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2005 MLB Playoffs - Division Series Thread

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Man, the Red Sox hate in this thread is absolutely insane. I'd worry about rooting for those Yanks of yours, people. Down 8-6 in the 7th, with the possibility of having to win two in a row against a great Angels club? Not a situation I'd want my team in.
 
Joe said:
i refuse to comment.

*changes avatar*
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Yeah, because you wouldn't want comments to come back and haunt you. Also, good to see Dr. Strangelove keeping the image of the GAF Red Sox fan pristine, not stooping to the level of our co-AL East Divison champions.
 
Agent Dormer said:
Yeah, because you wouldn't want comments to come back and haunt you. Also, good to see Dr. Strangelove keeping the image of the GAF Red Sox fan pristine, not stooping to the level of our co-AL East Divison champions.
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But... I thought we were classless? :)
 
the Boston front office fucked up that team, much like DePodesta did to the Dodgers. They should have kept Orlando Cabrera instead of signing Renteria. They should have given Pedro the extra money he wanted to keep him in beantown. You're the fuckin Redsox! You are one of the most financially succesful teams in the league and you're going to harp about having to give Pedro and extra 9 million or however far apart they were in his package deal? $9 million is nothing to that team, especially when instead you opt to give a scrub like Matt Clement a $9 million per year. When will this sabermetric/moneyball shit end? Don't these idiots realize nobody has won shit using that method?

edit: The the RedSox are fucking stupid if they trade Manny (which they probably will do because they are cheap for some reason)
 
Ninja Scooter said:
no, the Yankees/Redsox shit is lame. It'll be good to get some fresh meat in the playoffs for once.
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I agree with you on the first part. But for one thing I would like to see teams with a basic grasp of geography compete.
 
Ninja Scooter said:
the Boston front office fucked up that team, much like DePodesta did to the Dodgers. They should have kept Orlando Cabrera instead of signing Renteria. They should have given Pedro the extra money he wanted to keep him in beantown. You're the fuckin Redsox! You are one of the most financially succesful teams in the league and you're going to harp about having to give Pedro and extra 9 million or however far apart they were in his package deal? $9 million is nothing to that team, especially when instead you opt to give a scrub like Matt Clement a $9 million per year. When will this sabermetric/moneyball shit end? Don't these idiots realize nobody has won shit using that method?
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I mostly agree but...what does moneyball have to do with any of this? Signing Clement or signing Renteria are dsitinctely non-moneyball moves. Sabermetrics mostly comes into play when evaluating hitters....it's totally removed from the complaints you are making. They just main some poor decesions, that's all.

And how can you say no one has one shit with it when the Red Sox won it all last year, using guys (Millar, Ortiz, Mueller etc.) that they picked up because sabermetrics.
 
if the yankees had a half decent middle relief they'd be up 2-1 right now. when you're relying on al leiter and scott proctor there's a fucking problem. and this series is far from fucking over, there WILL be a game 5.

FUCKING RANDY JOHNSON
 
Listen, I think thundersticks and rally monkeys are fucking reeeeeetarded, but I've been a fan of the Angels since JT Snow, Jim Edmonds, and Tim Salmon were all on the team together.
 
Bat said:
I mostly agree but...what does moneyball have to do with any of this? Signing Clement or signing Renteria are dsitinctely non-moneyball moves. Sabermetrics mostly comes into play when evaluating hitters....it's totally removed from the complaints you are making. They just main some poor decesions, that's all.

And how can you say no one has one shit with it when the Red Sox won it all last year, using guys (Millar, Ortiz, Mueller etc.) that they picked up because sabermetrics.
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nevermind about moneyball, that was mostly directed towards the Dodgers. I agree they made some poor decisions, and the reason i say they didn't win shit is because in a lot of ways, they won last year in spite of some bad, and potential bad decisions. They tried to unload Manny twice (who wound up being the MVP of the World Series). They should be praying to god everyday that Nomar turned down the 4 year/$60 million deal they left on the table at the beginning of last year, same with Derek Lowe. This organization lucked out. No way in hell they would have won the title last season of somebody claimed Manny off waivers, and they had Nomar getting $15 million to sit on the DL. They are on the verge of another stupid move if they trade Manny. Who cares if he's making $20 million. So he's what? $5 or 6 million overpaid? Just print up another "JETAH SUCKS" t-shirt for the RedSox Nation to buy up and you can make that up easily.
 
