2008 Regular Season Discussion Thread

WATPOAE · 03-04-2008 9:05am

Great outing by Burnett and the Jays bullpen last night (although as per usual, they made it interesting down to the last out!). Nice to see Mr Wells belt one over the LF fence as well.

And yeah, I thought it was just my laptop that was giving me trouble with mlb.tv. I might do as Mad_Max suggested and uninstall Silverlight and go back to the original player.

Mad_Max · 04-04-2008 12:23am

yeah burnett was nasty last night. Him, hallady and mcgowan they have a pretty strong starting rotation.

Have any of you's been noticing a weird strikezones in games. I noticed some high balls getting called in yankees, tigers and mets games.

zuutroy · 04-04-2008 10:48am

Mad_Max wrote: »

yeah burnett was nasty last night. Him, hallady and mcgowan they have a pretty strong starting rotation.

Have any of you's been noticing a weird strikezones in games. I noticed some high balls getting called in yankees, tigers and mets games.

Frank Thomas has noticed

Mad_Max · 04-04-2008 5:05pm

in fairness he was right. like 3 pitches before that he got the exact same pitch called a ball.

Thought the strikezone was unbelievable last night. Some high some low very erratic. Decent outing by hughes though.

Waitsian · 04-04-2008 8:54pm

zuutroy wrote: »

Frank Thomas has noticed

WATPOAE · 05-04-2008 1:44pm

zuutroy wrote: »

Frank Thomas has noticed

Well at least he took out his frustration on an actual baseball last night with his game breaking double!

Roll on the Tank!

zuutroy · 05-04-2008 1:51pm

Watched the whole game this morning...Another good pitching outing bar the one blip to Drew. May make for an interesting season yet....Love those retro jerseys....time to hit ebay.

Waitsian · 05-04-2008 3:16pm

Great game last night - loving the Retro jerseys. Great to see Shannon Stewart back in blue, always a fave of mine. Marcum looked great and if the bats do what they're capable of, we'll be there at the finish with our pitching staff. I still reckon it's one of the best in MLB.

Redsoxfan · 05-04-2008 5:33pm

I don't have much confidence in the Sox bullpen. None of them (bar Papelbon) are that frightening IMHO. Delcarmen has good stuff and great numbers against Thomas, but I had an uneasy feeling when he came on last night-although to be fair it was the first 2 pitchers in that inning that took the L.

Marcum pitched very well. Wakefield as well, but there are always stages in a game where the ball gets away from him.

Hopefully JD Drew continues the HR habit that he developed this spring.

Interesting to see which Bucholz shows up this afternoon.

Interesting times in NYC as well! Although I will be hella surprised if the Yanks don't beat up on Ed Jackson today.

Mad_Max · 05-04-2008 6:27pm

Yeah last night was a disaster. Kennedy was being too picky with his pitches trying to catch the corners. Offense rallied a bit but Hawkins really blew it for us.

Yeah have to say jays starting 4 really seem strong, fitness reliant of course, but good stuff.

Edit: Check out Gomes' play in the top of the second

:D

Kinda32 · 05-04-2008 6:49pm

watching the sox game, but will def check it out later on.. both pitchers in sox game are a little erractic, but man does bucholtz have some stuff.. In relation to last night, it was a classic case of the Jays playing proper fundamental ball.. Marcum was outstanding, bar his one blip, i was watching thinking we were never going to get a hit off him!!

zuutroy · 05-04-2008 7:29pm

LOL Zaun plates two on a double play ball....Shades of Buckner there.

Kinda32 · 05-04-2008 8:20pm

Another poor show from Red Sox bullpen.. Eckstein really is one of those guys you love if he is on your team and dislike if he's against you. He really hussle's every play. fair play to him. Are you still sad that McDonald is sitting Zuutroy?? Good start by the Jays this season, good have been great had it not been for a couple of inns in New York.

zuutroy · 05-04-2008 8:22pm

I believe 'pwned' is what the kids are calling it these days!...

Still like Johnny Mac's defense but you cant argue with the production advantage Eckstein has.

Mad_Max · 05-04-2008 8:32pm

dear God the yanks offence has me pulling my hair out. Ed Jackson is 90 pitches and hittable and they go down on about 9-10 pitches. I dont think ive ever seen so many pop-ups as in these last few games.

