Baseball Talk

[air gordon]

I think this years postseason showed that momentum means nothing in baseball. The Cardinals and Tigers both "backed" into the postseason and many people, like myself, had them written off in the first round. Instead, they both ended up having great playoff runs and making it all the way to the World Series. It really shows you how baseball is an unpredictable sport. Next season we could have 4 or 5 playoff teams miss the postseason all together. It's just a really weird game.

Good work, Cards.

not really unless you're going on a year to year basis lol. last year- the White Sox were the best team in baseball all year and went something like 15-1 to end the season. Houston put together a miraculous 2nd half to make and storm through the playoffs.. until the World Series that is

imo it's the actual performance-. if you don't perform on the field.. like pitchers turning routine ground balls into the impossible play, or having most of your lineup bat under .200.. you're going to lose

but maybe 4 playoff teams don't make it again next year since the National league is pretty damn crappy.. with the exception of the champs

[Riot]

Didn't the White Sox almost choke their big lead to the Cleveland Indians at the end of the year?

[Indy]

Didn't the White Sox almost choke their big lead to the Cleveland Indians at the end of the year?

Yeah, the lead was only 1 1/2 then we went 6-0 to finish the year. The season was just so glorious gordon's memory is a little off.

[air gordon]

Didn't the White Sox almost choke their big lead to the Cleveland Indians at the end of the year?

Yeah, the lead was only 1 1/2 then we went 6-0 to finish the year. The season was just so glorious gordon's memory is a little off.

you're right- all that victory drinking did me in so i checked baseballreference.com

after Crede hit that huge homerun against Cleveland, they finished the season strong, winning 8 out of their last 10

almost doesn't count

[dada]

Tigers deal three pitchers to Yankees for Sheffield



Detroit has acquired Gary Sheffield from the New York Yankees for three right-handed pitching prospects, the Tigers announced Friday.

In return for Sheffield, the Tigers sent Humberto Sanchez, Kevin Whelan and Anthony Claggett to New York. Detroit agreed to a two-year contract extension with Sheffield through the 2009 season.

The moves comes days after Sheffield blasted Yankees management and said Bobby Abreu, the player who took Sheffield's place in New York's outfield, isn't as good a player as he is. The Yankees exercised their $13 million option on Sheffield last weekend, preventing him from becoming a free agent, and asked him for a list of teams to which he'd like a trade.


"Everybody knows when I go to another team, I'm coming back looking for you. That's just the way it is," he said earlier this week. "When you let me go, I've got a chip on my shoulder, and I'm coming with it. That's how I play the game."


He'll have the chance to prove it again by moving across the AL to the Tigers, who stunned the Yankees in the playoffs on the way to the World Series.

Sheffield, a 19-year veteran and nine-time All-Star who has played for Milwaukee, San Diego, Florida, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Braves and Yankees, has a .297 career batting average, 455 home runs and 1,501 RBI in 2,229 games. He's sixth among active players in RBI and seventh in home runs.

"We have been able to add one of the biggest bats in baseball," said Tigers manager Jim Leyland, who managed Sheffield in Florida. "I have a great relationship with Gary Sheffield and I have the utmost respect for him. I'm happy to add a bat of this magnitude and that he'll be a Tiger."

Sanchez, 23, was a combined 10-6 with a 2.53 ERA and 129 strikeouts in 123 innings with Triple-A Toledo and Double-A Erie this year. Whelan, 22, was 4-1 with a 2.67 ERA and 27 saves for Class A Lakeland. Claggett, 22, was 7-2 with an 0.91 ERA and 14 saves for Class A West Michigan.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

[Cable]

Well, I'm not surprised he was traded, but I am surprised by where he went. I guess the Tigers figured they have good young pitching so they can give up prospects. The problem I see is that in the WS the Tigers showed their lack of defense. There's no way Sheffield is going to help them with that.

[Ryan]

He will be used mainly as a DH. We gave up a couple real good arms for him. Sanchez (tiger's top pitching prospect) has potential, but only had one good year and he has never been able to stay healthy. Whelan is someone I would have liked to see stick around. And the other guy, I don't know much about. Tigers still need a left handed bat so they might be resigning Casey or try and find another lefty first baseman.

[Cable]

Looks like Frank Thomas is heading north of the border.

[Riot]

Executive of the Year: Terry Ryan (Twins)
Cy Young: Johan Santana (Twins)
MVP: Justin Morneau (Twins)
Gold Glove: Torii Hunter (Twins)
Silver Slugger: Justin Morneau (Twins)
Batting title: Joe Mauer (Twins)

Woohoo! Good job, Justin!

