Just thought of this song while pondering the Braves and the Red Sox...

 

"The ship is sinkin'. The ship is sinkin'."

Just saw them talking again and they said neither Rivera or Robertson are going to pitch tonight for the Yankees because they need the rest before the playoffs.

 

Where's SSC? I'd love to read yours and his discussion on the topic of playing your best team.

Where's SSC? I'd love to read yours and his discussion on the topic of playing your best team.

 

The Yankees situation the past week was very different than say the Orioles. Despite that, the Yankees actually put solid teams on the field every night over the past week. But they have to also get ready for the playoffs. That is their first priority and if that means some guys get rest and Rivera doesn't pitch last night, that's the way it is. If A-Rod's knee doesn't feel 100%, then he takes the night off versus pushing it in last night's game. Same with the Phillies. They had a great lineup on the field last night but they aren't going to jeopardize their playoff run by wearing all their players out in an extra inning game. Very different situations in those games than what started the discussion between SSC and I. SSC will take the fact that A-Rod didn't play last night or Rivera didn't pitch and scream at the top of his lungs that his point is proven and that is just silly. I think my point was proven pretty well this month. Teams are not going to trot out experiments or roll out the AAA lineup in games that mean something in a pennant race. If you look at ALL the meaningful games played over the past few weeks, that point is very obviously true.

That was one of the more captivating nights of baseball I have ever seen. I could not keep my eyes off of it. The train wreck analogy holds true.

I'm not a baseball fan at all.. I've tried and failed getting into it for years.

 

But last night, I was on the edge of my seat flipping back and forth between three separate games. It was awesome.

I'm not a baseball fan at all.. I've tried and failed getting into it for years.

 

But last night, I was on the edge of my seat flipping back and forth between three separate games. It was awesome.

It was the perfect storm. These races by every other year standards was over 1 month ago and we were looking at the least captivating post-season stretch run maybe in history. Thanks to these two gag jobs (and kudos to the Cards and Rays for catching them), we witnessed an incredible stage of events.

With the exception of Boston's collapse and horrendous start, I would say they were the best team the other times of the season. Or if Philly was 1, they were 1-A. The Braves pretty much kept the 2nd best NL record for the majority of the season. I never really bought in to the Braves as much as I did Boston, so you could say there collapse was less surprising.

It is all about pitching. The collapses were due to pitching injuries.

It is all about pitching. The collapses were due to pitching injuries.

To some degree. It still does not excuse putting Beckett on the mound twice against the Orioles the last week and a half and coming up short. Lackey just sucked all season (though he pitched well on Tuesday). The Red Sox bullpen was a mess all year.

To some degree. It still does not excuse putting Beckett on the mound twice against the Orioles the last week and a half and coming up short. Lackey just sucked all season (though he pitched well on Tuesday). The Red Sox bullpen was a mess all year.

 

It's not just the Red Sox. Look at the Braves and the key pitching injuries they sufferred. The Pirates total collapse is largely due to pitching injuries. The Cards got hot when Carpenter became Carpenter again. The Rays pitching carried them all year. The D-Backs were led into the post season by Kennedy. You can even look at the Reds. Their starting pitching killed their chances this year.

These epic comebacks are giving me inspiration. After a slopy start to this semester, I'm aiming for the deans list.

It's not just the Red Sox. Look at the Braves and the key pitching injuries they sufferred. The Pirates total collapse is largely due to pitching injuries. The Cards got hot when Carpenter became Carpenter again. The Rays pitching carried them all year. The D-Backs were led into the post season by Kennedy. You can even look at the Reds. Their starting pitching killed their chances this year.

Pitching, yes. But I am not crediting it to pitching injuries.

Anybody hear from AverageJoe? I'm worried about him.

Pitching, yes. But I am not crediting it to pitching injuries.

 

Not as much injuries for the Red Sox. But for the Braves (Jurrjens, Hanson) and Pirates (Correia and Maholm), injuries were the problem. If Jurrjens and Hanson stayed healthy, the Cards would have finished 6+ games behind the Braves.

As much as I hated to check this thread I guess I need too.

 

First off, congrats tothe Cards for winning when they had too.

 

Second, the Braves blew it and I believe it was a result of Bobby Cox not being in the clubhouse more so than injuries. Looking at last nights game you could tell there was no sense of urgency or life in the Braves dugout. They were not pumped and it showed. I think part o it came from Freddi Gonzalez. Bobbi was always encouraging the players and always stood up for them and that gave them a reason to fight, I didn't see anything close to that throughout the collapse. Yes the injuries to Jurrjens, Hanson, and even Chipper hurt and Lowe's inability to not give up a run didn't help either but I think it's beyond that. The fans fell out of the game in the 9th ( what ones een showed up to the game) and the top closer in the league couldn't shut the door. I felt sick after the game because I know the players wanted to win I just wish they would have shown it mire than what they did because it was embarrassing to watch a noncaring team in that kind of situation.

 

 

IMO I would not have taken Hudson out of the game. He had pitched well and the inexperience of Kimbrel and Venters showed.

 

 

 

Guess I'm done with baseball until next year. GO BRAVES in 2012!!!!