That sign was pretty accurate. The Yankees got outhustled and outplayed despite having superior talent ... now if only the Angels "dynasty" can win the next 26 World Series, they'll actually match the Yanks ...

Milky, I'm pulling for Bonds too. He's the greatest player of this generation and it would be a shame for him to never get a ring.

The Mets made their best move a couple days ago by firing wack-job Valentine.

-Superman-

Supertroll:
So now you are on the Bonds bandwagon? Wait. Stop the presses. Sorry for not memorizing all the details of your very important life.
-------------------

Professional baseball specifically, and professional sports in general, face some huge problems. This thread could cover those issues.

But that's unlikely because smart dudes like Byron and even Ootie seem to have left this thread, after basically telling S off. I'm especially intrigued by Ootie's posts on June 15. S, did you notice that the dude was fed up with you?

Wow the Twins win !!!

Now its gets harder to route for just one team !

Contract this !!!

Aardvark do you have anything nice to say about anyone on this board besides me ?

Normally everything that comes out of your Pie-hole is negative.
Enjoy life a little and you won't be such a sad-sack

Whenever you post a question I try to help you out or anyone else for that matter.
But it seems that whenever you post you are putting someone down or in a flame war.

I guess not everyone on this board has a postive vibe thats fine.
Sorry for the little outburst

Milkman

Maybe he was, or maybe he wasn't. Regardless, you should let others speak for themselves ... one of your weaknesses in these debates is you frequently look for help after I've whipped you. Just be a man and take your medicine.

There should be a mercy rule here or something, cuz I'm starting to feel bad. It's just too easy.

-Superman-

Hmmm ... I think Dogface must have meant "smart dudes" in relation to himself. Given that comparison, we're all geniuses!

Milky, the twins are an amazing story, but I think they did Anaheim a favor by beating Oakland. I'm with you on hoping the Braves get beat ...

-Superman-

It is interesting that the Angels get called a "small market" team. What the fuck, they are in the second largest urban area in the country and are "small market"? Poorly marketed would be a better description.

I agree Powerman.
I wonder who is gonna buy them now ?
Maybe Ben will buy them along with the Anahiem Dicks and he will get better talent

the braves are getting killed as we speak
they must be the worst best team in the history of Sports next to the Bills.

This has been the most exciting year in baseball since Vince Coleman was lighting up fans in the stands !!

I want more !!
Milky

i see anaheim listed as a small favorite in game one. would guess that makes them favorite in the series. would have guessed minny would be a small favorite for the LCS. i don't think either team can choke in the series--how can you choke when no one gave you a chance to get this far?

I also once upon a time was an Angels fan, as in my formative years they put together an insane talent base then underachieved, a theme re: sports that has always fascinated me. My favorite baseball players as a kid were Garry Templeton, Bob Horner and Frank Tanana, the coulda woulda shoulda kids (or wasted talents, you decide) of their generation. I gave up loyalty to all baseball teams when Jackie Autry took over in the late 80's and ran the franchise into the ground with her penny pinching and negative goodwill (badwill?). She seemed like the bitch in Major League that wanted her team to lose.

Being an Angels fan could never be accused of frontrunning. The frickin' Dodgers dominated EVERYTHING in the media back then, and I'm sure it's still the same. I have no feelings for the current team and could not possibly care less if they win, though actually I'd probably root against them because Disney's a bunch of corporate dildoes and don't deserve the success. On second thought, the Twins' a-hole ownership doesn't either.

Re: signs in Anaheim, the best one I ever saw there was a prescient one in '82 that read 'Georgia's (Frontiere) a cunt'. If only they REALLY knew at that point...

Bonds is taking advantage of some awfully inflated offensive eras in addition to his juicing. There is a big difference between Barry the McGwire clone and the all around player he was 12+ years ago. While Arod is also benefiting from the nuevo rabbit ball era, I'd take him over Barry any day. Gee, and he's perceived to be a loser too...

I know this is all rambling, but I'll leave having a point to the Milkman!

Here's to having a great beisbol postseason. Assuming I can find the frickin' Family Channel (or whatever the hell it's called) somewhere in spanish...

