anyway, since baseball games are pretty much rpg games with hr's and batting avg's, is there anyone here happy to see the green grass of spring baseball coming?

every year i know the Cubs wont win. . . but i pretty much follow out of habit (the White Sox ewww). maybe Kerri Wood will have a 27k perfect game! yeah and monkeys fly out me ass!

anyway, its sad.. . ever since Jordan re re-tired in Chicago, sports have seemed to die here. ah . . .those were the days. . . Jordan could have a flu and still win a championship!

etc

Jordan was the man, no doubt about it. Heck, he still IS the man, even if he doesn't play. Just talking about it makes me want to go and re-watch some of those games I taped...

"every year i know the Cubs wont win. . . but i pretty much follow out of habit (the
White Sox ewww). maybe Kerri Wood will have a 27k perfect game! yeah and monkeys fly out me ass!"

You know I've lived in this town for 12 years and I still don't get it. The Tribune Co. doesn't give a damn about winning, because they know the turnstiles at Wrigley Field will keep turning and their superstation will keep raking it in, regardless of what garbage they put on the field. Meanwhile the White Sox do what it takes to put a competitive team on the field and everybody not actually born on the South Side goes "ewww."

Go figure.

"The land of the free, the home of the brave, and the doormat of the National League." -- Steve Goodman (RIP)

If umpires do actually start calling high strikes, Pedro Martinez will go undefeated this year, with like a .20 ERA. He's already unhittable... quite possibly one of the most dominating pitchers in any era (when you compare his stats to the rest of the league).

Oh, go Red Sox. See what moving to New England does to you? How can you not love a team with such a wonderful history of failure? Cubs, Red Sox... excellent!

"Oh, go Red Sox. See what moving to New England
does to you? How can you not love a team with such
a wonderful history of failure? Cubs, Red Sox...
excellent!"

I'll never forget seeing an interview with a
husband and wife that were Red Sox fans after the
1986 World Series (the one of Bill Buckner
infamy). The husband was director of the Boston
Public Library and the wife was a Harvard
professor. Two true Boston Brahmins if there ever
were. The husband said, "It's a question of free
will. The players thought they had the free will
to win, but we the fans knew better." Ah yes,
baseball and Calvinism. Where but in Boston?

"You know I've lived in this town for 12 years and I still don't get it. The Tribune Co. doesn't give a damn about winning, because they know the turnstiles at Wrigley Field will keep turning and their superstation will keep raking it in, regardless of what garbage they put on the field. Meanwhile the White Sox do what it takes to put a competitive team on the field and everybody not actually born on the South Side goes "ewww." "

its the beer garden called Wrigley Field! I like the White Sox, they're actually a solid contender for the AL central this year. . . but im a "die-hard" foolish Cub fan.

and yes I HATE ALL Chicago sports owners from Jerry and Jerry to the trib Company. Chicago sports brings the word "cheapskate" to another level. . .considering we never payed Jordan his REAL salary.

Pedro Martinez is a throwback to the Bob Gibson era of pitching. . .he's that good. him and Maddux are pitchers of another era, goddamn the Cubs got rid of Maddux. . . friggin cheapskates. . dammnit nevermind.

at least the Red Sox owners make sound decisions to try to win. . . can't say the same for the Cubs. . .and yes there team does look like garbage this year.

etc

>>Ah yes, baseball and Calvinism. Where but in Boston?

Rob Neyer of ESPN (a great columnist if you're a stats geek) had a great comment about Red Sox fans. He spent the whole season at Fenway as he's working on a book, and he said it was painful watching the Red Sox lose games. He's from KC and is a big Royals fan, and while their fans aren't happy when their team loses, Neyer said something like, "Red Sox fans die a little bit with every loss." But hey, I've seen a couple of games at Fenway... the most uncomfortable park in existence, but man am I happy to have seen a game there.

Of course this year the Sox look pretty good. Manny Ramirez is probably the best hitter in baseball, in terms of pure production. Hitting behind Nomar "I hit any pitch anywhere it's pitched solidly (the man went an entire season breaking one bat!) for a .370 average" Garciaparra... yow, that's some potential run production.

Of course the Sox being the sox, Nomar is already injured.

