Thursday, April 9, 2009
Not Cool
I like to think I am a pretty understanding guy with a pretty forgiving sense of humor, but the jokes in this article go a bit far for my taste. Not cool, With Leather. Deadspin handled the news more appropriately.
Typical
I'm no Fred Astaire, but I have to take issue with the statement by the announcers that this gentlemen is "pretty good." Also, their accents are ridiculous.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Break It Down! April 9th Edition
The Pitchers:
- Cardinals: The good news: Former Cy Young Award winner Chris Carpenter says he is healthy and he only allowed 4 runs during the Spring. The bad news: The 4 runs Carp allowed were all in his last start. Oh, also, Carpenter is basically (considered?) as fragile as a faberge egg. (Four starts over the past two seasons.) Soooooooo, is there anything to be said here? Sure. When Chris Carpenter is at his best, he is one of the best pitchers in baseball. Over the past three years (read: in 2006), Carp was 4 - 0 against the Pirates in 4 starts with a 0.90 ERA. Russ likes. Still, no idea what to expect from Carp tomorrow. He may be terrific and he may be Wellemeyer-esque. No idea.
- Pirates: Who is Ross Ohlendorf? I have no idea who this person is. I did a double-take when I read the name. What I have been able to learn from the various sources I consult (Ouija board, tea leaves, etc.), is that this fella is a starting pitcher who throws the baseball with his right hand. In addition, Ohlendorf "is known for his hard-biting sinker," "[h]e can hit 97 mph with a two-seam sinking fastball," and "he's working to improve his developing changeup, slider, and breaking ball." I haven't really got any idea what most of this means. What I do know is that this dude has 5 career starts and a 6.35 ERA. The Cardinals can hit him, right? *GULP*
The Lineups:
- Cardinals: Since no one on the Cardinals has ever had an at bat against Ohlendorf I will just assume that Pujols (surprise!) will be the man today. That means Schumaker and Rasmus (most likely them, anyway), need to get on base in front of him. Joe Thurston may also get a start on account of his two doubles yesterday, but you never know, really, with all of Tony's lineup machinations. Since the Cardinals play 14 straight games to start the season, and today is a day game, Tony may also sit someone - but that would piss me off since it is only the 4th game of the season.
- Pirates: Can we PLEASE keep Nyjer Morgan and Brandon Moss off the basepaths? They have 7 of the Pirates runs in the series. Freddie Sanchez and Jack Wilson have done most of the rest of the damage, with 14 hits and 8 RBI. These are just a few of the names the Cardinals should be concerned about, since the Pirates enjoyed 17 hits yesterday.
Splitting this series is okay, I guess. It is the best we can hope for at this point. *Sigh*
Oh, also, GO ROGER EBERT!
Well that's it in the way of analysis(?). Wish I were in St. Louis. GO CARDS!!
- Cardinals: The good news: Former Cy Young Award winner Chris Carpenter says he is healthy and he only allowed 4 runs during the Spring. The bad news: The 4 runs Carp allowed were all in his last start. Oh, also, Carpenter is basically (considered?) as fragile as a faberge egg. (Four starts over the past two seasons.) Soooooooo, is there anything to be said here? Sure. When Chris Carpenter is at his best, he is one of the best pitchers in baseball. Over the past three years (read: in 2006), Carp was 4 - 0 against the Pirates in 4 starts with a 0.90 ERA. Russ likes. Still, no idea what to expect from Carp tomorrow. He may be terrific and he may be Wellemeyer-esque. No idea.
- Pirates: Who is Ross Ohlendorf? I have no idea who this person is. I did a double-take when I read the name. What I have been able to learn from the various sources I consult (Ouija board, tea leaves, etc.), is that this fella is a starting pitcher who throws the baseball with his right hand. In addition, Ohlendorf "is known for his hard-biting sinker," "[h]e can hit 97 mph with a two-seam sinking fastball," and "he's working to improve his developing changeup, slider, and breaking ball." I haven't really got any idea what most of this means. What I do know is that this dude has 5 career starts and a 6.35 ERA. The Cardinals can hit him, right? *GULP*
The Lineups:
- Cardinals: Since no one on the Cardinals has ever had an at bat against Ohlendorf I will just assume that Pujols (surprise!) will be the man today. That means Schumaker and Rasmus (most likely them, anyway), need to get on base in front of him. Joe Thurston may also get a start on account of his two doubles yesterday, but you never know, really, with all of Tony's lineup machinations. Since the Cardinals play 14 straight games to start the season, and today is a day game, Tony may also sit someone - but that would piss me off since it is only the 4th game of the season.
- Pirates: Can we PLEASE keep Nyjer Morgan and Brandon Moss off the basepaths? They have 7 of the Pirates runs in the series. Freddie Sanchez and Jack Wilson have done most of the rest of the damage, with 14 hits and 8 RBI. These are just a few of the names the Cardinals should be concerned about, since the Pirates enjoyed 17 hits yesterday.
