Are you ready for another season of Major League Baseball? Pt.2!

[Ghost]

Well, welcome to another edition of "Are you ready for another season of Major League Baseball?" this time hosted by your one and only Ghost! (Don't worry, I made sure it was alright with Mr.Pikachu)

So here, you can discuss stats, teams , players, games, etc... Anything to do with baseball. So to start it off...

How bout them Red Sox?

No seriously though, I'll post some stats about tonight's games as of April 13th at 3:43 PM EST.

Currently the Chicago Cubs are leading Cincinatti 5-0... not too sure about the pitching matchups, but ill post that.

The Los Angeles Angels will face off against the Red Sox at 7:05 EST. RHP John Lackey (2-0, 0.75 ERA) will being going up against Veteran RHP Tim Wakefield (0-1, 1.50 ERA)

The Chicago White Sox will take on Cleveland, with RHP Javier Vazquez (1-0, 0.00 ERA) taking on RHP Fausto Carmona (0-0, 0.00 ERA) who is filling in for the injured Cliff Lee. Gametime is 7:05 EST.

The Houston Astros will take on the Philidelphia Philies, with veteran RHP Roy Oswalt (1-0. 1.08 ERA) taking on the Phillies RHP Brett Myers (0-1, 6.75 ERA), who was roughed up in his last outing against Florida. GT is 7:05 EST

The Kansas City Royals will take on Baltimore at 7:05 EST, with RHP Brandon Duckworth (0-0, 0.00 ERA), coming off a great first start, posting 6 1/3 scoreless innings, will take on the Orioles' young ace LHP Erik Bedard (1-1, 6.94 ERA) who will be pitching after a impressive start against the Yankees, where he retired 20 of that last 22 batters he faced.

The San Fransisco Giants will seek revenge against the Pittsburgh Pirates at 7:05 EST, with veteran RHP Russ Ortiz (0-1, 5.40 ERA) taking on the young LHP Zach Duke (1-0, 3.46), who held the Reds to Two runs over 6+ Innings on Sunday.

In Toronto, The Two Aces will meet as at 7:07 EST as Cy Young Award Winner RHP Roy Halladay (1-0, 3.46 ERA) will take on the young ace of the Detriot Tigers, RHP Jeremy Bonderman (0-0, 3.75 ERA) , who has a 3.75 ERA against Toronto.

In New York City, Rookie RHP Mike Pelfrey (who was 2-1 with a 5.48 ERA in 2006), getting his first start of the season, will take on RHP John Patterson (0-2, 9.35 ERA) at 7:10 EST. John Patterson has never won a game at Shea Stadium.

In Atlanta, LHP Mark Redman (0-1, 7.94 ERA) will try to get over his abysmal first start as he takes on LHP Dontrelle Willis (2-0, 3.00 ERA), who is 4-4 with a 4.78 ERA in 14 career starts against the Braves. Gametime is 7:35 EST.

In St Louis at 8:10 EST, young RHP Anthony Reyes (0-1, 5.40 ERA) will face off against the impressive RHP Ben Sheets (1-1, 3.60 ERA) who gave up five runs on nine hits against the Chicago Cubs.

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays will try and stop their 10 game losing streak against the Minnesota Twins at 8:10 EST, as young LHP Scott Kazmir (0-1, 6.75 ERA) will take on the ace of the Twins rotation, LHP Johan Santana (2-0, 2.77 ERA)

In Arizona,the somewhat Struggling Colorado Rockies will take on the Arizona Diamondbacks, who have gotten off to a tremondous 7-3 start. RHP Josh Fogg (0-0, 2.84 ERA) will take on Cy Young winner RHP Brandon Webb (1-0, 4.50) at 9:40 PM

The New York Yankees will travel to Oakland, with LHP Kei Igawa (0-0, 12.60 ERA) trying to rebound after a horrible start against Baltimore. RHP Dan Haren (0-2, 0.69 ERA) has done very good this season, but just has not got enough run support. Hopefully the A's, led by the flaming Mike Piazza, can beat the Yankees at 10:05 EST.

In Seattle, Veteran LHP Jarrod Washburn (0-0, 3.00 ERA) will go up against Texas' ace, RHP Kevin Millwood (1-1, 4.91 ERA). Washburn has not pitched and 10 days and Seattle fans are hoping he will get off to a good start. Gametime is 10:05 EST

In Los Angeles, The San Diego Padres will take on the Los Angeles Dodgers at 10:40 , with good Ol' Veteran LHP David Wells (0-0, 2.70 ERA) taking on the also experienced RHP Derek Lowe (1-1, 5.73)

I'll post the stats around the league later too.

[Ghost]

Sorry for the Double Post, but this wouldn't fit in the other post

MLB LEAGUE LEADERS AS OF APRIL 12TH

(#) indictates they are tied for a place (# in the middle)

MLB Leader (AVG) (Top 10)

1.Akinori Iwamura (TB) is leading the league in batting in at .433
2.Derrek Lee (CHC) is batting .424
3.Ronnie Belliard (WAS) is batting .406
4.Miguel Cabrera (FLA) is batting in at .406 (3)
5.Aramis Ramirez (CHC) is also batting in at .406 (3)
6.Vladimir Guerrero (LAA) is batting in at .405
7.Aaron Hill (TOR) is batting .400
8.Geoff Jenkins (MIL) is also batting .400 (7)
9.J.D. Drew (BOS) is batting a impressive .393
10.Orlando Hudson (ARI) rounds off the pack at .390

MLB Leader (HR)