Agent Icebeezy said:
Didn't Jay pick the White Sox to lose in 4? Telander picked the Sox to win it all. This was in the Chicago Sun-Times a few days ago
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Man Chicago is a huge drunkfest right now. Hopefullly the Yanks/Angels steries still goes goes five so we can recover.

And fucking I hope Jose goes out Game 1 for us. Garland has been great for us, but Jose's seconf half is unparalleled.
 
Ninja Scooter said:
Freddy used to be a Mariner, its obviously the Ichiro mojo that is fueling the White Sox.
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If only we had gotten Griffey at the deadline. We would have been completely full of Sexiro power.

a_sox_372.jpg



Hernandez trotted in, a spare part on the White Sox pitching staff after getting bumped out of the rotation but more than familiar with the pressure of the postseason. He had flourished in past playoffs and World Series for the Yankees, going 9-2 with a 2.51 ERA; before that, he had pitched elimination games for the Cuban national team, feeling there was more at stake than mere wins and losses in those situations.

"Let's go, you've been here before," Pierzynski said, and Hernandez nodded.

Jason Varitek pinch-hit for Mirabelli, and Hernandez immediately locked in on Varitek's late-season weakness: At the end of a long season, the swing of the Boston catcher is a little longer, a little slower, and Hernandez pumped fastballs at him, the velocity climbing gradually, 89 mph, then 91 mph, then 92. Varitek popped up. One out.

Tony Graffanino was next, in a perfect position to redeem himself after his error in Game 2; the Fenway crowd had cheered when he was introduced, as if to prop him up. Graffanino went to the plate focused on making solid contact, through the middle of the field.

"My approach was almost like a two-strike count from the get-go, because of the type of pitcher he is," said Graffanino.

Hernandez's first fastball to the infielder was 93 mph, a surprise.

"I didn't think he threw that hard any more," Graffanino confessed.

He fouled off that pitch, and another, and four more during the at-bat, Hernandez throwing sliders and fastballs and even one slow curve, changing arm angles. The count was full. After the ninth pitch, Hernandez called his catcher to the mound and told him what he wanted to do, in Spanish; Pierzynski didn't understand at first, and Hernandez repeated.

"I want to throw a slider inside," El Duque said, which was a gamble, because if the ball hung, Graffanino might whack it off the left field wall.

Graffanino settled into the box, trying to protect all quadrants of the strike zone, unsure what Hernandez might throw at him. With a slider, Hernandez might walk in the tying run, but Graffanino knew Hernandez would throw any pitch in any count.

El Duque spun the slider, and Graffanino lifted it over the infield, a pop-up to short. Two outs.

Damon was next, the last hope to salvage the rally, and Hernandez opened the at-bat by dropping in a slow curve, 73 mph. The count went full again, with Damon fouling off a 3-2 pitch. Pierzynski went out to the mound again. Hernandez put his glove over his mouth.

"Slider, down the middle, medium," Hernandez said, and Pierzynski nodded, knowing that what El Duque meant to do was start the slider over the center of the strike zone and have it break down and in.

Damon looked for a fastball, and when the slider broke, he was helpless, committed, and failed to check his swing; end of inning. The small voices in the Chicago dugout took over Fenway Park again.

"When we signed this kid -- I don't know if he's a kid -- a couple of people called and said, 'You need a big guy in the playoffs,'" said Guillen. "I went to him because he's the only guy with more experience."

The White Sox got the last nine outs, and Hernandez puffed clouds from a long cigar afterward and had a small smile when somebody asked him what brand he was smoking.

"The cigar says," he said, "'Congratulations Chicago White Sox.'"
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How can you doubt a team that forced the Red Sox into a playoff 0-fer, that pitched better, fielded better, managed better, ran better and, pardon the grammar, clutch-hit better? You can't, which is why the White Sox will reach the World Series for the first time since 1959. And when they do, remember why.