Splitting this series is okay, I guess. It is the best we can hope for at this point. *Sigh*
Oh, also, GO ROGER EBERT!
Well that's it in the way of analysis(?). Wish I were in St. Louis. GO CARDS!!
Lucky the Pirates Only Scored 7
12 hits and 2 walks allowed by Wellemeyer = Zero percent chance of a Cardinals victory.
I am sort of disgusted and don't want to talk about it right now. The Cardinals cannot afford to give away one in every five games. Ugh.
The tough part about this early part of the season is positivity in the face of crapiness. I just have to keep telling myself that it is a long season and this was just one game. It's difficult because it is also foreboding. All these early failures feel like harbingers of doom right now.
What is the cure? Tonight, this.
UPDATE: Matthew Leach gives us a reason to smile, sort of.
I am sort of disgusted and don't want to talk about it right now. The Cardinals cannot afford to give away one in every five games. Ugh.
The tough part about this early part of the season is positivity in the face of crapiness. I just have to keep telling myself that it is a long season and this was just one game. It's difficult because it is also foreboding. All these early failures feel like harbingers of doom right now.
What is the cure? Tonight, this.
UPDATE: Matthew Leach gives us a reason to smile, sort of.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Break It Down! April 8th Edition
The Pitchers:
- Cardinals: Todd Wellemeyer was garbage in the Spring. How bad was he? 17 runs in his last 20 IP of the Spring. That bad. Still, and you know this, Wellemeyer is a gamer. Also, Wellemeyer was 3 - 0 against Pittsburgh in 5 starts last year with a 3.45 ERA. Nothing to write home about, but not Zach Duke-ian either (see below). Long story short, the Pirates have never really knocked Wellemeyer around, and I don't expect them to do so tonight.
- Pirates: Remember back in 2005 when Zach Duke wasn't entirely crappy? He was 8 - 2 as a midseason call-up and he was anointed the Pirates ace heading into 2006. That was a long time ago. Since 2005 his career has followed roughly the same arc as Britney Spears' career. Last year Duke was 5 - 14 with an abysmal 4.82 ERA. Two of those losses were handed to him by the Cardinals, who battered Duke for 8 runs in 12 IP. If you have any reason to believe Duke will perform well against the Cardinals tonight, please post it in the comments.
NOTE: Zach Duke is so awful that when I did a Google Video Search for "Zach Duke" this was the 4th result (for those of you who can't view it, it's a video of a kid named Zach and his dog, Duke; 61 views):
The Lineups:
- Cardinals: Duke (Zach, not the dog), awful though he is, throws the baseball with his left hand. I therefore assume the lineup will look pretty similar to Monday's (Ryan at 2B, Barden at 3B). Pujols (surprise!), Molina, Ankiel, and Ludwick have all had some success against Duke. I thirst for runs, and I expect them.
- Pirates: Ryan Doumit is the only Pirate with notable success against Wellemeyer (5-for-11 with a tater and 2-bagger). Still, until this Nyjer Morgan leaves town I am going to keep a close eye on him, just as the Cardinals should.
Finally, if you haven't read Keith Olberman's homage to his recently departed mother, then you must. For those of us who are sports fans, who have a parent who taught us the game, obsessed with us, celebrated and lamented with us, what Olberman wrote (and expounded upon during his show Monday night) should strike a chord.
Well that's it in the way of analysis(?). Wish I were in St. Louis. GO CARDS!!
- Cardinals: Todd Wellemeyer was garbage in the Spring. How bad was he? 17 runs in his last 20 IP of the Spring. That bad. Still, and you know this, Wellemeyer is a gamer. Also, Wellemeyer was 3 - 0 against Pittsburgh in 5 starts last year with a 3.45 ERA. Nothing to write home about, but not Zach Duke-ian either (see below). Long story short, the Pirates have never really knocked Wellemeyer around, and I don't expect them to do so tonight.
- Pirates: Remember back in 2005 when Zach Duke wasn't entirely crappy? He was 8 - 2 as a midseason call-up and he was anointed the Pirates ace heading into 2006. That was a long time ago. Since 2005 his career has followed roughly the same arc as Britney Spears' career. Last year Duke was 5 - 14 with an abysmal 4.82 ERA. Two of those losses were handed to him by the Cardinals, who battered Duke for 8 runs in 12 IP. If you have any reason to believe Duke will perform well against the Cardinals tonight, please post it in the comments.
