World Series Preview: Texas Rangers (96-66) vs St. Louis Cardinals (90-72)

In Major League Baseball by berseliusLeave a Comment

Before we get started, let’s just get this out of the way

GUYS, did you know that the World Series isn’t really all that worldy? A bunch of literal people on the Internet are ON IT. (@bkabak)

Just another one of those annoying things that pops up at the same point every year, just like the handwringing of national writers about ratings when the Yankees/Red Sox and presumably the Cubs aren’t in the World Series, weeks of pedantic arguments about the Hall of Fame come election time, and reports of Player X being in the best shape of his life going into Spring Training.

Team Overviews

These are the team stats and their overall ranking within their own leagues, which obviously have different run scoring/preventing environments thanks to that whole DH thing.

Rangers Cardinals
wOBA .348 (2nd) .332 (1st)
UBR 23.0 (1st) 4.0 (5th)
UZR 25.9 (4th) -29.8 (15th)
DRS 45 (3rd) -13 (11th)
SP FIP 3.80 (3rd) 3.69 (5th)
RP FIP 4.38 (15th) 3.87 (13th)

The Rangers lead all of baseball in BSR by a wide margin. The next best team was the Reds at 12.8. The Rangers infielders (Elvis Andrus, Ian Kinsler, and Michael Young) were the biggest contributers, while Nelson Cruz was the only non-catcher with a significant negative. There’s no real holes in their lineup either – every single one of their batters with > 425 PA have produced postive wRAA. When the worst hitter in your lineup is merely average, that’s a great offense. The red flag in Texas’s numbers is obviously its bullpen, but that’s something that can be mollified in the playoffs. Much like with starters you can lean on your top relievers more often rather than rely on Jeff Samardzija types, and the Rangers have a quality trio in Mike Adams, Darren Oliver (Jesse Orosco’s heir), and closer Neftali Feliz, as well as starter Alexi Ogando.

Oddly enough the Cardinals top offensive performer was not Albert Pujols this year. Lance Berkman (40.1 wRAA) topped him this year. Berkman, Pujols, and Holliday were obviously the heart of the Cardinals lineup, and Ryan Theriot aside their negative contributers were neutralized by the return of David Freese from injury and the acquisition of Rafael Furcal (who was merely average instead of awful).The Cardinals were pretty terrible on the field, most notably and not surprsingly due to the contributions of Lance Berkman (who more than made up for it), Ryan Theriot, and Skip Schumaker (who did not). Surprisingly Colby Rasmus graded out quite poorly by UZR in his time with the Cards, but that’s the way it goes with defensive stats. I feel pretty safe in saying that those earlier players are not good defensively. Despite the disparity in the relative rankings above the Cardinals have a much better bullpen than the Rangers. A lot of the poor performance came from Ryan Franklin (released) and swingmen Miguel Batista and Kyle McClellan, neither of whom are on the WS roster. Excluding those guys every reliever that saw more than a cup of coffee has a FIP of 3.44 or better on the year.

Pitching Matchups

Wednesday: C.J. Wilson. LHP (2.94, 3.24, 3.41) vs Chris Carpenter, RHP (3.45, 3.06, 3.31)

Lewis has been hit pretty hard this postseason. He gave up eight runs to the Rays in the ALDS and six more runs in Detroit. In his best start, he gave up two runs but only lasted 4 2/3 innings, walking five batters in that span and serving up six line drives to Tigers hitters. He’s the best in the Rangers rotation but it’s a cause for concern.

Speaking of causes for concern, I was surprised that the fact that Carpenter was given the nod for the game one start was even news. Wasn’t it obvious that he would get the start? Apparently his elbow was bothering him after his outing against the Brewers, which followed up his epic complete game win against Roy Halladay. 