1. Alex Rodriguez (NYY)leads with 6 HR
2. Jimmy Rollins (PHI)is surprislingy in second with 5 HR
3. Miguel Cabrera (FLA)has hit 4 HR
4. Adam Dunn (CIN)has also hit 4 HR (3)
5. Ian Kinsler (TEX)surprisingly has also hit 4 HR. (3)
6. Grady Sizemore (CLE)is 6th in the league with 4 HR. (3)
7. Adrian Gonzalez (SD) has hit 3 HR so far.
8. Vladimir Guerrero (LAA) ties in with 3 HR. (7)
9. Geoff Jenkins (MIL) also ties with 3 HR(7)
10. Justin Morneau (MIN), former MVP, has hit 3 HR (7)
11. Tieing in at 7 is Ty Wiggington (TB) with 3 HR(7)

LEADER IN RBI

1. Alex Rodrigues (NYY) has 16 RBI
2. Miguel Cabrera (FLA) has hit 12 RBI
3. Vladimir Guerrero (LAA) has hit 11 RBI
4. Aaron Hill (TOR) has hit 11 RBI as well. (3)
5. Jose Reyes (NYM) has surprisingly hit 11 RBI. (3)
6. Carlos Beltran (NYM) has hit 9 RBI
7. Mark Ellis (OAK) has hit 9 RBI (6)
8. Jeff Francouer (ATL) has hit 9 RBI (6)
9. Adrian Gonzalez (SD) has also hit 9 RBI (6)
10. Jimmy Rollins (PHI) ends us at 10 with 9 RBI. (6)

LEADER IN STOLEN BASES

1. Jose Reyes (NYM) Leads with 5 SB
2. Eric Byrnes (ARI) is second with 4 SB
3. Kazuo Matsui (COL) is in third with 4 SB (2)
4. Ryan Freel (CIN) has 4 SB as well. (2)
5. Akinori Iwamura (TB) is 5th with 3 SB.
6. Russel Martin (LAD) has 3 SB (5)
7. Juan Pierre (LAD) also has 3 SB (5)
8. Scott Podsendik (CHW) has 3 SB (5)
9. Hanley Ramirez (FLA) has 3 SB (5)
10. Dave Roberts (SD) rounds off with 3 SB. (5)

LEADERS IN ERA

1. Felix Hernandez (SEA) leads with a 0.00 ERA
2. Chris Samspon (HOU) is in at 0.00 ERA (1)
3. Justin Verlander (DET) is in at a 0.00 ERA (1)
4. Tim Hudson (ATL) is 4th in the league with a 0.64 ERA
5. Brad Penny (LAD) is in at a 0.68 ERA
6. Dan Haren (OAK) has a 0.69 ERA
7. Jake Peavy (SD) has a 0.69 ERA as well (6)
8. John Lackey (LAA) has a 0.75 ERA
9. Carlos Silva (MIN) has a 0.77 ERA
10. Chuck James (ATL) has a 0.82 ERA

LEADERS IN K'S

1. Felix Hernandez (SEA) has fanned 18
2. John Smoltz (ATL) has K'd 17 batters
3. Cole Hamels (PHI) has struck out 15 batters
4. Scott Kazmir (TB) has 15 K's (3)
5. Gil Meche (KC) has 15 Strike outs (3)
6. Brett Myers (PHI) has 15 K's (3)
7. Johan Santana (MIN) has 15 K's as well.(3)
8. Daisuke Matsuzaka (BOS) has 14 K's
9. Daniel Cabrera (BAL) also has 14 K's (8)
10. Ted Lilly (CHC) also has 14 strike outs. (8)

[mr_pikachu]

Thanks for getting things rolling, Ghost. (I don't own the "TPM Baseball King" title, by the way... you didn't need to ask permission to post this. )

I'm looking forward to tonight's Cardinals game. We'll see if Sheets lives up to the billing you gave him, especially considering his weak performance against the sub-par Cubs. (I'm not just saying that because I'm a Cubs hater... their lineup has honestly looked weaker and weaker each of the last three or four years.)

Also, I'm very curious how Igawa has an ERA over 12 and doesn't have a loss. May have to look him up later. o_0

[Ghost]

The lefty allowed seven runs on eight hits with three walks and two strikeouts. He also allowed two home runs, hit a batter and committed an error. Only 53 of his 97 pitches were for strikes.

I'm pretty sure that that was the start where A-Rod hit his first grand slam.

[mr_pikachu]

Oh, that's right. The game-winning grand slam. He just lucked out and got late run support.

Not sure what the weather's like in St. Louis... tonight's game could very well be rained out. We're having major storms in Oklahoma, after all. And I wanted to spend the night watching my redbirds take their fifth straight... *whines*

[Perfect Chaos]

Well, I know the Mets got off to a great start, but the last 3 games or so we've cooled off a bit. Hopefully we can pick up the pace a bit tonight against the Nationals and start up the same domination that we did last year.

Looking forward to another good season!

-Sean

[Ghost]

Is it just me or is J.D Drew on fire?

[mr_pikachu]

I wouldn't say he's on fire... I'd say that for once, he's healthy. Only time will tell if Francona's strategy to rest him one out of ten games keeps him that way.

One other thing. Consider who he's played so far: Kansas City, Seattle, and Texas. All three are giving up an average of about five runs a game, which is nothing to celebrate. So it's no surprise that someone for the Sox might appear to have caught a little flame.

