The MLB Thread

[Trumo]

'Kinell. 3-0 Yankees already after the 1st. John Lackey on the mound for the Red Sox. I think they remembered to pack the lube this time.

[Iantn]

Don't mention Lackey around Jules!

[RedKnight]

*Shoots self in face*

[neko]

*Shoots self in face*

 

i'm resigned to the sox missing out, and i think it would be for the better.

 

tampa is the stronger, more deserving team right now, so if anyone can stand in the way of the yankees, it's them.

[Guest ShoePiss]

Just watched the Redsox-Oriels and Yankees-Rays games at the same time, brilliant stuff. Well worth the mlb.tv subscription for those two games alone. Rays showed great character to win tonight.

[Josef Svejk]

Fucking Red Sox blew it over the last month. 20 losses in September, I believe I heard. Ouch.

 

Last July, I went to see the Giants play. They obviously went on to win the World Series. This season, I went to Fenway Park... with less "effect". Lackey was playing that day, by the way, and was taken out of the game after 2.1 innings; he really is shit...

[Allan]

Well, well. Both the Braves and the Red Sox choked in the stretch. I thought the wild card races would be close, but at the time, I couldn't see either side being overhauled. How wrong could I have been?

 

It'll be interesting to see if both sides can offload their respective over paid, under performing, veteran pitchers. I mean, who's going to want to take on their respective contracts? There's no way either will simply be released, as paying off their contracts will be too costly...

[gazelle]

I went to see the Yankies when in NY - absolute load of shite...was so fucking boring...stop,start....stop,start....can i sell you some more shit u dont need...YAWN

[dave u]

atk jumped on the red sox bandwagon, and it toppled over.

[Trumo]

There could be something in that! I watched it until it was 2-2, and it could have been better if Aviles didn't try to be clever and steal 2nd with Ellsbury on the plate and 2 out. A possible 4-2 lead at that point would have relieved some of the pressure in a tight game. The Rays did brilliantly to come back from 7-0 down and take the Wild Card. As season collapses go, Abs should be more than familiar with this situation.

[Josef Svejk]

atk jumped on the red sox bandwagon, and it toppled over.

 

He's a Padres man, as far as I'm concerned. Switching/turncoating isn't allowed.

 

I remain a Giants fan, with certain (f**tb*ll-related) sympathies for the Red Sox. I even wore a certain f**tb*ll shirt to Fenway Park, but nobody seemed to notice, care, or, more likely, know.

 

One memorable aspect of Fenway, by the way: an old guy buying beer in the queue next to me was carded. He responded, not best pleased, "I'm 74 years old, ma'am!" "Sorry, those are the rules."

 

Can anybody top 74 years old?

[RedKnight]

*Shoots self in face again*

[Beantown Red]

John Henry just sacked Francona

[Trumo]

John Henry just sacked Francona

 

Confirmed? Perhaps paying the price for not making the post-season in 2010, and despite massive investment, missing out again this year. Seems harsh given what little I know about his reputation and standing in the game. As long as his replacement is better (no idea who as I can only name him or Joe Girardi) it could be a worthwhile gamble.

[neko]

Bad move, but I guess the manager usually pays for a total collapse like that.

[Beantown Red]

Confirmed? Perhaps paying the price for not making the post-season in 2010, and despite massive investment, missing out again this year. Seems harsh given what little I know about his reputation and standing in the game. As long as his replacement is better (no idea who as I can only name him or Joe Girardi) it could be a worthwhile gamble.

 

Not officially but everybody (local/national media) seems to be running with it. Some saying Henry decision, others saying mutual decision, possibly Francona could be off to Chicago Cubs.

[Trumo]

Any ideas as to who might be in the frame to replace him? Or who you think might be the best candidate? Given the club's standing, I'm sure they could go for the best.

[RedKnight]

If it's Bobby Valentine I'll shit a lung.

[neko]

Actually, his contract is up and the team announced it won't be picking up the option year of it.

 

So not really sacked.

[Beantown Red]

Actually, his contract is up and the team announced it won't be picking up the option year of it.

 

So not really sacked.

 

I don't follow that much baseball but I know the same thing happened the previous Red Sox manager and any time I hear anybody talking about Grady Little they say he was fired.

[neko]

I don't follow that much baseball but I know the same thing happened the previous Red Sox manager and any time I hear anybody talking about Grady Little they say he was fired.

 

That's because Grady Little was a fucking idiot....Francona is well liked, so he leaves by 'mutual consent'.

[RedKnight]

You can't compare Tito to Grady Little. Grady Little was a grade A douchebag. I'm sad that Francona's gone but someone had to carry the can for that collapse down the stretch and it wasn't going to be the players and it wasn't going to be Theo (even though he deserves a lot of the blame for the starting rotation mess).

 

Theo has to earn his money in the off season as he tries to jettison Lackey, decide what to with Big Papi and Youk, work out if Papelbon is worth the $40million he's due and find two new starting pitchers.

 

It was a sleek machine when it was running but as soon as it crashed it just became another wreck that needs an overhaul.

[RedKnight]

Officially parted ways, Sox decided not exercise his contract option. From what I've read it seems Tito was fine with that too, perhaps thinking his time had come to a natural conclusion. I loved Tito, seemed a great guy, all the best to him. I think he'll end up in Chicago at either the Cubs or White Sox. I don't know who Boston go for now, in an ideal world I'd love Joe Maddon but that's a non-starter I'd say.

[Nunavut Patrick]

The Blue Jays nicked your manager in waiting.

 

Henry had a yachting mishap as well. Ended up with a neck brace.

 

Interesting times in New England... Patriots blow 21 pt lead against the Bills, the most bizarre three minutes in baseball ever and Henry in a yachitng mishap.

 

If this wasn't the GF I'd mention a certain drought ending soonish....

[Guest ShoePiss]

Yachting mishap makes it sound like he was sailing on the high seas in a sloop or something, he has a 164ft motoryacht, too many Sam Adams? It was up for sale earlier this year for about $28m.