The Yankees Suck, Obviously
Can we talk about the Yankees for a moment? It feels like the baseball season has gotten no love this summer*, what with the Penn State scandal, NBA free agency, Tim Tebow, and now the Olympics holding the country hostage. If you haven’t been paying attention, the Yankees had the best record in baseball, but have gone 7-12 over the last three weeks and now have fallen behind the Rangers for best record in the AL.
(Best record in MLB? The Washington Nationals. Yup, Jon Heyman was right. That’s why he gets the big bucks.)
Anyway, the Yankees still have a nice little cushion in the AL East over the Orioles, who miraculously haven’t collapsed yet. Usually, it happens in late May or early June, but the baseball Gods have been kind to Baltimore, which hasn’t been relevant in about 15 years. Fear not – this can’t possibly continue:
The Orioles are a great story, but Buck Showalter is doing it with smoke and mirrors. Baltimore ranks 10th in the AL in runs scored, ninth in ERA and have made more errors than any other team in the league.
The Rays are loitering six games back, and the Red Sox are two games under .500, no doubt already pondering how to blow things up in the offseason. The Yankees, who are playing without A-Rod, could only lose this division if Cano and Granderson and Jeter and Sabathia all got hurt. Please, Yankee fans, calmly get down off the ledge. Those 12 losses you’re losing sleep over? Here’s a great stat from the Daily News:
Of their last 12 losses, eight have been by one run, while two others have been two-run games.
Deep breaths, folks. Just block out the postseason disasters of 2011 (Game 5 vs. Detroit still makes me queasy) and 2010 (blasted Rangers), and remain positive. [NYDN]
* What does that mean for the new MLB TV deal, which could happen by month’s end? We’ll have something on this next week.
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August 9th, 2012 at 12:42 PM
Pirates playoff likelihood now stands at 74.6%. Care to comment?
August 9th, 2012 at 12:46 PM
Good lord.
August 9th, 2012 at 12:46 PM
Fuck the Yankees!
/Obligatory
Seriously though, if Buck doesn’t win Manager of the Year, then I’ll be more pissed than I should be. He’s done an outrageous job with a mediocre team and mostly terrible rotation.
Also, Chen is the tits.
Happy Manny Machado Day, kids!
August 9th, 2012 at 12:50 PM
You mean link to non-baseball related articles, pass along the standings, and quote a Daily News article?
August 9th, 2012 at 12:52 PM
Yankees are frauds. Team of names. Cano and Sabathia are elite. The rest are overrated. Even Granderson IMO.
August 9th, 2012 at 12:52 PM
It’s gotten no love from you, yet it’s probably one of the more exciting seasons in ages…Trout, Pirates, Giants/Dodgers war, O’s (Happy Machado day to you too Buckner!), Rangers, Reds, the A’s, Verlander, Strasberg, and the fallen teams (Red Sox, Phillies, Marlins). Plenty of story lines there to write about…
Oh and MLB is still getting great local ratings.
August 9th, 2012 at 12:54 PM
Could have also said they have a -33 run differential which implies the O’s are playing over their heads.
August 9th, 2012 at 12:55 PM
Meanwhile, somewhere in Omaha, Wil Myers has put a few holes through his apartment walls.
August 9th, 2012 at 12:56 PM
Quite the contrary. It’s been a great baseball season. Trade deadline got huge pub, Cincy-Pitt developing into a great rivalry, tons of teams in contention, no real division lead safe (yet)…an extremely interesting, and satisfying baseball season. You couldn’t be more off-base, not that its surprising or anything. You are a moron.
I laugh at the suggestion that things covered by this blog are what’s “relevant” in sports.
Considering that the Padres just sold for $800 million based much upon their local TV rights deal, I doubt that MLB cares much about this, if at all.
August 9th, 2012 at 12:56 PM
Yup, playing well above their pythagorean record. They can’t continue this lucky for the remainder of the season.