>>Pedro Martinez is a throwback to the Bob Gibson era of pitching. . .he's that good.

And he's doing it with a shorter mound, tighter strike zone and bulked up (and better) hitters that charge the mound if you throw an inch off the inside corner. Martinez is somewhat fragile, but man... the power of the changeup. I saw him strike Edgar Martinez out with five straight changeups. Who throws five straight changeups?

Well...

>>him and Maddux are pitchers of another era,

...aside from Greg Maddux. Maddux is funny, because you can see why Pedro or Randy Johnson are dominant. They blow people away.

Maddux lulls them to sleep or something. Unless you really know pitching, he just doesn't impress at all, but I think hitters are beat when they step up to the plate. They're thinking about that inevitable groundout to second base, or weak fly ball when they try to pull his cut fastballs that keep drifting further and further out of the strike zone...

"Of course this year the Sox look pretty good. Manny Ramirez is probably the best
hitter in baseball, in terms of pure production. Hitting behind Nomar "I hit any pitch
anywhere it's pitched solidly (the man went an entire season breaking one bat!) for
a .370 average" Garciaparra... yow, that's some potential run production."

Manny is great all right. But leave it Red Sox management to get the bonehead notion to move the best right fielder in the game (in terms of offensive production) to left field where he'd have to contend with the Green Monster and then say bad things about him when he balked at the idea.

Is Garciaparra healthy? Even with Manny and Pedro, their chances are not good without him.

>>But leave it Red Sox management to get the bonehead notion to move the best right fielder in the game (in terms of offensive production) to left field where he'd have to contend with the Green Monster and then say bad things about him when he balked at the idea.

I've heard the green monster isn't as tricky as right field in Fenway, but the reality is that you're paying a lot of money for this guy to HIT THE BALL REALLY FAR, so play him where he's most comfortable.

>>Is Garciaparra healthy? Even with Manny and Pedro, their chances are not good without him.

Nomar's in a cast because of a wrist problem that messed him up all last year. He plays through pain (um, he hit .370+ with a bad wrist? yow). He's supposed to be down for a couple of weeks.

And they need Nomar. He's amazing.

"Maddux lulls them to sleep or something. "

Maddux is a finesse pitcher. . . he doesnt even have a fastball over 90 mph! one thing i noticed in his cy young year with cubs (his last in 92?) was that he somehow made movement on a semi fastball/slider (cut fastball). he threw this pitch looking like a fastball but it kepy moving moving and moving. . . oh and his control is always there.

Sad thing was he WANTED to stay with the Cubs, but then the Trib Company was too cheap to keep him. . . same with Rafael Palmiero and Lee Smith and so on and so forth.

i remember my dad telling me that maddux reminded him of warren spahn right handed.

still though his numbers ARE impressive though he looks boring on the mound.

etc

Maddux is one of the all-time greats. He's a first ballot hall of famer, no doubt. He understands the hitters better than any other pitcher and he can hit his location with all his pitches and change speeds on all his pitches.

Just to illustrate how closely he understands the game, I read an anecdote about him a couple of years ago. While he's on the bench he can predict, with a great deal of success, when a batter is likely to foul off a pitch and send it screaming into the dugout. He'll warn the players to be on their toes. He just knows what the hitter expects and what the pitcher is probably going to throw and where he'll try to throw it.

And yeah, shame on the Cubs for letting him go. The Cubs had some pretty decent lineups in the 80's and 90's. Maddux might have been the key to a couple more playoff appearances.

>>was that he somehow made movement on a semi fastball/slider (cut fastball).

Yeah, I used to do this when I played. You put more pressure on one finger then the other when you grip a four-seem fastball, which give the ball a slight slider/cut fastball (or screwball) effect. It sounds easier then it is (of course). It's a great pitch, as it's easier on the arm then a slider or screwball and generally causes poor contact. You get guys on the fist when you start it inside, causing weak grounders, or you get them reaching and hitting opposite field fly balls on outside pitches.

Of course a tailing fastball can start inside and tail over the plate, and then it becomes a slightly below-average fastball in the middle of the plate, which is a very bad pitch to throw.

