BASEBALL

[Destiny]

Well we have the official DL going and it was expected, Shin-Soo Choo "Placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to March 21, as he rehabilitates from reconstructive left elbow surgery in September of 2007"

What I thought was especially nice of the Indians was what they did for Juan Lara Snip/Snip -
The Indians announced on Wednesday that although they have released Lara from their 40-man roster, they immediately re-signed him to a Minor League contract for 2008 so that he will continue to receive a paycheck for the length of the year. The team will also handle all of his medical expenses. - In the early hours of Nov. 25, Lara's SUV, stopped at an intersection in San Pedro de Macoris, was crushed on its driver's side by a speeding motorcycle. The motorcycle's driver was killed upon impact, and Lara sustained multiple life-threatening injuries -- severe brain trauma, a fractured spine, two broken ribs, a punctured lung and a broken arm. Doctors at the Cleveland Clinic performed surgeries on Lara's neck and left arm on Dec. 23. He is undergoing occupational therapy at Cleveland's Lutheran Hospital and is said to be progressing nicely.

Okay so no snow in the forecast for the Cleveland Home opener, YES!! But rain is in the forecast, but heck they played in that so its good. They go against the Chicago White Sox. at 3pm est. and for those in ohio around cleveland if you don't know (and since every major news station in cleveland has been announcing it lol) it will be shown on WKYC channel 3. I was joking when I heard all these news stations saying they will be there from about 11 am or so broadcasting from the newly named Progressive field (formerly Jacobs Field) I said with all these people there, there will be no room for the players and they will have to play the game. :lol:

I did find this (and I don't know if I posted it) wonderful. Its the opening day festivities (which I hope they show), this is the part.
the ceremonial first pitch as Andre Hampton, a National Guard Corporal and Progressive employee, will be live via satellite from his base in Kuwait. Andre has chosen his mother, Kim Shockley, to represent him in tossing the ceremonial first pitch. Along with his mother, Andre's wife, Leslie Hardy, and two sons, Xavier (age 6 months) and Alazander (age 2), will also be present for the ceremony. Hampton is on his second tour of duty overseas.

 

[Jacquie]

Well so mcuh for Opening Day for the Blue Jays and Yankees. It's been postponed because of rain :scream: Oh well hopefully they can try tomorrow.

 

[Destiny]

I heard and good luck when it gets started I will root for TBJ's whenever they do not play Cleveland. :lol:

On the other hand I think you all got the weather we were suppost to have rain was forcasted and never came and the fineal was "Cleveland 10", "Chicago White Sox 8", we don't play them again until Wednesday. The downside is that Victor Martinez is day to day as he had a tightened hamstring in his left leg and was pulled out in the second inning, Kelly Shoppach had to come in, Martinez is the heart of this team and you could tell we were doing good until that happened and it was like everyone went into Stunned mode, fineally they snapped out of it and won!

 

[Marns]

Too bad it rained for the Yankees and Blue Jays, though the Tigers vs Royals game was nice to watch. I'm not a follower either, but sometimes I tune in.

 

[Destiny]

Holy crap how could the Blue Jay's lose? this is so not right, I didn't get to watch the game but I am reading about it on MLB.com, okay I need to get a drink (its dr pepper) cause this just isn't right.

 

[Jacquie]

Tell me about it Destiny. I didn't watch the game either but you have to wonder what went wrong because the Doc (Roy Halliday) was on the mound :scream: The Jays have been having trouble with their bats in spring training. I hope they find them soon though.

I didn't realize until Monday that this is the last year for Yankee Stadium. It's one old ballpark I haven't been to yet and I guess now I never will be . Oh well at least I've been to old Tiger Stadium, Fenway and the mistake by the lake in Cleveland :lol:

 

[Destiny]

:lol: Then you have been to progressive field one time more then me, I watch them on tv this way I can threaten to shove a pull up someones without the threat of being hauled to jail.

But fear not we too have some problems Andy Marte heaven help me I think he is majoring in errors. Honestly IMO they are overrating Asdrubal Cabrera he was only in 45 games last season so his worth was fine but what happens when he hits that slump, ship him to the minors like they did Barfield? or let him work it out like they didn't with Barfield?

They messed with our bullpen, honestly the rotation is good
CC, Fausto, Jake, Paul, Cliff

Jensen Lewis, Raffy Left (Perez), Raffy Right (Bentancourt), Joe Borowski (Nerve Inducer) be 3 runs ahead if possible for Joe cause he will usually give up one or two runs before he saves the game lol 45 saves last season and alot of anxiety for the fans.

Newbies: Jorge Julio isn't bad, and Masa Kobayashi is fine as long as you don't let him get past getting someone on first and second.

I loved when they have Aaron Laffey on there (he is in the minors now) because we would joke "Laffey, Raffy & Raffy". :lol:

But hey Buck up it was a home opener right? So they must have at least 2 more games against them, they just need to win them. I would love to win all three against the W.Sox.

Ohhh I just noticed them saying on MLB.com that Beckett will likely start Sunday against y'all, will be saying a prayer lol. I am looking to see when Tribe vs Jays... <-- Schedule for the indians. So wait we only meet for seven games, wicked.

