The Bitter Rivals Thread

[Mattingly]

Originally posted by RedSoxFanAtic
I think we should all vote for Steinbrenner for the 10th player award!

Hey, somebody's gotta look over Joe's shoulder.

[Mattingly]

Originally posted by RedSoxFanAtic
Well ya know, there's really no way of telling. Of course, as a sox fan, I WANT to say we can sweep, but everything always depends on so many factors, so we take it one game at a time.
I think if the sox don't come out flat, and come out hitting and pitching like they were than 3 or 4 wins in the Toronto series is a very possibility. But what if they come out flat? Or the pitching starts back slow? My best guess is we'll take 3 out of the 4 games. Halladay is tough, and so's their hitting. we may end up with a split and it's early enough that that wouldn't be the end of the world. but I hope not.
What are about you? - how do you think the yanks will open up after the break?

Baseball's too fun a game simply because of its unpredictability. If someone put down money that Boston would score 10 runs after having scored 25, I've never have believed it. Then Florida goes out and beats Hampton 20-1. After this, Boston gets blanked 3-0 by Detroit? No way.

I can never guess, since I've seen Moose and Pedro both needing to get bailed out, despite their usual fine games (especially Pedro).

Halladay's a tough cookie, but I still say that beating him, or at least winning requires taking pitches, since their pen stinks. That's why he needs to eat innings, and if you see any 8 pitch innings, you just know he's having an easy day.

As for breaking the lead open, I can't tell you. We've had tons of rallies killed in the same way Mendoza beat us. RISP, but the easy out comes up with 2 outs. Instead of bases loaded, no outs, why can't we have a sac fly and a walk instead of a K and GIDP? Or at least the GIDP before the K?

If the Yanks can stop turning the relative simplicity of advancing runners, getting the leadoff double home into rocket science, we may do something. Walking someone like Delgado, Nomar and a few others like this wouldn't hurt also. It's these "little things" which can mean the difference between ahead by 3 games instead of behind.

If I see the Yanks doing those things, I'm not overly worried about whether it's Sierra, Posada, Soriano, Jeter or whoever doing this.

As to the staff, I want Nick Johnson back, since he's a walk and OBP machine, a great table setter, then Jeter and Bernie can get a hit. After this, it's Giambi, Sierra, Soriano and Matsui driving them in. I won't guarantee you it'll happen as scripted, but I can dream, can't I?

[BC498]

Originally posted by LouGehrig
With Juan, the lineup becomes balanced and powerful.

Soriano
Jeter
Giambi
Gonzalez
Matsui
Williams
Posada
Sierra
Ventura

Gonzalez, Matsui, Williams can be switched. It won't matter.

Soriano
Jeter
Giambi
Williams
Gonzalez
Matsui
Posada
Sierra
Ventura

The lineup is vastly improved agreed, but I am not convinced that Juan Gonzalez has the desire to win. If anything, the Yankees need an infusion of "heart". The Yankees as they are constituted right now should make the playoffs, and very well could win the world series. If the Yankees decide to acquire another outfielder, I would prefer it to be someone with that intangible will to win. Give me Paul O'Neill over Juan Gonzalez anyday.

[RedSoxFanAtic]

Re: State your case

Originally posted by KenFougere

[B][I][SIZE=3][COLOR=red]
OK, guys. Your Predictions Please... 
Who's still in it for first place & for how long?
Who's the Wild Card going to be?
Any Spoilers?
[/COLOR][/SIZE][/I]   

EAST          W  L  Pct  GB
New York     57 36 .613   -  [IMG]http://www.techwarelabs.com/community/images/smiles/shakehead.gif[/IMG]  
[COLOR=red]Boston       55 38 .591   2[/COLOR]  [IMG]http://www.techwarelabs.com/community/images/smiles/nod.gif[/IMG]
Toronto      49 46 .516   9
Baltimore    41 50 .451   15
Tampa Bay    32 60 .348   24.5

CENTRAL       W  L  PCT  GB
Kansas City  51 41 .554   - 
Chicago      45 49 .479   7
Minnesota    44 49 .473   7.5
Cleveland    41 53 .436   11
Detroit      25 67 .272   26

WEST          W  L  PCT  GB
Seattle      58 35 .624   - 
Oakland      54 39 .581   4
Anaheim      49 43 .533   8.5
Texas        38 55 .409   20
 
[COLOR=red]HINT - {The 'odds-on-favorite' in RED}[/COLOR]      :laugh

[/B]

ah yes, the races....
obviously, in the east yanks and sox are still in it. I see that going to the wire. Jays aren't actually 'put away' yet, but have fallen enough behind, and don't seem to have the pitching. I say they're completely out of it within the next 2-4 weeks.

in the central KC looks mighty good. Could the twins or wsox get back into it? sure - it's not too late. but from what I'm seeing, I don't think it'll happen. They both look flat and kc is playing inspired, determined ball. My question there is will the wsox be selling players before july 31? their GM said today they had better turn it around quick - not a good sign for their players or their manager.

in the west the mariners have slipped some and the a's have been winning and creeping closer. The M's look strong but oakland's pitching could help them make a run still. The Angels are also starting to creep closer. They haven't had a good year so far, but they've done well lately and it's not too late.

my best guess would be rsox, royals, and mariners win the div's, and the yanks beat out the A's for the wildcard. Then the Mariners beat the Yanks and the Rsox beat the Royals, then the Rsox beat the Mariners and then the Rsox beat the Braves in the World Series. What? It could happen!

