Today in Baseball....
 

Dodgers-Cards: The truth was revealed today, the Dodgers can't hold a candle to the Card's hitting. Plus Pitching is a factor, because although the Card's don't really have a strong staff, the Dodgers don't either unless the game is close coming to the 9th.

Cards in 4

Boston- Angels: Boston has the best one-two knockout pitching in the league, although it is contigent if Pedro can shake off his shaky finish to the season. Boston's line up is pretty sick, and with the Angels less then stellar pitching rotation and bullpen, their hitters have a lot of work cut out for them.

Boston in 3, maybe 4.

Twinks-Yanks: Way to do it guys. Johan pitched a solid game, no where near to what he is capable of. Yank's are hurting with their starting pitching, Mussina really has been off this year. I think what the series will come down to is if Radke gets run support, and contigent on that how well the Twins bullpen holds up. Yankee's won't shut out the twins unless mariono is on the Mound, but at the same time, this might be the best line up assembled since 95' and very similar to a old school Murder's Row. I say the series comes down to how well the Twins pitching (mainly bullpen) does.

What? No prediction on the Yanks-Twins series?

I don't think the Dodgers are done. They showed earlier this year that they can win against St. Louis. Hell, I was at one of those games.

Mussina has been off this year, but he still pitched a great game last night. The Yankees lost because they stranded so many runners. Mussina gave up those two runs and still pitched well enough to win.

-Mikey

St Louise over LA
Houston over Atl

Bos over ANA
Min over NYY

StL over Houston
Bos over Min

Bos over StL

I'm pretty confident in those picks, with the exception of Min over NY. If NY beats Min, then Bos will lose to NY and StL will beat NY.

Sorry Halx-I was at the game yesterday. It was over for the Dodgers before it started. I believe we took 4 of 6 from the Dodgers this year ( I went to 3 of those games too that we won :) ) What was Tracy thinking in setting Perez up for 2 games in the series unless he thought it would not go 5 games?

However the hitting has to continue because our pitching will eventually cost us-see game 3 with Matt Morris pitching. Can you say 2 home runs in the first 2 innings? Matty Mo went from being the ace to almost not making the post season rotation. Still I have faith!

I wouldn't be so sure about Stl over Houston. We swept them last week to get where we are now. The Astros are the hottest team coming into the playoffs. If Stl wins, it'll be tough. Of course all this assuming we'll beat Atl, but I think this is our year. I think we'll finally take a playoff series from Atl.

Damnit! I hate baseball and I fucking hate the stupid bitch ass 3.5x's the same pay roll as the twins Yankee's. I'm seriously doubting the twins can take two against those fucks at the Dome.

Bosox are going to the ALCS.

Braves are looking screwed, somehow the Rocket threw 7 innings (or was it 6?). Plus like the Cards, their bats are sick.

I'm standing by the fact that the Dodgers are sunk. Both series are probably going to be decided tonight.

It would be sweet to see Houston beat StL (I hate StL!!!). Clemens vs. NY would be fun but I think NY would win. BOS vs Houston would be fun also. Would Clemens be able to make 3 starts in the WS? I'm pretty sure Schilling could (he did in 01, but that was 3 years ago). Seening Clemens vs. Schilling in games 1, 4, and 7 would be so freaking cool.

AHHHHHH!!!!

I have never hated anyone as much as I hate Rafael Furcal right now.

That being said, last night's game between the Yanks and the Twins was awesome. I could care less if all the Yankees died a brutal death, but that game was what postseason baseball is all about. What a first week, I can only hope the rest of the playoffs is as exciting.

I'm so bummed right now. We so had that game. Ugh, darnit Furcal. Well, we should do well the next two games though. A day off then two at home. Hopfully we can close it out this weekend.

Well, my Angels are up shit creek without a paddle. The Sox just want it more. The Angels had to play fundamental baseball to win and they have not executed.

I think the Sox will be playing the Cards in the World Series.

The Angels got hosed on the plate Wednesday night....REALLY HOSED!!

Watch the damn tape..if you taped it.

They squeezed our pitchers when the SUX big bats were at the plate and if you ask me it was fucking rigged so MLB can have Skank vs Sux AL Championship Series.

Oh...I know our hitters are cold but I call it as I see it...and I was fucking there right behind the Sux dugout.

And yes i'm BITTER... FUCKING PISSED THE FUCK OFF!! :thumbsup:

So, I guess Garrett Anderson doing absolutely nothing at the plate and Chone Figgins treating ground balls like their covered in Anthrax is all a part of MLB's master plan for a Sox-MFY ALCS?

Let's look at it in its truest sense: the Angels are banged up right now, their pitching isn't that solid, and they aren't making routine plays. Anytime a team gives another team more than 27 outs, they're more than likely going to lose. With the exception of Schilling's throw to first and Molina's pop-fly single, the Sox have played nearly mistake-free baseball.

And if we're talking about the Angel pitchers getting squeezed, Pedro and Co. had the same strike zone all night. The difference was, Pedro adjusted to it and made the pitches he needed.

