Over the Monster: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
New Blog: Cottagers Confidential for Fulham FC Fans!

Bloody Sox Laundry - 8/25/09

John Smoltz says he was tipping his pitches - Projo Sox Blog
Well, that makes me feel better. Can we get a do-over? No? Crap, nevermind about me feeling better then.

Francona disagrees with Smoltz - Projo Sox Blog

Francona was asked Monday afternoon whether he thought Smoltz did in fact tip his pitches, the Sox' manager simply shook his head no.

So... which is it? I hope this Wagner guy doesn't have these kind of issues, if Paps will let him in...

Papelbon: 'Wagner is Going To Make Our Bullpen Better' - NESN.com

"Believe me, there's nobody else on this team that wants that guy in our bullpen more than me," he told the Red Sox play-by-play announcer.

Supposedly he had the same issues as Dice-K. Aren't these guys supposed to be hounded by PR reps?

Red Sox's chances of signing Wagner in doubt - MLB News - FOX Sports on MSN

Well, maybe it won't matter whether or not Paps like him. Especially because of this:

Red Sox can’t ask for physical on Wagner - Full Count

Deal breaker, folks.

After the jump: Dice-K coming back, a look (or two) into the past, and a possible glimpse into the future?

Star-divide

Dice-K tosses three scoreless innings - redsox.com: News

Red Sox right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka started his road back to Boston by pitching three shutout innings in a Gulf Coast League game in Fort Myers, Fla, on Monday.

Sept. 8 earliest return date for Dice-K - Clubhouse Insider

Good news.

Blast from the Past: A look at the 1997 MLB Draft - MLB Daily Dish
JD's draft class - in case you've forgotten how everything went and how the picks panned out.

Jim Rice Sets the Record Straight on Comments About Jeter, A-Rod - NESN.com

Again, get a PR guy, geniuses.

Buck Showalter's MLB Realignment Plan - MLB Daily Dish

One of the less sensible plans I've seen - what's the point of divisions in this plan?

0 recs  |  Comment 13 comments |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

Ken Rosenthal saying Wagner will use his NTC to block the trade

Apparently we promised not to pick up his option but wouldn’t promise not to offer him Arb. Why wouldn’t the Mets offer him Arb. then? Either way you’re going to have the Type A stigma, at least with us you have a chance to go to the WS.

DFA Beckett

by South Coast Ghost on Aug 25, 2009 12:19 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

he doesn't want to be Papelbon's set-up man

that’s not a problem he has on the Mets.

by RickD on Aug 25, 2009 1:18 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

No...

…but he is K-Rod’s set up man…

Rock me, sexy Jesus...

by nuthinboutnuthin on Aug 25, 2009 1:32 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Set-up to the set-up man, if Putz returns.

They wouldn’t have offered him arbitration, likely.

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Aug 25, 2009 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

tipping pitches

Smoltz and the Cardinals want to believe that the problem was pitch tipping. Was he tipping pitches to lefties more than righties? What I saw was a pitcher getting beaten soundly fairly often. And it’s hard to imagine that a pitcher starts tipping his pitches in his 40s.

And it’s hard to believe that nobody on the Sox noticed it.

by RickD on Aug 25, 2009 1:17 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I think he was just playing the Padres

I think a little league pitcher could win a game against the padres. I will believe it more after Washington.

by drabidea on Aug 25, 2009 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

It may have been that he developed it while rehabbing...

And opposing batters were picking up on it by watching tape of him from yesteryear and comparing it to recent.

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Aug 25, 2009 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Sorry for the ignorence...

What is “tipping pitches?”

Fehr is fair, but I like Laich

by amkcaps on Aug 25, 2009 10:41 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

It's when you make some motion in your delivery

such that a batter can guess what pitch you’re about to throw.

Fear the Rebel Polar Bears (trust me, this sig makes sense)

by crabchowdah on Aug 25, 2009 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

what’s the point of divisions in this plan?

I dunno- maybe it’s that the top team(s) in each division goes to the playoffs. Regardless, it’s an absurd realignment plan.

Fear the Rebel Polar Bears (trust me, this sig makes sense)

by crabchowdah on Aug 25, 2009 10:42 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Agree

It’s a stupid plan for a number of reasons.

(1) It doesn’t address the problem of division; it just reorganizes them. Divisional baseball favors geography over excellence by allowing weak division winners to make the post-season, while better second place (and sometimes even third place) teams miss out. This is somewhat mitigated by the Wild Card, but weak division winners still get an advantage over better WC teams in the post-season.