[KenFougere]

Re: Re: State your case

Originally posted by RedSoxFanAtic
...my best guess would be Red Sox, royals and mariners win the div's, and the yanks beat out the A's for the wildcard. The Mariners beat the Yanks and the Rsox beat the Royals, then the Rsox beat the Mariners and the Rsox beat the Braves in the World Series.
What? It could happen!

Hey, we're Red Sox fans...Whenever we talk about the Sox, we use the word 'could' more than any other in the dictionary! With the word 'might' a possible exception... ...

[Biggerin]

not only could happen, but that would be my predition as well.

M's/yanks I'd say 50/50 chance. I think the A's will fall out of it, letting the yanks get the wild card. I know we can beat the royals, which is why I've been cheerin em on all season (Anything never to have to play in the dome again). We swept the braves in spring training, and I think we can beat em.

[KenFougere]

Yippie

Good News!

It looks like the Red Sox will have the home-field advantage this October......

[tearforamariner]

Re: Re: State your case

Originally posted by RedSoxFanAtic
ah yes, the races....
obviously, in the east yanks and sox are still in it. I see that going to the wire. Jays aren't actually 'put away' yet, but have fallen enough behind, and don't seem to have the pitching. I say they're completely out of it within the next 2-4 weeks.

in the central KC looks mighty good. Could the twins or wsox get back into it? sure - it's not too late. but from what I'm seeing, I don't think it'll happen. They both look flat and kc is playing inspired, determined ball. My question there is will the wsox be selling players before july 31? their GM said today they had better turn it around quick - not a good sign for their players or their manager.

in the west the mariners have slipped some and the a's have been winning and creeping closer. The M's look strong but oakland's pitching could help them make a run still. The Angels are also starting to creep closer. They haven't had a good year so far, but they've done well lately and it's not too late.

my best guess would be rsox, royals, and mariners win the div's, and the yanks beat out the A's for the wildcard. Then the Mariners beat the Yanks and the Rsox beat the Royals, then the Rsox beat the Mariners and then the Rsox beat the Braves in the World Series. What? It could happen!

Close, but then you slip into fiction. Like I said, the BoSox, Royals, and M's all win their divisions and the A's take the Yanks out in a one game playoff (which, as I said before, will be a combined SEVEN pitcher no-hitter against the Rocket). Then, the Sox off the A's, the M's blow past KC and the M's and BoSox meet in the ALCS. In 7 games, the M's defeat Nomar and the Sox. Then they go on and beat the Braves in 5, and Edgar Martinez is the World Series MVP (Most Valuable Player those who don't know ).

[RedSoxFanAtic]

hot trade rumour

I just read on espn that the yanks are close to trading for Benitez. apparantly they'd pay the entire 3 million left on his salary this year, and send multiple 'B' level prospects to the Mets.
That's ok with me, The guy I want is Sidney Ponson. We've got Kim in the pen and need a starter. I think Burnitz will help the Dodgers, I think Benitez will help the Yankees, and I think Ponson would really help the RedSox. I just hope they don't wait forever and actually do it!
This means the Mets will have traded away Roberto Alomar, Jeremy Burnitz, and Armando Benitez all in just a few weeks. Nice Salary dumping!

[racosun]

What do you Yankee fans think about Benitez coming to the Bronx in a home uniform? Getting nervous already?

[J W]

I know I'd be...

...except he won't be the closer. Or at least, he won't be meant to be the closer. Rivera could always go down again, and then, yeeeeesh...

[racosun]

Well, instead of blowing the lead in the ninth, he'll do it an inning or two earlier.

[BC498]

Originally posted by racosun
What do you Yankee fans think about Benitez coming to the Bronx in a home uniform? Getting nervous already?

I'll put it this way, there is only one person that I am equally vehement against the Yankees acquiring: Jay Witasick. Beyond the fact I dislike his entire makeup, the contrast between Hammond and Rivera makes Hammond the preferable set-up man. But I have heard rumors of trading Benitez to the Giants for Felix Rodriguez. I trust Brian Cashman and I'll wait until Aug 1st to make my judgements.

As for the divisional races, I'm sticking with my preseason picks;

AL- Yanks/Twins/M's WC Red Sox
NL- Braves/Cards/Giants WC Cubs

[Mattingly]

Re: Yippie

Originally posted by KenFougere
Good News!

It looks like the Red Sox will have the home-field advantage this October......

You mean the Bob Hope Classics are played in October? Oh well, enjoy the tourney!

How kind of you to make October "blue". For your favorite AL team, I guess?

[Mattingly]

Re: Re: State your case

Originally posted by RedSoxFanAtic
my best guess would be rsox, royals, and mariners win the div's, and the yanks beat out the A's for the wildcard. Then the Mariners beat the Yanks and the Rsox beat the Royals, then the Rsox beat the Mariners and then the Rsox beat the Braves in the World Series. What? It could happen!

Nah, we'll have a 1-game playoff like in 1978. We'll have to figure out the scenario out, but first, we'll need to know where it's played, whether something's hit over the short porch or the Monster, who pops it up, who almost misses a blind catch, and who goes home crying at the end.

Could be a great novel. Ain't it the truth!