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Around SBN: Roy Nelson Willing to Pay for His Next Opponent's Drug Test

Some Phillies Links for You, August 18, 2010: Phanatic For Sale, Cruisin' Roy

Phils, Oswalt cruise
In the vicinity of 12th and Locust?

Phillies' Howard about a week from returning; Rowand speaks

"The thing about these fans … they’re some of the smartest baseball fans in the country," Rowand said. "I think everybody knows they can be rough sometimes, but I think it stems from a good spot. It stems from passion, their infatuation with this team and everything else. It’s a blue-collar town. People here work hard, 9 to 5."

O HAI I IS PERPETUATIN YR STEREOTYPES

Phanatic Around Town
I think they should be donated to several funeral parlors around town.

Columbus clips Yankees

Right-hander Carlos Carrasco dominated the Yankees for seven innings, and the Yankees couldn't recover from Columbus' two-run first inning in a 5-1 loss at Huntington Park.

When does Carlos Carrasco get inducted in the International League Hall of Fame?

Rowand, Burrell glad to be reunited
I wonder if Burrell still does the "naked with a six-pack" gag...

Dobbs goes, Brown stays
I really think Domonic Brown needs the at-bats in Triple-A, but what do I know? He probably will get demoted when Ryan Howard gets back, though.

Mets Alter Closer Rodriguez’s Contract - NYTimes.com
I've got my popcorn ready...

Wild-card lead just a step
I'm glad the players are dismissing it (vocally at least), but having the Wild Card lead outright means that you control your destiny to a certain extent.

Braves Bash Nationals 10-2, Mike Minor Impresses Again - Talking Chop
Great job, Nationals, really.

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Slow day here at TGP so far…or maybe I have just been at work too long and it seems slow.

Like I said last night, with the way the 8th inning went for the Phillies I am curious as to how Karma strikes back tonight. Bad enough we have a mismatch on the mound, at least on paper, but I doubt the baseball God’s are going to be on our side tonight. Oh well, that’s why they play the game.

Looking forward to the Kevin Kolb era.
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!

by EREX21 on Aug 18, 2010 8:58 AM EDT reply actions  

It’s early man.

Pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will.

by FuquaManuel on Aug 18, 2010 9:04 AM EDT up reply actions  

Yeah I guess it is.

Looking forward to the Kevin Kolb era.
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!

by EREX21 on Aug 18, 2010 9:08 AM EDT up reply actions  

Cain’s really good, but for my money, he’s not quite on the level of the other 4 aces on these teams (Halladay, Lincecum, Oswalt, Hamels), so I don’t think the mismatch is as big as you think.

by PhillyFriar on Aug 18, 2010 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions  

I agree…but he isn’t facing one of the 4 guys you just mentioned, he’s facing Joe Blanton.

Looking forward to the Kevin Kolb era.
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!

by EREX21 on Aug 18, 2010 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions  

there is no mismatch

2010 xFIP: Cain 4.40, Blanton 4.43

Career xFIP: Cain 4.48, Blanton 4.41

2010 SIERA: Cain 4.15, Blanton 4.37

by taco pal on Aug 18, 2010 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions  

I may need to revist my career long fascination with Matt Cain as an underrated starter.

by Cormican on Aug 18, 2010 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions  

Or just accept Blanton as an underrated starter!

http://www.thegoodphight.com

by WholeCamels on Aug 18, 2010 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions  

I already like Fat Joe. I just thought Cain was more mid to uppoer 3 xFIP kinda guy.

by Cormican on Aug 18, 2010 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions  

Cain’s kind of a curiosity in this respect:

2006 – ERA 4.15, xFIP 4.54
2007 – ERA 3.65, xFIP 4.61
2008 – ERA 3.76, xFIP 4.52
2009 – ERA 2.89, xFIP 4.22
2010 – ERA 3.11, xFIP 4.40

My guess is that he’s just benefited a LOT from his home ballpark and the other big ballparks in the NL West (and possibly also from his pre-Burrell outfield defense). That doesn’t necessarily mean he’s “overrated” per se, or at least that isn’t necessarily the entire explanation. It could also be that he’s just a perfect match for his team.

by taco pal on Aug 18, 2010 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions  

I don’t think Burrell playing defense behind him for the last 30 or so games really has much of an impact at all on his bottom line. I think if anything, as you suggested it has more to do with his home ball park and other various big ballparks in the NL West.

