The 2005 Baseball Thread

[IndianPimp99]

The thing about all of this is that steroids and working out have just recently become a part of MLB. The guys from the '80s and earlier didn't work out nearly as much as the current crop of players do.

As to the pitchers, I think RJ is an exception more than the norm. Arm speed is important but I've been told it's more in your shoulders. That's the anchor point for all the movement and a stronger shoulder would allow for an increase in speed and stability during the motion. Now, not all pitchers use the same motion and technique so it wouldn't benefit all pitcher. Mark Prior has monsterous calves and has had them since college, he pushed more with his legs to get surprise speed. Side arm pitchers obviously are more elbow focused. But the 3/4 and over-the-top pitchers and some of the whip-pitchers (Foulke and Colon) might benefit.

Now obviously I'm not naming anyone and I would doubt these guys are anywhere close to steroids, but the "fringe" guys who could use it to go from throwin 88 mph to 91 might. The guys that could benefit from turning 40-50 warning track flyouts into 10-20 more HR might.

[Steffan]

What's going on with the yankees? They lost to the O's again today and they drop to 4-8. :laugh:

[Veedems Veteran]

What's going on with the yankees? They lost to the O's again today and they drop to 4-8. :laugh:

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Pitching is failing consistently and hitting has only shown intermittent signs of life. Big Stein has already started complaining and I don't think you can blame him. They have a $200,000,000 team and can't even get to .500.

[bigbluepride35]

AL East standings (as of 4/17):

Baltimore 8-4

Toronto 8-5

Boston 7-5

Tampa Bay 4-8

NY Yankees 4-8

Anyone who says they expected that after the first two weeks of the season is either lying or one hell of a psychic. On a recent episode of Jime Rome's show Rome is Burning he took a shot at A-Rod saying "I guess working out while everyone else in baseball was sleeping late or taking their kids to school didn't pay off." Guy has to start hitting and earning that paycheck. Posada also has to start producing like he has in the past (of course he's not a young guy anymore and he's a catcher so that's extra wear-and-tear). Wasn't aware that over the past five years he has led catchers in RBIs. As a team they're batting .208 with RISP.

Yeah, pitching is their biggest issue. Johnson hasn't been throwing as hard as he can (don't know if it's age or jsut has to get warmed up). Kevin Brown continues to be one of the stupidest pick-ups EVER. Their starters have two (that's right TWO!!!) wins so far. Maybe the Boss lighting a fire under their asses is what they need.

Have to remember though, there's still 150 games left in the season so let's not get too apocalyptic yet.

Edited April 18, 2005 by bigbluepride35

[CatnipOligarchy]

atlanta's offense is worrying me. Our starting pitching has been brilliant, but the run support just isnt there. Also, i wasnt happy about Danny Kolb as the closer when we got him, and he hasnt impressed me so far, 2 blown saves (both resulted in losses) 2 weeks into the season. Chris Reitsma or Jorge Sosa, who we got in exchange for Nick Green, are a couple i could see filling the role. Sosa has hit 98 on the radar gun, and has a strong mound presence from what i've seen.

[IndianPimp99]

I with you there Catnip. If only for the fact that I've got Hampton on one of my fantasy teams and for as well as he's pitched he's got only 1 win. Ahh, such is the world of Fantasy Sports.

The interesting thing I noticed is that for all the crap the Cubs took for not signing or trading for guys, the non-moves have paid off fairly well thus far. I know it's a long season and we'll see how things play out but so far the Cubs couldn't get Kolb, Magglio Ordonez, Drew, Benitez, Percival, and Beltran.

Of those, Beltran was the only one I really wanted but not at the price and length the Mets paid so that's fine. He's also the only one I can pretty much know for a fact will have a fine season. The others all have questions about them. Can Kolb pitch for a contender? (Though I don't doubt Mazzone will fix him). Will Magglio ever get healthy long enough and can Drew, and Percival stay healthy? Was Benitez overworked last year and how will he revert back to any of his Mets tendancies?

[Turn It Down]

How bout the Dodgers?! 12-2 with an 8 game winning streak. A nice start, I hope they can keep it up :D

[BroChaos Veteran]

can't believe the dodgers are doing so well.

pretty happy with the cubs so far. prior and zambrano are just on fire. as long as maddux and wood can be someone dependable, we should be ok...

