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Yes, you read that right. No, Mick is not paying me to compose bulletin-board material for the New Yorkers. The Jays are fresh off a three-game sweep of the hated Devil Rays, while the Yankees were beaten up (literally and figuratively) in losing 2 of 3 in Fenway. The Jays are slowly but surely getting back into the good groove they were entering when the injury avalanche struck last month, while the Yankees are missing Jay-killer Jason Giambi (out, sadly, with a potentially life-threatening illness) and don't seem to be a team quite equal to their record. Toronto will be focused on this series to regain some face and enact revenge for last week's indignities in Yankee Stadium, while the pinstripers may still be thinking about the BoSox series. The time will never be righter.

Admittedly, tonight's game is the hardest hill to climb, as Sean Douglass takes the mound in what amounts to an emergency start. And he's facing Javier Vazquez, easily the strongest and most consistent Yankee starter this year. But Vazquez has been struggling lately -- a 7.29 ERA in his last four starts -- and he wasn't all that sharp in last week's 10-3 laugher in the Bronx. And if it gets down to the bullpens, closer Mariano Rivera has been overworked lately and may be rested. That doesn't even the lengthy odds, but it makes them more reasonable. And if Toronto can eke out a win tonight, they have Ted Lilly and Miguel Batista going in the final two games against El Duque, who cannot have another 10-K performance in him, and Jon Lieber, whose ERA has been hanging out on 5.00th avenue all year. No guts, no glory: Go Jays! Sweeeep!
Game 99: Ready to Sweep the Yankees | 102 comments | Create New Account
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_Rob - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 06:29 PM EDT (#48514) #
Starting Lineups (from cbssportsline.com)
N.Y. Yankees	     Toronto
Kenny Lofton, CF Reed Johnson, LF
Derek Jeter, SS Frank Catalanotto, DH
Gary Sheffield, RF Vernon Wells, CF
Alex Rodriguez, 3B Carlos Delgado, 1B
Jorge Posada, C Gregg Zaun, C
Hideki Matsui, LF Eric Hinske, 3B
Bernie Williams, DH Alexis Rios, RF
Tony Clark, 1B Chris Gomez, SS
Miguel Cairo, 2B Orlando Hudson, 2B


What, no Enrique Wilson? :)
_Rob - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 06:32 PM EDT (#48515) #
And the odds are +220 on the Jays. I'd take that in a second (bet 100, win back 220).
_Ron - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 06:40 PM EDT (#48516) #
Isn't it great to have a 30 Hr 110 RBI man batting in the 6 hole when your already missing your cleanup hitter?

I have a feeling of a upset tonight so I put some dollars for tonights action. The Jays, Red Sox, and Giants have to win by 2 runs for me to hit it big!
_miVulgar - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 06:54 PM EDT (#48517) #
I wish the league office would hurry up with that A-Rod suspension!
_Nigel - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 07:21 PM EDT (#48518) #
Can Pat come back?
_Mike Forbes - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 07:21 PM EDT (#48519) #
Say.. Who else can we call up?! This is ugly already.
_Ron - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 07:22 PM EDT (#48520) #
So much for my winning ticket. Douglass is scuffling.

I haven't heard that kind of noise at the Dome since Delgado hits his HR to beat the Mariners. Looks like 60% of the fans are rooting for the Yanks!
_Mike Forbes - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 07:24 PM EDT (#48521) #
We'll atleast get to see Kevin Frederick debut tonight!
_Mike R - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 07:26 PM EDT (#48522) #
Douglass isn't getting many calls. Not good against the Yanks.
_JackFoley - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 07:39 PM EDT (#48523) #
Carlos taking the ball away from the fan, that was great.
_Rob - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 07:42 PM EDT (#48524) #
Great move by Carlos on the "slap and grab", stealing the ball that should have been caught. Wasn't that fan over the wall, as in IN THE FIELD OF PLAY?

Line of the night goes to my mom: "4-0 already? I thought Pat Hentgen retired!"
_Jdog - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 07:43 PM EDT (#48525) #
Good thing Lofton is around
_Rob - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 07:44 PM EDT (#48526) #
Luis Sojo is the third base coach? I'm surprised he isn't playing second base, then retiring, then sitting on the bench for two months.
_Ron - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 07:44 PM EDT (#48527) #
Okay what other options do the Jays have for SP's?

