MLB 2011!!

[EPW]

Its a good thing he goes with his gut rather than following his nose.

(Cocaine Joke)

[-Jrabbit]

Congrats to the Rangers!!

[SlowwHand]

My prediction. Rangers in 6 over Giants. I want to say in 5, but I'll be conservative.

[SlowwHand]

From ESPN:

Juan Uribe's late home run and a lights-out bullpen propelled San Francisco to a 3-2 win over Philly and a date with the Rangers in the World Series

How does this jackass come to this conclusion? The Giants #1 pitcher, Lincecum, pitched in relief. That tells me their bullpen sucks.

[Arrian]

Congratulations to the Rangers & their fans. The Rangers played a great series and were the deserving victors.

As for my Yanks, well, there's always next year

-Arrian

[Arrian]

Yankee management goes by stats. Ron Washington goes by gut feeling.

Yankee management goes by stats, but not necessarily the right ones. It is generally accepted in the sabre community that intentional walks suck.

It would be more accurate to say that Joe Girardi goes by matchups. "Stats" would tell him that IBBs generally do more harm than good. But Joe is a slave to matchups (must bring in LHP to face LHB!) and the baseball convention re: walking the other team's best hitter with a "base open."

It's not really new-age vs. old school here. It's more 1980s vs old school. New age would be somebody more like Francona up in Boston (Tito may have his faults, but I don't think excessive IBBing or bunting are among them).

Ron Washington's players flat out-played the Yankees players. The managers had little to do with the outcome.

-Arrian

[SlowwHand]

Yes, he did. He installed the concepts the team would play by and called the shots on situational tactics.

[OzzyKP]

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE69O4GQ20101025

[Imran Siddiqui]

I'm glad to see a new World Series winner this season (technically the San Francisco Giants have never won a WS - the last time the franchise won a WS they were still in New York)! I, as usual (ie, aside from when the Phillies and Braves are in it), will root for the team that plays real baseball - ie, the NL team .

[SlowwHand]

Good.
Let me make note of that statement, in case you deny it later.

[-Jrabbit]

I've gotta root for the Rangers, much as it pains me to cheer for an AL team (other than the Chisox). I have a deep and personal understanding of their WS drought, and feel they should be rewarded for finally realizing it takes great pitching to win. (Granted, the Giants knew this all along.) I know another drought-ridden team that could learn a thing or two from them.

[Berzerker]

gotta go with the Giants, I've been a fan since Mays and McCovey

[Imran Siddiqui]

Good.
Let me make note of that statement, in case you deny it later.

You are a sad and pathetic creature.

[Arrian]

Yes, he did. He installed the concepts the team would play by and called the shots on situational tactics.

That's nice, Sloww, but the Rangers outscored the Yankees 2 to 1. They won convincingly, and it wasn't 1 play here or there that led to the Rangers victory (situational tactics). Further, to the extent that Ron Washington had a major impact, it was probably in game 1 - a game the Rangers should have won, but lost.

I'm not trying to rip the guy or anything, but I really don't understand how you can think what you appear to think (that Ron Washington's "gut" was a key element in the ALCS, opposed by Joe Girardi's "stats" which suck).

-Arrian

[-Jrabbit]

Today, someone actually asked me who won the World Series this year.
He was pretty flabbergasted when I told him that it wouldn't even start until tomorrow.

Gee, I hope everyone's had enough rest...

November Fever... Catch It!