Official Discussion Thread, ALDS Game #1 (White Sox/Rays) and NLDS Game #2 (Brewers/Phillies)

First!!!!

For My First Time EVER!!!!

by niuhuskie224 on Oct 2, 2008 9:57 AM CDT 0 recs

I predict...

…a Sox win today.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Oct 2, 2008 10:03 AM CDT 0 recs

Didn't you see that Vazquez is pitching?

He’s been horrible the last two starts.

Old Style is the nectar of life.

by Mordecai on Oct 2, 2008 10:06 AM CDT up 0 recs

Just a gut feeling

n/t

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Oct 2, 2008 10:07 AM CDT up 0 recs

Gonna disagree with you.

The Sox have just won three elimination games in a row — real emotional. They have a tough time winning in domes — they were 2-14 indoors this year (and got swept at Tampa, just like the Cubs did).

I can’t figure out how the Rays did it this year either, but somehow they keep winning. The Sox could get swept.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Oct 2, 2008 10:10 AM CDT up 0 recs

Common sense...

…would agree with you, but I just have a feeling they will win today, but will not win the series.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Oct 2, 2008 10:46 AM CDT up 0 recs

the Sox sweeping. Just took the last three games to get into the playoffs, kinda reminds me of the Rockies last season. Went on a nice streak to get in and continued throughout the playoffs. Forgot what happened in the WS though…. didn’t they come close to winning?? :)

"What a great call! Your doing a fantastic job, but people expect me to come out here and be upset. So I'm gonna kick some dirt, you understand?" - Lou Pinella

by Lou In Blue on Oct 2, 2008 1:36 PM CDT up 0 recs

If a 4-0 sweep is "close to winning"

Then yeah.

by SuperContext on Oct 2, 2008 1:46 PM CDT up 0 recs

I would agree if anyone else were starting

but Vasquez + big stage = blow-out for the Rays.

by SuperContext on Oct 2, 2008 10:10 AM CDT up 0 recs

im calling it

Rays 3-2 over the Sox : Sox don’t play well in domes
Brewers 4-2 over the Phillies: Sabbathia continues to give every NL GM reason to beg his owner for a chance to give this 100+ million next offseason.

---AC 00 00 00 - Believe

by mjk83 on Oct 2, 2008 10:43 AM CDT 0 recs

I agree with this

basically (I usually don’t worry about predicting scores). The Sox are going to lose, the Brewers should win with CC on the mound. Only one team has beaten CC since he came to the Brewers and their name rhymes with stubs, not willies.

"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella

by drewishdrewid on Oct 2, 2008 10:49 AM CDT up 0 recs

The Reds beat CC on Sept 20

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN200809200.shtml

"Every team will win 60 games, every team will lose 60 games, it's what the team does in the other 42 games that decides the season."

by flachimesa on Oct 2, 2008 1:15 PM CDT up 0 recs

hey!

don’t mess up my great rhymes with facts! :P

"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella

by drewishdrewid on Oct 2, 2008 1:37 PM CDT up 0 recs

Hey it sounded right since he is 11-2 with the Brewers

and the Cubs did beat him in two starts.

We had him beat in his first start but the Brew Crew tied the game after CC left. Howry gave up a HR to Branyan to blow the save. Go figure!

Torres took the loss.

"Every team will win 60 games, every team will lose 60 games, it's what the team does in the other 42 games that decides the season."

by flachimesa on Oct 2, 2008 3:37 PM CDT up 0 recs

Lets go Rays and Lets go Brew Crew

I want the other NLDS to go to at least 4 games, as ours better

The day we lose our will to fight - Is the day we lose our Freedom.

by sanantonecub on Oct 2, 2008 11:02 AM CDT 0 recs

Phillies look like a team that is going to have special postseason...

I also take contrarian view and think the White Sox will pull upset and dispatch of the youthful Devil Rays in a 3 game sweep.

Oh please let this dubious bullpen be good enough in the playoffs...

by MDBNIU on Oct 2, 2008 11:21 AM CDT 0 recs

After getting swept there earlier in the year?

Not a chance.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Oct 2, 2008 11:37 AM CDT up 0 recs

Predicting that Javy Vasquez comes up huge today...

Don’t underestimate the Sox. They are not the best team on paper but for some reason I think their trials and tribulations over this season will serve them well in the playoffs.

Oh please let this dubious bullpen be good enough in the playoffs...

by MDBNIU on Oct 2, 2008 12:14 PM CDT up 0 recs

go Phillies, right BlueMike?

