Baseball Thread V

Ichiro in the Hall of Fame? As with most everything we talk about here, it's fun to consider but it's far too early for me to give you a definitive answer. I prefer to wait until I have to make that decision, if that day ever comes.

As for all of your postseason awards, do I have to remind you that it's June whatever? There is too much time between now and October for these decisions to be so cock-sure. I'm a new member of the Zimmerman fan brigade but I do feel that Uggla is the current leader in the clubhouse. But let us remember what Ryan Howard did in the second half last year. We have Fielder to watch and don't dismiss Matt Kemp of the Dodgers from making a second-half push.

Glavine looks like a nice choice, too, but don't dismiss Webb, and watch out for big second-halfs for Oswalt, Carpenter or even Jason Marquis. Let's wait before any coronation. The same with David Wright as MVP. Pujols is coming back soon. Watch out.

All that said, Lou was correct about Youkilis when he made that prediction last year. The guy is legitimate.

And another belated congratulations to Omar Minaya for acquiring Eli Marrero. He is an excellent bench player for a team headed to the playoffs.

Go Nats.

 

Youkilis is legitimate too.

 

I find it interesting that even though Tony Armas was once property of the Red Sox and has been in pro baseball since 1999 - he's never pitched at Fenway or against the Red Sox.

Tonight's game could see Armas shine against a team that will probably be in the hunt for him come trade time or this off-season as a free agent. Conversely - many times in this situation it is the no-name pitcher who steps it up. The Red Sox have used Papelbon three straight days and are probably hoping not to see a close game tonight.

The over/under for tonight's game is 11 runs. That means it probably winds up as a 2-1 game.

 

What they said.

(sorry, haven't expressed my looser fanboy self on the Nats recently)

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This just in - Jeff Kent is still an asshole.

http://www.pe.com/sports/baseball/breakout/stories/PE_Sports_Local_D_dodgers_notes_19.1a73044.html

 

The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that the Detroit Tigers have homered off of Roberto Novoa again.

 

The Mets' complete inability to hit Bronson Arroyo last night makes me wonder -- with apologies to spnited, HB and all other Mets fans -- what might happen after winning the god-awful NL East if they could have serious trouble in a playoff series against the Reds, Astros (Clemens, Pettitte, Oswalt, Rodriguez) or Dodgers. Then, of course, the Cardinals can throw Carpenter, Marquis, Mulder and Suppan against them.

What think you, Mets fans?

 

You might have hit upon a big-time problem for the Mets in the post-season, Casty.

I have only given them the division, I'm not sure how they stack up in October.

 

Not really a Mets fan but I don't think you can draw any conclusions based on one night against one pitcher. The Mets are the best team in baseball right now.

 

I'm not sure how scary those pitchers for the Cardinals are after Carpenter, especially the way Mulder has struggled.

 

Who'd have ever thought that in 2006 we'd be talking about the solid starting pitching the Reds have received this late in the season.

And while we're on the Reds, I thought I'd throw this out. Is Adam Dunn thinking too much about hitting home runs? I ask because he's 9 for 60 with RISP this season. Of the nine hits, seven are home runs.

Aside from his 1+ OPS (due mostly to his walks), he's hitting a Rob Deer or Gorman Thomas-like .227, continuing a steady decline from his .266 average in 2004.

I realize he's productive from a fantasy standpoint, but is this really quality output from a player?