MLB Chatter 2008

[Neroon]

Oh definitely the Sox have been here before. Thing is I'm convinced that the Rays are a much better team than the Indians were last year. The Rays are mentally one of the best teams I've seen in awhile. They had their dips in performance this season, like going into the All-Star break for example. And yet every time that happened, eveyr time the Sox made a run at them, the Rays responded. Even now, the Sox split the first two games and so had a nice advantage. Yet the Rays have recoiled and won two games at Fenway. It's as if they're taking a lesson from the Sox post season last year.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Still, the Sox have been here (and worse) before and managed to go all the way, so who knows?

Ah, but they don't have Manny or Mike Lowell this time do they?

 

[Tom Servo]

Exactly, stranger things have happened...

I mean loosing to the Rays isn't an upset of any sort...and with the injuries they have had, Lowell, Beckett (I don't give a shit about what he says, the man is injured. The way his pitches have finished off, low velocity, etc.), and I am also still convinced that the earlier injury to David Ortiz's wrist is still effecting his swing, and loosing his bat is huge, especially in a Mannyless lineup.

I do like seeing the Dodgers going down too as well, not because of any hate for the Dodgers, but now no one is Boston can say that Manny would have saved the Sox, which Im sure some will.

 

[Tim]

Still, the Sox have been here (and worse) before and managed to go all the way, so who knows?

Ah, but they don't have Manny or Mike Lowell this time do they?

Having Lowell out is a big blow, as are the lingering issues with Ortiz and Beckett. As for Manny, Bay has stepped in to be an excellent replacement, so I have no regrets there.

I agree with Servo that I'd prefer to see the Phils in it over the Dodgers, if only to shut up all the Manny sympathizers/complainers.

 

[Tom Servo]

Well while I am pissed about the way things are going, seeing as how Game 4 is official now, it isn't over and things can happen. And if it doesn't...shit, but hey, they had a good run, and it looks like their success isn't something that's going to end soon. The makeup of next years team might be very different, with Varitek possibly gone, and other changes coming.

 

[Neroon]

Is there any idea what's wrong with Big Papi? Haven't heard much of anything from him the entire post-season.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

I'm torn with who I would see in a World Series from the American League if the Phillies made it. On one hand, it's nice seeing a team who's never made it before, rather than a team that's won twice recently. On the other hand, the Rays are playing scary good right now and, if Boston made it, I could trash talk with all my BoSox friends (and relatives, since my entire family has Bostonian connections). Plus, there's so much sports history with these two cities.

 

[Tim]

The makeup of next years team might be very different, with Varitek possibly gone, and other changes coming.

I hadn't heard about that, though given how he's been hitting, that's a chance for improvement. What else is up? My main issue would be getting Lowell, Papi, and Beckett healthy. I doubt Schilling would be able to make a good come-back.

Is there any idea what's wrong with Big Papi? Haven't heard much of anything from him the entire post-season.

He had a tendon sheath tear back during the regular season. Apparently it still clicks on occasion when he swings, affecting his mechanics. His hits just aren't traveling as far. I'm sure he'll work on that during the post-season.

 

[Tom Servo]

Is there any idea what's wrong with Big Papi? Haven't heard much of anything from him the entire post-season.

Well he had the sheath tear of his wrist earlier this year. What they keep saying during the games, is that while his wrist is healthy, it is still clicking, and it concerns him. He is starting his swing earlier then he used to because he is worried about doing more wrist damage on a check swing, therefore he is fouling off a bunch of pitches, and not putting a drive on the ball like he used to. I think he just needs an offseason of healing to make things right.

 

[Tim]

^ Great minds think alike, man. Papi's issue right now is re-establishing confidence in his wrist. He's a dedicated guy and should be able to solve it in the off-season.

 

[bigdaddy]

Rays Philles 2008! The most boring World Series ever!~

Rays in 4.

 

[Scout101]

eh, having a hard time getting upset about the Red Sox. A lot of people either injured or ineffective here at the end of the season, and they still made it to the ALCS. Also, not like it's 2003 or anything, they've won twice recently, and last year, even, so no huge urgency. Suppose there's also the bit that they've been down big in the ALCS before and it worked out ok. Hell, they were down 3-1 last year, and won it all.

On top of that, Tampa is just a really good team playing their best ball right now. If not us, Tampa would make a good story this year. And without the Sox, the good Dodgers storylines go away, so I'd rather see the Phillies. And out of spite to Philly, it would be entertaining to watch that town self-destruct as they get that close and lose again

 

[mimic]

Rays in 4.

All the experts will agree with that, since Philly's been the underdog (why, I'm not sure) thus far in the playoffs.

I'm pretty sure there's no way I could stomach a Red Sox-Dodgers WS without the TV on mute. The Mannimania is pretty bad already. I really don't understand why most of the country wants to see that dialed up to 10.

 

[Neroon]

It's pretty simple, really. They are each huge television markets. Each has a long history in MLB. Each has a large measure of post-season success with a couple of the largest fanbases in sports.

 

[SmoothieX]

The Rays are 1 game away from keeping their improbable run going. It's hard to count Boston out given their comeback history in recent years, but I'll be pulling for TB tomorrow.

 

[Deadpool]

Lets go Dodgers and if you hit Rollings by accident thats cool too.

Oh yeah, and you call the Phils dirty.

All their anger seems to be directed at Shane Victorino, not J-Roll (probably because getting hit might be one of the few times Jimmy gets on).

Their anger should be directed at the pitchers who hit them, but if they feel the need to hit anybody why not the teams captain or maybe they should knock a pitcher on his ass.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Rays Philles 2008! The most boring World Series ever!~

Why exactly would the Phillies in the world series be boring? They have several extremely notable players and are great at comebacks, so every game would be interesting. They're in a major TV market, so the networks really shouldn't fear a ratings drop. Sure, there won't be the Manny storyline, but fuck Manny, there's other things to talk about.

 

[Neroon]

Their anger should be directed at the pitchers who hit them, but if they feel the need to hit anybody why not the teams captain or maybe they should knock a pitcher on his ass.

Not that it's right, but this is the way it's pretty much always been done. Two things have changed. One is the designated hitter rule. In the NL, if a pitcher plunks a guy, he usually has to face the opposing pitcher in the batter's box. In the AL, he doesn't have to. The second thing that's changed is the increasing attitude that the batter owns the inside part of the plate, leading to those rants and glares if a pitcher dares come in tight.

 

[bigdaddy]

Rays Philles 2008! The most boring World Series ever!~

Why exactly would the Phillies in the world series be boring? They have several extremely notable players and are great at comebacks, so every game would be interesting. They're in a major TV market, so the networks really shouldn't fear a ratings drop. Sure, there won't be the Manny storyline, but fuck Manny, there's other things to talk about.

The Philles would get their asses wiped to them by the Rays.
No one outside of Phill gives a fuck about the Phillies, Red Sox nation is huge.
The two teams have no history.
The Rays would wipe the ass of the Phillies, and the Phillies would be sitting there taking it and going "Can we have some more please?"

If it is the Phillies and the Rays then the dropoff will be at least 15% from last year, probably closer to 20%.

 

[Tom Servo]

Rays Philles 2008! The most boring World Series ever!~

Why exactly would the Phillies in the world series be boring? They have several extremely notable players and are great at comebacks, so every game would be interesting. They're in a major TV market, so the networks really shouldn't fear a ratings drop. Sure, there won't be the Manny storyline, but fuck Manny, there's other things to talk about.

The Philles would get their asses wiped to them by the Rays.
No one outside of Phill gives a fuck about the Phillies, Red Sox nation is huge.
The two teams have no history.
The Rays would wipe the ass of the Phillies, and the Phillies would be sitting there taking it and going "Can we have some more please?"

If it is the Phillies and the Rays then the dropoff will be at least 15% from last year, probably closer to 20%.

While I do think that the Rays would beat the Phils in the series if they both make it, I do think that the Phils would give them a run. The Phillies are a better team then I think most people realize.