Baseball Thread

[DeathlyH]

It's going to be a Red Sox-Rays ALCS. The White Sox aren't hitting right now, and there's no way that the Angels can get anything going against one of the best playoff pitchers of the modern era (Josh Beckett), especially in Boston. The Brewers played a good game last night, but I think the Phillies will hold on anyways.

I'm predicting a Phillies Red Sox World Series. Having a Red Sox-Dodgers series with Manny and Torre coming back to town would be way too cliche.

[Rush]

I'm quite glad the Phillies won today, as I am hoping for them to win the World Series. The Dodgers will be a tough test, but I think they may be a little over-confident after sweeping the Cubs.

In the AL I think the Rays will fall to the Red Sox in the ALCS (its likely they'll meet up)

[PureBloodGirl]

Question: Are the Cubs out of the playoffs?

[jordmundt6]

The Cubs got swept in three games in very different ways. They got out to an early lead in Game 1 and then got blasted. In Game 2, they made all kinds of errors leading to a bunch of unearned runs (a la the Tigers in the '05 World Series). Finally, in Game 3 they lost a close hard-fought game.

Looks like the Pale Hose will force a fourth game, but it looks like an all AL East ALCS--gee, what a surprise. I'm rooting pretty hard for the Rays now that the Cubs have been eliminated--I'm a Cubbie lifer and I can't accept the superfluity of good fortune for the Red Sox with good grace--sorry. If Maddux gets one more ring, that wouldn't be bad, but I'm hoping that the upstarts shock the world.

[Rush]

I think the Rays are just too young to win a championship. They just don't have enough experience. Its like the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL (I don't know if you watch hockey), but they were a team of young guns who made it to the finals and lost to the powerhouse Red Wings. I think the same things will happen if the Rays play the Sox.

[jordmundt6]

Except the Rays are familiar with the Sox and have been fighting them tooth and nail all year--plus they would have four games at home against them, and they've OWNED the Sox at the Trop.

They might suffer a Rockies letdown (or a Penguins letdown) if/when they make it to the Series, but I think they have the firepower and the self-belief to get past the Red Sox (even if it takes 7 games).

[Rush]

I agree that the Rays and Sox have been mostly even this season. However, the playoffs are a different story entirely and the Sox have the experience (not to mention the pitching) to outplay the Rays.

After saying that, I'm still hoping for a Rays/Phillies World Series and I'm looking forward to the Rays playing the Sox (if they do).

[jordmundt6]

I dunno--Daiske has relied on everyone to give him enough run support to compensate for runs given up. Beckett isn't as dominant this year as he has been in years past (although he does have that switch he seems to throw in big games). Wakefield--as with most knuckleballers, is truly a matter of chance. Some days he's absolutely baffling, and some days, it's just batting practice. Now, the Rays COULD tighten up, but I don't think they will. Their manager has them fairly loose, and they have an ocean of talent--power, speed, team play...and they have a lot of pitching of their own.

[orbweaver]

Hello

My name is Ger and I have been a Phillies fan since about 1961 when I visited Connie Mack stadium for the first time.
go PHILLIES

Ger

Just to give you an idea about how long its been for the Phillies. The Fightn's won their only World Series in 1980! That year was their 90th season and they have not won since.How good was the 1980 team...
They had HOF third baseman Michael Jack Smitty,Hof pitcher Lefty Carlton,
should be HOF ss Larry Bowa,should be HOFame Pete Rose ect.

Just wanted to tell you that because many area pundits feel that this is the beat Phillies team since 1993 when they last played in the series.
I think that this team is top notch up the middle. Decent pitching,excellent bull pen,very good hitting from the outfield esp Sal Vittorino and Wirth.

I think we will do well.

GO PHILS

[jordmundt6]

An all AL East ALCS--Go RAYS!!

[AldoBlack]

I knew my Sox would take care of the Angels. Lester is pitching out of his mind right now. Its gonna be Sox vs Dodgers.. Torre and Manny in the NL and we still face em, classic.