Looking forward to the Kevin Kolb era.
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!

by EREX21 on Aug 18, 2010 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions  

Those are all probably factors but there’s also a chance that he’s somewhat of an outlier.

http://www.thegoodphight.com

by WholeCamels on Aug 18, 2010 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions  

Yup, exactly. It’s the HR/FB% thing.

by PhillyFriar on Aug 18, 2010 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions  

The one mitigating factor is that Cain has shown an ability throughout his career to limit home runs, and with this big of a sample size, we have to give him some credit for that. I know his park helps, but a career 6.7% HR/FB shows an ability to suppress homers above and beyond any park effects. In that sense, his career FIP (3.85) is far more representative of his ability than his career xFIP (4.40).

by PhillyFriar on Aug 18, 2010 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions  

Could be. It’s hard to tell from just looking at his H/R splits, since so many of his “R” stats are also in big ballparks (SD, LA). I guess the best way to calculate it is to figure out how much the ballparks help the HR/FB stats of other pitchers on the Giants or Padres and then give Cain credit for the overage?

There’s also a slight possibility that Cain’s just had a long run of good luck. It’s true the sample size is pretty substantial by now, but stranger things have happened.

by taco pal on Aug 18, 2010 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions  

But he also has lots of road games in Colorado and Arizona.

http://www.thegoodphight.com

by WholeCamels on Aug 18, 2010 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions  

Right. I’m while I’m not terribly mathematically inclined, I’d think that over 1000 innings of 6.7% HR/FB can only be explained away to some extent by ballpark and luck.

Can’t remember where I was reading the HR/FB% thing, but it does seem to apply in certain outlier cases. Case in point: the new look Cliff Lee. His 720 innings with a HR/FB% in the 4-6 range over the past 3 years can’t be attributed fully to luck, and certainly can’t be attributed to his ballparks.

by PhillyFriar on Aug 18, 2010 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions  

That’s true.

Arizona isn’t an extreme HR park though. 1.098 this year.

Last five years for each:

AT&T: 0.857, 0.970, 0.992, 0.808, 0.681 (Avg 0.862)
Petco: 0.841, 0.721, 0.743, 0.685, 0.982 (Avg 0.794)
Dodger: 1.119, 0.876, 0.857, 1.052, 1.194 (Avg 1.020)
Chase: 1.098, 1.042, 1.068, 1.112, 1.343 (Avg 1.132)
Coors: 1.322, 1.082, 1.299, 1.218, 1.167 (Avg 1.218)

Combined NL West road average = 1.041. So maybe his road stats aren’t such a bad metric after all.

Here are Cain’s H/R ERA splits.
2006 – 3.22 / 5.57
2007 – 3.48 / 3.84
2008 – 3.66 / 3.88
2009 – 2.72 / 3.09
2010 – 2.62 / 3.62
Career – 3.15 / 3.84

by taco pal on Aug 18, 2010 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions  

In any event, even if he’s “really” a 3.8 pitcher, that isn’t a huge mismatch vs. Blanton. It’s a moderate advantage for the Giants.

by taco pal on Aug 18, 2010 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions  

Whatever. Clearly you’re not taking into account clutchness and in-shape-ness.

by PhillyFriar on Aug 18, 2010 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions  

Ah, but Blanton has a 1.000 OPS in World Series games! If that isn’t clutch, I what is, I ask?

Although it is true that I neglected to take Blanton’s aesthetic disadvantages into account. Fatty.

by taco pal on Aug 18, 2010 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions  

Wouldn’t his SIERA adjust for those park factors, or am I missing up my stats?

by Cormican on Aug 18, 2010 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions  

I actually don’t know how SIERA works. Sorry MattS.

by taco pal on Aug 18, 2010 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions  

Anyone else not realize the Phillies and Giants are on Wednesday baseball tonight or am I the only dumbass?

Looking forward to the Kevin Kolb era.
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!

by EREX21 on Aug 18, 2010 9:12 AM EDT reply actions  

As long as it isn’t Joe Morgan providing the commentary – otherwise we will have to listen to whatever horse he wants to beat into the ground – God help the next Sunday Night matchup fans if there is another disputed call.

by WanderingMoses on Aug 18, 2010 9:22 AM EDT up reply actions  

I don’t watch a whole lot of Wednesday night baseball, usually have softball on those nights but I don’t believe Morgan does Wednesday nights.

Looking forward to the Kevin Kolb era.
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!

by EREX21 on Aug 18, 2010 9:27 AM EDT up reply actions  

No he doesn’t, it’s Rick Sutcliffe.

by taco pal on Aug 18, 2010 10:06 AM EDT up reply actions  

I guess thats somewhat of an upgrade.

