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Post by StPetersburgHoya (Inactive) on Jul 12, 2005 22:57:05 GMT -5
Actually last year's hockey season looked more like this:
Opening Night - N/A Last Stanley Cup Game - N/A Days - 0
Hockey's season is ungodly long and the fact that the season lasts a staggering 67% of the year - not counting the hellish torture known as pre-season hockey. But at least my ESPN2 viewing schedule won't be interrupted by it ...
You know your league is in trouble when "the ocho" won't show your games.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2005 14:41:40 GMT -5
Yikes, I was just messing around fellas. Outside of the NFL, I think every sports' season is a bit too long. I'm all for lengthening playoffs and shortening regular seasons in every league (minus the King of the sporting world, the NFL of course... perfection defined).
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Bahstin
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Post by Bahstin on Jul 14, 2005 7:42:33 GMT -5
I agree about the length of the season for the most part. But baseball is not a lazy game and should have a lazy season. And that is not a shot at baseball. I love it for its relaxed feel.
Now, let's get this thread back on track. Sox Yanks tonight. HUGE 4 game series. Musina and Arroyo go tonight. Hopefully Arroyo plunks A-Rod on his huge Arm Shield again so we can see what a whiny $$(&$(# A-Rod is.
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Cambridge
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Post by Cambridge on Jul 14, 2005 8:04:59 GMT -5
Yanks are hungry...Sox are feuding. I'm nervous to say the least.
1) Who will find their stride again Bronson or Moose? Both have been pretty ineffective against Yanks/Sox respectively this year...which is out of character for both. Hopefully, both are recharged after the break and we get a classic showdown.
2) Fingers crossed concerning the Curt Schilling Experiment. I see that we really don't have a choice right now, but something just feels wrong about this.
3) Defense -- which team will make the least mistakes. Let's be honest, neither team is particularly strong defensively, but the Sox have a slight edge here -- a classic Manny moment or two withstanding. But, whichever team puts together the best total effort will come out on top.
4) The Ortiz Factor -- is there a more clutch hitter in baseball these days? I don't think so. The man hits them when it matters...and he hits them hard. He is the definition of Clutch. If he has another magical moment, it will be the dagger in the Yankee season. If he is uncharacteristically absent...Yanks win and gain momentum heading into the back stretch.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2005 8:06:10 GMT -5
Yes, the big series starting tonight. For some reason I get the feeling the Yanks will run roughshod over the Sox tonight. It just has that feeling for some reason... like the Yanks need to sweep 'em or something to regain first, hold it for most if not all of the rest of the season, then implode in the playoffs again. All the while Sox fans bitching and whining about how they've "collapsed" or "don't have the spark of the WS team of last year" or some crap like that.
If I'm a Sox fan, I'm a bit worried that the Yanks had gotten off to their worst start in decades and yet have a chance to take over first place in the division this early after said start. Of course, if I'm a Yanks fan I'm wondering which team is going to show up the rest of the way...
A few other big series this weekend: White Sox at Cleveland, Angels at Twins, Houston at STL, Texas at Oakland. The fact so many of these "big series" involve AL teams goes to show you that between the Sox and the Yanks one of them is likely going to be left out in the cold come October as the Wild Card team will likely come from somewhere else (unless both the Yanks AND the Sox get hot).
