NLCS Game 1: Dodgers @ Phillies

October 9, 2008 by Mike Axisa 350 Comments

Both League Championship Series this year are a lesson in player development. The Dodgers flat-out dominated the Cubs using a lineup featuring four homegrown players and a pitching staff again centered around in-house arms. The Phils are built very much in the same way, with five homegrown position players starting for them, as well as staff co-aces Cole Hamels & Brett Myers.

Don’t even get me started with the Rays and Red Sox. Stay the course, built from within. Looks where it gets you.

Just a quick roster note, the Dodgers removed ex-closer Takashi Saito from the playoff roster and replaced him with lights out lefty reliever Hong-Chih Kuo. Saito’s status was questionable because of ongoing elbow troubles, and Kuo (who had a ridiculous season) gives them a third southpaw in the pen (Kershaw & Beimel are the others) to battle Chase Utley and Ryan Howard.

First pitch is scheduled for 8:22pm; Joe Buck & Tim McCarver have the call on FOX. Talk it up here.

Los Angeles
1. Rafael Furcal, SS
2. Andre Ethier, RF
3. Manny Ramirez, LF
4. Russ Martin, C
5. James Loney, 1B
6. Matt Kemp, CF
7. Casey Blake, 3B
8. Blake DeWitt, 2B
9. Derek Lowe, P (14-11, 3.24)

Philadelphia
1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Shane Victorino, CF
3. Chase Utley, 2B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Pat Burrell, LF
6. Jayson Werth, RF
7. Pedro Feliz, 3B
8. Carlos Ruiz, C
9. Cole Hamels, P (14-10, 3.09)

Ivan

Hopefully next season the yanks are in the same position with our players like Hughes, Joba, IPK, Melancon or Gardner or even maybe just maybe A-Jax.
- The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
  
  I’m sure a lot of people will disagree with me on this, but I honestly don’t want to see Austin Jackson in the Bronx in 2009 (unless it’s just a short, late-season cameo to reward a job well done in the minors). He’s young and hasn’t been playing baseball full-time for too long, I want that guy in the minors, working on his game and just getting more experience and time to develop. (AJax wasn’t a big part of your comment, I just notice people talking about him a lot and I think if he’s not in the Bronx in 2009 some fans will be disappointed. Dude should be a senior in college right now, no reason to even think about him in the majors until 2010 or later (unless he turns into a young Ken Griffey Jr., which he won’t).
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
    
    I agree. Just because a guy spends a year in AAA doesn’t mean he’s a bust. He’s only been a full-time baseball player for 3 years now.
  - A.D.
    
    The only way we see A-Jax is if he straight tears up AAA & there is issues at CF again
Ivan

Yo, I was reading your chat just now, and you answered one of the questions about who would ya take between Tex or CC, and you picked Tex.

I thought about it, and I said to myself, that maybe it wouldn’t be a bad idea. The yanks despite the poor defense and injuries to the staff, was ranked in the middle in pitching which is quite solid/ok. The yanks didn’t make the postseason because of the offense and the lack of OBP guys.

Maybe, just maybe Tex is the more smarter move. Plus, signing a pitcher like Lowe wouldn’t be a bad idea no.

Rotation
Wang
Joba
Lowe
Pettitte/Moose
Hughes.

Good staff with improve d with Tex.

The lineup looks much better.

Maybe Tex is the right move.
- A.D.
  
  Tex is also the safer move, in terms of health/production for full life of contract
- http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=594331910&ref=name Jamal G.
  
  Yeah, I came to that conclusion a couple weeks ago. I was in favor of that path because I felt bringing back Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte and Carl Pavano were enough to give us a good, pretty deep, short-termed rotation. With Joba Chamberlain penciled in as a starter from April, he and Chien-Ming Wang would lead a somewhat deep rotation with Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, Alfredo Aceves and Darrell Rasner as replacement-level starters.
  
  I really think this team needs an overhaul with the glove. The Yankees ranked 27th out of 30-Major League clubs in DIP%. That is absolutely horrific. The defense is really letting these pitchers down.
  
  If you want to use FIP, the Yankees ranked fourth in the Major Leagues in that stat (3.98, second in the A.L. to TOR’s 3.82). The pitching has not been an issue for the Yankees, it’s actually one of the top pitching staffs in all of baseball (independent of the defense, of course). It’s the defense, it’s fucking horrible.
  
  Hell, I could go on. The Yankees convert 68% of all balls put into play into actual outs. That rate ranks 25th in MLB. No matter how you look at it, this team is scary bad on defense.
  - Steve
    
    Brett Gardner.
    
    I dont care what he hits, just catch the ball.
    
    BTW-Dump Abreu, too.
  - steve (different one)
    
    if you look at SG’s work at RLYW, Abreu is MOST of the problem.
    
    Abreu and Giambi.
http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime

The Yanks trail the Red Sox by about three years.

They can certainly make the playoffs next year, but the years to really look forward to, if everything works out, are 2011, 2012.
- Steve
  
  Now thats not very optimistic of you.
Alex

I would listen to John Madden and a shitfaced Pat Sumerall call this game over Buck and McCarver. In fact, I would prefer Frank Caliendo as both John Madden and Pat Summerall. I wish truly terrible, awful things on Joe Buck.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Don’t give him anything to hit. Take your chances with Martin.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Told you. That was as far up the wall as possible in the deepest part of the park.
- Steve
  
  You would think.
- The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
  
  You and McCarver are like soulmates.
  - Steve
    
    I would have went with “Butt buddies” but then again, I’m an asshole.
    - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
      
      Well, McCarver was a catcher.
      
      Okay, that went way too far.
Ivan

Wow Manny drove that ball.
The Honorable Congressman Mondesi

Manny es el senor.
http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime

Ahahaha.

The Spanish announcers: “We’re in Citizens Bank Park, one of the only banks that has not yet collapsed…”
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Seriously? That’s great.
  - http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime
    
    What I heard was:
    
    Estamos en Citizens Bank Park, Citzens Bank, la unica que no he collapsada
    
    My Spanish is far from fluent, but it’s good enough to understand that. (I’m listening in Spanish because I need the practice, and there have got to be young Dominican players in need of translators, since the medieval history job market is kind of thin).
- Steve
  
  The Dow has lost 40% since last year. Yikes.
  - http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime
    
    It was doing relatively all right today and then lost about 500 points in one hour or so.
    
    My father tells me i should watch out for the jumpers, although I’m in the Bronx and far away from Wall Street.
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
    
    It went from ~11,000 to ~8,600 in like, 4 days. Scary stuff.
    - Ivan
      
      The Economy hasn’t been this bad in like 80 years. Were talking great depression bad Yikes.
      - The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
        
        It’s bad but let’s hold off on the “Great Depression” talk for a little while, we’re certainly not there yet.
        
        http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
        
        Word. We ain’t seen nuttin’ yet.
        
        http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime
        
        Ivan’s right–it’s not been this bad since the Great Depression.
        
        The thing is, the stock/bank cycles haven’t bottomed out yet, and because so much depends on the banks, we can’t just weather this like we could the collapse of the tech stocks.
        
        Ivan
        
        Well I didn’t mean it was the Great Depression but stats show that it’s worst than what happen in the late 80’s/early 90’s and worst in the 70’s when Carter was president.
        
        Steve
        
        Yeah, that’s overdoing it. But you can expect the economy to suck for at least the next few years. Shit like this is years in the making, and it takes years to dig out of it.
        
        The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
        
        The Great Depression was a global economic collapse that lasted for over a decade. People were wandering the country looking for jobs and food. All I’m saying is, it’s very easy for people to say “oh this is like the Great Depression” whenever there’s an economic downturn, but it’s really just not. This is very very bad, what’s going on now. I know first-hand, I work in an industry that is very directly affected/involved in this whole mess. But it’s not like the Great Depression yet.
        
        Annnnd sorry for that little depressing distraction there. Back to baseball, huh?
        
        A.D.
        
        yeah the average recession lasts about 1-3 years, not the decade of the great depression
      - Steve
        
        Actually, the Dow lost 40% in the early 70’s and it didn’t lead to a depression. But as a kid who grew up back then I can confirm to you that the 70’s did suck for the country for the most part.
        
        But the Yanks won in 1977 and 78, so I was happy.
    - A.D.
      
      a lot of that is fueled by nonsense, stocks are dropping that really have nothing to do with either banking, or consumer spending
      - Steve
        
        If Banks cant lend, businesses cant grow and expend. The Stock market is the last place to figure out whats going on, the credit markets have been tightening for weeks now.
        
        BTW-Its not just here. Its happening in Germany, Japan, The UK, all over the place. That’s why this is so bad, there’s nowhere to turn.
        
        http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime
        
        Check out Iceland–the entire country is built on the banking industry there…
        
        A.D.
        
        i understand that, which is why noted that business that aren’t effected by this, such as cash-rich, in-elastic demand groups, such as say Pharmacos, are still down, despite the fact that the credit markets should not effect them.
        
        They shouldnt be down, not to the point they are, but its a wild sell off in which some makes sense, and obv. there are some issues, but some is completely illogical
Ivan

Manny made Joe Torre a genius didn’t he?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  No. Jeter, Rivera, Bernie, Posada and Pettitte did.
  - http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime
    
    Well said.
    
    I’d also add O’Neill and Wells and Cone at their peaks.
    - Steve
      
      “Cone at their peaks”
      
      Ugh.
      
      I HATED those silly Coneheads. Met fans can be so cheesy sometimes.
    - Ivan
      
      And some cuban name El’Duke.
      - A.D.
        
        What ever happened to el duqecito, the kid that had a similar motion the yanks singed out of cuba
        
        http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
        
        Adrian Hernandez. They released him in 2003. He caught on with the Brewers and made a few terrible appearances for them the next year. He’s been out of baseball since 2004.
- Steve
  
  Manny Ramirez-Manager of the Year
A.D.

Love that Lowe was shaking off Martin when Martin wasnt even looking at him
The Honorable Congressman Mondesi

I feel like every scoreless inning Lowe throws brings him closer to being coveted/signed by the Yankees. Ugh. Feel like people are warming up to the idea of signing him, I still don’t want him.
- pat
  
  id rather have pavano for 1 yr 13 mil than lowe at 3 or 4
  - The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
    
    Not sure how I feel about Pavano for 13 mil, but Lowe scares me… And I agree, those last couple/few years of whatever contract he signs are a major risk.
  - A.D.
    
    yeah I’d be scared having Lowe in the AL east, theres a reason Boston didn’t resign him
- Steve
  
  Me neither. Look up his last few years in the AL East. That would be another Kevin Brown situation, an over the hill pitcher who put up good numbers in the weakest division in baseball.
  
  To be fair, I think Lowe is about Plan F for the Yanks, after CC, Andy, Burnett, Mussina, and Peavey. In that order.
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
    
    What does his last 2 years with Boston have to do with anything? That was 4, soon to be 5 years ago.
    
    Should they sign Esteban Loiaza because he was awesome in 2003? That was in the AL.
    - The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
      
      Dude I hear you, but at the same time, that was when he was 4, 5 years younger. It cuts both ways. (And you know that Esteban Loiaza thing isn’t relevant lol,)
    - Steve
      
      Because he sucked the last time he was in the AL East, and he’s 4 years older now. He’s still the same pitcher from what I know, so I cant expect him to be any better at an advanced age.
      
      BTW-Maybe you misunderstood, I dont want him.
    - TheLastClown
      
      He meant that his last two years pitching in the relevant decision were not pretty, so now 4, soon to be 5, years later, he couldn’t be expected to put up even those lackluster lines
Joey H.

Yo Mike. Are your for or against the 5 game divisional series?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  It doesn’t really matter to me. I guess a 7 game series would be nice, gives us that much more baseball. Plus MLB would make a bunch more money.
  - The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
    
    I’d be all for a 7 game series, but they’d have to chop some regular season games from the schedule or else the World Series would be played under threat of snow (and we all know they’ll never cut regular season games).
    - Steve
      
      I like the idea of ADDING a wild card, and making the two of them play a Play-in game on the off day.
      
      That would be a huge incentive for WC teams to win their divisions, and would likely screw them up for the ALDS. 3 cities in 3 days, probably used their ace, etc.
      
      I’m so sick of the divisions and leagues meaning little to nothing in the current set up. Having the best record in your league should give you an advantage of some kind that doesn’t disappear after one loss at home.
      - Joey H.
        
        But the Wild Card team is sometimes the best team in the playoffs. Just look at it, Over the past few years i think the WC winner has gone to and even won the WS in some cases. so thats not fair.
        
        http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
        
        But the Wild Card team is sometimes the best team in the playoffs.
        
        You know I think that is? The WC is usually clinched real late in the season, the last series of the season usually. The team that wins the WC just keeps the momentum going, there’s no letdown period.
        
        Look at the Halos, they clinched the division with a month left in the season, then played nothing but meaningless games for weeks. It’s hard to muster that level of intensity that quick.
        
        Joey H.
        
        Not the best team, AKA most deserving of the playoff spot, but the best team playing in the playoffs. But very fair points.
        
        The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
        
        His point, which I agree with (but it’s subjective), is that there should be more emphasis placed on winning your division. Even if the WC team is the “best team”, he’s saying the division winners should be given more of an advantage as reward for winning their division, whether they’re the best team or not.
        
        And just because a team wins the WS does NOT make that team the “best team.” The Cardinals won 83 games the year they won the WS. That team had no business being in the playoffs. Playoff entrance and seeding should be based on regular season performance, not postseason potential.
        
        Joey H.
        
        (Read what I said in reply to Mikes comment) What I said was out of conteXt.
        
        The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
        
        no worries, i saw the response above
A.D.

Casey Blake is a FA, who needs Tex when you can have the definition of grit
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  His grititude will drop significantly when he has to shave off his GritBeard. It’s a shame.
  - A.D.
    
    true probably wouldnt come to NY
  - Steve
    
    Thats OK. He could just shave his head and become an instant “Gamer”.
Mike Pop

Hamels is gonna dominate the rest of this game….until Manny comes up
A.D.

Why isn’t there more discussion of Dempster being a FA?
- The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
  
  I’ve read that the Cubs are expected to lock him up. Apparently he wants to stay and they want to pay him.
  - A.D.
    
    I figured as much, but wanted to check
    - Steve
      
      Also might have something to do with him absolutely sucking in the ALDS.
      - The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
        
        It was the NLDS, and I disagree. I’m pretty sure he’s been expected to re-sign with the Cubbies since way before the NLDS, and I don’t think teams would be too scared off by a bad start in a playoff series after the season he had this year.
        
        Joey H.
        
        Yeah, considering he was their most consistent regular season starter. Not their best starter, which is Zambrano but their most consistent was Dempster
      - Mike Pop
        
        NLDS ?
        
        Steve
        
        Yes.
        
        Still have ALDS on the brain from a Wang post.
      - A.D.
        
        CC wasnt amazing and that hasn’t stopped any talk
        
        Joey H.
        
        Take into consideration that he pitched like 5 games in 15days or something around there. The man is human you know.
        
        Steve
        
        After throwing a gazillion pitches for MIL since being traded.
Mike Pop

Lowe as our 4th starter is fine.. Look at Moose las year he sucked, but this year he turned it around and dominated and turned into our 1.. Who knows if Lowe can do the same.. If he can put an era of 3.80 or lower as our 4th I could be happy with that.. Im all for the idea of signing 2 of those 3 of CC AJ and Lowe
- whozat
  
  You want to spend 15MM per for a fourth starter? Carlos Silva sucks and he got 12 mil per. Lowe will get 15 easy. If it was a one-year deal, I’d do that. Since it’ll be 3 or 4, hells no.
  - Mike Pop
    
    Fine hes our 3 starter
    CC
    Wang
    Lowe
    Joba
    Phil
Mike Pop

Speaking of sinker ballers remember las year they said it was good Wang was going on short rest so he could get more sink on his sinker lol.. He pitched well that game right ? ……………….
- Steve
  
  I guess you mean the 2007 ALDS. Yeah he was bad, but he was bad all of September that year and Torre should have took that into account. Instead, he pitched him on the road (where he was bad all year) and at home on short rest (which Wang never did before). Between that and not pulling his team off the field during the midges, it wasn’t one of Joe’s better managerial jobs.
Ivan

You know we can talk about which pitcher the yanks need/or gonna get but to me the key for the yanks rotation, is Joba and Hughes. You need those arms to pitch well and I think they will.
- http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=594331910&ref=name Jamal G.
  
  I posted this up above, not realizing how far the conversation had moved along:
  
  http://riveraveblues.com/2008/10/09/nlcs-game-1-dodgers-phillies-5057/#comment-177371
  
  As that said, I’m really not worried about the pitching staff, it’s the defense. I know Joba and Hughes are important for 2009, but I think the bigger factors are the return of Mike Mussina and a healthy Andy Pettitte. Approximately 400 of league-average or better innings are quite impossible to replace.
  - A.D.
    
    that and a full year from Wang
  - Ivan
    
    I agree that the D needs to step up. Maybe signing Tex wouldn’t be so bad. He’s arguebaly the best 1st baseman defensively and can save some E’s from infield and make much plays than Giambi.
    - Mike Pop
      
      Signing Tex would bring a smile to every Yankee fans face
    - http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=594331910&ref=name Jamal G.
      
      It’s not even about the Errors, the Yankees are pretty sure-handed. It’s just that they don’t convert enough batted balls into outs. Melky Cabrera, Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter rank second-to-worst or worst in Range Factor (in their respective positions). Jason Giambi is dead last in Zone Rating, Robinson Cano fell off a cliff, defensively, after the ASB, and Bobby Abreu was the worst defensive Right Fielder in the American League.
      - Ivan
        
        Wasn’t Melky third in the AL in defense in CF?
      - Mike Pop
        
        Agreed but it sounds worse than it really is.. If we put up the offensive numbers we were suppose to we would of been in the playoffs..I dont know if we would still be there tho
      - steve (different one)
        
        Jamal, Range Factor is worthless.
        
        Jeter, Melky and A-Rod were all fine this year on defense.
        
        http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=594331910&ref=name Jamal G.
        
        Worthless, in my opinion, is reserved for stats like Fielding Percentage and Errors. How many plays a fielder converts – per game – is not worthless.
        
        steve (different one)
        
        Range Factor is Put outs plus assists divided by INNINGS.
        
        there is nothing that controls for chances.
        
        if a player doesn’t have a ball hit at him all game, his RF is zero.
        
        that’s worse than worthless.
        
        http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=594331910&ref=name Jamal G.
        
        Yes, but you are taking it to an extreme level. Over the course of a 162-game season, the Total Chances even out. You know the difference between the Third Basemen who led the Major Leagues in TC’s and the Major League Third Basemen with the least amount of TC’s (with 1,100-innings played or more)? 91.
  - Ivan
    
    I think bringing one of those guys back is important, whether it’s moose or Pettitte.
  - Ivan
    
    Joe Sheenan even wrote about that in his article months back.
http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=594331910&ref=name Jamal G.

You know how you know you’re a bad baseball analyst? When you are dumbfounded by the Robinson-Cano-Carlos-Beltran trade rumors, but from the Mets’ POV.

Oh, Peter.
- Ivan
  
  leave the geezer alone.
- A.D.
  
  its because none of the players in that deal are as good a Jacoby Ellsbury
The Honorable Congressman Mondesi

Manny being defensive.
http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime

Double Play FTL.
A.D.

filthy change
A.D.

Some of those LA injuries might not have been the worst…. I mean it was no guarentee Nomar or Jones put up amazing numbers
Joey H.

Lmao. Did anyone else notice that IPK’s agent is Boras?
- http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime
  
  I think I’ve seen that before.
- A.D.
  
  yeah i remember that from when he was drafted, and part of the Cole signing was they have no problem with dealing and understanding Boras, or taking his 1st round players, ie IPK
  - A.D.
    
    * Cole pick
- Mike Pop
  
  Ya I know coming out of college thinking hes hot shit out of USC….they match up well
  - http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=594331910&ref=name Jamal G.
    
    Not for nothing, but did you read any of his comments after that Angels’ game? He made a mistake, he moved on, he owned up to it, and yet people still belittle him for it?
    - Joey H.
      
      Who me?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  What’s so funny about that?
  - Joey H.
    
    Just the thought of Boras trying to get IPK a lucrative contract would crack me up.
  - The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
    
    Just couldn’t hold back, huh. lol
    - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
      
      What? What’s so funny with the kid hiring the agent that will get him the most money? I’d want my kid to hire Boras if he was ever in that kind of situation.
      
      Look at the Boras’ clients list on MLBTR, there’s way more crappy players than All-Stars on that list.
      - The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
        
        No I totally agree, I don’t see what’s funny about it either. I was sitting here, like, forcing myself not to respond. When I saw your comment pop up I figured you were thinking the same thing and just couldn’t stop yourself.
        
        http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
        
        Ah ok. Great minds think alike.
        
        The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
        
        Except when it comes to Derek Lowe. F’ng Derek Lowe.
      - Joey H.
        
        I know I saw the list and that’s when I noticed it said IPK on it, and immediately I scrolled back up cause I couldn’t believe my eyes. The funny part is me imagining how Boras would probably fire himself.
        
        Joey H.
        
        I thought he really waited for guys to get legitimatized before having them as his client. Are agents particularly involved in the draft? I’m sure they are to some extent but how much? We see it all the time where guys get drafted and decide to not sign for personal/family choice, for example, not too many people realize that Aaron Heilman was drafted by the Yankees years and years ago. In fact i think he was drafted a few times before signing.
        
        The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
        
        The Yankees drafted Mark Prior. I just blew your mind. Boom.
        
        http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
        
        Oh yeah? Well you know who else they drafted?
        
        Ready? Are you ready?
        
        Casey Blake.
        
        Boom. All day baby. ‘Til you throw up.
        
        Joey H.
        
        Nah, Aaron Heilman is more mind blowing.
        
        Joey H.
        
        I think you should do a thread on this some day, the crazy Yankee unsigned draft picks. We can have some real fun with that.
        
        The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
        
        How different the world would be if the Yankees had a little Casey Blake action. You win.
        
        Joey H.
        
        Late bloomer, the guy didn’t start anything special until he turned 30. He was Put on waivers/released a total of 4 times. So that isn’t so fair to say.
        
        The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
        
        It was a joke, as has been this entire conversation.
http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime

Better question: Is Boras now a metonym for greedy sports agents?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Even better question: what the hell does metonym mean?
  - Joey H.
    
    Yeah that’s that I’m waiting for, Then ill throw in my two cents.
  - http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=594331910&ref=name Jamal G.
    
    She means metonymy.
    
    And calling a sports’ agent “greedy” is not necessarily a bad thing. It’s their job to get the most for their respective clients. I really don’t see why fans and media personnel hate Scott Boras and Drew Rosenhaus.
    - http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=594331910&ref=name Jamal G.
      
      Oh, forgot to answer your question. Yeah, I guess so.
    - Steve
      
      They’re lawyers, and like the old line about Roy Cohn went “Everybody hated the guy . . until they got arrested”
      
      Just depends what side of the fence your on.
    - http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime
      
      It’s not that their trying to get money for their clients–it’s that their so shameless about it.
      
      Though I guess they’re supposed to be.
      
      Makes them easy and fun to hate.
      - http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=594331910&ref=name Jamal G.
        
        It’s business, there’s no room for displaying shame and things of that sort. You think the teams worry about that? Baseball organizations literally find everything possible to undervalue a player’s performance in their respective arbitration hearings. Wouldn’t you classify that as shameless?
        
        http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime
        
        Oh, of course.
- The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
  
  ~~Better~~ Rhetorical question: Is Boras now a metonym for greedy sports agents?
  
  (Fixed.)
  - http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime
    
    Ahaha.
    
    You win.
    - The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
      
      That’s what you get for using fancy words nobody understands.
      
      You get fork-stabbed!!! (Someone’s gotta get that.)
      - http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime
        
        Sounds painful.
        
        And I read regularly about guys that die in very painful ways. I’d give you an example, but it’d violate the comment guidelines.
        
        http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=594331910&ref=name Jamal G.
        
        Funny enough, that’s the second most interesting thing I’ve discovered all day.
      - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
        
        (Someone’s gotta get that.)
        
        *** crickets ***
        
        The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
        
        Haha, shut up. Nobody ever gets my references around here. A-holes.
        
        http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
        
        No one got my Family Guy reference. It’s okay.
        
        The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
        
        PS it’s from “It’s Always Sunny…”
        
        http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime
        
        Dude, I don’t get references to animal house.
        
        So, uh, good luck with that.
  - steve (different one)
    
    i don’t see the difference between “greedy” and “good at his job”
    
    his job, by definition, is to get the most money for his clients.
    
    why should players settle for less than the billionaire owners are willing to pay?
    
    is he a jerk? yeah.
    
    but greedy? i don’t know. maybe.
    - The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
      
      Of course he’s greedy, but he’s supposed to be. That’s his job.
      
      Oh he’s so greeeeedy! He makes his clients so much money! What an *sshole!
      
      Whatever. Good for him.
http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime

It’s like a metaphor, but more…abstract, maybe?

Wall Street is a metonym for the American Financial System

Buckingham Palace ” ” for the Royal Family

Bristol ” ” ESPN headquarters.

I’m having a hard time thinking of non geographic ones, but they exist.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metonymy
- A.D.
  
  learn something every day
- Steve
  
  I dont believe you. I still think you just made it up.
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
    
    Oh yeah? Well you are a vestigio. See I can make up words too.
    - Steve
      
      WHAT!?
      
      I will not be called a vestigio by a plontuphenous turducken like YOU!
      - The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
        
        Isn’t turducken actually a word? I mean, not in the dictionary or anything, but isn’t it that terrifying meat concoction that John Madden eats on Thanksgiving?
        
        Steve
        
        Only if it has a Wikipedia page.
        
        Right, Rebecca?
        
        http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime
        
        Ahahaha.
        
        Or an Urban Dictionary page.
        
        The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
        
        I’ve tried to post a comment containing the wiki page for turducken twice but my comment won’t go through (caught in a filter or something).
        
        Turducken has a wikipedia page.
        
        http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
        
        A Turducken is a dish consisting of a partially de-boned turkey stuffed with a de-boned duck, which itself is stuffed with a small de-boned chicken.
        
        Haha. I can’t help but laugh at that. Mo bless America.
        
        The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
        
        Does Madden still do one of the Thanksgiving-day games? I’m telling you, the guy has a huge turducken cooking during the game, and then after the game he starts ripping pieces off and eating it and giving it to the crew. It’s, like, amazing and completely revolting rolled into one.
        
        http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos
        
        A Noble Spirit Embiggens The Smallest Man.
        
        “You know, I never heard of that word ’embiggens’ before I moved to this town.”
        “I don’t know why, it’s a perfectly cromulent word…”
A.D.

Victorino trying to take out D-Lowe
Mike Pop

Lowe is real solid so far
- http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime
  
  He’s got a good record in big game situations, apparently.
  
  I believe this qualifies as a big game.
A.D.

“Red Sox fans will remeber this hit”…. despite the game having nothing to do with the sox McCarver gets it in
A.D.

Haha victorino tripped, and the grabbed onto Lowe
- http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=594331910&ref=name Jamal G.
  
  If A-Rod would have done that…
Mike Pop

Nice play
A.D.

Does Kent retire after this season?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  He should.
dkidd

just joined the thread. i have a sinking feeling we sign lowe and he posts a 5.83 era in 2009
Joey H.

Anyone else picking up on how the FOX commentators are extra sympathetic to the Dodgers for their injury issues but when there is a Yankee game they can give a rats ass?
Joey H.

I don’t think Furcal has seen anything but a change-up.
- http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime
  
  There was a time I used to confuse Furcal and Pujols.
  
  Not, uh, any more.
http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=594331910&ref=name Jamal G.

I like how nobody mentions Jack McCormick, the famed traveling secretary, belittled Manny Ramirez in front of the entire Boston clubhouse beforehand.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Well, that’s different than being physically assaulted.
- A.D.
  
  thats not what the ‘nation wants to hear
- The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
  
  Dude defend Manny all you want, I think he’s an amazing baseball player too… But you can’t defend him for pushing that guy to the ground. That’s something he shouldn’t have done and it can’t be excused.
  - TheLastClown
    
    Dig that. Him & Pedro were much the same in my little black shitlist book. They were both amazing players, who killed the Yanks for the Sox, and were total assholes. While most of my hatred evaporates when they leave Boston, Pedro bouncing Don Zimmer & Manny pushing down an old man who, as Jamal says, belittled him, are both A #1 Not Cool
  - http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=594331910&ref=name Jamal G.
    
    Oh, no, I’m not saying it justifies it (for the record, neither did Manny). I’m just using it to go against the notion that McCormick was some unassuming guy, and the shove by Manny had nothing to do with the actions of Mr. McCormick.
    - The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
      
      Eh, agree to disagree here. You’re taking one side of the story as fact and disregarding the other side. I actually never heard that McCormick was getting in Manny’s face in front of the team, I heard that Manny had made a completely unreasonable demand for a ton of tickets to a sold-out game and McCormick couldn’t fill the request and Manny freaked out on him. And honestly, even if McCormick said something inappropriate to him, Manny’s a professional athlete and a young man, he simply can’t act out physically against an old man. I don’t give a shit what McCormick said.
      - http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/5857104.html Joey H.
        
        However, I am positive that Ed Wade got into the face of Chacon using profanity while screaming. (link)
        
        The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
        
        Yeah that was widely reported, but we’re not discussing Chacon’s situation here, we’re discussing Manny’s.
        
        Joey H.
        
        No I know but you commented on my take on the situation. I wanted you to see my point, Don’t shy away.
        
        The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
        
        Huh? What did I shy away from?
        
        The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
        
        The comment you responded to was a response to Jamal, not you. Different conversation.
        
        Joey H.
        
        I know it was, I wanted to get your attention to get my point to you.
    - The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
      
      Actually, I’m just curious, can you provide a link to an article saying that McCormick acted inappropriately? Do you remember where you may have read that? I just never heard that before tonight, curious to read about it.
- Joey H.
  
  Shawn Chacon, the guy who nobody ever said a bad thing about until the incident was viewed as Satan when he threw that guy on the floor. When Manny pulled this stunt I think it was covered for about 12 hours. Gotta love that ESPN bias.
  - TheLastClown
    
    Well, Chacon pushed down his BOSS, not a traveling secretary. I agree with you about the bias, but Chacon was infinitely more stupid because it was:
    
    A: His boss
    B: He’s not a Manny Ramirez caliber star
  - The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
    
    First of all… Chacon attacked the team’s general manager. As I understand it, he tackled the guy like he was going to beat him up. Now, I think what Manny did was just as bad, but it’s a little more high-profile when you take a guy down like you’re going to beat him up (and he’s the GM). Also… I think ESPN covered the Manny thing a ton. Sometimes we see bias where it doesn’t exist, just because WE’re biased.
    - Joey H.
      
      I can care less who it is, You are a highly paid athlete, how much does it take out of you to keep your cool? I mean really. Does it matter whether it was a traveling secretary or a GM? just because his place on the totem pole doesn’t make a heated assault less or more wrong. The Chacon thing was covered for about 3 or so days. The Manny incident got maybe a day’s coverage. And isn’t that contradictory lastclown? Your second point that is.
      - The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
        
        I don’t think you actually know how much coverage the respective incidents got. Just a hunch.
        
        Joey H.
        
        I’m positive how much coverage the incidents got. It was biased. Bottom line, You have every right to disagree, all I’m saying is that as a face of a franchise who assaulted a person in association with the team, he didn’t nearly get as much negative coverage as he deserved.
      - TheLastClown
        
        Im not sure what you’re saying is contradictory.
        
        I saw plenty of coverage, though I can’t say for how many days, on both stories. The bias I was referring to was the attitude that Manny will get something of a wash in the MSM, while Chacon may have to deal with the albatross of that experience for a while. This is just my conjecture, but I made it.
        
        BUT, the reason for this is Manny is a superstar. Whether in sports or otherwise, superstars get the VIP treatment, and their mistakes are brushed under the carpet on many occasions. I’m not making a point as to whether or not this is right or wrong, but it just is.
        
        That said, Chacon should have known he’d have no chance of getting away with that, I don’t know if Manny would have gotten away with tackling Theo Epstein either. But the traveling secretary can be transgressed with the offending party knowing full-well he’ll get away with it.
        
        Again, not right or wrong, just assessment of the situation.
        
        Joey H.
        
        Your saying Chacon isn’t a Manny type superstar. That’s irrelevant to the situation. Chacon was BASHED by the media for that incident. Manny hardly took any lashes,due to the usual ESPN bias.
        
        http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
        
        Seriously. They wrote it off as Manny being Manny.
        
        http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/5857104.html Joey H.
        
        Thank you very much.
        
        TheLastClown
        
        But that’s my point. It’s exactly relevant to the situation.
        
        Like I said first, I agree with you about the bias. But if I was Shawn Chacon, I would be aware of such a bias, and know that there’s no cushiony, cute little catchphrase to ease my troubles, ergo I would not attack the GM.
        
        Again, I’m not commenting on the fair or unfairness of this
        
        Joey H.
        
        Ok then if that’s the case, Whats the relevance of it being the secretary? Manny was being a straight up brat where Chacon was provoked by Wade.
- dkidd
  
  i don’t know the details. what happened?
  - TheLastClown
    
    Manny wanted 16 tickets at the last minute for a game v. TB
    
    The traveling secretary *according to Jamal* belittled him in front of the clubhouse, and couldn’t get the tickets, so Manny pushed him to the floor.
    
    Think what you will
    - TheLastClown
      
      it was @ TB I think actually
      - Mike Pop
        
        I thought it was at Houston
        
        Mike Pop
        
        It was Houston =]
        
        TheLastClown
        
        Nice, thanks :)
    - http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=594331910&ref=name Jamal G.
      
      All-Star Catcher, Jason Varitek:
      
      “I have [a sizable] difference lefthanded and righthanded, and it’s come to my attention because we have a big media following,’’ said Varitek, who hit .284 from the right side during the regular season. “I had a really bad two months or whatever it was, but late in the year I felt like I got to the point where I was having competitive at-bats. Now I feel like I’m where I need to be.“
      
      http://www.boston.com/sports/columnists/massarotti/2008/10/sox_leader_must_now_follow.html
      
      Oh, you mean like posting a .183/.286/.300 vital line in September, douchebag?
      - http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=594331910&ref=name Jamal G.
        
        Damn, forgot to click “Cancel”.
      - Joey H.
        
        Personally I call him an All-Star Douchebag :)
Ivan

Hamels is good.
- TheLastClown
  
  And he has a pretty nice swing
Ivan

Hamels is a better hitter than Melky.
- http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime
  
  That’s not saying much.
- Steve
  
  Is A-Rod still a Boras client?
  
  I thought he (rather publicly) dumped him during the last contract deal at some point.
  - Joey H.
    
    Not from my understanding. He signed with this group. He did however praise Boras I think last week.
    - Steve
      
      Someone needs to tell MLBTR. They have him listed as a Boras guy.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

J-Roll = teh clutch.
http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=594331910&ref=name Jamal G.

Heh, Derek Lowe did not say one single word, outside of “Yeah!”, that was not a curse.
dkidd

you think lowe’s this pumped because it’s the playoffs or because he knows he’s upping his FA value?
- TheLastClown
  
  I really don’t think that he’s thinking about his FA status while pitching in the Championship Series, I’d go with the former
  - dkidd
    
    i’m just worried that somewhere cashman is watching and warming up to lowe…
    - TheLastClown
      
      Well then he just saw Utley crushed one
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Lowe’s another example of why you shouldn’t give up and trade a young guy just because he struggles in his first go around in the bigs, like the Mariners’ did.
- Steve
  
  You were saying?
- RollingWave
  
  seriously, if the M’s didn’t fucking pull that shit trade Boston would be going nowhere.
dkidd

those frutista ads are humiliating to bob melvin
Joey H.

Brad Lidge’s season has gone totally under the radar. He was spectacular this year. Some saves weren’t always easy but that’s expected. The guy, not for nothing was a real bargain who turned into a great comeback story.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Oh great, here comes the Victorino lovefest.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Aaaaaaaaand now the Utley love fest.
A.D.

tie game
Mike Pop

Utley earn that money baby !!!
http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime

Hey! Someone told Philadelphia (finally) that they had a game!

Chase Utley!
Mike Pop

Cano will do that next year
dkidd

my wife says utley has a “date-rape face”
- Steve
  
  I bet those “Vaseline for Men” commercials dont make her feel any better, now do they?
A.D.

Lowe love fest can now simmer down
- Joey H.
  
  He was clearly winded from the previously inning. I don’t think he ever recovered.
  - Joey H.
    
    Previous*
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Damn D-Lowe. It all comes crashing down.
http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime

Man. The Spanish announcers are so monotone you’d never know it was a home run if not for occasionally glancing up at the screen.
Mike Pop

D Lowe wont be a yankee now………..
- The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
  
  I don’t want Lowe, but I would hope the Yankees aren’t going to make personnel decisions based on one inning of work.
  - Steve
    
    Of course not. But I see a guy throwing 90 MPH 2-seamers and 83 MPH sliders, and if I want that I’ll just bring back Sir Sidney Ponson.
    - Reggie C.
      
      90 mph 2 seamers sounds ML average. Isn’t it the 4 seamer that you want in 92-93 range? After all, lets not forget Hughes throws a 88 (yes)-90 mph 2 seamer.
      - Steve
        
        Hughes’ out pitch is the curve and he has impeccable control.
        
        Hughes is a very different pitcher. One guy pitches to contact and the other gets swings and misses. Apples and Oranges.
        
        Reggie C.
        
        I’m saying that 2 seamers are meant to have motion to them, so velocity isn’t a big issue unless we’re talking about someone who’s in that sub-88 mph territory. That’s why bringing up Lowe’s velocity doesn’t matter.
        
        Lowe gets a lot of ground ball outs and that’s his game plan. It worked out for 5 innings.
- Reggie C.
  
  5 innings of impressive work. That’s what i’ll take from it. You’re not going to win every battle against Utley. The homer to Burrell is more of a negative in my book.
  
  Lowe shouldn’t be too down on himself. Dodgers can tie it up quick.
  - Steve
    
    “Other than that, Mrs Lincoln, how was the Play?”
    - TheLastClown
      
      Awesome, Im going to take that for sure.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

What a gritty play by Blake. No talent, all scrap right there.
- Mike Pop
  
  He musta talked to pedroia be4 the game
TheLastClown

That was Brosius-esque, gritty Blake
Mike Pop

Thats why the Phillies are so dangerous
dkidd

is dewitt for real?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Yes, but he’s no superstar. Solid regular.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

I love that Maddux is pitching out the pen. This is so cool.
- Steve
  
  Word.
- Mike Pop
  
  You think he finds it degrading to some respect or you think hes a guy who knows what is best for the team..I think hes prob cool with it
  - Steve
    
    At his age, I’d think he’s cool with it.
    
    In his prime he was an all time great, but that was a long time ago.
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
    
    Yeah, agreed. He’s probably cool with it.
    - Mike Pop
      
      The rocket wouldnt have it.. He’d say hey I’m juicing up for a reason and that reason is to be a starter
Reggie C.

How many guys are the Yanks going to poach from the Dodgers? Manny, Casey, Ethier, Loney, and Kemp’s respective names have all been mentioned at some point.

Dodgers got some core unit …
- Mike Pop
  
  Loney Kemp Ethier Broxton Billingsley and Kershaw..Its a beautiful thing
dkidd

anyone have a vote for best and worst national anthem/god bless america?

best: smokey robinson in boston

worst: liz phair in chicago
http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime

So, should the score hold till the ninth, what’s the over/under on Lidge going back into Pujols-mode?
Joey H.

Wasn’t Park an almost Met? What happened with that?
dkidd

is the maddux the last player left to show the stirrups?
- http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime
  
  good question.
  - dkidd
    
    i’m old enough to remember when george hendricks was the only player NOT showing them
- A.D.
  
  i think moyer does
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

A Giambi-esque stretch by Loney.
Joey H.

Is it me or every ball that goes to Furcal does Joe say “..and Furcal, With the great arm”?
Mike Pop

Manuel fucked up there taking out Hamels in my opinion
pat

wowsers nice play 2b
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Ooof. Looked like Jimmy was safe.
- UWS
  
  Note the excellent job by FOX, showing us the replay so that we can see exactly what happened.
  
  Ugh.
dkidd

easily safe, even to the naked eye
UWS

Ryan Madson vs. Manny, coming up. I have a bad feeling about this.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  0.98 ERA & 0.93 WHIP since August 31st.
  - UWS
    
    Yeah, but it’s Manny.
    
    Well, he got him out on one pitch, so I guess it’s OK…this time, at least.
http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime

So what do we know about the Phillies bullpen?

And why is this commercial for the NYSE filling me with a sense of dread?
- Joey H.
  
  It’s very strong.
Mike Pop

Joe Torre, I might miss him a lil itty bit
Mike Pop

Madison has a better change than Hamels ?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  No. McCarver’s an idiot.
  - Ivan
    
    Figures.
- TheLastClown
  
  Is Kuo meant to be a starter or reliever?
  - TheLastClown
    
    Not sure why this comment ended up here, I positively didn’t have the above comment clicked to reply….odd
    - RollingWave
      
      he was a starter most of the time in the minors. and a few times in the majors, the problem is that his elbow is simply glass, he’s Kazmir like awsome when he’s right. a abosalute strike out machine with blazing heat and filthy curve + slider, it’s ashame he’s blown out his elbow so many times that no one dares to keep him as a starter anymore
Ivan

Manson has the best change up on the Phillies?
http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime

Spanish Announcers:

We love American football, but we have no football in Spanish for you.

Oops.
http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=594331910&ref=name Jamal G.

Well that was anti-climatic.
Mike Pop

Anyone think Lidge is gonna blow up here in the 9th ?
- http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime
  
  See my comment from earlier.
  - Mike Pop
    
    Ya noone responded to it so i figured id give it a shot
dkidd

was madson a starter earlier in his career?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  As recently as 2006.
  - dkidd
    
    no joba-esque “start or relieve” controversy?
    - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
      
      Nope. But Madson sucked as a starter.
Mike Pop

Phillies going to the W.S.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Are they serious? The groundball by Victorino that led to him being on second because of a throwing error is the game changing play? Not the homer but Utley? Or the one by Burrell? Oof.
- Mike Pop
  
  Thats FOX
  - A.D.
    
    Thats Grit
- http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime
  
  well, if he doesn’t get on base, it’s only a one run home run!
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
    
    Well, if Utley or Burrell doesn’t homer, the game would be tied, or worse.
    - http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime
      
      This is true, but there home run only make the game 2-2 if they don’t have that runner on base!
- http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=594331910&ref=name Jamal G.
  
  Mike, Tim McCarver said that he was “shocked, absolutely shocked” when he found out that more runs are scored in an inning led off by a Home Run rather than led off with a walk.
  
  This is the man you are listening to. A man who is “shocked, absolutely shocked” when a play that leads to guaranteed runs results in more runs scored in an inning than a play that results in a base-runner on first base.
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
    
    That still isn’t as bad as the time Michael Kay was dumbfounded that CMW would have a higher ERA with no one on bases than with runners on.
    - http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=594331910&ref=name Jamal G.
      
      Am I reading that wrong? Isn’t it shocking that he has a higher ERA with nobody on-base than with runners on-base?
      - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
        
        No, I’m an idiot, I have to backwards. He was shocked that it was so much higher with runner on.
        
        http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=594331910&ref=name Jamal G.
        
        Jeez, don’t scare me like that. I was thinking my brain was turned to mush in the 2+ hours I’ve been listening to dumb and dumber.
      - UWS
        
        I think Mike meant the other way around: Kay was shocked CMW had a higher ERA with people on base.
    - Steve
      
      Wait a minute, now I’m dumbfounded as well. Please explain that one to me.
      - Steve
        
        Ohhh never mind.
  - A.D.
    
    new fangled stats from truck, damn them
  - Steve
    
    I guess there’s no Baseball axiom about HR’s “always coming around to score”
    
    So many axioms make no sense.
    
    “A walk is as good as a hit”-Really? I’ve never seen a guy go from 1st to 3rd on a walk.
dkidd

remember in little league when they told the first baseman to play the ball, not the bag? james loney doesn’t
- Steve
  
  Yeah, I thought he should have caught that.
A.D.

No reason to pinch hit for pure grit
A.D.

Could DeWitt end up being the next casey blake?
Ivan

Im really glad that Lidge is at the level he’s at now. Always been a big fan of his.
Mike Pop

Man Phils were lucky Manny wasnt up the way they been crushing these Lidge pitches
- A.D.
  
  Lidge used a fair amount of the park on those first 2 outs
UWS

Brad Lidge sez to haters: Bite me.
http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime

Hey! Phillies win! This makes me happy.
dkidd

this is gonna be a fun series
Mike Pop

Chase really looks like he is a good guy
- Steve
  
  Despite the “date-rape face”.
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
    
    This is definitely our new nickname for Utley. DateRapeFace™.
Joey H.

LMAO IS BURRELL STANDING ON A LADDER!?
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Pat Burrell makes Ken Rosenthal look like Vern Troyer.
- Joey H.
  
  ^^
Mike Pop

Pat the bat rakes
http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime

Pat Burrell for CF ’09?
- http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos
  
  Let’s not go overboard, here…
UWS

Is it just me or did Buck sound really depressed after Phils won?
http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime

Apparently my friend lives walking distance from CitizensBank and says the noise from the park is so loud it’s scaring her cat.
Manimal

oh my god, I think I like hockey now. Im watching the sharks play right now.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  What channel yo?
  
  I watched most of the Rangers’ first two games last weekend, and I plan on DVRing their game tomorrow (while watching the ALCS).
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
    
    Ah I see. Free preview of the Center Ice package.
    - Manimal
      
      yeah. This game is pretty one-sided, the Power plays are killing anaheim, 5 of them in less that 2 quarters.
      - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
        
        Oh how I miss the early 1990’s production quality of northern California sports broadcasts.
  - Manimal
    
    I have direct TV and I think its a free trial of the NHL Center Ice. 696-1 on direct tv. Cheechoo has 2 goals.
    - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
      
      Yeah, I have it on Time Warner, two games actually. San Jose vs Anaheim, Vancouver vs Calgary.
      - Manimal
        
        yeah I have both games too, this one seems more interesting though, Sharks and Ducks are highly ranked teams from the same state.
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