Since its Memorial Day and the unofficial kick-off to the pennant races, time to run down the teams that are DONE prior to Memorial Day. This will be done using the assumption that 94 wins is the minimum necessary for the AL Wild Card, while 88 wins is the minimum for the NL Wild Card.
AL West
Seattle: They got old quick.
AL Central
Detroit: Much improved and better than anyone thought. However, even if only 87 wins would get the AL Central, that means the Tigers would have to double last year's win total + 1 to get to 87. Won't happen.
Kansas City: No pitching ='s no wins. I had them winning the division pre-season. Slightly off target on that one.
I'll leave Cleveland alive for now just due to lack of faith in the Twins and especially the White Sox. One bad stretch by the White Sox and Ordonez could get Reinsdorf'd to the Dodgers.
AL East
Tampa Bay: Played well for 3 weeks. Then, collapsed. They need to get switched to the NL East should the Expos move to Washington/Virginia, with the Expos being put in the AL East.
Toronto: If they were in the National League or the AL Central, I'd keep them alive. However, I can't see them doing much better than .500 even if they don't sell off the team in July. If only they had a bullpen.
Baltimore: Played well for a while, then they got steamrolled. When Ponson is your ace, you're in trouble. Give Baltimore Toronto's starters, or give Toronto Baltimore's bullpen, and you'd have strong team.
NL East
Montreal: Well, they have solid pitching for their next location. Have a lousy line-up though. Nick Johnson is a good hitter, but always hurt.
NY Mets: Gee, that was a quick collapse. Funny how it began when the man who knows the alphabet up to the letter C was on the mound.
NL Central
A few teams I don't expect to stick around, but still all alive now.
NL West
Rockies: Injuries + bad pitching ='s early DONE.
Arizona: Have Randy Johnson. Don't have much else.
(edited by redsoxnation on 31.5.04 1057) Considering Yogi Bear doesn't wake up until noon, yet gets every picnic basket that is in Jellystone Park, wouldn't it behoove Ranger Smith to advise those entering the park to consume the contents of said picnic baskets before noon?
Originally posted by redsoxnationshould the Expos move to Washington/Virginia, with the Expos being put in the AL East.
That would kill the move. Washington in the NL is the only thing keeping this puppy alive.
Baltimore: Played well for a while, then they got steamrolled. When Ponson is your ace, you're in trouble. Give Baltimore Toronto's starters, or give Toronto Baltimore's bullpen, and you'd have strong team.
NL East
If we get swept by the Yankees this week, maybe. But we keep spanking the Red Sox(sorry) and play them 13 more times. Since neither the Yanks or the Sox have pulled away, we're only five out. The offense is still trying to find its groove, and the bullpen is being held together barely right now.
The Orioles are going to get on a roll when Riley comes back and RLopez goes back to the bullpen. Amazingly, a rotation of Ponson, Riley, DuBose, Bedard, and Cabrera is better than most teams have right now.
Man, Grimis; damn you and your Orioles for beating up on us and absolutely rolling over for the Yankees. Is Steinbrenner sending hookers to Angelos' office? Is it even an "if" the O's get swept by the Yankees? I think Mazzilli is your Ramiro Mendoza: the embedded Yankee.
How 'bout that NL Central? If you think the Reds are for real (which is basically a question of how good they can pitch), then 4/6 teams are legitimate contenders.
I can't find anything to disagree with in your assessment, RSN, but half these teams are almost guaranteed dead in the postseason, should they make it that far. Texas has no pitching, as we all know; ditto Baltimore (and I would definitely NOT move Lopez to the pen). I think even the White Sox get trounced in the first round.
Originally posted by PalpatineWMan, Grimis; damn you and your Orioles for beating up on us and absolutely rolling over for the Yankees. Is Steinbrenner sending hookers to Angelos' office? Is it even an "if" the O's get swept by the Yankees? I think Mazzilli is your Ramiro Mendoza: the embedded Yankee.
How 'bout that NL Central? If you think the Reds are for real (which is basically a question of how good they can pitch), then 4/6 teams are legitimate contenders.
I can't find anything to disagree with in your assessment, RSN, but half these teams are almost guaranteed dead in the postseason, should they make it that far. Texas has no pitching, as we all know; ditto Baltimore (and I would definitely NOT move Lopez to the pen). I think even the White Sox get trounced in the first round.
I think its 43-11 in the last 54 at Camden for the Yankees, so I wouldn't blame it on Mazzilli. I think 5 out of 6 in the Central could be contenders, because I think the Brewers are one of those teams that are stupid (in a good way) enough to think they can win. Since you mentioned Mendoza, after his start against Oakland, I was at the point where I'd rather see Kim than Lowe. After the Orioles fiasco, I'm at the point where I'd rather see Mendoza than (b)Lowe.
Considering Yogi Bear doesn't wake up until noon, yet gets every picnic basket that is in Jellystone Park, wouldn't it behoove Ranger Smith to advise those entering the park to consume the contents of said picnic baskets before noon?