August 9th, 2012 at 12:57 PM
Well the last time he quoted run differential it was with the Pirates to prove that they would tank the second half and that worked out so wel…. oh.
August 9th, 2012 at 12:57 PM
It’s going to be a helluva September.
Baltimore in 2nd place with a -47 run differential is incredible. That’s a lot of smoke and mirrors.
August 9th, 2012 at 12:57 PM
It’s been a pretty interesting summer IMO. A’s, Orioles, Reds, Pirates, Nats, and Mets have looked good while Boston, Philly, and Detroit have looked really bad.
August 9th, 2012 at 12:58 PM
Absolutely. I’ve been waiting for the shoe to drop for like two months, it just isn’t happening. Though, the differential was -54, so I guess it’s getting better. But there’s been a tremendous amount of luck, good managing, and our bullpen has bailed us out all season.
I’m finally reaching the ‘Fuck it, I’m going to enjoy this stage’ after waiting for a collapse for so long.
August 9th, 2012 at 12:59 PM
Oh my bad, it’s -47 for the O’s, +33 for the Pirates
/still amazed the Cards have +99 yet are 3rd in the Central
August 9th, 2012 at 12:59 PM
Happy Manny Machado Day, kids!
Was going to OPACY anyway tonight for the Wei-Yin Chin Mandarin O’s t-shirt. Decided to splurge on a $50 5th row ticket on the 3rd baseline to see Manny.
August 9th, 2012 at 12:59 PM
If there’s a talking point to be had about the Yankees slide it would be how important Alex Rodriguez still is to the middle of that lineup. He’s not a .300/30/100 player anymore but he’s still vital to the Yankees piling up runs.
If you don’t involve Maury Brown in your research, it’ll just get an incomplete stamp.
August 9th, 2012 at 12:59 PM
J-Mac finally wrote something baseball related that I agree with.
Actually, I hope they blow things up, but doubt they will, so maybe I don’t agree with you after all.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:00 PM
Up until the all-star break yes, since then a steaming pile of horse poo.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:00 PM
LaRussa effect
August 9th, 2012 at 1:00 PM
Someone gets its. GREAT season thus far. Just look at division races:
NL East – Wash-ATL
NL Central – Cin-Pit-StL
NL West – SFG-LAD-ARZ (lurking)
AL Central – CWS-Det
ALWest – Tex-LAA-Oak
And the AL East, while should be won by the Yankees comfortably, is still the toughest division. I wouldn’t count out a run by Tampa (per usual), or even the Red Sox making things interesting. The O’s should fall off, but a great rebound season for them, maybe a year or two earlier than originally thought.
You could really write a lot of good things about this sport. It’s a shame you’re lazy and have such an iron-clad agenda.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:01 PM
Truth, he provides balance along with taking lots of pitches. It helps Cano and Granderson a lot.
This
August 9th, 2012 at 1:02 PM
I’m debating making the hike up to the Yard after work, but I have way too much shit to do. It’d be fun, but I’d be fucked if I did it with some work stuff I have to finish. I’m furious. Matt Wieters’ debut was a fun night.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:02 PM
Their pitching has been so inconsistent. Lance Lynn has finally started to cool off after a great start. Wainwright is putting it together more and more as the season rolls on but he still has the occasional 9.00 ERA start. Kyle Lohse is somehow now possibly going to get $12M a year for 3-4 years after this season. Jake Westbrook had a good start and has been just OK since. Their bullpen is a weakspot for sure.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:03 PM
I’m finally reaching the ‘Fuck it, I’m going to enjoy this stage’ after waiting for a collapse for so long.
Spent a miserable June & July waiting for the 2-14 stretch. The last 2 weeks have been a lot more fun.