NOTE: Zach Duke is so awful that when I did a Google Video Search for "Zach Duke" this was the 4th result (for those of you who can't view it, it's a video of a kid named Zach and his dog, Duke; 61 views):
The Lineups:
- Cardinals: Duke (Zach, not the dog), awful though he is, throws the baseball with his left hand. I therefore assume the lineup will look pretty similar to Monday's (Ryan at 2B, Barden at 3B). Pujols (surprise!), Molina, Ankiel, and Ludwick have all had some success against Duke. I thirst for runs, and I expect them.
- Pirates: Ryan Doumit is the only Pirate with notable success against Wellemeyer (5-for-11 with a tater and 2-bagger). Still, until this Nyjer Morgan leaves town I am going to keep a close eye on him, just as the Cardinals should.
Finally, if you haven't read Keith Olberman's homage to his recently departed mother, then you must. For those of us who are sports fans, who have a parent who taught us the game, obsessed with us, celebrated and lamented with us, what Olberman wrote (and expounded upon during his show Monday night) should strike a chord.
Well that's it in the way of analysis(?). Wish I were in St. Louis. GO CARDS!!
"That's a Winner!" - 1
Maybe I'm NOT an Idiot: Soooooo ... remember earlier today how I said that I expected Lohse to give the Cardinals 7 innings, 2 or 3 runs allowed? (Actual: 7 IP, 3 R, 2 ER) I also expected Pujols, Molina and Duncan to contribute offensively. (Actual: 1 HR apiece, 5 RBI) I also guessed that Snell would stink (4 IP, 6 ER) and Morgan would do most of the damage for the Pirates when he got on base (2 of Pittsburgh's 3 runs). So have I been wrong about anything? Yeah, Nate McLouth, who I have twice been concerned about, has twice gone hitless.
Also worth noting:
- Rasmus got his first 2 hits as a pro (good); and
- Schumaker went hitless and tallied his first error as a second baseman (ungood).
Enough recap, I am off to buy a lottery ticket.
NOTE: The Blues are 2 points ahead of Nashville for the last playoff spot. I won't pretend to be a regular season Blues fan, but I love me some playoff hockey. Watch those NHL scoreboards, folks.
Also worth noting:
- Rasmus got his first 2 hits as a pro (good); and
- Schumaker went hitless and tallied his first error as a second baseman (ungood).
Enough recap, I am off to buy a lottery ticket.
NOTE: The Blues are 2 points ahead of Nashville for the last playoff spot. I won't pretend to be a regular season Blues fan, but I love me some playoff hockey. Watch those NHL scoreboards, folks.
Break It Down! April 7th Edition
The Pitchers:
- Cardinals: Last season Kyle Lohse anchored our rotation. People tend to forget that. Wainwright was great, but an injured finger limited his innings. Lohse, on the other hand, had 15 wins and 200+ innings. Some of his good work was against the Pirates. Lohse was 1 - 0 against the Pirates in 2 starts with a 2.57 ERA. Lohse also pitched better at home last season, and at night. All things considered, I'd bet you a sawbuck Lohse is going to have a quality start tonight. 7 innings, 2 or 3 runs allowed. As for the bullpen, Bernie has convinced me to not get all panicky about our closer, for now, but I would like a bigger lead anyway, just to be sure.
- Pirates: Ian Snell was 1 and 1 against the Cardinals last season in six starts, with a 7.20 ERA, with an average of 5 IP per start. I kind of love it when the Cardinals face this guy, but after Monday's game, I feel less confident that the Cardinals' bats are alive. Still, Snell's stats against the Cardinals in '08 tell me one thing: he's not going to shut us out. Right? *GULP*
The Lineups:
- Cardinals: Colby Rasmus will make his major league debut tonight and the ballpark should be all abuzz. Pujols (surprise!) and Molina have both had success against Snell, as has Shumaker who should get his first start of the season at second. Ludwick and Ankiel have been, for lack of a better word, shit against Snell (both are 1-for-11, .091 AVG), so I expect Duncan will get the start even though Snell isn't a lefty (.973 OPS against Snell).
- Pirates: No one on the Pirates has had a lot of success against Lohse, but I wouldn't be surprised if Craig Monroe got a start in light of his .966 OPS and 2 dingers in 22 ABs against Lohse, more than any other Pirate. Him aside, the Cardinals need to figure out how to keep Nyjer Morgan off base, and need to keep McLouth and the other bats from making too much noise.
UPDATE: Tonight's lineup:
1. 2B Skip Schumaker
2. RF Colby Rasmus
3. 1B Albert Pujols
4. LF Chris Duncan
5. SS Khalil Greene
6. CF Rick Ankiel
7. C Yadier Molina
8. 3B Joe Thurston
9. SP Kyle Lohse
Russ likes.
Well that's it in the way of analysis(?). Wish I were in St. Louis. GO CARDS!!
