1st pitch of 2009, anyone else watching?
by Julie on Apr 5, 2009 8:10 PM EDT
135 comments
Jon Miller with his face made for radio and Joe Morgan with his brain made for McDonalds. ESPN 2. Phillies versus Braves.
It's baseball! It's 2009!
I couldn't care less about either of these teams, but I'm watching. I need a brief fix of baseball to calm me down.
Who's with me?
This is going to be a rough season for me, but I'm fired up.
Can the Phillies repeat? Do I care? NO!
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First hit of the season goes to Chipper Jones. Boo.
by Julie on Apr 5, 2009 8:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Why boo Chipper Jones?
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on Apr 5, 2009 9:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And the first home run of the year goes to Brian McCann.
by Julie on Apr 5, 2009 8:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I liked the short OPS primer, and the accompanying silence from Joe Morgan
by SanD on Apr 5, 2009 8:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I bet the Phillies want to get someone on base for getting them home, no matter who’s on deck.
by Julie on Apr 5, 2009 8:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Chase Utley: way older than everybody thinks since 2004.
by afh4 on Apr 5, 2009 8:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
That ball went a lot farther than I thought it would.
by Julie on Apr 5, 2009 8:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Chipper Jones gave me my first point of fantasy baseball this year.
It’s nice to be back.
by JRontherim on Apr 5, 2009 8:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
At first I thought this said that he’s BLACK….and that’s where I would’ve drawn the line with confusing ethnicity names.
by supermarioelia on Apr 5, 2009 9:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’ll find it amusing if the Phillies get booed tonight
by SanD on Apr 5, 2009 8:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
With this Arizona heat and wind, you can’t take all these home runs at face value.
"...leading the league in most offensive categories. Including nose hairs."
by sarcasmdave on Apr 5, 2009 8:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Do you only use this user name when posting sarcastic comments?
by JulioBernazard on Apr 5, 2009 8:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Most of my posting here is sarcastic comments, so it’s the only user name I use.
"...leading the league in most offensive categories. Including nose hairs."
by sarcasmdave on Apr 5, 2009 9:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is Nick Swisher really not going to get ABs in New York?
by afh4 on Apr 5, 2009 8:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Tex at 1B
Matsui at DH
No one really wants him playing OF, do they?
by JulioBernazard on Apr 5, 2009 8:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Myer’s doesn’t know what “it” even is.
by JRontherim on Apr 5, 2009 8:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ignore that unnecessary apostrophe, please.
by JRontherim on Apr 5, 2009 8:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Can I root for CC to do well and the Yankees to lose all but the games he starts?
by Julie on Apr 5, 2009 8:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I just realized CC signed with the Yankees on my birthday. How depressing that would have been had I connected the two.
by JRontherim on Apr 5, 2009 8:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It makes you less of a fan according to our fearless leader.
But I’m with you.
by mjschaefer on Apr 5, 2009 9:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
When C.C. does well, it rests the Yankees bullpen, helping them to win other games, too.
Rooting for C.C. to do well = rooting for the Yankees to do well
Any denial of this is pure rationalization.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on Apr 5, 2009 9:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t deny it. I just don’t care. I like him. I like it when players I like do well.
by Julie on Apr 5, 2009 10:00 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Well, it’s even worse when it’s the starting pitcher. The starter has about as much influence on the game as six position players.
So it’s like saying, I’m rooting for Posada, Teixeira, Cano, Jeter, Damon and Matsui all to do well … but then the Yankees to lose anyway.
Or, I’m rooting to be dealt a 5 and an 8 at the black jack table … and then get a 21 anyway!
I.e., it’s just stupid.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on Apr 5, 2009 10:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You do know that rooting doesn’t change reality, right? No matter how hard I might root for anyone, it doesn’t make them play better.
In other words, I’m not hurting you.
by Julie on Apr 5, 2009 10:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It isn’t entirely clear that your rooting for the Yankees doesn’t hurt me.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on Apr 5, 2009 10:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The world is full of pain. You’ll have to bear yours manfully.
by Julie on Apr 5, 2009 10:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Julie, I like you a whole hell of a lot. Really, I do.
But I am well known for not suffering fools gladly, and I will show no mercy on this subject. It isn’t just the inherent foolishness, it’s the particular problem of the Yankees, who enjoy a $150 million advantage and are particularly undeserving of a good result. It’s like rooting for O.J. Simpson to have a really good lawyer.