"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella

by drewishdrewid on Oct 2, 2008 1:38 PM CDT up 0 recs

I don't care much about the Sox and usually

want them to have a good season. I even believe the Sox making the playoffs and going far is good for Chicago.

All that said, I’ve realized I want them to lose today. Real bad. Has nothing to do with the Sox organization or players. I just don’t want to listen to their fans. My friends and co-workers who are rabid Sox fans are too quick to use Sox success to degrade the Cubs. I don’t want them to have any ammo and I want to focus on the game tonight.

Can’t imagine the Sox will win today, let alone the series.

Disposable dixie cup drinkin... I'm hiding out in the big city blinking...

by N Oakley on Oct 2, 2008 11:22 AM CDT 0 recs

im with you

for the most part I don’t care what they do but for mental well being itd be fabulous if they lost this afternoon..

---AC 00 00 00 - Believe

by mjk83 on Oct 2, 2008 11:27 AM CDT up 0 recs

I mostly support the Sox

because I have so many friends that are Sox fans, and I want them to be happy…Same goes for them with the Cubs…

But notice I say SUPPORT. I don’t go out of my way to cheer for them…

The Missouri Tigers (4-0) begin defense of their 2007 Big 12 Conference North Division title Saturday on the road, as they take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-1) in Lincoln, Neb.

by PurpleLineToWrigley on Oct 2, 2008 11:54 AM CDT 0 recs

My thoughts

I think the Brewers/Phillies game today will be a close one. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Phillies won. I saw some stats yesterday that showed that, despite popular belief, the Phillies have actually hit better against left-handed pitching this year. Of course, most left handed pitching isn’t CC Sabathia.

Rays/Sox game…..gotta go with the Rays. They play very good baseball down there in Tampa this year.

by rambler19 on Oct 2, 2008 11:59 AM CDT 0 recs

I think CC is going to wet the bed this afternoon

And plunge the Brewers into a 0 – 2 hole.

CC is not very good in the playoffs.

by Galvan316 on Oct 2, 2008 12:17 PM CDT 0 recs

Agreed...

If I had to pick a team with the best chance of winning the World Series honesty would prevail me to say the Phillies. I know that team doesn’t have the greatest depth of starting pitching but something tells me that team is going to be unstoppable no matter who they play. They will dispatch of the Brewers quickly.

Oh please let this dubious bullpen be good enough in the playoffs...

by MDBNIU on Oct 2, 2008 12:25 PM CDT up 0 recs

I think I'll boot up my Gameday audio...

…for the Sox-Rays game.

The Chicago Cubs: 2008 Central Division Champions

by dat cubfan daver on Oct 2, 2008 1:45 PM CDT 0 recs

I just did

but I can not STAND Ed Farmer. The ESPN Nat’l broadcast won’t work.

Go All In and Enjoy The Ride.

by Jayo525 on Oct 2, 2008 1:48 PM CDT up 0 recs

Yeah, I'm going to suffer through the Farmer/Stone broadcast, too.

Well, at least the “Livin’ the High Life” commercials come through.

“Bistro? What’s a bistro?”

The Chicago Cubs: 2008 Central Division Champions

by dat cubfan daver on Oct 2, 2008 1:49 PM CDT up 0 recs

Without being judgemental and "bleeding" over into other posts about the Wrigley crowd last night...

the crowd at the Rays-Sox game already seems more animated, relaxed, loud, into it than we ever did last night and that started with the first White Sox batter in the top of the 1st. Just an observation; not a criticism of anyone in Tampa or Chicago.

Tommie Agee was out.

by Weeghman Park on Oct 2, 2008 1:47 PM CDT 0 recs

It is a DOME

sounds noisier to begin with.

by CubFaninNY on Oct 2, 2008 2:11 PM CDT up 0 recs

I remember some of the Rays players being a little baffled

at how the stadium was only about half-packed for the entire season for home games. They spend the majority of the season in 1st place, and only now do they get their stadium filled to capacity in the postseason?

If that isn’t a band wagon fan, then I don’t know what is.

"Looks like Milwaukee got their No Hitter" -ak123

by NittanyCub on Oct 2, 2008 2:19 PM CDT up 0 recs

Lots of cowbells and Thunderstix in that warehouse they play in.

by hokie316 on Oct 2, 2008 2:36 PM CDT up 0 recs

That was a fast 1st inning.

Tommie Agee was out.

by Weeghman Park on Oct 2, 2008 1:48 PM CDT 0 recs

Anyone hear they were passing out

Cow Bells for the Rays fans? And you thought the Human Air Raid Siren was bad…..