- Cardinals: Last season Kyle Lohse anchored our rotation. People tend to forget that. Wainwright was great, but an injured finger limited his innings. Lohse, on the other hand, had 15 wins and 200+ innings. Some of his good work was against the Pirates. Lohse was 1 - 0 against the Pirates in 2 starts with a 2.57 ERA. Lohse also pitched better at home last season, and at night. All things considered, I'd bet you a sawbuck Lohse is going to have a quality start tonight. 7 innings, 2 or 3 runs allowed. As for the bullpen, Bernie has convinced me to not get all panicky about our closer, for now, but I would like a bigger lead anyway, just to be sure.
- Pirates: Ian Snell was 1 and 1 against the Cardinals last season in six starts, with a 7.20 ERA, with an average of 5 IP per start. I kind of love it when the Cardinals face this guy, but after Monday's game, I feel less confident that the Cardinals' bats are alive. Still, Snell's stats against the Cardinals in '08 tell me one thing: he's not going to shut us out. Right? *GULP*
The Lineups:
- Cardinals: Colby Rasmus will make his major league debut tonight and the ballpark should be all abuzz. Pujols (surprise!) and Molina have both had success against Snell, as has Shumaker who should get his first start of the season at second. Ludwick and Ankiel have been, for lack of a better word, shit against Snell (both are 1-for-11, .091 AVG), so I expect Duncan will get the start even though Snell isn't a lefty (.973 OPS against Snell).
- Pirates: No one on the Pirates has had a lot of success against Lohse, but I wouldn't be surprised if Craig Monroe got a start in light of his .966 OPS and 2 dingers in 22 ABs against Lohse, more than any other Pirate. Him aside, the Cardinals need to figure out how to keep Nyjer Morgan off base, and need to keep McLouth and the other bats from making too much noise.
UPDATE: Tonight's lineup:
1. 2B Skip Schumaker
2. RF Colby Rasmus
3. 1B Albert Pujols
4. LF Chris Duncan
5. SS Khalil Greene
6. CF Rick Ankiel
7. C Yadier Molina
8. 3B Joe Thurston
9. SP Kyle Lohse
Russ likes.
Well that's it in the way of analysis(?). Wish I were in St. Louis. GO CARDS!!
And the Winner is ....
Another Prediction sure to be wrong: Jim Leyland will be the first manager fired this season.
Monday, April 6, 2009
I spoke WAY too soon
Jason Motte, dude, what the hell? Goat.
So what now? Ryan Franklin? Call Chris Perez back from Memphis? I don't mean to be too reactionary, but Motte did NOT look ready for the big time. Not today.
UPDATE: So, my prediction was pretty right, right? Our bullpen is certainly an unknown. Two inherited runners and four other scored on them. It'll be a long season if these guys can't be more effective.
So what now? Ryan Franklin? Call Chris Perez back from Memphis? I don't mean to be too reactionary, but Motte did NOT look ready for the big time. Not today.
UPDATE: So, my prediction was pretty right, right? Our bullpen is certainly an unknown. Two inherited runners and four other scored on them. It'll be a long season if these guys can't be more effective.
Your game winner so far
According to Dan Mclaughlin, "Ryan Ludwick came to Spring Training one pound heavier than last year, with 2.5% less body fat." I imagine that is another 10-15 pounds of muscle onto a guy who hit 37 homers last season. Nice dinger today. Nice, Ludwick.
Whaaaaaaaa?
Some joker from a little publication called The New York Times thinks the Royals are going to win the AL Central. I disagree. Only one of us can be all the news that is fit to print!
Break It down! April 6th Edition
The Pitchers:
- Cardinals: Adam Wainwright gets the Opening Day start and he might not be pleased to see the Pirates come to town (although I am sure the rest of us are). Last year in two starts against the Pirates Wainwright was 0 - 1 with an 8.25 ERA. Weird, right? Never fear though, Waino's numbers at home last season were great (7 - 1 with a 2.63 ERA), his Spring numbers were great, and the Cardinal's overall record against the Pirates were great. I feel good about Waino, but the bullpen is an unknown (for now at least).
- Pirates: Paul Maholm is a pretty good starting pitcher and although he got beat up a bit by the Red Sox in his last Spring start, he was great otherwise (1.52 ERA in six starts). Last season against the Cardinals he was 2 - 1 with a 3.05 ERA in 20.2 IP. Plus he is a lefty. So, will the Cards fare better against lefties this season, Maholm in particular? We'll see, but I don't feel as confident as I would like to feel. If the Cards can get him out of the game, that bullpen is garbage.
The Lineups:
- Cardinals: Pujols has crushed Maholm (8-for-16 with 4 extra base hits). He has crushed the rest of the Pirates too. Me thinks this will be a theme this season: Pujols crushes the opposing pitchers. Everyone else on the team has limited experience against Maholm, except Ludwick who is 1-for-11 against Maholm. Sure glad he is batting 5th and not 2nd or 4th today. The story line of this game for the Cardinals bats will be how theyhandle the first lefty of the season.
