BASEBALL

[Jacquie]

DJRideout if I understand Thomas' beef correctly it has to stem from money. Before the Jays released him today, Thomas felt he was being benched because the Jays didn't want to have to guarantee him his $10million next year. If Thomas had reached the plate 376 times this year they would have had to guarantee his contract for next year. Thomas and GM Ricciardi had a meeting this morning and came to a mutual agreement worth $8million. Thomas now can sign with another team and hopefully the Jays will have a bat that will be hitting. I wonder in all of this is Scott Rolen ready to come off the DL and it is part of a move to make room for him?

 

[DJRideout]

I was kinda figuring it to be that way, but like I said, I wasn't to sure on where all things stood, thinking I missed out on something.

As good of a hitter as Thomas COULD be, if he's struggling at the plate, and on a regular occurrence, what else is he good for. He don't play in the field, he can't run...Maybe it's a blessing in disguise to have released him.

Watching the game here now, and earlier they were talking about getting someone within the system to fill the spot more so than getting someone from the outside. Perhaps it is a move, prepping for Rolen. I even heard Adam Lind's name being mentioned seeing he hits left and they'd like to get another left-handed batter.

To tell you the truth....I feel a whole lot more comfortable having someone like Matt Stairs in the DH position then I did with Thomas. Personally I think he's more reliable!

 

[Jacquie]

.

To tell you the truth....I feel a whole lot more comfortable having someone like Matt Stairs in the DH position then I did with Thomas. Personally I think he's more reliable!

I totally agree with you on this point. Stairs can play the outfield as well as fill in at first base which he did last year when Lyle Overbay went on the DL. I wasn't listening to the game this afternoon so you have more info on who might fill the hole in the line-up.

On another good news story the Jays beat Detroit 5-3

 

[Destiny]

I swear that Wedge (Indians Manager) is going to have an aneurysm, apprently the offense has short term memory problems, he had a lets just say thought provoking talk with them before the second tigers game, and they did well, even going into the first game with the twins
Vs tigers (second game) 11-1
vs Twins (first game) 4-0

Now I didn't have a problem with losing the second one 3-0 to the twins, sometimes you can't win them all, BUT WTH was that in the third game, 1-1 through 10 innings and with one out left to go the twins with players on first and third and they decide to attack the hot hitter in the twins line up and he belts one through a hole to make it 2-1 twins. Wedge made it publicly know he is REALLY not happy with what is going on. Bentancourt who has been named the Temp Closer until they can get JoBo back (if they can) was brought in on the 11-1 game so he could get some work, otherwise he would be sitting too long.

The Pitchers: Byrd, Westbrook, Lee and Carmona have been doing great, Lewis and Perez are not bad, Mesa has an attitude problem when the catcher comes out to talk to him he turns his back on him (not smart) so they have taken to holding the ball to get him to pay attention, and Jorge Julio is only good if you want to give up hits to the other team. Now CC Sabathia is still trying to find his command 0-3 with a 13.50 ERA ouch.

Well we are off to face KC Tuesday and CC gets that start, I really hope for his sake that he gets things turned around, it can not be easy..

I thought this was so cool, Left field with Dellucci the one jump that he made he grabbed the railing here is the picture and Delucci said "he boosted himself off the wall. Still, the height he reached was startling. "I had my arm on the rail," said Dellucci. "There was a girl sitting right there and I scared her. She wasn't expecting the ball or a ballplayer right there." Dellucci is trying to get a copy of the picture. "If I have kids or grandchildren, I want to be able to show them one day that I had a 78-inch vertical leap," he said.

 

[Destiny]

The last thing that CC needed was just a little more pressure, but today on his fourth start in which everyone hoped that he would turn it all around, it was announced that Tribe starter Jake Westbrook has been put on the 15 day DL with left intercostal strain (it has to do with the muscles around the rib cage).

I thought there was something wrong in his last start because when he through a pitch he kind of placed his forearm over his stomach area and slightly bent over, I wasn't sure if I was imagining it or not, but then he was out in the next inning and figure it might have just been a small cramp. Apparently I was right to think something was wrong. The article goes on to add this. "Westbrook felt soreness in the area, which is located along the ribs, after his outing against the Twins on Saturday afternoon. The soreness progressed Sunday, and Westbrook did not make the trip to Kansas City with the team."

So now we have Jobo our regular closer, and Jake our regular starter on the 15 day DL. And many prayers going around that CC will turn in a Miracle, well we pray CC comes through, were hoping for a miracle that the offense hits and defence defends lol.

ETA: In the words of a song I have loved...
"You showed me faith is not blind, I don't need wings to help me fly, Miracles happen."

CC Sabathia got his first win and if it is what it looks like he is BACK! The game took 3hr 35 mins and the out come Tribe 15, Royals 1 Okay, granted there are two more games of the series, but I am just happy for CC he pitched a shut out, the one run came after he left the game. This from a guy who barely made it past the 4th inning in previous starts due to command problems.

