- 06:17 AM
- 11/08/09
| Name: | gary |
|---|---|
| Homepage URL: | http://teamryan.com/ |
| Location: | the dirty south |
| ZIP: | 32514 |
| Gender: | Well the men don't know, but the little girls understand... |
| AIM: | garytryan |
| Member since: | January 23, 2002 |
| Last visit: | November 08, 2009 |
| Status: | editor |
justgary has posted 408 links and 2509 comments to SportsFilter and 13 links and 340 comments to the Locker Room and 4 columns.
Seats of Gold: Yankee Stadium's Legends Suite Was Sparsely Populated At Times This Season - A Sign Of What Greed Does To Loyalty.
posted by justgary to baseball at 04:24 PM on October 09 - 6 comments
Umpire Billy Evans: In all probability when the 1919 series is over, a diagnosis of it will show that the final result was brought about by some unusual situation or freak happening that was given no consideration when the relative strength of the two clubs was considered.
posted by justgary to baseball at 02:54 PM on October 09 - 4 comments
Pretty Boys No More: Boxers before and after their fights.
posted by justgary to boxing at 05:41 PM on September 10 - 7 comments
Federer's Footwork: Artful and Efficient: Study, study, study.
posted by justgary to tennis at 03:30 PM on September 01 - 4 comments
One pitch: "Have faith in the Yankees, my son," Hemingway's old man says to the boy. "Think of the great DiMaggio." If Ernest Hemingway was alive and writing today, those words would be: "Think of the great Rivera."
posted by justgary to baseball at 01:07 AM on July 04 - 14 comments
This column on ESPN pretty much sums up my feelings on Manuel.
And at some point, isn't it the players' responsibility to perform (and cover third on the Damon steal)? Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, Ryan Howard (10 strikeouts!) and Raul Ibanez are all at, or below, the Mendoza Line. They need to get going because Chase Utley can't do it alone. And even Utley, as productive as he's been (another home run and an RBI double Sunday), will need to break out against a pitcher not named Sabathia. He is 4-for-6 with three homers and a double against CC but 0-for-9 against everyone else.
posted by justgary at 11:25 PM on November 06
If we had gotten a game 7, the decision to start Cole Hamels over Cliff Lee was huge.
We had an interesting discussion, but I don't think there was ever a thought to pitch Lee. Did I miss where Manuel even suggested it was possible? And as I said in the other thread, Lee gave up 5 in 7 on full rest. I'm not sure how you could even expect that level of performance on 2 days.
Another thing I've been meaning to bring up was Manuel's decision to let Pedro Martinez face Hideki Matsui in the third inning. At that point, Matsui had homered in the second inning and was 8-for-18 with four doubles, two homers and four RBIs against Martinez in postseason play. I think he had gotten a hit in every at-bat versus Martinez in this series.
But that was already a part of my award winning game analysis. I thought it was the worst move of the series. Pedro had nothing. Unforgivable to leave him in against Matsui.
I think this was a close series, but Manuel's managing blew the Phillies' chance and will hang around his neck like an albatross.
A play here, a play there, it could have gone the other way. But I don't think it was that close. I think the Yankees were clearly superior, and only held back by a lack of starting pitching depth; a problem they'll solve over the off season.
And I disagree about Manuel. He made mistakes, but when your closer is horrid and your cleanup hitter hits .174 there's only so much you can do. It's much easier to just pencil in Rivera to finish off every game.
posted by justgary at 11:18 PM on November 06
This thread has no game analysis, no series analysis, really nothing much except for protracted attempts to diminish the accomplishments of the victors.
What I said in this thread:
But the phillies also have themselves to blame. Werth being picked off first. Not covering 3rd and allowing Damon to steal two bases. Victorino misjudging a flyball last night. Mistake after mistake. Not even including Pedro being allowed to face Matsui with an 85 mph fastball.
But they weren't going to win with 3 runs anyway. I thought it was a pretty pathetic performance by the Phillies outside of Lee and Utley. They deserved to lose.
Did you want deeper series analysis? Is that why you ignored what I wrote? Sure, nothing I wrote wasn't apparent to most fans, but it was far more detailed than anything on the first page of the forum you linked.
But I don't think that much analysis is necessary. The yankees won because they had the better team. I don't think it was that close. So why are the Yankees so much better? Well, for one, they have the money to sign better players, to have a deeper team. I find that topic interesting. Not only in the aspect of the Yankee WS victory, but in baseball as a whole. Will other teams spend more? Will the Yankees spend less?
