Let's be honest. National league sucks

[giambi]

I just named a few pitchers and I can name so many more than you can name that are legit in the AL I know from all of the yankee pitchers that have done nothing coming from the javy vasques jaret wright, sooo many I can only think of one real legit pitcher that went to AL won with consistency and it pains me to say Curt Schilling............NL...............I have one great example CC .......did he have any losses in NL 1 and he gets hit sometimes in AL I think the real reason is that there is not much hitting, but alot of the AL teams have hitting ............I love the double switches like that is such a hard decision.........BTW torre managed the yankees right out of the playoffs the year they played detriot went with his Vets when the youngsters got him there.

 

[BUCSnotYUCKS]

As for your scenario, is it the bottom of the 7th or the top? That could mean 3 more innings to get through the 9th, or two. And it would depend on the pitch count, and just how well my pitcher was pitching. If he was throwing a 1-hitter and only 70 pitches thrown, I let him hit because he could probably go 3 more scoreless. If he's closer to 100 pitches, I probably yank him and try to take a 2-run lead, hoping my bullpen can come in and close it out.

Hook, line, sinker. You answered everything for me.

 

[Glenn Quagmire]

Hook, line, sinker. You answered everything for me.

:mj07: Hook, line, sinker, eh? Why, because I needed more information? I think I answered it as well, if not better, than any NL manager would. If anything, I proved that some guy who does nothing more than watch baseball can make the same "grueling" decisions that NL managers make.

You really should just stop. You're getting absolutely CRUSHED by everyone in this thread.

 

[BUCSnotYUCKS]

:mj07: Hook, line, sinker, eh? Why, because I needed more information? I think I answered it as well, if not better, than any NL manager would. If anything, I proved that some guy who does nothing more than watch baseball can make the same "grueling" decisions that NL managers make.

You really should just stop. You're getting absolutely CRUSHED by everyone in this thread.

I'm getting crushed...because??...you said so? LOL -- Sweet argument!

Also, the hook-line-sinker comment was basically you responded to my post with the questions that an NL manager has to make every game. Something an AL manager rarely, if ever deals with.

You're right, some guy who does nothing more than watch a baseball game can make the same grueling decisions as an NL manager. Just like you or I could make the same decisions if it came to an NBA game, or an NFL game.

Hell, by all your accounts, why even have coaches/managers if we all can make the same decisions!?!?!?

 

[Glenn Quagmire]

I'm getting crushed...because??...you said so? LOL -- Sweet argument!

Also, the hook-line-sinker comment was basically you responded to my post with the questions that an NL manager has to make every game. Something an AL manager rarely, if ever deals with.

You're right, some guy who does nothing more than watch a baseball game can make the same grueling decisions as an NL manager. Just like you or I could make the same decisions if it came to an NBA game, or an NFL game.

Hell, by all your accounts, why even have coaches/managers if we all can make the same decisions!?!?!?

I probably took your comment the wrong way. When you say 'hook, line, sinker' to someone, to me that means you're insulting their intelligence. There are a lot of things I have a thick skin about, but that's not one of them. Like I said though, I probably just read it the wrong way.

All I was saying was that I answered your question with not just one scenario, but two. And I think it's the same type of answer an NL manager would give you. What other types of answers would you expect to get? The same type of scenario happens in the AL, when a weak #
#9 hitter is at the plate in that scenario. True, he wouldn't be as bad as a pitcher, but AL managers have to make calls like that too.

I do think a lot of managing is predictable. I'm not saying it's EASY, but it's not rocket science, either. I joke all the time that a lot of these managers are on auto-pilot, and a lot of them, IMO, manage too much by the book. The lefty/lefty, righty/righty matchups late in the game are a good example of managing being predictable. If Todd Helton's coming up late in the game for the Rockies, and it's a win/lose type situation, do you really think the manager is going to leave the righty in the game? You or I can watch games and pretty much know what managers are going to do down the stretch in games, for the most part (in regards to pitching, at least).

