Baseball 2011

[smc]

Originally Posted by shadows

What was Kevin Gregg thinking? He throws 3 inside pitches( very inside) to David Ortiz, and he didn't expect him to get a little pissed off? And to top it all off, he then says something to Ortiz while he's going to first base! Gregg's lucky he still has his head attached, as Ortiz is a very large fellow!

Originally Posted by smc

I can understand the Orioles' frustration. Twenty runs given up to the Sox in two games. It seemed like only a matter of time before someone snapped. Did Gregg have a reputation as a hothead when he was with the Jays?

According to the Boston broadcasters, what he said to Ortiz after the pop-up was something mocking along the lines of: "That's it, run to first base." ...

More on the Kevin Gregg story ...

It seems to me that what Gregg said to reporters in the visitors' clubhouse after the game are signs of someone who needs to be taken to a quiet room by his very experienced manager, Buck Showalter, and given a serious talking-to about his future as a ballplayer. Here's what he said in defending his actions:

"I think we showed them we're not backing down, we're not scared of them, them and their $180 million payroll, we don't care. We're here to play the game, we have just as much right to play the game here, and we're going to do everything we can to win."

No one questioned the Orioles "right to play the game" at Fenway or anywhere else. The Red Sox did drive Baltimore's starting pitcher from the game after two-thirds of an inning, scoring 8 runs. Are the Red Sox supposed to let up on the offense after a certain number of runs in the 1st inning because of some kind of "slaughter" rule? Should Adrian Gonzalez not try to drive in a run because he's already leading the majors in RBIs and he doesn't need any more? Should David Ortiz not hit a three-run homer because that's just piling on?

Gregg continued, in response to Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett questioning his inside pitching ("You go to the well three times, something's looking pretty bad," Beckett said. "I don't know why they were trying to do that, but it was pretty obvious to me that it wasn't just 'I was just trying to pitch you in'."):

"They're going to whine and complain about it because they think they're better than everybody else, but now, we just as much right to pitch inside as they do."

Perhaps this guy needs to go back to an Instructional League or Single-A, where they teach not only how to play baseball but how to be a baseball player.

[transjen]

I get the feeling my friend SMC may not be cheering this moment in MLB history and while i'm not a Yankee fan but i feel Derek Jeter does deserve the spotlight today for reaching the 3000 hit club
And i will say this for Jeter he started in the riods era and as far as i know he never used riods he did it the hard way so congrats to Derek Jeter today
Philliesfan Jen

[smc]

Originally Posted by transjen

I get the feeling my friend SMC may not be cheering this moment in MLB history and while i'm not a Yankee fan but i feel Derek Jeter does deserve the spotlight today for reaching the 3000 hit club
And i will say this for Jeter he started in the riods era and as far as i know he never used riods he did it the hard way so congrats to Derek Jeter today
Philliesfan Jen

Jen, you could not be more wrong about my feelings. I think Derek Jeter is a great player, well deserving of the spotlight, well deserving of his moment in history, and well deserving of the election to the Hall of Fame that will someday come his way. I do not have any animosity towards the Yankees players for being Yankees. While there are individual Yankees I despise -- Alex Rodriguez, for example -- my hatred (probably too strong a word) is for the Yankee organization and the Steinbrenners.

So, I join you in congratulating Jeter. I think it's awesome that his 3,000th hit was a home run. But I am hoping the Rays come back to win this game, currently tied at 4.

[transjen]

^^^ sorry SMC, i remember from i think it was last years baseball thread that you despised some of the yankees players and i was thinking Jeter was one of em
I'm no fan of A Rod due mainly to his use of steriods
Even with Jeter playing for the Yankees he is a player worth respecting for his longivity staying with one team and playing high caliber ball for his entire career and most of all he did it the rite way without cheating and when everything is said and done he'll godown with the likes of Joe D and Mickey Mantle and a sure fire first year hall of famer
While i hope A Rod ends up with Bonds in the cheaters hall of shame
Philliesfan Jen

[smc]

Originally Posted by transjen

^^^ sorry SMC, i remember from i think it was last years baseball thread that you despised some of the yankees players and i was thinking Jeter was one of em
I'm no fan of A Rod due mainly to his use of steriods
Even with Jeter playing for the Yankees he is a player worth respecting for his longivity staying with one team and playing high caliber ball for his entire career and most of all he did it the rite way without cheating and when everything is said and done he'll godown with the likes of Joe D and Mickey Mantle and a sure fire first year hall of famer
While i hope A Rod ends up with Bonds in the cheaters hall of shame
Philliesfan Jen

No apology necessary, dear Jen. It's a reasonable assumption to make that a Red Sox fan might unthinkingly despise everything and everyone associated with the Yankees. But I am a baseball fan first, and a Red Sox fan second.