Thursday:  Colby Lewis, RHP (4.40, 4.54, 4.10) vs Jaime Garcia, LHP (3.56, 3.23, 3.31)

Garcia did well in his start against the Phillies but was knocked around in his next start against the Brewers (6 runs in 4 innings). Garcia was inexplicably pulled after 4 2/3 innings in game 7 vs the Brewers despite having a good outing. Tony LaRussa’s GENIUS shone through because he lifted his starter to bring in a reliver to face Ryan Braun, who had struck Braun out 7 times in the enormously huge sample size of 10 PAs. GENIUS. *shakes head*

Lewis was a success story last year after Texas signed him away from his face-saving exile to Japan. It’s impressive that he’s managed to go through a Sophomore Slump at the age of 32. His strikeout rate has gone down but his big problem this year has been HRs. Not surprisingly he’s pitched on the road in his two postseason starts, and he’ll be pitching on the road here too (in cold weather, no less).

Saturday: Kyle Lohse, RHP (3.39, 3.67, 4.04) vs Derek Holland, LHP (3.94, 3.94, 3.76)

Lohse had horrendous BABIP luck last year (.364) but saw it whip around the other way this year, Gambler’s Fallacy Style. He’s improved his control in a big way, and while he’s a groundballer he’s not nearly as extreme of one as I seem to remember.

The Rangers haven’t announced who will get this start but I’m guessing it’s Holland. Holland had a solid year in his first full season as a starter. Holland has not gone deep in any of his starts this postseason, with his best start coming against the Rays (5 IP, 3 R). He struck out five while walking none against the Tigers…but gave up three HRs in 4 innings and change.

Sunday: Edwin Jackson, RHP (3.79, 3.55, 3.73) vs Matt Harrison, LHP (3.39, 3.52, 3.85)

Jackson was the starter in that ridiculous game 7 against the Brewers that was looking to break all postseason scoring records early on. He lasted two innings and gave up three homers. Looking through all these pitchers’ postseason game logs the theme has been that they generally haven’t been able to go deep into games. They’re lucky to go even 5 innings! Tonight’s duel between Wilson and Carpenter has been the exception. So much for Pitching Wins In The Playoffs.

Harrison has had two starts in the playoffs, and while he only went five innings in each of them he looked good. He struck out nine Rays in the ALDS. He’s the third LHP that the Rangers are throwing, so expect any RHBs in the Cardinals lineup to have a big World Series.

Monday: Chris Carpenter, RHP (3.45, 3.06, 3.31) vs C.J. Wilson. LHP (2.94, 3.24, 3.41)

Wednesday: Colby Lewis, RHP (4.40, 4.54, 4.10) vs Jaime Garcia, LHP (3.56, 3.23, 3.31)

Thursday: Kyle Lohse, RHP (3.39, 3.67, 4.04) vs Derek Holland, LHP (3.94, 3.94, 3.76)

Prediction

The Rangers are a great team. I’ll take the Rangers in six. I just hope that in the process of losing, Edwin Jackson blows a big lead and the Cardinals season ends with Jon Jay weakly grounding out to 2b, just to spite TLR for the ridiculous Rasmus trade.


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Comments

  1. mb21

    Just another one of those annoying things that pops up at the same point every year, just like the handwringing of national writers about ratings when the Yankees/Red Sox and presumably the Cubs aren’t in the World Series, weeks of pedantic arguments about the Hall of Fame come election time, and reports of Player X being in the best shape of his life going into Spring Training.

    Don’t you like anything?

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  2. Mercurial Outfielder

    b, Kenny being the source of this shit is a great guess. Would not shock me, given his rep.

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  3. Berselius

    Add “Mike Napoli wins WS MVP” along with the Rasmus stuff mentioned in the post, just to spite another awful trade.

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  4. ACT

    [quote name=MGL]I think I can train a 12 year old to manager a baseball game. Oh, wait, I forgot about the “double switch” in the NL. Too tricky for a 12 year old… [/quote].

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  5. Berselius

    Orange Guy also says the two sides are close to finalizing the deal, could be done tomorrow. He could just be parroting Olney though.

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  6. Berselius

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]MGL is impossible to like.[/quote]
    I still laugh at the thought of him meeting LaRussa

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  7. fang2415

    Aargh. Does anybody know why half the time when new shit is posted I’m unable to see comments until I write one? WTF blogui-fyreget-whateverthisis?