[Ghost]

APRIL 14, 2007: TODAY'S GAMES


In Cleveland, After their losing game last night, will try to rebound, sending veteran RHP Paul Byrd (0-0, -.--) to face off against LHP John Danks (0-1, 4.50) at 1:05 ET

In Chicago, The Cubs will try to come back and win after their loss yesterday, sending RHP Bronson Arroyo (0-1, 3.86) up against young LHP Rich Hill (1-0, 1.29) at 1:05 ET

In Toronto, RHP A.J Burnett (1-1, 7.27) will face off against RHP Chad Durbin (0-1, 11.57) at 1:07 ET

In New York, The Nationals will try to beat the Mets as they send young RHP Shawn Hill (0-2, 3.29) against veteran RHP "El Duque" Hernandez (1-0, 1.38) at 1:10 PM

In Boston, 37 year old RHP Hector Carrasco (0-0, 1.80), who has made 618 major league apparences, will face off against Veteran RHP Curt Schilling (1-1, 4.91) at 3:55 ET

In Philidelphia, Houston will send RHP Woody Williams (0-1, 4.22) against the phenominal LHP Cole Hamels (0-0, 1.38) at 3:55 ET

RHP Vincente Padilla (0-2, 6.94) will go up against struggling RHP Miguel Batista (0-1, 15.43) in Seattle at 3:55 PM

The Marlins will send in young LHP Scott Olsen (2-0, 4.35) will face off against Brave's starter RHP Kyle Davies (0-0, 2.70) at 7:05 ET

LHP Odalis Perez (0-2, 10.80) will be sent in by the Royals to face off against RHP Daniel Cabrera (1-1, 3.07) at 7:05 ET

Struggling "ace" LHP Barry Zito (0-2, 8.18) will be sent in by the Giants to face RHP Tony Armas (0-1, 13.50) at 7:05 ET

Former Cardinal RHP Jeff Suppan (0-2, 4.15) will face off against the Cardinals RHP Kip Wells (1-1, 1.38)

RHP Edwin Jackson (0-1, 6.35) will be sent in by the Devil Rays to face off against the Twin's RHP Sidney Ponson (0-1, 12.71) at 7:10 ET

The Yankees will send in RHP Darrel Rasner (0-1, 10.38) to face off against the A's RHP Joe Blanton (1-0, 3.97) at 9:05 ET)

RHP Aaron Cook (0-0, 3.60) of the Rockies will take on Arizona's RHP Livan Hernandez (1-0, 1.29) at 9:40 ET

Phenominal Ace RHP Jake Peavy (1-0, 0.69) of the Padres will go up against the Dodger's ace RHP Jason Schimdt (1-1, 4.00) at 10:10 ET

Ok, well those are today's games. I've Kinda Shortened up the format a bit... I might think of just posting even shorter like (for Example)

RHP Shawn Hill (0-2, 3.29) vs Orlando Hernandez (1-0, 1.38) at 1:10 PM (Nationals vs Mets)

Any Suggestions to this?

BTW all Starting Pitchers are subject to change.

[kainashi]

fernando rodney sucks. that is all.

[Ghost]

fernando rodney sucks. that is all.

What did Rodney do?

[kainashi]

What did Rodney do?

the only thing he's good at is blowing games. at least the tigers came back and won today though so i'm happy.

[Ghost]

the only thing he's good at is blowing games. at least the tigers came back and won today though so i'm happy.

Hah... Rodney blew tonight;s game too

Anyways, Congratulations to the White Sox's Mark Buerhele, who just completed a no-hitter against the Texas Rangers.

Mets also beat the Marlins and Red Sox beat the Blue Jays, so i'm pretty happy.

Anyways, sorry I haven't been updating, I've been on vacation and haven't had much time to update.

[DarkTemplarZero]

How nasty are A-Rod's pecs? I swear, the guy probably wears at least a 36D bra, damn.

[Number1ChanseyFan]

Hah... Rodney blew tonight;s game too

Trade him to Cleveland. They need another lousy relief pitcher. I think they are collecting them or something.

[Perfect Chaos]

lmao, I don't even wanna know DTZ

Yep, much kudos to Mark Buerhele for his awesome pitching performance against the Rangers tonight. Too bad I wasn't able to watch the game (or any games for that matter as I don't have cable ).

Maine was just pretty awesome tonight against the Marlins, except that one inning where he gave up the hit to Cabrera and then Borchard hit a homerun to lose out on the shutoff . Oh well, we still knocked the crap out of the Marlins either way .

I'll see if I can be a little more active here as well. Until tommorrow!

-Sean

[Ghost]

Yeah, personally, I believe that once Maine gets more experience I think he will win the Mets First no-hitter title.

On the A-Rod comment- I don't wanna think about it.

El Duque takes the hill today against the Marlin's Rick Vanden Hurk (0-0, 3.86). Hopefully the mets will crush them today

[Number1ChanseyFan]

Hey, feel free to take a shot at Cleveland anytime you want!! I know they aren't very good, and I complain about them routinely.

I am not sure if the pitching coach is to blame, or the manager's handling of the players. There has been success with the pitching before with this coach and manager. The bullpen was horrible in 2004 and 2006, but in 2005, they somehow had one of the best bullpens that ever existed, and the starters were good too, the hitting was the problem then. The manager seems to leave pitchers in way too long when they are getting abused, but he also sometimes takes guys who are having a good start out because they are at 100 pitches. He also gives players off days at strange times, whenever he feels that they need a rest, I think that players should rest when slumping and play while they are hot. But one time a few years ago Hafner hit like 3 home runs in a double-header, and then he was given he next day off... and he's a DH!!

As for Westbrook, he has to be perfect to have success. He relies mostly on sinkerballs, he can't throw a straight fastball higher in the strike zone, so any team that has good low ball hitters (like typical power hitting lefties) will usually do pretty well against him, because he is so one-dimensional. Unless he is overthrowing, he is almost always within an inch above or below the knees, so he is predictable. That is why I would have rather the Indians invested in CC Sabathia. He is younger, throws harder, and is left-handed. Oh, and he can hit too, which helps in interleague, not to mention it will make NL teams very interested in him if he makes it to free agency. Plus, Westbrook did have major elbow surgery, I think in 2001 or 2002. CC has never had anything more than a muscle pull.

[mr_pikachu]

THe Cubs/Cards rivalry will be even more heated than usual today, as Jason Marquis goes up against his former team. Chicago is rated as the underdog, but don't expect St. Louis to make it easy for their former hurler.

