*** Official MLB Postseason thread ***

[raystorm]

Hmm, most Met fans I know were actually rooting for the Phillies over the Yankees... except for one who was rooting for a plane crash. When I reminded him that Philly and NYC are only 100 miles apart he said "oh, then bus crash, or train crash or something"

I was rooting for a meteor myself but then that would probably take me out too.

I thought the Phillies were the lesser of two evils as a Mets fan since the Mets can actually do something about it next season by actually beating the defending champs. They can still try to win the division next season by unseating the defending NL East champs but knowing the Mets they'll probably sign crap like Bengie Molina, Jason Marquis and Vincente Padilla (so they can have a guy who shot themself like the NY Giants)..etc.

Tomorrow is the parade and I will avoid watching it like a plague. lol Hopefully the stupid dopes in Mets management were paying attention. The Mets are also a good example of how you can spend lots of dough and come up craps. You need good management and healthy players. The Mets had neither. I'm happy the disasterous 2009 season is over and now I can rest up and prepare for next year's disappointment.

 

[PClark99]

Who the fuck cares? Seriously. Are athletes your moral compass now? There is no ethical or moral issue with his taking steroids because they weren't against the rules. How would you like it if you were hounded for shit you did eight years ago?

If you want to hate him, fine, hate him. But admit that you hate him because he's arrogant and successful.

Maybe I don't like him because he is arrogant. I don't begrudge him success, I am sure he has to work hard to get where he is. How much of it was pharmaceutical will never be able to be ascertained. How much of this year's playoff success was due to Kate Hudson chugging on his schlong?? I am sure that helped alot!!!

Lets not debate morals. Not the time and place and it really wouldn't be productive as everyone has a different opinion. As for the abuse he takes, well when any team loses normally the stars take it on the chin. When they win it normally gets a little easier for them.

And to reiterate what I said previously "Sincere Congratulations to the Yankees!!!"

 

[iamwiz82]

Ouch, low blow to Jimmy Rollins?

That was not a low blow, that would putting a cocky SOB in his place.

 

[BeauJangles]

WAHOO $$$ buys Rings!!!!

Let me preface the rest of my post by saying that I believe there should be more equal distribution and allocation of resources in MLB. For most of the 27 Championships, the Yankees have simply been the better team through solid management, good talent evaluation, and quality signings and acquisitions.

Remember, this is the first time that the "buy the best players" strategy has worked for the Yankees, at least in it's current ridiculous over-the-top incarnation today. Even the Yankee teams of the late 90s, while certainly spenders, relied heavily on a core of developed talent and augmented them with FA acquisitions (much like any contender). This incarnation of the Yankees relies on the import of quality players, augmented by a few home-grown guys who are proving less and less reliable and valuable.

Personally, I think the Yankees were lucky last off season. Regardless of who was available, the Yankees were going to go out and sign two of the biggest FA pitchers, and the best 1B available. Maybe they would have made a trade. My point is simply that the Yankees lucked into the fact that CC, AJ, and Teixiera, 3 of the better players at their positions in the league, happened to be available for a spending spree. Look at this off season and ask yourself, "if the Yankees had to acquire 2 SP and a 1B in the 09-10 off season, would they win the WS in '10?" The answer is most obviously no.

09 was a perfect storm for the Yankees; their needs coincided perfectly with the available FAs. If they hadn't, the team would have loaded up on mediocre players signed to long-term contracts, and fallen short again.

 

[HopJokey]

That was not a low blow, that would putting a cocky SOB in his place.

Haha very true.

Him and Jimmy are buds apparently (mainly from time spent on Team USA) so now Jeter will have some bragging rights to rub it in to his friend.

 

[Blackjack200]

Let me preface the rest of my post by saying that I believe there should be more equal distribution and allocation of resources in MLB. For most of the 27 Championships, the Yankees have simply been the better team through solid management, good talent evaluation, and quality signings and acquisitions.

Remember, this is the first time that the "buy the best players" strategy has worked for the Yankees, at least in it's current ridiculous over-the-top incarnation today. Even the Yankee teams of the late 90s, while certainly spenders, relied heavily on a core of developed talent and augmented them with FA acquisitions (much like any contender). This incarnation of the Yankees relies on the import of quality players, augmented by a few home-grown guys who are proving less and less reliable and valuable.

Personally, I think the Yankees were lucky last off season. Regardless of who was available, the Yankees were going to go out and sign two of the biggest FA pitchers, and the best 1B available. Maybe they would have made a trade. My point is simply that the Yankees lucked into the fact that CC, AJ, and Teixiera, 3 of the better players at their positions in the league, happened to be available for a spending spree. Look at this off season and ask yourself, "if the Yankees had to acquire 2 SP and a 1B in the 09-10 off season, would they win the WS in '10?" The answer is most obviously no.

09 was a perfect storm for the Yankees; their needs coincided perfectly with the available FAs. If they hadn't, the team would have loaded up on mediocre players signed to long-term contracts, and fallen short again.