[DeathlyH]

The Rays don't stand a chance. The only starters on their roster that have ever played in the postseason are Eric Hinske (with the Red Sox, coincidentally) and Cliff Floyd. They are too young and too inexperienced in these situations to beat a Red Sox team that has dominated the playoffs. Almost everybody from last year is back this year, with the exceptions of Manny Ramirez and Curt Schilling. And Manny was replaced with Jason Bay, who has adapted extremely well to the playoffs.

I want the Red Sox to play the Phillies in the World Series, not the Dodgers. I'm absolutely sick and tired of the name Manny Ramirez, and it's the only name we would here if it was Sox-Dodgers.

[Chris]

I'm expecting 6 or 7 games. The Rays aren't afraid of the Red Sox, and that youthful inexperience did quite well against the White Sox. I wouldn't write them off so lightly. It could be fun watching Lester vs Longoria (or Papelbon vs Longoria).

[Harry852]

I don't realy like sports that much but I did know a girl that realy liked basket. I wasn't frends with her though.

I don't realy like sports that much but I did know a girl that realy liked basket. Long story, let's just say. . . . I wasn't frends with her.

[jordmundt6]

Well, it won't be the all-Ramirez grudge match. Thank goodness. I just hope the Rays can close it out on Thursday. If that happens, it'll be a feel-good story no matter who wins the Series.

[DeathlyH]

Thank God the Phillies won. Now I won't have to go the next two weeks hearing nothing but the name Manny Ramirez. I'm sick and tired of hearing about him.

The Red Sox have been in this situation before. In fact, they've been in worse. And they've still come back to win. So it doesn't matter how young and athletic and amazing the Rays are, the Sox are the more experienced team and play best in these situations.

[TheLastHorcrux]

So... Rays vs. Phillies in the World Series. Any thoughts?

Good to see the Rays win the ALCS. The Red Sox have become everything they've always hated the Yankees for being, so I lost my sympathy and respect for them several years ago. Its nice to see the little guy win occasionally. I know there are lots of Red Sox fans here who will hate me for saying that, but its just my opinion.

Never cared much for the Phillies. Don't hate them, but don't particularly like them either. I guess I'll be cheering for the Rays, but I really don't care too much which team wins.

[leah49]

I told my mom the other day that the Phillies are probably hoping the Rays win so they can travel to Tampa Bay (excuse me, St. Petersburg) instead of Boston...you know, warmer weather and all.

[DeathlyH]

I hate how people say, "Can't they just let someone else win once in a while?" Seriously, a team that has had great success in the past still wants to win as much as a team that has never been successful. It happens with the Patriots and now with the Red Sox. Winning championships never gets old, and it doesn't mean less as you win more of them. That's just not true. That's why it annoys me how people always feel bad for the underdog when they lose, but when the previously successful team wins (the Red Sox in this case) people just say, "Whatever, they won it already."

I don't think that the Red Sox hated the Yankees for winning all those years. It's just one of those rivalries that is, and always has been. The Yankees haven't won a World Series title all century, and the rivalry is still as strong as it ever was.

[TheLastHorcrux]

I wasn't commenting on the Red Sox recent successes, but more about their payroll. When they have a payroll more than double that of most teams, it becomes boring to see them win, because it's expected. So from that perspective, it was refreshing to see them lose. One of my close friends is a Red Sox fan, and for years I had to listen to him whine and complain that the Yankees bought their Championships rather than earned them, but now the Red Sox are trying to do the same thing.

You brought up the Patriots, so let's use them as an example. What has made the Patriots "dynasty" so much more intriguing and exciting than football dynasties of the past is the fact that now, every team has an equal payroll within several million dollars, unlike before the salary cap was enacted. Success is determined by HOW money is spent rather than by HOW MUCH money is spent because the rules don't allow you to outspend other teams. I can respect the Patriots for that. (my apparent dislike for them that I've expressed on these forums is more in the spirit of their rivalry with my favorite team than actual malice)

In other words, baseball needs a salary cap.