His name is Orlando Hernandez. El Duque. He's the 36-year-old Cuban who was puffing happily on a victory cigar bearing these words in gold letters: Congratulations Chicago White Sox.

Without him, the stogies stay in the humidor.

Hernandez became a Chicago baseball legend Friday or, at the very least, a South Side legend. And to think manager Ozzie Guillen was second-guessed -- and Guillen didn't even try to hide his facetiousness when he said it -- by "Chicago people who know about baseball a lot ... the GMs" for placing El Duque on the White Sox ALDS playoff roster instead of, say, rookie Brandon McCarthy.
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No bullshit here. I was completely wrong.

I LOVE you, Ozzie :D


"Even though you don't want to, sometimes you have to tip your hat," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "That wasn't the point where we wanted to. He pitched great."

He pitched three of the most important innings of the White Sox's season, giving up just one hit and striking out four. And he did it without complaint.

"I would have loved to have started one of the opening games, but I didn't deserve it," said Hernandez, who was 2-7 after the All-Star break. "Or this time."

He deserves something now, like a group hug from White Sox followers. And wouldn't it be fun to watch Hernandez now face the Yankees, where he won three World Series rings.

As for the Red Sox, their reign is finished. It was cathartic, but brief.

Meanwhile, the White Sox work on reversing their own curse of sorts. Friday's victory gives the White Sox their first playoff series win in 88 years. That was 1917, the last time they won it all.

As El Duque returned to the White Sox clubhouse to resume the celebration, he waved that cigar with his left hand.

"Is it Cuban?" someone asked.

"I think, no," said Hernandez, not needing an interpreter this time. "It's illegal."

Interesting. So was his stuff
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Dr. Strangelove said:
And to the Yankee fans: you're pathetic. Worry about your own squad.
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Puh-leasee. I live in Boston and I listen to sports radio around here... if any fans in baseball need to worry about their own squad it's red sox nation.
 
Ninja Scooter said:
nevermind about moneyball, that was mostly directed towards the Dodgers. I agree they made some poor decisions, and the reason i say they didn't win shit is because in a lot of ways, they won last year in spite of some bad, and potential bad decisions. They tried to unload Manny twice (who wound up being the MVP of the World Series). They should be praying to god everyday that Nomar turned down the 4 year/$60 million deal they left on the table at the beginning of last year, same with Derek Lowe. This organization lucked out. No way in hell they would have won the title last season of somebody claimed Manny off waivers, and they had Nomar getting $15 million to sit on the DL. They are on the verge of another stupid move if they trade Manny. Who cares if he's making $20 million. So he's what? $5 or 6 million overpaid? Just print up another "JETAH SUCKS" t-shirt for the RedSox Nation to buy up and you can make that up easily.
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Oh totally agree. They lucked out on a lot of things in the past couple of years, and it seems that last off season that luck ran out.
 
Joe said:
:lol co al-east champs? rightttt. it was close but yanks got it...sorry. :(
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captmcblack said:
That's so cute. :lol
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Oh yeah?

"'If I were running the Red Sox,' commissioner Bud Selig said last night, standing in the press box at US Cellular Field, 'I would declare myself cochamps.'"
 
Congrats to the White Sox. :) I hope they make it to the WS at least. And hopefully the Angels can deliver the final blow to the Yankees. Johnson looked terrible, though the pitchers after him weren't much of an improvement.

As for the Braves, Smoltz completely owned Clemens. Now let's see what Sosa can do. If he doesn't get too nervous or whatever, Sosa should come through for the Braves. Hopefully the hitters can put a few chinks in Oswalt's armor. Make sure you load up on the good stuff Duke, because we need to will the Braves to victory later today! ;)
 
Doh..Red Sox are out? Go, go Angels or White Sox!

Isn't the 'billy goat' curse supposed to end in '06? That'd be neat if 3 'curses' ended in a row; 04=Red Sox, 05=White Sox, 06=Cubs.
 