/still understand it will take a miracle to make playoffs
//I’d take 21-30 the rest of the way and at .500 season
August 9th, 2012 at 1:03 PM
They have to blow things up though don’t they? I can understand why they didn’t do it at the trade deadline even though they should have. It’s much easier to blow things up over the winter.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:04 PM
Remember this thread? Pirates team President might have known what he was talking about.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:04 PM
Fixed. It was great up until the mid-90s. Then both teams, but mostly Pittsburgh started sucking.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:05 PM
At least you get a nice pennant race for the last 8 weeks. All I get to hope for is Dom Brown showing off some potential. Looks good so far. Oh and Chase Utley to get 5 more homers to reach 200 for his career.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:05 PM
/lets out long fart
August 9th, 2012 at 1:06 PM
Honestly, if we win 82 games, I’m throwing a huge blowout party. I’ll be that happy about it. Every night we somehow pull a game out, it becomes more and more reasonable. We only need 22 more games, and I’ll be content the entire winter, until the Ravens choke again the AFC Title game and I want to murder Cam Cameron again.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:06 PM
Pirates playoff likelihood now stands at 74.6%. Care to comment?
Yeah, fuck the pirates.
I’m bitter because the Reds make zero moves except trading for a fat has been closer that just blew a game. Their best two offensive players are hurt so let’s make zero moves to grow the offense or bench. I would love the pirate story in any other year the Reds are in the basement. I still think Cincy will blow it due to lack of moves.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:06 PM
If the Sox take the Central I could see Ventura getting it, proving one game at a time that boring can be better
August 9th, 2012 at 1:07 PM
I hated Doug Drabek as a kid. Hell, I still do.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:08 PM
The scuttlebutt was that they kept asking Boston about Ellsbury. Curious to know what they were offering.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:10 PM
“Uh Dad, I understand the silverware. But why the dog?”
“You understand the silverware?”
August 9th, 2012 at 1:11 PM
Those one run losses are a product of not being able to score runs. In those 12 losses the Yankees are barely averaging 4 runs a game. That will not win this team games. Especially if you’re only putting up 2 against a Red Sox pitching staff that gives up home runs at a ridiculous pace. They got swept in Oakland (hot team, playing great ball right now), swept at home by Baltimore and have lost 2 of 3 to Detroit with one game being a Verlander start.
Losing 2 of 3 to Boston is really the only series I think they botched it. This lineup should be putting up 6 runs a game easy on Boston’s weak pitching.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:11 PM
ms, your Astros got a lot of fight left in ‘em. Chuckie Fick looked pretty good out of the bullpen last night. Marwin Gonzalez looks like he might be a keeper. Stay the course, man.
Shapes up to be a good stretch run for lots of teams. I’m digging it.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:11 PM
Clint Hurdle isn’t your manager. You’re winning the division. Absolutely no reason the Pirates shouldn’t be in one of the Wild Card spots though.
/benches Pedro Alvarez again
August 9th, 2012 at 1:11 PM
This baseball season has been severely lacking in sizzle.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:13 PM
Even with Trout? I beg to differ, my good man. Dude might be RoY and MVP in the same season, and he just turned 21. Future looks bright.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:13 PM
I honestly wish the site would just not cover baseball at all. When you do write something on it, it is full of mistakes and is completely narrative driven. You guys do a good job covering other things, and it is obvious that you either don’t have the time to write about it (Lisk), or don’t know anything about the game. Maybe you could convince your new overlords to increase your budget to hire a baseball writer? Per your tweet yesterday, we know that you don’t pay attention to criticism, but maybe you should notice when your audience is clamoring for something that they seem to be passionate about.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:14 PM
until the Ravens choke again the AFC Title game and I want to murder Cam Cameron again.
It’s nice to be able to ignore all the training camp/preseason bullshit by having a baseball that is worth following in August. Would be really huge to get a health Hammel back in 2 weeks.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:15 PM
What do they have to sell that other people want? No one is taking Crawford’s deal, and they shouldn’t give up on him anyways. David Ortiz is old. Jon Lester should be kept. So should Ellsbury.
They sold off one valuable asset in Kevin Youkilis. The only mistake I see is not trading Josh Beckett when they had the chance. In the winter, they’ll have to eat money on that deal. Defeats the purpose of trading him.
The Red Sox will have to win with what they have and what is developing in the minors. Jackie Bradley Jr. might be ready for the Show by next summer. Their OF would be incredible with Jacoby, Bradley and Crawford. The only position they need to fill is shortstop. Otherwise, it’s time to start drafting heavy on pitching. Fucking up Bard set them back in both the bullpen and rotation.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:15 PM
healthy Hammel
August 9th, 2012 at 1:15 PM
I volunteer to write baseball. You can pay me in cheeseburgers & milkshakes.
Don’t need your money. I’d do it for the love of the game.
Holla back, whydont’cha?
August 9th, 2012 at 1:18 PM
Very true, I usually am in full-Training Camp mode by now. I just hope Hammel keeps is groove that he was in until that knee blew up.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:18 PM
What exactly do the Reds need to add? Just wait for Votto to come back and the lineup is fine. They won 10 straight when he went on the shelf. They really don’t have any holes, especially once Chapman is a starter next season. The left side of the infield could use some addressing but that can be done through free agency.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:18 PM
Based on the comments, it sounds as though every single one of you would run superb sports blogs, or at the very least serve as exceptional content managers.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:19 PM
This baseball season has been severely lacking in sizzle
Harper and Trout alone have made this summer a great time to love baseball.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:20 PM
Cleet, have you given up on the Mets yet? After that fucking debacle last night, I just called it a season.
SC, you’ll love this: Francesa said yesterday that David Wright still has a shot at MVP.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:20 PM
I’m actually Dan Levy.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:21 PM
Ow, Hernia. You wound me, sir.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:21 PM
Based on the comments, it sounds as though every single one of you would run superb sports blogs, or at the very least serve as exceptional content managers.
Or copy and paste box scores and call it yardwork.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:21 PM
Would you write Yardwork for it? I offer one Chipwich per post
August 9th, 2012 at 1:22 PM
Is it really a surprise that people commenting here like baseball? It is the second most watched professional sport in America. We all understand that Jason is a huge NBA fan, which means we are going to get a disproportionate amount of coverage on that particular sport. However, without the amount of filler posts that go up, it doesn’t seem like there is a lack of space for MLB posts. The place is owned by one of the largest media companies around, so you would think they could pony up for a writer who understands baseball and enjoys it.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:22 PM
The NL MVP is a toss-up. Votto pretty much had it locked down until he went on the shelf. McCutchen is probably the best candidate as of today. Bacne McHotpiss has been raking. And honestly, I wouldn’t count Wright out. He’ll get some votes.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:23 PM
ms, your Astros got a lot of fight left in ‘em. Chuckie Fick looked pretty good out of the bullpen last night. Marwin Gonzalez looks like he might be a keeper. Stay the course, man.
That’s about all they’ve got SROD. Luhnow seems to be quite good at nabbing guys off of waivers. Justin Maxwell was claimed in April. Since then he’s got 12 HR, 37 RBI and an OPS+ of 122 off the bench.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:23 PM
I would think that’s part of their new advanced media … thing. The thing with the terrible name that Leitch keeps telling us is for real.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:24 PM
Ha. You obviously never read Yardwork.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:24 PM
When they fusili Jerry’d themselves after the break, including blowing multiple leads in the same games and losing in extra innings I knew it was over. Really the Gee injury just killed any type of positive momentum. I feel bad for Wright, he is never going to play in a WS.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:25 PM
/nods
August 9th, 2012 at 1:25 PM
But, as a 3+ year reader of the blog/lurker, was there ever a reason given for Yardwork being “discontinued”? (I understand that it is a running joke around here but I am genuinely curious…)
August 9th, 2012 at 1:25 PM
I love baseball as much as youse guys love Kate Upton’s boobs.
There, I said it. Wanna make something of it?
/puts down Tostitos scoops
//draws line in the sand
August 9th, 2012 at 1:25 PM
Ha. You obviously never read Yardwork.