[DarkTemplarZero]

Kiddos, it's only April, baseball doesn't quite matter yet, give it a few more months. The only interesting subject in baseball to discuss in April is A-Rod's pectoral muscles, and what size bra he wears. Either that or if Barry Bonds should be allowed to go after Hank Aaron's record. Methinks no, the guy is dirty.

[mr_pikachu]

Well, the Cubs-Cards game went badly. Got totally trashed by Marquis.

Then again, that's how the guy works. He's got amazing stuff, but he's a hothead... so he's either brilliant for the whole game, or he gets blasted as soon as the opponent strings together some hits. That's the whole reason we got rid of him... you couldn't rely on the guy, and so we couldn't use him at all in the playoffs.

He'd be great if he could just throw a no-hitter every game. -_-;;

[Ghost]

So far the Red Sox have taken 2 out of 3 from the Yankees, hopefully our Japanese import Daisuke Matsuzaka can take on the Yankees today.

[mr_pikachu]

Bonds hit #756 tonight.

Yay.

[Ghost]

Jesus, this thing Is back! i never thought I was seeing it in the first page...

On another note, A Met Fan caught the Home-run ball by Bonds. Congratulations to him, he's looking at a very rare commodity.

A few other things:

Mets get pounded by Braves. Yippee.

Glavine got his 300th against Chicago, congrats to him. Hes probably the last person to ever reach 300 wins.

Beckett is tied for the lead with 14 wins, hopefully he'll win the Cy Young

Now that my notes are over, Lets go Mets and Red Sox, and lets keep this topic alive!

[mr_pikachu]

Rick Ankiel's back in the majors as an effective power-hitting outfielder, the Cardinals are back in the NL Central race, and Kip Wells is learning how to throw a baseball. Life is good!

Now to inject a little controversy into this thread. I read an interesting article earlier today about a study of umpiring bias...

Major League Umps Call More Strikes for Pitchers of Same Race

Frankly, I've long thought that although umpires sometimes blow the biggest calls in the game, they're an essential human element of the game. Also, we all know the power that stars command, as sometimes they get calls that other players wouldn't. And some officials are corrupt, as we've seen recently in various scandals. *coughDonaghycough* Those things are rather difficult to avoid in umpiring. But does this take that "human element" a step too far? Is this the finding that will finally prompt the league to work toward electronic officiating?

...If only we were right when we yell at the umps, "What are you, blind?"

[mr_pikachu]

Texas wins 30-3

No, it wasn't a football game. Thanks for asking.

[mr_pikachu]

11 games > 10 games. Go math!

No, no standings update. Been too busy with other things this morning. Instead I have some comedy, courtesy of an awesome ESPN article.

...After our 18-1 blowout by, of all teams, the Astros, I could probably add a Cardinals section here. (Wandy Rodriguez shut us out for seven innings. Wandy Rodriguez. I know the Astros, and Wandy Rodriguez does not pitch well. He doesn't know how. And some call-up rookie named Towles isn't supposed to power Houston to their all-time most lopsided victory. IT ISN'T RIGHT, I TELL YOU!) But as the reigning World Series Champions, it wouldn't be very fitting.




Mets

Take it from a lifelong Mets fan: The only thing we like as much as -- and sometimes better than -- a Mets win is a Yankees loss.

Yeah, I know, everyone hates the Yankees, but nobody can hate them like Mets fans do. And that's why the Past 10 days or so are shaping up as our worst nightmare, as the Mets and Red Sox compete to see who can squander their division lead more quickly. I don't know who needs to be put on a plane to Siberia sooner, Guillermo Mota or Eric Gagne, but I do know they're both ruining my September (and, hence, my entire sorry life).

My team doing an unprecedented choke + my most hated team pulling off an unprecedented comeback = worst season ever. Nearly every day, the Mets' lead falls by another game, and so does the Yankees' deficit -- it's like watching the world collapse in slow motion. Wake me in November, because I can already see this is gonna get worse before it gets better.
-- Paul Lukas


Mariners

Are you nuts? YOUR TEAM IS STILL IN FIRST PLACE! You're still probably going to the postseason! What kind of pain is that? I would LOVE to trade places with you. Try being a Seattle fan. We just went through a week-long root canal without Novocaine followed by a two-week colonoscopy.

The Mariners were 3½ games up on the Yankees in the wild card Aug. 28, and now they're six games back. And you think you're miserable? Did you have Horacio Ramirez in your rotation? Did you have Rick White in your bullpen? And don't give me this, "Oh, no one else can feel our pain when it comes to Yankees" B.S. Trust me, New York Mets fans don't have a monopoly on hating the Yankees. WE HATE them out here, too.

DAMN YOU, David Justice!!!!!
-- Jim Caple


Braves

I have known the pain of Horacio Ramirez in the starting rotation, so let me get next. Try remembering your enthusiasm when your team made the biggest, splashiest deadline deal of the season (Mark Teixeira), realizing that addition has raked since he got to town, that your team has a better Pythagorean record than either team ahead of it in the standings, and your team still won't sniff the playoffs.

How you like that? You knew the Mariners weren't good. I know the Braves are, I think.

The Mets' tailspin should be opening the door to October for the Braves. Atlanta should be preparing to find a 14th way in 17 seasons to blow a postseason series. Instead, we're where we'll be until April -- third place. And it just doesn't make any sense. Great, now my head hurts again.

As for the Yankees, there's only one reason you know Jim Leyritz's name, and the thought makes my stomach hurt.
-- Bomani Jones


Red Sox

The Red Sox are in first place. Yeah, I know that. Get back to me this weekend when they get no-hit by Scott Kazmir.

What, because we won it all in 2004 we're supposed to be content? We shouldn't want to win it again? So, once a team wins it should play dead until everyone gets a chance to own a ring? We already have that in baseball -- it's called the NL Central.