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  8. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=fang2415]Aargh. Does anybody know why half the time when new shit is posted I’m unable to see comments until I write one? WTF blogui-fyreget-whateverthisis?[/quote]All complaints must be submitted at the bi-millenial conference which jsut occurred alst week. Alternatively, complaints may submitted in writing to the volunteer administrator-in-absentia of grievances, who is available every other Monday in May.

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  9. Berselius

    [quote name=fang2415]Aargh. Does anybody know why half the time when new shit is posted I’m unable to see comments until I write one? WTF blogui-fyreget-whateverthisis?[/quote]
    Just an annoying quirk of the joomla commenting system. We’re upgrading to the new version sometime in the near future which may fix it. It’s kind of annoying. Though not that annoying when I remember that we used to have to reload the page every time to see new comments.

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  10. mb21

    [quote name=fang2415]Aargh. Does anybody know why half the time when new shit is posted I’m unable to see comments until I write one? WTF blogui-fyreget-whateverthisis?[/quote]Because the comments are cached for unregistered users. If you create an account and login you’ll see them right away.

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  11. binky

    [quote name=fang2415]Aargh. Does anybody know why half the time when new shit is posted I’m unable to see comments until I write one? WTF blogui-fyreget-whateverthisis?[/quote]There probably weren’t any comments yet when you first went to the page, and then several posted right when you did. If you’d refreshed the page just before posting your comment, you would have seen the others. I get that occasionally too.

    EDIT: I was way off.

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  12. Berselius

    [quote name=mb21]Because the comments are cached for unregistered users. If you create an account and login you’ll see them right away.[/quote]
    I think what he’s complaining about is that there isn’t a refresh comments button when there are 0 comments on an article

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  13. mb21

    [quote name=Berselius]Just an annoying quirk of the joomla commenting system. We’re upgrading to the new version sometime in the near future which may fix it. It’s kind of annoying. Though not that annoying when I remember that we used to have to reload the page every time to see new comments.[/quote]It’s actually a cache issue (I think). I don’t know. (dying laughing) I know if you’re logged in you see them right away.

    I do know awhile back when we were trying to reduce the load on the server I looked for as many things as possible that I could either get rid of (images) or cache for certain periods of time, but the more I think about it I don’t think I can cache the comments so that may not be it. Who knows?

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  14. mb21

    [quote name=Berselius]I think what he’s complaining about is that there isn’t a refresh comments button when there are 0 comments on an article[/quote]Yeah, jcomments has always been that way. I might be able to add that link in, but probably need your help. If you remind me about this weekend I can look at the code. I think it’s javascript and I’m not that familiar with it.

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  15. Rice Cube

    [quote name=josh]Why doesn’t FOX have pitch track but that have that retarded-ass infrared camera?[/quote]Because it satisfies berselius’ fetish for alien porn?

    /total non sequitur

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  16. Berselius

    [quote name=josh]Why doesn’t FOX have pitch track but that have that retarded-ass infrared camera?[/quote]
    No video here, just radio. What the fuck is the point of an IR camera? Are they worried that ninjas will sneak onto the field or something?

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  17. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Berselius]No video here, just radio. What the fuck is the point of an IR camera? Are they worried that ninjas will sneak onto the field or something?[/quote]Well, duh. Ninjas are a clear and present danger.

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  18. Mercurial Outfielder

    Dear Tim,

    Bombing the inside part of the plate is not “pitchign around” someone. Also, pitching around Yadi Molina is unnecessary and stupid. Choke yourself.

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  19. binky

    [quote name=Berselius]No video here, just radio. What the fuck is the point of an IR camera? Are they worried that ninjas will sneak onto the field or something?[/quote]They used it to show the hotspot on Pujols’s heel when he fouled one off his foot, and then again to attempt to show one bouncing off the catcher, though it didn’t really show up. It was even more pointless than their normal commentary.

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  20. binky

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]I see Yadi Molina is quietly rounding into traditional Molina shape.[/quote]If he doesn’t, Bengie will win.

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  21. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=josh]If he doesn’t, Bengie will win.[/quote]I think Bengie now counts for dos Molinas.

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  22. Mercurial Outfielder

    “Cruz will MAKE THE CATCH and no, it’s dropped.” Hahahahaha, Buck with a classic Chip.

