Enough Football Talk - Pitchers & Catchers anyone?

[Hank Scorpio]

opening day is less than 2 months away. giddy up

[Cambridge]

So when exactly does our cease-fire expire? I just don't want to get caught on the wrong side of the lines when the detente collapses. ;D

[Hank Scorpio]

real bile only comes out in october. we both know the yanks will win the division, the Sox the wild card. we both know we'll be squaring off in the ALCS. we both know it'll go to a game 7 in all likelihood, with Curt and RJ facing off. all that is uncertain is the outcome at this point.

i will be sure to remind you of mike mussina's dominance of the sox from time to time, however

CambridgeHoya said:

So when exactly does our cease-fire expire? I just don't want to get caught on the wrong side of the lines when the detente collapses. ;D

[Cambridge]

I feel like this is like that christmas story that takes place during WWI. The two lines, one british and one german could hear the christmas celebrations on the other side of no man's land. They started singing carols to each other. Eventually they managed to patch together a plan to have a joint christmas meal in the middle of no man's land. They did so and there was much cheer and festive spirit despite the dismal setting.

Of course, the next day they probably butchered each other again, but it's a touching story.

[TBird41]

Borat said:

real bile only comes out in october. we both know the yanks will win the division, the Sox the wild card. we both know we'll be squaring off in the ALCS. we both know it'll go to a game 7 in all likelihood, with Curt and RJ facing off. all that is uncertain is the outcome at this point.

i will be sure to remind you of mike mussina's dominance of the sox from time to time, however

I wouldn't count your chickens before they hatch... the best pitching duo in the AL is still Johan/Radke. Especially considering that RJ is "old". (I put it in quotes, b/c while I hope he really does start to show his age, I wouldn't put money on it)
When you add Mauer, Morneau and the new found leadership skills of Hunter, I think you have a legitimate threat to the soon to be stale Red Sox/Yankees ALC$.

[Hank Scorpio]

well, considering that Johan/Radke was the best duo last year, as well, and the Yankees beat them in four games, coupled with the fact that we added RJ and Pavano, i like our chances.

Assuming Sox win the wild card, I think Angels will be the Yanks likely first round opponent, finishing with a worse record than Minny despite the awesome bartolo colon/paul byrd tandem. The Angels scare me a great deal as well as they seem to have our number, but I'll leave it to the Sox to take care of the Twins and ensure another ALCS showdown instead of a repeat of 2002.

TBird41 said:

I wouldn't count your chickens before they hatch... the best pitching duo in the AL is still Johan/Radke. Especially considering that RJ is "old". (I put it in quotes, b/c while I hope he really does start to show his age, I wouldn't put money on it)
When you add Mauer, Morneau and the new found leadership skills of Hunter, I think you have a legitimate threat to the soon to be stale Red Sox/Yankees ALC$.

[hoyahoyasaxa]

Forget the Yankee$ and the Red $ox.

Let's go Nats!

[TBird41]

One other thing I'd be worried about if I was a Yankees fan-Mariano Rivera. He's been declining (however gradually) since the 2001 World Series. He blew something around half his saves in last years playoffs, if I recall correctly (1 against the Twins, 2 against the Sox out of 6 possible). It's no longer a 7 or 8 inning game against the Yankees anymore like it used to be.

[Cambridge]

To be fair to Mo, I think he just has trouble against Billy Meuller. Strange, but true. He dominates everyone else.

[Hank Scorpio]

Mo's still the best 1 inning closer in the business... he blows people away for the most part in his first inning of work. Problem is, Torre doesn't trust anyone else in big spots, so he makes Mo get the 5 or 6 out save when he wants to slam the door. Rivera loses about 3 or 4 mph on his fastball between innings, and he ends up being touchable in that 2nd inning of work.

Hopefully with the better starters and deeper bullpen this year, his workload will be lessened during the regular season, and he'll be fresh for the postseason. He's definitely not the same Rivera of 96-99... but he's 10 years older, that's to be expected. If I need 3 outs, there's no one in the game I feel more comfortable with if the game is on the line.

- borat

ps - only 1 of those 2 blown saves vs the sox was his fault...game 4, leadoff walk, steal, single, tie game. game 5 he inherited a 1st and 3rd none out situation. he gets credited with a blown save but that's BS.

pss - mo has trouble with the sox in general. they have seen his cutter so much i think they have a pretty good read on it, and in that 2nd inning, where he loses some gas on the fastball, they pounce.

CambridgeHoya said:

To be fair to Mo, I think he just has trouble against Billy Meuller. Strange, but true. He dominates everyone else.

[Cambridge]

I agree...he is the scarriest player on the team. When he comes out, your heart sinks. That alone is a serious pyschological advantage. Against most teams he could ride his aura alone for 10 more years...

[Hank Scorpio]

Aside from the Sox, he still makes all the other teams look foolish, partly b/c of the aura. The Sox aren't scared of him anymore, which is why they have good at bats against him come that 2nd inning of work. And even then, the only time i have seen the Sox rock him was that A-Rod/Tek brawl game this year. They hit him hard that day...most of the time he gets beat by walking guys/hitting leadoff hitter, having them get moved over, and then a broken bat single or dribbler through the hole.

Ten years later, he's still amazing to watch - you know what he's throwing, all you can do is stand in the box and hope he doesn't leave you holding your bat handle as you try to beat out a dribbler. Count me among the Yankee fans that know we'll never see another like him again.

CambridgeHoya said:

I agree...he is the scarriest player on the team. When he comes out, your heart sinks. That alone is a serious pyschological advantage. Against most teams he could ride his aura alone for 10 more years...

[Joe Hoya]

I think you're all severely discounting the addition of Sammy Sosa to the middle of the Orioles' lineup.

And then the Phillies, they got Kenny Lofton and Jon Lieber!!

Now you know why I care so friggin' much about the Eagles...

[Hank Scorpio]

Lieber is a good pickup Joe Hoya, just you watch. at the very least he's an upgrade over eric milton. and lofton could be ok with regular playing time, he's old, but he's servicable.

nothing good to say about Sosa, though. yuck.

Joe said:

I think you're all severely discounting the addition of Sammy Sosa to the middle of the Orioles' lineup.

And then the Phillies, they got Kenny Lofton and Jon Lieber!!

Now you know why I care so friggin' much about the Eagles...

[SFHoya99]

Lieber is a real good pickup. Sosa is only good because the Cubs are paying most of his salary.