Looking forward to the Kevin Kolb era.
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!

by EREX21 on Aug 18, 2010 10:06 AM EDT up reply actions  

I don’t know that it is. Sutcliffe might be worse.

by taco pal on Aug 18, 2010 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions  

Sutcliffe just quits paying attention to the game, and he actually has some decent “when I was a player” insights. I don’t mind him. He’s not as robotically out of touch as Morgan is.

by Bilzo on Aug 18, 2010 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions  

Shows how much I watch ESPN Wed. Nights

by WanderingMoses on Aug 18, 2010 10:11 AM EDT up reply actions  

"Call me dumb, call me stupid, whatever. I block shots."

by boknows71 on Aug 18, 2010 9:23 AM EDT up reply actions  

That game was downright fun last night.

But it kills me that the Braves just don’t seem to lose. They’re 8-2 in the last 10. Based on their winning %, they’re currently on pace to win a whopping 95 games. And their schedule between now and the end of the season is not bad. Not bad at all. They only play three series against teams with winning records (1) the Phils; (2) the Cards; and (3) the Rockies (barely). They play series against the Marlins three more times, the Mets twice, and the Pirates, Nats, and Cubs once. Bastards…

by Boundforbeach on Aug 18, 2010 9:22 AM EDT reply actions  

So all we have to do is keep pace with them, maybe get it to 1.5 games and then beat them head to head and we can take the division.

Looking forward to the Kevin Kolb era.
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!

by EREX21 on Aug 18, 2010 9:27 AM EDT up reply actions  

To be fair, our schedule isn’t so bad either. We, like Atlanta, have four series against teams with winning records: at San Diego, at Los Angeles, vs. Atlanta, at Atlanta. Plus the makeup game at Colorado. Mixed in there are series against the Mets, Marlins, Nationals, Astros (a four game set at home, mind you) and Brewers. So neither team has it that bad to finish out the year. This makes the six games played between the two clubs crucial, in my opinion, especially since the last series of the season is at Turner Field.

by Baseball Nerd on Aug 18, 2010 9:28 AM EDT up reply actions  

The Marlins will get up for the Braves.

by WanderingMoses on Aug 18, 2010 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions  

But it kills me that the Braves just don’t seem to lose.

Well, it does help when you’re playing the Nats.

by PhillyFriar on Aug 18, 2010 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions  

If they were playing in the DC Mallpark, the Nats would be sweeping them.

by WanderingMoses on Aug 18, 2010 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions  

don’t the Nats have a winning record against the Braves this year?

by Bilzo on Aug 18, 2010 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions  

At home, the Nats do, and in fact, the Braves are 10-17 at the DC Mallpark since it opened, but in Atlanta, the Braves always play better against the Natinals.

by WanderingMoses on Aug 18, 2010 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions  

they’re 5-5 this year, which means prior to last night…4-5

by Bilzo on Aug 18, 2010 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions  

I miss Rowand’s barbecues.

by David S. Cohen on Aug 18, 2010 9:40 AM EDT reply actions  

The charred meat supercharged the 2008 Phillies to the World Championship, a full year later!

http://www.thegoodphight.com

by WholeCamels on Aug 18, 2010 9:48 AM EDT up reply actions  

They were overcooked because he was too busy teaching the Phillies How To Win™

by WanderingMoses on Aug 18, 2010 9:56 AM EDT up reply actions  

Come on Washington, at least the dodgers were leading in the 9th
At least the nationals did hand it away in the 9th… shame on both of you

Kolb - a heavy medieval war club with a spiked or flanged metal head, used to crush armor - Wikipedia of course
I've been waiting my whole life for an Eagles Championship
RIP JJ

by sports00fan00 on Aug 18, 2010 10:18 AM EDT reply actions  

Did you guys see that post on MLBTR

Trashing Ruben’s tendencies to give longer than necessary deals?

by Nikk.m on Aug 18, 2010 10:53 AM EDT reply actions  

Yes and I agree with it. It’s a well known fact that RAJ gives out extra contract years, I guess to entice people to come to Philly. I have no idea why he does it but it’s frustrating to say the least.

Looking forward to the Kevin Kolb era.
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!

by EREX21 on Aug 18, 2010 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions  

if the club can afford the mistakes, I have no problem with it. However, if there wasn’t enough cash to keep lee and halladay…it’s a good sign there’s no cash to make mistakes.

by Bilzo on Aug 18, 2010 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions  

There’s always an opportunity cost.

by taco pal on Aug 18, 2010 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions  

huh? no comprende.

by Bilzo on Aug 18, 2010 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions  

ok…so if we overpay Raul (which we did)…what’s the opportunity cost? That we didn’t sign (insert other left fielder) instead?

Well if the club has enough money, they can eat Ibanez’s contract once he starts critically underperforming and sign (insert other left fielder).

So while I’ll agree there’s a cost, if there’s enough cash around (ala NYY) the “opportunity cost” doesn’t really matter, does it?

by Bilzo on Aug 18, 2010 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions  

Pretty much. Yes the team can afford to make these mistakes but these mistakes are precluding them from making other signings or trades because they have money stupidly tied up in bad contracts.

Looking forward to the Kevin Kolb era.
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!

by EREX21 on Aug 18, 2010 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions  

If you eat Ibanez’s contract ($X) and you instead sign some other left fielder (for $Y), then the opportunity cost is that you could have had an even better left fielder (worth $X + $Y).

by taco pal on Aug 18, 2010 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions  

only if one is available. If you overpaid Mike Schmidt, then there’s no opportunity cost (other than what you pay him over what another team would have) because you can’t get a better player.

I get that Raul isn’t the best LF in the league )or even close…but he played like it for 3 months last year.

by Bilzo on Aug 18, 2010 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions  

Yes there is. You could then use $X on any number of other purposes (upgrading another position, signing draft picks, investing in Latin America, etc.).

I’m only using Raul as a hypothetical because you did. The particulars of his specific situation are not important.

by taco pal on Aug 18, 2010 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions  

Agreed.

No team can “afford to make mistakes”, unless even with the mistakes they are still head and shoulders above every other team. Every “mistake” reduces the amount of money they can use to shore up other parts of the team (bench, relievers, farm system, etc.)

by schmenkman on Aug 18, 2010 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions  

The guy claims that the Cole Hamels deal was a mistake because it is too long and too expensive, which is patently absurd. Cole is really an “elite” pitcher and we are paying about 7 million per year for him. There were some other really stupid points in the piece IIRC, but when you use something like that as evidence for your argument, the whole thing just sort of disintegrates.

Pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will.

by FuquaManuel on Aug 18, 2010 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions  

Yeah that’s pretty dumb. Cole = bargain.

by taco pal on Aug 18, 2010 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions  

Not to mention RAJ loves to sign guys way to early as opposed to seeing how the market shapes up…and thus ends up overpaying for players.

Looking forward to the Kevin Kolb era.
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!

by EREX21 on Aug 18, 2010 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions  

Braves are close to trading for Derrek Lee...

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/08/braves-close-to-trading-for-derrek-lee.html

Looking forward to the Kevin Kolb era.
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!

by EREX21 on Aug 18, 2010 10:55 AM EDT reply actions  

I’ll take the 2010 Sweeney over the 2010 D Lee especially since “the Big Piece” is the starter anyway.

"Call me dumb, call me stupid, whatever. I block shots."

by boknows71 on Aug 18, 2010 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions  

Atlanta is looking at infielders because Chipper Jones is out for the season, but it would be surprising to see this deal completed.

by taco pal on Aug 18, 2010 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions  

That was 9:22, it has been since updated.

Looking forward to the Kevin Kolb era.
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!

by EREX21 on Aug 18, 2010 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions  

I see.

It would be a good deal for the Braves, and they would get a second-round pick out of it too.

by taco pal on Aug 18, 2010 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions  

Actually, I suppose they wouldn’t offer him arb.

by taco pal on Aug 18, 2010 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions  

Yeah, probably not worth the risk.

Not a bad pickup though, depending on the price of course. Lee hasn’t been very good this year, but he’s still a solid hitter, and if they really think Glaus is cooked (and he either is, or he’s even streakier than Ibanez), then it’s a definite upgrade.

Not sure if it really solves their third base problem, though. Don’t think I’d feel very comfortable running Conrad or Hinske out there every day for glove reasons, and Omar Infante can’t BABIP his way to a good offensive performance forever.

by PhillyFriar on Aug 18, 2010 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions  

he doesn’t need to forever. just through the end of the year.

by Bilzo on Aug 18, 2010 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions  

It would be a very good deal. A pretty solid bat and a gold glover 1st basemen…though the thought of them moving Glaus to 3rd would be interesting. Unless they would just bench Glaus and use him as a PH/Spot Starter. Obviously this is not the D.Lee of the early to mid 2000’s but he can still provide some pop to that lineup.

He’s a pretty good rental when you consider where the team sits in the standings.

Looking forward to the Kevin Kolb era.
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!

by EREX21 on Aug 18, 2010 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions  

I think they would bench Glaus, or have them share time.

Lee is having a worse year than I realized. He is actually having a worse year at the plate than Glaus. Although Glaus has really been struggling lately (he was hot in the first half for a while).

by taco pal on Aug 18, 2010 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions  

The Gold Glove is a pretty suspect award and being the best defensive First Baseman is pretty much like being the Valedictorian in your class when you were homeschooled by yourself.

by Cormican on Aug 18, 2010 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions  

The award may be suspect by the runs he can or does save because of his defense is not.

