WS Roundtable, part 3 I just got into this "debate" with the Series tied 1-1. It's looks like the Tigers are still a little sleepy from their layoff, but Kenny Rogers and his pine tar ball have set them on the right track.

My prediction? Well, with every player at every position better for the Tigers (save for Pujols) you'd have to pick Tigers in 4 or 5. (Which the TBG did.) Of course, because the Cards stink so badly, have no chance at winning more than a Carpenter start, and is the worst team to ever play in a World Series, they'll probably win.

Cardinals in 7.  ¶ posted by J Dub at 12:03 PM | 0 comments

  World Series Roundtable Part 1 The following was written prior to Game 1 of the World Series, but there's never a computer around when you need one...

As the first one up, I can be the one to inform Sean that the Tigers only had to wait 34 years for revenge against St. Louis, and that they got it in the 1968 World Series. Hey, new babies can do that to you.

That series was a 7-gamer featuring two teams that combined for 200 wins, though it really wasn't much of a classic, as only one of the games was decided by 2 runs or less. In 2006, we have a resurgent Tigers team against the sorriest excuse for a World Series team in baseball history, the 83-win St. Louis Cardinals.

As a Blue Jays fan, it's going to be a little tough to watch a team that's clearly inferior to the Jays competing in the World Series. Sure, they have Pujols and Carpenter, but little else. The Tigers aren't outstanding at any one position, but they have no real weaknesses - ok, Sean Casey. I still fully expect Todd Jones to turn into a pumpkin given enough chances, but the games may not be all that close.

Tigers in four. (doh!)



  ¶ posted by Chris C. at 2:18 PM | 0 comments

  This ain't exactly Lolich vs. Gibson Which injury-riddled NL squad will win the right to be trounced by Detroit? That question will be answered tonight in New York, and while all seventh games have a special air about them, this one figures to be a war of attrition.

Expect visits to the bullpen early and often. This is all that you need to know about the pitching matchup: The team that DOESN'T have Jeff Suppan starting probably wishes that they did. That thought has to make Blue Jay fans just a little wistful, as both the Mets and Cardinals would probably have killed for a healthy Gustavo Chacin in this series.

The Jays would have matched up well against either of these teams with a front three of Halladay, Burnett and Lilly. Add in the beaten-up lineups on both sides, what with Cliff Floyd, Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen and David Eckstein and it's enough to apply for a transfer to the NL.

As a fan with no deep rooting interest in either team, you hope that Game Seven isn't a blowout. Each one is, after all, a chance for the next great moment in baseball history. Look for New York to win, as St. Louis will regret not wrapping up the series in Game six with their ace on the mound. One key hit for Carlos Delgado and he'll be an easy choice for NLCS MVP. Not bad for a guy that Toronto writers chided for a lack of competitive spirit.

Oh, and a question for Tony LaRussa and his anemic offense: do you think So Taguchi has earned a start yet? Maybe drop the guy with the 2.750 slugging percentage into the lineup for a game. Just a thought.  ¶ posted by Chris C. at 5:09 PM | 0 comments

  And now, the comedy stylings of Steve Lyons... One would think that in the year 2006, a broadcaster might have the good sense NOT to imply that all Spanish-speaking people are liable to steal your wallet. Particularly while on live TV. Not so with Fox analyst Steve "Psycho" Lyons, who apparently lost his mind while getting chummy with Lou Pinella during Game 3 of the ALCS.

The Good News is that Lyons will no longer be remembered as the Guy Who Dropped His Pants In Front of 35,000 People.

The Bad News is that he will now be remembered as the Guy Who Got Fired for the Stupid Racist Remarks. Not exactly an upgrade.

I doubt that Lyons is actually a racist. Rather this was just "witty newsdesk banter" of a kind that makes Ron Burgundy look like Walter Cronkite.

Watching tonight's broadcast, I see that Fox has added such stable personalities as A.J. Pierzynski and Eric Byrnes to their studio panel. Perhaps a 5-second tape delay is in order...  ¶ posted by Chris C. at 11:50 PM | 0 comments

  I blame Tim Keown Well, poor Cory Lidle has gone and crashed himself into a Manhattan building. It's a shame really, and I don't want to turn this into a joke (too soon) but, might it be possible that he really did care about the loss to the Tigers...

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=keown/061010  ¶ posted by J Dub at 12:47 PM | 0 comments

  Latest Jeter Mail Here's the latest from the mailbag about everyone's favourite shortstop:

Before your list begins you state "He will one day be inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame." How will that happen? Is he going to quadruple his offensive statistics before he retires? The Earth will crash into the sun before Derek Jeter gets inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Much as I find him personally annoying, to be denied by Cooperstown, Jeter would have to sodomize Rudy Giuliani.

In Yankee Stadium.

While wearing an Osama Bin Laden T-shirt.

And placing online bets on baseball.

A shortstop with 2,000 hits and a .317 average is going to The Hall of Fame.  ¶ posted by Chris C. at 12:41 AM | 0 comments

  TBG has gone to the Blogs Much as we liked the old site format, it wasn't terribly conducive to regular updates, so we've decided to change things up a little bit.

The new design makes it easier for our writers to post, and it makes the site much more interactive, as visitors can now leave comments. Old articles are still available in the "Old School Archive." We've also made an easy-to-find permanent link to the ever growing "Little Baseball Glossary," and the Jeter List, which is how most of our recent visitors have found the site.

Using this format, we will still have longer, in-depth articles, such as Chris' feature on Albert Belle, but it will also allow for timely flash-posts whether we're talking about an off-season moves or analyzing the latest McCarverism (it is playoff time).  ¶ posted by Chris C. at 12:13 AM | 0 comments