Baseball 2009 - September & end of season Edition and Pennant Races(?)

[What Exit?]

Well the Yanks are doing well. They are 8½ up and are healthy with a bullpen that is doing great. Even Mo being out for the weekend is not slowing them down.

Detroit seems to be pulling away in the Central and the Twinkies are playing like what they are a bad team with a few excellent players. The White Sox are suffering from poor management on the field and in the office.

Angels are going to be hard to catch 4 games up on Texas. Texas is two behind Boston for the wildcard.

Boston ironies, both exiled started are pitching great in the NL.

Cards & Phillies are locks and the Dodgers are 4½ up. The Wild card appears to be down to the Rockies and Giants.

[fachverwirrt]

This thread is so lonely...

Both teams I root for are currently in the playoff picture (Red Sox and Cardinals). Cardinals could pretty much bench the whole team, call up Memphis and cruise into the postseason. , They're 11.5 up on the Cubs, who are losing at this moment (Cards are tied). Sox still have work to do. They probably won't catch the Yanks (:Shake and have to be real careful not to lose the wild card. Right now the Sox are leading 3-0 and the Rangers are losing 6-0, so hopefully they'll end up three games up.

It's kind of fun watching the Sox give players to the Cards who then proceed to thrive. Smoltz especially was terrible in Boston, but is doing pretty well in St. Louis.

Yankees suck.

[What Exit?]

Yanks lost 14 to 8 today as Mitre looked terrible and Melancon looked bad also. Towers did a good job in relief.

Texas did lose 7-0 to Baltimore and the Red Sox are still up 3-0 in the 8th.

[fachverwirrt]

6-1 Red Sox, bottom of the ninth.

[dread pirate jimbo]

Ichiro became the second fastest in history to reach 2000 hits last night and is now just six away from becoming the first player ever to get 200 hits in nine consecutive seasons. Shall we start discussing whether he's better than Ty Cobb?

[What Exit?]

Good day for Yanks. Beat Tampa twice and Red Sox and Angels lost.

[silenus]

From this point on, I will try to refrain from commenting on the Dodgers until after they win the Series, for fear of jinxing them.




Shit.

[What Exit?]

From this point on, I will try to refrain from commenting on the Dodgers until after they win the Series, for fear of jinxing them.




Shit.

Well it is great to see you back here. The baseball threads were pretty quiet sadly.

Can you at least give a review of Torre's managing now that you have had him for nearly two seasons?

[silenus]

I love Joe. I want him to be a part of the Dodgers for years to come. He doesn't burn out pitchers like some we've had (I'm looking at you, Tommy!) and he seems to be able to handle the prima donnas well. All those years with Steinbrenner, I guess. He's studied, efficient and gets along well with management. What more could we ask for?

[What Exit?]

Cal Ripken's '8' stolen from outside Md. ballpark
9/9/2009 2:39:00 PM

BALTIMORE - As if things weren't bad enough for the Baltimore Orioles, who just clinched their 12th consecutive losing season: On Wednesday, a temporary fence and police tape surrounded the spot that had been occupied by a monument to one of the team ...

Some links to this:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090909/...monument_theft
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/...n5297586.shtml

[dread pirate jimbo]

Cal Ripken's '8' stolen from outside Md. ballpark
9/9/2009 2:39:00 PM

BALTIMORE - As if things weren't bad enough for the Baltimore Orioles, who just clinched their 12th consecutive losing season: On Wednesday, a temporary fence and police tape surrounded the spot that had been occupied by a monument to one of the team ...

Some links to this:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090909/...monument_theft
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/...n5297586.shtml

Some people are just severe assholes. Total douche move. I hope those kids get thrown in the slammer for a long, long time.

[What Exit?]

Today Jeter tied Lou Gehrig for most hits by a Yankee!

[dread pirate jimbo]

Ichiro is now just four hits away from 200. He should have it put to bed by Sunday at the latest.