Looking forward to the Kevin Kolb era.
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!

by EREX21 on Aug 18, 2010 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions  

both baseball-ref’s Rfield and fangraph’s UZR actually have Lee as an average to below-average defensive 1B early in his career but very good defensively since about 2006.

by perfectdepth on Aug 18, 2010 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions  

the braves

are playing a combo of infante/prado/conrad at third

with infante/prado at 2B

by Delaware Boiler on Aug 18, 2010 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions  

Braves are scraping the bottom of the barrel. I’m sensing some desperation.

by Nikk.m on Aug 18, 2010 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions  

I don’t consider Lee bottom of the barrel. The cubs are just in salary dump mode.

by Bilzo on Aug 18, 2010 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions  

If a player is DFA’d, does a team that picks him up in waivers have to put him on the ML roster or can they put him in AAA right away?

Though Dobbs is having a crappy year, could the Braves claim him and put him down in the minors knowing the Phils might use him later on this year? I assume they would have to pay whatever his contract is currently?

by Sept.28.Oct.27.Dec.28.2008 on Aug 18, 2010 11:19 AM EDT reply actions  

I don’t think they can assign him to AAA. I think thats the purpose of DFAing…essentially protecting an established player from being demoted if another club thinks he’s MLB worthy.

by Bilzo on Aug 18, 2010 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions  

Thanks that’s kind of what I was thinking. MLB has to have the most complicated player transaction systems, things like Rule 5 and all

by Sept.28.Oct.27.Dec.28.2008 on Aug 18, 2010 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions  

Dobbs is useless. Let the Braves or any other team have him.

by LeQuan Glover on Aug 18, 2010 11:24 AM EDT reply actions  

Eskin would love that call around 4:15

by Sept.28.Oct.27.Dec.28.2008 on Aug 18, 2010 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions  

braves next five (era/fip/xfip/siera)

Wed: Tim Hudson (2.13/3.89/4.02/3.83) vs. Livan Hernandez (3.08/3.77/4.65/4.89)
Thu: Derek Lowe (4.29/4.13/3.97/4.05) vs. John Lannan (5.23/4.83/5.16/5.27)
Fri: Jair Jurrjens (3.92/3.81/4.41/4.33) vs. Ryan Dempster (3.62/4.20/3.98/3.79)
Sat: Tommy Hanson (3.41/3.07/4.01/3.58) vs. Tom Gorzelanny (3.85/3.59/4.35/4.22)
Sun: Mike Minor (not enough data) vs. Randy Wells (4.44/3.80/3.96/4.01)

by taco pal on Aug 18, 2010 11:24 AM EDT reply actions  

Hopefully Lannan does to the Braves what he does to us. (Puts someone on the DL).

by Nikk.m on Aug 18, 2010 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions  

So, the K-Rod thing...

Is it going to get ugly or what? Or, should I say, uglier?

Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est.

by doubleh on Aug 18, 2010 11:47 AM EDT reply actions  

I dont think they will be able to get away with voiding his 2011 and the 2012 option.

by Nikk.m on Aug 18, 2010 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions  

Well what they are trying first (and the union is fighting it) according to the reports I heard was to convert the contract to non-guaranteed money as opposed to guaranteed due to some clause in the contract that exists. The Union is planning to fight it of course.

by SportingFanaticism on Aug 18, 2010 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions  

Or is that the same thing as voiding it?

by SportingFanaticism on Aug 18, 2010 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions  

I’m kind of hoping the Braves make the playoffs (as the WC of course), because the postseason is more fun when the teams you’re playing are teams you don’t like. I don’t mind the Reds and I actually kind of like the Giants and Padres, so all other things being equal I’d prefer to play against the Cardinals and Braves.

by taco pal on Aug 18, 2010 11:50 AM EDT reply actions  

Not me. I want Braves fans to suffer yet another year of disappointment.

Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est.

by doubleh on Aug 18, 2010 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions  

This raises an interesting philosophical question. Will they be more disappointed if they (again) fail to make the playoffs or if they (again) lose in the playoffs.

by taco pal on Aug 18, 2010 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions  

Especially in the last year of Bobby Cox’s reign of terror.