You and everyone else has been forewarned — LGT will not be a hospitable place for pro-C.C. folks. If you are rooting for C.C., I would advise you to express that sentiment in the appropriate place, i.e., on a Yankees forum.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on Apr 5, 2009 10:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
So, you’re telling me to leave? Seriously?
Okay.
Have a nice season, everyone.
by Julie on Apr 5, 2009 10:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I am telling you that some things are not appropriate to express on this forum. There’s a whole list of them in the Ground Rules.
Rooting for the Yankees is one of those things. This generally would be considered trolling, in fact. If you are posting about how much you want C.C. to do well, you basically are just asking for a fight. I’m sure you are not in the habit of bringing up sensitive subjects without any productive purpose in your everyday life.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on Apr 5, 2009 10:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
are we allowed to post “Sabathia is a fat slob” now? or would that still count as trolling?
by BrianRose on Apr 5, 2009 10:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You just beat me to it…
"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge..." C. Darwin
by Spidey on Apr 5, 2009 10:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No, that actually is okay now. But the conversation is going to go like this:
BrianRose: I hate that fat slob.
APV: Actually, he’s apparently in great shape and works out all the time. He’s just huge.
BrianRose: Yeah, I know, but I just hate that guy.
mauichuck: Rec.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on Apr 5, 2009 10:41 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Manhattan Tribe Fan: Rec.
Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Apr 5, 2009 11:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Julie thing was a little authoritarian, though.
Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Apr 5, 2009 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I just think people deserve fair warning.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on Apr 5, 2009 11:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It could be something else, but it’s not trolling any longer.
by Ryan on Apr 5, 2009 11:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yo Julie, I think you’re too funny to leave. FWIW.
by joeee on Apr 5, 2009 11:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hey, it’s her loss. Let her try the ESPN sites for awhile. She’ll come back.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
by mauichuck on Apr 5, 2009 11:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It may or may not be her loss, but it would be our loss. I hope she sticks around.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on Apr 5, 2009 11:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No, I’m not leaving. I let my surprise and frustration get the better of me.
I can’t qualify as a true fan, but I need LGT way more than it needs me.
by Julie on Apr 6, 2009 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This comment is so, so far beyond inappropriate it’s not even funny.
Professional Lurker. Non-Baseball Posting Specialist.
by fingolfin on Apr 6, 2009 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m confused. Also, not all that interested.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on Apr 6, 2009 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
if you root for CC to do well and the yankees to still lose, that would mean that you’re rooting for six position players to do especially poorly. so really its like super-rooting against the (non-CC) yankees.
maybe you don’t hate the yankees enough to pull for CC?
by BrianRose on Apr 5, 2009 10:16 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I hate the Yankees enough to root for eight position players, one DH, and my former favorite pitcher to all fail catastrophically.
by still ill on Apr 6, 2009 2:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Any denial of this is pure rationalization.
That statement doesn’t make it sound like a bad process.
by Voltaire on Apr 5, 2009 10:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Except for when that coincides with a start against the Indians – there’s some day in April that might happen, I hear.
by Voltaire on Apr 5, 2009 9:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Stop living in the past. CC did make the choice to pitch for the Yankees. It’s not like anyone was holding a gun to his head.
Or, put it this way – if CC were still an Indian and bit the big one in Game 7 of the World Series, would Tribe fans still root for the guy?
"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge..." C. Darwin
by Spidey on Apr 5, 2009 11:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No, you may not. And I would appreciate it if you’d refer to the Hefty Lefty as either “That Big Tub or Goo” or Cazzi Culone.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
by mauichuck on Apr 5, 2009 11:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Julie, think of it this way.
CC Sabathia is guaranteed to make $161M from the Yankees. On a personal level, that means he’s more than set for life, no matter what he does from now on. So if you’re rooting for CC as a person, I don’t see any conflict in rooting for him fail on the field, since he’s still getting a large check every two weeks no matter what happens.