- Pirates: With all due respect, I have no respect for the Pirates lineup. Don't give Nate McLouth pitches to hit, that's it. He has battered the Cardinals in the recent past, 6 homers and 18 RBI against the Birds last year. The rest of this team sucks, or at least they should.
Well that's it in the way of analysis(?). Wish I were in St. Louis. GO CARDS!!
- Cardinals: Adam Wainwright gets the Opening Day start and he might not be pleased to see the Pirates come to town (although I am sure the rest of us are). Last year in two starts against the Pirates Wainwright was 0 - 1 with an 8.25 ERA. Weird, right? Never fear though, Waino's numbers at home last season were great (7 - 1 with a 2.63 ERA), his Spring numbers were great, and the Cardinal's overall record against the Pirates were great. I feel good about Waino, but the bullpen is an unknown (for now at least).
- Pirates: Paul Maholm is a pretty good starting pitcher and although he got beat up a bit by the Red Sox in his last Spring start, he was great otherwise (1.52 ERA in six starts). Last season against the Cardinals he was 2 - 1 with a 3.05 ERA in 20.2 IP. Plus he is a lefty. So, will the Cards fare better against lefties this season, Maholm in particular? We'll see, but I don't feel as confident as I would like to feel. If the Cards can get him out of the game, that bullpen is garbage.
The Lineups:
- Cardinals: Pujols has crushed Maholm (8-for-16 with 4 extra base hits). He has crushed the rest of the Pirates too. Me thinks this will be a theme this season: Pujols crushes the opposing pitchers. Everyone else on the team has limited experience against Maholm, except Ludwick who is 1-for-11 against Maholm. Sure glad he is batting 5th and not 2nd or 4th today. The story line of this game for the Cardinals bats will be how theyhandle the first lefty of the season.
- Pirates: With all due respect, I have no respect for the Pirates lineup. Don't give Nate McLouth pitches to hit, that's it. He has battered the Cardinals in the recent past, 6 homers and 18 RBI against the Birds last year. The rest of this team sucks, or at least they should.
Well that's it in the way of analysis(?). Wish I were in St. Louis. GO CARDS!!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Rebirth!
A new season begins, and with it come predictions sure to be wrong.
Before I start, how pathetic is it that the first Major League Baseball game of the season, an inter-division game featuring the reigning World Champions, has been relegated to ESPN2? No major network? Not even regular ESPN? They'll probably interrupt the game to tell us some meaningless bullshit about Tom Brady or Jay Cutler. Sad.
Here goes:
AL East:
- Tampa Bay Rays: I don't see any reason to believe they won't perform as well or better than last season. Full season of Price, Sonnanstine and Longoria, add Burrell, and I think you have a 95 win ball club.
- New York Yankees: I think this team is pretty good, but with A-Rod out for a while, with Jeter on the decline, and with two overpaid, under performing free agent signee starters, I don't think they've improved enough. I do NOT believe that Sabathia and Burnett present a great enough improvement. I am as impressed by everyone else by the second half Sabathia had last season, but I haven't forgotten how shitty he was the first half.
- Boston Red Sox: They could also finish first if things fall into place. This just isn't a team I believe in. I suppose my problem with them is that I don't think Dice-K is going to get away with it again this year, too many pitches per inning, and with the exception of Beckett I don't think their other starters are reliable enough. They're still a 90 win ball club though.
- Baltimore Orioles: Out of the basement and making a run at .500. I am looking forward to watching this team this year. Wieters (once he gets called up) may be the next big thing, and I love their outfield: Felix Pie, Nick Markakis and Adam Jones. Staff is highly suspect, but I think this team may still get over the hump.
- Toronto Blue Jays: I wish Roy Halladay played for a relevant baseball team.
American League Central:
- Cleveland Indians: Every year the guys at ESPN get all a twitter over these guys and they dissappoint. I am tired of hearing about how great Grady Sizemore is, aren't you. Still, I think Cliff Lee and Fausto Carmona are the two best starters in this division. Interesting note for you Cards fans: Anthony Reyes is in the Indians rotation. Yeah.
- Minnesota Twins: Who cares about this team and the rest of the AL Central? Seriously.
- Detroit Tigers: Remember when eveyone thought this team was going to be good? I think they're going to be better, but not good enough.
- Chicago White Sox: Bartolo Colon is on their starting rotation. 'Nuff said.
- Kansas City Royals: Not a bad lineup, actually. Bad pitching staff, actually.
American League West:
- Los Angeles Angels: What happened to this team last year? I guess injured pitchers is the answer, but after the Teixera acquisition I thought this team was AWESOME. Since losing in the playoffs the Angels have lost Texeira and K-Rod, and now I think they're a 90 win division winner, but nothing more.
- Oakland Athletics: Not a bad team, but not very good either. I guess they're a .500 ball club.
- Seattle Mariners: Warms my heart to see Ken Griffey Jr. back in a Mariner uniform. Additionally, I expect Eric Bedard and Felix Hernandez to rebound. This team just isn't good enough though. $10.00 to the reader who can name the MAriner's manager without looking it up. ... That's right, Don Wakamatsu.
- Texas Rangers: Josh Hamilton and Ian Kinsler are great, the rest of this team isn't.
National League East:
- New York Mets: Three MVP candidates (I'm told) and three of the best closers in the game. The Mets addressed their bullpen problem and then some. It's a 7 inning ballgame against the guys and I love their lineup, basically. Still, screw these guys. Everytime I see Jose Reyes dancing this season I am going to kill a kitten. The deaths of those kittens will be on his head.
- Philadelphia Phillies: How did this team win the World Series last year? I hate their pitching staff with the exception of Hamels and Lidge. They have three MVP candidates (I'm told), but I don't like their lineup nearly as much as I like the Mets. Seriously, can a guy have 200 strikeouts and be considered an MVP candidate? Pujols got robbed in 2006.
- Atlanta Braves: Just found out Hudson is going to miss most of the season. Pity, I kind of liked this team. Whatever.
- Florida Marlins: This team is only going to improve as their starters get older. Josh Johnson is a star folks, mark my words.
- Washington Nationals: With apologies to my friend Jeff, this team sucks. They should be exciting at times though. A lot of young talent, I think, but they're not going to put it together this season.
National League Central:
- Chicago Cubs: Yeah, they're good. Whatever, screw these guys. They're an injury away from mediocrity if Zambrano or Lee go down. Ryan Dempster is not going to win 17 games again. He won't win 15, for that matter and I don't think he'll lose any fewer than 10. Ultimately, although I think this is probably the best team in the National League, they're going to go out with a whimper in the playoffs. Losers.
- St. Louis Cardinals: If the Cardinals (who I will try not to call "we" too much on this blog) can stay healthy, then they can compete for this division. That's a big "if" though. Carpenter and Wainwright could be the best 1-2 in the NL, and lord knows Pujols is going to put up numbers, but they've all got to stay healthy. Glaus has got to get healthy too.Whatever the case, I am not as down on the Cardinals as a lot of "experts." 90 wins seems possible, the Wild Card, maybe. I could say more, but I'll save it for the season.
- Cincinnati Reds: I guess I like their rotation better than the losers under them on this list. However, since they're the Reds, I assume they'll fail.
- Milwaukee Brewers: Ryan Braun and Corey Hart are good players, these other losers aren't. Rickie Weeks, J.J. Hardy, Prince Fielder, Mike Cameron, Bill Hall - all capable of hitting long homers, all suck otherwise.
- Houston Astros: What do Wandy Rodriguez, Mike Hampton, Brian Moehler, and Russ Ortiz all have in common - they're going to piss off Houston Astro fans for the next 6 months. Roy Oswalt is going to be asked to stop a lot of 4-game losing streaks this season.
- Pittsburgh Pirates: I can't think of anything nice to say about this team. I don't like any of their players. 105 losses.
National League West:
- Los Angeles Dodgers: The best team in a bad division, if they can keep their key pieces healthy I think they're gonna win this division by 10 games. I'm concerned about their bullpen though.
- Arizona Diamondbacks: Still a good young team, still a few players away.
- San Francisco Giants: Their staff could be good, but probably won't be, right? Randy Johnson hasn't got it anymore. Barry Zito is shit. This team also lacks punch in their lineup.
- Colorado Rockies: Crap.
- San Diego Padres: Crappiest. Is it a contradiction to say they'll "compete" for worst team in the league?
Playoffs:
- American League: Rays over Indians and Angels over Yankees, then Rays over Angels
- National League: Dodgers over Cubs and Mets over Cardinals, the Mets over Dodgers
- World Series: Mets. Ugh.
Before I start, how pathetic is it that the first Major League Baseball game of the season, an inter-division game featuring the reigning World Champions, has been relegated to ESPN2? No major network? Not even regular ESPN? They'll probably interrupt the game to tell us some meaningless bullshit about Tom Brady or Jay Cutler. Sad.
Here goes:
AL East:
- Tampa Bay Rays: I don't see any reason to believe they won't perform as well or better than last season. Full season of Price, Sonnanstine and Longoria, add Burrell, and I think you have a 95 win ball club.
- New York Yankees: I think this team is pretty good, but with A-Rod out for a while, with Jeter on the decline, and with two overpaid, under performing free agent signee starters, I don't think they've improved enough. I do NOT believe that Sabathia and Burnett present a great enough improvement. I am as impressed by everyone else by the second half Sabathia had last season, but I haven't forgotten how shitty he was the first half.
- Boston Red Sox: They could also finish first if things fall into place. This just isn't a team I believe in. I suppose my problem with them is that I don't think Dice-K is going to get away with it again this year, too many pitches per inning, and with the exception of Beckett I don't think their other starters are reliable enough. They're still a 90 win ball club though.
- Baltimore Orioles: Out of the basement and making a run at .500. I am looking forward to watching this team this year. Wieters (once he gets called up) may be the next big thing, and I love their outfield: Felix Pie, Nick Markakis and Adam Jones. Staff is highly suspect, but I think this team may still get over the hump.
- Toronto Blue Jays: I wish Roy Halladay played for a relevant baseball team.
American League Central:
- Cleveland Indians: Every year the guys at ESPN get all a twitter over these guys and they dissappoint. I am tired of hearing about how great Grady Sizemore is, aren't you. Still, I think Cliff Lee and Fausto Carmona are the two best starters in this division. Interesting note for you Cards fans: Anthony Reyes is in the Indians rotation. Yeah.
- Minnesota Twins: Who cares about this team and the rest of the AL Central? Seriously.
- Detroit Tigers: Remember when eveyone thought this team was going to be good? I think they're going to be better, but not good enough.
- Chicago White Sox: Bartolo Colon is on their starting rotation. 'Nuff said.
- Kansas City Royals: Not a bad lineup, actually. Bad pitching staff, actually.
American League West:
- Los Angeles Angels: What happened to this team last year? I guess injured pitchers is the answer, but after the Teixera acquisition I thought this team was AWESOME. Since losing in the playoffs the Angels have lost Texeira and K-Rod, and now I think they're a 90 win division winner, but nothing more.
- Oakland Athletics: Not a bad team, but not very good either. I guess they're a .500 ball club.
- Seattle Mariners: Warms my heart to see Ken Griffey Jr. back in a Mariner uniform. Additionally, I expect Eric Bedard and Felix Hernandez to rebound. This team just isn't good enough though. $10.00 to the reader who can name the MAriner's manager without looking it up. ... That's right, Don Wakamatsu.
- Texas Rangers: Josh Hamilton and Ian Kinsler are great, the rest of this team isn't.
National League East:
- New York Mets: Three MVP candidates (I'm told) and three of the best closers in the game. The Mets addressed their bullpen problem and then some. It's a 7 inning ballgame against the guys and I love their lineup, basically. Still, screw these guys. Everytime I see Jose Reyes dancing this season I am going to kill a kitten. The deaths of those kittens will be on his head.
- Philadelphia Phillies: How did this team win the World Series last year? I hate their pitching staff with the exception of Hamels and Lidge. They have three MVP candidates (I'm told), but I don't like their lineup nearly as much as I like the Mets. Seriously, can a guy have 200 strikeouts and be considered an MVP candidate? Pujols got robbed in 2006.
- Atlanta Braves: Just found out Hudson is going to miss most of the season. Pity, I kind of liked this team. Whatever.
- Florida Marlins: This team is only going to improve as their starters get older. Josh Johnson is a star folks, mark my words.
- Washington Nationals: With apologies to my friend Jeff, this team sucks. They should be exciting at times though. A lot of young talent, I think, but they're not going to put it together this season.
National League Central:
- Chicago Cubs: Yeah, they're good. Whatever, screw these guys. They're an injury away from mediocrity if Zambrano or Lee go down. Ryan Dempster is not going to win 17 games again. He won't win 15, for that matter and I don't think he'll lose any fewer than 10. Ultimately, although I think this is probably the best team in the National League, they're going to go out with a whimper in the playoffs. Losers.
- St. Louis Cardinals: If the Cardinals (who I will try not to call "we" too much on this blog) can stay healthy, then they can compete for this division. That's a big "if" though. Carpenter and Wainwright could be the best 1-2 in the NL, and lord knows Pujols is going to put up numbers, but they've all got to stay healthy. Glaus has got to get healthy too.Whatever the case, I am not as down on the Cardinals as a lot of "experts." 90 wins seems possible, the Wild Card, maybe. I could say more, but I'll save it for the season.
- Cincinnati Reds: I guess I like their rotation better than the losers under them on this list. However, since they're the Reds, I assume they'll fail.
- Milwaukee Brewers: Ryan Braun and Corey Hart are good players, these other losers aren't. Rickie Weeks, J.J. Hardy, Prince Fielder, Mike Cameron, Bill Hall - all capable of hitting long homers, all suck otherwise.
