MLB FanHouse

Carlos Marmol Injured in a Car Accident

Tom Fornelli — 2008-10-08T00:17:00+00:00

Could this week get any better for the Chicago Cubs? I mean, they got the snot beat out of them by the Dodgers in the first round of the playoffs, getting swept for the second straight year. It was a devastating blow to Cubs fans all over, as I have a few friends who have slipped into catatonic states over it, and has even caused some to put their loyalty up for auction.

Of course, if whoring yourself out isn't your style, you could always just do what everybody else is and blame Kosuke Fukudome. It can't be that the Dodgers were just the better team, after all, there has to be something to blame. Whether it's a player, a goat, a black cat, or Steve Bartman. Well, I have some news for you Cubs fans out there that you might find a bit shocking. It's not a curse or any other stupid reason why you haven't won a title in one hundred years. There's something far more powerful at work here.

God hates you. Seriously. He hates you and your team with a passion. Don't believe me? Check this out.

Cubs reliever Carlos Marmol suffered minor injuries in a car accident early Tuesday in the Dominican Republic.

A truck hit a car carrying Marmol, a cousin and a friend in his hometown of Bonao near 2 a.m. The All-Star right-hander had just arrived in the Caribbean nation after the Cubs were swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the playoffs.

Marmol said in an e-mail to The Associated Press that the air bag deployed and he only suffered a cut and an "inflammation" of his forehead.

"Out of precaution they did different studies on my body, and I don't have any kind of serious injury," he wrote.

Luckily Carlos only needed seven stitches in his forehead, and other than that he's okay. You'd figure with the way things go in Cubdom he'd have broken his spine in 15 places and slowly bled to death while being picked apart by wild coyotes.

Since I was curious to see why God let Marmol live, I sent Him an email asking Him about it. Here's His response.

"He lived!? See, this is why you shouldn't outsource to Purgatory."

So don't be surprised tomorrow when news breaks that Lou Piniella was killed by a pack of rabid raccoons while on a camping trip in Wisconsin.

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International Pastime: Japan Imposes Ban on Players Returning From U.S.

Tom Fornelli — 2008-10-07T23:25:00+00:00

Filed under: MLB Biz, MLB Rumors

International Pastime looks at baseball's influence outside the U.S.

You've probably noticed over the last few years there have been a lot more players in MLB with names that are hard to pronounce, or just sound dirty. Yes, Japan is quickly becoming the new Latin America as just about every team these days is adding a Japanese player to their roster.

It's hard to blame them for it, as guys like Ichiro Suzuki, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Hideki Matsui, and Akinori Iwamura are proving themselves to be pretty good players. It's also nice to have a Kosuke Fukudome around for a fan base to blame for everything.

Of course, on the flip side of this equation is Japan. Due to the amount of Japanese players crossing the Pacific for the honor of facing off against John Lannan and the Washington Nationals, it's leaving the Japanese league a little thin. Which is why they've decided to implement a new policy in hopes of keeping players from leaving the island.

An executive committee representing Japan's 12 professional baseball teams have agreed to introduce a ban on players returning to Japanese baseball after turning down rookie draft nominations in Japan and signing with overseas pro teams.

The committee decided to ban players who had graduated from high school from entering professional Japanese teams for three years after returning to Japan from overseas stints, and introduce a two-year ban for such players who had been in university or company teams.

The move is no doubt a reaction to the news that Japan's newest pitching phenom, Junichi Tazawa, has already said he has no plans on playing in Japan and will go straight to the Major Leagues, where there will no doubt be a bidding war for his services.

I'm not sure what kind of impact this will have, really, because generally the players that come to the States stay in the States. It's only mediocre American players (hello, Tuffy Rhodes) who go to Japan, and washed up movie stars like Tom Selleck.

It's also important to note that this does have quite a bit to do with money as well. You see, the real reason Japan doesn't want it's players coming to the U.S. straight out of high school before playing professionally there is there's no posting fee for these players. For instance, when Daisuke Matsuzaka was coming over the Pacific, the Red Sox had to pay his team $51 million just for the right to talk to him.

Where as for a player like Tazawa, it will cost a team nothing more than your typical rookie signing bonus to get him here. Well, until the Yankees come in and offer him $100 million as a panic move after not making the playoffs this season.

(Traditional Japanese bow to SPORTSbyBROOKS)

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Chip Caray Hearts Torii Hunter?

Matt Snyder — 2008-10-07T22:48:00+00:00

Filed under: Angels, Red Sox, AL East, AL West

I'll admit that I am a tad bit biased on this examination, because I hate Chip Caray as an announcer. From the unoriginal "Steve Stone has never picked up a dinner check" every freaking game for his years with the Cubs to the way he laughs when he finishes non-funny sentences ... I just think he's a brutal baseball announcer. If his name wasn't Caray (or Albert or Brennaman) he'd be working minor league games on the radio.

Usually when fans say the announcers seemed like they were rooting against a team, it's lame. Yet last night it really felt like Chip was pulling for the Angels, and I'm unbiased. The cherry on top was when the Angels tied the game on a two RBI single off the bat of Torii Hunter.

