I agree totally that running is out of fashion because it doesn't make sense nowadays - getting on base and waiting for the power bats (that is, everybody not leading off) to knock you around is definitely the way to play.
That said, I could have sworn I heard Jeff Torborg on some sports radio show the other day suggesting that Florida was so exciting an opportunity to manage because of the opportunities that a young team's speed provides. I wonder what he could have possibly meant by that...
That said, I could have sworn I heard Jeff Torborg on some sports radio show the other day suggesting that Florida was so exciting an opportunity to manage because of the opportunities that a young team's speed provides. I wonder what he could have possibly meant by that...
Sorry, can't find the exact quote anywhere.
Hmm. Could be. And FLA's park is a touch of a pitcher's park. But I didn't think the Marlins HAD anyone who could A) Get on base and B) Run.
And Torborg went to FLA too?? Man, I blinked and missed the whole Marlins mess.
And Producer - I see you're from Cleveland. I keep hearing that the Tribe is going to play small ball this year. Any optimism there about that? I just don't see how that's gonna work too well considering the line up the Tribe has.
Here, have another cup and forget about the dime Keep it as a souvenir, from Big Joe and Phantom 309!
The Marlins have Castillo and Preston Wilson who can run. I believe Castillo led the NL in stolen bases a couple years ago, and Preston Wilson was a 30/30 man (when he wasn't striking out at record) pace... Not too bad for team speed. As far as getting on base.. that is a different story :>
For the person who asked... Tickets go on sale Feb 24 on the Touchtone system, on Mar 2nd at the office, and Mar 6 on the web. However, I think if you wanted to see a game in other cities, tickets are on sale already. I saw Yankee games on sale on Ticketmaster the other day. I'm surprised (GLAD) BU didn't buy the Sox... they've bought everything else along Comm Ave and in Kenmore Square, why not venture into Fenway... yeesh.
"I leave you now as I found you, only sometime later." -- John Lennon
While stealing bases isn't as important as it once was, team speed is. The best example of this is the 2001 Mets. We had NO speed whatsoever and as a result, couldn't score a man from second unless on a double. With Cedeno and Alomar in the lineup, everything changes.
Why would any Red Sox fan want Charles Dolan as their team owner? All he'd be is a corporate blank face who'd screw the team up even more. Larry Lucciano is a GREAT front office guy who will turn the team around. And yes, he was the one who built Camden Yards and restocked the Padres minor league system. I think Damon will revert back to his KC days and now you have a healthy Pedro, Nomar and Veritak not to mention Manny and Trot Nixon. I don't see any reason why the Sox CAN'T compete against the Yankees this year.
Oh yeah, why would anyone want Whitey Herzog in 2002?? That's like someone wanting Gene Mauch. They need to fire Duquette and bring in Felipe Alou.
The off season has been an unmitigated disaster in Cleveland. It's incredible to me that Shapiro et al. actually believe that it's a sane strategy to sign Ricky Bleepin' Gutierrez for 4 years. This implies that over the next 4 years the farm system will be incapable of producing a better middle infielder than Ricky Gutierrez.
The team was old, certainly, and unlikely to do much this year, but that's not improved with Lawton instead of Alomar for only a bit less money. It will be a big surprise to me if the Tribe can win 85 this year, especially counting as much as they are on Sabathia, who IMHO is bound to slough off some this year. Granted, the Royals are more incompetent, but the Tigers, Twins and White Sox all appear to be run by smarter people now. It's tough to see how this can work out well in the short or long terms.
Given a more serious budget, finally, and a more pesky owner - which drove Hart away, natch - the Indians have done nothing to convince me that they know what they are doing.
That said, the media seems generally optimistic. But then, they like small ball for some reason. Look at the park, look at the league, look at the game. The name of the game has to be (1) getting on base and (2) hitting the ball really hard. Speed is not the issue. Other than Thome, no one on the Indians 40 man roster seems likely to get on base and slug well this year. And the fans aren't impressed, from what I gather, with the team and media's spin (i.e. Lawton is a nice guy, Gutierrez a "quality" individual, Burks is a "major league hitter" and so on) on the moves.