They can call up Kershner and stretch him out or perhaps recall File as a starter?
_Rob - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 07:47 PM EDT (#48528) #
They can always trade for this guy on the Red Sox..Adams, I think. He used to be a starter.
_Mike R - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 07:51 PM EDT (#48529) #
I don't see anything wrong with Douglass so far. He has been throwing some good pitches ... some that should have been called strikes.
Dave Till - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 07:51 PM EDT (#48530) #
Douglass hung that breaking ball to Posada, but otherwise hasn't been all that bad. He gave up a couple of seeing-eye hits, and Runge isn't giving him the corners.

If the fan who grabbed Carlos's ball was ejected - which is what seemed to have happened - why wasn't the batter called out on fan interference? If the ball was in the stands, the fan is allowed to go for it, and is allowed to whack the ball out of Carlos's hands if he wants. Perhaps he was ejected to keep crowd trouble from happening.
_StephenT - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 07:54 PM EDT (#48531) #
I assume the Yankee fan wasn't over the field when making the catch, but I don't think he had a front row seat either. My guess is that he is just being detained temporarily.
_Ron - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 07:55 PM EDT (#48532) #
Anytime you give up 4 runs in a inning there's something wrong regardless of what the ump is calling for balls and strikes.

He's already tossed 57 pitches through 2 innings while giving up 5 hits and 2 walks.

He's been awful so far and the pitching line reinforces my point.
Dave Till - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 08:00 PM EDT (#48533) #
Can you imagine what would happen if a Jays fan were to take away a fly ball from a Yankee infielder in Yankee Stadium?
_Jodg - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 08:02 PM EDT (#48534) #
I don't know a whole lot about the new CBA but wasn't it supposed to help create a little more competitive balance.
_Ron - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 08:06 PM EDT (#48535) #
While maybe not due to the CBA there is competitive balance in MLB. Everybody talks about the Yanks but they haven't won the World Series in 3 years. The last 3 champions (D-Backs, Angels, Marlins) never had a top 5 payroll and came out of nowhere to win the championship.

This season everyteam is still in the playoff hunt outside of 9 teams and we're almost already in August.
_Jdog - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 08:11 PM EDT (#48536) #
ReeD is do for a Homer is he not?
_Moffatt - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 08:11 PM EDT (#48537) #
Anyone else hear Mike and Tom ask where the O-Drum has been lately? Just caught them talking about it on the drive home.
_IainS - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 08:15 PM EDT (#48538) #
**mumble**muble**scrubs**mumble**mumble**
_R Billie - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 08:18 PM EDT (#48539) #
Nice little comeback for Douglass against a tough lineup after basically having his head handed to him in the first and almost in the second. Three scoreless innings since the first but he must be close to his pitch count at this point.
_Jdog - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 08:21 PM EDT (#48540) #
92 pitches so far.
_Jdog - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 08:25 PM EDT (#48541) #
Carlos is on his way back and its great to see. We desperately need his power in the line-up
Coach - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 08:30 PM EDT (#48542) #
Douglass hung that breaking ball to Posada, but otherwise hasn't been all that bad.

He's settled down very nicely after the rocky beginning. They don't need a #5 again until next Tuesday because of an off day this week, so why not give him one more chance? Then if they need to try someone else, it won't be necessary until August 8 in the Bronx.

Unlike Jordan, I didn't expect to win tonight. If Nakamura and Frederick can keep the rest of the bullpen rested, the Jays have a much better chance in the next two games, though this one is far from over.

Carlos might be waking up at last. This will be a vastly different team if he ever gets into his best groove.
_R Billie - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 08:34 PM EDT (#48543) #
Strikes out Rodriguez, Posada, and Matsui in order in the 5th. I'd say he's bounced back. He really was squeezed a bit in the first inning and that allowed a few key at bats to go differently against some serious power hitters.
_R Billie - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 08:35 PM EDT (#48544) #
Eight strikeouts in 5 innings against the Yankees. Not bad for a finesse guy.
_R Billie - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 08:37 PM EDT (#48545) #
Nothing's falling in for the Jays. Hinske can't hit a ball harder than that.
_R Billie - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 08:43 PM EDT (#48546) #
The Jays are hitting a lot of balls hard but are finding a lot of gloves. They get another run back though and now trail 4-2 in a game it looked like they were out of.
_miVulgar - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 08:49 PM EDT (#48547) #
While maybe not due to the CBA there is competitive balance in MLB. Everybody talks about the Yanks but they haven't won the World Series in 3 years. The last 3 champions (D-Backs, Angels, Marlins) never had a top 5 payroll and came out of nowhere to win the championship.