You see, the Bostonians had been doing the old, slow, "TORRRRRRR - EEEEEEEEE" chant during the at-bat.

The instant Vladimir Guerrero crossed home plate, Chip exclaimed -- in jubilation -- "And no one's chanting now!"

It came off like smack-talk. I could understand if he was a home announcer -- like doing play by play for the Angels radio station -- but he's supposed to be a national announcer, thus without bias.

Sure sounded biased to me.

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Constructing the Yankees' 2009 Rotation

Matt Watson — 2008-10-07T16:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Yankees, AL East, MLB Rumors

Now that Brian Cashman has signed on for three more years, it's time for the Yankees to get back to doing what they do best -- namely, throwing ungodly sums of money at players. The starting rotation needs the most attention, especially considering Chien-Ming Wang, who made all of 15 starts in 2008, is the only sure thing.

Feel free to pencil Joba Chamberlain in for a spot, though given his injury history, anything more than 20 starts should be considered gravy. Theoretically Philip Hughes and/or Ian Kennedy will contend for a spot, but only if they make huge strides over the offseason.

Andy Pettitte? As of last month he still hadn't decided if he wanted to play another year. Same goes for Mike Mussina, who told the New York Daily News yesterday he hasn't "put a timetable" on making up his mind.

So what other options are the Yankees considering? George King III of the New York Post is convinced CC Sabathia, the jewel of free agency, is headed for California, which could make A.J. Burnett the new top option.

Burnett won't officially be a free agent until he opts out of his last two years ($24 million) with the Blue Jays, but if he thinks the Yankees will make him a priority, there's little question that will happen.

Ken Davidoff of Newsday suggests the Yankees will go in a different direction, perhaps trading for Jake Peavy from the Padres. The problem with that idea?

For one, the Yankees wouldn't give up the right combination of prospects for Johan Santana last year, and Peavy's price tag is likely even higher (assuming the Padres put him on the block at all) considering he's locked up for the next four years. And secondly, even if the Yankees did open up the farm system, would Peavy waive his no-trade clause? That adds yet another wrinkle to a deal that would already require lengthy negotiations.

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Notable Moments In FanHouse Commenting: 'Larry' Thinks You Suck

Eamonn Brennan — 2008-10-07T15:27:00+00:00

Filed under: Cubs, NL Central

At FanHouse, one man's trash is another man's treasure. But only the few raise to the level of Notable Moments in FanHouse Commenting.

Are you an angry man? Are you envious? Do you get envious? Are you a Chicago Cub? A Chicago Cubs fan? A resident of Chicago? A fan of Lake Michigan's beautiful shores and scenic vistas and countless recreational opportunities?

Are you the center of the universe? Are you Chicago? (Is it possible that the two things are the same?) Are you ... president George W. Bush? If you answered yes to any of the above, "Larry," today's Notable FanHouse Commenter, believes you suck:

It doesn't matter who the Cubs have of their roster, they will never win the World Series. They lose because they suck and so do their fans. In fact, the city of Chicago sucks also and so does that polluted lake they have. If you wanted to go to the center of the suckiness in universe, that would be in Chicago. I'm surprised that George Bush isn't from Chicago, cause he sucks as well.

I have heard many things in my life "suck." I am 23, prime age for the doctrine of "suck," where everything either "sucks" or "is lame" or, most egregiously, "gay." Never, ever have I heard someone apply these adjectives to Lake Michigan. How dare you, Larry. Apologize, at once.

Or don't; Lake Michigan has been here for millions of years. What have you ever done?

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Cubs Fan Selling Loyalty on eBay

Tom Fornelli — 2008-10-07T13:27:00+00:00

Filed under: Cubs, MLB Fans

As would be expected, Chicago Cubs fans haven't been the happiest people the last couple of days. You can't really blame them, as for the second straight year they had to watch their team have an excellent regular season only to be swept out of the first round of the playoffs. They've now lost nine straight postseason games, and they've now gone 100 years without a World Series title.

Of course, they wouldn't be so unhappy had the Cubs actually managed to put up a fight against the Dodgers instead of just rolling over. In fact, the Cubs played so horribly in the series that it's caused at least one fan to give up his loyalty to the team. He still needs a team to root for, though, and if you think your team could use another fan you can always buy his allegiance on eBay.

I hate to say it, but I think the time has come. What time, do you ask? Time to place another hex on the lowly Chicago Cubs. Granted, I've only suffered through 30 useless seasons of our "loveable" north-siders, but I've taken all I can take.

So, I have a proposition. In the interest of sparing my emotions from one more gut-wrenching season, I am auctioning off my loyalty to the Chicago Cubs. Now, since I realize that seems somewhat fatalistic, I will also make the provision that I will accept bids from ANYONE, even Cubs fans. That means that my loyalty will go to the highest bidder, even if that means I have to get my guts scooped out every year for the rest of my life (as a result of a winning Cubs bid).