While focussing on the wild card races, I didn't even notice my Padres vault themselves out of the NL West cellar and into 4th place. Nice! In fact, with their recent hot streak they're even a game ahead of the hapless Mets, who are having a dismal, injury plagued season. Sucks to be you, Mets fan! My boy Tony Gwynn Jr. is making the highlight reel on an almost nightly basis for his defensive work -- now he just needs to rediscover his swing and start pushing the batting average back up.

Joe Mauer is showing no signs of slowing down, with his batting average still up at .367. Stud.

[What Exit?]

I see the Rockies and Dodgers are trying to keep things interesting in the West. Rangers are right on the tail of the Red Sox for the Wild Card.

Yanks got Gardner back but may have lost David Robertson, a really excellent middle reliever with the second best K/9 ratio in the majors (40+ IP). He is off visiting Dr. Andrews. There is hope he’ll be back. The Yanks are now very likely to win home field advantage and with that they can choose the playoff format they want. They could choose the one that allows for only 3 starters and have Joba in the bullpen. That should be a plus replacement for Robertson if he is not available.

Jeter is on a pace for hits that actually exceeds Pete Roses. Though I doubt he will play as long. But he should be able to get pretty far up the hits list. I believe he is second in hits only to Ichiro since Ichiro joined the majors.

What’s the news around the leagues?

[fachverwirrt]

I'd certainly put Joba in the bullpen if I could. He hasn't been impressive as a starter. At least from what I've seen.

(Plus, he looks way too much like my wife's principal. That's just weird.)

[What Exit?]

And Jeter does it, he is the All-Time New York Yankees Hits Leader.

[What Exit?]

Yanks look like they are not playing with full intensity. Hopefully this does not bite them in October. Could just be a let down vs. the lowly Os.

Red Sox are winning and Texas is not winning enough, so it now is looking less likely that even the Wild Card races will change. Red Sox and Rockies are looking pretty solid.

The closest race left is for NL West with the Dodgers up by 3 but even if the Rockies overtake them, the Dodgers will get the Wildcard.

Baseball is winding down.

[Taumpy]

Your team is seven games up and is on pace to easily win well over a hundred games, and that's your reaction to them winning a game? Watch out, Jim, you're going to start sounding like a Sox fan.

[What Exit?]

Your team is seven games up and is on pace to easily win well over a hundred games, and that's your reaction to them winning a game? Watch out, Jim, you're going to start sounding like a Sox fan.

Well the Yanks won a good playoffs test type of game last night over the Angels. It was a close game, where the Yanks got 5 innings out of the bullpen. (Joba is still conserving innings and tuning up for the post season). The Yanks won on an aggressive Angel’s style small ball. Speedy outfielder Gardner pinch ran for Teix, moved to second on a single and took off for third, the ball was mishandled at third and Gardner scored the go ahead run. Mariano Rivera of course closed out the game despite some bad calls by the ump.

[silenus]

It feels very strange to be rooting for the Giants, but every game they take from the Rockies is of the good.

[silenus]

I'd also like to add that, despite not being gay, and totally lacking the necessary equipment, I still want to have Andre Ethier's babies. McCourt better triple his salary for next year.

[What Exit?]

I'd also like to add that, despite not being gay, and totally lacking the necessary equipment, I still want to have Andre Ethier's babies. McCourt better triple his salary for next year.

Do you want Manny back next year?

[silenus]

Sure, why not? He's already paid for, and maybe Andre can give him some hitting tips.

[dread pirate jimbo]

Kinda puts things in perspective. Hee Hee!

[What Exit?]

Kinda puts things in perspective. Hee Hee!

Oh, the horror, Yankees fans love their farm raised shortstop. Sorry about honoring our Captain.

[Wheresgeorge04]

The Giants are done after last night's loss to the Rockies. Even if they win the wild card, they're done. Four solid starters is a great thing to have on the pitching staff, but if you can't sacrifice fly or bunt for shit, and score either 9 runs in 3 consecutive games, or 3 runs over seven games, you're toast. Oh, well. I predicted 82-80 for them, and it's been an exciting year.