[bigbluepride35]

Just heard announced on ESPN in the pre-game for the Cubs-Cards, Nomar had a groin rupture according to the MRI. Torn right off the bone according to Dusty Baker. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!!! Whoever picked Nomar as NL MVP, can you say OOOOPS? Poor Cubbies. Article's up on ESPN now, too (Nomar on DL). Anyone else think something like a groin RUPTURE sounds like it will be more than a 15-day DL stay?

And as far as the pitching rotation goes. . I'm starting to agree with the argument that Kerry Wood might be a TOUCH overrated. The guy has never won more than 14 games in a season and this year he's been pretty awful. I hope he figures his stuff (was gonna say a four-letter word but thought better of it :p ) out because I actually feel bad for the Cubs and their fans at this point.

Edited April 21, 2005 by bigbluepride35

[Veedems Veteran]

son of a.....he was one of my key pickups in my non-Neowin fantasy league. Nomar ughhhh I despise thee.

[bigbluepride35]

Just some things I think are worthy of observation. I'm bored and I got to see parts of four games today so here goes:

Pedro is the man. Since the first inning against Cincy in the opening game the guy's given up 4 runs and 8 hits. On the season hits stats so far: 2-0, 29 IP, 11 H, 7 R, 1 HR, 4 BB, 38 K, 11.79 K/9, .52 WHIP (Walks+hits per IP), 2.17 ERA. Just hope he keeps it up all season. And the Mets offense seems to have bi-polar disorder. I wonder each day which lineup is going to show up.

The Yankees were IDIOTS for letting Lieber go so easily. I'm pretty sure I heard that going back to the regular season last year he's won SEVEN consecutive starts. His stats so far this year? 4-0, 29.2 IP, 30 H, 11 R, 5 HR, 2 BB, 9 K, 1.08 WHIP, 2.73 ERA. Compare that to Pavano OR Wright. Wright has been awful, Pavano's been OK. Pavano's salary- $9 million, Wright- $5,666,667, Lieber- $5,583,333. Um yeah I'll take the guy with the smallest salaray considering the numbers.

The Red Sox KNEW what they were doing in trading Nomar. Not only was the guy becoming more and more disgruntled but he also has SERIOUS durability issues, as evidenced yet again today. When was the last time he had a full healthy season?

Dusty Baker is a terrible manager. Goind back to the Bartman incident, that bleeding could have been stopped if the good ol' skipper came out a bit sooner. Today, he puts in Mike Remlinger in to face Larry Walker. I forget the exact number but Walker OWNS Remlinger. And Remlinger has SUCKED against lefties this year. They're hitting over .300 against him. Then 2 outs, Pujols on 2nd and Fox pitching with Rolen at the plate. Now I know Rolen's been slumping but you KNOW he can easily turn a mistake into a homerun. First base is open and Mark Grudzielanek is on deck. Unlike Rolen he ISN'T known for the pop in his bat. Why would you go after Rolen??? I just don't get it.

Anyway, those are my observations for the day. Got to watch a decent amount of baseball so that's always good.

[Veedems Veteran]

I still have no idea what the hell the yanks were thinking in getting rid of lieber AND cairo. Lieber is still killing and Cairo was slower than Womack but at least he knew how to hit the ball.

[Hurmoth]

...Cairo was slower than Womack but at least he knew how to hit the ball.

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Cairo made some awesome plays last year too!

[Veedems Veteran]

Cairo made some awesome plays last year too!

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Yes, he did. All year long, EVERYONE kept repeating the same line "He really knows how to play this game" and that "He has a mind for the game". End of the year, Yankees decide they don't want to play the game with him. Gah! Gah!

[bigbluepride35]

I think if they don't win it this year Cashman better watch his back. Of course, there's a chance those were all Stein's calls so ya never know.

[IndianPimp99]

Man, the Nomar thing hurts. It just plain hurts. Seriously though, what the hell did he do to deserve any of this? People get on him for whining about the Red Sox trying to trade for ARod when in all actuality he was right. Do you really think ARod would have offered to move to 3rd to play for the Red Sox? don't you think Jim Thome would be ****ed if the Phillies were trying to get Pujols and Pujols actually said he'd be willing to give up money to go play in Philly? You can change the names around any way you want but the worst part of all of that is ARod publicly stating he wanted out of Texas and wanted Boston (and eventually NY). He was gunning for a job already spoken for and if that were me, I would be ****ed.

As to the injuries and the Red Sox trading him, the Red Sox were getting rid of someone who at that point was becoming something of a cancer (think Sosa). Nobody can predict injuries. Let's see, Nomar's been hit by a pitch, and had the earlier achillies and groin injuries. The achillies probably lead to the groin last year but this groin injury was just a slip of the feet. Could've happened to anyone.