The Sox are in first place. I heard all of you the first time. But right now I live in a world in which my team plays it old school. And by old school, I mean they show up to play 150 games a year. I live in a world in which the answer to Linda Cohn's question is, "Ass-clown rhymes with Gagne." I live in a world where apparently everyone on the roster has tickets to Disneyland because they can't wait to get to Anaheim. I hope all of your cable boxes break today and the only thing that comes in is "Fever Pitch." Now someone please inject me with whatever cocktail they put in Roger Clemens' elbow.
-- Mike Philbrick


Pirates

Seriously? You've got to be kidding me.

Oh! Woe is me! My team is in contention for the playoffs every year, yet sometimes we don't win the World Series and sometimes we don't even make the playoffs! It's terrible!

Shut up. The Pittsburgh Pirates have not had a winning season in 15 YEARS! Fifteen years. Not one winning season. Not one lousy 82-80 season. Not even 81-81. Heck, their best season since 1992 was a 79-83 record … and that came 10 YEARS AGO! So, please, kindly shut up. Fifteen years, people. Fifteen years. Every year being virtually eliminated by the end of May. Fifteen years. One more is an all-time record.

Yankees fans, you've won four World Series in that time and still had time to go on a World Series "drought." Poor, poor you.

Red Sox fans … just … just shut up. In general. You never stop complaining. Everyone else, let the Pirates know when you get to FIFTEEN consecutive losing seasons and then you can complain. By that time they'll be in the thirties.
-- DJ Gallo


Dodgers

I envy all your heightened sense of drama, your steep peaks and deep valleys. Dodger fans know nothing so dynamic. We're hovering, hanging in, dropping back, dropping a little further back, surging for a bit, and then dropping three straight games to the Rockies, which, while painful, is hardly the stuff of great theater.

We've had key injuries -- Jason Schmidt and Randy Wolf. We've aged some -- Luis Gonzalez and Nomar Garciaparra. We've had young guys contribute and plateau. We've had experienced vets start off rough and then find a groove. We've lingered, tantalizingly close to glory but never quite arriving, never quite claiming it.

I asked a friend the other day how he thought it would end, whether he thought the Dodgers would make it to the postseason. "I think they'll hang around just long enough to truly disappoint me," he said. "I think they'll make me think it's possible and then leave it lying on the floor." Not as passionate as the anguish you guys are feeling, I guess, but miserable nonetheless …
-- Eric Neel


Orioles

I'm not an Orioles fan, but I can imagine what one would say if one still existed:

My fellow baseball fans, you have not suffered like us. You see, we have this pitcher named Daniel Cabrera. Big, tall guy, can throw a baseball through a cement wall. In the past month, he's started games the Orioles lost 30-3, 15-8 and 18-6. Yes, our baseball team gives up more points than our football team.

But that's just the beginning of our misery. Every season, we go in the tank in the second half like a bunch of farm-raised salmon. This year, we're 14-31 since Aug. 1. Last year, we went 29-43 after the break. In 2005, we were 47-40 at the break, and in the playoff chase; we went 27-48 the rest of the way. And who can forget 2002, when we collapsed with a 4-24 disgrace in September?

We've had 10 straight losing seasons -- even though we've been in the top half of team payroll eight times. This offseason, we spent $41.5 million on three free agent relievers. Who spends $40 million on set-up guys? Guess which team has the 29th worst bullpen ERA in the majors? Thank you, Danys Baez, for your three saves and 6.44 ERA. Thank you for making me watch games standing next to Boog's Barbecue because that's the only way I escape the stench you have filled Camden Yards.

And finally, we have as our owner … he who should not be named.
-- David Schoenfield


Tigers

Buck up, fellas. Has your team ever lost 119 games in a season? Huh? Hello … Bueller?

The Tigers went 19 years without a postseason berth, and for all we know it could be another 19 until the next. Even the Pirates haven't gone 19 years between playoff appearances! Detroit has lost 100-plus games three times since 1996 and had 12 consecutive losing seasons prior to last year. The Brewers have lost 100 games only once in their history.

Sure, the Tabbies clawed their way to the AL pennant last season, but if it weren't for the "craftiness" of Kenny Rogers, they would've been swept by the worst World Series champ ever. After this week's sweep at Cleveland, 2006 looks like a mere tease for the 38-year postseason drought to come.

Has your favorite team ever traded six players in order to rent Juan Gonzalez for a year? Did your team ever trade Luis Gonzalez and cash for Karim Garcia?!?! Now you understand why we riot after a championship.
-- Thomas Neumann


Brewers

I'm going to refrain from hyperbole. You all know of Milwaukee's woes. Other teams may be bad, but as Thomas illustrated, the Brewers are the italicized punchline that baseball scribes use when describing those mediocre clubs.

We had accepted the truth. Then, 34 games into the 2007 season, it happened: The Best Record In Baseball. We were soaring high on wings crafted from a rotation that couldn't lose, a "game over" bullpen and a lineup that only hit homers. But the swellness was fleeting. Our wings fell apart.

Mercifully, we're playing chicken with the Cubs, challenging them to see who can lose the most games and still reach October, and so long as that's happening, we're staying out of the water. But should the Brewers succumb in the end, after their most promising season … ever? … then you will see suffering never known by fans of the other teams on this list. Then you will see true heartbreak. And then you will see hyperbole.
-- Neil Janowitz


Cubs

Forget Bartman. Forget the goat. Forget the 99-year curse.

None of those alleged maladies -- assuming there's truth to any of them -- have anything to do with why the Cubs won't win again this season. No, the 2007 edition of the Chicago Orphans is a flawed team. Start with the lack of chemistry and go from there. So even if they win their minor-league division, Lou Piniella's band of misfit toys can plan their vacations for the second weekend in October.

And I don't want to hear about the how the Cardinals -- an organization with a championship mentality -- came from nowhere to win the 2006 World Series. Or that you don't have to be a great team to win it all, you only have to get hot at the right time. If that's all it takes, then the Cubs have been on the receiving end of Mr. Snow Miser's touch for the last century.