Those zingers against sub .500 teams like the Astros don’t write themselves.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:26 PM
Going to the Buffalo game tonight see RGIII and get ‘Murican drunk, Co-worker seeing the rain outside asks if the stadium is a dome. HA! Buffalo with a dome, yeah they’ll get right on that after having an economy and women under 190LBS.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:26 PM
You obviously never read Yardwork.
no one read yardwork, pretty boy. we just needed a place to talk baseball.
let’s.go.Os
August 9th, 2012 at 1:27 PM
Former Nat, former Maryland Terrapin. Athletic as hell. Maybe you can build around him. Breaking balls sometimes give him fits (duh).
August 9th, 2012 at 1:27 PM
Topical baseball posts were supposed to replace it. They did, but on an extremely inconsistent basis. Many of us moved to other places for baseball discussion because this particular blog chose not to foster it.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:28 PM
Four wins since June 28th is just insane.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:28 PM
I love baseball more than anyone’s boobs. Just don’t tell my better half.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:29 PM
Former Nat, former Maryland Terrapin. Athletic as hell. Maybe you can build around him. Breaking balls sometimes give him fits (duh).
I don’t think he’s a centerpiece type of player, but he’s still been a great pickup. We essentially got him for free. I think Luhnow pictures J.D. Martinez, Jason Castro and Jose Altuve (and perhaps Jed Lowrie though if he wasn’t on the DL at the trading deadline Luhnow probably would have traded him) as the core over the next 2-3 years. It’s not much, but you’ve got to start somewhere.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:29 PM
Sold.
We’ll just let sportsgal break that news to her
August 9th, 2012 at 1:30 PM
You seem to have forgotten Posey in this list. Dude is absolutely killing it at a premium position.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:30 PM
Topical baseball posts were supposed to replace it.
/eagerly awaits post on Dirk’s 3rd wedding in the last 5 weeks
August 9th, 2012 at 1:30 PM
Kate Upton’s boobs are about the only things that come close to my love of baseball.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:30 PM
Four wins since June 28th is just insane.
Truthfully, I’m torn between being slack jawed at their inability to win and jaded because I knew this was going to be another rough year.
Though in fairness, I was expecting around 60 wins this year. That’s a pipe dream at this point.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:31 PM
Somehow, this phrase cracks me up. I hear Frank Caliendo impersonating Ted Knight, reading this.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:31 PM
When they fusili Jerry’d themselves after the break, including blowing multiple leads in the same games and losing in extra innings I knew it was over. Really the Gee injury just killed any type of positive momentum. I feel bad for Wright, he is never going to play in a WS.
Wright’s one of the good guys in baseball, so yeah I feel for him. Ike’s not been the same since his injuries, and their outfield is THE worst in baseball. They won’t cut Bay because he’s owed $19 mil, and the Wilpon’s are fucking assholes.
SC, I’d go with McCutcheon, especially if the Pirates get into the playoffs.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:32 PM
You must really really love baseball.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:32 PM
Well you’ve come to the right place. This is the post where we’re talking about baseball not being talked about enough.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:33 PM
David Wright can come down to Philly and make some sweet music in a ballpark that would turn his doubles into homers.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:33 PM
The more I watch Altuve, the more I like his game. Tough as nails. Stings the ball wherever it’s pitched. He and Lowrie can be a good keystone combo for years to come.
We talked about Martinez earlier in the year. I think he needs at least one more year of full-time play to really get it. He’s got tons of potential.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:34 PM
So SROD has military training and size but he’s old and is eating nachos during during office hours.
I’m young but covered in cuts and bruises, grossly sleep deprived, smaller and out of whiskey.
Let’s do this thing!
August 9th, 2012 at 1:34 PM
Best hitter in the NL since the Break. His first half left something to be desired though. Not to diminish his season, but those other guys have just been better. Especially Cutch.
If the Reds don’t fumble the Votto knee thing, I think he wins easily.