But he’s pitching for the Yankees now, which means he’s pitching in competition with the Indians. If he’d be pitching for the Seattle Mariners, he’d still be the enemy. You have to root for him to fail early and fail often, and that goes for everyone on an opposing team, from the ace to the backup catcher. By all means remember what he did for the Indians, but that’s in the past now.
by Ryan on Apr 5, 2009 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
what he did for the Indians
Every day – except when the chips were on the table in the ’07 ALCS, when he turned into Jose Mesa.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
by mauichuck on Apr 5, 2009 11:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
WE WOULD NOT HAVE EVEN BEEN THERE WITHOUT HIM. THIS IS STUPID.
by Voltaire on Apr 5, 2009 11:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wouldna been in the ’97 Series without Mesa either, so what?
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
by mauichuck on Apr 5, 2009 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
So I don’t see the point in complaining.
by Voltaire on Apr 5, 2009 11:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sorry, I get emotional about these things.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
by mauichuck on Apr 5, 2009 11:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah. Brick killed a guy!
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on Apr 5, 2009 11:55 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Chuck is not asserting facts in conflict with yours. The only difference is tone.
And actually, Sabathia was credited with 6.6 wins above replacement in 2007, and we won the division by eight games. So you could argue that the Indians get to the postseason even without Sabathia — and obviously, with his 15 ER in 15.1 IP, he made no contribution toward our advancing in the playoffs once we got there.
I’m just saying, you could make the argument. Now the 2008 Brewers, on the other hand, they could definitely say that.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on Apr 6, 2009 12:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
True. Though I’d counter that his performance in previous seasons helped build that club by knowing we had an ace and could focus resources elsewhere etc.
by Voltaire on Apr 6, 2009 12:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh, I think the whole argument is bogus, I’m just saying, there’s an argument.
It’s bogus in part because WARP doesn’t really account for how it helps the bullpen to have a guy go 241 innings, specifically leading the league. Consider that the average AL team’s top IP guy went 216 innings, so C.C. spared the bullpen 25 innings above the average #1 starter, and of course many more IP compared to an average AL starter or replacement-level guy. (Of course, this same effect is one of the reasons why you can’t root for him to pitch well for the Yankees.)
It’s also bogus because rolling into the playoffs after clinching two weeks earlier is not at all the same thing as clinching in the final weekend.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on Apr 6, 2009 1:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
if we’re not allowed to discuss non-Indians in any sort of positive, maybe that should be in the ground rules. then, if anyone were to slip up and say “Ian Kinsler sure seems like a nice guy” y’all would be able to say that discussing non-Indians positively is strictly prohibited. rather than just browbeating people into submission about it.
by BrianRose on Apr 6, 2009 12:08 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
So below. And saying someone is a nice guy is not the same thing as rooting for him to play well for a team that may compete with us for a playoff spot. We all know the Rangers aren’t even on that list.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on Apr 6, 2009 12:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I certainly wasn’t saying that, and I’m pretty sure Jay wasn’t. Respecting the player and rooting for him to fail are compatible.
by Ryan on Apr 6, 2009 12:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
if CC is pitching against the White Sox, don’t we want him to do well? wouldn’t that help up more than him failing?
by BrianRose on Apr 6, 2009 12:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That’s a whole different discussion, and it has to do with ranking teams at different parts of the season, based on whose failure is more helpful to us. Early in the year, it probably makes more sense to root for the White Sox to lose to the Yankees, but it’s a close call. C.C. will start almost all of his games against a direct or indirect rival of ours, but the team he’s pitching for is the clear preseason favorite to win the Wild Card.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on Apr 6, 2009 12:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Let’s not slice this too thin or turn it into some metaphysical discussion. Yankees – all Yankees – are part of a business unit dedicated to the distruction of competitive baseball. They are a predatory organization. Any support, in any form is tantamount to supporting the distruction of baseball. I don’t like it and will never like it.
You can root for whoever you wish, but you’re gonna hear from me every time you do.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
by mauichuck on Apr 6, 2009 12:38 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Lord did I just spell destruction “distruction” twice? Man I gotta stop smokin’ this stuff.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
by mauichuck on Apr 6, 2009 1:27 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
This shall be forever known as “The Yankee Clause”
'Z' button abuser.
by emd2k3 on Apr 6, 2009 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If he’d be pitching for the Seattle Mariners, he’d still be the enemy.
I somewhat agree, but not entirely. I agree that he’d still be the enemy, and I have chided people in the past for rooting for the A’s (they’re dorks!) or the Rays (they’re so cute!). But the Yankees are in a different category, as their ongoing business practices uniquely threaten the Indians’ chances to make the playoffs and win a championship.