I have to disagree with the bolded. Pettitte was 2-0 in the series and the Yankees' only reliable starter outside CC, Rivera was dominant as ever, Jeter batted over .400 in the series, and even Posada had some big hits. If anything, I'm nervous about when guys like Jeter, Rivera, and Pettitte really are too old to contribute meaningfully.

Also, I thought everyone had Teixiera going to the Red Sox, with the Yankees kind of swooping in at the last second to sign him?

 

[Sinsear]

Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Way to go Yanks!!!!!!!!



To all the haters: SUCK IT!!!!!!!!!

 

[jalaram]

I'm not sure how Texeira (sp) and CC etc can be so excited that they won a World Series. They were bought out by the highest bidder. WOW congrats...seriously.

Texeira is on the short list, if not the front runner, for MVP this year. He's a big reason the Yankees had the best record. If he didn't want to go to the Yankees, he still would've been paid very well by the Red Sox or some other team.

CC had a pretty good year pitching as well. They both were instrumental to the Yankees winning.

Being a Rays fan, I'm definitely not a fan of the payroll differences between teams. That said, spending money isn't hard. Spending money on the right combination of players (not just the right players) is what's hard. Ask the Mets.

Any Rays fan will remember the highly paid Hit Show. Heck Vinny Castilla played great before and after his time with the Rays, just not during. Gee, 4 highly paid hitters and no pitching. Yep, that's a recipe for success.

Cashman and Theo Epstein are getting a lot of money to spend on free agents because they have shown they know what to do.

 

[chalmers]

Sinsear, there's a difference between hate and respect. I don't respect the Yankees, or the way baseball is run. No hate here.

If they had won the World Series this year without signing CC Tex and Burnett I'd have respected them heartily. I can't respect the way they run their team.

On to more interesting and competitive sports...

 

[chalmers]

jalaram: I just want for once for one big named free agent to go to a small team to help their chances. Just once. I'm sure Albert Pujols and Joe Mauer and Evan Longoria will end up on the Yankees too, they all do. That's not competitive. That's not exciting. There are millions of other baseball fans in this country that would like to have a competitive team to root for too. It really would be nice. Every time I see Tex I just cringe. He's such a huge sellout. He makes me sick. I'm also not a fan of any team he's ever been affiliated with, so I'm largely unbiased.

 

[BeauJangles]

I have to disagree with the bolded. Pettitte was 2-0 in the series and the Yankees' only reliable starter outside CC, Rivera was dominant as ever, Jeter batted over .400 in the series, and even Posada had some big hits. If anything, I'm nervous about when guys like Jeter, Rivera, and Pettitte really are too old to contribute meaningfully.

Also, I thought everyone had Teixiera going to the Red Sox, with the Yankees kind of swooping in at the last second to sign him?

Well I'm not talking about this series alone, I'm looking at the whole season. They went out and signed three +++ players, but they were lucky that such high-caliber guys were available.

As for Teixiera, I don't believe he ever really wanted to come to Boston and simply used the Red Sox as a pawn to get the money and years he wanted from the Yankees.

 

[BeauJangles]

I would also like to congratulate Joe Buck on his slow, deliberate march into the "Worst Broadcaster Hall of Fame."

I believe it was during the ALDS, but Joe Buck was speaking about Aroldis Chapman and how he is now a free agent. He mentioned the fact that he defected from Cuba and has established residency in Andorra.

Joe Buck: "Now for those of you that don't know, Andorra is a small island..."

Win! Not only does Joe Buck clearly have no idea where Andorra is, but he has the nerve and condescending douchiness to pretend like he does.

Congrats Joe on, once again, sucking completely at your job.

 

[Sinsear]

YANKS WIN!!!!!!!


WORLD CHAMPS!!!!!!


Crying and moaning that the Yankees have too much money begins. They don't break the rules. The ownership cares about winning. And the fans show up to the games, not like in other cities where the stands are half full. Let me know when some of the smaller market teams stop operating at a huge profit and put the money back into their teams instead.


SUCK IT!!!!! YANKS WIN!!!!!!!!!!!! FOR THE 27TH TIME!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Sinsear]

jalaram: I just want for once for one big named free agent to go to a small team to help their chances. Just once. I'm sure Albert Pujols and Joe Mauer and Evan Longoria will end up on the Yankees too, they all do. That's not competitive. That's not exciting. There are millions of other baseball fans in this country that would like to have a competitive team to root for too. It really would be nice. Every time I see Tex I just cringe. He's such a huge sellout. He makes me sick. I'm also not a fan of any team he's ever been affiliated with, so I'm largely unbiased.

Yes, because if you were one of the top 2 in whatever your field of expertise is, you would be like "hmm, gee...maybe i'll work for less. Yeah that sounds good."

 

[Blackjack200]

I would also like to congratulate Joe Buck on his slow, deliberate march into the "Worst Broadcaster Hall of Fame."