"I remember being three and I wanted to be a baseball player, that's all I ever really wanted to be. That and Spider Man." -Raul Ibanez

by Jose and the Contrarians on Aug 18, 2010 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions  

I have to admit a 3 game Sweep in the Divisional Playoffs with Cox getting booted in the 3rd inning would be pretty nice.

by Cormican on Aug 18, 2010 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions  

As long as it’s not the cardinals dong the sweeping, i’m good with that

by SportingFanaticism on Aug 18, 2010 1:31 PM EDT up reply actions  

Hmmm…now you’ve got me thinking. Perhaps if they do get in and suffer the misery which was the Chicago Cubs 2008 early exit, I could enjoy that.

Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est.

by doubleh on Aug 18, 2010 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions  

The only complication is that I would like our team to be the ones to do it to them. But of course we can’t face them in the first round under the current playoff format.

by taco pal on Aug 18, 2010 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions  

Well, we could do it to them down the stretch and cause them not to make the playoffs, a la those pesky Marlins of the mid-00’s. Excellent. /Mr. Burns’d

Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est.

by doubleh on Aug 18, 2010 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions  

I think making the playoffs and losing is more disappointing then not making them at all. But thats clearly just an opinion.

Looking forward to the Kevin Kolb era.
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!

by EREX21 on Aug 18, 2010 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions  

Well I don’t think it would be that…a 7 game lead in the division in late July/early August and giving it up is not nearly a Mets type collapse. Now if they had that lead in the beginning of September then it’s a different story.

Looking forward to the Kevin Kolb era.
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!

by EREX21 on Aug 18, 2010 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions  

The better NOT have that type of lead come the beginning of September.

Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est.

by doubleh on Aug 18, 2010 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions  

Well I didn’t want to say that they would or won’t have that type of lead come September for fear of a jinx, so I chose to leave it semi open ended.

Looking forward to the Kevin Kolb era.
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!

by EREX21 on Aug 18, 2010 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions  

I wasn't referring specifically to the size of the lead

more so that the Mets had a lead on us two years in a row in September and fell apart.

by Screen Name 20 on Aug 18, 2010 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions  

At least you get to watch your team in a couple playoff games. The last few years I stopped caring about baseball in August.

I fed a fish to a pelican and Frisco bay and he tried to eat my cell phone he ran away

by TradeAndruw on Aug 18, 2010 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions  

If a tree falls in the woods and no one is around to hear it…

by Cormican on Aug 18, 2010 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions  

In the early-to-mid-2000s once the Phillies were out of it (or effectively so) I used to half-heartedly root for the Braves so as to enjoy their early playoff exit.

With the Phillies now being a perennial playoff team it would be extra sweet if they could be the ones to deliver the disappointment.

by phatj on Aug 18, 2010 5:38 PM EDT up reply actions  

Can’t agree more.

F Bobby Cox

"Call me dumb, call me stupid, whatever. I block shots."

by boknows71 on Aug 18, 2010 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions  

I agree with this…though I would love to have the chance to knock the Dodgers out of the playoffs for a third year in a row.

Looking forward to the Kevin Kolb era.
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!

by EREX21 on Aug 18, 2010 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions  

You think the Dodgers actually make the playoffs?

Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est.

by doubleh on Aug 18, 2010 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions  

No they absolutely won’t make the playoffs, I was just saying it would be awesome to beat them three years in a row.

Looking forward to the Kevin Kolb era.
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!

by EREX21 on Aug 18, 2010 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions  

The problem with this idea is that

while, yes, it would be fun to beat the Braves in the postseason, there is also a chance that the Braves can beat the Phillies and perhaps even go onto the World Series.

That would suck. I’d rather just see them collapse and not make the playoffs. The NL East begins and ends with the Phillies,and I’d like to see it stay that way.

by MyronBales on Aug 18, 2010 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions  

yup.

Phils win the NL East, Wild Card from another division, then losing won’t be as painful if it occurs.

by Bilzo on Aug 18, 2010 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions  

Met Wheels last night at the Phillies dinner. Nice guy. Took a lot of Q & A. Definitely knows his stuff about the Phils.

Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est.

by doubleh on Aug 18, 2010 12:09 PM EDT reply actions  

It was an appreciation dinner for Group Leaders (since I bought a few suites for work). It was nicely done. Good food. Didn’t get to meet any players or anything, but the Phanatic was there! (my son’s head would have exploded)

Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est.

by doubleh on Aug 18, 2010 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions  

It was a Phillies dinner w/o any players? That sucks. I’d want my money back for my free dinner.

by Bilzo on Aug 18, 2010 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions  

LOL. Hey, I got to see a game for free, too—and a good one. I’ll take it.

Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est.

by doubleh on Aug 18, 2010 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions  

Nationals series...

Strasburg should pitch sometime during the series…I wonder if there’s any chance he’ll be facing Roy Halladay on Friday (epic!). MLB.com listed a TBA for the Nationals on Friday last time I checked.