So, I'm saying it now...whoever has that voodoo doll, please just freakin' throw it away.

As to the Wood stuff mentioned earlier, I wouldn't say he's overrated but more over hyped. That 20K game was the worst thing to happen to him. As to him not winning more than 14 games, that stat is really a team stat. I can't remember the exact number but 2 years ago when he did win the 14, he had a stat where he left 8 or 9 games with the lead and in line for a win but the bullpen eventually blew them. Sure the team ended up winning 5 of those but some other pitcher was in line for the win at that time. That means he could've possibly had 22 or 23 wins on the year and 18 if the bullpen helped him out on only half of those. People would sure think of him differently then. Here's what I think about him. He's a really good pitcher, he's not great in the Clemens mold but he's closer to him than he is to Jack McDowell or Steve Stone. He hold opposing hitters to a .213 average and can pretty much pull a strikeout out of his arse whenever he wants. He just has to learn that he doesn't need to everytime. That and he needs a little luck with run support and bullpen help.

Now Dusty, all I'll say is this...he's probably an excellent clubhouse manager. He get's more out of scrubs than anyone around but his onfield managing leaves much to be desired. The Bartman game, should've taken Prior out right after that play. Sure it wasn't his fault but you just know it was in his head and the teams. Taking him out gives the mound to someone fresh and gives the team a chance to just relax and refocus (Gonzalez). Is it any wonder that Dusty has had crazy things happen in game 6s (NLCS and Giants WS) and that lead to a dissapointing game 7 as well. He over analyzes those games after the emotional let down of the game before.

Probably a long post but then again I haven't been on in a couple days.

[BroChaos Veteran]

yeah, our starting pitchers would all have had like 5+ more wins the past couple years if it wasn't for our aboslutely horrid bullpen. i don't know how many times wood/prior/zambraon/clement/maddux would pitch a gem, take a 2-0 or 3-0 lead into the the 7th or 8th, and then have the BP just blow it. so frustrating...

[IndianPimp99]

Forget last season, just this season is insane. Home opener Wood pitches a little wild but still effective only giving up 2 runs in 5. The Cubs are up 3-2 in the 9th and LaTroy blows the lead and eventually the game is lost. People blamed Woody as much as LaTroy. Dempster gives up just 1 run all day yesterday and while the offense doesn't score anything to prevent him from getting the loss, the bullpen comes in and gives up 3 to put the game out of reach for the 9th. Same old, same old. Not sure what to do now with me "Believe" bracelet because I for the first time in my life I am starting to not have faith.

[Hurmoth]

I still have no idea what the hell the yanks were thinking in getting rid of lieber AND cairo. Lieber is still killing and Cairo was slower than Womack but at least he knew how to hit the ball.

585812947[/snapback]

The Yankees should have kept Lieber and gotten rid of Brown... he hasn't had a good game since being with the Yankees has he?

[BroChaos Veteran]

Forget last season, just this season is insane. Home opener Wood pitches a little wild but still effective only giving up 2 runs in 5. The Cubs are up 3-2 in the 9th and LaTroy blows the lead and eventually the game is lost. People blamed Woody as much as LaTroy. Dempster gives up just 1 run all day yesterday and while the offense doesn't score anything to prevent him from getting the loss, the bullpen comes in and gives up 3 to put the game out of reach for the 9th. Same old, same old. Not sure what to do now with me "Believe" bracelet because I for the first time in my life I am starting to not have faith.

585813785[/snapback]

keep the faith man. you have to. once in 2001 i almost lost the faith. i just got so frustrated, and couldn't deal with them losing anymore. but i'm glad i didn't take that final step. hang in there man. our day will come :)

[Veedems Veteran]

The Yankees should have kept Lieber and gotten rid of Brown... he hasn't had a good game since being with the Yankees has he?

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Brown just loves the sound of bats cracking a ball.

[bigbluepride35]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2045153

Nooooo. Dykstra was my favorite Met as a little kid. For 2 or 3 years or so my dad consistently got sweet tickets for Sunday home games and I used to wear my Dykstra jersey every time. The gambling was bad enough and now the steroids to boot? :( :sigh:

[Veedems Veteran]

whoa anyone watching this yankee game? as of now, arod is 4 - 4 with 3hr's and 10 rbi's

[Veedems Veteran]

I just got tix to tonights yankee game, sweet. Gotta love keeping contact with ex coworkers lol

[christracy]

anyone catch curt schilling with an everquest II cap on during the interview about his current trip to the DL? :laugh: