MLB - 2006 Season!

[Lawrence of Arabia]

sox 5 - 1, yanks 2 - 4. we've got a nearly insurmontable lead. they should just mail it in (which is what the offense has been doing lately)

[Arrian]

How's Coco feeling? If he's out for a while, it will hurt the offense (he's been great).

In defense of the 2-4 record (ugh), I will cite strength of schedule (As/Angels > Rangers/Orioles) and small sample size (it's, like, really early). That being said, the Yankee defense is crap. It will continue to cost the team games. So will Torre. I like Joe, I really do, but he does do stupid things sometimes. Exhibit A was his use of Scott Proctor in game 2. Exhibit B was his use of Miguel Cairo in game 6 (where art thou, Andy Philips?). The team has flaws, and it's gotta be expertly managed. Torre, while clearly awesome at much of the job, is not a particularly good tactical manager. Blah.

-Arrian

[Lawrence of Arabia]

bad news if you cannot beat guys who might meet in septebmer and october.

[Arrian]

Oh, I quite agree that the Yanks performance did not inspire confidence vis-a-vis possible playoff matchups (though honestly I'll be surprised if the Angels make the playoffs). No doubt, pitching & defense teams with decent hitting (like the Angels and White Sox last year, the As (?) this year...) are going to give the Yankees problems.

-Arrian

[Lawrence of Arabia]

heres something to think about. On July 31st, the sox rotation will be:

Clemens
Wakefield
Schilling
Beckett
Papelbon

then we've still got clement and wells left. can wily mo pena play 1st base?

man this team is STACKED, even more so if they get clemens.

[Arrian]

Yet another assertion about Clemens. Dude, nobody knows what Roger's gonna do. For all you know, he could end up in pinstripes.

Papelbon might be your closer this season, which would make Clement your 5th starter in that scenario.

Anyway, the Sox may do well, but the offense has to be cause for some concern. Lowell's garbage. Gonzalez can't hit either. Youklis may hit some, but not much. It's really all about Crisp-Loretta(who looks pretty good so far, damn, what an assrape of San Diego there)-Ortiz-Manny-Nixon-Varitek. That's good, but you've got some black holes at the bottom end. If the pitching holds up, you're in good shape, no doubt.

I've never counted the Red Sox out of contention this year. Many did, elevating the Blue Jays ( ). Not I. That's a well-run organization up there in Beantown.

-Arrian

[Lawrence of Arabia]

Youkilis doesnt hit, he gets on base. He will have an OBP of around .400. The problem is that if he hits 7th, in front of our 'defensive specialists' he wont be scoring many runs.

I don't think Papelbon will be the closer, he is much more valuable as a starter. Foulke will be fine for this year, hes getting old, next year trade him and bring in Lester or Hansen.

[Arrian]

I know about the Greek God of Walks, LoA. His OBP has been good in the past (sub-400, though, IIRC, not that ~.375 is bad or anything), true. Hence he will have value. I wasn't really knocking him.

I dunno about Papelbon. Obviously he's supposed to be a starter, but he's kicked some ass as a closer and Foulke has looked bad. It's early, so this could all change, but I wouldn't be surprised if Foulke is pretty much done, in which case you need a closer to work w/Timlin. Papelbon has already done it, and done it well. Managers like good closers, and the Sox have a bunch of starting pitchers... that's all I'm saying.

-Arrian

[Lawrence of Arabia]

remember, its only papelbons first time through the teams. wait till hitters start seeing him for the second, third, fourth times, etc.

besides, fatty fat fat wells will be on the dl come june. we will need a 5th starter.

[Arrian]

*shrug*

Too early to say. We'll see.

-Arrian

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by Sava
My point stands.

I watched the game... you obviously didn't.

I saw the guys pitch. The way they looked and the way they played isn't reflected in the numbers. But then again, all you do is look at numbers

Biased observer vs. the stats? I'll take the stats any day. Especially over your biased ass .

Really, saying someone who had 5 baserunners in 6 innings (WHIP of under 1, if you are counting) and gave up no runs didn't pitch 'well enough' in the early going is idiocy on the par of creationism.

Though we don't really expect any better from you.

and for the coup de grace:

http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/gamecenter/recap/MLB_20060408_STL@CHC

Michael Barrett had a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the seventh for the Cubs, who couldn't get anything going against NL Cy Young Award winner Chris Carpenter. The right-hander struck out nine in six shutout innings, allowing four hits and one walk.

"I was glad he (Carpenter) was out of the game when I did have to pinch hit, to be honest with you," Barrett said. "I was watching him in the clubhouse, he was just hitting both sides of the plate."

Besides attacking both sides of the plate, Carpenter had all of his pitches working.

[Imran Siddiqui]

at Clemens coming back to the Red Sox. I still think he's a bit pissed at that whole situation.

And, like Arrian said, too early to make any predictions.

[Lawrence of Arabia]

he who laughs last laughs longest imran.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Well, that means I should laugh longer then

[Berzerker]

damn, Chipper is out and its Monday

but a good start 2 - 0 and blow outs