The MLB thread

[Irish_Shrimper]

The Devil Rays did nothing of note. The Rays are kicking all kinds of a$$.

You guys are having a great year, don't get me wrong, but nothing is won yet. IMO the Rays will probably pip the Sox for the AL East just about - and i'll be full of congratulations if they do so: as they've come out of nowhere this year to challenge, and played some great baseball too. Shall be interesting to see how they do in October. Thankfully the Yankees won't be there :)

Is that heckler guy still there in the front row behind the batters box in the crowd in Tampa? I remember him giving Mark Bellhorn some awful stick 2004 i think it was...obviously had an effect on him that series. ******* :D

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

You guys are having a great year, don't get me wrong, but nothing is won yet. IMO the Rays will probably pip the Sox for the AL East just about - and i'll be full of congratulations if they do so: as they've come out of nowhere this year to challenge, and played some great baseball too. Shall be interesting to see how they do in October. Thankfully the Yankees won't be there :)

Is that heckler guy still there in the front row behind the batters box in the crowd in Tampa? I remember him giving Mark Bellhorn some awful stick 2004 i think it was...obviously had an effect on him that series. ******* :D

I believe he's still there, I haven't been to a home game for a while, but he seems to be floating about when I see the Rays on the tube.

I wish I had your faith - I think the Sox will take the division, but I think we might be able to get past the Angels and the ALCS will be epic.

 

[Irish_Shrimper]

I wish I had your faith - I think the Sox will take the division, but I think we might be able to get past the Angels and the ALCS will be epic.

Have Blue Jays tonight and tomorrow away, followed by a nice homestand against the Indians and the Yankees. Just my gut feeling the Yankees will come to town and do their best to scupper any chance of us winning the division.

If it's an ALCS between the Sox and Rays, I look forward to the usual rollercoaster 7 games, with 165,000 extra innings in the final game to decide a winner :D

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

Have Blue Jays tonight and tomorrow away, followed by a nice homestand against the Indians and the Yankees. Just my gut feeling the Yankees will come to town and do their best to scupper any chance of us winning the division.

If it's an ALCS between the Sox and Rays, I look forward to the usual rollercoaster 7 games, with 165,000 extra innings in the final game to decide a winner :D

Will go to seven I'm sure but whoever has home field will prevail.

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

Rays are three outs from the play-offs. Oh yes.

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

Rays are three outs from the play-offs. Oh yes.

Make that, zero outs from the play offs. Unbelievable. Amazing. Just funking brilliant.

 

[Jedi Shrimper]

:support:Chicago Cubs are NL Central Champions :support:

And we're one win away from securing Home Advantage. Mets up next.

I give you Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam...

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=KajeVoqRdrs

Let's Go Cubbies! All The Way!

 

[loz]

good stuff, as ever- The Onion

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Have Rusty Shackleford's Tampa Bay Rays decided who is going to throw their first ceremonial pitch yet?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/23/AR2008092303068_pf.html

Possibly my favourite sports quote of the year:

"We don't have anyone to throw out the ball for our first playoff game," Tampa Bay President Matt Silverman said. "MLB asked us who it'd be. We realized nobody in the history of the franchise had done anything to be worthy of the honor."

Gen Pretreaus is first choice (those Yanks don't half love a man in uniform), Hulk Hogan is also mentioned.

I've heard Steve Irwin mentioned, but I think the most famous Ray in history would be

Ray Charles

Unfortunately he is dead, so I can't make any jokes about him trying to locate the outside corner of the strike zone (at third base). The next most famous Ray is probably Sugar Ray Robinson, but unfortunately he is also dead. Ray Parlour is probably otherwise engaged, so maybe Sugar Ray Leonard?

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

Have Rusty Shackleford's Tampa Bay Rays decided who is going to throw their first ceremonial pitch yet?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/23/AR2008092303068_pf.html

Possibly my favourite sports quote of the year:

"We don't have anyone to throw out the ball for our first playoff game," Tampa Bay President Matt Silverman said. "MLB asked us who it'd be. We realized nobody in the history of the franchise had done anything to be worthy of the honor."

Gen Pretreaus is first choice (those Yanks don't half love a man in uniform), Hulk Hogan is also mentioned.

I've heard Steve Irwin mentioned, but I think the most famous Ray in history would be

Ray Charles

Unfortunately he is dead, so I can't make any jokes about him trying to locate the outside corner of the strike zone (at third base). The next most famous Ray is probably Sugar Ray Robinson, but unfortunately he is also dead. Ray Parlour is probably otherwise engaged, so maybe Sugar Ray Leonard?

By taking the Rays from worst to first, manager Joe Maddon has done something worthy of the honour, although I don't believe that anybody currently working for the club can do it. How about Steinbrenner? He lives locally and doesn't have anything better to do.

In future years, every single player on this current roster will be worthy of throwing out a ceremonial pitch, not just for winning the toughest division in baseball (beating the two teams with the two biggest payrolls and fan bases), but for winning the World Series.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

By taking the Rays from worst to first, manager Joe Maddon has done something worthy of the honour, although I don't believe that anybody currently working for the club can do it. How about Steinbrenner? He lives locally and doesn't have anything better to do.

In future years, every single player on this current roster will be worthy of throwing out a ceremonial pitch, not just for winning the toughest division in baseball (beating the two teams with the two biggest payrolls and fan bases), but for winning the World Series.

Everyone except Jason Bartlett, who bizarrely has been selected as your MVP.

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

Everyone except Jason Bartlett, who bizarrely has been selected as your MVP.

He wasn't my choice, but I don't think it's a bizarre slection. Bartlett is easily the best defensive short stop to wear a Rays uniform (he's not up against much competition, I'll concede that), and his partnership with Iwamura in the middle of the Rays' infield has been the backbone of their defensive solidity. He's also made some clutch hits and been a leader in the clubhouse. I think I read an article where Joe Maddon singled out Bartlett as the team MVP and that must have been a factor.

I would have chosen Shields or Pena, but Bartlett is a worthy winner.

 

[californiashrimpergirl]

Hello All!
Heard about the Shrimper's WIN yesterday... My boyfriend sent me a text. And against LO too! Fantastic!!! GO YOU BLUES!


On the Baseball front, I logged onto "StubHub.com" in hopes of getting tickets to see my Chicago Cubs in the MLB playoffs! CRIKEY!!! The least expensive tickets were $115 for Standing Room Only. I think I'll be content to watch on TV, instead. But if they make it all the way... and they will... I might convince a girlfriend to go with me to one of the pubs in "Wrigleyville" and watch on tv from there.

 

[Jedi Shrimper]

Hello All!
Heard about the Shrimper's WIN yesterday... My boyfriend sent me a text. And against LO too! Fantastic!!! GO YOU BLUES!


On the Baseball front, I logged onto "StubHub.com" in hopes of getting tickets to see my Chicago Cubs in the MLB playoffs! CRIKEY!!! The least expensive tickets were $115 for Standing Room Only. I think I'll be content to watch on TV, instead. But if they make it all the way... and they will... I might convince a girlfriend to go with me to one of the pubs in "Wrigleyville" and watch on tv from there.

If you go to Wrigleyville for the World Series I'll be incredibly jealous.

 

[Jedi Shrimper]

Playoff Predictions

So predictions people, I'll go for...

NL
Cubs v Dodgers----> Cubs
Phillies v Brewers--> Phillies

Cubs v Phillies ----> Cubs (tough one to call, so I'll let me heart rule)

AL
LA Angels v Bo'Sox--> Angels
Rays v White Sux ---> Rays

Angels v Rays -----> Rays

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

So predictions people, I'll go for...

NL
Cubs v Dodgers----> Cubs
Phillies v Brewers--> Phillies

Cubs v Phillies ----> Cubs (tough one to call, so I'll let me heart rule)

AL
LA Angels v Bo'Sox--> Angels
Rays v White Sux ---> Rays

Angels v Rays -----> Rays

Agree on the Phils over the Brew Crew - CC can't pitch every game and Sheets is done. I know you're a Cubs guy, but I like the Dodgers in that series - they are riding a lot of momentum and have the hottest bat in the majors right now. I see the Dodgers beating the Cubbies in 4 and the Phils in 6.

As for the AL - logic says that the Angels will beat the Sux and then move on to beating the Rays (who should deal with an exhausted Pale Hose squad, especially with home field advantage), but I like Boston to upset the Halos in 5 tough games and then set up an epic ALCS with the upstart Rays. These two clubs have developed an intense rivalry this year, and if you check out the two teams' message boards, there is some good old fashioned hatred brewing between the two sets of fans. I'm biased of course, but I think the Rays edge it in seven due to home field advantage - but they will need to win the opening games in St Pete to make it happen.

I see you left the Series prediction open. I take Rays over the Dodgers in 5.

 

[Jedi Shrimper]

Yeah, the Dodger's is a very tough series for us they are hot at the moment, but i just couldn't bear to say so. But the Cubs are a good team, our best players have been rested so I'm hopeful, and we have homefield advantage to start. Manny Ramirez & co Vs The Big Z in game two will be vital.

I was leaving the series prediction until nearer the time.

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

Yeah, the Dodger's is a very tough series for us they are hot at the moment, but i just couldn't bear to say so. But the Cubs are a good team, our best players have been rested so I'm hopeful, and we have homefield advantage to start. Manny Ramirez & co Vs The Big Z in game two will be vital.

I was leaving the series prediction until nearer the time.

ESPN.com have ten experts picking their winners for the divisional series match-ups, and nine of them go for the Cubs. I think I'm possibly overestimating the Dodgers, but it seems to be a regular occurrence (particularly in the NL) that a team comes from nowhere and rides a hot streak to the Series (Colorado last year, Marlins in '03, Padres in '98). The Cubs should win, and I hope they do.

The experts all pick the Rays and the Phillies, but they are fairly evenly split (6-4 Angels) in the pick of the first round match-ups. That should be a doosie.

 

[Irish_Shrimper]

Haven't got the chance to yet, but my congratulations go out to Senor Shackleford and his Devil Rays. A great feat winning the AL East this year, well done. Best of luck against the White Sox...Hope to see you in the ALCS, but for the first time ever I fear those pesky Angels :(

 

[Jedi Shrimper]

Goddamnit. 7-2 loss, Dempster gave up a grand slam in the 5th. We just don't seem to be able to hit the runs at the moment, even if Z puts in a great performance today I fear we simply won't out hit the Dodgers. Not many teams have come back from a losing start to a playoff series, but Lou Pinella's Mariners did it a few years ago so here's hoping he can do it again.

Good luck to the Rays today.