 

[Destiny]

We ended up playing a double Header because the second game originally scheduled 4/23 was really rained out. So starting game one at 6:10pm ET. with a 25-30 min wait between the two this series ended at 12:42 am ET. So here is the scores:

Game 1: Tribe 15, KC 1
Game 2: Tribe 9, KC 6
Game 3: Tribe 2, KC 0

In the third game lol no one got a hit until the 7th with David Dellucci hitting a Homer, and Hafner Doubled, then Caberea doubled Hafner in.

Lee is now 4 wins, 0 losses, tonight his stat was:
9 full innings, 120 pitches, ERA 0.28, Runs 0, Strikes 86, Balls 34, Hits 3, Walks 0

Now the tribe heads home to play the Yankees, in a four game series, starting Today 4/25 Paul Byrd is the starter. With Jake on the DL they brought up Jeremy Sowers for his start, and because Carmona had to play tonight they have to bring up another starter, so that carmona will have his regular rest time. Okay done rambling as my head is floating lol.

 

[Jacquie]

At the moment I think I may change my allegiance to The Cleveland Indians after what Toronto did in Tampa. Or should I say didn't do :brickwall: I know it is early in the season but to drop all three and this after splitting a four game series with the Tigers :brickwall: :censored:

 

[Destiny]

Aww don't feel down, just remember the indians were spotty too, now they just have to win 3 more games with the Yankee's for a sweep, heck I think I would settle for 2 for the series or 1 for a split. :lol:

But you're always welcome to join us until your team can walk up.

Game 1: Tribe 6, NYY 4
Game 2: Tribe 4, NYY 3

 

[Destiny]

Update:

Game 1: Tribe 6, NYY 4
Game 2: Tribe 4, NYY 3
Game 3: Tribe 0, NYY 1

C.C. Pitched beautifully I think he is back, and in charge.

 

[DJRideout]

Nice to see the tribe taking 2 of 3 against the Yanks. Good job! As for the Jays, FINALLY they have won a game on this road trip and its great to see Rolan back, and smacking his first homerun as a jay.

Wow, two teams I hadn't expected to see atop their division...Baltimore and Tampa Bay. I know it's still early and once the red sox and yanks get going, hopefully the same with the jays, it won't stay that way, but still. Tampa swept the Jays a few days ago, and got Boston today...

 

[Destiny]

Congrats to the Jays, trust me we were where you all are and its not fun to be there but keep the faith, cause now were 2.5 games back with the loss today but we have one more against the Yankee's tomorrow.

Our schedule is
3 with Seattle @ home
3 with Royals @ home
A day off
3 @ Nyy (last of the season)
4 with Tor @ home
3 with Oakland @ home

So we will be playing the Jays May 9th - 12th at Progressive Field.

 

[Jacquie]

Well hopefully time will tell if the losing streak is over. I know it's early in the season but to be in the basement :brickwall: :censored: is jsut not acceptable. The good news this weekend is Scott Rolen was activated off the DL. He hit his first homer of the season yesterday So Go Blue Jays

 

[Destiny]

Thats good to hear, tonight we split with NYY

Game 1: Tribe 6, NYY 4
Game 2: Tribe 4, NYY 3
Game 3: Tribe 0, NYY 1
Game 4: Tribe 2, NYY 5

Honestly there are some on the MLB message board and STO message board that with every play either want to trade someone or praise them lol honestly its april, while the games mean something, in the long run they don't, I would rather a team slump or have off times now, then later in the season when it can really hurt you. Course these same folks a week, or even a day ago was praising these same players. Course they also think because a player is over 30 he is too old to be in a ball game.

Heads up if you get the ump Darryl Cousins (I believe is his name) watch it he has a nasty strike zone or as I refere to it a floaty strike zone, last I knew it wasn't a strike if the ball is up around the eyes and you didn't swing at it, nor is down in the ankle area and you still didn't swing at it. Plus there is that one zone I like its called throw one pitch and its a strike, throw another pitch identical right down to the same location and its a ball. I swear the strike zone (for both teams) was around the ankles above the neck, dang near in your ribs, and so far to the other side of the plate you would need and oar to reach it.

I want the ump we had in Kansas that guy was right on the money the strike zone for both teams was consistant and honest. Course with Darryl when he worked second Victor went into second, the second base guy gets the ball bobbles it, leaves the bag, and victor should have been safe, nope cousins calls him out, even though replays show that he was not only safe but safe for at least 3-5 seconds. Now this is the same guy in one of the post season games, that ruled a foul ball a fair home run when on slow replay it showed it was clearly foul.