Ah well at least Boston are losing

eagle eye · 05-04-2008 10:10pm

Mad_Max wrote: »

dear God the yanks offence has me pulling my hair out. Ed Jackson is 90 pitches and hittable and they go down on about 9-10 pitches. I dont think ive ever seen so many pop-ups as in these last few games.

Ah well at least Boston are losing

Is that the Red Sox you are talking about?
The Boston Red Sox
The WORLD CHAMPS
The greatest team in Baseball

Mad_Max · 05-04-2008 10:52pm

eagle eye wrote: »

Is that the Red Sox you are talking about?
The Boston Red Sox
The WORLD CHAMPS
The greatest team in Baseball

I've heard them called worse things

zuutroy · 05-04-2008 11:35pm

Really looking forward to Halladay vs. Beckett tomorrow evening. Why does Roy always seemed to be matched against the opponents no.1!

Redsoxfan · 05-04-2008 11:44pm

Looks like that's the end of Snyder. He's been designated for assignment and is out of options. He could do quite well in the NL. Not a fan of Corey (or Lopez for that matter). It's kinda frustrating that Julian comes on in these sort of blow outs and pitches well.

A bad loss for the Sox-some of the defence I have seen in the first 2 games of this series has not been encouraging. Maybe they're still jet-lagged

.

Anywho, Beckett v. Halliday tomorrow-should be good-and on at a reasonable hour as well.

Btw-any Tigers fans around

7 walks and NO kos for D-Train in his first AL start (although he avoided the L and only gave up 1 hit-a bizarre enough line). No team has ever won the WS after starting 0-5.

Kinda32 · 06-04-2008 3:17am

Kinda surprised they let Synder go.. he had a decent year last year. Obviously they are keeping Taverez as the long man and the dont want to lose Aardesma or Corey.. Was beginning to think Corey was a good pitcher till the ugly line he had in the game, but still its only one game, and he does have the look of a guy who can get outs. Big decision ahead when Timlin comes off the DL, one of Lopez, Aardesma or Corey will be gone. Personally i'd lose Lopez, i know teams love having the lefty options in the bullpen but the guy had better stats against right handers last year, not really a lefty specialist now is he!!! I think the other two guys have bigger upsides so keep them.

Agree with you RedSoxFan, think Synder could do a good job in the NL, maybe as a starter for a Pirates or Giants organisation. Always thought the guy was a decent pitcher, drafted in '99 ahead of guys like Zito, Rios, Sheets and Brett Myers but just had a tough time with injury. Hope he gets a shot with a team that can give him a chance, sure he will do a decent job..

Looking forward to game later with Beckett and Doc Halladay.. should be a good one, and all of a sudden Beckett seems to be thrust into a must win game (if there is such things 7 games into a 162 game season!!), just seems like the Sox could do with a morale boosting win...

califano · 06-04-2008 1:03pm

The Cubs are going all the way this year!.
Lou Pinella is just the man to make it happen. Bit of a stuttering start but its down the stretch where they will click them out.

zuutroy · 06-04-2008 6:28pm

The 1.2MB picture on WMP is looking really good now.

Mad_Max · 06-04-2008 6:59pm

you uninstall silverlight?? I've noticed a general improvment in picture quality on WMP each day.

zuutroy · 06-04-2008 7:51pm

Oh Frankie...Grand Slam...Jays are coming out of the gates fast.

Yeah, got rid of silverlight.

WATPOAE · 06-04-2008 7:54pm

Jesus, ole Frank certainly got all of that middle of the plate fastball!

Redsoxfan · 06-04-2008 8:22pm

WTF?

What exactly is Julio Lugo doing playing for the Red Sox?

Letting Orlando Cabrera (and to a lesser extent Alex Gonzalez) walk were poor decisions IMHO.

Looks like the Frank has Delcarmen's number.

Red Sox need to get back to basics-like (the bullpen) getting people out and playing solid defence.

JD Drew continues to impress-pity he does it with with nobody on.

zuutroy · 06-04-2008 8:39pm

WHAT A PLAY JOHNNIE MAC.....unreal :eek::eek:

zuutroy · 06-04-2008 9:07pm

Fantastic series by the Jays...one of the best I've seen.

WATPOAE · 06-04-2008 9:09pm

Zuutroy, are you gonna get out the BROOM or shall I?!!

Redsoxfan · 06-04-2008 9:21pm

Swept us last September as well guys-anyone remember what happened after that?

zuutroy · 06-04-2008 9:38pm

WATPOAE wrote: »

Zuutroy, are you gonna get out the BROOM or shall I?!!

