Manny is amazing

The UBL version of JVB was slightly better.

John Vanbenschoten Statistics - 2003 Career League History

I had been following the AAA news abouts the Syracuse Chiefs and it said that this was the first MLB affiliation since 1976 when they were tied to the Yankees. What was the affiliation with the Blue Jays all of these years?

Did I hear right that the Yankees dropped Columbus and now going with Scranton? Are they an IL team? Is the trend with all of these movements to have AAA teams closer geographically to their MLB parent?

Yeah, more and more teams are trying to get their teams closer. The Mets lost Norfolk, ended up with New Orleans and are trying to get closer to home than that. I think they're getting Buffalo or Syracuse.

Nevermind, I guess the Nats got the Chiefs.

Syracuse Chiefs - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mets get Buffalo Bisons will introduce Mets Monday : Latest Local News : The Buffalo News

And the Yankees moved to Scranton last year I believe.

here's a blog post about the latest moves.

In Triple-A Affiliate Merry-Go-Round, Only Winners are Moving Companies - Walkoff Walk

Astros still whining about those games in Milwaukee:

ESPN - Report: Astros lash out about games in Milwaukee; Selig explains in ad - MLB

They definitely got a bad break there, but the fact they've sucked so much since then says a lot about the character of their team. They've embraced the excuse to lose. They won 14 of 15 going into those games, and then were 2-6 since.

It's interesting that people get so obsessed over this kind of stuff now - the 1988 Stanley Cup Finals is an example of less whiney time. First two games in Edmonton, game 3 in Boston, during game 4 the lights go out and the game is suspended. So the new game 4 is scheduled for back in Edmontom. The Oilers complete the sweep, and get 3 of the 4 games on their home ice. I thought that was a little strange as a kid, but noboby seemed to care or whine about it. If something like that happened today it'd be a huge controversy.

I don't think it is a big deal if the game was in Anaheim, or in New York, or even Seattle. But in Milwaukee? After all the stories we have had all year long about how many Cub fans were going to Brewer home games. I have no idea where they could have played and obviously they have sucked ever since so it ends up not being that big a deal. However, they is NO WAY anyone is going to convince me that in Milwaukee that weekend was the best possible solution.

I have no idea what the other options were, but the Astros STILL whining over TWO games (both of which they got hammered in), is just annoying to me.

The biggest home-field advantage in baseball is the fact that you get to bat last, which the Astros still did in those games. Does the crowd really make any difference in an MLB game? Did that really cost the Astros those games? Would they have beat Zambrano in New York?

If they were close games which came down to pressure situations than I could see the crowd potentially having a slight impact but there is nothing the crowd has to do with your team getting smoked.

dola: The crowd can be more of a factor in NFL games which is why I thought the NFL screwed up big time a few years back when they moved the Saints/Giants game from New Orleans to New York after Katrina.

MLB presented Drayton McClain with 3 options - Milwaukee, Arizona and I think Tampa Bay was the 3rd. McClain picked the one that gave him the best deal.

I thought the biggest advantage would be playing in a ball park that best suited your team's strengths since that is where you play the majority of your games.

Should they be whinning? No, especially after getting their door blown off. Does that mean they don't have a point? No I don't think so. Was the most important thing getting the game in? Seems that way. Bud said as much in his statement. Do I think Chicago would have been playing in Arlington if the games were supposed to be played at Wrigley? No I don't. Players exploiting the system because they believe they are treated the same way? I am sure I am not the only one who believes this about players in general.

5!!!!!

Correction...


4!!!!!

It's looking better and better isn't it!

That is is.

Watch, the Mets are going to screw up the celebration by getting the number down to one after Wednesday night to lose on Thursday; so the Phillies clinch while they are off. What's the procedure for that? Pop the champaign before the next game? ;)

Oh, Hank Steinbrenner, will you ever stop talking? Hank Steinbrenner cries over Yanks' great misfortune in AL East - Big Leagu... - MLB - Yahoo! Sports

2 other questions - Does Dustin Pedroia actually have a shot at MVP? Even I would have said no a month ago when he started getting hyped up, and he's cooled off since but it seems he's getting more hype than before.

Also, does anyone know the exact rule on players catching a ball but falling into the stands/bullpens? Is it like football where you need one foot inbounds before you go out, do you need to fall back in, or could you catch a ball while going over the wall, fall into the stands and have it count as an out?

In other words, Hank is also a fan of the non playoff Western Conference teams that had a better record than the playoff teams in the Eastern Conference in the NBA.

DELGADO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wonder if Hank is possibly just playing a character. Is that possible? That the Steinbrenners have some kind of crazy idea that acting like a lunatic owner is somehow good for business.

Dodgers clinch! I'm going to the playoffs!!!!!!

