Yeah, certainly Baseball isn't any slower paced than Football.

Like O&O, Baseball is really the only sport I'm a fanatic about. I think there's a good mix of strategy and athleticism that makes it a fun game to watch.

EricG75,

Having played baseball, particularly the catcher's position, through college, I sympathize with Inge a little bit. Playing catcher definitely affects one's ability to hit if for no other reason than it causes one to fatigue so quickly. On another note, it is nice to know that you are a Tigers fan and will be cheering for them, as I will be from NYC.

Thank you for welcoming me to the forums and I hope to soon contribute to the music forums as well, as music and baseball are two of my biggest passions.

D

Welcome to the forums D, but I must say that if Jorge Posada can still have a great offensive season as a catcher, then others should!

Also, how about that Jeter-Matsui-Abreu bet huh? That sure was some funny stuff. Matsui is one of my favorite Yankees and I hope that he has a great season this year after being injured last year.

quote:

Originally posted by maddarabb:
as music and baseball are two of my biggest passions.

D

Me too.

I'm not saying his comment about catching affecting his hitting as BS, but that his offense isn't why Inge is on the team. He's a great defensive player, but he could bat .150 and it really wouldn't matter when the rest of the lineup has a combined .300+ average.

I think Inge could really increase his value to any team if he decided to go back to catching. I read that good catching prospects are somewhat scarce in the MLB, and Inge, while 31, should be able to catch for a long time since he hasn't been doing it regularly for quite some time.

quote:

Originally posted by FragileKidA:
Welcome to the forums D, but I must say that if Jorge Posada can still have a great offensive season as a catcher, then others should!

Posada is a bit of an exception as far as catchers go. Ditto for Pudge, Victor Martinez, and Mike Piazza. Like pitchers, most catchers are chosen for their defensive ability (i.e., how well they can call a game). Hitting is really icing on the cake. It's a rarity that you see a catcher batting near the top of the order.

quote:

Originally posted by EricG75:

Like pitchers, most catchers are chosen for their defensive ability (i.e., how well they can call a game). Hitting is really icing on the cake. It's a rarity that you see a catcher batting near the top of the order.

So true. Greg Zaun has a noodle for an arm and bats around .265, but he's got the third lowest catching ERA in the Majors (hence the starting job). In fact, he is probably the least "skilled" player that was on the Mitchell Report list.

I feel bad for the Giants. Bengie Molina was flat-out terrible when he was the Jays catcher 3 seasons ago (and already past his prime), and now he's the starter, and clean-up hitter, for the Giants. Ouch.

http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/01/bill-j...-baseball-questions/

Anything Bill James is a great read, and since this is in a rather odd place (a popular economics blog, if you're not familiar with the book), thought I'd post the link here.

That's a great Q&A, thanks for posting the link.

FKA, your boys got lucky last night. I thought A-Rod, Cabrerra and Wang were great, but other than that, I feel like the Jays should have won. Back to back brain-farts by Eckstein and Hill didn't help. Exciting game though, I like when Halladay and Wang match-up.

My guess is that the Jays win the next two, and will score big runs off Mussina.

quote:

Originally posted by Il Mago:
FKA, your boys got lucky last night. I thought A-Rod, Cabrerra and Wang were great, but other than that, I feel like the Jays should have won. Back to back brain-farts by Eckstein and Hill didn't help. Exciting game though, I like when Halladay and Wang match-up.

My guess is that the Jays win the next two, and will score big runs off Mussina.

Hey Mags, how've you been?

Maybe it was luck to you but all in all, it was a great game. I am glad that Wang was able to go toe-to-toe with a premier pitcher in Halladay. I was also impressed with the way Chamberlain and Rivera pitched in the 8th and 9th innings, these are all good signs. The offense wasn't too great but that was because great pitching should always win. And you are right, Melky was tremendous last night.

Mussina finished strong last season, going 3-0 in his last four starts and he was also plagued by injuries last year. I look for him to have a solid season to make up for last season. I hope that that mad bulldog, Matt Stairs, doesn't do anything crazy. I am just glad that I will get a chance to see the game since it's showing on ESPN2—may the best team win.

quote:

Originally posted by FragileKidA:
Hey Mags, how've you been?

I'm good FKA, thanks. I check in here once in a while, but there's not much that's inspired me to post...until this MLB thread went up.

Hey, I was pretty spot on with my prediction. I guess 4 runs in 6 innings isn't terrible, but I thought Mussina looked like absolute shit, and it could have been much worse if the Jays didn't hit into so many 5-4-3 double plays. Honestly, AJ's changeup was going the same speed as Mussina's fastball, not a good sign. I can't think of many pitchers who throw with less velocity than Moose. Good game.