Redsoxfan wrote: »

Swept us last September as well guys-anyone remember what happened after that?

lol, I know better than to start the abuse in week 1

Redsoxfan · 06-04-2008 10:42pm

Sure we're all friends here-a good win for the BJs (;)).

If Ryan comes back they could have a very good setup and closer combo.

We'll see you at Fenway in 3 weeks. Hopefully at that stage Mike Lowell will have an RBI, we will have traded for bullpen help (or Buchholz will be in the mix), and Jed Lowrie will be our starting shortstop.

An interesting start to the AL East. The Rays played the Yankees very tough.

Mad_Max · 06-04-2008 11:44pm

Yeah like you say an interesting start. Been very impressed with jays so far and to a lesser extent the rays. Haven't seen any of oakland after the opener but they looked ok in that.

Obviously a long long way to go but i think the jays might have a say in the destination of the division. Think the rays will burn out, shields looked very hittable at times today.

soxfan, you reckon bucholz will move to pen?? You fancy this as a move to make way for schilling when he gets of DL or is bucholz looking like he cant handle it just yet??

Redsoxfan · 07-04-2008 10:17am

Mad_Max wrote: »

soxfan, you reckon bucholz will move to pen?? You fancy this as a move to make way for schilling when he gets of DL or is bucholz looking like he cant handle it just yet??

No-not to make room for Schilling-to make room for Colon-although looking at the pictures it looks like you would need more than one roster move to accomplish that!

Appears to be some doubt as to whether Schilling will actually return at all.

I think Buchholz (yes-2 consecutive h!) has good stuff for bullpen duty and could fill the apparent need the Sox have there at the moment. Not a permanent move by any means...

All my own thoughts-so could be way off the mark.

Mad_Max · 07-04-2008 10:34am

Redsoxfan wrote: »

I think Buchholz (yes-2 consecutive h!)

Noted

Hadn't hear that about schilling!! Granted I don't often click news headlines that may involve him

Redsoxfan · 07-04-2008 2:27pm

Mad_Max wrote: »

Noted

Hey-I only noticed myself yesterday and was surprised-anyway, this isn't a spelling test!

Mad_Max wrote:

Hadn't hear that about schilling!! Granted I don't often click news headlines that may involve him

+1.

Kinda32 · 07-04-2008 6:51pm

Colon suffered some injury today, not sure if its serious yet or not. Don't know if they would move Buchholtz to the 'pen though, they didnt want to do it last year as they thought it woulnt suit him. He's on the starting 5 for another few weeks at least.. Was really impressed with the Jays in the series, they played good ball.. In stark contrast to the Sox (yes that means you LUGO!!!).. Imagine we have to suffer through 3 more years of that!! He was suppossed to be an offensive upgrade on Alex Gonzalez (not so far anyway..) and we lost the best defensive shortstop the Sox have had in a long time.. I wonder will they try to off-load him like Renteria and eat some serious salary, and bring up Lowrie. Probably not but it surely couldn't be any worse.. At least its good to see JD Drew have a good start, hope it continues..

Mad_Max · 08-04-2008 10:04pm

Great news peeps!!! Friend just got an email from mlb tv saying that condensed games will be back

Thank you for your email , we are currently updating our system and the condensed games will be available soon . Sorry for any inconvenience.

zuutroy · 08-04-2008 10:22pm

Mad_Max wrote: »

Great news peeps!!! Friend just got an email from mlb tv saying that condensed games will be back

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSS!

Thanks for the good news!

Redsoxfan · 08-04-2008 10:59pm

Nothing like home cooking.

Sawx dwap the Tigers to 0-7 and Dicey-K looks good (although still too many pitches-albeit against one of the best lineups out there). Delcarmen and Okajima too. Still nothing from Papi though.

Phil Hughes struggled badly for the Yanks today.

Mad_Max · 09-04-2008 12:00am

great win for boSox. Jaybus the tigers are awful so far. For such a heavy lineup they're hitting (or missing

) like kids. They're killing my fantasy team too

artanevilla · 10-04-2008 1:34am

Cards off to a good start.

Waitsian · 10-04-2008 4:22am

I know it's ridicoulously early in the season, but man Accardo - thats two nights in a row. Tonite was just ugly.

giddyup · 10-04-2008 5:58pm

Mad_Max wrote: »

Yeah like you say an interesting start. Been very impressed with jays so far and to a lesser extent the rays.