I saw an interesting thing on Pedro Martinez, an explanation of why he gets so much movement on his fastball. He has incredibly long fingers, and they're naturally curved... when he extends them out, they curve way up. It's freaky looking. In theory, his fingers stay on the ball longer, giving it more rotation. Or something.

Of course if you believe scientists, there's no such thing as a rising fastball or a curve.

>>Sad thing was he WANTED to stay with the Cubs, but then the Trib Company was too cheap to keep him. . . same with Rafael Palmiero and Lee Smith and so on and so forth.

The Tribune makes a fortune regardless of the quality of the Cub team. There's no motivation to make them better aside from, well, a desire to win. Cub fans are loyal if they're 100-62 or 62-100. You'd think they'd treat the fans better, but it's just a business to 'em. They really need an owner who has a passion for winning, not just for profits. (Let them get the profits elsewhere.)

Contrast this with the Red Sox, who have just as loyal a fanbase but the team spends a fortune to build a winner. In fact, ticket prices at Fenway (which I believe is the smallest park in the league) have gone up like 400% in the last five years or something. But it's full every night.

>>Maddux is one of the all-time greats. He's a first ballot hall of famer, no doubt. He understands the hitters better than any other pitcher and he can hit his location with all his pitches and change speeds on all his pitches.

No question. For all of his domination, he's so... boring to watch. It just looks funny, because unlike most famous pitchers (who aren't lefties), he doesn't overpower hitters. He goes out, throws like 9 pitches, and walks off the mound after three groundouts, two of them back to him.

I think the command, which got away from him in 1999 and he gave up a ton of hits, is the key. Lots of guys have good stuff, but being able to throw it wherever you want... that's key.

And not to sound like a Pedro Martinez fanboy or anything, but he has Maddux-level control and throws 98MPH with the league's best changeup (at 75MPH, you try to adjust). His strikeout/walk ratio is higher then anyone has ever had... we're talking second place in history were I believe Maddux and Sandy Koufax with about a 6/1... Martinez is like 9.5/1. I think he had about 290 strikeouts last year and about 40 walks, gave up about 120 hits in over 200 innings... that's scary. What's even scarier was his performance in the playoffs when he hurt his back. He was throwing 88MPH max and, using cut fastballs instead of the two-seamer, gave up like 2 hits and no runs in 13 innings. That's a preview of a mid-30s Pedro, health permitting. And that's scary... he was pitching like Maddux, basically, but with more movement.

Randy Johnson, out of nowhere, also developed amazing command. I was reading an article about him the other day which pointed out how, in one year, he went from about 160 walks (ouch) to 70, while still striking out 300+ hitters. Where did THAT come from? And now he's throwing a four-seem fastball to lower his pitch counts. His last six years or so have been nearly Koufax-level... he'll be a tough call for the Hall (unlike Maddux) because his domination came so late in his career. But he may squeak in for being extraordinary in a certain period (like Koufax, who has the least wins of any starting pitcher in the hall).

Looks like Nomar will be out a good four months. The curse of the Bambino lives on.

Nomar's out, Junior's hurt, and Rick Ankiel can't hit the broad side of a battleship. Could be a strange year, but the Yankees will probably win it all. :(

"Randy Johnson, out of nowhere, also developed amazing command."

He's also the bane of innocent and unlucky doves.

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/sports/DailyNews/johnson_dove_010326.html

muahaha in my fantasy baseball league i passed up Nomar for Vladimir Guerrero (number 4 pick!), and then my friend posts, "You guys are idiots Nomar's the best infielder in baseball bar none!"

Oh well, Nomar will be back.

Yes Randy Johnson is amazingly good...I didn't realize until i checked his stats for the past few years...since he left Seattle hes gotten better. and the guy was already GOOD!

Also, what surprises me about Pedro is that he has the stats of an early Gooden and Clemens yet he is under 6' tall! This guys about 5'10" the last time i saw. I love shorty baseball players. Like Kirby Puckett...