I believe it was during the ALDS, but Joe Buck was speaking about Aroldis Chapman and how he is now a free agent. He mentioned the fact that he defected from Cuba and has established residency in Andorra.

Joe Buck: "Now for those of you that don't know, Andorra is a small island..."

Win! Not only does Joe Buck clearly have no idea where Andorra is, but he has the nerve and condescending douchiness to pretend like he does.

Congrats Joe on, once again, sucking completely at your job.

I have to be honest though, I had never heard of Andorra and had to look it up after I read Aroldis Chapman's article on wikipedia.

I have a feeling that some team is going to waste a ton of money on Chapman. Yes, he throws 102 mph, but that's not everything, who knows if he'll be able to translate his raw ability into major league level stuff?

 

[chalmers]

Yes, because if you were one of the top 2 in whatever your field of expertise is, you would be like "hmm, gee...maybe i'll work for less. Yeah that sounds good."

And therein lies the problem my friend. That's why baseball will never again be America's top sport.

 

[BeauJangles]

I have to be honest though, I had never heard of Andorra and had to look it up after I read Aroldis Chapman's article on wikipedia.

Andorra is a tiny place and it's not surprising that few people even know it exists. That's cool with me, I happen to like geography. My issue is simply that Joe Buck had no idea what he's talking about, but pretended like he did. It's just an extension of his MO though -- he doesn't know shit about baseball, either.

 

[jalaram]

And therein lies the problem my friend. That's why baseball will never again be America's top sport.

Players and owners are greedy in every sport even those that have a salary cap. The smart GMs have just figured how to work around the salary cap. Rajon Rando is holding out for more money. The Celtics have the best record in the NBA without him and a great chance at the NBA title. Doesn't matter since he knows he's good and wants to be paid like it.

 

[Blackjack200]

Andorra is a tiny place and it's not surprising that few people even know it exists. That's cool with me, I happen to like geography. My issue is simply that Joe Buck had no idea what he's talking about, but pretended like he did. It's just an extension of his MO though -- he doesn't know shit about baseball, either.

Yeah, I agree with you on Buck, he's terrible.

 

[iamwiz82]

I would also like to congratulate Joe Buck on his slow, deliberate march into the "Worst Broadcaster Hall of Fame."

I believe it was during the ALDS, but Joe Buck was speaking about Aroldis Chapman and how he is now a free agent. He mentioned the fact that he defected from Cuba and has established residency in Andorra.

Joe Buck: "Now for those of you that don't know, Andorra is a small island..."

Win! Not only does Joe Buck clearly have no idea where Andorra is, but he has the nerve and condescending douchiness to pretend like he does.

Congrats Joe on, once again, sucking completely at your job.

A challenger appears:

http://www.boston.com/sports/columnists/wilbur/2009/10/08/baseball_and_stale_chips/

http://deadspin.com/5377549/fisting-chip-caray

 

[jalaram]

Yes, because if you were one of the top 2 in whatever your field of expertise is, you would be like "hmm, gee...maybe i'll work for less. Yeah that sounds good."

That does happens in rare cases where a player wants to take less money to play on a title contender.

 

[Sinsear]

 

[HopJokey]

Do people complain about Man U. or Chelsea or Real Madrid as well when they win the Champions League?

Just wondering what the sentiment over in Europe is when the Soccer/B-ball leagues have a huge disparity in resources among teams, even larger than the MLB.

It's funny how the U.S. is perceived as the champion of capitalism and Europe socialism, but the sports leagues are somewhat opposite. In Europe it's basically free reign on players (I believe) with no caps or the like. The big teams pay the big players big bucks. In the U.S. most leagues have a cap/luxury tax/other balancing restrictions "sharing".

I'm not saying one way is right and one way is wrong, just noting an interesting observation.

 

[BeauJangles]

A challenger appears:

http://www.boston.com/sports/columnists/wilbur/2009/10/08/baseball_and_stale_chips/

http://deadspin.com/5377549/fisting-chip-caray

Oh man, I think that Chip is so awful that I black out when I hear him speak.

I would also like to point out that, while Chip has been absolutely terrible, he's quite the youngster at this broadcasting game in October. Yes, he has come roaring out of the gates, but I think we all want to know if it's sustainable. Can he truly continue his campaign of greatness and establish himself in the pantheon of Joe Bucks and Joe Morgans of the world or will he ultimately fall short and wind up a simple Chris Berman?

We wait with baited breath.

 

[jalaram]

Oh man, I think that Chip is so awful that I black out when I hear him speak.

I would also like to point out that, while Chip has been absolutely terrible, he's quite the youngster at this broadcasting game in October. Yes, he has come roaring out of the gates, but I think we all want to know if it's sustainable. Can he truly continue his campaign of greatness and establish himself in the pantheon of Joe Bucks and Joe Morgans of the world or will he ultimately fall short and wind up a simple Chris Berman?

We wait with baited breath.

And just watch old NFL Films to listen to real announcers like Harry Kalas. *sigh*