With all due respect, I strongly disagree.

Just because some teams do not fully take advantage of their MASSIVE resource "head start", it does not mean things are balanced competitively.

There are different perspectives on this, but I believe a fundamental tenet of professional sport should be that all participants abide by the same rules. If this applies on the court/ice/field, then why not off?

Yes, "poorer" teams must innovate and the smarter ones eventually find ways to navigate their way to success, but why should they HAVE to struggle and fight so hard just to match their rich cousins? It's just not fair.

I say start everybody off with the same chips and may the most astute owner put together the most effective front office to recruit/develop manage the best talent and THEN we'll see who deserves to enjoy sustained success that is not threatened by the prospect of, well, too much success!
_Ryan01 - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 08:59 PM EDT (#48548) #
Not bad for a finesse guy.

Anyone else notice he hit 96 on the gun?
_Ron - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 09:03 PM EDT (#48549) #
miVulgar I disagree.

It is impossible for everybody to have the same chips. You will always have owners who are richer or willing to spend more money on their team to win a championship. Every owner already plays by the same rule already outlined by the CBA.

The new CBA for MLB was approved by the majority of MBL clubs. Every owner pretty much knew the luxury tax would only effect the Yanks and they were okay with that. With the last CBA proved to me was that the majority of owners were lieing about their big losses. If the losses was so big then they would have held out until their was a salary cap of lower luxury tax threshold.

And like I said earlier just like at the past 3 champs who came out of nowhere. The facts prove their is parity.
Coach - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 09:05 PM EDT (#48550) #
Nice pick, Eric. Strong throw, too.
_bird droppings - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 09:15 PM EDT (#48551) #
The O Drum has been at O Work...

Welcome to the World of Film and Television Production... I'll be there tomorrow night.
_Magpie - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 09:15 PM EDT (#48552) #
going... going...

zaun!!!
_R Billie - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 09:15 PM EDT (#48553) #
Going going Zaun. Jays trail 4-3.
Coach - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 09:19 PM EDT (#48554) #
Momentum is a beautiful thing. Rios can tie this thing up with a double, and there's never been a better time for his first HR.
_Ron - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 09:20 PM EDT (#48555) #
Zaun AWAY!!!!!

I don't remember the last time he hit a bomb like that.

Nice to see the Jays scrap back into the ball game!
_StephenT - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 09:28 PM EDT (#48556) #
The Sportsnet HD channel has stopped showing a picture (here in Ottawa on Rogers Digital Cable, at least). The other Sportsnet channels are still functioning.
Coach - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 09:29 PM EDT (#48557) #
You hate to see a nice Canadian boy like Quantrill get hurt, but if the Yankee bullpen is depleted tomorrow and Wednesday, that's OK with me.

C'mon, O-Dog! Be a hero.
Coach - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 09:30 PM EDT (#48558) #
Flash is nasty. We'll get 'em next inning.
_Ron - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 09:32 PM EDT (#48559) #
Felt like I got punched in the sack when O-Dog punched out. That might be the best chance the Jays are going to get with Flash starting fresh in the 8th, and Rivera in the 9th.

Good game so far.
_R Billie - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 09:37 PM EDT (#48560) #
7 shutdown innings since the first for Jays pitchers. Trailing 4-3 to the bottom of the 8th.
_Nigel - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 09:38 PM EDT (#48561) #
Speier is trying to make JP's decision on whether to keep him around next year a lot tougher. He really does look to have the best stuff of the "veteran relievers" that JP tried this offseason.
_Tyler - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 09:46 PM EDT (#48562) #
http://members.cox.net/amistad/onion.htm
COMN for that article that the guys were laughing about...
_R Billie - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 09:46 PM EDT (#48563) #
Cat kept chasing pitches out of the zone there. I'm not sure that he saw a single strike. Vernon just fouled back a cookie. And he just missed another cookie. Full count. Chased the high fastball. The Jays aren't going to do much hitting swinging at obvious balls.
_Nigel - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 09:48 PM EDT (#48564) #
RBillie - I agree. Tonight has generally been about some good pitching from Vasquez and some bad luck on some hard hit balls. But the 8th was just bad approaches by all three hitters.
Coach - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 09:55 PM EDT (#48565) #
The league is hitting .160 off Gordon; I guess everyone has the same bad approach.