Honestly, I don't even know why we're debating this. We can agree to disagree. I have no problem with that.

 

[gjn23]

i for one cant stand watching al games as they take fuking forever becasue of all the offense.

face it.....with a dh, almost every al team has a david ortiz type in their order instead of a pitcher...and it makes a HUGE difference.

the dl will never go away because the players union is too strong to let it happen and give up 10-20 mil in payroll

 

[The Cycle]

Managing is a lot more than just pinch hitting and double switches... It's getting every last ounce of production out of your 25 man roster on a daily basis. Here is one example. And I know I'm an Angels homer but I think we can all agree Mike Scioscia is regarded as one of the best managers in the game so there is definitely something to this...

On a recent acticle (not sure where I read it) they were breaking down the Red Sox/Angels position by position... When it got to second base the writer gave the hands down advantage to the Red Sox with Pedroia. Who wouldn't right? Guy is the defending AL MVP... But check this out....

The Angels two main second basemen this year were Howie Kendrick and Maicer Izturis. Those guys can't hold Pedroia's jock right? Well combine their numbers, and then of course multiply them down because they had more combined at bats than Pedrioa. In doing so you can stack up their combined numbers at 626 at bats to Pedroia's with his 626 at bats...

Player A: .296 BA, 115 R, 185 H, 15 HR, 72 RBI, 20 SB

Player B: .295 BA, 111 R, 185 H, 15 HR, 104 RBI, 20 SB

Does it even matter which is player A and which is player B?

Scioscia took two players that are stuck between role players and every day players and in the same amount of at bats had them match the production of the defending AL MVP who is widely regarded as one of the best 2B in the game. If you have seen many Angel games you know those guys can defend on his level as well.

Couple baseball savvy like that with managing egos, injuries, and sometimes tragedies that hit your team over a 6-month campaign and then tell me that American League managers don't have to do anything. Again, this wasn't meant as a Scioscia for Manager of the Year campaign, I just used him as an example I happen to know very well.

For those who were interesed, Player A was Pedroia, Player B was Maicer/Howie.

 

[TigerPawsSC]

I think that's the best argument for the AL's superiority, IMO. Mediocre to poor pitchers go to the NL and somehow become world beaters. The Cardinals are a great example -- during the end of his tenure with the M's Pineiro was so bad he was almost out of the league completely. The Red Sox took a flyer on him, put him in the bullpen in mop-up duty, and he got shelled. But wouldn't you know it, he gets traded to the NL and somehow sports an ERA barely over 3. Wow.

Franklin was another Mariner who was a #5 type pitcher. Marginal talent at best. He goes to the Cardinals and becomes a lights-out closer. Go figure.

Of course, it had to do with all of the hitters in the National League sucking.

Or maybe it had to do with developing and utilizing a completely new pitch - the 2-seamer, that he used to get like 60% groundouts.

Let's look at Pineiro's runs above average with his fastball in his career, shall we?

2004: -15.1
2005: -18.4
2006: -21.8
2007: -10.3
2008 (first full season with Cardinals): -20.1
2009: 23.1

Let's see how that correlates with how often he threw his fastball:

2004: 57.6%
2005: 55.3%
2006: 55.8%
2007: 57.0%
2008: 58.4%
2009: 71.0%

Let's see. According to this, NL hitters shat on his fastball to a tune of -20.1 runs in value in 2008, the 2nd worst total of his career.

Then Dave Duncan introduces him to the 2-seam sinker, he throws it 13% more, it makes a 40+ run transformation.

It appears from this data (you know, the facts, not bullshit opinions of people who don't know anything about baseball) that Pineiro's success has much more to do with developing a new pitch (his increased ground ball rates correlate) and much less to do with this subjective nonsense about AL superiority.

Is the AL a better league? Sure. It spends 10% more in salary, so of course it is.