You pointed to the BBTD forum, and I've read one page. I have no idea what I've suppose to take from that. If you enjoy it, great. Different forums appeal to different people.
I'm not denying chemistry is involved. I find it ludicrous to believe it has more to do than the talent of the team. That's just my opinion. You can disagree. You can bring it up. I'm not sure where the discussion goes from there, however. And when I quoted what you wrote about the Yankee team your responded sarcastically. I'm guessing you have a point that I'm missing, but it appears you simply wish to argue and play the martyr.
posted by justgary at 10:55 PM on November 06
Second, there's nothing bleak about the Rogers Hornsby quote. It's a beautiful testament to the greatness of baseball.
First comment in the 2007 Red Sox WS victory thread:
Time to start the countdown to pitchers and catchers.
posted by justgary at 10:32 PM on November 06
Why can't the community discuss both?
They can. But if members would rather discuss the payroll advantage than the fact that CC takes players out to dinner, then you can either join in or ignore it.
The Yankees have had this enormous financial advantage for several years. Why is this the first time they've won?
It's been answered multiple times in this thread. Because they finally spent the money wisely. Signing an old Roger Clemens, bad. CC, good. Giambi as a first baseman, bad. Texiera, good. Why is the 2009 team better than 08? Because statistically they're better.
I don't think it's a mystery why the Yankees won. In fact, I'm not sure much in sports is clearer. If someone wants to believe it's because of Chemistry, have at it.
And why should Yankee fans be banished to another site to discuss it?
Don't read more into my comment than is there. I said that if Yankee fans want to ignore the payroll and talk about Chemistry, this site probable isn't for them. In other words, they probably aren't going to be happy.
posted by justgary at 10:27 PM on November 06
Here's the thread from the Phillies championship last year.
Here's the team payrolls for 2008. Certainly you can see why no one brought up payroll in that thread.
The chemistry of the team has been a storyline all year. Girardi drops a day of training to take the club out to play pool. CC takes everybody out to dinner. Nick Swisher is apparently told to crank up the music in the clubhouse. AJ starts throwing pies at guys, and the New York media starts losing their minds over whether or not that fits the "Yankee Way."
Honestly, if someone wants to have discussions on CC taking everyone out to dinner, and nick swisher playing music, and AJ throwing pies, this isn't the site for them. It never has been, and hopefully never will be. There are at least 10 yankee sites I know where you can romanticize the championship and talk about what a difference team chemistry made this year and completely ignore the payroll.
That an intelligent sports community should ignore what is measurable and real and instead discuss AJ throwing pies, well, again, seems comical.
posted by justgary at 09:29 PM on November 06
In the context of the postings, it is a power stat. Justgary stated that ARod was performing better because he had a higher OPS than Jeter. The slugging factor in OPS is important for a cleanup hitter. It is far less important for a leadoff hitter.
Playoff OBP for Jeter = .383. Playoff OBP for ARod = .409
Breaking it down, only in the divisional series does Jeter have a better OBP (.417 / .364). In the league championship series it's not even close with ARod leading .462 to .347 (ARod has higher WS OBP but isn't a good comparison since Jeter's sample size is so much bigger).
If it's the job of a lead off hitter is too get on base, ARod would be a better leadoff hitter. No matter what math you want to use, Arod's a better hitter.
posted by justgary at 04:25 PM on November 06
justgary, I think we're both saying the same thing. But can you honestly say last year's team was worse on paper than the Rays?
No. I agree with you. I just put the fact that the Yankees have failed in the past with high payrolls more to money spent badly and baseball being an unpredictable game than failing to strive under pressure. Not that the pressure isn't entered into the whole thing.
I don't buy the chemistry angle, I don't buy the 'their having more fun' this year bit. But does having Texiera make ARod better? Perhaps take some pressure off? Perhaps. But that still is a function of payroll.
See Point V of the Official DrJohnEvans SpoFi Platform.
Funny. I just saw that on your profile yesterday. I would add my signature.
The Yankees can outbid any team for any player they choose, but they also have the resources to keep any player they choose as well.
The Yankees also have an advantage in that for most players, they really only need to match another teams offer. I would think it's like being a designer and working for Apple. That has a lot of cache. To be a Yankee, for a lot of players, is another feather in their cap. We're talking about huge egos. I have little doubt that Texiera and Damon came to the Yankees partly because of who they were. I have little doubt that Clemens came to the Yankees thinking "I've the greatest pitcher ever, I want to be associated with the greatest sports franchise ever". That it didn't work out is a fact that I treasure.
And no, this isn't an advantage that I'm complaining about. They've earned it because of their history. But added to the payroll advantage it's huge. I don't think Texiera would have gone to anyone else for 10 million more. If it was close, he was going to be a Yankee.
I hate that the discussion has focused on the Yankees cheating. It's a red herring. Of course they didn't cheat. I don't know what the answer is. Salary floor? Salary cap? I don't see how anyone can be a Yankee fan or hater and not believe there's a problem with competition. And saying "they played within the rules and good for them for putting money back into the team" is completely missing the problem.
By far the fastest "move on" after the series that I can remember.
It's funny around here. Normally you see Braves and Red Sox caps. I assumed it was because people in New York were less inclined to move down south. But for the last couple of days I've seen more Yankee caps than I have in the last year. They're all so new and shiny.
Here's what the Yankees can't buy.
Joba then went straight to his favorite strip club. The one hater aspect I will admit to is that I'm very happy the Yankees won the WS in spite of Joba. I mean, I hate picking on the mentally challenged, but I'll make an exception for Joba.
posted by justgary at 03:06 PM on November 06
Like it or not the guy is or was a role model for a lot of young people
Perfect time to sit little Johnny down and explain that just because a person can throw a ball 95 mph that doesn't make 'em a good role model. At the same time you can explain to little Johnny that marijuana should be legalized. Hopefully both lessons sink in.
posted by justgary at 02:23 PM on November 06
Glad to see you agree with me. That's exactly what I said. I'm assuming you read it since you responded to it. So where did the lack of understanding come from?
No, you blamed Manual for a play that should be automatic to a major league infield.
Every team uses this strategy, even in regular season games, nontheless the playoffs. And not just for 14 year olds. Armchair coaches are equipped with that knowledge.
Armchair coaches usually have no idea what they're talking about. Look, if you want to put 'not taking trips to the mound' in the why phillies lost column, be my guest. It's not even worth arguing for me.
I don't imagine you'd want to do that all year," Gibson said. "But for playoffs and World Series . . . if you can't do it then, when the hell can you do it? I don't quite get it."
I'm happy to be on the side of Gibson, Schilling and Koufax. I'd pitch Lee.
If you're going to appeal to authority go ahead and ask Gibson if he wanted the manager coming out to talk to him.
Lee was never going to pitch game 7. He couldn't do it. You can dig up walter johnson and I'm sure he'd say that he would have pitched all 7 games if necessary. That's not the reality in todays game.
And again, here's what you conveniently ignore. Lee gave up 5 runs in 7 innings on full rest. And now you're going to give him the ball after 2 days, something even Sabathia didn't do.
Hamels was the right choice for game 7, but the way the Phillies hit, it wouldn't have mattered.
posted by justgary at 11:21 PM on November 05
They have been for decades the best team money can buy.
I guess I understand you (honestly, not trying to be thick). I'm not sure how much of a compliment playing up to their abilities is. They didn't choke, I agree. I mean, if you have to choose between a team with average talent and team with great talent, go with the great talent. It's easier to overcome pressure than a lack of talent.
They have been for decades the best team money can buy.
Not decades. This is relatively new (2000 on). And they've spend the most money, they haven't had the best team. There's a difference. This year they did, and yes, they played like it.
and have fun doing it
Winning is fun, yes. I promise the Red Sox had much more fun on the field this year than the Royals.
Paying ARod (et al) what they did didn't make him hit better, it just put a great hitter in place. And until this year, he wasn't the best hitter in baseball when it mattered.
Again, I'm not sure what to think of this. They put all these great hitters in place, but paying them all that money didn't make them hit? Great players hit great no matter what you pay them. But you've got to pay them to get them.
As far as ARod, his playoff OPS is .977. Jeter's is .863. ARod has performed better in the post season. Only using a small sample size (very recently) backs up the whole ARod isn't clutch idea.
posted by justgary at 09:04 PM on November 05
I think Posnanski wants to have his cake and eat it too.
I don't see that at all. I don't see anywhere in the article where he's calling the Yankees cheaters or placing blame on New York. He didn't even tackle how to solve it.
He's simply giving the current state of competitiveness in baseball.
posted by justgary at 08:10 PM on November 05
The Yankees signed the top 3 free agents over the off season to hopefully christen the new stadium with a championship (and get it done before big George bites the dust). They did it completely within the rules of MLB, and in that way, mission accomplished.