What we don't know about Speier is how close he's been to 100% healthy all year. He might have been hurting both before and after his DL stint. But that's two very good outings in a row, which is encouraging.

Awesome play by O-Dog!
_R Billie - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 10:00 PM EDT (#48566) #
I missed the pitch that Sheffield hit. Was it anywhere near the strikezone? Cause if it was it was a mistake.
_BC Mike - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 10:00 PM EDT (#48567) #
Why did they call a fastball in, on Sheffield? Should have kept going away with another breaking ball.
_Paul D - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 10:04 PM EDT (#48568) #
http://www.thewolfshack.com
Tom and Jerry just mentioned that Hazel Mae is moving to Boston to work for the network that broadcasts the Red Sox games. Sorry Keith.
_J.R. - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 10:07 PM EDT (#48569) #
Now would be an appropriate time for the O Drum.
_Mike Forbes - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 10:11 PM EDT (#48570) #
C'mon Gomez...
Coach - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 10:12 PM EDT (#48571) #
Mariano who?
_R Billie - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 10:12 PM EDT (#48572) #
OMG...Chris Gomez is never coming out of the lineup again after that.
_Ryan Day - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 10:12 PM EDT (#48573) #
I can't believe that just happened.
_Magpie - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 10:12 PM EDT (#48574) #
OK. That was good.

Like really really GREAT!!!

Clearly the Sandman is breaking down under his workload - this and Saturday...
_Moffatt - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 10:17 PM EDT (#48575) #
Sweeeeeet.

Anyone else annoyed at that stupid little front foot movement Rivera has after he's in the set position? He's come really close to balking a couple times. I really wish the umps would call him on it.
_dp - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 10:18 PM EDT (#48576) #
was at a bar watching this one, figured it was over when the yanks scored in the 9th. (didn't leave b/c i gave up- girl i was with was bored). by the time i walked home, jays had runners on. amazing. hopefully they'll pull it out...
_R Billie - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 10:26 PM EDT (#48577) #
VW just missed that ball. Man.
_Moffatt - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 10:28 PM EDT (#48578) #
D'oh!

Top of the order up.. c'mon boys.
_Tom in LI - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 10:29 PM EDT (#48579) #
Vernon is just not going well right now.
_Ron - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 10:30 PM EDT (#48580) #
This loss is going to really sting if we don't come back.

To claw all the way back and then have your Gold Glove Calibre CF drop the 3rd out .. resulting in a run... arghh
_Grimlock - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 10:33 PM EDT (#48581) #
Why wasn't it an error against V-Dogg? He was there. He was under it. He just dropped it. Looked like an error to me Grimlock's mechanical eyes.
_Magpie - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 10:34 PM EDT (#48582) #
Yeah, but seven out of 10 ML outfielders don't get their gloves on it. They don't get charged with errors, either.
_R Billie - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 10:36 PM EDT (#48583) #
It was a hit but I really thought he'd get it.
_Rob - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 10:37 PM EDT (#48584) #
That's no error. He ran as fast as he could and *just* missed it. Hardly V-Dub's fault.
_Ron - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 10:38 PM EDT (#48585) #
VW will be the first one to tell you he should have had that ball. Hopefully the Jays come back strong tommorow.
_greenfrog - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 10:38 PM EDT (#48586) #
Ugh. More evidence of the season from hell. Somewhere, in an alternate universe, Vernon makes the catch (and Delgado has an OPS of 1.200, McGowan is healthy and has just joined the rotation, Phelps has 25 HRs, Cash is hitting .270, etc.)
_Rob - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 10:38 PM EDT (#48587) #
And the odds are +220 on the Jays. I'd take that in a second

Kids, never EVER gamble. :)
_David Armitage - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 10:43 PM EDT (#48588) #
Nothing more amusing to me tonight than seeing Todd Zeile have to pitch to the Expos, even in their depressed state. 18 hits, 10 walks brings a smile to my face even if it's just for one night.
Coach - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 10:44 PM EDT (#48589) #
It wasn't an error because he'd run an almost impossible distance just to catch up to it, but Vernon is going to make that grab about 99 times out of 100. He may be just the slightest bit out of sync at the plate, too -- not surprising after missing a month and rushing to return; he'll come around soon.