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Cambridge
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Post by Cambridge on Jul 14, 2005 8:59:15 GMT -5
One plus for the Sox heading into the second half is the number 38. That's how many home games the Sox have played thus far. That's 10 less than the Yanks and 9 less than the Os. If we project out the rest of the season based on the home/road records and the second half schedule...here is what the final standings look like. Team | | Record | | Home Games/W% | | Away Games/W% | | Proj. Rec. | White Sox | | 57-29 | | 45 / .667 | | 41 / .659 | | 107-55* | Angels | | 52-36 | | 45 / .578 | | 43 / .605 | | 96-66* | Red Sox | | 49-38 | | 38 / .632 | | 49 / .490 | | 92-70* | Twins | | 48-38 | | 44 / .591 | | 42 / .524 | | 90-72 | Orioles | | 47-40 | | 47 / .574 | | 40 / .500 | | 88-74 | Indians | | 47-41 | | 40 / .525 | | 48 / .542 | | 87-75 | Rangers | | 46-40 | | 45 / .600 | | 41 / .463 | | 87-75 | Yankees | | 46-40 | | 48 / .604 | | 38 / .447 | | 85-77 |
Look for the backloaded home schedule to create a bump for the Sox. The Yanks and Os have had 10 and 9 more home games respectively in the first half...that will be flip flopped in the second half. If all teams play at the same clip in the second half, both the Os and the Yanks will be watching the playoffs on TV.
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TBird41
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Post by TBird41 on Jul 14, 2005 9:35:15 GMT -5
Cambridge--the first thing I thought of when you said "the number 38" was Schilling. hmmmmmm.....
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Cambridge
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Post by Cambridge on Jul 14, 2005 9:41:26 GMT -5
Cambridge--the first thing I thought of when you said "the number 38" was Schilling. hmmmmmm..... See my opinion in point #2 above...let's just say I'm involved in a reverse, reverse, reverse jinx ceremony right now in preparation for Schilling's closing debut against the Yanks.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2005 9:52:18 GMT -5
More telling are WHO each team plays in the second half.
Sox Home Series': Yanks, TB, Minn, KC, TX, CWS, Det, TB, Bal, LAA, Oak, Tor, Yanks Sox Away Series': CWS, TB, Minn, Det, LAA, KC, Yanks, Tor, TB, Bal
Yanks Home Series': Minn, LAA, CWS, TX, Tor, KC, TB, Bos, Bal, Tor Yanks Away Series': Bos, TX, LAA, Cle, Tor, TB, CWS, Sea, Oak, TB, Tor, Bal, Bos
Counting the teams that have legit shots at the playoffs, the Sox play 12 series against tough opponents (7 home, 5 road), the Yanks 14 (6 home, 8 road). Like I said, the Wild Card team ain't coming from the AL East this year unless both of these teams play a LOT better in the second half.
Also, I'm not sure your applying first half numbers to the second half is going to do us much good, 'bridge. I think both of these teams are due to turn things around quite a bit as the Yanks have started doing recently.
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Cambridge
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Post by Cambridge on Jul 14, 2005 10:02:07 GMT -5
My analysis was based entirely on the disproportionate home-away schedules. Obviously there are many other factors you can looks at, but considering that the Red Sox and Yanks have traditionally enjoyed -- and are enjoying this year-- considerable home field advantage, the bounty or dirth -- depending on your affiliation -- of home games in the second half will surely play a factor in the AL East.
I agree that I think both teams will actually play much better in the second half...pitching should settle down for both and I'm willing to bet the Yanks start hitting like the Yanks.
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Cambridge
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Post by Cambridge on Jul 14, 2005 10:07:50 GMT -5
PS. Where the hell is Borat? Tell him to come out of the Yankee bunker and play.
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TBird41
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Post by TBird41 on Jul 14, 2005 10:11:34 GMT -5
The problem for the Yanks this year isn't their offense--they're 1st in the majors in runs. It's their pitching (and defense)--they're 24th in runs allowed.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2005 10:11:40 GMT -5
My analysis was based entirely on the disproportionate home-away schedules. Obviously there are many other factors you can looks at, but considering that the Red Sox and Yanks have traditionally enjoyed -- and are enjoying this year-- considerable home field advantage, the bounty or dirth -- depending on your affiliation -- of home games in the second half will surely play a factor in the AL East. I agree that I think both teams will actually play much better in the second half...pitching should settle down for both and I'm willing to bet the Yanks start hitting like the Yanks. That's just an unacceptable retort, 'bridge. You should know better when posting on this board to try and use statistics to prove anything.