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  23. binky

    It actually was unreachable but his horrible slide attempt failure somehow managed to stop the ball from getting past him.

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  24. binky

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Only the fucking Air Force would have a lead vocalist for a viral video band.[/quote]Cee Lo?

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  25. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Rice Cube]Did this really happen?

    [/quote]Nah, Tony was just napping in the car.

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  26. binky

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]WTF, why did FOX just cut to commercials!?!?![/quote]Pitching change. Do you even need to ask?

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  27. Rice Cube

    What’s the rule on reliever usage? Is it per appearance or pitch count or number of warm-ups? None of the Card relievers have thrown more than 11 pitches.

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  28. binky

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]I’m gonna enjoy TLR not having any relievers available by game 3.[/quote]If they don’t give a 150%, he’ll just have his GM trade them

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  29. binky

    [quote name=Rice Cube]What’s the rule on reliever usage? Is it per appearance or pitch count or number of warm-ups? None of the Card relievers have thrown more than 11 pitches.[/quote]Per batter, I think. You have to throw at least 1 pitch, unless you come in and hurt yourself or something.

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  30. Rice Cube

    [quote name=josh]Per batter, I think. You have to throw at least 1 pitch, unless you come in and hurt yourself or something.[/quote]Oh yeah, sorry about the wording, I mean the “rule” for reliever appearances and rest. I think if a reliever throws less than 12 pitches in an appearance he’s probably good to go for another day. The travel day also gives them time to recuperate.

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  31. binky

    [quote name=Rice Cube]Oh yeah, sorry about the wording, I mean the “rule” for reliever appearances and rest. I think if a reliever throws less than 12 pitches in an appearance he’s probably good to go for another day. The travel day also gives them time to recuperate.[/quote]You know, after I posted that I kind of thought that’s what you meant. I would say the regular season rules don’t necessarily apply in the postseason. I’m thinkin in 2003 when Beckett started against the Cubs, then pitched an inning of relief the next night. I would think if they were under 12 a manager would feel all right using them the next night.

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  32. Rice Cube

    I think I’m okay with bunts in late-game/end-game situations, but they probably should’ve pinch-ran for Fat Elvis.

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  33. Rice Cube

    [quote name=josh]The relievers will probably be all hands on deck tomorrow, given the day off they get the next night.[/quote]They might have to if Jaime Garcia is fail.

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  34. Berselius

    [quote name=Orange Guy]I just spoke with two excellent sources on Epstein negotiations and it appears deal is basically done with announcement of agreement tmrw.[/quote]
    .

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  35. Rice Cube

    [quote name=josh]Personally, I’m hoping it falls through. i’d really like to see what Brad Pitt could do with this team.[/quote]Are we talking about “Se7en” Brad Pitt, “Interview With the Vampire” Brad Pitt, or “Benjamin Button” Brad Pitt?

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  36. Recalcitrant Blogger Nate

    Just another blown call in the World Series on National TV that everybody in america knows was blown except the umpires. Human element!

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  37. binky

    Looked like it his his foot, then into the dirt. Umpire saw dirt and called it fair. But you can’t fake that kind of reaction, I don’t think.

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  38. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Recalcitrant Blogger Nate]Just another blown call in the World Series on National TV that everybody in america knows was blown except the umpires. Human element![/quote]This has been maybe the most glaring unresolved issue in Selig’s tenure and there hasn’t even been an attempt to address it.

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  39. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Rice Cube]Tonight I learned that MO likes Ass.[/quote]And bewbs. I’m diverse like that.

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  40. Mercurial Outfielder

    Hobbiton has finally received news that SI ran a story yesterday that Hoyer could be coming with Epstein. Bag End is abuzz with yesterday’s news.

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  41. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Recalcitrant Blogger Nate]wow, Pierzinsky is bad, turrible bad as a commentator (dying laughing)[/quote]Awful. That made Buck and McCarver look lively and informed.

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  42. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Hobbiton has finally received news that SI ran a story yesterday that Hoyer could be coming with Epstein. Bag End is abuzz with yesterday’s news.[/quote]I could’ve sworn they were all on the Twitters.