Yes Maddux is boring, but his windup looking so similiar on EVERY pitch fools them all the time, though the last few years Maddux has given up alot of hits...I always wondered how Kerri Wood would have turned out if Maddux stayed with the Cubs...though Kerri Wood still is 24! Kerri Wood reminds me alot like a Clemens/Ryan mixed together...rambling

btw, Pedro Martinez is imo the best pitcher in baseball right now. no contest at all. especially when you consider past few years how much the stadiums have been shortened a bit, the strike zone smaller, and a baseball thats been home run friendly makes it even more astounding...

again btw, what do you think of this trade i made in my fantasy league...Troy Glaus for Mark McGwire and Scott Rolen. I got Giambi already for 1st base so i didn't really need Mcgwire...(traded Barry Bonds for Giambi...outfielders are easier to get imo) though my pitching lineup stinks...Al Leiter is my ace.

etc

By the way, any baseball geeks will love the site http://www.baseball-reference.com

It compares players of different eras based on a thorough statistical analysis. It says, for example, that Barry Bonds is, stastically, Willy Mays (not a big surprise there), but guys like Vladimir Guererro (who's frighteningly good) look like the second coming of, say, Mel Ott or something. It's a trip.

>>Kerri Wood reminds me alot like a Clemens/Ryan mixed together...rambling

Kerri Woods was more like Doc Gooden with more velocity. Same looping curve/slider, pitches that often kill power pitcher arms. And in both cases they ran up ludicrous pitch counts for someone that young. We'll see if Wood comes back 100% or, like Doc, flames out (Doc had other reasons, but still... his arm was never the same).

>>again btw, what do you think of this trade i made in my fantasy league...Troy Glaus for Mark McGwire and Scott Rolen.

I'd do that trade. As good as McGwire and Rolen are, both are prone to injury. Big Mac will probably hit 40 homers in 80 games, but still... Glaus will hit 50 dingers and play 162 games, and you won't be saddled with a backup 1B with Giambi.

>>I got Giambi already for 1st base so i didn't really need Mcgwire...(traded Barry Bonds for Giambi...outfielders are easier to get imo)

Ooh, but I don't know if I would trade Bonds for Giambi... actually, I probably would have tried to trade Bonds for pitching (if 2-5 are at-best mediocre, you're the Red Sox minus Pedro) and keep McGwire plus some average backup.

Giambi and Glaus at your infield corners is pretty damn good, though...

Well our league is an 8 team league so we have a lot of outfielders to choose from, though i sorta regret trading Bonds...something tells me he's going to have another great year...ie 40+ homers 180+ hits and 100+ rbi's...

I was thinking the same thoughts with Rolen and McGwire...I think my friend wanted McGwire he's really taking a gamble though McGwire healthy is sure to hit 40 no doubt. I did the trade...so I guess my lineup is set for a month or so, I really need pitching though, Leiter and Lieber as my 1 and 2 man is pretty...weak. My last trade before the season is probably to shop Edgar Martinez for another pitcher...or Eric Young and Edgar Martinez...but pitchers are hard to predict so i just dont know.

etc

>>My last trade before the season is probably to shop Edgar Martinez for another pitcher...or Eric Young and Edgar Martinez...but pitchers are hard to predict so i just dont know.

Go for a wildcard that people aren't sure on or haven't heard a lot about, like Eric Milton of the Twins (Ryan Dempster of the Marlins probably isn't a secret). Maybe even a guy like Ramon Ortiz of the Angels (though he's been injured in past seasons), Bruce Chen of the Phillies or Brian Moehler of the Tigers. Look around for #2-3 starters on teams like the Marlins, Devil Rays and Expos.

Pitchers are indeed hard to predict, but guys 27-32 coming off of decent, though not flashy, seasons are probably your best bet. Leiter's a good, solid #1. He has't been injured and throws a bunch of innings, and puts up good, if not superb, numbers.

reviving this topic for no apparent reason to just vent... trading Barry Bonds made me lose two head to head games with my friend. Damn that Bonds! but I did pick up Cardinal rookie 3rd basemen Pujols off the free agency pool! hes made a ton of points for me. Traded my starting season corners of Giambi and Glaus for Todd Helton after I picked up Pujols...

Yeah I'm tied for first... but I could have been alone in first if i kept Bonds...

oh well... if i win this league i get eight DVD's!

second place is a set of steak knives (no really! thats true!) I don't drive a hyundai.

etc