Supertroll:
Here’s more hilarious evidence that you are a total dumb ass. The evidence speaks for itself.

On September 18, you wrote:
“While you're at it, re-read my debate with Ootie on the Yankees Vs. Mets for a sports argument the right way ... somehow neither of us resorted to bashing each other with personal insults! Imagine that!”

In the end, Ootie objected to your comments and was out of there… Somehow, you missed that part, you FUCKING dense moron. What a genius! LOL!!! The fact that you are bragging about that argument being “the right way” is stupid enough, considering it appears that the dude was sick of your bullshit, once he was done being overly polite to you (June 15). This is just more evidence of blunt sarcasm being too subtle to penetrate your thick skull. LOL!!! I don't have a problem with strong opinions, but dude, get a brain!

The interaction with Byron on that thread is classic. That’s true whether you love him unconservatively (i.e., Milky) or blame him for Pearl Harbor (as I do). Your clueless statements about ERA are for the ages, especially given how much you pretend to understand statistics. Didjya notice that Byron and Ootie were crackin’ up about that? LOL!!! I’m doing you a favor. Most people laugh at you BEHIND your back.

And to the rest of y’all:
Milkman and Byron are the same poster, in case ya hadn’t noticed. I think that both of these unsanitary trolls should be removed from the internet, in the interests of national security.

Porker: Yeah, I remember all that Angels shit. I moved up to the Bay Area, and then out of state, so that put some distance between me and Disneyland.

Yesss!!

Dogface, have you noticed how easily I set you off? Why is that? Am I that important to you, sweetie? Your latest ramble is absolutely dripping with your embarrassment, anger, and frustration!

Not only that, but I subtly manipulated you into going back and re-reading the entire baseball thread, as well as part of the hoops thread. You're trying way too hard!

Ahhh, the life of a troll (I love the "I'm not a troll, you're a troll" defense you've taken! Very 5th grade.). I guess that one hit home too!

Easy, easy, easy.

-Superman-

One more Game for the Giants !!!
its getter better and better

The Braves will choke and what will they do in the offseason ?
Jones is a great outfielder and despite his average has produced and saved a lot of runs for the braves.
Chipper's bat lost some punch but again he came through when needed.
what will Maddux and Glavine be offered ?
How much are they worth ? 12 , 15 million ?
Millwood was one of the best 3rd starters and would make a good 2nd pitcher in the rotation.

They need offense but also will need pitching.

What about the Mets what a horror show eh Erip ?
I thought they had a great chance at taking over the NL East and they went up in SMOKE.
I had HIGH expectations for them this year.

Get rid of Rey , trade Jeremy even if it means eating some of thier contracts and trade Mo back to the Sox and get some prospects.

i think some of the youngsters are ready to step up. And with Leiter , Fonzie and Piazza they should have a better year then last.
And get back Payton you crazy fucks !!

Forget about the Red Sox they will never ever win !!! So I will not even talk about them. They did surprise me this year.

The Yankees might grab Maddux or Glavine they need pitching.

Rangers pick for Next year is the Canseco brothers !!!

Dogster you werent supposed to say anything.
Now I will lose all my accounts
Byron , Superman , Sam , and Sampson are all my other ids
i will turn them in as soon as possible - lol

Aardvark I really feel for you bro.
i have no hard feelings I have always felt that one Kills hatred with kindness and I do that very well.

I only try to help out people. If my knowledge can help or improve a mongers situation I will post my views.
I can always argue with intellegence and without calling someone names or flaming.

I always put my money were my mouth is !
Porker knows that and so do others.

I have no trouble with people not liking me its the disbelief or calling me a liar that gets to me.

Any that do knows that I have called their bluff and they have backed down.

Again I have no problem with someone having thier own opinion and if you look through all the archives you will see that.

I have had it out with 3 people on this board and have turned those "flaming contests" into friendship.

One more thing Aard I am unflammable what can you possibly say to me ? I will answer for you - nothing !!!!!

I have joined many boards and have always felt very comfortable and have made many friendships with people from this site.

If I can help someone out even someone that has downed me I will help them.
Thats just the kind of person I am.