May 09-12 (4 games)
Aug 08-10 (3 games)

 

[DJRideout]

Being a Blue Jay first, watching the first two games between the Jays and Red Sox (missing out on the Yankees games), is making me wonder if the chemistry of the players are beginning to bond. Even though there were a couple of sloppy moments, I think the team is looking really good this season.

It's also great to hear that both Arron Hill and Alex Rios signed deals to keep them in a Jays Jersey for the next several seasons. Quite a bit of money was dished out, but they are both young players with great potential.

Rios and Hill signing deals

 

[Jacquie]

Yeah I was pleased with the signing the Jays did. It's nice that they can lock up players for long terms. It makes the team become more of a team rather than just a bunch of players. Oh well they'll try for the sweep of Boston this afternoon

 

[DJRideout]

I've got a question to toss out, in hopes someone can help. When watching a game and the broadcast posts up a pitchers stats, you'll usually see the line of stuff like strikeouts (so), base on balls (bb), innings pitched (ip), Era's etc, but what does WHIP stand for. I've asked a few guys I knew that played and watched the game, but even they couldn't tell me what it stood for....anyone?

It probably means something I already knew, but it's eluding me at this moment and for some time...

 

[Jacquie]

I've got a question to toss out, in hopes someone can help. When watching a game and the broadcast posts up a pitchers stats, you'll usually see the line of stuff like strikeouts (so), base on balls (bb), innings pitched (ip), Era's etc, but what does WHIP stand for. I've asked a few guys I knew that played and watched the game, but even they couldn't tell me what it stood for....anyone?

It probably means something I already knew, but it's eluding me at this moment and for some time...

I believe it stands for Walk Hit Innings Pitched.

 

[Destiny]

I believe it stands for Walk Hit Innings Pitched.

You are correct it means "Walks plus Hits per Inning Pitched" - average number of walks and hits allowed by the pitcher per inning.
Trust me stats are sometimes easy and sometimes harder then heck, but here is a helpful link I use when my mind goes blank lol. "Baseball Statistics" hope it helps.

 

[DJRideout]

Thanks, to the both of you. I figured it was some sort average, but I couldn't pin point it. I'm pretty good at understanding the stats for baseball and hockey, but the WHIP stat just got me...lol. Much appreciated.

Looks like the Jays are off to a decent start. I got a little nervous when they fell to Oakland in their series, that they were already slipping into their old ways, and started on a downward spiral. Especially after sweeping the Red Sox, but they seemed to have picked it up in their series against Texas. I just hope I haven't spoken to soon.

And what's up with Detroit? 2 and 9 so far? That seems unlike them! I know its still early in the season and things can drastically change, but it's just this moments observations.

 

[Destiny]

You're welcome, and don't worry my memory is so bad there are times when I have to stop and think "what the heck is RBI again?" and so I put it out of my mind and doing something else and suddenly it will pop out "Runs Batted In" :lol: talk about wierd looks.

Actually Detroit was 2 and 9, but they played today (april 13) and now they are 2 and 10 they lost to the CWS 11-0 *ouch*. According to what they are saying its because alot of their players are on the injured list and well I don't know.

I am trying to figure out what is wrong with the Indians, granted they are 5 and 7 but the bats are slowly waking from slumber but CC Sabathia has had 3 really bad outtings (which he says has to do with command), Carmona one win but this last outting really had him not doing well (which he says is mechanical), Byrds bad outting he says was control, command and worried about whether or not he would be suspended for the HGH thing. Westbrook has one loss and one win (he went 9 innings and won the last trip), Lee has had two great starts. The Bullpen of Lewis, Raffie & Raffie are doing well, and Borowski he was suppost to save gave up a grand slam in one game but yesterday in a NON save situation he pitched an Awesome inning. :lol:

As to the tribe pitchers, I think CC is trying to prove he is worth that Cy award, and Carmona just signed that big contract and I think is trying to prove to the team and himself that he is worth it. Byrd I get the worry about the HGH problem. As to the players, David Dellucci is heating up he isn't a HR power hitter but he has the highest OBP of the team. After all the losses the players are starting to wake up some, I am glad that if they are going to slump do it early and come out of it slowly, pop out fast and you can drop back in just as quickly.

I also think they are missing Trot Nixons veteran leadership (he went to free agency) but if there was a problem he would lock all the team in one room and refused to let them leave until they figured out what was wrong and how can they fix it. The problem is while Victor Martinez is the heart of the team, and when mad watch out. But I think its going to fall to the other veteran David Dellucci to take over where Nixon left off. That and they need the rally pies back. I miss the pies.

Okay venting enough... Next team up against the indians, Boston 3 games, Detroit 2 games.

 

[Jacquie]

Well the Blue Jays had some good news today which is probably bad news for the rest of the league. BJ Ryan came off the disabled list today and actually got the save in Toronto's 5-4 win over Texas. The Jays swept the Rangers which I guess is fair revenge for all the snow storms that came out of Texas this year :lol: But seriously the Jays usually don't have mcuh luck in Texas so this was good to see. Now just hopefully they don't lose the next series like they did after they swept the Red Sox last weekend.