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Cambridge
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Post by Cambridge on Jul 14, 2005 10:19:08 GMT -5
The problem for the Yanks this year isn't their offense--they're 1st in the majors in runs. It's their pitching (and defense)--they're 24th in runs allowed. Good lord, 24th! Oh, and my point was actually not about the number of runs, because the Yanks have always been good at that...but rather when those runs are scored. While in the last two weeks we've seen a couple of those 8th and 9th inning rallies...they've been silent a few too many times deep in the game and watched opponents squeek out wins. That's simply un-Yankee like. For example it is not Yankee-like to stomp you in a 15-3 win...that's Texas...rather, the Yankee way of yore is to hang around all game, give you hope, then rip your heart out in the 8th or 9th inning with a one or two run rally to steal a win. Waaaay more cruel and spirit crushing. That's what I meant by hitting like the Yankees...in the clutch.
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Hank Scorpio
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Post by Hank Scorpio on Jul 14, 2005 14:14:52 GMT -5
sorry for the delay my man, i was trying to post but i guess the board upgraded and i got some funky message about an activation key that came 3 days after i requested it. i would have sent a message out through my publicist a la steinbrenner, but figured i'd do it myself. anyway: the yankees are lucky to be 2.5 games out, they have played as poorly as possible given the talent they have amassed, and yet no one has buried them. whether that will haunt the Sox/O's is beyond me...we could sweep the Sox this weekend and then lose the next 7 against tex/anaheim. everytime i think we've turned a corner, we end up losing 5 of 8 to the royals and devil rays. it's infuriating. keys to the 2nd half as far as the Yanks are concerned: 1) RJ - will the real RJ please come forth? a vintage RJ is worth more to the Yankees than Schilling coming out of the pen for the Sox. especially with... 2) Moose finding his groove - thus far, sub 4 ERA, good WHIP, 9 wins...but he hasn't been great save for 2 CG shutouts. He usually has his good fastball for the 2nd half the season, which sets up his breaking stuff. If he is good to go, I like our 1-2-3 [everyone wishes they had a Wang like ours] if RJ/Moose/Wang pitch like they can, and Pavano/Brown/Wright pitch us to a 500 record in games they start, we can win 50+ games in the 2nd half. Will it be enough? No idea. This is the craziest season in memory. The big giant X factor for the Yankees wears #25... 3) Giambi - if he is for real, or even if he is a guy whose second half projects to a 270 average, 25 HRs and 90 RBIs over a full season, we're going to score a lot of runs, a category in which we already lead the league. We are averaging 8 runs a game in July with a monster in our 6 hole and Matsui finally hitting like he is in a contract year. And Torre finally got his head out of his bum and took Womack out of the lineup, eliminating the easiest out in the game. Not that Melky Cabrera is great, but anyone is better than Woe-mack. So those are my Yanks keys. i think we'll win 93 games on the year and be in a dogfight for the division title going into the last series of the year at...bum bum bum...Fenway. Onto the Sox keys... 1) Bullpen - it's a mess. An unmitigated disaster aside from Timlin. They need to trade for Guardado b.c i don't see this Schilling thing working out. which leads me to point #2 2) Schilling - he looked great in AAA his last 2 appearances. AAA and MLB are very different, and fatboy's adrenaline will be pumping. will he be 6th inning schilling when he comes in, or will he be wild 1st inning Schill? they should sit him til he can start, he's a cy young candidate when he gives you 7 innings every 5th day. 3) rotation - Clement's been great. Arroyo's been good. Wells has been great some nights, terrible others. Wade Miller has an ERA above 5 and will never go more than 6 innings. Wakefield will dominate the Yanks on Sunday, but against others, he's a mixed bag. Outstanding run support has masked their ineffectiveness, and the bullpen's to a certain extent. These aren't your 2004 Red Sox. And my Yanks certainly aren't the 98 version. They're teams with glaring holes that shouldnt have any given the amount of money invested in each...but hey, at least we're not the Mets. i do think both teams will make the playoffs, the wild card team holding off Oakland to clinch it. however, I don't think it is manifest destiny that we meet in October this year as I felt we would the past two. this time i am hoping for a rubber match instead of dreading its inevitablity [those things were grueling when the Yankees had everything to lose]. We'll be in touch Cambridge... PS. Where the hell is Borat? Tell him to come out of the Yankee bunker and play.