Is it THAT much better? No. It is so much of a difference that it can turn a shitty pitcher into a good one? No.

Wouldn't it be fun if we could all just learn to work with the data that's available to come to conclusions, so I wouldn't have to go on making you look and feel stupid?

And no, there's nothing "lights out" about Ryan Franklin. He's a middle of the road closer. Let's work with facts, people.

 

[giambi]

Managing is a lot more than just pinch hitting and double switches... It's getting every last ounce of production out of your 25 man roster on a daily basis. Here is one example. And I know I'm an Angels homer but I think we can all agree Mike Scioscia is regarded as one of the best managers in the game so there is definitely something to this...

On a recent acticle (not sure where I read it) they were breaking down the Red Sox/Angels position by position... When it got to second base the writer gave the hands down advantage to the Red Sox with Pedroia. Who wouldn't right? Guy is the defending AL MVP... But check this out....

The Angels two main second basemen this year were Howie Kendrick and Maicer Izturis. Those guys can't hold Pedroia's jock right? Well combine their numbers, and then of course multiply them down because they had more combined at bats than Pedrioa. In doing so you can stack up their combined numbers at 626 at bats to Pedroia's with his 626 at bats...

Player A: .296 BA, 115 R, 185 H, 15 HR, 72 RBI, 20 SB

Player B: .295 BA, 111 R, 185 H, 15 HR, 104 RBI, 20 SB

Does it even matter which is player A and which is player B?

Scioscia took two players that are stuck between role players and every day players and in the same amount of at bats had them match the production of the defending AL MVP who is widely regarded as one of the best 2B in the game. If you have seen many Angel games you know those guys can defend on his level as well.

Couple baseball savvy like that with managing egos, injuries, and sometimes tragedies that hit your team over a 6-month campaign and then tell me that American League managers don't have to do anything. Again, this wasn't meant as a Scioscia for Manager of the Year campaign, I just used him as an example I happen to know very well.

For those who were interesed, Player A was Pedroia, Player B was Maicer/Howie.

This is great example of coaching is coachin in either league BTW sciosia is in top 5 if not top 2 of coaches IMO...............maybe even 1 I love the guy and the scrappy play of the Angels....... IMO the best way to play baseball and speed kills they are a very good team

 

[Glenn Quagmire]

Of course, it had to do with all of the hitters in the National League sucking.

Or maybe it had to do with developing and utilizing a completely new pitch - the 2-seamer, that he used to get like 60% groundouts.

Let's look at Pineiro's runs above average with his fastball in his career, shall we?

2004: -15.1
2005: -18.4
2006: -21.8
2007: -10.3
2008 (first full season with Cardinals): -20.1
2009: 23.1

Let's see how that correlates with how often he threw his fastball:

2004: 57.6%
2005: 55.3%
2006: 55.8%
2007: 57.0%
2008: 58.4%
2009: 71.0%

Let's see. According to this, NL hitters shat on his fastball to a tune of -20.1 runs in value in 2008, the 2nd worst total of his career.

Then Dave Duncan introduces him to the 2-seam sinker, he throws it 13% more, it makes a 40+ run transformation.

It appears from this data (you know, the facts, not bullshit opinions of people who don't know anything about baseball) that Pineiro's success has much more to do with developing a new pitch (his increased ground ball rates correlate) and much less to do with this subjective nonsense about AL superiority.

Is the AL a better league? Sure. It spends 10% more in salary, so of course it is.

Is it THAT much better? No. It is so much of a difference that it can turn a shitty pitcher into a good one? No.

Wouldn't it be fun if we could all just learn to work with the data that's available to come to conclusions, so I wouldn't have to go on making you look and feel stupid?

And no, there's nothing "lights out" about Ryan Franklin. He's a middle of the road closer. Let's work with facts, people.

:mj07: Hilarious. Look fellas, we have ourselves a self-appointed AUTHORITY on baseball! Swell! What on earth did this forum ever do without your superior knowledge of the game?!

