06-06-2005 09:48									#181
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quote: Originally posted by Winston That seems like a weak argument to me, Ming. Do they have a specific rule prohibiting a player from killing an opponent who's on a roll scoring points in a game? I'm not saying the two offenses are comparable, but just because you don't have a specific rule against some practice, it doesn't automatically follow you aren't cheating. Another example would be having someone phone in a bomb threat causing the stadium to be evacuated because your team is losing. I'm sure there's no specific baseball rule against that either, but it'd still be cheating.

There are rules against purposely causing injury and against interferring with the game to make it unplayable (which is usually used against groundskeeping games). Both can reasonably be used in both situations.

quote: A player stripping butt-naked during a football game, leaving his opponents and fellow players equally baffled, snatching the ball and scoring in an empty net - may not be against any specific football rule, but it's still cheating because it's un-sportsmanlike.

Nah, if no dress code, I wouldn't call that cheating at all. Just a smart way to score a goal. Though if the rules had a dress code (and I'm sure they do), then it would be cheating because you are violating that rule.

	06-06-2005 22:54									#182
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On the point of the White Sox needing more punch from their lineup, I'll concede that point. Perhaps Thomas's return will help, but they have been getting good production from thier DH position all year.

Also, my point is not that the Twins and White Sox have no All Stars, it is that the fans are not voting for any of these team's players for the All Star game. They can't be doing what they have been doing with pitching and defense alone.

That said, the Yanks, Red Sox and Orioles do have players that have being having outstanding seasons to date.

	06-06-2005 23:03									#183
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quote: Also, my point is not that the Twins and White Sox have no All Stars, it is that the fans are not voting for any of these team's players for the All Star game.

I ask the question of which players would you replace with Twins or White Sox players?

	06-06-2005 23:16									#184
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The All Star players on both teams are almost exclusively the pitchers, and the fans have no say in voting pitchers into the All Star game.

	06-06-2005 23:59									#185
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quote: Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui quote: Also, my point is not that the Twins and White Sox have no All Stars, it is that the fans are not voting for any of these team's players for the All Star game. I ask the question of which players would you replace with Twins or White Sox players?

Konerko from the Sox and Mauer from the Twins.

	07-06-2005 00:08									#186
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quote: Originally posted by Ned Konerko from the Sox and Mauer from the Twins.

And Konerko is close to the top of the 1B voting (his batting average hurts him in fans eyes).

Mauer? Over Varitek? I don't think so!

	07-06-2005 01:06									#187
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As well it should. He's batting .228 without any real power behind that.

	07-06-2005 01:13									#188
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Konerko? I agree. His On Base Percentage is only .338 (who cares about batting average?). He does have 14 HRs, which isn't that bad. His OPS, though, is at .805 (ugh).

I think it'll be a shame when Teixeira misses the cut at starting, but the coaches will name him.

	10-06-2005 20:13									#189
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Livan Hernandez has pitched a combined total of 278 pitches in his last two games.

Go Nasties. I never realized what a legitimately good pitcher he was until they became the Nats. He is one of those guys that has always flown under the radar.

	10-06-2005 20:46									#190
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Chicago has two Cuban pitichers on its staff as well: Orlando Hernandez and Jose Contreras. Both are pitching well. Actually, all five Chicago starters are pitching well.

	10-06-2005 21:37									#191
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The O's are in first place in the AL East.

And, God save the mark, the Nats are in first place in the NL East.

This. Is. Simply. Not. Possible.

	10-06-2005 23:10									#192
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The Nats are indeed looking good, but clearly, the team to beat in the NL is St. Louis.

In the AL, the outstanding teams are the O's, White Sox and Twins (to date). I suggest that the world series will go to one of these four teams.

	10-06-2005 23:25									#193
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quote: Originally posted by lord of the mark The O's are in first place in the AL East. And, God save the mark, the Nats are in first place in the NL East. This. Is. Simply. Not. Possible.

The reason being that the Marlins have gone into a tailspin and the Braves can't seem to put it together. The Mets, Phils, and Nats were all supposed to be close in record to each other according to the pundits, just behind the Braves and Marlins.

	11-06-2005 00:07									#194
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The Nationals being good this season hasn't entirely been unexpected. I read a colum saying the main problem with the 2004 Expos was their awful offense. With the addition of Castilla and Guillen this year, it was expected the Nationals could be signifcantly better this year. The Nats have also been helped turning around the Offense thanks to suprising performances by Nick Johnson and rookie Ryan Church, more then making up for Guzman being a complete disappointment this year. Hopefully, once Vidro gets back we can improve even more and have an even more potent offense.

We have also seen improvements in our Pitching as well. John Patterson has really developed this year as his ERA has sunk to under 3.00. Esteban Loazia, another new acquistion, is also doing a good job even if we aren't getting him run support. Carrasco has been doing a good job as a set-up man. But one of the biggest things is our new rookie Closer, Cordero, who has an ERA of 1.20. He is the reason we are winning so many of these close games.

I really think the Nats aren't a fluke at all this season. It won't be easy given how tight our division is, but I think the Nationals definitely are a serious contender for winning the NL East.

	11-06-2005 01:54									#195
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as an O's fan for almost 20 years, I dont buy explanations about good hitting, pitching, etc. The O's have managed to find ways to shut down, usually early, despite all such advantages. I look at the Nats with the same expectations, justified or not. That other times have problems is not the explanation - its the thing that needs explanation - why havent the mid atlantic teams experienced the tail spins instead.