At least my Phillies are still looking nice.

Joe

[What Exit?]

Yanks are getting killed as Joba as no control today.

[fachverwirrt]

Sox have been on a good run and look good for the wild card. Magic number is 7 with 14 to play. Texas could win out and Boston would only need to play .500 ball to take the wild card. I'm not celebrating yet, but I'm not too worried, either. At this point the Sox are actually closer to the Yanks than the Rangers.

[dread pirate jimbo]

The last two weeks in the AL Central should be interesting, with the Tigers stumbling and the Twins coming on strong. Looking forward to an exciting race to the finish line!

[What Exit?]

The last two weeks in the AL Central should be interesting, with the Tigers stumbling and the Twins coming on strong. Looking forward to an exciting race to the finish line!

Yep, it also looks like the Twins rallying will secure the MVP vote without question. The AL Central is the biggest race left by far.

[What Exit?]

On the Awards:

I see a lot of talk about Greinke as a no brainer. Well, I have always felt Cy Young should go to the best pitcher, but I am one of those dunces that consider Wins important too. So silly of me where in the end, it is the most important stat even if you don't actually have control over it. It is his very lack of Wins and innings per game that make me question him as a sure fire Cy Young candidate. He is a very good candidate, but not sure fire.

As to MVP, I feel it is meant to go to a player that helped his team the most and all players on non-competing teams do not qualify unless there is no good candidate. As the Twins climbed back into the race and made September meaningful, I think Mauer should win easily. Earlier in the month when it looked like they might finish under .500 and not contending in September, I would not have given him a vote.


More importantly, the Yanks are playing poorly and the Sox are red hot, meaning that the AL East race I thought was done is not. Though like the Dodgers and Rockies, the Yanks and Red Sox are simply jockeying for position, not elimination.

[Taumpy]

I'm trying to get over going to bed last night with the Red Sox up five runs, and then finding out they lost 12-9 this morning. What the hell, guys? The really disappointing thing is losing the opportunity to be only 4 games back, with three still to play against the Yankees.

[silenus]

Nothing like playing the Nationals to give you a sense of confidence going into the end of September.

[What Exit?]

Yankees won with Gaudin starting and pitching 4and 2/3rds well and then not getting out of the 5th. Angels scratched out 5 runs to equal the 5 the Yanks got on homers. In the ninth, A-Rod knocked in the go ahead on a sacrifice fly. Rivera put the game away for another save.

Meanwhile the Rangers and Sox both lost and the Yanks clinched the Wild Card, first team to lock in a playoff berth. They also reduced the magic number for the Division to only 6. They have a 5½ game lead for home field.

Biggest Yankees problem is a 4th starter which they probably won’t need for the first round. Concerns are Andy Pettitte and AJ who both looked good in their last starts. AJ goes today in an afternoon game. It is a big test for him, especially against this Angel’s team at their house. CC & the bullpen look solid as does the line-up and the defense.

If the Yanks make it out of the first round, they might opt for game 4 as a mix and match game. Start Gaudin and only plan to use him for 3-4 innings. Roll Ace & Joba in as needed to get through 6+ and then go to Coke, Hughes and Mo to close it out.

Brian Bruney might not make the post season roster. He never recovered his Spring Training and early season form after returning from his injury. I’m not sure why, but Bruney looks like he might just be one of those injury prone players. Hugh talent but something always derails his seasons. It looks like Robertson will be back and ready to pitch and will probably make the first round. Others are auditioning.

The bench is mostly settled barring injury. The Yanks won’t carry three catchers so Cervelli will have to watch and mentally prepare to take over the backup catcher job next year. Pena might make it as a utility man. Gardner is a sure thing. His defense and speed guarantee his spot.