The only thing easing the pain this fall is the sheer folly of watching Notre Dame try to reach the end zone. But I'm convinced the Irish will score a touchdown -- even win a bowl game -- before the Cubs reach (notice I didn't say "win") another World Series.

After all, that streak will officially reach a not-so-mature 62 years and counting in the next couple of weeks, and then it will be time to close down the West Addison Beer Garden for another season and focus on the second longest drought in professional sports -- compliments of the Chicago Blackhawks.

That makes the rest of the complainers in this space nothing more than futility rookies.
-- David Albright


Yankees

I've had enough. Stop your whining. None of you have had as trying a year as me.

I had to watch Carl Pavano start on Opening Day. I had to watch Kei Igawa flounder worse than Hideki Irabu (while Dice-K and Okajima starred for the Red Sox). I had to watch guys like Chase Wright, Matt DeSalvo, Tyler Clippard, Darrell Rasner and Jeff Karstens make starts -- and Kyle Farnsworth come out of the pen. The Yankees were so desperate for pitching, I had to watch them throw a prorated $28 million at a 45-year-old, as well as break the team travel rules, to get him.

I had to watch good hitters like Bobby Abreu, Robinson Cano and Johnny Damon get off to atrocious starts. Heck, I had to watch the entire team get off to an atrocious start. And the one bright spot back then, A-Rod? I've spent the entire season waiting for the other shoe to drop.

In addition, I had to watch Brian Cashman fail to make a significant deal at the trade deadline, losing out on Eric Gagne. (On second thought …)

And don't forget about the loss of The Scooter.

Fortunately, we've gotten a boost from some young prospects -- particularly Joba Chamberlain -- and standard clutch performances from the veterans you refer to as "True Yankees": Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte and, of course, El Capitan. (The second-best shortstop in New York, right Mets fans? LOL.)

Above all, you people just don't understand how it feels to have the entire baseball world -- really the entire sports world -- hate you and root against your team. You don't understand how it feels when anything less than winning a World Series seems like failure.

And you probably don't understand how much fun it is to be a Yankees fan right now.
-- Kieran Darcy

[Pokemaster Ash]

Now, now, the Cubs may have their flaws, but when they're firing on all cylinders, you better watch out. They can make things happen.

Of course, we're all aware of prior postseason woes (next person to bring up Bartman gets a baseball bat shoved someplace unpleasant), but it's pretty much a wait-and-see kind of thing. Even in the playoffs, you never know what's gonna happen. Remember the Boston Red Sox' surprise demolition of the Yankees and then World Series sweep in 04? And then there was the White Sox damn near sweeping the entire playoffs in 05 (I know I say I'm a Cubs fan, but I was cheering for them that year). Of course, what annoys the hell out of us Cubs fans, the Cardinals just barely crawling into the playoffs last year and somehow winning the World Series. Well there sure as hell won't be any repeating!

October is when the weird crap tends to happen. It's all in whether it helps or hurts your favorite teams.

[Perfect Chaos]

W00t, great pitching performance by Oliver Perez last night. Only allowed Matsui's homerun in the fourth inning, but Endy Chavez pulled us out of it in the next inning and we win 3-2 to drop the Yanks 10 games behind Boston, while we take a 2 game lead over the Braves.

Looking good so far guys, just two more games to go with Glavine pitching for us tonight

[Pokemaster Ash]

Well we're well into interleague now and, as I type this, Derrek Lee just made the White Sox pay with a grand slam in the 8th inning! The Cubs are letting their crosstown rivals have it so far this year. Of course, this series is at Wrigley, but it's still been some damn good baseball from the windy city.

The score, as I'm typing, is 11-6 in the 8th inning with the Cubs leading.

EDIT: And it's official. The final score is 11-6 Cubs, with the North Siders taking the first two games of the series. Can they sweep?

[Ghost]

It's back from the Dead!

Interleague play has started once again!

And Beckett is still 9-0

[Pokemaster Ash]

Bringing this topic back for a very important little moment for some of us.

The Chicago Cubs are in first place in the NL Central!

Winning off a wild pitch from the Phillies' closer (the second one in the inning), the Cubs won 5-4 while at the same time the Milwaukee Brewers lost to the New York Mets, allowing for the Cubs to take first place in their division.

Now technically the Cubs and Brewers are tied for first, but statistically speaking the Cubs are ahead of the Brewers (the Brewers have played more games, but a win and a loss so the average is still roughly the same), plus the Cubs have beaten up on them this year).

It's gonna happen...

(And by the way, I normally don't wish harm on anyone, but will someone PLEASE nail Barry Bonds in the knee with a 100mph fastball? He deserves to be taken out of the sport ASAP.)

[Number1ChanseyFan]

Yay it looks like the Indians finally got rid of the slump that they were in since before the All-Star break. They are looking the best that they have all year, this is definitely the way that I would want them playing going into the playoffs if they make it. The only real problem is that the bullpen only has 3 reliable pitchers right now. But the starters have been great, and the offense has been good enough lately. Getting Josh Barfield out of the lineup has been huge, (addition by subtraction!! He was honestly making me feel like I was watching a National League game when he was playing... actually some pitchers do hit better than he does!!) and rookie Asdrubal Cabrera has been a great surprise. I think he is going to be a really good hitter. He hit a home run off of Johan Santana in his first ever at-bat against him, and then followed up with a single after that. He also tied up a game with 2 outs in the ninth against Kansas City. Offensively, I think he could turn into a hitter kind of like Detroit's Carlos Guillen.

(I am still kinda surprised that Cleveland has beaten Johan Santana 4 times this year. No other team has ever beaten him even 3 times in the same year. Cleveland may have single-handedly ruined his Cy Young award for this year. It's hard to believe that the anybody could do so well against such a good pitcher.)