I would argue that what the Indians are trying to do has never worked.
But then, I have always actually been a Mets fan, and so I guess I'd have to say I was pretty happy with the Alomar deal. Now, if we could only get rid of Ordonez...
Originally posted by The Masked HungarianThey need to fire Duquette and bring in Felipe Alou.
Felipe is old, and has shown no inclination to take on the challenge of the media or veteran players. Boston is a mess and needs a strong hand, not a teacher. Felipe is a teacher. Moreover, he knows this, and shows no interest in the Fenway job.
Duquette has Art Modell's ear for public statements combined with Attila the Hun's feel for interpersonal relationships. That said, he's not a complete moron, and does do some parts of his job well. Not to say that he hasn't worn out his welcome, just that he's not a zero - you want to have someone in mind to replace him that will be an improvement in more than just the public aspects of the job.
Originally posted by The Producer Felipe is old, and has shown no inclination to take on the challenge of the media or veteran players. Boston is a mess and needs a strong hand, not a teacher. Felipe is a teacher. Moreover, he knows this, and shows no interest in the Fenway job.
When you've got it, flaunt it!
Remember, when the Sox fired Jimy Williams last year, they had assumed that Alou would take over. In fact, they had a deal with him, IIRC. The Duquette balked at the whole thing because Alou wanted something like a 4 year deal, and Duquette was only going to give him through the end of 2002, or something like that. So Alou said, "The hell with it" and probably for the better. After all, Alou was very good with raw talent in Montreal, but he never could get his players to walk or otherwise get on base, ever. That's not what the Red Sox need. What the Red Sox need is a GM like Billy Beane.
BTW, I hope Jimy Williams does an excellent job with the Astros next year. He should never have been fired.
"You can see a million miles tonight, but you can't get very far." - Adam Duritz
Originally posted by JavaThe Marlins have Castillo and Preston Wilson who can run. I believe Castillo led the NL in stolen bases a couple years ago, and Preston Wilson was a 30/30 man (when he wasn't striking out at record) pace... Not too bad for team speed. As far as getting on base.. that is a different story :>
I stand corrected. The Marlins do have guys with wheels. And aside from Wilson, they have guys who get on base. Actually they shouldn't be too bad all the way around.
Now if they can only get out of that hideous-hideous stadium.
Here, have another cup and forget about the dime Keep it as a souvenir, from Big Joe and Phantom 309!
Originally posted by Guru ZimDo the fish still have Eric Owens? He's pretty fast. He's the only guy I have ever seen in person steal home on a straight steal.
Yeah, they still have Owens. I'm not certain where he fits in in their scheme of like a GAZILLION OF'ers but he's in FLA.
Here, have another cup and forget about the dime Keep it as a souvenir, from Big Joe and Phantom 309!
Guys, its the Boston Red Sox, of course they are going to get screwed. My God, its the most cursed team in the history of sports. There is no way, they will ever win a Championship, so why worry about crocked owners, which they are, and just pick up a new team.
Originally posted by A FanGuys, its the Boston Red Sox, of course they are going to get screwed. My God, its the most cursed team in the history of sports. There is no way, they will ever win a Championship, so why worry about crocked owners, which they are, and just pick up a new team.
A Fan- A life long Yankee fan.
Because that would be no fun. Rooting for the Sox is fun BECAUSE they lose so often. There's an air of suspense, of excitement. They almost always enter the season with (inevitably dashed) high hopes. You can pull for these guys, for the most part. Where's the joy in being a Yankee fan? "Oh... yeah. We won another championship. Wahoo." Cheering for the Yankees is like watching a Yokozuna v. Barry Horowitz match.
"I'm crazy, but I'm not crazy like that. I might want to have sex in a crazy place, but I'm not gonna rape somebody." "Iron" Mike Tyson
AWA losing Lofton isn't a big deal and I think George is out of his mind. His still has some offensive skills but in the outfield. eh. Not what he once used to be.