Good Luck
Milkman

I would love to see a repeat of the '91 World Series. Twins-Braves were Minesota beats the braves in the 10 inning of the seventh game with a single run batted in.

I was there - GO TWINS!!!

DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED~'91 Twins-Braves Series was great and I wasn't even a baseball fan back then, but soon become one after watching baseball at its best. Now, if I wasn't pulling (no pun) for the Angels to win it all, the rematch of the '91 W.S. would be nothing short of AWESOME BABY!
-Jarocho

Superman
I think Valentine was a good coach but at times was a little over the edge.
He did a great job in the beginning of his New york career.
Someone had to take the rap for such a bad season.
You can't fire the whole team so fire the coach.
If they knew they were gonna fire him during the season they should have got rid out him during
"The losing streak"
My question is now who is qualified to manage a New York team ?
How much pressure will this guy be under ?

Another question Who do you think was the most hated Met to play the game ?
my guess is Bonilla
When he first came up with the Pirates he was praised higher than Barry Bonds !!

I also think baseball should do something about the draft. You have 17 and 18 year old unproven players making 2 to 4 million just to play in the minor leagues.
They should have a solid structure
1rst pick gets 100k
2nd pick gets 75k
3rd pick 50 k and so on.

How soon will it be before someone becomes the first 30 mill player then 50 mill then 100 mill.
by then tickets will be like 100 fucks a piece !

Ok enough rambling
Milky

Valentine is a wack job. Remember when he got booted from a game a couple years ago and came back in a disguise? Managing or playing in NY is harder than anywhere else, because of all the media attention. Torre is perfect ... I'm sure the Met's will find someone decent.

-Superman-

Supe

that funny as yell. i remember that game and the funniest part of that is he denied it was him.
he has a nice restaraunt in Stanford , Ct which i will visit when i head back to Boston this winter.

How bout Willie Randolph >?
I think he would make a great manager.

Not to sound Silly but I also think Ricky Henderson has a great baseball mind and if he ever elects to manage when he retires in 10 years i think he will make a great team with speed instead of power ala the 80's Cardinals.

Milky

Rickly Henderson is an incredible athelete, who probably would have been a great safety or corner back in pro football.

But baseball manager? I think not!!

That guy is a flake and a air head.

He always talks about him self in the third person.

unbelievable--odds to win world series
angels +200
cards +220
twins +300
giants +300

angels are favored to win--granted i don't think i've ever seen four teams in the LCS with odds as close as this. their is no real underdog or probably better--their is no real favoirte--or even better yet- they are all underdogs.

PLAY BALL!!

oh yeah odds that momma leche will comment on the dildo in MM's head +1500, i'm pretty sure that dildo has been there from birth.

Best of five for LCS is too short. Luck is such a big part of baseball; this is a sport where the best hitters hits only .400 or less, the best team in history wins only less than .700. They must go for best of seven.

I'd handicap the Cards as a slight favorite to win the WS, Angels and Giants as even bets, and the Twins a slight underdog. But, they are close. There are many more surer bets than betting on this flakey game.

Rickey Henderson does not bother remembering names of his teammates. How will he care to remember 25 kids' names in the bench?

As a juiced product, Bonds IS better than McGwire. He hits with a higher average than Mac. Even with his chronic injured leg, Bonds is a far superior baserunner than Mac ever was. So, Bonds's walks are actually contributing to runs the way Mac's weren't. Not to mention, Mac could never play OF.

Whoever is calling the Angels a small market team is plain wrong. They are a big market team by a number of measures. It is also true that their market size does not translate to their popularity. It is partly because of the Dodgers. It is also because they are in SoCal where transplants do not convert and natives are laid back. It may also have to do with the Disney presentation (and their emphasis on "family"-orientated games). It took me a while to adjust myself to corny music and cartoons on the Astrovision in intervals during a game. They do not happen in Fenway or Bronx. The games there are more intense and fans more passionate (partly because they have to shovel snow once a baseball season is over).

Off-topic flames moved to "ClubHombre.com: Off-Topic: -Entertainment: Outside: Baseball Thread?"

byron--5 games series is a joke and in a day where leagues are adding teams to playoffs in all sports i don't see how they can continue to hold 5 game series in baseball. i don't think any of these 4 remaining teams got lucky--angels dominated the yanks, cards swept the dbacks and the other two won game 5's on the road. all the same i'd prefer 7 game series.