I just hope that Cleveland makes it to the playoffs this year. They haven't been there since 2001, back when they were on that run where they were always one of the best teams. I got kinda spoiled growing up watching a baseball team that was always good and easily made it to the playoffs, and it really came as a shock to me when the Indians had to rebuild, I kinda thought that they were always going to be good. It was a good learning experience though, I am appreciating this a lot more now!! Going forward, the Indians could definitely benefit from another reliever stepping up, and if Travis Hafner can just finish out the season hitting somewhat like he did the last 3 years, (his OPS is down almost 250 points from his 2004-2006 averages!!) Cleveland could be quite tough. Sabathia (Cleveland has got to find a way to resign him before free agency hits after 2008) and Carmona can beat anybody when they are going good. (Various players in the central have commented that Carmona has the best natural "stuff" of anybody in the division, and that is pretty good when that is including guys like Sabathia, Santana, Verlander.) Carmona entered the year as the Indians' emergency starter, and has ended up as the co-ace of the team. I like his stuff better as the number 2 guy than Jake Westbrook, although Jake has been hot too, I just think he is more of a middle-rotation guy.

The only bad thing is that unless you have season passes, you have to register for a lottery to have the chance to buy playoff tickets this year, I have to register at noon today, and then they send e-mails to the winners in the middle of September. So, I am gonna register, and hope that I win, and that the Indians keep winning. I've never been to a playoff game before.

Wouldn't it be something if the Indians and Cubs met in the World Series? The two teams who have gone the longest times without winning it all? I bet that would get a lot of attention... but it would still be a huge disappointment to the team that came up short.

Tampa Bay - yes, that Tampa Bay - has just bundled together 11 runs in the eighth against Baltimore. For any other team, it wouldn't be that noteworthy... but the Devil Rays?

Actually Tampa Bay has some good hitters, it is just that they only have 1 really good starting pitcher, and one decent pitcher, and not much else as far as pitching goes. But their one starter, Andy Sonnanstine, grew up about 15 minutes away from my home, and was even born at the same hospital. And actually, my mom knows his girlfriend's grandmother. I've never actually met him though.

EDIT: Meh, the Indians beat Santana AGAIN!! He is now 0-5 against Cleveland, the first time that Cleveland has beaten a pitcher 5 times in a year in 50 years!! I mean, it is hard to believe that a team could beat one guy 5 times in a year, but especially a guy like Santana!! I am usually a pessimistic fan, (all Cleveland fans are.) but I must say... I am impressed!!

[mr_pikachu]

Okay, so it sounds like the Cards' Rick Ankiel used HGH in 2004. It's at least been confirmed that he ordered a year's supply of the steroid. And considering that, while there's obviously no proof that he ever used it, it's rather hard to believe that he just threw the cases of steroids in the garbage.

I don't know what to think. I mean, I'm a huge Cardinals fan. Maybe it's hypocritical of me, but I was always willing to let McGwire slide on the basis that the things we know he took were legal at the time. (And I still feel that way, actually. He didn't break any rules at the time, even if it was blatantly obvious what was coming.) But this case with Ankiel... ergh.

Sure, there are all the reasons in the world to look the other way, not the least of which being my personal fan support. The guy's likable, he was a pitcher at the time, he's not a superstar (well, not right now, anyway)... the list goes on. But as much as it pains me to say it, he did break the rules. He knowingly violated the rules of baseball.

My only question is how such a violation would be punished; one "strike" for the whole year's supply of HGH or a separate instance for every time he stuck a needle in his arm? Assuming they could prove it, that is, which they obviously can't. Not that it makes this story any better. If anything, a bit of clear-cut proof/disproof and the appropriate response would at least give a sense of closure and thus legitimacy to whatever happens for him and/or the team from this point on. But as it is now... ugh. The whole thing makes me sick to my stomach.

Well, at any rate... go Cardinals? *hopes for a come-from-behind win tonight*

[Pokemaster Ash]

Okay... Anyone paying attention to the NL Central has had to watch their blood pressure and stuff lately. The Cubs just won 3-2 against the Houston Astros in dramatic fashion, while the Brewers and Cardinals both lose. This brings the standings to the Cubs and Brewers once again tied for first place, and the Cardinals drop to 4 games back with not very many games left to play.

This one's gonna go down to the wire, but I'm certainly wishing that this, for the first time in 99 years, is finally the year for the Chicago Cubs.

And on a random note to the 30 run game, the Chicago Cubs technically hold the major league record for runs in a single game. The Chicago Colts (who eventually became the Cubs) scored 36 runs in a single game. Of course, this was well over 100 years ago.

[mr_pikachu]

Of course, this was well over 100 years ago.

Of course. ^_^

I really hope that it comes down to the wire... after all, there doesn't seem to be much of a chance for St. Louis to run away with the division. Right now I'm rather nervous, as the door's closing fast. The Cards have really got to stop giving away games...

But since you're a Cubs fan, I must make the obligatory declaration of eternal hatred. One moment, please.

*grabs megaphone*

DIE, YOU GRAVY-SUCKING PIG!

[mr_pikachu]

This is becoming something of a tradition toward the end of the year...