To have both teams in first place in their divisions at this point in the season - is. not. possible. I insist.

	11-06-2005 20:54									#196
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Look across the league: all the former Yankees are doing well. Javier Vazquez, Brad Halsey, Jose Contreras, and El Duque all have sub 4.00 ERAs; Nick Johnson and Tony Clark are both hitting better than .300; and, Mets fans are dreaming of the day Miguel Cairo finally replaces Kaz Matsui at second. Cashman seems less and less like a genius every day ...

Of the above players, the two I miss most are El Duque and Cairo. El Duque is one of the few pitchers in the league that is genuinely fun to watch, while Miguel Cairo turned himself into my favorite player of the 04 season. It is a shame his agent did not tell him about Cashman's offer.

I have always expected good things from the Nats this year. I do not expect them to win the East, but I will not be surprised if they are in Wild Card contention.

So, how about Ugueth Urbina getting booed in his very first outing in Philadelphia? Oh, Phillies fans ...

	11-06-2005 21:07									#197
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I think everyone knew that Vazquez just wasn't ready for the NY market. Another year would have helped him, but alas.

Anyone that followed baseball KNEW that dealing Nick Johnson was a mistake. Of course that is how they got Vazquez, but based on his On Base Percentage you knew he was going to be a good player. They sure wish they had him now.

	11-06-2005 21:08									#198
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Oh, I always knew Nick Johnson was an outstanding player. I loved him when he was in pinstripes; it was just a shame that half his time as a Yankee was spent on the DL. I am really glad he put it all together.

To the point, half the reason the Yankees are sucking right now is that they are getting almost no production out of first base. That and they make stupid ****ing field mistakes against great teams

Captain October did not look very pleased last night, and I really hope he ripped Jason Giambi a new ******* in the locker room last night. Cashman was talking earlier about "eating contracts" still being an option; I hope he lets Giambi's tragically steroidal ass go and trades for Mike Sweeney somehow.

[/rant]

	11-06-2005 21:10									#199
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I think most people realized that at some time he was going to be healthy. He seems to be kind of like a John Olerud like 1B. He won't lead the league in homeruns, but he can hit, he can get on base, and he's a decent defensive 1B (Olerud was an excellent defensive 1B though).

	12-06-2005 01:06									#200
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What do the baseball fans here at Apolyton think of the Joe Buck/Tim McCarver broadcasting team Fox has assembled? I have to know if I'm the only crazy sob that thinks they are the worst thing currently in baseball. Joe Buck is a pretty boy who has his job solely because of who his father was, and Tim McCarver is up there just saying the most asinine idiocies I have ever heard. Maybe I am bitter that this delightful couple always winds up broadcasting Yankee games, but I really cannot stand these guys. I would mute the TV and listen to Sterling on the radio if there weren't a two second or so delay between radio and television broadcasts.

	12-06-2005 01:56									#201
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Anything is better than Sterling and his braying "The Yankees Win". Most annoying call in all of sports.

And at least it isn't Bob Costas who'll tell you all about the guy's mother and then realize that 3 batters have gone by since then.

I like the ESPN guys most.

	12-06-2005 03:57									#202
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You clearly have never heard Sterling call an entire game. He's one of the best, imo. And "The Yankees Win" grows on you.

The ESPN guys are great, I agree. I love it when Chris Berman gets in the box. But man, Joe Buck ... I can't get over my hatred of this man. I want him fired and sent off to broadcast NFL Europe.

	12-06-2005 04:06									#203
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quote: You clearly have never heard Sterling call an entire game.

Oh, I have. I don't like him. He's grating.

	18-06-2005 00:16									#204
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I haven't done a complete analysis, but there are only 5 AL teams under .500. The AL must really be doing well this year in the inter-league games.

	18-06-2005 00:34									#205
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Ned, there are only SIX NL teams under .500. It isn't interleague play. It is that the worst teams are really, really bad.

	18-06-2005 00:43									#206
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Ok, so having both the Nats and O's in first place in their divisions is no big deal. Y'all can go on about weakness in each division.

But at least as of the other day, each one had the second best record in their respective LEAGUE.

This. Is. Not. Possible.

	18-06-2005 01:35									#207
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Sure it is. No one ever denied the power of the O's line up, it was always their pitching staff. With their pitching staff finally gelling, they are going to be a powerhouse in the East for the next few years to come. As for the Nats, they have always been underestimated. The pitching staff was always solid, and their GM made a number of key acquisitions to make them competitive. I just hope whoever their new ownership is does not turn them into the Royals, but allows our capital to have a solid team.

As for Sterling, I admit he's love/hate. Even a lot of Yankees fans hate him. Listen to Mike and the Mad Dog, too; sometimes, half their radio show involves hating on Sterling.

	18-06-2005 01:53									#208
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I still don't believe the Nats will hold on. Their hitting is atrocious. They have given up more runs than they've scored. They are supposed to be worse than their record (Pythagoran Record). They'll come back down.

	18-06-2005 03:33									#209
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They will come down, but they will be legitimate contenders in the Wild Card race. They have no chance of making it out of the Division Series in such a case, though.

	19-06-2005 11:34									#210
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The AL is +32 against the NL as of this evening.