Been paying real attention to the Central this weekend cause of my trip next week. I thought the Astros would be out of it by now. But the games I'm going to actually have meaning within the divisional race. Monday I'm scheduled to see Wandy vs. Zambo. SO JUICED.

Do they even play baseball in fucking Greece?

uh. no? does that change the fact that my Dodgers are kicking ass?

I'm just say

<font color=goldenrod>Johan Santana surrenders a first-pitch, 2-run dinger to Mike Hampton.

Just one of those years, I guess...they have at least one big LOLMets moment every night.</font>

Mariano gets up to warm up for a save, Posada hits a solo HR. 5-1 Yankees, Mo laughs and sits down

8 IN A ROW

Jobamania is eating his vitamins and saying his prayers

The Yankees are unstoppable right now. Hopefully we keep this going with Tampa and Boston comin up we better.

Well Hampton is second on the active list of home runs by pitchers, so it isn't all that surprising.

<font color=goldenrod>Yeah but I'm pretty sure his time in Colorado kinda beefed up those numbers.

He's still a decent hitter and all...but damn. It just had to be against the ace of the staff to make it even more frustrating. Second straight year Johan's given up a first-pitch dinger to a pitcher (last year he gave up a grand slam against Felix Hernandez, who had his eyes closed as he swung).</font>

Hitting home runs was literally all Mike Hampton was good for when he was here

Recent word from ESPN is that the Phillies aren't willing to give up both Drabek and Happ.

I don't like that.

Have fun with Moyer in the playoffs, and the following year

I will not.

Bummer. Someone had to flinch in that pitchers duel today. Too bad it was Pettitte.

Let's hope the O's keep Boston in check tonight.

Try being a Jays fan :mad:

:'(

Yeah, we all knew that stretch wouldn't last forever. 8 game streak is a lot and it put us in first place. I ain't gonna complain about that. But, yeah hopefully Baltimore can win this one.

Papi

Apparently it would take Hughes, Montero and Jackson or Joba, Hughes + two others for the Yankees to get Halladay. Kinda figured it would be a crazy asking price.

Seems like the Angels and Phillies are the two big teams in on him.

Don't want or need Halladay. And the Blue Jays GM doesn't want to trade him within the division.

Now Chad Qualls is one thing. We can trade a couple bottom feeders and grab him no problem. However, we also sent scouts up to Toronto to take a looksee at Scott Downs.

Well, you can cancel the Phillies out. If the Angels sign Halladay I would seriously be panicked. If the Yankees make the wild card. We'd have to face the Angels in the first round AWAY.

The Angels are a scary enough team without Halladay.

Totally agree about not wanting Halladay. Not worth it to tear the farm apart.

The one thing I want is to get a set-up man and put Hughes back into the rotation. Sooner or later they will need to put someone in the rotation with Joba's innings limit.

If the Yanks could get a good set-up man and Bruney gets back on track it would make a ton of sense to get Hughes some innings starting so he can have a higher innings count for next year.

Virgil Vasquez vs. Max Scherzer - Sunday @ Chase
Wandy Rodriguez vs. Carlos Zambrano - Monday @ Wrigley
Mike Hampton vs. Randy Wells - Wednesday @ Wrigley

going to be fucking insane.

oh, what, 27 games over .500 now?

Decent outing by Ssssssssssssssergio today, though Coke got the win. Given time, he should shape right up.

Thanks, O's.

No, I think the person we should be thanking is John Smoltz.

As much as I hate to see it, the Braves look to have made the right decision with Smoltz and Glavine. I'm sure Smoltz will have some better outings, but not being able to work more than five innings isn't all that helpful.

I think Smoltz will have some better outings too............... just not in Boston. You see the Red Sox aren't for everybody. Take most of Boston's shortstop's for example

Lugo, Cora, Renteria, . They are all pretty good shortstop's. But, they weren't as good on the Red Sox. I think Smotz is a good pitcher, I just don't expect him to do better then this on the Red Sox.

For some pitchers/ players playing on the Red Sox/ Yankees may be a little bit too much pressure for the player/pitcher.

I think Smoltz will be DFA'D and and another team will pick him up and I think he will be good then.

I don't think Smoltz is a case of a guy who feels pressured by the big time. He's John Smoltz. He's old and coming off of surgery. The problem is either that he's slowly getting back into his groove, or he's done. Probably the latter.

The Lugo, Renteria thing is true, but you pretty much lifted it from what I was talking about in the Hanley/Beckett thread and applied it here, and I think it really doesn't apply.

Smoltz is too good for the Sox to DFA. They will move him to the bullpen if anything.

I would like to send flowers to the Reds, Phillies and Mets right now. Cubs in 1st :love:

lol Wadding, big deal. It's not like they have the best record in baseball, or anything..

I know, it's not like they've had the benefit of beating the shit out of the worst division in baseball or anything...

Amen. The Central is the best division in the NL.

The Dodgers are playing great, but they have alot to prove this post season

Yeah cuz we haven't been beating up on other divisions either.

Dodgers vs:

East: 13-8
Central: 10-7
West: 30-12

They are good. but they look way better because of their division. WAY better.

Only 1 team in the central (arguably the best division in baseball) has a winning record against the West (Houston), so it's far from a pushover division. Actually the Rockies, who lead the wildcard standings, have a losing record against the rest of the west, and the Giants, 2nd in wildcard standings, are 19-19 against the rest of the west.

Yes. Smoltz is a team guy, and a class act and he already agreed to lend his services however they're needed back in spring training. That includes middle relief.
He's been great over a few innings. The problem is right now he can't go deep into the game, but the first one or two times through the lineup he's doing fantastic.
I think they'll give him one more start, at least. They're being patient with him, because they want him to be ready for the postseason.

I think worst case scenario, though, and he'll be middle relief or setup. That's a pretty good worst case scenario.

Anyone want Chad Qualls, Doug Davis,or Chad Tracy?

no