Selfish? Childish? A stone-cold publicity stunt? Not quite. I will not personally take possession of ANY of the funds. The winning bid will be accepted by me on behalf of two non-profit theatre organizations in Minneapolis, MN, whose mission is to provide accessible entertainment to low-income households; The Cromulent Shakespeare Company, and Prufrock Theatre.

What a novel concept. Still, it's hard to get on the guy's case too much since he's donating all the money to charity, but I have to wonder what makes anybody think someone will want to buy a fan's loyalty. What? Is there some Washington Nationals fan sitting at home thinking to himself, "If only there was something I can do to help this team win more. Maybe I can buy a fan from some team that hasn't won in 100 years! Yeah! That will fix everything!"

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Frank Caliendo Performs a Dugout

Jon Bois — 2008-10-07T12:53:00+00:00

Filed under: MLB Media Watch, MLB Playoffs, The Dugout

This morning, Mr. Lackey touched on the self-canceling nature of Frank Caliendo's apology. For the second consecutive baseball postseason, Frank TV commercials have carped-bombed the baseball-watching experience, and Caliendo expresses remorse. In the same breath, though, he suggests that it wouldn't be advertised so much if the ratings were higher.

Math time. I think it's fair to say that Frank TV gets twenty thirty-second slots per game. Multiply that by, say, four games you might watch in a week on TBS. From commercials alone, that's 40 minutes of Frank TV. Nearly two episodes' worth. I believe we have already paid our Caliendo tax, sir.

Regardless, he is capable of the occasional funny impression, so I have allowed him to perform today's Dugout! It's after the jump.

The Dugout

	LargeHadronCaliendo: Hey folks! Frank Caliendo here! You may recognize me from "every time you open your eyes"
	LargeHadronCaliendo: You may also recognize me from "most every time you close your eyes"
	LargeHadronCaliendo: I also was recently featured in "that dream you always have where you're falling," in which I play "guy who shoves you out of the airplane"
	LargeHadronCaliendo: So, let's get to it! A Dugout, brought to you by the man of a million faces!
	LargeHadronCaliendo: Ahem.
	WordUpThome: MY NAME IS JI JIM THOME
	WordUpThome: NOW THAT THAT'S OUT OF THE WAY, I'LL ENGAGE IN DIALOGUE WITH A "STRAIGHT MAN," AND RARELY ANSWER HIS STATEMENTS DIRECTLY, INSTEAD EMBARKING UPON A SEPARATE AND PERPENDICULAR LINE OF MONOLOGUE
	Elijah_Price: I'm the straight man. It doesn't seem like you're even comprehending what I'm saying, but I'm going to keep talking as if you are.
	WordUpThome: SOMETHING TO WRAP UP MY CIRCUITOUS MONOLOGUE, WRITTEN IN A MANUFACTURED ATTEMPT TO ELICIT SENTIMENT AND EMOTIONAL GRAVITY
	LargeHadronCaliendo: Thank you, thank you. /clears throat
	pr0FF3ss0r_F4rnsw0rth: sup bitches
	pr0FF3ss0r_F4rnsw0rth: a lower-case discourse that uncannily resembles, "if zach morris suffered a concussion as a small child and never fully recovered"
	e5_rod: i am alex rodriguez, written from a place of equal parts respect and homophobia
	pr0FF3ss0r_F4rnsw0rth: and answered with further homophobia
	JetersNeverProsper: I am another "straight man," and serve to offer validation of this homosexual plot angle by being a "normal gay guy"
	JetersNeverProsper: which, in turn, is also kind of bigoted on a level of its own welp
	JetersNeverProsper: /sexual encounter
	LargeHadronCaliendo: Thank you, folks. Here's another.
	NietoMosquito: hey folks! m'name's tom nieto! a whole lotta apostrophes!
	NietoMosquito: m'character exists to perpetuate a plot line similar to the "mr. bill" skits on saturday night live, only somehow more sadistic!
	NietoMosquito: good ol' mr. hands! helpin m'get through this thing called life! oh no don't fire yer good friend tom, mr. hands! OHHHHH OH NOOOOO
	LargeHadronCaliendo: Tom Nieto, everybody. And, finally:
	LadyCop: Hi, my name is
	DudeYerGettinADelmon: /flings bat
	LadyCop: gurrrrrk
	DudeYerGettinADelmon: boom meta-bitch
	SteakGrowsOnDmitri: wheres ya blackface now mu****a
	DudeYerGettinADelmon: ey bra this bitch got like 40 bags a funyuns tucked in he waistband
	SteakGrowsOnDmitri: grab them s***s

Photos link to player info. WordUpThome.com Photo Credit: Getty, Creative Commons

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Galveston PD Launching Investigation Into Brandon Backe Arrest

Tom Fornelli — 2008-10-07T12:49:00+00:00

Filed under: Astros, MLB Gossip, MLB Police Blotter, MLB Rumors

Yesterday Josh Alper told you about Brandon Backe being arrested at a wedding over the weekend. According to the police report, Brandon resisted arrest and confronted the officers and had to be subdued, along with quite a few other people in attendance at the wedding. Well, it's starting to look like the Galveston police department may have gone a little too far.