    Also, I would’ve posted a retort as “Bewbs” but I’m too lazy to log out and log back in (dying laughing)

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  43. binky

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Hobbiton has finally received news that SI ran a story yesterday that Hoyer could be coming with Epstein. Bag End is abuzz with yesterday’s news.[/quote]And to think, they just got over hearing the news not a fortnight ago that the White Sox won the World Series recently!

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  44. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Rice Cube]So if they announce the Theo thing tomorrow, I assume it’ll be several hours before first pitch, right?[/quote]Prob around 9 or 10 a.m. to take advantage of the morning news cycles in all 3 time zones.

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  45. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Prob around 9 or 10 a.m. to take advantage of the morning news cycles in all 3 time zones.[/quote]So a friend who would know says this is wrong. Says it’ll be between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. CST, to make sure it makes the Friday paper and gets full coverage on the 5 p.m. news in Chicago.

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  46. GW

    [quote name=WEEI Interview]I just thought it was a joke and then they showed me and I was like, ‘It’s for real.’ I just didn’t think [the Cubs] would trade me because we need the starting pitching. But anything can happen. that’s just how the world works.[/quote]
    (dying laughing) @WEEI interviewing McNutt before any agreement is reached

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  47. GW

    Any guesses on who the anonymous interviewee was in the Kaplan article?

    http://www.csnchicago.com/baseball-chicago-cubs/news/Kaplan-Significant-progress-in-Theo-talk?blockID=579992&feedID=8487

    “I was very impressed with Ricketts’ openness and honesty to do whatever it takes to make the Cubs one of the elite franchises in all of baseball,” he said. “He is focused on the organization as a whole, not just a quick fix to stabilize the major league club. He is fully prepared to spend significant dollars on baseball operations and he is going to allow the next GM total authority. I wish it was going to be me but they are getting a great one in Theo Epstein and he and his staff should have the ability to appropriate how they want to spend the budget which should be in the area of 150 million dollars including the draft and amateur signings.”

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  48. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=GW](dying laughing) @WEEI interviewing McNutt before any agreement is reached[/quote]Well, if they didn’t do that, the Cubs beat guys would have nothing to write about.

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  49. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=GW]I’m going to guess Rick Hahn.[/quote]If it was De Luca or Cowley, I’d say yes, as those guys have some hooks in the White Sox FO, but I can’t see Kaplan having that kind of in over there.

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  50. binky

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]If it was De Luca or Cowley, I’d say yes, as those guys have some hooks in the White Sox FO, but I can’t see Kaplan having that kind of in over there.[/quote]Clearly it was Billy Beane, if not for certain factors, which certain sources couldn’t possibly have known about, and therefore couldn’t have been wrong about, merely unfortunately mistaken, he’d be GM right now.

    /Al’d

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  51. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=mb21]$50 million to move to the AL?[/quote]This is what happens when you put Dr. Evil in charge.

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  52. Dr. Aneus Taint

    [quote name=GBTS]I wouldn’t move in with Al for $500 million.[/quote]
    What would you move in with Al for?

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  53. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=GW]http://twitter.com/#!/ESPNChiCubs/status/127022134680760321

    bruce levine seconds thekapman[/quote]At this rate Sullivan will be able to break the news by middle of next week. Journalism!

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  54. GW

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]At this rate Sullivan will be able to break the news by middle of next week. Journalism![/quote]
    only if ryan dempster gets back from his vacation by then

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  55. WaLi

    [quote name=GBTS]Actually I’d probably do it for like 6 grand.[/quote]Do it? Like in the butt?

    Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

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  56. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=WaLi]Do it? Like in the butt?

    Not that there’s anything wrong with that.[/quote]I think that’s reserved for 7th Inning Bathroom Breaks.

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  57. AndCounting

    Don’t know how I missed this:

    Because of his laziness, we are giving away extremely cheap subscriptions to Obstructed View. Just send $1 to the OV Offices nearest you.

    WTF? I was told this would never happen again!

