not look like the same team that was rolling through the last 4 months of the season with the best record in baseball. I hope the kids learn something from this series and come out ready to play next year.

boston_aloha

10-07-2006, 06:32 PM

How bout ARod hitting 8th in the line-up today?

Tarkus

10-07-2006, 07:44 PM

Sure didn't help much in their 8-3 goin' away party...

Tigers just might be gettin' back on track with this series win. Look out if they are...

Alex

10-07-2006, 08:04 PM

Wow. Maybe it hasn't really hit me yet or maybe I just don't care but I'm really not upset right now. Or maybe the Yanks not getting out of the ALDS has become common place, seeing as how it has happened 3 of the past 5 seasons. One AL pennant in the last five years. Absolutely unacceptable.

Oh well. Lots of football to enjoy now. See ya again in March, baseball.

boston_aloha

10-07-2006, 08:18 PM

That was so cool the Tiger players came out to celebrate with the fans. THat place was going crazy!!!

doublee

10-07-2006, 11:45 PM

No offense Yankees fans but bwah-ha-ha-ha. Sorry, but I love it when the media darling gets its butt handed to them like the Yankees did.

All I heard the last two weeks that the Yankees were going to roll anyone it faced in the Series and how this lineup could not be shut down by anyone. Heck, Colin Cowherd practically annointed them the World Series champs two weeks ago.

So much for the "best lineup in Yankees history". Just goes to show that good pitching and defense almost always trumps hitting in the postseason.

catman

10-08-2006, 01:23 AM

The Mets have done what I did not think was possible. They won a short series using Maine, Trachsel, and Glavine as starters. And they won convincingly. Perhaps they will be able to put up a fight against the winner of the other series?

NY Jay 05

10-08-2006, 10:30 AM

I'm with Alex. I'm almost used to the Yankees losing in the playoffs the past few seasons so I'm not even really that surprised right now. Good luck to Detroit.

boston_aloha

10-08-2006, 11:14 PM

And the Cards advance. Mets / Cards should be interesting.

doublee

10-16-2006, 09:49 PM

Cubs hire Pinella and I am not so sure this is going to end well:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2628162

Macha gets canned in Oak-Town:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2628358

I can't help but wonder if this truly due to performance or if the A's think they have a shot at landing Girardi now that the Cubs job has been filled.

catman

10-17-2006, 01:12 AM

It appears the managerial "merry-go-round" has not stopped yet. I don't think Macha will be the last one fired.
The A's have announced that they are interested in Orel Hersheiser to take over the team, but I don't really get what more they wanted from Macha. His record was 368-280 over a 4 year period there. That is an average of 92-70. Most teams would be very pleased to have production like that. Maybe they want someone that can get the team started a bit quicker, as the A's have been a notoriously slow starting team recently. They usually come on like gangbusters after the All-Star break, and this season was no exception.
I wish them a lot of luck finding a better manager than Macha was for them. Maybe he'll just go across the bay and take the Giant's job?

suedon1970

10-17-2006, 01:46 PM

but I don't really get what more they wanted from Macha. His record was 368-280 over a 4 year period there. That is an average of 92-70. Most teams would be very pleased to have production like that. Maybe they want someone that can get the team started a bit quicker, as the A's have been a notoriously slow starting team recently. They usually come on like gangbusters after the All-Star break, and this season was no exception.

I don't get it either. This was the most successful year in Billy Beane's tenure and they let Macha go because of communication problems between him and the players? I heard something on ESPN radio the other day about it (Erik Kusilias I think) and he said once you let the players run one manager out of town, the players will "own" the next one. Not a smart move, IMO....

doublee

10-17-2006, 05:49 PM

They are talking about Ron Washington being the leading candidate for the Oakland job. Supposedly the players didn't think Macha 'had their backs' and did not like playing for him. I can buy into firing him over that to a degree. But, it depends on how bad it really is. If it is just a couple of players then they need to get over it. But, if a large majority of the team cannot stand playing for the guy then he needs to go otherwise you are setting yourself up for a long, miserable season next year.

I don't know that Macha won't sit at home since he has 2 years left on a deal that will pay him 2.5 mil over that time. So, why worry about finding another job for the time being?

I love how Lou thinks he is getting A-Rod in Chicago. That move makes little to no sense to me seeing as Aramis Ramirez is far better defensively and appears to just be entering his prime as a hitter. Not to mention he is a few years younger. On top of that the Cubs any deal for A-Rod would likely have to start with Zambrano and one of their prized pitching prospects to get him. Seeing as Zambrano has been their only consistently good starting pitcher the past two or three years that seems like a bad move to me.

coachJ

10-17-2006, 05:55 PM

If you are the Yankees do you trade A-Rod? I think i would, just for the return he could bring. They already have a good enough lineup to where trading him wouldnt be that damaging, not to mention his errors at 3B could be done by someone not being paid $20 mil a year. Not to mention the pitching prospects they better ask for in return. Everyone knows the Yankees need to get younger and better pitching.

doublee

10-17-2006, 06:14 PM

I move him if I can get two or three quality arms in return for him. I think I'd probably do it if I got Zambrano and one of the Cubs highly regarded pitching prospects in return. Mussina and Johnson both are both on the downside of their careers and I would not hold my breath on Johnson giving me 200 innings again next year. Of the Yankees starting pitchers only Mussina had more quality starts (23) than Zambrano (22) did. As good as Wang supposedly is only 18 of his 34 starts qualified as quality starts and a quality start is not overly difficult to achieve. The Yanks need guys who can be counted on to consistently give them six or seven quality innings more than just every other start like Wang and Johnson were giving them there for most of the season.

The Yanks also need starters who are not going to start breaking down in September the way Moose and Johnson did this year.

boston_aloha

10-19-2006, 05:52 AM

I taped game six.... its almost midnight here... 9th inning, mets up 4-0

EDIT: great game... close 9th inning there...

catman

10-19-2006, 12:43 PM

coachJ

10-19-2006, 03:23 PM

Of course not...but they seem to have bought into the fact that Prior and Wood will still be great and carry their rotation since they keep depending on them year after year to come back from the DL and be great only to be let down again, so they could be stupid enough to do this.

If im the Cubs, id offer one or two of my best pitching prospects and maybe a position player, but theres no way id let them take all my pitching away.

Tarkus

10-28-2006, 04:39 PM

Another shame....Joe Niekro dies...:(

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6112844

catman

10-28-2006, 10:39 PM

I read that. I, as a Twins' fan, will never forget Joe throwing the emory board behind the mound during a game.
Rest in peace, Joe.

Anthony

10-29-2006, 09:21 AM

First no team in either league attains so much as a .600 winning percentage during the regular season, then an 83-78 (.516) "small-market" team (population 348,189 as of 2000) gets to call itself "World Champions."

My, my - how the chronic complainers about "competitive balance" and "market size" have taken a frightful beating this year.