AL EAST__________W___L____PCT____GB_____MN
Boston..........90..61.. .596...----.... 9
NY Yankees......86..64.. .573... 3.5....15
Toronto.........75..75.. .500...14.5....~~
Baltimore.......64..85.. .430...25.0....~~
Tampa Bay.......63..88.. .417...27.0....~~

AL CENTRAL_______W___L____PCT____GB_____MN
Cleveland.......88..62.. .587...----.... 6
Detroit.........83..68.. .550... 5.5....18
Minnesota.......73..77.. .487...15.0....~~
Chicago Sox.....65..85.. .433...23.0....~~
Kansas City.....64..85.. .430...23.5....~~

AL WEST__________W___L____PCT____GB_____MN
LA Angels.......88..62.. .587...----.... 4
Seattle.........79..70.. .530... 8.5....22
Oakland.........74..78.. .487...15.0....~~
Texas...........70..80.. .467...18.0....~~



NL EAST__________W___L____PCT____GB_____MN
NY Mets.........83..66.. .557...----....11
Philadelphia....81..69.. .540... 2.5....15
Atlanta.........77..73.. .513... 6.5....20
Washington......67..83.. .447...16.5....~~
Florida.........65..85.. .433...18.5....~~

NL CENTRAL_______W___L____PCT____GB_____MN
Chicago Cubs....79..72.. .523...----....11
Milwaukee.......77..72.. .517... 1.0....14
St. Louis.......70..79.. .470... 8.0....21
Cincinnati......68..82.. .453...10.5....26
Pittsburgh......66..84.. .440...12.5....~~
Houston.........65..85.. .433...13.5....~~

NL WEST__________W___L____PCT____GB_____MN
Arizona.........84..67.. .556...----....11
San Diego.......82..67.. .550... 1.0....14
LA Dodgers......79..70.. .530... 4.0....16
Colorado........77..72.. .517... 6.0....18
San Francisco...67..83.. .447...16.5....~~





AL WILD CARD_____W___L____PCT____GB_____MN
NY Yankees......86..64.. .573...----.... 9
Detroit.........83..68.. .550... 3.5....16
Seattle.........79..70.. .530... 6.5....20
Toronto.........75..75.. .500...11.0....24


NL WILD CARD_____W___L____PCT____GB_____MN
San Diego.......82..67.. .550...----....12
Philadelphia....81..69.. .540... 1.5....15
LA Dodgers......79..70.. .530... 3.0....17
Colorado........77..72.. .517... 5.0....19
Milwaukee.......77..72.. .517... 5.0....19
Atlanta.........77..73.. .513... 5.5....19
St. Louis.......70..79.. .470...12.0....26




Legend
W - Wins
L - Losses
PCT - Winning Percentage
GB - Games Back
MN - Magic Number*
Team - Out of Playoff Contention


*-The magic number is the number of games required to win the division, whether they are your own wins or losses by the top competitor. The divisional magic number takes into account the divisional tiebreak of head-to-head record. Some of these records can still have their balance shift. At present, the leaders in each head-to-head matchup are assumed to be the leaders at the end of the season for the purposes of the magic number calculations. Wild card tiebreakers are decided by playoff games, so the wild card magic number determines the amount of games required to win outright.

**-Three teams cannot win the NL Wild Card outright. However, they can tie the current leader in the Wild Card race.





...

...

...

*gasps for air*


EDIT: It took me a couple of hours to put all of this together. Go ahead, quote this post. See how much code and junk there is.

*passes out*


EDIT2: Standings updated.

[Knight of Time]

Well, I'm betting both St. Louis and Toronto are going to fall out of playoff contention soon, it hasn't been too good a year for the defending WSC (I've got a cookie here for anyone who can guess what WSC stands for), and as for the latter team, well, baseball isn't really Canada's sport, so to any Blue Jays fans here, sorry to disappoint you, but I don't see them making the playoffs this year, or possibly any year in the future...unless they really SHAPE UP, they'll have to if they want to make a return to the only postseason in a sport that hasn't seen a Canadian team in so long.

Well, with Boston's lead shrinking once again, I'd say the Yankees have themselves a shot at yet another AL East pennant.

[Number1ChanseyFan]

(I've got a cookie here for anyone who can guess what WSC stands for)

World Series Champion?! Ok, where's my cookie? Chocolate Chip please!! ^_^

I can't believe that the Indians actually swept Detroit. They were so hot lately, and lined up their best pitchers for the series. Definitely the most exciting series in a loooooooong time. Even with the Magic Number down to 3 with 10 games left to play, I'm still not going to get too excited until it hits 0. Some bad news though... I got my e-mail today telling me that I didn't win the chance to buy Division Series tickets. I still have a shot at ALCS and World Series tickets if Cleveland makes it that far, so I will have to see if I win a chance to buy those. I'm going up to the game against Oakland this Friday though. They can't win the division at that game, but at least there will be fireworks after the game. I got to see the Indians when they won their last division-clinching game back in 2001. It was quite a cool experience, especially since I bought the tickets before the start of the year, and I had no idea that it was going to be such a special game. It was actually supposed to be the last game of the regular season when I bought them, but it simply became the last home game of the year after the Indians had their 2 series @ Kansas City and Toronto delayed until the week after the end of the regular season because of the terrorist attacks. But as it turned out, I got to see the whole division winning celebration on the field when they beat their year-long rivals, the Minnesota Twins... the last time they made it to the playoffs.

It would be great to see CC Sabathia win the Cy Young this year, although I kinda half-expect Josh Beckett to get it, especially if he makes it to 20 wins. They have had pretty similar years, although CC has thrown a lot more innings, but still, when a guy plays for one of the big-market teams, he is more likely to get attention.

[Knight of Time]

Um, how is Toronto out of playoff contention already, mr_pikachu?

I may not be a Blue Jays fan despite my Canadian citizenship (call me crazy to not like them, but that's just my opinion on how they fare much of the time), but I just checked the preview for their next game at the Yankees, the Bronx Bombers are leading the season series 8-6, so technically Toronto can still win the season series between the two teams, only if they sweep them in this four game set, which I don't see happening. And I thought they'd be eliminated from playoff contention if they do lose that next game to the Yankees.

BTW, Christen, here's your chocolate chip cookie, just as you wanted.

Where is there a chocolate chip cookie when you really need it on a message board?

Edit: n/m, now I realize why the Blue Jays are not making the playoffs, I overlooked both their and the Yankees' remaining games, they each have 10 left now, not 11, so yeah, the playoffs are once again staying in the United States only.