Today, they'd simply have pushed the series back a day. No way they would've done that today, because it's not fair. Not to mention the angry pitchforks of ticket holders.

slacktivist: Manuel: Mets 'suspending' pennant race

I LOL'd.

Struggling Mets Combine To Form Carlos Voltron | The Onion - America's Finest News Source

Mets form "Carlos Voltron". :D

That sounds about right... right reliever too :D (and *sigh*)

"Form! Hitting and Speed!"

"Form! Starting Pitching and Defense!"

"and I'll form the bullpen..."


Wait....

*BOOM!*

(woah, a You Can't Do That On Television reference and a Voltron reference on consecutive days!)

forgot to post this yesterday.

3!!!

White Sox up 3-1 in the 4th over the Twins. Oh please, oh please, oh please let us win and avoid the sweep.... I wanna go back to the playoffs.

I can't believe there wasn't more chatter last night. All 4 teams still fighting for the playoffs in walkoff games. Amazing night for baseball.

SI

Indeed.. if you ever needed an advertisement for baseball, last night was it. Just some amazing comebacks and last second dramatics.

And now in the NL, the Mets are 1 game back of Philly and the Brewers and Mets are tied for the WC. This is some good stuff.

I want the Twins in the Central, and the Phillies and Brewers in the NL.

So do I. Which means the White Sox and Mets will make it :(

SI

I really want to watch the Rays and Brewers in the playoffs. Someone different.

I am a huge Brewers fan so the roller coaster of this season has been very intense. This week has just been unreal, with two walkoff wins in a row from Fielder and Braun. Last night's being a grand slam.

Surprisingly it hasn't been too difficult to cheer for the Cubs the last few days because I've always hated the Mets too (I always cheered for the Braves in the playoffs since Milwaukee never was in it).

But now the Cubs are enemy number one again, and the Marlins are my second favorite team :)

The previous channel button has been getting worn out the last few days switching back and forth between the Brewers and whoever the Mets are playing.

Amen. I'd love to see those fans get some playoff love. I know what it's like to watch bad season after bad season.

SI

OMG ratings disaster! No New York? No Boston? Not even a Chicago Cubs breaking the curse story??????

The Yankees lost the division and AL East to a team with one of the lowest payrolls in MLB. I was reading an article about how the Yankees new stadium could force even the bigger market clubs to think about a cap, due to the incredible revenues that they could generate (thus leading to them to drive salaries even higher).

At the risk of revisiting the past glory days of this thread....The MLBPA will never agree to a salary cap. The owners (including the big market owners, who stand to profit the most) put a cap on the table in '94, '02, '06, and every other recent negotations. MLBPA won't bite, but they compromied with a luxury tax.

The owners would have to shut baseball down for at least 2 full years to get a cap, at least. And by then, the players would start their own league.

wwwwwwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

FU Hank.

He wants to be his father so bad it is pathetic.

He strikes me as a spoiled brat who never worked or earned anything in his life. I bet he runs this team into the ground.

if this Mets game was a video game I would be hitting the reset button

Oh I agree with you (at least on the first part and the time).

But that button would have been broken last September...

forgot to add... ;) :D

fuckin Heilman.

Keith Hernandez just said it perfectly.

"embarresing"

2!!!!!

1!!!!!

Looks like the Yankees are gonna help the Rays back into the AL east title tonight.

If they complete the game tonight.

Fucking White Sox... we're playing like shit and wasting the golden opportunity of the Twinkies getting their asses kicked by the Royals.

Mets have decide they can not wait to start Johan Santana on Sunday. He will be starting on Saturday.

Yeah, Royals just finished with a nice game again by Hiram. We might even have a 4th or 5th starter for next year. I'd love to get one more win and loss, Chicago go 0-fer, and Detroit to lose one more game so we get 4th and 75 wins and the Twins get in :)

SI

:mad:

I can work with the SI plan, but I would prefer that the Royals just lose out to really keep the heat on the White Sox. Somehow I doubt that they take care of their business on their own Sat/Sun/Mon, even if Cliff Lee sits for the Indians.

KC has no love lost with the White Sox what with Ozzie loving to plunk our players (never mind Gamboa being stabbed by that redneck and son a few years ago).

Tho I did love that little ass AJ getting his clock cleaned by human fireplug Miguel Olivo earlier this year

SI

thats the correct move IMO, there may not be a sunday

Game over, Milwaukee has won and pushed the Mets one down.

SI

Not sure that it makes a difference if they can't hit.

Way to go MLB and your replay rules. Bengie Molina hits a shot that is ruled a single, so a pinch runner is put in the game. Then it's checked out and ruled a HR. Yet Molina doesn't get credit for either an RBI or a Run Scored. I would imagine it'll be changed in a couple of days but still rather embarrassing

I really want the Brewers to have to use CC on sunday, so I need the mets to win, and the brewers to lose tomorrow. That would at least likely keep CC away from being able to start 2 times in the WC round(assuming the Phils make it)

"0"!!!