According to witness testimony, it was the police who were acting out of line, and now the Galveston police department is launching it's own internal investigation into the incident.

Witnesses said Monday that police needlessly beat, Tasered and pepper-sprayed wedding guests who were trying to comply with police commands during an incident in which officers arrested 10 people, including Backe, at an outdoor bar at the San Luis Hotel on Seawall Boulevard.

Daniel Cole O'Balle, 19, was injured during the incident and flown by helicopter to Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston. Backe was charged with three counts of assault on a public servant and two counts of retaliation. He was released on $115,000 bond.

Galveston police spokesman Cpt. Walter Braun said the department's office of professional conduct was conducting an internal investigation, although no formal complaints of officer misconduct had been received. "This administration is taking a proactive step," Braun said.

So what exactly happened to Backe? Well, according to one witness, all he did was try and listen to what the cops told him to do, and he got the crap beat out of him for it.

Michael McMillan, 36, of Houston, said he and Backe walked up to see what the commotion was about and saw O'Balle on the ground bleeding, being shocked with a Taser and handcuffed. Police began shouting at them to back up and they complied, he said.

After they backed up as far as they could, McMillan said, officers continued shouting, "and Brandon Backe said, 'Sir, be cool, we're backed up as far as we can go.' "

As soon as Backe spoke, several officers wrestled him to the ground, punching him as he went down, McMillan said.

"A police officer kicks him right in the face," he said.

Coincidentally, the Galveston police department's motto is "To Protect, Serve, and Beat The Hell Out Of You."

Now it's entirely possible that all these witnesses are just friends doing anything they can to protect Backe, but this isn't the first instance involving an athlete and Texas police in which the police reportedly got out of hand. When former Chicago Bears running back, and newest Cincinnati Bengal, Cedric Benson was arrested on his boat earlier this year, witnesses say police needlessly beat him as well.

All charges against Benson were later dropped. You have to wonder if Backe will receive the same fate.

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Ken Griffey Jr. Won't Be Retiring

Tom Fornelli — 2008-10-07T12:00:00+00:00

Filed under: White Sox, AL Central, MLB Gossip

Now that the season has ended for the White Sox it's time for the organization to start looking towards 2009. Sure, the team won the AL Central this season, but their series against the Tampa Bay Rays helped expose quite a few flaws that the team had, and some changes will need to be made if the team is going to get back to the playoffs again next year.

Of course, if you're going to bring in new players that means you have to get rid of the ones you have. Whether or not Ken Griffey Jr. is one of the players to go, or if he'll be back remains to be seen, but we can be pretty sure Junior isn't going to retire and make the decision easy.

''I'm not retiring. I have things to do,'' Griffey said, already at 611 home runs and turning 39 next month.

''I'd like to come back [to the White Sox],'' he said. ''It was a great ride. A lot of fun. I've had more ups than downs. The city, the fans, it's been great for me. This team fought all year. They were fun to be around. We'll see what happens.''

Well it's nice that you want to come back, Ken, but I can't say I want you back. Seeing Junior play just about everyday for two months helped me see just how far he has fallen from greatness. I knew he wasn't the same player anymore, but I had no idea how bad things had gotten.

The truth is, Griffey is exactly the kind of player on the White Sox roster they need to replace. They have enough concrete footed sluggers in their lineup, and really, Griffey isn't much of a slugger anymore anyway.

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Brian Roberts Wouldn't Have Helped the Cubs

Eamonn Brennan — 2008-10-07T11:51:00+00:00

Filed under: Cubs, MLB Media Watch

It's a few days after the tragedy of a baseball team not winning the World Series, and Chicago's media is still searching for explanations to this Great and Sudden Collapse. The latest? The crumb-bums should have traded for Brian Roberts!

In the bitter end, the difference might have been Brian Roberts, after all. Maybe he wouldn't have overcome the walks in Game 1 or the errors in Game 2, but the Cubs' woeful lack of playoff hitting comes down to two big deficiencies:

Notice, if you will, the contradiction in the first two sentences. The difference was Brian Roberts! Or maybe not, really, but still!

The reasons given here are: The Cubs have no "true" leadoff hitter (yes, they do: Ryan Theriot, though it doesn't matter because Alfonso Soriano is a terrible, inflexible meanie), and the Cubs need more "respected" left-handed hitters. Maybe. Or maybe the lineup that was arguably the best in all of baseball in the regular season had a bad three games, had them just as easily as they could have had three really good ones. Maybe wishcasting for Brian Roberts sort of misses the simple nature of the playoffs: The Cubs were really good, and then ... weren't. Just like the Angels.

Nahhhhh: It was definitely Brian Roberts.

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There's More Buzz for the Bull Durham Sequel

Matt Watson — 2008-10-07T11:50:00+00:00

Filed under: MLB Fans, MLB Gossip, MLB Media Watch

Last month Tim Robbins and writer/director Ron Shelton openly discussed the possibility of a Bull Durham sequel with the media during a 20th anniversary ceremony for the film at Baseball's Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Well, it seems like the project is gaining steam, at least if you believe the New York Post's gossip page (via SbB):

THE long-awaited sequel to "Bull Durham" is finally getting off the ground. A spy tells us Kevin Costner recently met with director Ron Shelton at Trader Vic's in LA to discuss reprising the role of carousing catcher Crash Davis from the 1988 baseball flick. Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon are also expected to return as pitcher Nuke LaLoosh and baseball groupie Annie Savoy, who are now married and owners of a Major League team that Costner manages.

Wait, Nuke and Annie get married? And they somehow own a major league team? Last month Shelton and Robbins suggested that Crash and Annie would be married, and that Nuke would be a washed-up drunk. What gives?

My guess is that nobody is right. Shelton admitted that he only recently warmed up to the idea of a sequel, so I'd wager that an actual script has yet to be written (and once it does, it probably won't be leaked before the project even starts filming). But for better or worse, it looks like this is really going to happen.

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His Team's Fighting For the Series But Curt Schilling's Already Thinking About 2009

Josh Alper — 2008-10-07T10:50:00+00:00

Filed under: Red Sox, AL East

Most people on the payroll of the Boston Red Sox are focused on the Tampa Bay Rays and the ALCS right now but one guy is already thinking about 2009. Because of shoulder surgery, Curt Schilling hasn't been an on-field part of this playoff run but he's not ready to officially hang up the cleats and begin the clock on his Cooperstown candidacy just yet.

Schilling said that if his shoulder recovers, he'll tear himself away from campaign photo ops and give baseball one more try.

"If I do decide to come back, I would work to the point I was ready and somewhere around May 1 let the teams know I wanted to pitch the second half. I'd obviously need to spend June in the minor leagues building it all back up and then hopefully come back and help a team in contention win a World Series."

He's just like Roger Clemens without all that nasty steroid business.

If Schill does give it another go, it's hard to imagine it will happen with the Red Sox. They are set at the top of the rotation. With Justin Masterson, Clay Buchholz and other young guns in the system, there doesn't seem to be much room for a risky bet on a fading star. It's time for a change, in other words, which the politically minded Schilling may or may not appreciate.

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Frank Caliendo Apologizes ... While Still Shilling for His Show

Pat Lackey — 2008-10-07T10:48:00+00:00

Filed under: MLB Media Watch, MLB Playoffs

Once upon a time, Frank Caliendo was a fairly funny fellow who did an awesome John Madden impersonation, as well as a bunch of other impersonations which were good, but nowhere near as funny because he looked nothing like the people he sounded like. Now, he's a ridiculous caricature of an overexposed semi-celebrity, entirely thanks to TBS promoting his TV show non-stop during the MLB playoffs the last two seasons. Say what you will about Frank, but at least he knows it's annoying:

"I say to those people, 'I'm sorry, but watch the show and maybe TBS wouldn't have to promote it as much,' " said the impressionist, whose sketch-comedy show's second season - with an expanded cast - premieres Oct. 21.
[...]
"I think I have to go into hiding soon," laughed Caliendo, who appears on the TV spots as a blogging President Bush and NFL loud mouth John Madden ...

Holy crap, there are FrankTV ads during FRANK CALIENDO'S APOLOGY FOR THERE BEING TOO MANY FRANKTV ADS! I can't escape them. They're on during baseball, now they're invading my computer during work. Soon they'll be beamed directly in to my brain like a Futurama episode. I am now more determined than ever to never watch an episode of Caliendo's show.

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Angels Aren't Lacking For Sour Grapes After Red Sox Win

Josh Alper — 2008-10-07T08:50:00+00:00

Filed under: Angels, Red Sox, MLB Playoffs

Growing up in New York City in the 1990's, I became quite familiar with a rite of June. Whenever the Knicks would be bounced from the NBA Playoffs, Patrick Ewing would meet reporters in the locker room and assure them that they were the better team and the victim of things beyond their control. It became something of a joke, a joke that John Lackey of the Angels apparently never got.

"We lost to a team that's not better than us. We are a better team than they are. The last two days, we shouldn't have given up anything. Sunday night they scored three runs on a pop fly that was called a hit, which was a joke. Monday night they scored on a broken-bat ground ball and a fly ball that anywhere else in America is an out, and he's fist-pumping on second base like he did something great."

Torii Hunter also wasn't willing to concede the point.

"I'm [ticked], I'm upset, this one's going to be with me for a while. It doesn't feel good, because we're a better team than they are. But they're moving on."

I didn't realize that the world's smallest violin provided musical accompaniment to the Angels locker room. The Angels won more games than the Red Sox over the first 162 but the last four provided little compelling evidence of their superiority.

There's not even much evidence that they were better over the first 162. The Sox scored 151 more runs than they allowed in 2008, playing in a division that was far better than the one the Angels called home. A glance at Baseball Prospectus's adjusted standings (which takes strength of schedule into account) finds them with 102 third order wins, which is both two more than the Angels actual wins and 18 more than their total by this metric. Stats aren't perfect, but they are illustrative.

The Angels made boneheaded errors in the field and in the dugout, they couldn't solve Jon Lester over 14 innings and K-Rod failed in a huge spot. The Angels, who only had a differential of 68 runs, had a razor thin margin for error and the miscues and poor execution proved too much. The Sox had three key players ailing, didn't have home field advantage and still won the series. And you know what? It's because they're the better team.

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Playoff Pulse: Questions Linger for Red Sox

Andrew Johnson — 2008-10-07T05:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Red Sox, MLB Playoffs

In the Playoff Pulse series, our MLB editor takes on a hot October topic.

With a rather sizable assist from Mike Scioscia's hubris-fueled devotion to smallball, the Red Sox are headed back to the ALCS for the fourth time in six years. If recent history tells us anything, Boston might fall behind early -- as it did against New York in 2004 (3-0) and Cleveland in 2007 (3-1) -- but it will find a way to win the series.

These are, after all, the Red Sox. They've been there before. They're Major League Baseball's model franchise. They have dominant starting pitching, a lights-out closer and a mix of experienced veterans and budding youngsters.

But while Boston basks in another winning playoff series, let's take a moment to consider how many problems it is facing as it tries to win another World Series and establish baseball's first dynasty since the Yankees of the late 1990s.

There is a veritable laundry list of concerns:

Start with Mike Lowell, last year's World Series MVP. Lowell hobbled through Game 1 and did the same in Game 3, but by the time Jon Lester threw the first pitch of Game 4, the third baseman was off the ALDS roster, a move that will keep him out of the ALCS as well. Frankly, even if Boston makes the World Series it would be very surprising if he played again this year.

The Red Sox will make do with Kevin Youkilis at third and a combination of Mark Kotsay, Sean Casey and likely Jeff Bailey at first base, but they're a weaker team on both sides of the ball without Lowell.

Add in J.D. Drew and his balky back. Sure, Drew had the dramatic, titanic blast in Game 2 off of record-setting closer Francisco Rodriguez, but he sat out the next game. With all of the fits and starts he's had trying to return to game action, it seems like his back could go at any point. At the very least, he probably won't be in the lineup for every game of the ALCS.

Also add a middle relief corps that, were it not for a Vladimir Guerrero's horrific baserunning blunder in Game 1 and Scioscia's appalling suicide squeeze in Game 4, may very well have blown the series for the Red Sox.

And finish with Josh Beckett, the erstwhile postseason ace, who struggled through five innings in Game 3 against the Angels. Beckett could be hurt. His ALDS start was pushed back because of a strained oblique, and given the problems he had with his command and control, that injury could have been affecting him. Beckett and the team both insist he is healthy.

He could also be rusty -- indeed that seems like the only other explanation considering the right-hander's past postseason exploits. Beckett was idle for a dozen days between his final regular season start and his turn in the ALDS. Either way, he's gone from money in the bank in October 2007 to an enigma in October 2008.

Hey, these are the charmed Red Sox of the new millenium. Maybe a three-headed Kotsay-Casey-Bailey monster will do the trick at first base. Maybe J.D. Drew's back will cooperate a few more weeks. Maybe all Josh Beckett needed was a tuneup in the division series to dominate for the rest of the month. But that's an awful lot of question marks for a team trying to win it all.

The Rays only had one question facing them: Would the bright lights of October be so blinding that they'd wilt on the big stage because of their inexperience? They answered that doubt pretty authoritatively in Chicago a few hours before Jed Lowrie sent the Red Sox into the ALCS.

Yesterday's Hero: B.J. Upton, who was on a power binge over the final two games against the White Sox. Honorable mention to Jon Lester, Jed Lowrie and Torii Hunter.

Yesterday's Goat: Mike Scioscia, Mike Scioscia, Mike Scioscia, a thousand times Mike Scioscia. Dishonorable mention to ... oh, forget it, everyone else pales in comparison.

Quick Hits: It would have been cool to see the Cubs in the NLCS, but, really, can you complain about these two matchups? ... The Dodgers and Phillies announced their Game 1 starters. No surprises here. Derek Lowe gets the ball for Los Angeles, while Cole Hamels will toe the rubber for Philadelphia. ... We have a good idea how the Rays will align their rotation: Shields-Kazmir-Garza-Sonnanstine. What about the Red Sox? Much of it hinges on Beckett. Jon Lester could start Game 2 on normal rest, but if Boston really believes Beckett is healthy, he could also. That would set up a Matsuzaka-Beckett-Lester-Wakefield foursome.

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Mike Scioscia's Suicidal Squeeze

Pat Lackey — 2008-10-07T00:54:00+00:00

Filed under: Angels, AL West, MLB Power Rankings

If there's one commandment that all major league managers should follow I think it's probably this: put your players in position to win baseball games and then let them win it. The worst managers are the ones that try to insert their own strategic visions on teams where simple performance from the players would suffice. Mike Scioscia, a man who is generally lauded as a "great" manager in the press for "doing things right," failed to follow this credo in Game 4 of the ALDS agains the Red Sox and as a result, he lost to them again.