But the phillies also have themselves to blame. Werth being picked off first. Not covering 3rd and allowing Damon to steal two bases. Victorino misjudging a flyball last night. Mistake after mistake. Not even including Pedro being allowed to face Matsui with an 85 mph fastball.
But they weren't going to win with 3 runs anyway. I thought it was a pretty pathetic performance by the Phillies outside of Lee and Utley. They deserved to lose.
Assembled with truckloads of money or not, they still had to play the game.
posted by smithnyiu
I'm not even sure what this means. It reads like a players favorite cliche. "We're gonna play one game at a time". Well, duh, You kind of have to. And of course they still have to play the game. They'd still have to play the game if the Yankees spent 500 million, or played St. Marys School of the Blind. The fact that they have to still play the game doesn't nullify the financial advantage.
My favorite paragraph from the Posnanski piece:
So you have this sport that tends to equalize teams. That helps blur the dominance of the Yankees. If the New England Patriots were allowed to spend $50 million more on players than any other team, they would go 15-1 or 16-0 every single year. And people would not stand for it. But in baseball, a great and dominant team might only win 95 out of 160, and it doesn't seem so bad.
And I think that's one reason it's easier to ignore the payroll discrepancy. But playing the yankees and considering them 'just another team in the league that our favorite team must compete against' is ignoring the elephant in the room. Your team isn't playing just another team, and it's ignoring the obvious to think otherwise (not caring is another thing altogether).
It's not up to the Yankees to trim payroll. It's not up to Yankee fans to care how large the payroll gets. It's up to the league to make sure the game is competitive. But as long as MLB makes money, and with the Yankees being loved and hated by nearly everyone they're the golden goose, that's not going to happen. Until (most) fans realize that they're supporting a team that has little to no chance of winning (look at the teams that made the playoffs. High majority large payroll teams) and stop going to the ballpark, nothing will change.
Believing that most cities could spend the amount the Yankees do is flat out delusional. And I can see why most teams don't try. It's not as simple as increasing payroll, because there's no guarantee that the Yankees won't spend more. Does anyone really believe the Yankee ceiling is 200 million? The Yankees will get who they want, regardless. Most teams can't compete, and I see no incentive without a salary cap.
I know Yankee fans get tired of the payroll debate, but I think it's a legitmate issue. I know we've lost good sportsfilter members that get tired of it. On the other side you can go to a Yankee forum and you will see almost no mention of payroll, like the advantage doesn't exist; everyone's on a level playing field.
The reason I linked the Posnanski is not only because I think he has strong points, but if anyone has read his blog they'll know he hasn't shown any hatred towards the Yankees. He's a Royals fan.
Labeling everyone 'haters' because they'd like a more competitive league is nonsense. And it seems to me, that if someone is a baseball fan first, before a Red Sox, Yankee, Royal, Twin fan, they'd be interested in a league filled with teams that, in a realistic sense, have a chance on opening day.
The Yankees won't win 27 championships out of the next 30, of course. And that's good for the Yankees, because the irony is that the Yankees need to lose to give any meaning to their championships. It's the only way to point at the payroll discrepancy and say 'see, you can't buy a championship'. It's aura and history and chemistry. They have baseball to thank for that.
posted by justgary at 08:06 PM on November 05
This thread existed for almost two hours before someone had to make a comment that offered not the least congratulations to the winners, not the least acknowledgment of their excellent performance, but that sought to diminish it.
I looked at the 2004 Red Sox championship thread, you know, the one where I finally knew I wouldn't die without seeing them win it all, and I saw no congrats signed by lil brown bat. You did however, write a couple of comments hoping the sox fans wouldn't riot.
So your words ring a little hollow.
(you did offer congrats in 2007.)
posted by justgary at 06:49 PM on November 05
17 Congressmen Vote Against Yankees Resolution
"Being from New York, I have always considered myself to be a winner," King told The Hill. "So it is very difficult for me to understand the 'begrudgery' and thought process of those who come from unimportant cities and states."
I know that's suppose to be funny, and I've loved NYC every time I've visited, but that quote isn't surprising. In the piece linked yesterday about how much NY needed this WS win because of their suffering, it wasn't good enough to say that they've suffered like most of the U.S.
No, New York had to suffer MORE than the rest of the U.S. It gets tedious.
Wait, no, that's not quite right. I mean the Yankees are at least IN the World Series every year. Oh, no, that's not right either.
The faults with your reasoning are so blatantly obvious and have been discussed and linked to so many times here that I have trouble believing you're serious.