October 6, 2008 – 11:25 am
I hate pictures like this. Serioulsy, if you’re that upset go drink your problems away like a normal person.
October 3, 2008 – 11:15 am
Billy Beane has a quote in my favorite baseball book of all time, Moneyball, about the playoffs. He said “My job is to get us to the play-offs. What happens after that is fucking luck.” And it’s one hundred percent true. The Cubs went off at 6/5 to win this series. 6/5! They set their rotation based on the regular season. Ryan Dempster was the best at home so he gets to pitch game 1, but is Ryan Dempster the best? Of course not. Rich Harden is the best. Everyone knows this, pitch Rich Harden. Whatever happens in the regular season doesn’t matter once the playoffs start. The playoffs are 100 percent luck. Your only hope is to put the most talent on the field that you can and pray. Kosuke Fukudome starting in RF is not doing that. Ryan Dempster starting game 1 is not doing that. This isn’t an all star game where you reward the best results, in the playoffs you award the best talent. When you look at the Dodgers lineup in games 1 and 2 there’s a reason you don’t see Nomar Garciaparra, Juan Pierre and Jeff Kent, Joe Torre is putting his most talented team on the field. Lou Piniella hasn’t been doing this and it could cost him the series.
September 26, 2008 – 2:19 pm
Ryan Dempster will start game 1 of the NLDS.
“He deserves it,” Piniella said. “He’s 14-3 at home, and he’s been extremely consistent and reliable all season long.”
You have to think that Piniella won’t let him go more than 100 pitches tonight, right?
September 26, 2008 – 10:24 am
Here’s the probable starters for the last three games of the season with their ERA+ beside them. Remember anything over 100 is above average and vice versa.
Friday 9/26
R. Dempster (CHC) 151 @ J. Suppan (MIL) 86
C. Volstad (FLA) 135 @ M. Pelfrey (NYM) 112
C. Balester (WAS) 89 @ J. Blanton (PHI) 101
Saturday 9/27
T. Lilly (CHC) 108 @ D. Bush (MIL) 102
R. Nolasco (FLA) 118 @ TBA (NYM)
J. Lannan (WAS) 111 @ J. Moyer (PHI) 118
Sunday 9/28
J. Marquis (CHC) 102 @ CC Sabathia (MIL) 245
S. Olsen (FLA) 99 @ J. Santana (NYM) 157
O. Perez (WAS) 101 @ C. Hamels (PHI) 145
First of all, I am going on Sunday which means that I get to see CC Sabathia’s last two regular season starts as a Brewer. That’s pretty exciting. The Phillies are clearly in the best position as they face the weakest lineup and have better pitchers going everyday. The only worry for them might be Cole Hamels who is at a career high in innings right now and hasn’t looked as great lately, but still 2/3 probably gets them in as they’re up a game.
Right behind them has to be the Brewers because juding by the lineup and relievers they used last night the Cubs are on cruise control til the playoffs start. The Cubs might be a better team than the Brewers, but the Cubs without Lee, Ramirez, Soriano, Wood, Marmol, Soto and Derosa? I would hope so. Then again, think of what the atmosphere might be like this weekend with all the Cubs fans coming north? Will that have an effect?
I find it interesting the Mets don’t know who is starting on Saturday they went with J. Niese (58) in that slot last time, but recently activated J. Maine (99) off the DL so we’ll see who goes in that slot. I’d imagine it has to be Maine though. The Mets are looking like their going to “collapse” again because of all the contenders playing they are playing the best team, with the best lineup and the best pitching matchups, but really anything could happen at this point. Like a ton of rain.
Should be a fun weekend.
September 24, 2008 – 9:50 am
Last night’s ending to the Brewers games was pretty awesome. We can talk all day about Pytahgorean records, OPS, FIP and everything else, but it’s endings like that one that make people want to talk about that stuff in the first place. The Mets are probably a better team than the Brewers overall, but in this last week of games it doesn’t matter. All that matters is that the Brewers have the better record (or even the same to force a playoff) than the Mets. Tonight could be step one towards that as the Cubs send Zambrano (ERA+ 120) to the mound to face Oliver Perez (ERA+ 100) while the Brewers send out CC Sabathia (ERA+ 240(!)) against a Pittsburgh pitcher (second worst team ERA in majors). Tonight the stars are clearly in their favor to go into tomorrow with a tie for the Wild card, it’s just a matter of getting it done.