Warning!! Danger!! Annual Off-topic Baseball Thread '07!! Beware!!

[ChuckElias]

Three really good series openers yesterday. Of course, the one I really wanted to see was my Red Sox, but I was teaching a new applicants' class. One of the people in the class had a Blackberry and got updates of the score at the break, and by the time class finished, the game had already ended. But Beckett was amazing, Papi was his old self, and Manny even did a good job running the bases. (I think that's one of the signs of the Apocalypse.) Beckett threw his 3rd postseason shutout, and his second in a row. Ellsbury made a nifty catch in left, as a defensive replacement late in the game. Youk got off to a good start, too, which is nice to see after he missed a few games late in the season with an injury.

Rockies grab their Game 1 on the road in Philly, and Sweet Lou is being second-guessed all over Chicago for pulling Zambrano after only 85 pitches, or whatever it was. Brandon Webb (who I got to see pitch in person this season) threw a gem for D'backs.

And Walt Jocketty is out as GM in St. Louis, less than a year after the Cards won the World Series. The team said his departure was a "mutual decision". Kind of puzzling.

[M&M Guy]

Originally Posted by ChuckElias

Sweet Lou is being second-guessed all over Chicago for pulling Zambrano after only 85 pitches, or whatever it was. Brandon Webb (who I got to see pitch in person this season) threw a gem for D'backs.

I thought it was a puzzling move as well; I figured Z would go out and at least start the 7th, and get pulled at the first whiff of trouble. But then again, the only reason there's second-guessing is because Marmol didn't do what he had been doing pretty much the whole second half of the season - dominating hitters. If he does what he's been doing, Lou would be a genius.

Originally Posted by ChuckElias

And Walt Jocketty is out as GM in St. Louis, less than a year after the Cards won the World Series. The team said his departure was a "mutual decision". Kind of puzzling.

I wonder if there's more to the story, perhaps some sort of friction between Jocketty and ownership? Or has another team (like Oakland) already approached him? I would think someone who is responsible for a World Series one year, and in the race until the last two weeks the next year, wouldn't be forced out due to bad performance.

[Nevadaref]

The Tribe is welcoming the Yankees pitching staff to the postseason tonight.

[mbyron]

The Indians' radio guy mentioned that, back in the 90's when the Tribe was all hitting and mediocre pitching (in 97 for a while their whole lineup was over .300), Joe Torre was asked how his team would match up in the division series. He intoned with a smile: "In the playoffs, it all comes down to pitching."

Bases loaded and 1 out in the 5th, and the Yanks get zip? And the Tribe scores 5 in the bottom half? I think Joe's onto something.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

The Tribe is welcoming the Yankees pitching staff to the postseason tonight.

Did they welcome Lebron James to their house, too? Thanks to King James, this off-topic thread isn't completely off topic.

Hall of Famer Jon Diebler would never hav done something so crass.

[Nevadaref]

Tonight the Indians are definitely bugging the Yankees.

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Did they welcome Lebron James to their house, too? Thanks to King James, this off-topic thread isn't completely off topic.

Hall of Famer Jon Diebler would never hav done something so crass.

[mick]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

Ha!

[Nevadaref]

The Tribe now has the Yankees in an 0-2 hole!

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by mick

Ha!

No - hat!