Definite congrats to White Sox for doing what everyone said they could not. Its nice to see El Duque go out there and be dominating. Maybe he just needed a rest. He kinda flamed out for the Yanks at the end of last year too.

Meanwhile, I'll refrain from Red Sox bashing as much as possible because the Yanks look awful. I will say, however, that worrying about what goes on in your own house is definitely not a trait of the typical Boston fan. I'm sure we could go rummage through that MLB thread for proof.

No matter what happens to the Yanks, it sure is nice to have the universe restored again.
 
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Manny has told White Sox players that he wants to play for Ozzie Guillen.

In other Sox news, Johnny Damon said that he's looking for a 5 or 6 year deal this offseason. Good luck with that.
 
Dr. Strangelove said:
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Manny has told White Sox players that he wants to play for Ozzie Guillen.

In other Sox news, Johnny Damon said that he's looking for a 5 or 6 year deal this offseason. Good luck with that.
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RedSox are looking for more offense out of 1b...Konerko for Manny? Doubt the WhiteSox would do it though.


Sox will likely only offer Damon 3 years max, like Pedro. NO way they give him a Varitek type deal. I wonder if George would spring for 5-6 years to get a CF? Sure Damon is good, but he's arleady showing signs of wearing down and that will only get worse 5 years down the line. Maybe the complete busts known as the Jaret Wright and Carl Pavano deals will make him think twice before going back to his free spending ways...nah.
 
Ninja Scooter said:
RedSox are looking for more offense out of 1b...Konerko for Manny? Doubt the WhiteSox would do it though.


Sox will likely only offer Damon 3 years max, like Pedro. NO way they give him a Varitek type deal. I wonder if George would spring for 5-6 years to get a CF? Sure Damon is good, but he's arleady showing signs of wearing down and that will only get worse 5 years down the line. Maybe the complete busts known as the Jaret Wright and Carl Pavano deals will make him think twice before going back to his free spending ways...nah.
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Well, Konerko is going to be a free agent, so that won't happen. I would LOVE to see Konerko at first for the Red Sox next season, but I imagine he won't be leaving Chicago. At least I won't have to see anymore Millar. Send Crazy Carl back to Boston! :lol

I think it's still going to be somebody like the Mets if he gets moved. I personally do not want to see him moved, period. Without Manny hitting behind Ortiz, the Tizzler's numbers would fall off significantly. Since Manny has such a better eye than Ortiz, he can do more with the shitty pitches he gets because 5-9 are all automatic outs in the BoSox order. Ortiz would just be getting himself out.

I agree that Damon will only see 3 years from Boston. And he won't accept it. So farewell Johnny Jesus. Hanley Ramirez in center field next year? Stay tuned...

And yes, I would fully expect Georgie to go hard after another player who won't be worth what he is asking.
 
Dr. Strangelove said:
Well, Konerko is going to be a free agent, so that won't happen. I would LOVE to see Konerko at first for the Red Sox next season, but I imagine he won't be leaving Chicago. At least I won't have to see anymore Millar. Send Crazy Carl back to Boston! :lol

I think it's still going to be somebody like the Mets if he gets moved. I personally do not want to see him moved, period. Without Manny hitting behind Ortiz, the Tizzler's numbers would fall off significantly. Since Manny has such a better eye than Ortiz, he can do more with the shitty pitches he gets because 5-9 are all automatic outs in the BoSox order. Ortiz would just be getting himself out.

I agree that Damon will only see 3 years from Boston. And he won't accept it. So farewell Johnny Jesus. Hanley Ramirez in center field next year? Stay tuned...

And yes, I would fully expect Georgie to go hard after another player who won't be worth what he is asking.
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there was a buzz around the SoSH boards a couple weeks ago about Manny to the Mets for Beltran and Seo, but i can't see Minaya giving up on Beltran after just one year (though i still think the guy is crazy overrated), no matter how big a hardon he has for Manny. Personally i think they should just keep Manny. Yeah he's overpaid. Yeah he's a little crazy. But guys that will give you a consistent .300/40hr/140rbi don't grow on trees.
 
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