The result is a damn shame after that superb comeback, but there was a lot of fight in the Fighting Jays tonight and that was a very entertaining game.
_Moffatt - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 10:49 PM EDT (#48590) #
Ah, nuts.

Still better than I expected going into this game. Plus they've worn out Rivera, which can only be considered a good thing.
_greenfrog - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 10:52 PM EDT (#48591) #
Seeing some fight in the Fighting Jays is good, I agree, but you know what they say--close only counts in horseshoes, slow dancing (and maybe one or two other things. I can never remember). There are of course many ways to lose ballgames; the Jays have experimented with quite a few of them this year.
_Rob - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 10:53 PM EDT (#48592) #
Todd Zeile. Heh. That is rather good after this sucky loss. Something to smile at, at least.

Ah, nuts.

My feelings exactly. Not a "WTF ARE THE JAYS DOING? THEY SUCK!!!!1" reaction. Not a "don't worry, we'll get 'em tomorrow" reaction.

Just "Aw, nuts." Couldn't say it better than that.

close only counts in horseshoes, slow dancing (and maybe one or two other things. I can never remember).

Horseshoes, slow dancing, and Pythagorean W-L records.
_greenfrog - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 10:58 PM EDT (#48593) #
Ha ha.
_Moffatt - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 10:58 PM EDT (#48594) #
At least we always have this:

fark (45k image)

Damn Yankees!
_Rob - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 10:58 PM EDT (#48595) #
No Jays Talk tonight? I guess Wilner has to clear the air for Stormin' Norman...ugh.
_Rob - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 11:01 PM EDT (#48596) #
At least we always have this:
And this...
_Moffatt - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 11:02 PM EDT (#48597) #
Hehehehe... that little brigadier general monkey. He's so crazy.
_Rob - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 11:03 PM EDT (#48598) #
There we go. After every tough loss, a picture of a monkey on a toilet should make everyone feel better.
_Rob - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 11:08 PM EDT (#48599) #
Speaking of bad segues...does anyone else have the Trojan.Bookmarker.Gen virus on their computer?
It's been hanging out at Chez Rob for a few days now, and I can't get rid of it. I've done everything Norton told me to do, and nothing worked. I even tried threatening it with cuttlefish.
_Ryan Lind - Monday, July 26 2004 @ 11:33 PM EDT (#48600) #
Tough loss after coming back like that.

Don't you hate it how Rivera blew the save, but picks up the "win?" Booo.

Does anyone have the Jays' record in extra innings? They don't seem to have very good luck after the ninth.
_Alex Obal - Tuesday, July 27 2004 @ 12:15 AM EDT (#48601) #
4/11 - L 6-4 in 12 at Boston (that game)
4/24 - W 5-4 in 12 at Baltimore
5/1 - L 4-3 in 10 at Chicago
5/3 - L 3-2 in 10 vs. Kansas City
5/24 - W 6-5 in 10 vs. Anaheim
6/3 - L 2-1 in 11 at Oakland
6/23 - W 2-1 in 10 vs. Tampa Bay
7/20 - L 1-0 in 14 at Oakland
7/26 - L 6-5 in 10 vs. NY Yankees

... a grand total of 3-6. Meh. All the losses seem particularly painful in hindsight. If someone were to write a book about this season so far, it would be titled "Four Months of Nightly Kicks in the Groin," but I'm really looking forward to the karmic retribution next year.
_Keith Talent - Tuesday, July 27 2004 @ 12:33 AM EDT (#48602) #
Hey - I just got back from the game and all this talk of a VW error is way, way off. Perhaps you couldn't tell on TV, but actually seeing it live - Vernon ran full steam for a long, long time. It was a near miracle catch. He didn't have time to slow up before the catch, got to it full bore, and it riccoceted off him. It's a major problem in baseball culture that getting a glove on it equals automatic out, if not equals error.