As to the MVP: Unlike the other awards it is not best player, but most valuable. This precludes non-contending teams in most cases. It has been that way from the beginning of the award. All other awards I can think of are strictly talent based in theory, though the Gold Glove is often based on who knows what. As the Twins are at least contending, I see no reason why Mauer should not be the MVP this year. However, Cabrera of the Tigers and Teix from the Yanks were both legit contenders when in early September it looked liked the Twins were heading under .500. Jeter was worthy of mention, but never had a shot.

[What Exit?]

Well I'll update the thread though it appears to be dead.

Yanks send Pettitte out today against Byrd. If the Yanks win, they secure division and home field throughout. It would also be win 100.

Detroit held off the Twins another day with a Cabrera led win and Texas stayed alive as Boston and Angels both loss.

Though they lost, Boston had to be somewhat happy with Dice K pitching well yesterday.

CC Sabathia looked great again.

[What Exit?]

I think this thread has become my private blog


Anyway, Yanks clinched everything yesterday. Now they get to sit back and prepare for the winner from the Central. Detroit and Minnesota face off in 4 straight. Twins are down 2 so just need to win this series to tie it up.

[SeeOhTwo]

I'd rather see Pettitte as the #2 starter, but otherwise the Yanks are as ready as they'll ever be. I like their chances...the best I've felt about the tteam since 2003.

[Taumpy]

Sox are currently losing 11-5 to the Jays. What the heck is going on? At least Lester has been cleared to pitch tomorrow.

[fachverwirrt]

The Sox have clinched a tie in the Wild Card through absolutely no doing of their own. Only the fact that Texas has also decided to play like crap recently has saved this from actually becoming a race.

[What Exit?]

Yanks won a meaningless game with mostly the B team. Gaudin actually pitched 6 2/3rds very well and Cano had a big Grand Slam to put the game out of reach. Also young infielder Ramiro Pena got his first major league homerun.

In a moment of lightness, A-Rod got all of the team to sit like nothing happened when Pena came back to the dugout. They then erupted around him. This is a very different Yankees team. I think they have a good chance of winning it all this year.


The line-up is scary with power and speed. The pitching looks solid too great. CC Sabathia is probably the second or third best pitcher in the AL this year and the best that is moving on to the post season. AJ Burnett looks like he corrected himself and Andy Pettitte has looked very good in the entire second half. Even Joba Chamberlain and Chad Gaudin have looked much better of late and they are unlikely to start in the first round. The pickup of Gaudin was a great little move by Cashman. One of the Yankees scouts apparently picked up on something he was doing wrong and the Yanks corrected it when he came over. The Yanks have him for two more years.

The bullpen is anchored by Mariano “Mo” Rivera of course and his primary setup man is Phillip Hughes who has been nearly perfect in relief. For lefties they have Phil Coke who has not given up a run in September and Damaso Marte who has had 4 perfect outings and will probably be the lefty specialist. They round it out with Alfredo Aceves who has proven a very valuable swing man. Joe Girardi has confidence in using him for 3 early or the 8th if needed. David Robertson is the #1 strike out to inning pitching in the AL and his ERA of 3.29 is inflated by some early season games. He is coming back off of injury though and so has a small question mark. Rounding out the bullpen is the Erratic and injury prone Brian Bruney who when he is on can shut down the Red Sox for 3-5 outs with ease but seems almost as likely to walk a batter or two and give up a few runs. He has actually had a few games this year of late where he was brought into a non-save 9th inning and gave up a hit and walk and Girardi went to Mo for the save. However, he is the 12th man on the staff if he makes the cut. The odds are Joba and Gaudin will both see action before Brian and the Yanks might opt to go with only 11 pitchers in the first round.

The bench is more up in the air. Posada and Molina are sure bets at Catcher. Teixiera at first, Robbie Cano at second, Derek Jeter at Short and A-Rod at 3rd. Damon, Melky Cabrera, Nick Swisher, Hideki Matsui and Brett Gardner* are the outfield and DH group. This leaves 3-4 spots.