I agree ... they should be best of 7. Too much can go wrong too quickly in a best of 5. Still, it would not have saved the Yanks this year ... Anaheim kicked their ass.

No one can even understand Rickey Henderson ... his whole team would need a translator. Plus, wasn't he the one caught playing cards in the locker room with Bobby Bonilla during the playoffs last year because they were not in the lineup? Yeah, he'd be a good manager.

-Superman-

ricky is a character--yeah he was playing baseball in the locker room during that game. i don't know if he would make a good manager, but as best as i can tell --he is adored by all his teammates, which is half of the guys in major league baseball.

sampson: yeah, I agree, the 5 game series thing is a mistake, in most sports...

Except maybe it would make sense in the Super Bowel, bullfighting, or the Tour de France (or maybe the Aardvark vs. Ben/MM thread).

i love watching Ricky play the game.
He is funny as hell when he talks to Himself.
What about when he hits a homerun ?
I can run out to the store and pick up some food and by the time I get back he is still rounding third.
I still think he has a lot of baseball wisdom.
I do agree he a little out of left field but remember so am I !! OR Sam I am ?

I am with you guys on the 7 games.
Now what about the Superbowl ?
I still think 1 game is enough.

Milky

Byron brings up a great story about Rickey. Upon arriving for a late-season stretch run in Seattle, he saw John Olerud taking infield with a batting helmet on (which he wears as not to expose his eggshell skull) and says, 'hey, I knew a dude when I was with the Mets who did that too!'. Uh, Olerud was your teammate the year before!

How many times will Barry Bonds be walked in this 5 game series with the Cards?

I am guessing 10 times.

La Russa ia saying they will not pitch to him, but La Russa is one very smart guy who may be just trying to give Barry a brain cramp.

oops, I mistyped on my earlier post. LCS is best of 7. I meant, DCS which is best of 5.

The Cards and Giants could go for 7 game series. How many walks he will get depends on the situation. If the Cards are up by 5 runs and nobody on base late in the game, then they will pitch him. If the game is close and the first base is open, then forget it.

I am looking at Bonds' matchup with Cards pitchers since 1998. Woody Williams has some success (2 for 12 with 4 walks, but hits are a HR and a double) agianst him. Andy Benes was hit hard by Bonds (4 for 11, 1 HR and 3 doubles). Surprisingly, Matt Morris had only 6 ABs against him. I guess his injury hiatus prevented him from facing SF. For obvious reasons, Chuck Finley did not face him much (2ABs). Neither did Jason Isringhausen (4ABs). These might work as a slight advantage for pitchers, as lack of familiarity usually helps pitchers.

La Russa believes in lefty/lefty matchups, so he might bring in Steve Kline (4ABs) and Jeff Fassero (2ABs) to face Bonds in the middle of games. I am not sure if this helps at all. Bonds is one of few LHs who show vertually no platoon effects (for career, 290/405/573 vs LHP, 304/447/621 vs RHP; for this year, 384/556/976 vs LHP, 363/592/719 vs RHP; the numbers are BA/OBP/SLG).

There is no question Bonds will be the focus of this series. This is like saying factory girls are the focus of Milk. Obvious.

Ok I will guess 12 walks for Bonds. I thought you said it was 5 games BYRON...

Of course part of the guess is how many games will be played before the Cardinals win the pennant.

I actually like both teams. And I like both managers.

Lets just hope that the Angels don't win or we will have to listen to Dogster crow, I mean howl.

Great post Ben!!!

(arf arf, sniff)

listened to the angels game on the way back from tj. don't know if they can keep it up, but they seem to bounce back nicely. maybe they use vitamin v--has their ever been wild card vs wild card in the world series? wouldn't be much of a stretch to see it this year.

I don't think so.

The last time a wild card won was the LA Raiders.

Now they only play football.

Historyaccordingtoben

yeah but did they beat a wildcard team to win the superbowl?



sampsonwhoalsosometimespostsasexplorer8939

Florida Marlins won WS as a wild card. They beat the Indians who was not a wild card.