I'm bitter too (not as much as Keyser :) ), and thought the strike zone issue was a key player in a couple at bats in Game 2. But, I think dylan makes a good point in talking about WTF Garrett Anderson has been doing and was doing at the plate during that at bat against Mike Myers. He acted like he had the bat shoved up his ass until the count went 1-2. He then meekly waved at strike three.

Oh man.. he took Frankie out.. why did he take Frankie out?

Red Sox win! Bring on the Yankees or the twins!!

So Washburn could hang a curveball for Ortiz to demolish :(

The only way I would have taken out Frankie is if he said his arm were about to fall off. The only bad move Scioscia made all series in all honesty.

I knew the Angels were done, but Vladdy's grannie was a highlight for tonight. If only the Angels could execute. Errors were big and the Sox deserve credit for capitalizing with their great hitting.

Good luck Red Sox. Let me say this series has kind of sucked for me because I have family in Boston and about 1/2 of my family here in California are Sox fans. I do not dislike the Red Sox. In fact, I was in Fenway a couple weeks ago when Cabrera won an extra inning game with an HR. Right now, I'm hoping for a Red Sox/Dodgers World Series, even though my mind says it'll be Red Sox/Cards.

Scioscia made a huge mistake taking K-Rod out. That has to be the biggest WTF moment of the game and the series. Washburn didn't lose this game, your 2002 manager of the year lost it.

Well Hal and Godd, you still have the Dodgers for at least one more day. :rolleyes:

Any Red Sox fans here?

At first, I was hoping the Twins would beat the Yanks. You, because it's always kind of cool when "new" teams or teams from a smaller market make it in. BUT, then, when the Bo' Sox take it all the way, people will be like, "But you didn't beat the Yankees."

So now, I'm licking my greedy chops for the Sox to take out the Evil Empire!

I live in LA now, so I'm kind of cheering for the Dodge.

P.S. - What happened to Derek Lowe? Are people figuring out his knuckle ball? I almost had a heart attack when Guerro slapped that grand slam. Although it hurt, it was actually a nice play.

Hey 'goddfather40',

How do you like Fenway compared with Edison Field? Have you been to Dodger Stadium?

Man, you could power a small country with the energy from Fenway. *sigh*

You know, I'm from Boston and I definitely miss this time of year there.

I LOVE JOSE LIMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He pitched the game of his life... for the love of the fans, the team, and most importantly, himself! HE IS THE MAN!

Fenway is a totally different experience from Angel Stadium (Edison Field until this year) and Dodger Stadium. You can sense the history at Fenway. It really blends into the neighborhood and its small size means you are on top of the field. Fenway kind of has a distinct smell, kind of like a mix between hot dogs and must. It's by no means a bad smell, but unique. I liked the street festival atmosphere on Yawkey Way and the other surrounding streets.

Angel Stadium is a huge structure in the middle of a gigantic parking lot off of the freeway and Dodger Stadium is built into the side of a hill. Dodger Stadium especially feels kind of aloof due to it's massive size. I do like Angel Stadium better because I feel it has better seat views, the food selection is better, and small things like ATM's are more prevalent. Dodger Stadium is a beautiful setting and a very clean building, but can cause inconviences when it comes to food and drink because it is slighly more expensive and there's less variety.

As for the fans, well Boston fans are great and let their feelings known in every situation. Angel fans can surprisingly get very loud when they need to, in fact Joe Torre called it the loudest stadium after the Yankees lost to the Angels in the '02 playoffs. Dodger fans are similar to Angels fans but don't get as pumped I think.

I like Dodger Stadium more than Angel Stadium. It's more traditional... there are more things going on in the crowd. More beach balls. Much older fans. When you go into Angel Stadium, everything is so clean, pristine and corporate. Elementry and junior high school kids are everywhere. While Dodger Stadium still has a lot of advertisement, you still can feel the history behind the building and the ads aren't as prevalent. There are more 'cheap seats' in the outfield at Dodger Stadium, and that's where all the fun comes from when the game isn't exactly grabbing your attention.

http://mlb.mlb.com/images/2004/05/14/qzPTJAO7.jpg

The man can do it all.


Oh, and I love Alex Rodriguez. In a completely heterosexual and platonic sense, of course. He never ceases to amaze and inspire this fellow shortstop/third-baseman.

I've been reading several good articles about Jose Lima today. I think it lets you know both how amazing that game was, and how much of a story he is in himself. We love him here in LA and I hope he comes back for next year.

yanks vs boston whould be an interesting series. I would have rather lost to the Twins than the Red Sox. The Yankees simply can't lose this series!

Is that woman standing next to Lima his wife? Damn she's hot! What a lucky bastard.

Go Red Sox wooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm glad Lima found a good home in LA. He was a real character when we had him in Houston, but he got streaky, lit up all the time, then just flat out pissed off. Wouldn't want a wife that hot to be stuck with a sulker.