Here are some examples during the WC era: In 2000, the MFY won the East with the 5th best record in the AL. The Indians won 3 more games than the MFY and missed the playoffs. In 2001, the MFY won the East with 95 wins and had home field advantage over the 102-win WC A’s. In 2003, the NL WC team (the Marlins) had a better record than the Central winning Cubs, who choked away their home field edge. Similarly, the Sox in 2004 had 6 more wins than the Angels, who had home field because they won a weak division. Since the advent of the WC, two weak division winners have won the WS: The 2000 MFY (87 wins) and the 2006 Cards (83 wins). Three WC teams have on the WS: The 2002 Angels (99 wins), the 2003 Marlins (92 wins), and the 2004 Red Sox (98 wins). None of those were bad teams.

(2) If, under the "Showalter Plan," every team plays other teams 6 times (3 games at home and 3 games on the road), why have divisions? Do away with them and have the top four teams make it: the top record plays the fourth best, etc. As long as you have divisions, weaker teams will make the playoffs. However, if you’re going to have divisions—meaning geography will determine who makes the post-season—you have to play teams within your division more (it’s fairer).

Let’s look at Showalter’s Eastern (Babe Ruth) Division. Three of the best teams are there: MFY, Sox, and Phillies. In a Wild Card format, only two can make it to the post-season. No other division is as good. Thus, one team in the East will be screwed—and, by playing a balanced schedule, they’d have less chance to make up ground in their division.

(3) The Braves get screwed by Showalter’s divisional structure. Atlanta is on EST and every other team in their “division” is in another time zone.

(4) The balanced schedule means more travel. Playing the teams within your division as much as other teams, means each team will play more games outside of their time zone. I, for one, don’t enjoy west coast games that start at 10:00 EST. How does making the games harder to watch help baseball?

(5) While I understand the rationale for contracting the Florida teams, why not just contract the crappy franchises and move the Marlins and Rays? Both are competitive teams. Washington (Montreal), San Diego, Pittsburgh, and KC (to name a few) haven’t been competitive in years.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Aug 25, 2009 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Welcome to Over the Monster, an SB Nation community that delivers news and analysis while encouraging discussion regarding everything Boston Red Sox. OTM was founded Feb. 22, 2005.
Start posting about the Red Sox »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

Connect_with_facebook

Cbs_fantasy_baseball_promo

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

Small
SB Nation Survey + Chance to donate $500 to a charity of this community's choice
Redsoxlogo_small
Scutaro
Red_seat_small
ST Game Thread: Red Sox @ Astros, @ Rays
39135485-59af19dbb26654095f910f34176af094_4ae8a81e-scaled_small
Westmoreland to have Brain Surgery
Steven_with_cup_small_small
Spring Training Autographs...
Red_seat_small
ST Game Thread: Red Sox @ Mets -- 3/11/10
Red_seat_small
Listenin' In on the Red Sox - 3/10/10
Small
Spring Training Tickets
Red_seat_small
REMINDER: OTM Fantasy League drafts tomorrow (WEDNESDAY) @ 9 PM EST
Red_seat_small
Listenin' In on the Red Sox -- Open Thread

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

SBNation.com Recent Stories

Seattle Mariners pitcher Cliff Lee speaks during a baseball news conference at Safeco Field in Seattle on Friday, Jan. 22, 2010. Lee was acquired by the Mariners in a trade with the Philadelphia Phillies last December. (AP Photo/John Froschauer) link

Cliff Lee Out With Right Abdominal Strain

Detroit Tigers' Gerald Laird, left, is greeted by teammates Ryan Strieby, center, and Miguel Cabrera who were on base for his third-inning grand slam off New York Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain during a spring training baseball game in Lakeland, Fla., Wednesday, March 10, 2010.  (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

SB Nation's 2010 MLB Previews: Detroit Tigers, Sights Set On Success

Davey Johnson, center, a senior adviser for the Washington Nationals,  is shown in the dugout during a spring training baseball game against the New York Mets, Saturday, March 6, 2010, in Viera, Fla. (AP Photo/Rob Carr) +6 updates

Spring Training News and Notes, 3/19: Catching Up With Everyone

More from SBNation.com >


Managers

20136_562469370037_32603605_33253497_5601129_n_small Randy Booth

Editors

Master_shake_small Allen Chace

Rorscach_small 0157H7

Red_seat_small Ben Buchanan

Authors

Zissou551_small SoxDevil

Red_sox_logo_small Logan Lietz

Photo_small wolf9309