Oh Yeah

Kevin Brown, the savior of the Dodgers, was their star pitcher.

Man the Marlins unloaded players faster than a Coyote at a border inspection stop the next year.

A Cardinals versus Angels WS matchup might be interesting given that St Louis plays extensively former Angel stars Jim Edmonds and Chuck Finley.
Edmonds' attitude with Angels was a major pain in the ass ... with big contract Edmonds forego-ed shoulder surgery all winter long, couldn't stand Mo Vaughn and his new big contract, then decided to opt for shoulder surgery... one day before season started. Took a whole year's pay while on the injured reserve list. Cardinals gave him (after his spectacular first year with Cards) a 55 million dollar multi-year contract. I'm not sure if SL is happy with what they are getting in return, but hell, they gave Mark McGwire a big contract extension and the guy's knee blew out and they got little in return for that money spent.
Given the Anaheim small-market status, what they want to pay for baseball talent, getting 2B Adam Kennedy (BA= .313 this year) for Jim Edmonds was a pretty good trade.
Regarding Chuck Finley, met him once (briefly) at a "Meet the Angels" day for season ticket holders. He was very polite, seems like a heckuva nice guy, wish him the best the rest of the way.

The Indians was not a wild card? Hmmm, I thought they was but now that I thinks about it you is correct. About those formulas you posted in chat ... what book did you copy those from? LOL.

-Superman-

The formula can be found everywhere in the web. There is no point memorizing it, although it is still based on the original concept of RC. It is actually an elementary stuff. Adjusted to your level.

There are intriguing stuffs coming out of sabermetrics. If you are truly interested, check Baseball Prospectus website. A new generation of GMs (eg. Billy Beane and his disciple JR Riccardi) follow sabermetrics closely, and use it for coaching and talent evaluation. It has been well publisized that the A's teach hitters to take walks all through the organization. Pitcher evaluation is another issue where sabermetrics changed the basic concept. The values such as STUFF are only recently invented.

The old addage goes, in baseball, good (field) managers can change the outcomes of (something like) 5-8 games per season MAX. Without a doubt, GMs make difference in many many more games, probably in the area of 30-40 games (see the A's). It is crucial which talent evaluation methods GMs decide to use, as they make difference in all aspects of the team, ranging from scouting, coaching, promotions, FA pickups, to trades.

(BTW, most people here know that English isn't my language. I can't be botherd by a grammer.)

Ben, just a note, the Broncos were a wild card team on one of the two super bowl wins, i think it was the year they beat the packers in 97, the chiefs won the AFC West that year, and the Broncos were the wild card...

Baltimore was a wild-card Super Bowl winner two seasons ago. Tennessee won the division, Baltimore finished second.

-Superman-

Adam Kennedy scrawls his name in the postseason pantheon. Unbelievable. Bucky Dent was a better hitter than that stinkin' guy, and he does him two times better?

Fetching Giants...Cardinals outhit SF 12 to motherfetching 4 and still managed to lose...

Quickfact: Often lost in Bucky Dent discussions is that he went on to be named MVP of the 1978 series...His postseason run that year did not begin and end with his tee shot over the Green Monster...

YoungBrig

Giants win.

How many times was Bonds walked tonight?

I picked 12 times that the Cards would walk him during the series. I think he was 10 walks coming into tonights game.


Last two games have been very exciting.

How amazing is Barry Bonds? He wins his first batting title at friggin 39 years old, the year after shattering McGwire's HR record ... I'm hoping he wins a World Series.

Now, if only he'd get rid of that gaudy, 1980's style earring!

-Superman-

On the Spanish WS broadcasts they're calling the rallymonkey 'el changito de rally'. Guess he had tonight off...

Looked like Fox had their fast gun tonight. Schmidt hitting 98 and Washburn consistently at 93 was pretty impressive. If it turns into a hitting contest between Bonds and Glaus it's gonna be a real short series, I don't care how hot Glaus is.

Angels won the series... Ho hum, as predicted Oct 5. Did any of y'all pay attention to the Series?

Who won the World Series? I forgot already.