"Clever girl."

by LeepinLizardz on Aug 18, 2010 12:21 PM EDT reply actions  

Phillies vs Giants with Not-so Mighty Joe Blanton on the mound

Nice job the Phillies have done without Howard and Utley in the lineup as of late and congrats on coming back sooner then expected Mr. Utley. Tonight, I am hoping either Joe pitches like Roy Halladay tonight or that the Phils bail him out again like they did against the Dodgers last week.

by Brzyski R on Aug 18, 2010 12:29 PM EDT reply actions  

LOL

Another site was asking for sign suggestions to take to tonight’s game and someone came up with this gem:

“Sandoval ate my other sign.”

Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est.

by doubleh on Aug 18, 2010 12:32 PM EDT reply actions  

That would be a good one to hold up next to his head on the close-up view when he’s at the plate.

It would also be funny to just say something really blunt and concise like “REVOLTING BLOB”

by taco pal on Aug 18, 2010 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions  

The entire game my boss is sitting next to me, saying “Why don’t they just bunt it toward third? That fatass will never get to the ball.”

Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est.

by doubleh on Aug 18, 2010 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions  

unless the ball had sardines painted on it.

by Bilzo on Aug 18, 2010 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions  

LOLzers

Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est.

by doubleh on Aug 18, 2010 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions  

Recently Added to the endangered species list:

1. Fat Panda
2. Giants playoff hopes

by SportingFanaticism on Aug 18, 2010 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions  

Also excellent. Too many good jokes to be made at PS expense.

Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est.

by doubleh on Aug 18, 2010 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions  

You know, sitting ont he 3rd base line and throwing bamboo at him might get you ejected, but it’s funny

by SportingFanaticism on Aug 18, 2010 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions  

It’s too bad Sanchez isn’t pitching this national game, because there would have been a lot of material there too. If he gave up a home run, you could hold up a sign saying “SANCHEZ GUARANTEED THAT HOMER” and so forth. (I like Sanchez, but you know, it’s just business.)

by taco pal on Aug 18, 2010 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions  

Hopefully this means Glaus gets benched and then starts whining, thus disrupting the clubhouse, leading him to calling Billy Wagner a rat.

by WanderingMoses on Aug 18, 2010 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions  

I’d just prefer people start teeing off against Wagner.

by Bilzo on Aug 18, 2010 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions  

Is that Bernard Hopkins in there?

by Cormican on Aug 18, 2010 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions  

SFW, nothing too racy in there.

Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est.

by doubleh on Aug 18, 2010 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions  

The thing that shocked me most was how hot Brian Schneider’s wife is.

by youaretheman26 on Aug 18, 2010 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions  

Play a professional sport making over a million dollars and you probably tend to do pretty well with the ladies.

by Cormican on Aug 18, 2010 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions  

Look at rock stars wives, for example. Way, way too hot for most of them.

Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est.

by doubleh on Aug 18, 2010 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions  

Lyle Lovette and Julia Roberts or perhaps Seal and Heidi Klum.

by Cormican on Aug 18, 2010 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions  

Ric Ocasek is the most cited example in this field.

by taco pal on Aug 18, 2010 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions  

Yes, he is the ugliest.

Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est.

by doubleh on Aug 18, 2010 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions  

I thought that was just some random lady in the picture, but Schneider’s wife is in fact very attractive.

by taco pal on Aug 18, 2010 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions  

One of the best looking, I think. Johari is also nice. I just don’t get the Heidi Hamels thing.

Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est.

by doubleh on Aug 18, 2010 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions  

Cole seemed to be looking down her dress in just about every shot.

by Bilzo on Aug 18, 2010 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions  

Agreed. I think Heidi is pretty but very overrated.

by taco pal on Aug 18, 2010 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions  

Neither do I. I guess the fact that she was in Playboy and on tv makes her seem more attractive than she really is?

I actually met Brian Schnieders wife, very very nice woman.