The Jays did have tremendous fight in them tonight. Delgado and O-Dog both went hard into the stands near the beginning of the game. Delgado getting lippy with the New York fan who stole his play. He was downright furious with the homeplate umpire and showed him up all night. O-Dog's double play in the 8th (?) was one of the best you'll ever see. VW just about capped the even of fine defence with a miracle catch. That was a gap-er all the way. VW was in another area code. Reed Johnson was closer to that ball than VW was.

It was especially good to see the fire in Delgado tonight. He's been criticized as not being competitive - but he showed he was involved tonight.
_miVulgar - Tuesday, July 27 2004 @ 12:49 AM EDT (#48603) #
It is impossible for everybody to have the same chips. You will always have owners who are richer or willing to spend more money on their team to win a championship. Every owner already plays by the same rule already outlined by the CBA.

How can you make this claim in the face of the NFL or even the NBA?

It's far from impossible to have a fair and equitable CBA in baseball. The pathetic leadership (on both sides) simply lacks the vision and commitment to bring true competitive balance to fruition.

How can you not love the fact that the Sacramento Kings or Green Bay Packers are consistent championship threats based simply on the fact that they're *smarter* than their counterparts? We're talking about cities that are the size of a couple of Toronto suburbs thrown together.

The Kings exploit an underdeveloped European talent market and it gives them a real edge. The Jays exploit traditional and stubborn baseball 'wisdom' and they're offered the hope that they might keep up in a ludicrous division.

The economics of MLB are the main reason I've lost some passion for the game. Yes, it's nice to keep cheering for the scrappy underdog, but the inequity is also pretty damn disheartening.
_MrPurple - Tuesday, July 27 2004 @ 01:42 AM EDT (#48604) #
http://www.naturesguard.com
Nice to meet the bunch of you at the game tonight. We should really try to get a bunch of people together in 518 with a little more organization some time soon.
_bent - Tuesday, July 27 2004 @ 02:45 AM EDT (#48605) #
Hell of a fight. That annoying colour man on Yes was dismissing the Jay pen as no-name last week, it was great to see No Frills almost beat Sotherbeys. Had great seats behind home plate and damn, was the air let out of the NY fans after the 1st. They really expected a blow out. Speaking of blow outs, those girls serving drinks behind home are ridiculous.

Douglas sure did his thing...obviously, considering his arm fart in the opening frame. Blame that on the ump though, what a prick. Two strikes on both Jeter and Shef and the man decides to tighten up the zone like fresh meat in a prizon shower.

The Hernandez/Lilly rematch should be decent, but don't expect another classic. Someone's getting lit up like Sturtze on Saturday.

BTW, the Dome looks hella decent with butts in the seats. I suspect its like that for most stadiums, but what a contrast. With tourists in both restaraunts and having a good time in the Hotel, it sure reminds you of the potential. Maybe with some luck and a little success...ahh, never mind.
_Ron - Tuesday, July 27 2004 @ 03:00 AM EDT (#48606) #
How can you make this claim in the face of the NFL or even the NBA?

Why can't I make this claim? I've already told you twice the last 3 champions have come out of nowhere to win the title. And the Marlins did it last year with a similar payroll to what the Jays have this season. When people think of high payroll teams the top two that come to mind are the Yanks and Red Sox and they have won zero titles the last 3 years.

It's far from impossible to have a fair and equitable CBA in baseball. The pathetic leadership (on both sides) simply lacks the vision and commitment to bring true competitive balance to fruition.

Once again please explain how there isn't competitive balance in baseball right now? Lats time I checked more than half of the teams in MLB are in a playoff hunt and it's almost August.

How can you not love the fact that the Sacramento Kings or Green Bay Packers are consistent championship threats based simply on the fact that they're *smarter* than their counterparts? We're talking about cities that are the size of a couple of Toronto suburbs thrown together.

The Kings exploit an underdeveloped European talent market and it gives them a real edge. The Jays exploit traditional and stubborn baseball 'wisdom' and they're offered the hope that they might keep up in a ludicrous division.