Jerry Hairston and Ramiro Pena are competing for the utilityman role. Eric Hinske plays plenty of positions poorly but is a somewhat scary bat off the bench, Francisco Cervelli is an excellent young defensive catcher with enough speed to be a factor in pinch running for Posada or Molina if they started. Defensively he is already better than Posada. His bat is better than Molina’s. I would like to see the Yanks carry him as a third catcher. He is next year’s back-up as Molina will move on. Finally there is Freddy Guzman who is an outfielder with great speed, nearly as fast as Gardner. He would be brought as a pinch runner if he made the cut.

I would go with the 11 pitchers, but I think they will take 12. I would take Jerry Hairston, Ramiro Pena, Cervelli and Guzman for the maximum flexibility. The Yanks do not really need power off the bench. If I was only taking 3 of them, I would drop Guzman.

Manager: Joe Girardi is getting better, but he is not yet a great field manager. He handles the bullpen and staff superbly and the egos of the team. However as I like to remind people Joe Torre was no genius of a field manager either and could not handle a bullpen. So Joe should be no detriment to the Yankees advancing.


I would love if someone could do this for other playoff teams. I know we at least have Dodgers, Boston and Cardinal fans. We need Phillies, Rockies, Angels and Tigers or Twins.

[What Exit?]

It looks like I got tickets to game 2 of the first round in Yankee Stadium. The cost was not even that bad. Holyshit this is cool.

[Cluricaun]

We need Phillies, Rockies, Angels and Tigers or Twins.

Fun fact: There actually aren't any Rockies fans anywhere on the planet.

[What Exit?]

I'm looking over my predictions made on the Dope and the replies. I was by far the most accurate. Sadly I just strained my arm patting myself on the back.

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/...d.php?t=513029

[fachverwirrt]

Sox officially clinched the Wild Card, by once again losing to the Blue Jays. They are extremely fortunate that Texas has decided to play only slightly better than them in the last week or so.

Yay Red Sox. Woo.

[silenus]

Fucking Dodgers.

[What Exit?]

Sox officially clinched the Wild Card, by once again losing to the Blue Jays. They are extremely fortunate that Texas has decided to play only slightly better than them in the last week or so.

Yay Red Sox. Woo.

Fucking Dodgers.

Can you both please give team breakdowns? Think of it as advanced scouting. What are the strengths and weaknesses?

[fachverwirrt]

Can you both please give team breakdowns? Think of it as advanced scouting. What are the strengths and weaknesses?

I don't see enough of the team day-to-day to really give an in-depth analysis. The Sox main weaknesses (lately) seem to be pitching, hitting, defense, scoring runs and preventing the other team from scoring. Or, more generally, winning games. Their main strength seems to be that the rest of the league sucks more (other than the division leaders). Of course, that won't help them in the post season.

I'm feeling a bit cynical about them right now, in case you hadn't noticed.

Hopefully they can pull it together enough (especially the starting pitching) to at least be competitive in October.

[silenus]

1 game. 1 frakking game! Since MLB recrunched the numbers and dropped the magic number from 2 to 1, the Dodgers have lost every game. To the Pirates! And the Padres! The bats are dead and the pitching is excrable. They suuuuuuuuck!!!!! Probably out in 3 in the first round of the playoffs.

Fucking Dodgers.

[What Exit?]

We should finish up the season in this thread I think and then start anew for the Playoffs.

Here is a bonus. The 2011 Free-Agent list.

When I find a good 2010 list, I will post it.

Yanks lost and some pathetic Yankees Fans booed Joba when he left the mound. I am disappointed in my fellow fans. The kid has been screwed with overall with the weird inning restrictions and the constant year long media circus surrounding him and some of my fellow fans booed him despite the Yanks having everything to rejoice about this year.

[fachverwirrt]

The Red Sox won a game! With an actual, real-life good pitching performance! Hallelujah!

The Cards won too, which is good as they still need to catch at least Philly if not LA to get homefield in at least one playoff series.