Looking forward to the Kevin Kolb era.
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!

by EREX21 on Aug 18, 2010 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions  

is there some type of bragging rights associated with being able to say that your wife was once in playboy? And if you do deem it bragworthy, what does that say about you?

by Boundforbeach on Aug 18, 2010 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions  

thanks..scrolling through now, will intersperse commentary:
Cole looks as dumb as he sounds.
Moyer looks like a drunk creepy old man, but I guess those were his daughters, so that makes it ok.
Was Romero going to hang out on top of Mauna Kea with that outfit? What’s up with Hawaiian dude modeling the parka?
Who is the guy in #16?

by Bilzo on Aug 18, 2010 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions  

dirka romero=victorino.

by Bilzo on Aug 18, 2010 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions  

  1. is Boxing great Bernard Hopkins.

by Cormican on Aug 18, 2010 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions  

Damn formatting mean to say number 16 is…

by Cormican on Aug 18, 2010 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions  

Also saw Danny Bonnaduci (sp?) which immediately removes all traces of credibility from the event.

by Bilzo on Aug 18, 2010 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions  

Blame his radio station for that one

by Sept.28.Oct.27.Dec.28.2008 on Aug 18, 2010 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions  

Actually, you’d be surprised at how many Hawaiians whip out their furs and parkas in the winter months when the temp at night is 60 degrees. That’s downright frosty for them.

Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est.

by doubleh on Aug 18, 2010 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions  

Truth. But Southern Californians are the whiniest in that regard.

by taco pal on Aug 18, 2010 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions  

They are pretty whiny, I will attest to that.

by SportingFanaticism on Aug 18, 2010 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions  

Vicotrino looks like he’s about to go audition for “I Know What You Did To That Hobo Last Summer”.

Sweater, Galoshes, a tweed coat and a hood that looks like a trash can liner? For God’s sake, just go back the damned Affliction T-shirts and salvage some respect Vic.

by Cormican on Aug 18, 2010 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions  

Any guesses on the lineup tonight?

by MalibuLSV23 on Aug 18, 2010 3:55 PM EDT reply actions  

If Gload is available...

1. Rollins
2. Polanco
3. Utley
4. Raul?
5. Werth
6. Gload
7. Victorino
8. Chooch
9. Cupcakes

Maybe get Brown a start since Cains a righty?

by Sept.28.Oct.27.Dec.28.2008 on Aug 18, 2010 3:59 PM EDT reply actions  

Rollins
Utley
Polanco
Werth
Victorino
Brown
Sweeney
Ruiz
Cookies

by Bilzo on Aug 18, 2010 4:00 PM EDT reply actions  

From Zolecki's twitter:

Tonighht’s lineup vs. SF: Rollins SS, Polanco 3B, Utley 2B, Ibanez LF, Werth RF, Victorino CF, Gload 1B, Ruiz C, Blanton P.

by Nikk.m on Aug 18, 2010 4:38 PM EDT reply actions  

That’s as potent a lineup as I’ve seen in a long long time

by Nikk.m on Aug 18, 2010 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions  

At least I had the right players, just switched Vic and Gload

by Sept.28.Oct.27.Dec.28.2008 on Aug 18, 2010 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions  

Over / Under how many runs Cookie gives up in the first two innings before shutting their lineup down in the 3rd – 7th?

by Boundforbeach on Aug 18, 2010 4:52 PM EDT reply actions  

They need to trick him into thinking it’s the third at the beginning of the game somehow. Like how some people set their clocks fast to trick themselves into waking up early.

by taco pal on Aug 18, 2010 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions  

Is it me or have the comments on the daily links nearly tripled in the last few months? We’re coming up on 200 already, and that’s without Jemagee

by Boundforbeach on Aug 18, 2010 5:03 PM EDT reply actions  

Race is tight, big guns coming back. Exciting time to be a Phan.

by Nikk.m on Aug 18, 2010 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions  

Or the bandwagon grows larger once the playoffs get closer.

Expect it to wane off come regular season NFL

by SportingFanaticism on Aug 18, 2010 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions  

July 2010 was our Biggest Month Ever w/r/t total visits/readers (yes, bigger than October ’08 and ’09).

http://www.thegoodphight.com

by WholeCamels on Aug 18, 2010 6:22 PM EDT up reply actions  

That’s suprising given the lousy play in early to mid July.
How is August shaping up?

by philsandthrills on Aug 18, 2010 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions  

Lousy play, but trade deadline bump. And sometimes reading/writing about struggling teams is more fun!

August looking pretty good, somewhat behind July though.

http://www.thegoodphight.com

by WholeCamels on Aug 18, 2010 6:44 PM EDT up reply actions  

Pessimism breeds discussion, at the very least.

by philsandthrills on Aug 18, 2010 6:52 PM EDT up reply actions  

why does that go to newsstands before subscribers?

by Bilzo on Aug 18, 2010 6:56 PM EDT up reply actions  

That is goofy. I’ll get mine in the mail today.

by Cormican on Aug 19, 2010 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions  

No, I have a sub. It came in the mail today.

by essman on Aug 18, 2010 6:57 PM EDT reply actions  

Above in reply to Bilzo.

by essman on Aug 18, 2010 6:57 PM EDT up reply actions  

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