First post in Baseball. It's a sport I'm finally getting into. The Ms might complete the sweep today against the Rays. Shaky start to the season here. Wow, it can be a frustrating game to watch. Game 3 against the Orioles on Sunday is a case in point. Felix has an 8 inning shut-out but they only have a 2-0 lead and the 2 relievers they use in the 9th manage to balls it up and give up 3 runs to lose the game.

I don't understand most of the nuances of the game or most of the lingo but hope to get to a few games during the season and try to figure some of it out.

Redsoxfan · 10-04-2008 11:23pm

giddyup wrote: »

First post in Baseball. It's a sport I'm finally getting into. The Ms might complete the sweep today against the Rays. Shaky start to the season here. Wow, it can be a frustrating game to watch. Game 3 against the Orioles on Sunday is a case in point. Felix has an 8 inning shut-out but they only have a 2-0 lead and the 2 relievers they use in the 9th manage to balls it up and give up 3 runs to lose the game.

No-Ed Jackson moves to 2-0 who would have thought!

giddyup wrote: »

I don't understand most of the nuances of the game or most of the lingo but hope to get to a few games during the season and try to figure some of it out.

I picked it up pretty quickly. I think you learn more by watching on TV than going to games, but that's not to say that you shouldn't go to games....

Nice to have the opportunity-Ms are my pick for the West this year.

Mad_Max · 10-04-2008 11:50pm

giddyup wrote: »

First post in Baseball. It's a sport I'm finally getting into. The Ms might complete the sweep today against the Rays. Shaky start to the season here. Wow, it can be a frustrating game to watch. Game 3 against the Orioles on Sunday is a case in point. Felix has an 8 inning shut-out but they only have a 2-0 lead and the 2 relievers they use in the 9th manage to balls it up and give up 3 runs to lose the game.

I don't understand most of the nuances of the game or most of the lingo but hope to get to a few games during the season and try to figure some of it out.

If you get into like i did, you'll spend many, many a day watching!!

You'll pick the lingo n all that jazz up in no time especially if get to watch games. Pick up a mlb.tv subscription if you can/dont have it yet. Great for games especially with condensed games coming back.

Mariners will always be in with a shout at the end but I'd still fancy Angels for the west depending on Lackey and escobar coming back sharpish.

Edit: Just seen both Lackey and Escobar are on 30 day dl. I thought it was 15 day. Changes that division big time. Gives the Mariners a big edge.

Apparently its the first time ever a team has had to play 30+ games without two pitches with 18+ wins the year before. History in the making

Kinda32 · 11-04-2008 11:47am

Red Sox - Yankees series kicks off tonight.. Was just reading that Buchholtz grew up a yankees fan!! Hope he doesnt feel to generous towards them!! On the hitting side, its probably just what Ortiz needs as he always seems to hit against the Yankees and could do with some after a very very slow start.. Should be interesting to see if Girardi has any effect on this rivalry. Always seemed that Torre and Francona had lots of respect for each other but Girardi seems to me anyway to be a little hot headed, so could add a new dimension.. As for the pitching matchups i reckon that the first 2 games go either way (Yanks tonight and Sox tommorrow) and Sunday should be a good one (Dice-K and Hughes).. Shame its on ESPN sunday night, meaning its after 1 here, so no chance of watching that as i wouldn't be able to get up for work.. Highlights on Monday morning will have to do..

Mad_Max · 11-04-2008 11:59pm

After havin several things planned for tonight, everything has fallen into place, plans cancelled and im now ready with the beer.

Come on Yanks!!!!

Redsoxfan · 12-04-2008 1:28am

Mad_Max wrote:

Mariners will always be in with a shout at the end but I'd still fancy Angels for the west depending on Lackey and escobar coming back sharpish.

There's no point in the Angels getting to the playoffs unless they can avoid the Red Sox when they get there

.

Ho-hum. After cruising through the first 4 innings it starts to unravel for Clay- but saved by a double play with the bases loaded.

Come on Papi-hit something!

Mad_Max · 12-04-2008 1:38am

Wang has been pretty damned effective so far. 49 pitches for 5 innings.

Not liking how close you's were getting there, 3 fly balls right out there and then the homer. Thought bobby could have nabbed that one.

Tight game. Buchholz curveball has kept him in this game imo. Its quality and his only pitch regularly hitting the zone.

2008 Regular Season Discussion Thread

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