2007 Baseball Season is about to start--talk about anything you want

[tim_m]

If it ends up indians rockies i think it would be a great series.

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

Unfortunately, the Sox advance to the WS.

I'll say this for the third time...

GO ROCKIES!

[faldor]

I saw the back-to-back-to-back homers at work, it was amazing.

Stick a fork in the Sox, 'cuz they're done.? My prediction from the start came true.

Not so fast Larry.  You might wanna take that fork back and stick it somewhere else, cuz apparently the Sox are far from done.  Nice try though, maybe wait till things are a little more certain next time.  Just a suggestion.

[tim_m]

Unfortunately, the Sox advance to the WS.

I'll say this for the third time...

GO ROCKIES!

Finally something you and i can agree on!

[tim_m]

Ok so who does everyone like in the series? I like the rockies for obvious reasons. I really wonder how well they will play after sitting around for so long.

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

I saw the back-to-back-to-back homers at work, it was amazing.

Stick a fork in the Sox, 'cuz they're done.? My prediction from the start came true.

Not so fast Larry.? You might wanna take that fork back and stick it somewhere else, cuz apparently the Sox are far from done.? Nice try though, maybe wait till things are a little more certain next time.? Just a suggestion.

It was wishful thinking. 

Hate to say this, but they know how to face elimination and come out on top.

[freedom78]

Ok so who does everyone like in the series? I like the rockies for obvious reasons. I really wonder how well they will play after sitting around for so long.

Hottest Team vs. Best Team, so it should make for an interesting series.

The Rox have won so many ways, I just don't know what to think.  When I thought Brandon Webb would beat them, they got great pitching from Francis, and beat Webb.  When I thought Philly would score some runs, they silence some potent bats.  Every game, there's a reason for them to lose, and it will be no different when they (I'm assuming) face Beckett in that opening game.  But every game, the find a way to win. 

[tim_m]

Ok so who does everyone like in the series? I like the rockies for obvious reasons. I really wonder how well they will play after sitting around for so long.

Hottest Team vs. Best Team, so it should make for an interesting series.

The Rox have won so many ways, I just don't know what to think.  When I thought Brandon Webb would beat them, they got great pitching from Francis, and beat Webb.  When I thought Philly would score some runs, they silence some potent bats.  Every game, there's a reason for them to lose, and it will be no different when they (I'm assuming) face Beckett in that opening game.  But every game, the find a way to win. 

Yep no matter what they find a way. They actually remind me a lot of the 96 yankess. That team just found ways to come back and win. I just hope its a good close series.

[faldor]

The Rockies have been scary good down the stretch.  Hopefully that little layoff will slow them down a bit.  Mix in some Josh Beckett and maybe that's a good strategy on how to beat them.  Good hitting team, great fielding team, getting good pitching down the stretch.  They've got it all.  Should be a good series.  I'm just glad I don't have to see those damn white towels being waved around in Cleveland anymore.  Why do these teams feel they need to come out with such gimmicks?  You'd never see that at Fenway or Yankee Stadium.  What do they do there in Colorado?  I'm sure they've got some sort of crazy props.

[The Dog]

Sox in 5.

rockies had too much rest.

[GeorgeSteele]

If you didn't know about the MVP caliber season that Matt Holliday was having, then you're not a rabid baseball fan.? Period.

I'm not a rabid baseball fan and I didn't know about Holliday... so I guess that supports your point... but, I would just comment that it's not that surprising that he would go under the radar because in the past a lot of guys who were not exactly Hall-of-Famers have put up ridiculous numbers playing in Colorado.

Too bad for Cleveland, it seems like everyone on the team was hitting well during the series except for Travis Hafner, who suddenly turned into Unfrozen Caveman Baseball Player ("... this game scares and confuses me.")

I'll pick the Sox in a sweep.

[C0ma]

Granted Colorado is hot, but they were hot in what amounts to AAAA. Philly and Arizona aren't exactly the Boston Red Sox, and the three game June series (that Colorado took 2 out of 3 against the Sox) isn't exactly the World Series.

When the pressure raises this is another young team that I think will fold like Clevland's "green" pitching staff.