Congrats, man. You're a stat geek who can crunch a few numbers. And yes, it's so obvious that the only reason Pineiro started having success is due to a new pitch. Or maybe he started getting laid on a more frequent basis and that helped? Or maybe he started eating healthier in '09 or started a new workout regime and that helped his performance? You call my opinion subjective, but yours is as subjective as anyone's.

And where are your stats for Franklin? You don't have any, so you have to minimize his year. Face it, he was one of the better closers in the NL, but let's not facts get away if it doesn't help your argument, right?

And since you like crunching numbers so much, how about you make a detailed list of all the average/marginally talented NL pitchers who go to the AL and have great years. Then compare that to the number of average/marginally talented pitchers who go from the AL to the NL and have great years. I'm sure all those former AL guys just developed new pitches, right?

Come on hero, we're all waiting.

 

[TigerPawsSC]

:mj07: Hilarious. Look fellas, we have ourselves a self-appointed AUTHORITY on baseball! Swell! What on earth did this forum ever do without your superior knowledge of the game?!

Congrats, man. You're a stat geek who can crunch a few numbers. And yes, it's so obvious that the only reason Pineiro started having success is due to a new pitch. Or maybe he started getting laid on a more frequent basis and that helped? Or maybe he started eating healthier in '09 or started a new workout regime and that helped his performance? You call my opinion subjective, but yours is as subjective as anyone's.

And where are your stats for Franklin? You don't have any, so you have to minimize his year. Face it, he was one of the better closers in the NL, but let's not facts get away if it doesn't help your argument, right?

And since you like crunching numbers so much, how about you make a detailed list of all the average/marginally talented NL pitchers who go to the AL and have great years. Then compare that to the number of average/marginally talented pitchers who go from the AL to the NL and have great years. I'm sure all those former AL guys just developed new pitches, right?

Come on hero, we're all waiting.

Ryan Franklin ranked 37th among qualified relievers in FIP this season.

That sandwiched him between illustrious relievers Darren Oliver and D.J. Carrasco.

He walked more batters per 9 (3.54) than he has in any season since his rookie year.

Last season, in the NL, he walked 3.4 batters per 9.

In his AL since his rookie year, he walked 2.76, 1.67, 2.59, 2.74, 2.93 batters respectively.

Did he lose the ability to control his pitches? Who knows? Maybe NL hitters are more patient on the whole.

Franklin's year revolved completely around two things:

His HR/9 rate was 0.30. That's by far the lowest of his career and comes as a result of an home run per fly ball rate that he has no hope of sustaining.

3.2% of his fly balls left the yard. His career average is 10.2%. His previous low was 9.3% with his previous high being 14.6%. Both of those happened in the NL.

This is a rate that he cannot and will not sustain. It's been proven that pitchers have little control over their home run/fly ball rate from season to season, and luck plays a huge role in this.

Given that Franklin's 20% line drive rate was higher than any of his previous 3 seasons, it looks like hitters were still tagging him just as hard (or slightly harder), so there's nothing to suggest that his fly ball luck was anything he caused or could control.

He also had a .269 batting average on balls in play, which is well below the average and is another thing that he has little control over.

Given that he gave up MORE line drives this year and had a substantially lower BABIP than last year (.300+), it's pretty easy to conclude that Ryan Franklin's numbers were...let's call them fortunate.

Of course his FIP explains this. Which is why he was 37th among relievers. But because you probably don't understand why a pitcher can get fortunate, I felt the need to explain it to you.

You want to talk Brad Penny?

He struck out almost 2 AL hitters more per 9 innings than he did in San Fran (6.08 to 4.32).

The difference in his numbers comes as a result of two things:

Batting average on balls in play.

In Boston, his BABIP was a well above league average .336. In San Francisco, it was a ridiculously lucky .209. Once again, pitchers have little control over these things.