52 R, 14 HR, 49 RBI, 66 BB, 65 K, 5SB, .342/.465
August 9th, 2012 at 1:34 PM
let’s.go.Os
MLB just announced wild card game for Oct. 5
/clears schedule
August 9th, 2012 at 1:35 PM
That, and I’m more a legs/butt man. Would never reject large boobs, but nice gams on a dame make me weak.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:35 PM
scratch the apostrophe….ugh!
August 9th, 2012 at 1:35 PM
I’ve come to equate TBL with Washington D.C.
It is highly entertaining at times and maddening at others. The people in charge use polls(Twitter) to determine what to spend their time on while ignoring the more rational members of the constituency.
We all know that we can’t really change it, but we still pay attention to what comes out of it.
That and there are really good pics of boobs every now and then.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:35 PM
The O/U on their win total next season could be an all-time low for a baseball prop bet. I wouldn’t be surprised to see it around 48.5. Todd Fuhrman was talking about that this morning. He runs Caesar’s Sportsbook.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:35 PM
Matchup!
/Heartbreak Ridge’d
August 9th, 2012 at 1:38 PM
David Wright can come down to Philly and make some sweet music in a ballpark that would turn his doubles into homers.
I’d tell you to go fuck yourself, but sadly that is a strong possibility.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:38 PM
SROD – Thoughts on Bryce jawing at the ump last night? Maybe time for Davey to give him an off day, yeah?
August 9th, 2012 at 1:39 PM
Not disagreeing at all. Think Posey could make some waves especially in a three way race in the NL West. I still think McCutch or Votto will win.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:39 PM
The more I watch Altuve, the more I like his game. Tough as nails. Stings the ball wherever it’s pitched. He and Lowrie can be a good keystone combo for years to come.
We talked about Martinez earlier in the year. I think he needs at least one more year of full-time play to really get it. He’s got tons of potential.
Agreed and agreed. Altuve is a great building block. He’s also young and I think under team control for awhile. If Marwin Gonzalez improves as a hitter, then I can see Luhnow trading Lowrie to flesh out the farm system even more. Martinez has great potential, but as you said, he’s still trying to put it all together. This was only his first full season in the majors, and I think pitchers have him figured out. It remains to be seen if he can in turn figure them out. Castro, and there’s no other way to say it, has been a disappointment. He’s had some health issues, but his inability to do anything on offense is beyond frustrating.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:40 PM
Yes, Duckworth’d, whatever
August 9th, 2012 at 1:41 PM
To be fair, as somebody who isn’t a Harper fan, the original call was an abortion, and Hernandez just seemed to be sticking to Harper from then on.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:41 PM
He’s on my fantasy squad so it gives me a reason to watch Astros baseball. I think Neil Walker is the only other 2B in the NL that has had a comparable season. Walker hits for power and draws more walks. Altuve is like… [sigh] Pedroia. Better fielder and slaps the ball all over the park. In fact, Dustin Pedroia is 1.052242938896068 Altuves.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:41 PM
I never know whether to give credit, or dismiss it as blind luck… but it is amusing to go back and read your comments/tone of that post. To say you were arrogantly dismissive would be generous.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:42 PM
It is highly entertaining at times and maddening at others. The people in charge use polls(Twitter) to determine what to spend their time on while ignoring the more rational members of the constituency.
This.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:42 PM
Pirates contraction likelihood now stands at 75%
/ EIC’d
August 9th, 2012 at 1:43 PM
Wright to Philly or mantis fucking himself?
August 9th, 2012 at 1:43 PM
Billy got it right. To add, Harper was around .280 at the AS break. Mid-.250s now. An off-day or two would help. Not swinging at low-and-away sliders would also help.
Hernandez did seem to enjoy his on-screen time a little too much, though. Just sayin’.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:43 PM
He can go anywhere he wants, just not Philly or the Yanks. He’ll be dead to me then.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:44 PM
Isn’t this like ESPN complaining about the coverage choices made by ESPN?