Go All In and Enjoy The Ride.

by Jayo525 on Oct 2, 2008 1:49 PM CDT 0 recs

One thing that stadium does NOT need is more cowbell.

The Chicago Cubs: 2008 Central Division Champions

by dat cubfan daver on Oct 2, 2008 1:50 PM CDT up 0 recs

And apparently the reason they did is

bc the GM is a huge fan of the Walken skit. I shit you not.

Go All In and Enjoy The Ride.

by Jayo525 on Oct 2, 2008 1:55 PM CDT up 0 recs

What's with the mohawks?

Tommie Agee was out.

by Weeghman Park on Oct 2, 2008 1:53 PM CDT 0 recs

I'd guess it's a "team unity" thing.

The Chicago Cubs: 2008 Central Division Champions

by dat cubfan daver on Oct 2, 2008 1:54 PM CDT up 0 recs

If they were already a "team" why would they need those?

Just seems sort of high school-ish.

Tommie Agee was out.

by Weeghman Park on Oct 2, 2008 1:56 PM CDT up 0 recs

Kind of like all the Wolves sporting

their best Fu Manchu during the playoffs last season.

Go All In and Enjoy The Ride.

by Jayo525 on Oct 2, 2008 1:56 PM CDT up 0 recs

BJ Upton started it

and it caught on with the rest of the team.

Hey, it's a new century!

by cowsarecool220 on Oct 2, 2008 3:58 PM CDT up 0 recs

There's the Javy Vasquez I know and love

At least he hasn’t walked anyone yet….

by SuperContext on Oct 2, 2008 1:59 PM CDT 0 recs

Probably already said,

but Longoria is so awesome. I hope the Rays win today, both because they’re playing Chicago and that what they’ve done this year is nothing short of incredible.

I still can’t believe the Rays locked up Longoria for 6 years and 17.5 million. Rodriguez makes more in one year than he will in 6 years. Incredible management.

"Looks like Milwaukee got their No Hitter" -ak123

by NittanyCub on Oct 2, 2008 2:03 PM CDT 0 recs

I see a contract re-negotiation in Longoria's future

No way he sticks with that money for SIX years.

by CubFaninNY on Oct 2, 2008 2:10 PM CDT up 0 recs

If he has a similar season to 2008,

I don’t see how there couldn’t be. 17.5 million for 6 years!! I looked up some numbers, and Rodriguez actually almost makes two times(32 million) as much as Longoria’s whole contract, in 2009. I don’t know what to make of that, to tell you the truth.

"Looks like Milwaukee got their No Hitter" -ak123

by NittanyCub on Oct 2, 2008 2:13 PM CDT up 0 recs

1-0 Rays

Longoria HR.

by CubFaninNY on Oct 2, 2008 2:11 PM CDT 0 recs

Heading to the Phils/Brewers game in

a hour. My dad called a few days ago with an extra ticket.

When the Phils swept the Brewers at the Bank, C.C didn’t pitch. He will pitch well but it’s all up to Myers for the Phils. Myers pitched great coming back from the minors but has pitched poorly the past few times on the mound.

Hopefully by the time I get home tonight, the Cubs will be way ahead of the Dodgers!

by PhillyCub on Oct 2, 2008 2:13 PM CDT 0 recs

Your dad had an extra ticket?

That’s pretty awesome.

"Looks like Milwaukee got their No Hitter" -ak123

by NittanyCub on Oct 2, 2008 2:17 PM CDT up 0 recs

My dad's job

gets him tickets to every sporting event, if he wants them, in Philadelphia. He’s high up in the administration (works in finance) at a university in the Philadelphia area. He deals with contracts and one of them is for who runs the food service at the university. The company that runs the food service at his university is the same one who runs the concessions at the Bank, Linc and Wachovia Center. So this company gets him tickets as a courtesy.

by PhillyCub on Oct 2, 2008 2:22 PM CDT up 0 recs

Damn, that's really cool

Especially if your dad is a Philly-based fan. Well, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t jealous.

"Looks like Milwaukee got their No Hitter" -ak123

by NittanyCub on Oct 2, 2008 2:27 PM CDT up 0 recs

My dad is a really big sports fan

He enjoys his job. He says it’s much better than working in the corporate world. He used to work for Aon so he would go out to Chicago a lot. The CEO of Aon is Pat Ryan, who owns part of the Bears and donated all the money for Northwestern’s rebuilding of their athletic facilities.

If he wants to go to any game, he calls up the guy he deals with at the food service company and gets the tickets.

He still can’t believe I’m a Cubs fan.

by PhillyCub on Oct 2, 2008 2:37 PM CDT up 0 recs