[dada]

How bout them...Twins?!

[air gordon]

hey so the Sox traded "sweaty" freddie Garcia for two pitching prospects- Floyd & some other dude named giovanni

i'm a little bit on the fence on this one so far.

Freddie was their big game pitcher and they are going to miss the innings this guy would eat up. but this guy lost a lot of velocity on his fastball. and even if he had a strong finish to the season- Freddie is a power pitcher. if he doesn't have the gas, he's going to be in trouble. plus he takes forever to get the pitch to the plate- everyone would steal on this guy

what's good about this deal is that the Sox save around $9 milliion in salary, which could open the door to a blockbuster deal or help them fill their need for relief pitching/outfield help

also McCarthy finally should get a spot in the starting rotation

what i don't like about this deal is that i'm thinking the Sox could have come away with better players. other teams are throwing $10mil per to average to mediocre pitchers. lol Ted Lilly has won only more game then he has lost and the Cubs offered him 4yr/40 mil!

imo GM Ken Williams, as usual is taking somewhat of a gamble here. i'm thinking another deal is going to happen

[Ryan]

Pitchers and catchers report to spring training on Thursday I believe.

[Indy]

I'm excited for this season. As long as we aren't completely without someone who is a steady lead-off hitter we'll be in good shape. If the lead-off spot is without a healhy/productive Podsednik or someone else that can fill the void then Kenny will make a move to get someone. I think he feels an urge to win this year, regardless of the moves that were made for young pitchers this offseason. I like the amount of potential we now have in the bullpen that also have the competitive spirit of fighting for the 5th starting spot. At least 2 of them have to pan out right away I think, but I'm hoping for 3. We'd better win this year because next year we're most likely without Crede or Buehrle. Mark Bueh

[Gundy]

Not much to be excited for about the Reds this season. We will probably be mediocre unless we overacheive big time. Our offense isn't great anymore and pitching sucks as usual. The only thing I'm looking forward to is when they bring up Homer Bailey to the big leagues.

[Cable]

FRANKIE THOMAS!!!111!!

Yeah, so maybe he won't do as well this year, but it's still a nice upgrade in the middle. Wells, Glaus, Thomas and Overbay is a pretty good 3 thru 6, plus Alex Rios could pick up where he left off before he got hurt last year. The only thing that could be a problem is the pitching, once again the 4 and 5 spots are up for grabs and no-one appears to be a favourite. Maybe Josh Towers won't pitch like shit again this year and turn out to be a good pitcher (yeah, right). GO JAYS!

[Ryan]

I can't wait to see if the Tigers can repeat their success from last year. Sheff should help our offense by getting a more patient hitter in the lineup. Still pretty thin on lefties though, in the pen and on offense. Looking forward to seeing Maybin get some work in spring training too.

[Cable]

Stupid Kerry Wood. Stop getting hurt lol ...

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/stor ... BHeadlines

[Gundy]

Haha. Silly Kerry. On a serious side, it is really sad to watch Kerry Wood play now. If it weren't for all of those injuries, we migh have been looking at future Hall of Famer. I can still remember when he had that 20 strikeout game, and he was only a rook.

[ixcuincle]

Time for another new season of MLB baseball

[Slamduncan]

Daisuke is amazing, and so is King Felix of the Seattle Mariners

[Indy]

I'm very excited about the rest of the White Sox season. This team really reminds me of the 05 team so far this season.

[Cable]

What do you think of Buerhle and Garland? Are they back to 05 form or are they still struggling?

I have both on my fantasy team so I thought I'd get the inside scoop on them.

[Indy]

What do you think of Buerhle and Garland? Are they back to 05 form or are they still struggling?

I have both on my fantasy team so I thought I'd get the inside scoop on them.

Well, Garland had one somehwat tough outing, then a totally brilliant one. Mark got hurt in his first start, but in his second he was fantastic after allowing 3 doubles in the first inning. He retired something like 17 out of 18 after that first inning.

Javier Vazquez and John Danks are going to be key. If they pitch as well as they did in their first starts this season, the Sox will be champs again.

[Cable]

I like what I hear. For the sake of my team (and I guess you for helping) ...

GO JAYS!
GO SOX!

Jays will always come first.

[Indy]

I like the Jays. I've always thought if there was going to be a team in the next 5-10 years that could take that division from the Boston/NY stranglehold it would be the Jays. They've never had deep enough starting pitching or a good enough bullpen. That lineup has been pretty dangerous for a long time now.