Originally posted by PalpatineW (and I would definitely NOT move Lopez to the pen)
Normally I would agree, but Lopez had a 0.36 ERA out of the pen, then fell apart in the 5th inning of his first two starts. The only start in which he hasn't done that was yesterday against the Sox.
Originally posted by PalpatineW (and I would definitely NOT move Lopez to the pen)
Normally I would agree, but Lopez had a 0.36 ERA out of the pen, then fell apart in the 5th inning of his first two starts. The only start in which he hasn't done that was yesterday against the Sox.
That's still better than Ponson laughing while imploding and giving up at least 7 by the 5th. Ponson is the poster child for having a hot stretch in a contract year helping hide career long mediocrity.
Considering Yogi Bear doesn't wake up until noon, yet gets every picnic basket that is in Jellystone Park, wouldn't it behoove Ranger Smith to advise those entering the park to consume the contents of said picnic baskets before noon?
Ponson is the poster child for having a hot stretch in a contract year helping hide career long mediocrity.
Wasn't that Jeffery Hammonds?
"I'm very sorry the government taxes their tips, that's fucked up. That ain't my fault. It would seem to me that waitresses are one of the many groups the government fucks in the ass on a regular basis. Look, if you ask me to sign something that says the government shouldn't do that, I'll sign it, put it to a vote, I'll vote for it, but what I won't do is play ball. And as for this non-college bullshit I got two words for that: learn to fuckin' type, 'cause if you're expecting me to help out with the rent you're in for a big fuckin' surprise."
Originally posted by redsoxnation NY Mets: Gee, that was a quick collapse. Funny how it began when the man who knows the alphabet up to the letter C was on the mound. (edited by redsoxnation on 31.5.04 1057)
It's a little over a week later and the Mets have won 4 in a row and are now 1 game over .500 - the pathetic state of the NL Least should keep them in the hunt all season
Folk singers are always liberal pansies, but not me.....I sing for my fellow conservatives...care to hear "Shoot the Hippie out of the Redwood Tree" ?
Originally posted by redsoxnation NY Mets: Gee, that was a quick collapse. Funny how it began when the man who knows the alphabet up to the letter C was on the mound. (edited by redsoxnation on 31.5.04 1057)
It's a little over a week later and the Mets have won 4 in a row and are now 1 game over .500 - the pathetic state of the NL Least should keep them in the hunt all season
Not to mention they swept the division leader and favorite, and started off well in a series against the now first place team. As much as everyone wants the Mets to suck for some reason, they've got a good team and they'll compete for the East and possibly the Wild Card depending on the Cub's injuries.
Besides, in the Central there are teams that have a worse shot of winning the Central (Milwaukee and Pittsburgh) but you left them off the list because they are "still alive now". Well the Mets are "still alive now", only 2 and a half games back, so even if they aren't going to to win they shouldn't be on the list. Sounds like someone doesn't like the Mets very much.
Ponson is the poster child for having a hot stretch in a contract year helping hide career long mediocrity.
Wasn't that Jeffery Hammonds?
Hammonds was just released by the Giants, for those keeping score at home.
He's getting dangerously close to being his generation's Roberto Kelly.
So does that mean the Red Sox will come from 11 1/2 back to within 1/2 while the team they are chasing are out in Oakland, only to have Jeff Reardon give up an 0-2 home run to him with 2 outs in the ninth in a 1 run game, followed by Matt Young coming out of the bullpen and walking everyone in sight?
Originally posted by Blanket JacksonHe's getting dangerously close to being his generation's Roberto Kelly.
And I still feel like a total ass clown for getting pissed off when I first heard it from my next door neighbor....
(1992) "Paul who??? Who the FUCK is Paul O'Neil? For Roberto?? You gotta be KIDDING ME!!!"
"I'm very sorry the government taxes their tips, that's fucked up. That ain't my fault. It would seem to me that waitresses are one of the many groups the government fucks in the ass on a regular basis. Look, if you ask me to sign something that says the government shouldn't do that, I'll sign it, put it to a vote, I'll vote for it, but what I won't do is play ball. And as for this non-college bullshit I got two words for that: learn to fuckin' type, 'cause if you're expecting me to help out with the rent you're in for a big fuckin' surprise."
Originally posted by Blanket JacksonHe's getting dangerously close to being his generation's Roberto Kelly.
And I still feel like a total ass clown for getting pissed off when I first heard it from my next door neighbor....
(1992) "Paul who??? Who the FUCK is Paul O'Neil? For Roberto?? You gotta be KIDDING ME!!!"
You know, even as a die-hard Reds fan, I HATED Paul O'Neill when he was with Cincinnati. And still do, as a matter of fact. But I knew that was a bad trade. :(
Thread ahead: MLB Draft - Who do the Pads Pick? Next thread: My (second) trip to Fenway. Previous thread: San Diego Padres are for real (AKA - How I jinxed the Padres 2004 season)
Well, Johan would never have pitched the ninth if the no-no weren't active, but I know what you mean. B^) It should be said, though, that while the replay pretty definitively showed the ball to be fair, it was close.