A squeeze bunt. With a left-handed hitter. On a 2-0 count. With one out. With K-Rod in the bullpen. With Game 5 in Angel Stadium and a five-inning start from Dice-K waiting for you if you win. With the top of the order on deck. If you could define "taking the game out of the hands of the players," it would be a video of Erick Aybar's ill-fated bunt attempt in the ninth inning of last night's game with Mike Scioscia staring blankly on to the field as his season went up in flames.

You can tell me Aybar had eight sac bunts this year. I don't care. You can tell me it was a buntable pitch. I don't care. You can tell me the ump got the call wrong when Varitek dropped the ball. I don't care. There are a million ways for the Angels to score Reggie Willits from third base with two chances. There are a million things that can go wrong on a squeeze play. Try to imagine Terry Francona making the same call. You can't do it. Now remember that Francona's teams are 9-1 against Scioscia's in the playoffs. There is an old baseball adage that applies here; bad managers lose far more games than good managers win. Mike Scioscia lost Game 4 for the Angels last night.

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Manny Ramirez Thinks Red Sox Got More Tools in the Trade

Mullet — 2008-10-07T00:45:00+00:00

Filed under: Dodgers, Red Sox, AL East, NL West, MLB Playoffs

With all that's happened between the Red Sox and Manny Ramirez, I wouldn't have been surprised to find that Manny would have a reluctance to talk about his former team, or that there was a hint of lingering bitterness towards the Red Sox organization. But it's not like that at all. In fact, even though Manny is now decked in Dodger blue, he apparently still carries his Red Sox Nation card in his wallet ... because he's rooting for Boston to get to the Series to face his Dodgers.

"I've got my boy David Ortiz and [Mike] Lowell and all those guys," Ramirez said. "I'm pulling for them."

Although Ramirez would only say "anything's possible" to a potential World Series matchup between the Dodgers and Red Sox, with the left fielder noting both clubs have to first beat some tough opponents, he joked around about the trade that sent him packing to the West Coast in a three-team deal that landed Boston left fielder Jason Bay. (...)

"That was a good trade," Ramirez said. "I think it was the right move. [Bay] can run, play the outfield. He's got six tools. I've got five."

Let's see: Hitting for average? Check. Hitting for power? Check. Baserunning? Check. Throwing? Check. Fielding? Yup, Bay can do that too. So what's that sixth tool? Makes a mean Chicken Marsala? Great at Scrabble? Renaissance man? Able to resist the urge to use the bathroom behind the Green Monster during a pitching change? I don't know. Whatever it is, it's a tool that's working well for the Red Sox in the playoffs as they're now on their way to play Tampa Bay in the ALCS while Manny and the Dodgers are prepping for Philly in the NLCS.

With all those tools between them, would that make a Dodgers-Red Sox World Series like, Tool Time?

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The Dugout: 100 Years of Cubs Dominance

2008-10-06T20:59:00+00:00

Filed under: Cubs, Dodgers, NL Central, NL East, MLB Playoffs, The Dugout

A quick word about the lack of Dugouts lately ... as it turns out, we write about baseball so much that we love baseball, and when the playoffs start we're rarin' to go with Dugout after Dugout of wacky dialects and references to Watchmen. Then, two weeks pass we haven't done anything because we've been sitting around watching the playoffs.

I personally thought the Cubs were going to go all the way, because I have brain damage and never learned basic reasoning. Four out of ten Fanhouse writers picked the Cubs to go all the way, because when we aren't running a sports blog we're picking our nose and eating paste.

Don't get discouraged, Cubs fans! They've still got a chance! Tonight's Dugout is after the jump!