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  58. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=AndCounting]Don’t know how I missed this:

    WTF? I was told this would never happen again![/quote]FLAGGED

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  59. mb21

    [quote name=AndCounting]Don’t know how I missed this:

    WTF? I was told this would never happen again![/quote]You guys fired me so fuck you. (dying laughing)

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  60. Berselius

    [quote name=Mish]http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/10/20/is-rays-gm-andrew-friedman-anaheim-bound/[/quote]
    Friedman + Scioscia would be a fun combination (dying laughing)

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  61. Mish

    [quote name=Berselius]Friedman + Scioscia would be a fun combination (dying laughing)[/quote]Well, Maddon was a Scioscia understudy…I wonder what would become of Mathis haha.

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  62. mb21

    GW asked above who we thought the other guy Ricketts interview was. My first guess would be Friedman. I don’t think it was Hahn. Ricketts made it fairly clear that only GMs would be considered. If not Friedman then maybe Shapiro.

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  63. Berselius

    [quote name=mb21]GW asked above who we thought the other guy Ricketts interview was. My first guess would be Friedman. I don’t think it was Hahn. Ricketts made it fairly clear that only GMs would be considered. If not Friedman then maybe Shapiro.[/quote]
    Well, he did interview Hoyer

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  64. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Rice Cube]So…Qaddafi died.[/quote]Typically, we’ll act triumphant about Libyans accomplishing in a few months what we’ve been trying to do for 20 years.

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  65. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Rice Cube][/quote]I drive extra slow/in the ultra fast lane/while people behind me are going in-sane!/ I’M AN ASSHOLE-LEO-LEO-LEOLEO! (dying laughing)

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  66. Mercurial Outfielder

    In all seriousness, it’s been widely reported that Ricketts held informal talks with both Hoyer and Byrnes (who has close business ties with the Ricketts family) during one of the Padres series this season.

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  67. mb21

    By the way, I have never believed that hammer was the weapon used to kill the person whose blood was all over that album. There isn’t any blood on the hammer. I’m pretty sure that scene has been staged.

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  68. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=mb21]By the way, I have never believed that hammer was the weapon used to kill the person whose blood was all over that album. There isn’t any blood on the hammer. I’m pretty sure that scene has been staged.[/quote]Columbo called. He wants his job back.

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  69. AndCounting

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]In all seriousness, it’s been widely reported that Ricketts held informal talks with both Hoyer and Byrnes (who has close business ties with the Ricketts family) during one of the Padres series this season.[/quote]To be fair, it looked like Ricketts tried his best to hold informal talks with every living being within walking distance of every Cubs game this year.

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  70. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]I drive extra slow/in the ultra fast lane/while people behind me are going in-sane!/ I’M AN ASSHOLE-LEO-LEO-LEOLEO! (dying laughing)[/quote]That was only the second out so I guess the ball couldn’t be given away, but it’s still funny.

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  71. mb21

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Columbo called. He wants his job back.[/quote]One more thing, a person holding a hammer would be holding it much deeper in his palm than that person is. (dying laughing)

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  72. WaLi

    [quote name=Rice Cube]That was only the second out so I guess the ball couldn’t be given away, but it’s still funny.[/quote]But noone is on base so it could be without pulling a Bradley.

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  73. mb21

    [quote name=AndCounting]To be fair, it looked like Ricketts tried his best to hold informal talks with every living being within walking distance of every Cubs game this year.[/quote]I’m guessing that’s just the Cubs media thinking, hey, Ricketts might be in town and this guy is a GM so let’s just report that he may have had discussions about the job.

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  74. binky

    [quote name=mb21]One more thing, a person holding a hammer would be holding it much deeper in his palm than that person is. (dying laughing)[/quote]He was clearly painting and doing some metal work when he spilled his paint, some of it touched his hammer, and he decided the only rational thing to do was to kill them all. It makes perfect sense to me.

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  75. Rice Cube

    [quote name=WaLi]But noone is on base so it could be without pulling a Bradley.[/quote]What’s the regular rule? A two-base error if men are on base? I was just wondering if there was a stipulation for bases-empty.

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  76. Rice Cube

    [quote name=GW]hopefully it’s the opponent’s 5-yard line[/quote]Hopefully they don’t get called for another false start.