[shadows]

Originally Posted by transjen

^^^ sorry SMC, i remember from i think it was last years baseball thread that you despised some of the yankees players and i was thinking Jeter was one of em
I'm no fan of A Rod due mainly to his use of steriods
Even with Jeter playing for the Yankees he is a player worth respecting for his longivity staying with one team and playing high caliber ball for his entire career and most of all he did it the rite way without cheating and when everything is said and done he'll godown with the likes of Joe D and Mickey Mantle and a sure fire first year hall of famer
While i hope A Rod ends up with Bonds in the cheaters hall of shame
Philliesfan Jen

Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera are two Yankees that I have respect for. Jeter never found himself in the spotlight for the wrong reasons(I blame Cashman for his last contract fiasco), and was always classy on and off the field.

Rivera always went quietly about his business and made many a player look foolish with his cut fastball. I hope he breaks the all-time saves record.

A-Roid is already in the cheaters hall of shame(at least in my book). He has already been discovered as having used steroids(HGH, actually) before, and I think that he used it for many years. Plus, he has been a douchebag numerous times on the field.

[smc]

Originally Posted by shadows

A-Roid is already in the cheaters hall of shame(at least in my book). He has already been discovered as having used steroids(HGH, actually) before, and I think that he used it for many years. Plus, he has been a douchebag numerous times on the field.

The simplest explanation I can give for what I think of A-Rod is that when people ask me what "bush league" means, I describe two things A-Rod has done. Case closed.

[Tsweet]

Boston Red Sox congratulate classy Derek Jeter on 3000 hits accomlishment:

It wasn't surprising that the Red Sox were watching television in the home clubhouse at Fenway Park as Derek Jeter made history Saturday afternoon, collecting his 3,000th hit against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium.

Jeter no doubt is a first-ballot Hall of Famer and he has earned the respect of players across baseball, especially Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia.

"It's not just me, it's the whole league," Pedroia said. "This guy has played the game right for a long time. He's a first-ballot Hall of Famer and when he's done, I don't think there will be a bad thing said about him. He's a first-class guy. He's a winner. The highest praises you could say about a guy is what you would say about Jeter."


During the 2008 All-Star Game at the old Yankee Stadium, Pedroia was a first-time All-Star when he received an on-field visit from Jeter. In fact, the Yankees shortstop went out of his way to talk to the AL Rookie of the Year from 2007.

"It was great and that's the type of guy he is," Pedroia said. "He helps out young guys. He helps out older guys. He helps out everybody. The game needs more guys like Derek Jeter. It's unbelievable what he's been able to do throughout his career, and to get a chance to play against him the last five years is pretty cool, man, it's pretty cool."

Of the 3,003 hits Jeter has amassed in his career, he has recorded the most off Red Sox veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield. In 122 at-bats, Jeter has 34 hits off Wakefield.

"It's a fitting tribute to a guy that has spent his whole career with one organization and has been a true professional his whole career there," Wakefield said. "For him to get 3,000 hits in the amount of time that he's done it is pretty amazing. It shows how great of an athlete he is and I have the utmost respect for him the way he goes about his business. He's as professional as anyone. It's pretty cool that I've faced him the most times of anybody."

Red Sox manager Terry Francona broke into a big smile Saturday afternoon when asked to discuss Jeter's career and accomplishments.

"If you like baseball, he's a lot of what's good in baseball. He respects the game. He plays the game right. He makes me proud for the way he goes about his business."

[shadows]

Originally Posted by smc

The simplest explanation I can give for what I think of A-Rod is that when people ask me what "bush league" means, I describe two things A-Rod has done. Case closed.

The dictionary has A-Roid's picture beside the description for "bush league".

It's amazing the contrasting feelings for two players on the same team, even from many of the opposing players. Everyone says great things about Derek Jeter, yet you will be hard pressed to find people that will talk glowingly(unless they have something to gain by it, of course) about A-Roid.

[shadows]

John Farrell can't come back soon enough. His idiot replacement decides to put in Tallet to try and get a save? There is a reason they got rid of him in the first place. Tallet is a HORRIBLE pitcher! I knew the second I saw him warming up that the Jays would lose...and they did.

Their bullpen is the worst I've ever seen, and they damned well better do something about it for next season.

Why they couldn't have Francisco pitch tonight is beyond me. His shoulder is sore? Well, why even bother having him if he can't pitch more than one game in a row.

[Pikachu1989]

Can we call Cubbies Eliminated from the Playoffs Again. Cubs need to get rid of everybody except Castro and Barney, Probably Rameriz too. Can't see them win for 10 years. 21 years of being a cubs fan and they bring me heartache. Fuck Bartman.

At least the Red Sox are leading the AL East by a game and a half and hopefully win another title. I wish Epstien can Come to the Cubbies Next year and break the curse of the Billy goat kind of what he did to the curse in 2004.

[shadows]

And the Yankees are gone! Fitting that the game (and series) ended with A-Roid striking out.

[Pikachu1989]

Can't believe the Brewers and Cardinals are in the NLCS. I hate them both as I'm a Cubbies fan. Hopefully The Brewers win the NL and get beaten By The Tigers in the WS. I will go off the deep end if The Cardinals win the NL then win the WS. the Cardinals.