Guess what the Marlins were "smarter" than their counterparts by drafting Willis, signing Pudge, drafting good young pitchers, etc.. and they won the title!

Saying the Kings are consistent championship threat is debatable. They haven't gone past the Western Conference Finals the past 5 years. I'm not sure what you mean by the Kings exploiting underdeveloped Euro talent? The only big time key Euro player they drafted was Peja. They traded for Divac.
_sweat - Tuesday, July 27 2004 @ 08:13 AM EDT (#48607) #
As a centerfielder(and former 1bman) i can tell you that it is very hard to catch the ball at full speed. I like to run hard right up until i get to the ball and then slow down just a bit. When you are running full tilt, nothing is steady, including your outstretched glove.
_alsiem - Tuesday, July 27 2004 @ 08:50 AM EDT (#48608) #
Tough to make a call on Wells' dropped ball. I guess this is what zone rating is all about. Wells ran a long way but it's still an error. I think you should catch that if you're a major leaguer and you've got to it. However, at least half the centre fielders in MLB would never have got to it and it would be an uncontested double. Have no idea what the official scoring was. The boys tried hard but no dice. It was a fun time down in the right field corner but some of the Yankee's fans were a pain in the ass. One behind me was threatening people, another got into a fight. Fortunately, the ushers let the Jays fan back in.
Note to American fans, use the full strength beer wisely.
Named For Hank - Tuesday, July 27 2004 @ 09:44 AM EDT (#48609) #
Up in 518 we were astounded that he even got there.

Quite the game.
_Jordan - Tuesday, July 27 2004 @ 10:55 AM EDT (#48610) #
I was this close to looking like a genius for that intro. Of course, that's the story of my life...
Craig B - Tuesday, July 27 2004 @ 11:18 AM EDT (#48611) #
How can you not love the fact that the Sacramento Kings or Green Bay Packers are consistent championship threats based simply on the fact that they're *smarter* than their counterparts?

They're not, though. Sacramento have one of the NBA's highest payrolls (5th in the NBA last year). There's nothing particularly smart about spending lots of money, except that spending money leads to wins.

In the NFL, the process has essentially become random because everyone spends the same and contracts aren't guaranteed, making for a giant free-for-all. Teams no longer have any consistent identity, and I no longer care who wins. It might be great for the hardcore NFL fan - to the casual fan, the lack of continuity is irritating.

I like baseball's meritocratic system (though I don't mind a healthy dose of revenue sharing) where the team that builds the largest market (i.e. the largest number of committed fans) has the better chance (though not the only chance) of winning.

Teams that have won one of the last twelve world series:

Florida Marlins
Anaheim Angels
Arizona Diamondbacks
New York Yankees
Atlanta Braves
Toronto Blue Jays
Minnesota Twins

Is there a pattern here? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
_Keith Talent - Tuesday, July 27 2004 @ 11:38 AM EDT (#48612) #
Wells ran a long way but it's still an error.

WRONG!
robertdudek - Tuesday, July 27 2004 @ 12:34 PM EDT (#48613) #
Craig,

The only pattern I see is that teams from the two largest markets have won 5 of those 12 World Series, where random chance would suggest about 1.7.

It really is silly to list World Series winnners, isn't it? We all know that short playoff series have a high random component. I'm not sure what you are getting at with that.

I don't view baseball as having a meritocratic system. Protected territories were parcelled out to each team. Only 3 teams, and then 1 and then 2 were allowed to compete in the most lucrative market in baseball. The Yankees were the only team in their league with access to the NY market; their direct competitors were shut out of it.

That doesn't look much like meritocracy to me.
_alsiem - Tuesday, July 27 2004 @ 01:06 PM EDT (#48614) #
Wells ran a long way but it's still an error.

WRONG!


I guess we agree to disagree. It was scored a hit and indeed very few people would have been in position to have it go off their glove.

However, the ball went of the heel of the glove. Wells could have had it.
_BCMike - Tuesday, July 27 2004 @ 01:07 PM EDT (#48615) #
Speaking of blow outs, those girls serving drinks behind home are ridiculous.

Talk about distracting... in a good way of course :)

It really is silly to list World Series winnners, isn't it? We all know that short playoff series have a high random component. I'm not sure what you are getting at with that.

All you have to do is look at who has won the AL East in the past decade.
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