Sports has in a large manner become a market of supply-driven demand, rather than vice versa. We spent the last two months talking about Penn State not because we wanted to, but because that was the post available, and Souvenir City felt compelled to wait 10 or so comments before changing the topic to baseball.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:45 PM
So, anyone excited to watch the AAAA team on the North side of Chicago for the rest of the year? If Sveum can get them to play .400 for the rest of the year he deserves to be Manager of the Year.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:46 PM
OT – Since the NHL likely won’t start on time, I don’t think I can bring myself to go back to the OG gravatar with the tomahawks. I need a Bears one. Suggestions appreciated. Kerry Wood and his kid [hands CJ a tissue, also a jar of JIF] remain in tow until the Cubs season ends. So, October 3rd.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:46 PM
The O/U on their win total next season could be an all-time low for a baseball prop bet. I wouldn’t be surprised to see it around 48.5. Todd Fuhrman was talking about that this morning. He runs Caesar’s Sportsbook.
I wouldn’t be surprised at 48.5 either.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:47 PM
Butkus or Ditka. Need I say more?
August 9th, 2012 at 1:47 PM
no different than Trout giving the ump the business the other night for blowing a call at 2nd base. He didn’t go overboard.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:48 PM
Soler got called up to Peoria today. They skipped Boise in his development because he was raking in the AZL. I may head down to central IL and catch a Chiefs game this year with Soler and Javy Baez. Both guys could be studs.
As for the big league club? Well, Castro needs a day off because he’s in the worst slump of his career. Rizzo is a bright spot, especially with Garza’s elbow now having issues. Samardzija is the other. And I enjoy watching Darwin Barney flash the leather at 2B. Outside of that, they don’t give me much reason to watch… yet I do at least 5 days a week.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:49 PM
Gaping stoma next to an ulcerated asshole?
/no coop
August 9th, 2012 at 1:49 PM
More like the content of most baseball posts is about as attractive as a cup of warm piss.
Though, I don’t understand why people have their panties up in a bunch about the post that crapped on the Astros. A team as unbelievably shitty as that needs to be recognized and “celebrated.” Baseball is a sport that really hammers home the shittyness of bad teams that it has to be acknowledged. Sure everyone understands that they’re bottoming out, but it’s still a spectacle to be observed, much like stump-fucking.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:50 PM
GTFO and give me Skippy!
August 9th, 2012 at 1:50 PM
Sean Payton, 1987.
/ Free Payton!
// Breesus’d-by-proxy
August 9th, 2012 at 1:51 PM
I’m probably in the minority here, but I find the MLB coverage at TBL to be perfectly adequate for my needs. I am a big baseball fan, but I could care less to talk about it every day. Baseball talk is boring; there I said it. I’d be more than happy with a weekly power rankings type post and the occasional shop-talk that happens in various comment sections around here.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:51 PM
Good call. I think I’ll use this one.
If I could find the audio, I’d post it. George Ryan (former IL governor, current guest of the state penitentiary) introduced Coach back in the 90s as Dick Butka for a charity event.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:52 PM
I just wanted Campana to stay in Chicago to have a shot at leading the league in SBs with half the ABs of the 2nd place guy. Was terribly amused by that all season long.
I’m honestly content with Barney at 2B for the next couple of years if they can fill in around the youngsters with some veteran offense. At this point they have to try and resign Garza unless they are just blow away by an offer that includes a full time catcher, right?
August 9th, 2012 at 1:52 PM
Both perhaps?
As to the .400 team on the North Side of Chicago…as long as Rizzo keeps hitting homers, I’ll be content.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:52 PM
You may find this hard to believe, but I agree with most of this. Youkilis was too injured to be a valuable chip, and waiting him out hoping he’d improve wasn’t going to get Middlebrooks a (deserved) shot. I think that was a fine and necessary trade. Wasn’t going to be a ton of market.
Beckett they made a mistake not trading after a great season with suspect peripherals, but with Lackey and DiceK both injured, they were scrambling to fill the rotation. I think they’d have taken 190 IP and a 3.90 ERA no problem. This is just a mess.