Likewise, he stranded 64.4% of batters in the AL. Luckily stranded 81.4% in the NL. This is despite striking out more hitters in the AL. Once again, a factor other than ability causing a fluctuation in the numbers.

John Smoltz?

15% of the flyballs he gave up in Boston went for home runs.

6% of the flyballs he gave up in St. Louis went for home runs.

That is despite hitters making better contact against him in St. Louis (18.7% line drive rate vs 18.1% LD rate in Boston).

He also got 43% groundballs in Boston, as opposed to the pedestrian 36% groundballs he got in St. Louis.

So he was getting more ground balls, walking less people, and giving up fewer fly balls and line drives in Boston, yet his numbers were higher.

That home run to fly ball rate wouldn't have anything to do with that, would it?

I fully expect that these things went WAY over your head.

And as for Vicente Padilla. I'd suspect that if you took any pitcher (Bob Gibson to Yusmiero Petit) and moved him from summertime at the Ballpark in Arlington to the pitcher's haven in Los Angeles, you'd see his numbers improve.

Kind of like the difference in pitching in Citi Field against pitching in Yankee Stadium.


I'd love to see how you explain Jake Peavy moving from a pitcher's heaven in San Diego to a hitter's park in Chicago and posting this difference in numbers:

SD - 3.97 ERA, 19% line drive rate, 41% ground ball rate.
Chicago WS - 1.35 ERA, 14.6% line drive rate, 47.9% ground ball rate.

Wouldn't it be silly if I tried to claim that the National League was better than the American League using Jake Peavy's numbers?

It's about as stupid as what you've attempted to do here.

 

[Glenn Quagmire]

Ryan Franklin ranked 37th among qualified relievers in FIP this season.

That sandwiched him between illustrious relievers Darren Oliver and D.J. Carrasco.

He walked more batters per 9 (3.54) than he has in any season since his rookie year.

Last season, in the NL, he walked 3.4 batters per 9.

In his AL since his rookie year, he walked 2.76, 1.67, 2.59, 2.74, 2.93 batters respectively.

Did he lose the ability to control his pitches? Who knows? Maybe NL hitters are more patient on the whole.

Franklin's year revolved completely around two things:

His HR/9 rate was 0.30. That's by far the lowest of his career and comes as a result of an home run per fly ball rate that he has no hope of sustaining.

3.2% of his fly balls left the yard. His career average is 10.2%. His previous low was 9.3% with his previous high being 14.6%. Both of those happened in the NL.

This is a rate that he cannot and will not sustain. It's been proven that pitchers have little control over their home run/fly ball rate from season to season, and luck plays a huge role in this.

Given that Franklin's 20% line drive rate was higher than any of his previous 3 seasons, it looks like hitters were still tagging him just as hard (or slightly harder), so there's nothing to suggest that his fly ball luck was anything he caused or could control.

He also had a .269 batting average on balls in play, which is well below the average and is another thing that he has little control over.

Given that he gave up MORE line drives this year and had a substantially lower BABIP than last year (.300+), it's pretty easy to conclude that Ryan Franklin's numbers were...let's call them fortunate.

Of course his FIP explains this. Which is why he was 37th among relievers. But because you probably don't understand why a pitcher can get fortunate, I felt the need to explain it to you.

You want to talk Brad Penny?

He struck out almost 2 AL hitters more per 9 innings than he did in San Fran (6.08 to 4.32).

The difference in his numbers comes as a result of two things:

Batting average on balls in play.

In Boston, his BABIP was a well above league average .336. In San Francisco, it was a ridiculously lucky .209. Once again, pitchers have little control over these things.

Likewise, he stranded 64.4% of batters in the AL. Luckily stranded 81.4% in the NL. This is despite striking out more hitters in the AL. Once again, a factor other than ability causing a fluctuation in the numbers.

John Smoltz?

15% of the flyballs he gave up in Boston went for home runs.

6% of the flyballs he gave up in St. Louis went for home runs.

