GIBSON6594

M's would still suck

Doom878

No I meant that the Nats are 0-3 and we (Florida) is 3-0. Was he the one nice enough to trade us Bonifacio?

scholtew

0-2 Go Yanks and punished last night by a shitty team

IlliNorge

Carl Pavano had a stellar debut with the Indians.

1 IP, 9 ER.

KC in first place. Gave up 5 runs in three games at the Cell.

Scottman111

And I'm not sure but probably...the guy is clueless. I hope he stays out of baseball forever.

waTSX

The Royals could be a sleeper this year. There's some talent there including some good young pitching. They may sneak up on people.

imj0257

iTrader: (1)

Texas Rangers 3-0

STL+3.0CL

Dont let KC fool ya, they're known for starting strong and then all of a sudden they turn into... well, the Royals. Hell they sweep the cards and the Yanks almost every year. Also, they are famous for playing GREAT ball after they have officially put themselves out of the hunt.

ZeroPSI

Without a doubt, the Rangers have the best offense in the MLB, along with a steady stream of amazing prospects in the minor ranks. Their pitching is suspect, but when you have the ability to score 8+ runs a game, who needs a rockstar on the mound?

ZEUS'O3TL

man this was an awesome game for the home opener......
GO BREW CREW!!!!

paz840

iTrader: (2)

FUCK YOU KEVIN GREGG

that is all.

IlliNorge

Joe Crede

I'll be at the Cell today for the nationally televised game. Right field bleachers with temps in the 40's and wind speeds in the 40's.

GIBSON6594

[QUOTE=ZeroPSI;10760941]Without a doubt, the Rangers have the best offense in the MLB, along with a steady stream of amazing prospects in the minor ranks. Their pitching is suspect, but when you have the ability to score 8+ runs a game, who needs a rockstar on theys
Teams with a better offense than Texas off the top of my head:

Brewers
Cubs
Dodgers
Redsox
Rays
Tigers
White Sox
Mets

Yumcha

Yeah, you Twip fans'll love Crede...good player. Plays the game the right way...



Now then, GO CHISOX!

Yumcha

Welcome back Bartolo Colon!

waTSX

Dodgers? You need to put the bottle down. They are decent but not as good as the Rangers and they play in a pitchers park.

Yumcha

Hey, Acorn-Butt: I forgot to ask you, how was it watching your Twips get slapped up and down the diamond by the ChiSox...? You liked that...?!?

GIBSON6594

Top to bottom, I'd take their lineup over Texas any day,

Kemp
Manny
Martin
Furcal
Eithier
Loney
Hudson

Much more solid overall

Yumcha

Question for the baseball experts: I heard Morgan yacking on TV tonight about how certain players have this "comfort" on where they bat. So, for instance, Soriano just is not right if he does not bat leadoff. Is that an ego thing or is there an actual psychological thinking needed for certain spots in the order?

Certainly, I know that the leadoff hitter's job is to get on base; and the #3 guy is supposed to be an RBI person. Obviously, for a guy like Ortiz et al, you would not want them at leadoff because they don't have the speed and etc. But, for other spots in the batting order, is there some sort of mind-set you need...?

GIBSON6594

The most important thing to know is never listen to a word Joe Morgan says.

SG81

iTrader: (1)

Go Jays!

IlliNorge

It was rather unpleasant. I got a sunburn too.

It's a wonder Jon Miller hasn't smacked that righteous bastard yet.

IlliNorge

Not for the next 4 days.

SG81

iTrader: (1)

a Twins fan i see


i may have to break out the

Scottman111

Ego has something to do with it for some players...no doubt.

As long as I've been playing basball/softball I can honestly say I never gave a damn where I batted in the order...I was used to being moved around since I was a multi-tool player and my main coach was always creative with his lineups anyhow. However, I did like some consistency. Not just for me, but the lineup as a whole.

The longer you play with people, the better you know their mental and physical strengths and weaknesses. So if the guy batting in front of me gets on base I would know right away what my plan would be depending on the current game situation. I would have a good idea if he was a smart baserunner or not, if he could beat out a throw from a certain part of the infield or outfield, how far I need to hit a sacrifice fly, etc.

And for the guys batting behind me, you would know (for example) how good they are or aren't in the clutch, so if it was a close game in the late innings I would know my confidence levels in those guys. Using that I would adjust my strategy accordingly. I played with one guy...it seemed like he would either go 4 - 4 with a couple extra base hits or 0-4 with 3 pop ups. Nothing else...you just never knew what you were going to get each day. So noticing patterns like that can help in certain situations and possibly determine who wins the game.

But anyways, I think it just adds to the whole team chemistry thing. It's no secret that the longer a team plays together the better they will play together. I think some consistency in the lineup does nothing but help this.

Yumcha

^ Thanks, dude...

So, to answer my bigger question about Soriano refusing to move down the lineup: he's just a freaking baby...?

IlliNorge

Hey Yuckchops, Ted Lilly is perfect through 5 innings in the Cubs home opener......

Yumcha

What's the score? I'm in process-mapping purgatory today...

Scottman111

From what I've heard about him?


Did I ever tell you I saw and somewhat met him at a bar with some of the Reds players a year or two ago? A friend of mine is friends with a couple Reds guys and we just happened to see them out one night. Every player was cool except him...he just stood in the corner like a loner. He was freakin weird.

Scottman111

Oh, and can you please explain why you have an oddly shaped vibrator as your avatar?

IlliNorge

Just a no-hitter now. 6th inning.

Colorado 0 0 1
Chicago 3 7 0

IlliNorge

Ohhhhhh nnnoooooooooooo single in the 7th, no-hitter gone, oooooooooohhhhh noooooo. Somebody restrain Santo.

waTSX

I think the biggest thing about batting in different spots in the lineup at the ML level is that the approach changes. A leadoff guy has to think in terms of getting on base, and that involves being willing to take pitches and take a walk, which a lot of guys have trouble doing. That's one reason it can be argued that, as good a hitter as he is, Ichiro Suzuki is not a great leadoff hitter. He just won't talk walks, and his on base percentage suffers for it (most of the times). The M's have been trying for years to get him to take more pitches.

Batting third means the opposite in a lot of ways. You have to be aggressive about swinging the bat, and your focus is going to be getting hits and driving in runs, and getting on base to set the table for the cleanup guy. Same with batting cleanup, with an ever greater emphasis on driving the ball out of the ballpark.

There are definite differences. And playing ball in a softball league is not going to give you that perspective.

waTSX

We'll see how it works out this year. It didn't last year, but they do have Manny for the whole season, if he doesn't get hurt, which isn't a given. As talented as Loney and Kemp appear to be, they are largely unproven, as is Ethier.

Yumcha

paz840

iTrader: (2)

RaviNJCLs

iTrader: (4)

Well....I saw a lot of firsts today.

First real game at Citifield - Mets vs Padres.
First pitch - Strike by Mike Pelfrey. 92 mph Fastball.
First hit - 3rd pitch of the game. Homerun by Jody Gerut
First out - Brian Giles pop out to Jose Reyes.
First home hit - Double by David Wright.
First home run scored - Brian Schneider
First home RBI - Luis Castillo
First home homerun - 3 run shot by David Wright
And unfortunately the first loss by the METS at Citifield.

subinf

Good weather in Oakland this weekend. Too bad the A's can't play well.

SG81

iTrader: (1)

the Blue Jays bats are rollin

hdcolumbus