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Cambridge
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Post by Cambridge on Jul 14, 2005 15:12:10 GMT -5
I agree with your points
re: the yanks 1) I totally agree that a vintage RJ is worth more to the Yankees than Schilling in the pen for the Sox. Nothing scares me more than RJ going ape the second half. Burning through 17 wins or something ridiculous in the second half!
2) Moose has struggled lately but you are right that he is a second half pitcher. However, if we get to him early tonight...it might start him off on the wrong foot and send him into a death spiral. a boy can dream, no?
3) I simply can't believe Giambi is for real...but that just might be denial. I think we definitely could have collectively jinxed the demise of Giambino with all of our jeers. God, kharma can be such a bitch.
re: the Sox...
1) No joke. What the hell happened to our Bullpen? I mean is there anything less reliable these days?
2) Schilling may or may not work. If it does, it only proves that he sold his soul to the devil...
3) You are spot on about the rotation...Clement is the star...Arroyo has been great except against you guys...I'd give Wake more credit than you, but he has had a couple of attrocious starts. Wells is an enigma. Wade is guaranteed to give up two dongs a game -- just hope no one is on base.
However, I don't see us making a move for everyday Eddy. So far the party line is we ain't giving up any of the top pitching prospects for a closer. If anything, we're bringing up prospects, mortaging the good will of the fanbase and take the hit now with eyes to the future development of the club. BUT again, all bets are off if we loose 4 in a row to the Yanks this week. I wouldn't be surprised if the team did a freakin 180 so fast...if we look weak against the Yanks and natives get restless.
You really think Oakland's going to make a run? Strong enough to deal with the deadly play of the Twins and White Sox in the AL Central? I just can't see the wild card ending up outside the AL Central this year. But then again, I could see the bottom falling out from beneath the White Sox...
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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2005 15:59:53 GMT -5
Wang just hit the 15-day DL. So it looks like the matchups are going to be Mussina-Arroyo, ?-Wells, Sturtze-Clement, and ?-Miller. Johnson steps into one of those ?'s, but we'll see who takes the other now that there are four Yankee starters on the DL (Wang, Brown, Pavano, Wright). Anderson? Henn? Do they pull a trade off in the next couple of days for Chachon as has been rumored?
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Cambridge
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Post by Cambridge on Jul 14, 2005 16:09:19 GMT -5
Wang just hit the 15-day DL. So it looks like the matchups are going to be Mussina-Arroyo, ?-Wells, Sturtze-Clement, and ?-Miller. Johnson steps into one of those ?'s, but we'll see who takes the other now that there are four Yankee starters on the DL (Wang, Brown, Pavano, Wright). Anderson? Henn? Do they pull a trade off in the next couple of days for Chachon as has been rumored? [glow=red,2,300] [/glow]
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Cambridge
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Post by Cambridge on Jul 14, 2005 16:09:42 GMT -5
Sorry, just way too tempting...yes, I am aware of how juvenile I am.
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Hank Scorpio
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Post by Hank Scorpio on Jul 14, 2005 16:34:14 GMT -5
our wang is broken. he's out for the year. this changes everything. unless brown comes back healthy and pavano comes back and takes Wang's spot as our 3rd consistent starter, we're in deep deep doo doo. as for the sox rotation...i think arroyo is past his rough patch, he will make a run at 15 wins. wakefield can be dazzling, but he can also be rocked. he had a very good first half, but i can't trust a knuckleballer over the long haul. i called oakland to win that division before the season...if not for an atrocity of an april/may they'd be right there. their rotation is top notch. they play great D. they have a deep bullpen. all the pieces are in place...they just needed to get crosby back. watch out for cleveland...their schedule is cake Sorry, just way too tempting...yes, I am aware of how juvenile I am.
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