- Houston Astros: What do Wandy Rodriguez, Mike Hampton, Brian Moehler, and Russ Ortiz all have in common - they're going to piss off Houston Astro fans for the next 6 months. Roy Oswalt is going to be asked to stop a lot of 4-game losing streaks this season.
- Pittsburgh Pirates: I can't think of anything nice to say about this team. I don't like any of their players. 105 losses.
National League West:
- Los Angeles Dodgers: The best team in a bad division, if they can keep their key pieces healthy I think they're gonna win this division by 10 games. I'm concerned about their bullpen though.
- Arizona Diamondbacks: Still a good young team, still a few players away.
- San Francisco Giants: Their staff could be good, but probably won't be, right? Randy Johnson hasn't got it anymore. Barry Zito is shit. This team also lacks punch in their lineup.
- Colorado Rockies: Crap.
- San Diego Padres: Crappiest. Is it a contradiction to say they'll "compete" for worst team in the league?
Playoffs:
- American League: Rays over Indians and Angels over Yankees, then Rays over Angels
- National League: Dodgers over Cubs and Mets over Cardinals, the Mets over Dodgers
- World Series: Mets. Ugh.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Steroids Stream of Consciousness
To be clear, this is a stream of consciousness about my feeling on steroids, not a stream of consciousness on steroids about my feelings. And ... Begin:
A-Rod, Bonds, Clemens, Palmeiro, McGwire, Sosa, Ivan Rodriguez, etc. - they're the real problem. These are people who, in my estimation, deserve to be in the Hall of Fame. But what does that make the Hall of Fame? After all, they haven't enshrined the all time hits leader (SERIOUSLY?). My own perspective is this: let's regard Aaron as the all-time homerun king, even if we don't reflect it in the record books, let's regard Pujols and others as the real winners of MVPs that won't be redistributed, let's be pissed that the offenders thought so little of the game that they thought their behavior was acceptable (regardless of their motivation). Let us not think, however, that these aren't men deserving of the Hall of Fame (maybe some toward the end of the list aren't, but stick with me). Bonds and Clemens are HoFers merely on body of work. McGwire and Sosa saved baseball, and they have deserving numbers. Palmeiro's stats are absurd (I don't care what you're on, 3,000 hits and 500 HRs = HoF). With the exception of Piazza, has there been a premiere catcher in the past two decades other than I-Rod? The arguments could be articulated better, I know, but the point remains, if the Hall of Fame is about the best, most impactful players, don't these guys belong?
I despise what these men and others have done to the game, the way they've tainted my love of the game, but where else do we hold our heroes up to such high standards? Not in politics. Not in military conquest. Not in entertainment. How many philanderers, liars, hate-mongers, drug-abusers, and sycophants have we elected to public office, given Grammys and Oscars, enshrined and otherwise recognized as heroes?
All this having been said, I am dropping it (for now). A-Rod can go screw himself. So can Sheffield and Giambi and I-Rod and whomever else is out there today that I know to be guilty. Anyone I don't know to be guilty I hereby assume to be innocent. I don't want to be naive, but I prefer that to being cynical (for now).
GO CARDS!
A-Rod, Bonds, Clemens, Palmeiro, McGwire, Sosa, Ivan Rodriguez, etc. - they're the real problem. These are people who, in my estimation, deserve to be in the Hall of Fame. But what does that make the Hall of Fame? After all, they haven't enshrined the all time hits leader (SERIOUSLY?). My own perspective is this: let's regard Aaron as the all-time homerun king, even if we don't reflect it in the record books, let's regard Pujols and others as the real winners of MVPs that won't be redistributed, let's be pissed that the offenders thought so little of the game that they thought their behavior was acceptable (regardless of their motivation). Let us not think, however, that these aren't men deserving of the Hall of Fame (maybe some toward the end of the list aren't, but stick with me). Bonds and Clemens are HoFers merely on body of work. McGwire and Sosa saved baseball, and they have deserving numbers. Palmeiro's stats are absurd (I don't care what you're on, 3,000 hits and 500 HRs = HoF). With the exception of Piazza, has there been a premiere catcher in the past two decades other than I-Rod? The arguments could be articulated better, I know, but the point remains, if the Hall of Fame is about the best, most impactful players, don't these guys belong?
I despise what these men and others have done to the game, the way they've tainted my love of the game, but where else do we hold our heroes up to such high standards? Not in politics. Not in military conquest. Not in entertainment. How many philanderers, liars, hate-mongers, drug-abusers, and sycophants have we elected to public office, given Grammys and Oscars, enshrined and otherwise recognized as heroes?
All this having been said, I am dropping it (for now). A-Rod can go screw himself. So can Sheffield and Giambi and I-Rod and whomever else is out there today that I know to be guilty. Anyone I don't know to be guilty I hereby assume to be innocent. I don't want to be naive, but I prefer that to being cynical (for now).
GO CARDS!
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