I honestly believe the Jays have the best depth in their roatation in the AL East, maybe the entire AL. McGowan, their third starter is going to be a star someday soon, maybe even this year. ESPN predicted that McGowan will be better than Halladay before the season is done. I don't agree, but that's saying a lot. If AJ is healthy, his stuff is about as nasty as it gets. Go Jays!

Well so far the Tigers are off to a rough start, losing their first two home games to the Royals.

I must say that the Royals do look pretty sharp this year, and I'm predicting they finish ahead of the White Sox and possibly even the Twins in the AL Central.

The Tigers bullpen is still looking rocky. I really wish Dombrowski did more to improve us there in the off-season. Sure we have a lineup that will produce runs, but on days they don't, like yesterday, we get creamed.

quote:

Originally posted by Il Mago:
I thought Mussina looked like absolute shit, ...I honestly believe the Jays have the best depth in their roatation in the AL East, maybe the entire AL. McGowan, their third starter is going to be a star someday soon, maybe even this year. ESPN predicted that McGowan will be better than Halladay before the season is done. I don't agree, but that's saying a lot. If AJ is healthy, his stuff is about as nasty as it gets. Go Jays!

Yeah, I agree with a lot of what you said. Mussina just doesn't have much to work with anymore and it was easier to realize since Orel Hershiser kept pointing it out. I guess that when Chamberlain is ready, at this pace, he will take Mussina's spot in the rotation. And that's as long as Ian Kennedy and Phil Hughes cone through for us--they should.

I will also say that the Jays do look like a much improved team. Though I don't know how much they can really do against the Yankees and Red Sox, I guess only time will tell.

quote:

Originally posted by EricG75:
Well so far the Tigers are off to a rough start, losing their first two home games to the Royals.

I must say that the Royals do look pretty sharp this year, and I'm predicting they finish ahead of the White Sox and possibly even the Twins in the AL Central.

Yeah, looks like the "greatest line-up of all time" will need some time to jell before they score those other 996 runs huh?

And wow, congrats goes out to Pixies and his Royals. I have talked to him and he is ecstatic, I hope it doesn't die out soon.

quote:

Originally posted by FragileKidA:
Yeah, looks like the "greatest line-up of all time" will need some time to jell before they score those other 996 runs huh?

We figured we'd give the rest of the league a head start. No need to rub everyone's nose in it. We're not the Yankees.

I think it's about time to ask that question...



Are the Nats the best team in baseball? Four days and counting says YES!

quote:

Originally posted by MajorNougat:
I think it's about time to ask that question...



Are the Nats the best team in baseball? Four days and counting says YES!

Between that and the Tigers not being in the playoff hunt, I don't know what's more fascinating this season.

Tigers are on the verge of losing game #3. They're down 4-0 in the 7th, with only 5 hits.

I really hope the Expos make it to the dance this year.

I'm just really glad that in 2009 we'll be free of both Mussina and Giambi. If the Yankees can't win this year at least I'll have that to look forward to.

Woah Cueto!

Reds win 3-2 on the strength of Cueto's first start 7 IP 1H 1ER 10 K's, not bad for a debut. After Weathers almost blows the game in the 8th, Cordero comes in for a perfect 9th and a save!

Sorry for the excitement, but it has been a while since the Reds had any pitching hope beyond Harang.

So odysseyandoracle If I'm correct your not a new york yankees fan? well guess what either am I.

martian leader

quote:

Originally posted by martian leader:
So odysseyandoracle If I'm correct your not a new york yankees fan? well guess what either am I.

martian leader

what

quote:

Originally posted by Il Mago:

Tigers are on the verge of losing game #3. They're down 4-0 in the 7th, with only 5 hits.

I do believe you meant to say that the Royals are on their way to winning game #3... and did.

Oh and Frag, I appreciate that. This is starting to bring back deja vu of the Royals 2003 season. Both times the full season started with a new manager under an improved "approach" or philosophy, despite the lack of player additions or pay roll expansion. In 2003 the Royals won their first 8 games in a row and used that as a spring board to stay in first place until like mid June and contention until August, but finished 3rd.

Not that I'm complaining, that was a great year to be a Royals fan and third in this division would be a huge improvement. The 03 team saw some key players dramatically improve, like Carlos Beltran, Jeremy Affeldt, Raul Ibanez, and a healthy Mike Sweeny, and a lot of situational "luck". I don't think the Royals will fare nearly that well this year because the AL Central is still relatively strong and the team is very "young" experience wise. I'm anxious to see how the number 4 and 5 starter perform. I wouldn't get so down on Detroit either, it's only been 3 games.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: La La Love Pixies,