I would argue, in fact, that C.C. is in a special category, because of his tremendous contributions to the Indians, but whatever slack I may have given him is negated by the Yankees also being in a special category. Bottom line, why couldn’t he have signed with the f’ing Dodgers?
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on Apr 6, 2009 12:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Meant as a curious, polite question:
Who do you think we should we root for in the AL? The rest of the teams can’t all go 0-162.
by Voltaire on Apr 6, 2009 12:52 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
The Pirates.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on Apr 6, 2009 1:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
rec for penetrating insight.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
by mauichuck on Apr 6, 2009 1:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Funny how apropos this to me, since in our fantasy league (DRINK), we have moved the Pirates roster to the AL to even up the leagues 15-15.
by talonk on Apr 8, 2009 12:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I hate Justin Pedroia in commercials as much as in the game.
by Julie on Apr 5, 2009 9:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Jon Miller just called him Logan Schaefer. Mixing up trendy 90s boys names is fun..
by afh4 on Apr 5, 2009 9:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Also in the running: Hunter, Max, Noah. Some of those might be more 00s.
I teach tons of Max’s.
by afh4 on Apr 5, 2009 9:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It took a third time, and two graphics, for him to realize he was calling him the wrong name.
Meanwhile, Joe Morgan went about his merry way talking about slidepieces, and never once jumped in with a “Jordan”.
ESPN’s top broadcast booth is in mid-season form already.
You know Selig? Ombudsman.
by rolub on Apr 5, 2009 11:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Uhh. I was think he looks like The Scream.
by afh4 on Apr 5, 2009 9:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Now that I see him more not at all. But there was one shot of him at the plate where I thought he did.
by Voltaire on Apr 5, 2009 9:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
So what’s up with the strike zone on Gameday? I’ve seen it lots of different sizes. Does it scale to the height of the player?
by Voltaire on Apr 5, 2009 9:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Gameday confirms that was strike four.
by Voltaire on Apr 5, 2009 9:32 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
It seems like it does. It was huge when Lowe was at bat and is distinctly smaller now.
by Voltaire on Apr 5, 2009 9:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I bet fake money the Phillies would win by two on a whim. I am going to lose my fake money.
by Voltaire on Apr 5, 2009 9:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It’s your defense of Cazzi Culone - real buzz kill.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
by mauichuck on Apr 5, 2009 11:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You just have that Yankees aura now.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on Apr 6, 2009 12:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ewww.
/scrubs/
It won’t come off! It won’t come off!
by Voltaire on Apr 6, 2009 12:53 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
rec for being a good sport.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on Apr 6, 2009 1:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Derek Lowe was confused because he says it’s a curve and McCann kept calling for a slider in ST.
by afh4 on Apr 5, 2009 9:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
If it looks like a slider, isn’t it a slider?
by Julie on Apr 5, 2009 9:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Gameday has the final word. The lineout to Lowe was called a curveball, after calling every breaking ball of the AB a slider.
by Voltaire on Apr 5, 2009 9:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Still trying to figure out if this ump has a consistent strike zone, or if he’s still in ST mode.
by Voltaire on Apr 5, 2009 9:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
did anyone catch Joe Morgan talking about OPS at the start of the broadcast? I know these things are all pre-written and apparently ESPN is giving OPS some more exposure, but it just seemed strange. Almost like he spoke an alien language.
by JP_Frost on Apr 5, 2009 9:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
“these are not the stats you’re looking for … "
'Z' button abuser.
by emd2k3 on Apr 6, 2009 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I love baseball on TV. It just looks right.
by Voltaire on Apr 5, 2009 9:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
There’s a storm over my house that’s making my TV rattle. That probably means my electricity is about to go out. Again.
by Julie on Apr 5, 2009 9:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Huh, what is this thing called baseball?
So 2009.
by Gradyforpresident on Apr 5, 2009 9:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
You have to live with these jackasses before you realize why you should never root for CC or the Yankees
Just take my word for it
by Roger Dorn on Apr 6, 2009 12:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Volt’s right, the smell can be tough.
Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Apr 6, 2009 8:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Try a few dollops of Bertman’s Ball Park mustard.
by odradek on Apr 9, 2009 8:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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