That is despite hitters making better contact against him in St. Louis (18.7% line drive rate vs 18.1% LD rate in Boston).

He also got 43% groundballs in Boston, as opposed to the pedestrian 36% groundballs he got in St. Louis.

So he was getting more ground balls, walking less people, and giving up fewer fly balls and line drives in Boston, yet his numbers were higher.

That home run to fly ball rate wouldn't have anything to do with that, would it?

I fully expect that these things went WAY over your head.

And as for Vicente Padilla. I'd suspect that if you took any pitcher (Bob Gibson to Yusmiero Petit) and moved him from summertime at the Ballpark in Arlington to the pitcher's haven in Los Angeles, you'd see his numbers improve.

Kind of like the difference in pitching in Citi Field against pitching in Yankee Stadium.


I'd love to see how you explain Jake Peavy moving from a pitcher's heaven in San Diego to a hitter's park in Chicago and posting this difference in numbers:

SD - 3.97 ERA, 19% line drive rate, 41% ground ball rate.
Chicago WS - 1.35 ERA, 14.6% line drive rate, 47.9% ground ball rate.

Wouldn't it be silly if I tried to claim that the National League was better than the American League using Jake Peavy's numbers?

It's about as stupid as what you've attempted to do here.

Ok, this will be my last post because, quite honestly, I have no desire to read your incessant rants. A couple of things though:

1) You conveniently neglected to mention that Franklin was T-3rd in number of saves and had an ERA below 2. But again, that wouldn't support your argument, so you better leave that out.

2) Peavy is an elite pitcher. As I clearly stated before, elite pitchers will have success in either league. And it's pretty funny how you compare his NL and AL numbers, as if you have some groundbreaking info there. How many starts did he have with SD? How many with the White Sox? Yeah, that's what I thought. Get back to me in a few years when he actually has an AL track record to compare to the NL.

3) No, nothing you said went over my head. You give yourself WAY too much credit, but I'm sure you already know that. Just because you choose to cite stats that the "casual" fan probably doesn't pay attention to, doesn't make you an authority on anything, and it sure as hell doesn't make you "smarter" than any other fan. It simply means you choose to focus on more obscure stats to try and make yourself look more knowledgeable than everyone else. Congrats. Don't break your hand patting yourself on the back.

Why don't you tell me what Peavy's numbers are when he has a temperature of 99.4, in night games, when there is a slight breeze blowing out to left center field. See, I can pull arbitrary stats out of my ass too. And if I claim they're important, then by golly, they MUST be important!

4) You still didn't prove that there were more NL pitchers having success after going to the AL, than vice versa. That's what I asked you to do, but you know you can't do it. Everyone here knows you can't do it. But rather than just admit that, you chose to throw out some stats that you think makes your argument look more convincing. Followed by some very mature put downs. That's typically what people resort to when they know they can't win an argument.

Like I said, last post for me. Respond all you want. But first you might want to study why the trajectory on Brad Lidge's slider has changed 0.000378% from last year.

 

[TigerPawsSC]

My posts are filled with facts.

Your posts are filled with conjecture and criticism of my facts.

I think anyone viewing this thread without a horse in the race can tell the difference.

And I don't know what to do for you if you'd rather use saves than FIP to debate pitcher effectiveness.

 

[sfmoney]

To Each Is...

To Each Is...

OK, so this thread is getting a little out of hand. I wanted to share some thoughts before it gets ridiculous. I can sum this up by saying "to each is own?. You say potato, I say pototo (spelling for emphasis). It really comes down to whatever your flavor is. Really, nobody is right or wrong. What style of play peaks your interest.

About all these stats?you can make any numbers/stats work in your favor and support your argument. Doing that doesn't hold much weight with me. Find me 10 pitchers that did X and I can easily find 10 pitch to support the opposing argument. Baseball has been around so long there are too many numbers/stats that can be sorted.

To address the original post, NL doesn't suck. Again, it's just a style of play you find boring. I personally like. That could be because I've been a Dodger fan my entire life and have adapted to its style. Or that I?ve never play on a team that utilize a DH, as most pitchers at the collegiate level can hit and are great athletes. Furthermore, I don't think NL is ?real? baseball, however, I think it is the traditional way to play baseball. As for all us growing up there was no DH, and the fact it?s only been around since the early 70?s (I think).

As far as the argument of us fans making the calls of the coaches is somewhat skewed in this forum. You?re preaching to a choir of avid sports fan that post threads on sports in their spare time or as they watch games. I think we are more than casual fans. IMO the average fan couldn't make a lot of those calls. And if they could it?s probably with the support of the announcer. I definitely learned a lot growing up listening to Vin Scully.

Another thought. I think there are too many factors to say it is easier to transition from one league to another as far pitching goes. For example, injuries, surgeries, their role, pitching coach, manager?s style, personal life, team chemistry, etc. All these play a major factor on someone?s performance. So to bring up current pitchers (or past) to prove that point is like pissing in the ocean to watch it rise. IMO there are too many stats to support ALL sides; success stories and failures for NL to AL, AL to NL, AL to AL and NL to NL.

Last thought. I think most managers who coached in both leagues have said there is a little more involved, strategically, in the NL. For me that doesn?t mean it?s tougher though. Let?s be honest, for some coaches it just comes natural no matter where they are (Torre, Larussa). Based on my experience and the amount of baseball I?ve watched, in the NL there are more things to consider and factor. For example, this morning on the Dan Patrick show, he was interviewing Don ?Donnie Baseball? Mattingly. He was asked the question about managing and if he had a preference on what league when he gets his shot, NL or AL. He obviously avoids the question for political reasons. However, Mattingly said that he has learned a lot being in the NL, i.e. double switching, how and when to use your bullpen, that you use your entire roster, etc. More importantly, he goes on to say, ?NL is a lot more challenging, no question?. Yes, that is only one person opinion. And yes, to my point earlier you could probably find managers that would say AL is just as challenging, just different challenges.

But what is even greater, ?To each is own?.

GL to everyone in this forum with all their sports bets. I hope we all make some cash and stick it to the books. I am real excited about watching these two series.

 

[giambi]

BTW Torre cost la game 1with his coaching one word Kershaw and maybe 2

 

[Kelso]

YES WE AGREE

YES WE AGREE

I agree The AL is better. That's why they win every all star game....

Bet the sweep.. it's good odds.



Next Year The AL is instituting The Short Centerfielder and the old standby Bronx Stickball rules that 2 sewers is a Home Run and That Joey can pinch run from home plate ( which is a Bordens Milk Carton from The A&P on Belmont Avenue) for 60 year old Carmine.

:mj07: :142smilie

 

[BUCSnotYUCKS]

BTW Torre cost la game 1with his coaching one word Kershaw and maybe 2

Heinsight is so 20-20. If he leaves Kershaw in(which he did because of Utley, Howard coming up) and Kershaw gets out of the jam, he's a genius. If he takes him out, and brings in a MR who gives up the hits to Howard, Utley, Ibanez...etc...then he made a retarded move.

Baseball and managing is alot about luck, and heinsight.

I think the commentators said it best last night when they said, "you can make all the right moves you want, but if the players don't execute, what good is it?"

Lidge could've very well blown that save last night had Blake not fucked it up with the DP, because Loney would've made it 1st and 3rd and only 1 out...everyone would've been on Charlies ass about how Lidge has been, blah blah...

BTW, Torre didn't blow the game...I'd say Sherill giving up back 2 back walks and a 3 run homerun cost the dodgers the game.

IMO, I would've left Kershaw in too.

 

[giambi]

lets see how kershaw does game 2 he is to young for the pressure that is exactly why you don't leave him in easy as pie way to young just like joba in cleveland with the nats