    /Bears’d

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  77. GW

    [quote name=source of bruce levine]Moorad always had wanted Byrnes to return to the job, even though he respected Hoyer, who he hired in 2010.[/quote]
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  78. Aisle424

    [quote name=mb21]Why would the Padres not want some kind of compensation for Hoyer?[/quote]It saves the trouble of having to kill him with a hammer.

    /meme’d

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  79. Rice Cube

    [quote name=GW].[/quote]Negotiation win! (if true)

    Re: the ball given to fan item, I don’t think there’s any actual rule that penalizes the team for giving a ball to a fan after a legal putout with no men on base, but I think the ball is usually kept by the team to be tossed around the horn before being returned to the pitcher for the next batter. Usually the ball is given to a fan after fouls to the ball-dudes along the lines and only after the last out if the outfielder is close enough to where the fans are sitting. Seems kind of random actually, sometimes the fielder will just keep the ball as he goes to the dugout.

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  80. GW

    [quote name=source of bruce levine]But the expected agreement will include Cubs minor leaguers, although not top prospects Brett Jackson, Trey McNutt and Matt Szczur. Cash will not be part of the compensation.[/quote]
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  81. mb21

    [quote name=Aisle424]It saves the trouble of having to kill him with a hammer.

    /meme’d[/quote]It takes a hell of a lot of effort to kill someone with a hammer and I’m lazy.

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  82. fang2415

    [quote name=AndCounting]To be fair, it looked like Ricketts tried his best to hold informal talks with every living being within walking distance of every Cubs game this year.[/quote]Except the beat writers.

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  83. mb21

    Levine needs to be more clear. Are the Red Sox leading the game right now? Would a field goal win it? Do they need a touchdown? And a 2-point conversion? Will they have enough time to onside kick? Maybe the Cubs are down to the 5 yard line, but trail by 47 points.

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  84. mb21

    [quote name=Rice Cube]Negotiation win! (if true)

    Re: the ball given to fan item, I don’t think there’s any actual rule that penalizes the team for giving a ball to a fan after a legal putout with no men on base, but I think the ball is usually kept by the team to be tossed around the horn before being returned to the pitcher for the next batter. Usually the ball is given to a fan after fouls to the ball-dudes along the lines and only after the last out if the outfielder is close enough to where the fans are sitting. Seems kind of random actually, sometimes the fielder will just keep the ball as he goes to the dugout.[/quote]Sounds about right. I’ve never heard that you can’t give the ball to a fan except when it’s the 3rd out. Pujols likes to trick the fans anyway. I’ve seen him do the same thing a number of times. Often he’ll fake a throw, but he does that in St. Louis as well.

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  85. Rice Cube

    [quote name=mb21]Levine needs to be more clear. Are the Red Sox leading the game right now? Would a field goal win it? Do they need a touchdown? And a 2-point conversion? Will they have enough time to onside kick? Maybe the Cubs are down to the 5 yard line, but trail by 47 points.[/quote]Maybe the Red Sox, having lost out on the best prospects the Cubs have to offer, are pinned on their 5-yard line and the Cubs are about to sack John Henry for a safety to get the go-ahead points and then recover the ball on the ensuing free kick.

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  86. WaLi

    [quote name=mb21]It takes a hell of a lot of effort to kill someone with a hammer and I’m lazy.[/quote]I think Dexter killed someone with a hammer in S4. He flipped it around though. Stick them with the pointy end.

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  87. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Rice Cube]Maybe the Red Sox, having lost out on the best prospects the Cubs have to offer, are pinned on their 5-yard line and the Cubs are about to sack John Henry for a safety to get the go-ahead points and then recover the ball on the ensuing free kick.[/quote]Depending on what time is left on the clock, the Cubs can then kneel for the victory (dying laughing)

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  88. mb21

    [quote name=AndCounting]Geez, people, when Metallica kills someone with a hammer, it’s indirect, like a crucifixion. Duh.[/quote]What did they do with all the bodies?

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  89. mb21

    I’ve also always been confused. Metallica killed ’em all, but Megadeth claims that killing is their business and that business is good. If Metallica killed ’em all, how could business be good for Megadeth? Doesn’t make sense. I think Metallica is nothing but a bunch of liars.

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