The Dugout

	PiniellaOnTheDonkey: ALL RIGHT MINIONS THE CUBBIES HAVE BEEN LOSIN FOR 100 YEARS AN I BEEN LOSIN FOR DAMN NEAR TWICE AS LONG
	PiniellaOnTheDonkey: SO I WANT THIS STADIUM, TEAM, CITY, OUTHOUSE AND INHOUSE CURSE FREE
	PiniellaOnTheDonkey: HAVE WE BROUGHT IN THE PRIEST TO BLESS OUR CHATROOM WITH HOLY WATER
	grand_marquis: Yes sir, all taken care of.
	PiniellaOnTheDonkey: HOW THE HELL DID THAT GO
	grand_marquis: Shorted out his computer; now he's got to pray for a new one.
	PiniellaOnTheDonkey: HAVE WE BRUTALLY SLAUGHTERED ALL GOATS IN THE CHICAGO METROPOLITAN AREA
	TheriotGhostbusters: Sure did, coach. Didn't take me that long, either, turns out there aren't a hell of a lot of goats in downtown Chicago.
	TheriotGhostbusters: Put their blood on my front door, just like you asked.
	PiniellaOnTheDonkey: IS IT HELPIN YOU BE LESS CURSED
	TheriotGhostbusters: I don't know, but now at least I won't have my first born son killed by The Lord.
	PiniellaOnTheDonkey: WHAT'S THE STORY ON STEVEN Q. BARTMAN
	ReadOnlyMemory: his hands have been "surgically removed" to produce maximum nubbage
	PiniellaOnTheDonkey: SO IF HE TRIES TO INTERFERE...
	ReadOnlyMemory: ...it'll be like hitting the ball with a pool cue. We should still be able to catch it.
	PiniellaOnTheDonkey: TOO RISKY -- HAVE HIM DRAWN AND QUARTERED
	PiniellaOnTheDonkey: WE HAVEN'T LET ANY BLACK CATS INTO THE DUGOUT HAVE WE
	DempsterSlut: What, are we segregating the team again?
	PiniellaOnTheDonkey: NO YOU SHAKY TW*T I'M TALKING ABOUT CATS IN THE LITERAL IMPERSONAL SENSE
	DempsterSlut: no, no cats will come within 50 miles of us as long as Fukudome is in the pen
	PiniellaOnTheDonkey: GOOD JOB DEMPSTER THAT'S THE KIND OF CARELESS RACISM THAT CAN ONLY PAY OFF FOR US
	PiniellaOnTheDonkey: HAVE WE ROUNDED UP AND DISPATCHED THE DESCENDANTS OF BABE RUTH AS A POWER PLAY AGAINST HIS GHOST
	gullivers_trammells: didn't think it was important: Babe Ruth was not wronged by us, did not play for us, and has no possible reason to curse us
	PiniellaOnTheDonkey: YEAH BUT HE POINTED WHERE HE WAS GOING TO HIT A HOME RUN AND THEN HIT A HOME RUN THERE THAT ONE TIME
	gullivers_trammells: we're still not 100% about him doing that
	PiniellaOnTheDonkey: WE'RE DISPUTING HIS LEGACY, ALL THE MORE REASON TO CURSE US GO, KILL HIS FAMILY LIKE I COMMANDED
	gullivers_trammells: I'm just the bench coach, Lou, and I mean MORALLY I don't think I could ever-
	PiniellaOnTheDonkey: DOOOO ITTTTT
	PiniellaOnTheDonkey: ALL RIGHT, IS THAT EVERYTHING DID WE COVER EVERYTHING
	MannyBoutTown: I think so. Oh, but you forgot one.
	PiniellaOnTheDonkey: WE DID WHICH ONE
	MannyBoutTown: The "curse of the other team kicking the sh** out of you at baseball."
	MannyBoutTown: /hits 75 home runs
	Online Host The Dodgers have swept the Cubs and knocked them out of the 2008 Playoffs.
	MannyBoutTown: manny being...
	MannyBoutTown: pshhh, y'all aren't even worth it. /flips dreadlocks
	PiniellaOnTheDonkey: YAARRRRGGGHHH
	HowryDoin: Oh no, it's a new and exciting curse! The Curse of the Ram-bino!
	lumberjacks_kerrywood: Combine that with the "Curse of Our Fans Giving Up After Game 1" and we couldn't hope to win!
	Soriano_4_2004: but don't worry everyone, there's always next year, right Coach?
	PiniellaOnTheDonkey: OH GOD THE CURSE OF NEXT YEAR
	PiniellaOnTheDonkey: ARGH I THINK MY HEART JUST EXPLODED
	grand_marquis: Ours too, coach.

Photos link to player info. (Photo Credit: Getty Images) WordUpThome.com

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Angels/Red Sox Game 4 Live Chat

Pat Lackey — 2008-10-06T20:15:00+00:00

Filed under: Angels, Red Sox, AL East, AL West, MLB Playoffs

The Angels won a game in the playoffs. Against the Red Sox. At Fenway Park. I know that seems improbable given recent history, but it happened. And if the Angels want a Game 5, it's going to have to happen again tonight. Interestingly, the Angels chose the schedule with an extra day of rest, so Jon Lester and John Lackey take the mound on regular rest tonight. The Angels might regret that choice given the way Lester dominated them over seven shutout innings in Game 1.

The game starts at 8:30, as the Red Sox try to become the final team to join the LCS fray (assuming the Rays current lead holds up) and the Angels try to force a decisive Game 5. Follow along after the jump as my fellow FanHouse luminaries and I chronicle the events.

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Rays/White Sox Live Chat Game 4

Matt Watson — 2008-10-06T16:45:00+00:00

Filed under: Rays, White Sox, AL Central, AL East, MLB Live Blogging, MLB Playoffs

The White Sox rode the left arm of John Danks to stay alive in their ALDS series with the Rays. Today, we see a matchup of two talented pitchers making their playoff debuts: Andy Sonnanstine for the Rays, Gavin Floyd for Chicago.

Who cracks? Who shines? Is this series going back to the Trop, or do the Rays start scouting that Angels/Red Sox game tonight? Find out along with us in a very special "FanHouse Live Chat"!

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