Major League Baseball 2008
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hairlesswookiee
PALPATINE CRUSADER!!!!
lol....took long enough.
ProgMatinee
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With that team Boston should be ashamed of being the wildcard. Its going to take Tampa's best to win.
I hate Boston, but I hope they win it so they can get beat in the WS like the Patriots got beat in the SB.
I hate Boston, but I hope they win it so they can get beat in the WS like the Patriots got beat in the SB.
Whoever's in the WS, I don't see the NL winning, they're a weaker division. I don't know much about White Sox this year, but Angels, Tampa or the Sox all seem easily capable of walking away with a title no matter who the opponent from the NL.
ProgMatinee
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Philly is a choke team, but they managed to look pretty decent against the Brewers. So they may have exised the choke label. The Dodgers are pretty damn hot. I think its wrong to say any of the AL teams would easily take it. But I would have said that last year too.
Boston is on a whole different level from the other 3 AL teams, despite their wildcard status. One look at the lineup (13 HRs from the 9 hole, eg) and its apparent they should never have been in that slot. Plus the great pitching staff. They'll be clear favorites, but I think either LA or PHI has a decent shot.
If its Tampa in the series I favor either LA or PHI based on the experience of some of the players.
Either way, I don't expect another 4 game sweep this year.
Boston is on a whole different level from the other 3 AL teams, despite their wildcard status. One look at the lineup (13 HRs from the 9 hole, eg) and its apparent they should never have been in that slot. Plus the great pitching staff. They'll be clear favorites, but I think either LA or PHI has a decent shot.
If its Tampa in the series I favor either LA or PHI based on the experience of some of the players.
Either way, I don't expect another 4 game sweep this year.
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I'm assuming Beckett will go in game two but damn that's a lot of time off. They could throw Lester again but I still have faith that Beckett can be dominate like he's shown in the past.
Sox had a lot of injuries this year and Papi just isn't the same with that wrist injury. They're a much different team than they have been the past couple years. I think they are a better team for it.
The Rays have a great young team but we'll see how they handle the pressure now that all the focus will be on this series.
Really hoping for a Sox/Dodgers WS just for all the interesting sub plots.
Sox had a lot of injuries this year and Papi just isn't the same with that wrist injury. They're a much different team than they have been the past couple years. I think they are a better team for it.
The Rays have a great young team but we'll see how they handle the pressure now that all the focus will be on this series.
Really hoping for a Sox/Dodgers WS just for all the interesting sub plots.
ProgMatinee
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I think the Tampa series could possibly end up a bit like the Rox/Sox last year. The thing Tampa has going for it is at least they don't have to wait 8 days or whatever it was the Rox did.
A Dodger/Sox series would be very interesting.
What would your guy's reaction to Manny be if he beats the Sox in the WS?
A Dodger/Sox series would be very interesting.
What would your guy's reaction to Manny be if he beats the Sox in the WS?
I actually think with everything that happened to the Sox this year, to have still gotten in the playoffs and be where they're at is something. I think it was 2 years ago, they were on track to have a possible championship season and right at the end, big names went down with injuries and what nots and the losses hurt them.
This year has really shown Boston fans how good Theo Epstein and the other head guys are for the team. This year we saw his minor league acquisitions and efforts payoff. I don't think there's any position on a baseball team that if the Sox lost one guy, a suitable option for replacement wasn't available, and that says a lot. Guys like Lowrie, Kotsay, and Casey have been asked to step up for guys like J.D. Drew and Mike Lowell and they've filled the void. I love Lowell but when he was out earlier this year, his return felt a bit like, do we need him back, we weren't on edge for his return.
I expect the team to look more like last year's club in 2009. Papi should have plenty of time to mentally, and if still needs any, physically heal from his wrist problems, Lowell should be a new man, Beckett should get the cobwebs cleared up, Drew'll be 110% physically. No matter where 2008 goes I feel great hopes for 2009.
I think the ALCS will be the World Series again this year in terms of intensity, at least 6 games, battle all the way, extra inning games, late nights. Having accomplished what we just did against the Angels, I'm feeling better about Tampa. As always, Boston showed in the ALDS that they will persevere when they want something. Whatever the outcome of regular season series', they will be fighting every step of the way.
So glad Pedroia got that hit last night, he needed the boost.
This year has really shown Boston fans how good Theo Epstein and the other head guys are for the team. This year we saw his minor league acquisitions and efforts payoff. I don't think there's any position on a baseball team that if the Sox lost one guy, a suitable option for replacement wasn't available, and that says a lot. Guys like Lowrie, Kotsay, and Casey have been asked to step up for guys like J.D. Drew and Mike Lowell and they've filled the void. I love Lowell but when he was out earlier this year, his return felt a bit like, do we need him back, we weren't on edge for his return.
I expect the team to look more like last year's club in 2009. Papi should have plenty of time to mentally, and if still needs any, physically heal from his wrist problems, Lowell should be a new man, Beckett should get the cobwebs cleared up, Drew'll be 110% physically. No matter where 2008 goes I feel great hopes for 2009.
I think the ALCS will be the World Series again this year in terms of intensity, at least 6 games, battle all the way, extra inning games, late nights. Having accomplished what we just did against the Angels, I'm feeling better about Tampa. As always, Boston showed in the ALDS that they will persevere when they want something. Whatever the outcome of regular season series', they will be fighting every step of the way.
So glad Pedroia got that hit last night, he needed the boost.
All depends on his part in things. If we lose cuz he's knocking in 2-3 run homers every game, I'll probably wish we had him back. If the Dodgers win but Manny gets shut down, I'll be fine with letting him go. We can lose to LA, but I don't want defeat to come because of Manny's bat.
ProgMatinee
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I think the Sox have something in addition to Epstein and the players doing it themselves. Mojo, magic, something like that. Just about every guy right now that comes in there seems to light up like a Christmas tree. Papelbon, Lester, Pedroia, Ellsbury, now Jason Bay.
You guys are very blessed to not only have a team willing to pay the great players big money, but also the young players have come through too and theres a mystique or something that spreads to other players. Its enough to make one sick.
You guys are very blessed to not only have a team willing to pay the great players big money, but also the young players have come through too and theres a mystique or something that spreads to other players. Its enough to make one sick.
Well they said in the game last night, Kotsay felt privileged to be able to walk out into Fenway and play ball.
I truly believe the Red Sox as a team creates an atmosphere for players to have fun and that's a key to success. Especially in the Pedro days, some of the horse^^^^ they'd pull in the dugout, Millar's days, it kept them all loose and having a good time and I think that's important. Too many times watching the Sox I'll see the other dugout and it doesn't seem like folks are bonding with each other, everyone's almost just doing their own things, don't even look like they're having fun.
I think part of why Manny dragged the team down was that he brought a lot of BS with him, where every other guy on the roster is just out there having fun and playing a game they love, he was a square peg in a round hole and Bay is the round peg we needed. We may have lower numbers without Manny, but at least the team is a more cohesive unit and that's more important than numbers sometimes. Look at the Angels, some of their sloppy playing came because of the lack of teamwork and communication.
I truly believe the Red Sox as a team creates an atmosphere for players to have fun and that's a key to success. Especially in the Pedro days, some of the horse^^^^ they'd pull in the dugout, Millar's days, it kept them all loose and having a good time and I think that's important. Too many times watching the Sox I'll see the other dugout and it doesn't seem like folks are bonding with each other, everyone's almost just doing their own things, don't even look like they're having fun.
I think part of why Manny dragged the team down was that he brought a lot of BS with him, where every other guy on the roster is just out there having fun and playing a game they love, he was a square peg in a round hole and Bay is the round peg we needed. We may have lower numbers without Manny, but at least the team is a more cohesive unit and that's more important than numbers sometimes. Look at the Angels, some of their sloppy playing came because of the lack of teamwork and communication.
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How about some props for Youk for moving to 3rd and not missing a beat? One of the most underrated players in the league.
ProgMatinee
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Last year the Rockies had that loose and fun attitude and it paid off. I think expectations got the best of them (along with an absolutely horrible rotation).
Absolutely, it's actually home terf for him, he played 3rd when Millar was still here a bit and the move to first was actually the ask him to step up move and boy did he.
Skills or whatever put aside, the regular starting infield for Boston has 3 positions filled with the hardest working players I've ever seen; Pedroia, Youkilis and Lowell will break their bodies and hustle for everything, they may not always get it but I admire their effort, that's one thing I always hated with Manny, if you're lucky enough to play a game you love and get big $$$ for it, show some hustle, play like you care, and Manny presented himself like a lazy ^^^^.
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I'm rooting for Tampa all the way. I want someone else to win the WS this year. No offense, but share the love.
Just making up for the previous 90 years is all
Just making up for the previous 90 years is all
Ya, it's not like we're the Yankees yet, 2 championships in 4 seasons after 86 years of nothing isn't that bad.
ProgMatinee
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What, like 15+ NBA championships weren't enough?
I don't care what other sports do, I don't really follow basketball, Pats and Sox are the only teams here I really follow, but I care about the status of each team separately. Yes, Celtics were a dynasty in Basketball but Red Sox have been a source of dissappointment for 8 decades in baseball.
Just making up for the previous 90 years is all
Hey, I'm an Indians fan. I understand all too well.
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