RAYS AL EAST CHAMPS!!!

Congrats to the Rays.

For all the focus on the lack of people in the stands, I don't think the accomplishments of the team has gotten enough credit.

The Rays are division champs and will be hosting game 1 of a playoff series. Who would have thunk it?

I agree, I think it's one of the best baseball stories this decade. To see the Rays in and the Yanks out is truly miraculous. It still bothers me that no one goes to their games, relatively speaking, though not as bad the Marlins.

I hear what you are saying, and while not making excuses, they have been a AAA team since inception and have a saeson ticket base of 8000. That means selling 30,000 individual or game day walk up tickets every game. Their attendances is up 40% from last years and this season they eliminated some upper deck seats to lower capacity. The real determination on the attendance here will come next season as the season ticket base increases.

Congrats :D

SI

I think a lot of money could have been if someone had bet on the Royals finishing higher than the Tigers. If I recall, the Royals were supposed to bottom-feeder bad while the Tigers were heavily favored to win the division and probably the AL.

The Royals don't have that one wrapped up yet. Don't jynx us and our 1/2 game lead :)

SI

WOOOT!!!!!

I am beyond pissed.

I paid $150 for the baseball package and they arent carrying the second to last game of the season because of the fox blackout rules.

I paid the 8 bucks to watch online but that is total BS.

Watching it here, Santana is pitching a good game.

watching it online.

dola- My guide lists me as either having the Brewers-Cubs or Red sox-Yankees as the fox game.

I am gonna be wicked pissed if they give me a meaningless sox-yanks game over a huge brewers-cubs game.

Very impressive outing for Santana, picking up the shutout + 9 Ks on short rest.

Wow, just wow.

What a game by Johan. 3 hit complete game shutout on 3 days rest. One of the most enjoyable games I have ever seen pitched.

And to top it off just as he is closing it out Daryl Ward hits a 2 run bomb in the to of the first to give the cubs a 2-0 lead.

man, just man, Johan was lights out today.

Talk about earning your paycheck. Unreal what he did today.

Haha...Jerry Manuel is the man. Describing Johan in his press conference:

"If I had to say something...gangsta! That was gangsta!"

Sheets out after 2 1/3 innings, Iowa Cubs up 4-0.

Big HR for Fukudome! 6-3 Cubs.

Dang..this NL playoff chase is crazy....a game of who will be the last to give it up. I hope it ends with a one game playoff in Milwaukee.

So Ollie will be pitching for a big payday tomorrow.

It's crazy to think about it but tomorrows start could mean the difference between getting 10-11 mil a season or 8 mil for Perez.

0!!!!!

I Present your NL East Champions!!!!!!

I liked it better when Lidge's saves were not Mitch Williams close your eyes and pray saves like today.

The Twins and the White Sox should both be forced to forfeit the AL Central's playoff spot. What a display this weekend. With everything on the line, a combined 0-4 at home against teams that don't give a crap.

Nah... because next in line for a playoff spot would be the Yanks!!

So Pinella pulls his starter after 2 innings.

I know it is his perogotive to rest guys, get guys work, etc... but that doesnt sit well with me.

Why not? Soto got hurt a few days ago, and Derosa got an injury that kept him out of the past few games. There is simply NO reason to risk losing a contributor for the playoffs.

If it was Zambrano he had said that he was going to give him the equivalent of a side session. Once they decided he was the Game 2 starter there was no chance he was going to throw a normal session today.

They could have trotted Jason Marquis out there as the starter and had Z come in for middle relief if it would have made you feel better ...

In terms of Mets/Brewers, I'm not sure there is much room to complain. Cubs had clinched before the 7 games against these teams. Pinella played a mix of starters/scrubs throughout, kept his rotation largely intact up to today, and Cubs have been 3-3 in these games (.500 against both teams) up to this point.

Man, Sabathia almost hit one out to tie the game but it went foul

I'm enjoying the switching-between-TBS-and-WGN-while-having-box-scores-open-in-5-tabs afternoon :)

SI

So, yes, at this moment- both NL games are tied.

SI

3-2 Florida. CC is amazing. Sacrificing his arm and then some for this (3 straight starts on 3 days rest - wow).

And now 4-2 Florida.

SI

I thought Ray Durham (one of my favorite guys) had it.

BRAUN!

SI

Milwaukee takes the lead!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There was just this murmur that went through Shea on TBS

SI

And I'm watching Tim Lincecum strike out the side again. Man, nothing beats baseball at times like this.

Shit! Shit! Shit!

Need a miracle for the Mets now :(

Lincecum - 6 outs in the game so far, 6K's.

What a pitching performance. I don't buy "heart" often, but that was just pure fucking amazement.