[pilferk]

If you didn't know about the MVP caliber season that Matt Holliday was having, then you're not a rabid baseball fan.  Period.

I'm not a rabid baseball fan and I didn't know about Holliday... so I guess that supports your point... but, I would just comment that it's not that surprising that he would go under the radar because in the past a lot of guys who were not exactly Hall-of-Famers have put up ridiculous numbers playing in Colorado.

True before the Humidor went into Coors field.....


.....not true, really, since then.

It's not nearly the offensively friendly park that it used to be.   I questioned the installation of the Humidor when they put it in, figuring it would have zero effect.  But it's hard to look at the numbers and think that, now.

[freedom78]

If you didn't know about the MVP caliber season that Matt Holliday was having, then you're not a rabid baseball fan.  Period.

I'm not a rabid baseball fan and I didn't know about Holliday... so I guess that supports your point... but, I would just comment that it's not that surprising that he would go under the radar because in the past a lot of guys who were not exactly Hall-of-Famers have put up ridiculous numbers playing in Colorado.

Fair enough.  But, in his defense, he did hit .301 with 11 dingers, and 55 RBIs on the road this season.  While his home numbers were superior to those (and his road numbers are very good), a lot of players play better at home.  Colorado has a park for hitting (not just for home run hitting), but looking at those "walls" in the right fields of Fenway and Yankee Stadium, it's clear that the power numbers of any leftie playing in those parks will be elevated. 

Granted Colorado is hot, but they were hot in what amounts to AAAA. Philly and Arizona aren't exactly the Boston Red Sox, and the three game June series (that Colorado took 2 out of 3 against the Sox) isn't exactly the World Series.

When the pressure raises this is another young team that I think will fold like Clevland's "green" pitching staff.

YAWN. 

Another NE/NY bias.    Philly scored 25 more runs than Boston.  Philly hit 47 (47!) more home runs than Boston.  And, they did it without the benefit of a DH.  "AAAA" my ass.

Now, that's not to say that Colorado will continue their playoff sweep.  They've had a long layoff, so who knows if they'll still be hot?  They could fold like the Tigers did last year or they could, despite their youth, do what the Marlins did to the Yanks, in '03.   

[C0ma]

If you didn't know about the MVP caliber season that Matt Holliday was having, then you're not a rabid baseball fan.? Period.

I'm not a rabid baseball fan and I didn't know about Holliday... so I guess that supports your point... but, I would just comment that it's not that surprising that he would go under the radar because in the past a lot of guys who were not exactly Hall-of-Famers have put up ridiculous numbers playing in Colorado.

Fair enough.? But, in his defense, he did hit .301 with 11 dingers, and 55 RBIs on the road this season.? While his home numbers were superior to those (and his road numbers are very good), a lot of players play better at home.? Colorado has a park for hitting (not just for home run hitting), but looking at those "walls" in the right fields of Fenway and Yankee Stadium, it's clear that the power numbers of any leftie playing in those parks will be elevated.?

Granted Colorado is hot, but they were hot in what amounts to AAAA. Philly and Arizona aren't exactly the Boston Red Sox, and the three game June series (that Colorado took 2 out of 3 against the Sox) isn't exactly the World Series.

When the pressure raises this is another young team that I think will fold like Clevland's "green" pitching staff.

YAWN.?

Another NE/NY bias.? ? Philly scored 25 more runs than Boston.? Philly hit 47 (47!) more home runs than Boston.? And, they did it without the benefit of a DH.? "AAAA" my ass.

Now, that's not to say that Colorado will continue their playoff sweep.? They've had a long layoff, so who knows if they'll still be hot?? They could fold like the Tigers did last year or they could, despite their youth, do what the Marlins did to the Yanks, in '03.? ?

You can't tell me that there isn't a vast difference between the strength of the AL and the NL. I'll leave it at that, and save my East Coast bias for the NFL thread and discuss how No One can stop the Patriots Offense.

Also I think the experience of each team comes into play. Think about it, the Red Sox have 3 World Series MVP's (Shilling 01', Beckett 03', Manny 04') and  a ton of Post Season Experience. That to me showed in games 5-6-7 of the ALCS... When the pressure is on (although Biased) I think that Boston comes out on top and Colorado folds like a lawn chair.

[freedom78]

You can't tell me that there isn't a vast difference between the strength of the AL and the NL. I'll leave it at that, and save my East Coast bias for the NFL thread and discuss how No One can stop the Patriots Offense.

Also I think the experience of each team comes into play. Think about it, the Red Sox have 3 World Series MVP's (Shilling 01', Beckett 03', Manny 04') and  a ton of Post Season Experience. That to me showed in games 5-6-7 of the ALCS... When the pressure is on (although Biased) I think that Boston comes out on top and Colorado folds like a lawn chair.

A fair amount of any difference comes from the AL having the two most bloated payrolls in all of professional sports, and the extra cost of paying a good DH to be on every team (considerably more, I imagine, than most NL teams' #1 guy off the bench).  Of course, it hasn't translated into World Series dominance, and that's what matters.  In the 12 years since the strike, the AL has a 7-5 advantage, but that's clearly driven by the Yankees' dominance in their run of three straight from '98-'00. 

Again, I'm not saying Colorado will win, but if you think they didn't oversome pressure in winning 14/15 to simply make the playoffs, then you're very, very mistaken.   

[sandman]

it's unfortunate, but i don't think the rockies will be at their best. 8 days off is just too long. i'm thinking red sox in 5 right now.

i'm guessing alot of red sox fans haven't seen the rockies play this year. why would they lower themselves and watch a AAAA team anyway?

and if the rockies haven't cooled off, those fans are in for a big surprise.

[tim_m]

The Rockies have been scary good down the stretch.  Hopefully that little layoff will slow them down a bit.  Mix in some Josh Beckett and maybe that's a good strategy on how to beat them.  Good hitting team, great fielding team, getting good pitching down the stretch.  They've got it all.  Should be a good series.  I'm just glad I don't have to see those damn white towels being waved around in Cleveland anymore.  Why do these teams feel they need to come out with such gimmicks?  You'd never see that at Fenway or Yankee Stadium.  What do they do there in Colorado?  I'm sure they've got some sort of crazy props.

I hear ya about the stupid gimmicks. None are more annoying then that stupid tomahawk chop atlanta does. I wonder if the people who do that realize how dumb they look?

[faldor]

Granted Colorado is hot, but they were hot in what amounts to AAAA. Philly and Arizona aren't exactly the Boston Red Sox, and the three game June series (that Colorado took 2 out of 3 against the Sox) isn't exactly the World Series.

When the pressure raises this is another young team that I think will fold like Clevland's "green" pitching staff.

Not to take anything away from the Rockies, what they've done the past month or so is truly amazing, BUT C0ma does have a valid point.  The Phillies pitching was TERRIBLE this year.  The D'backs hitting was TERRIBLE this year.  That you can't deny.  The Sox at the very least are A LOT more balanced than either of those teams.  Neither the Phils or the D'backs are equal to the Sox.  Not even close.  Now I'm not saying the Sox are gonna roll in the series.  I do believe they'll win (biased opinion of course), based on their experience and home field advantage among other things.  But it should be a good series.  If the Rockies can somehow win game 1 against Beckett that could be a huge blow to the Sox.  Although with that being said, it doesn't seem like you can faze the Sox or shake their confidence. 

One huge advantage the NL ALWAYS has is taking the DH away in the NL parks.  The Sox are gonna have to sit Youkilis I would guess at Colorado and he hit .500 in the LCS.  Or they could sit Lowell, who was their team MVP.  Or sit Ortiz, which obviously is NOT an option.  If they wanna get crazy they could put Youk in LF, switch Manny to RF, and sit Drew, but I doubt they'll go that route.  That is a huge advantage to the Rockies in the series.

[sandman]

obviously, the phils and arizona are not the Sox. but sports is never that simple.

the better way of looking at it is this....are the Rockies as good as the Indians?

i think they are very similar teams, and the Indians had the Sox down 3-1 and took them to 7 games.