They’ll pay Ortiz whatever they have to. Crawford will be fine (I’ve said this all along), just he was never worth what he’s being paid.
I don’t think Bradley is around until September at the earliest, unless they get a blockbuster deal for Ellsbury and don’t think Kalish can play center for the rest of the year. JBJ has really slumped in AA the last few weeks.
They have done a good job getting pitching prospects, but Barnes is a couple years away and Owens even more. They have three guys at AA who were supposed to be ready soon and won’t be (Ranaudo, Britton, Pimentel).
Bard didn’t set them back though because they found gold twice, in Doubrant (who looked like he’d never be healthy/ready to start) and Morales (and really Mortenson/Miller et al who have allowed them to take parts out of the bullpen for the rotation).
August 9th, 2012 at 1:52 PM
TBLAD features a lot less intern fucking and bathroom-stall cruising than WDCAD does.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:54 PM
Pirates playoff likelihood now stands at 74.6%. Care to comment?
Sad.
/pathetic sad
August 9th, 2012 at 1:54 PM
Wright to Chicago?
I’m not sold on Vitters being the answer. Probably because of the recent history of position players developed by the farm system. I would love to be wrong about that though.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:55 PM
Saw a replay of the call. Trout said his piece, but did it cool.
Every day it seems, he does something that tells me he “gets it”. Stay healthy, and he’d gonna make a ton of cash.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:56 PM
They can’t blow things up. There’s nothing to blow up. Their top guys all make too much, and the role players are valuable, and blowing up wouldn’t improve the team. The only deal I can think of is to package Beckett and a prospect for someone… but I’m not sure giving up a valuable prospect to sell low on a pitcher really changes this team’s fortunes. Really just need the players to start playing. That’s it.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:56 PM
Yes. I thought this the other day too. With his elbow, now is the time to start those extension talks because we can get him at a slight discount. I’d lean towards either a 3 year deal with a player option for a 4th or a 4 year deal with a club option for a 5th at less cost than the 3 year. Garza isn’t a #1, but to be able to pay him #2 money to be a #1a starter works for me.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:57 PM
In fact, Dustin Pedroia is 1.052242938896068 Altuves.
That is fantastic.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:58 PM
Kevin Goldstein had a great article on an extension for Trout at ESPN and BP yesterday. Strongly suggest it. Both require subscriptions. If you don’t have a scrip, I can copy and paste it in an e-mail for you.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:59 PM
Here’s the ESPN link. This one has the BP link.
August 9th, 2012 at 2:00 PM
A 28-year old with one year of arb left that will pay him 11-13 million anyway will have a tough time taking a 3-year deal, so that player option would have to be pretty enticing.
August 9th, 2012 at 2:00 PM
Hey SC can you send that to me?
August 9th, 2012 at 2:02 PM
If you’re going to copy it the full text anyway, why not slap a Janoff by-line on it and post it here?
August 9th, 2012 at 2:02 PM
Yeah, but more drunks and in-law incest.
August 9th, 2012 at 2:05 PM
Make it 3 years at 11 million and the 4th worth up to 17 million with a IP clause to activate it set at 600 IP. Then plaster his locker with pictures of Kerry Wood.
He honestly does seem like a guy who will understand that he isn’t going to be blowing fastballs by hitters for the rest of his career.
August 9th, 2012 at 2:05 PM
The fact that Trout is a huge Eagles fan makes me like him even more.
Harper is a hot head, it’s been known throughout his minors career.
August 9th, 2012 at 2:07 PM
Yes, please.
Dang!
August 9th, 2012 at 2:09 PM
he’s gonna make a ton of cash.
Saw an interview of Trout’s parents in July. His mom is good-looking.
August 9th, 2012 at 2:18 PM
SROD – send me your e-mail. Or tweet me or something. Not sure if you’re on the Twitter but I’ll follow you so you can DM me.