Anyway we only play the yankees for seven games, four here in ohio and three in NY so honestly for me a split is good. I mean a sweep is awesome, a series is great, a split works, neither wins. Apparently some on the other boards don't agree so much they think we should win every series with a sweep, course these are the same people that when we first lost said and I quote "There went the idea of winning 162 games", now I thought it was just sarcasim right.... umm no delusion I guess.

Course I am also the type that hates the comparison of last season, I mean new season, new ballgame, but all this revenge crap is just that. Heck the players don't see it any different then I do so WTH is with the comparison, or my favorite well this player last year was hitting .xxx average and this year (which is only april) is hitting sub par minus .xxx .. so then one must wonder why do you go to those places? because if I think I am nuts I go there and realize I am more sane then I ever thought. :guffaw:

 

[origin-nknwn]

^ Honestly, I never cease to be amazed by the mentality of some baseball fans. As much as I love the Yankees I really do despise the attitude of some fans that unless we win the World Series, the whole season is a bust. What happened to supporting a team no matter what? What happened to putting emphasis on the times they did you proud rather than continually deriding the team for the times they didn't?

I get so tired of continual trading talk and how so-and-so should retire. Or how we shouldn't have let the M-ts get their hands on Johan Santana. Though I admit, some of the pet names that the Yankees fans have for the players when they aren't performing so well are pretty funny.

The day a team in the MLB goes 162 straight I'll hold my hands up and give them every bit of respect they deserve. But yeah, the chances of that happening are extremely slim and it's about time that baseball fans took that on board.

Incidently, speaking of the Indians and of Wedgie, him losing his shit over the bad umpiring call in the Yankees series was funny as hell. When you gained an advantage by having a bad call in your favour earlier it is probably best to sit down and shut up rather than make an arse of yourself. I understand the need to protest but seriously, I thought he was going to give himself a stroke. And then he got ejected. Great way to end going 5 straight for your team.

 

[Destiny]

Update
Game 1: Tribe 2, Seattle 7

Re: Wedge getting Ejected, actually I think it was good, the reason he was ejected and he argued the call, is that Victor Martinez went into second when the yankees threw the ball, the second baseman caught the ball but to do so came off the bag while bobbling it and that point Vic was in safely by the time he was back on the bag, I saw the STO replay on it, and they did it from 3 to 4 angles and he was safe. But the UMP called him out, thing is it isn't clear if the ump was blocked and if he wasn't sure he should have checked with first or third or home for that matter. So wedge went out there and Darryl Cousins ejected him, the reason I believe he did this [Wedge] was because Franklin was called out at the same matter (now on the replay it was boarderline. On the average Wedge will go out and argue his case, not often does he get ejected, so when he does its because he believed in what he was arguing.

Take last nights game with Seattle, the ball was hit to Jhonny (no I am not mispelling it, the hospital did when he was born) I believe and he threw to first in time, but the ump called the guy safe saying Casey (who took over 1st for the night) wasn't on the bag, BUT on replay you can clearly see that his foot is leaning right on the side of the bag. Now the ump in that matter was clear off to the left of him no where new the line. Casey who is normally quiet and reserved came unhinged and only does that if he knew he was in the right, otherwise he is okay thats the call not this time, it got wedge out there again, but he didn't get ejected.

As to people on other sites now they are going off on Travis Hafner for the illegal substances with no proof of fact, But they are going after Raffie B on the samething because the game was tied two/two and he gave up a three run, Now here is the thing, Raffie B is not our normal closer as most know thats Joe Borowski who is on the DL, Raffie is the setup man who hands it off to Joe, so Raffie is use to working either every day or every other day, hadn't worked in four or five days. Not to mention out of three times he has went in this is the first time he has given up any runs. Now these are the same people who wanted Raffie B to be the closer over Joe, apparently expecting perfection, never giving up anything.

LOL Last night I went off on them, they were calling people idiots for being fans and so on. Well on MLB you can vote for the "All Star Game" between now and July, 25 I think votes per day for the players you think should go. Thing is I don't believe the votes count except to say to the players this is how many you got, I believe the MLB already has their minds made up. Anyway they were saying if you voted for anyone on the tribe team you were an idiot and not a fan. I voted and I am a fan.

See I know one thing about our team its a pattern of sorts, if they come out the shoot doing poorly (like now) they in the end are doing well, if they come out the shoot doing well, they suck at the end. I think this has to do with re-adjustments to new members and such. But the fact that they say well so and so was better last year, well shoot that was then this is now, the quicker they get that through their heads the better. There is one board I go to that isn't too bad they can be negative but they can also be positive, and not as bad as the MLB boards.

I agree no matter how bad the team is doing I keep the faith, and cheer them on, I get frustated sure, I try to give up in the game because there would be no way to catch up. BUT I have also seen them come from behind to win. One game they were down by 8 runs I think it was, they came from behind in one inning and tied it, held the other team off in the top of the 9th and scored one run in the ninth to win the game.

Okay done venting lol. :lol: