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Tuesday Open Thread: Twins at White Sox

Dunn_tiny by Slyde on in Playoffs

I don't have a whole lot to talk about today.  Things are quiet right now in Redsland.  C Trent has a list of what he sees as the Reds needs this off-season.  The first thing he lists is a right-handed bat.  I understand this belief that a right-handed bat is the key need, but I would argue that it is more important to think about positional need and look to improve the team that way.  If you can get a right-handed bat to fill that need, then so be it.  The more important goal is to get the best player you can get at each position. 

In fact, the Reds actually hit better against lefties (.257/.336/.420)  than righties (.243/.314/.403) this year and 69% of their plate appearances came against right-handers.  At this point, nobody should be off the table at shortstop, catcher or in the outfield just because of their handedness.  Look for quality players first and foremost and then look at other factors as a tie-breaker.

----------------------

Once again, all eyes of the baseball world will be focused on Chicago and the White Sox today.  Today's play-in game marks the second consecutive year that we've seen an extra game added to the regular season.  Last year the Colorado Rockies beat the San Diego Padres just before they swept their way through the NL playoffs.  Will the winner today follow the same path?

The Twins throw 26-year old rookie Nick Blackburn on the mound against 23-year old John Danks.  Danks is a former Texas Rangers farmhand who blossomed once he was traded by the Rangers.  Sound familiar?

W-L ERA WHIP K BB
2008 - Nick Blackburn 11-10 4.14 1.37 93 36

W-L ERA WHIP K BB
2008 - John Danks 11-9 3.47 1.25 155 54

The winner of today's game travels to Tampa Bay to play the first playoff game ever at Tropicana Field, hopefully in front of a packed house.  The Rays have had a hard time drawing fans on the weekdays this season, though admittedly not as hard of a time as the Reds.  Do you think they'll finally come out for the playoffs?

Anyone think this could possibly be Ken Griffey Jr's last game ever?  I don't expect it to be, but he may have a hard time drawing interest in the off-season.

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Fuuuuuuuuuuurst

"Aio, quantitas magna frumentorum est."

by jch24 on Sep 30, 2008 2:55 PM EDT   0 recs

If I were Junyah

I’d have a giant ass… If you were him, would you play anymore? He has nothing to prove, and he’s got a couple of bucks stashed away? Why go on? I guess all that’s left for him to do is to spout that “I just want a ring” bullshit.

Vote Pops in '08. I promise nothing and I'll do it!

by Pops Daniels on Sep 30, 2008 3:09 PM EDT   0 recs

I buy the "I just want a ring" bullshit, personally

Much like rich people becoming politicians to get the power their money can’t buy (bear with me on that one), pro athletes can make all the money in the world, rack up outlandish career stats, go to the HOF, etc…….but they can’t personally win a ring. It’s also a vindication of sorts, no one wants to be poor Ernie Banks/Charles Barkley/Barry Sanders.

"Aio, quantitas magna frumentorum est."

by jch24 on Sep 30, 2008 3:20 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Would you care?

I’d be doing blow off of a hooker’s teet. I would care not at all.

Vote Pops in '08. I promise nothing and I'll do it!

by Pops Daniels on Sep 30, 2008 3:26 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Or maybe I would

but I’d still be doing that other thing too.

Vote Pops in '08. I promise nothing and I'll do it!

by Pops Daniels on Sep 30, 2008 3:27 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Both for me, please

"Aio, quantitas magna frumentorum est."

by jch24 on Sep 30, 2008 3:30 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

He should load up on nerve tonic

www.crosleyfieldterrace.wordpress.com

by xjjeep90 on Sep 30, 2008 7:27 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Mike and Mike had an interesting discussion this morning re: tiebreakers

These teams played 18 games this year, with Minny winning 10-8. While it’s crappy that the season series winner doesn’t get the division title, what I didn’t realize was it doesn’t even give them home field for the playoff game! It’s decided by a coin flip! How dumb.

Winning the stupid All-Star game gets you home field advantage for the WS, but winning a season series doesn’t even get you home field for a one-game playoff?

And correct me if I’m wrong, but if the Twins and Sox were both guaranteed playoff spots (one was division winner, the other the wildcard), they wouldn’t play and the season series winner gets the nod as division winner (and presumably an “easier” matchup in the LDS)?

Who makes up these rules? Bud Selig? Dusty Baker?

by bengalred on Sep 30, 2008 3:33 PM EDT   0 recs

Well

It’s a committee. Some of whom are appointed, some elected, and the rest co-opted on a bi-annual basis. It’s a quorum, so to speak. (bp)

"You never want to give up a 7-0 lead, in your rival's ballpark, that would put them in first place. Never want to do that." - Ron Darling

by Slyde on Sep 30, 2008 3:36 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Yeah, well

You’re a quorum!

"Aio, quantitas magna frumentorum est."

by jch24 on Sep 30, 2008 3:49 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

That's not nice

they prefer the word gay.

Vote Pops in '08. I promise nothing and I'll do it!

by Pops Daniels on Sep 30, 2008 3:52 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

so, you don't want the bonus points then?

"You never want to give up a 7-0 lead, in your rival's ballpark, that would put them in first place. Never want to do that." - Ron Darling

by Slyde on Sep 30, 2008 4:55 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Slyde, we broke up two months ago

"Aio, quantitas magna frumentorum est."

by jch24 on Sep 30, 2008 5:01 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Are you mental? That's not the right movie.

"You never want to give up a 7-0 lead, in your rival's ballpark, that would put them in first place. Never want to do that." - Ron Darling

by Slyde on Sep 30, 2008 5:20 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Who does number two work for???

"Aio, quantitas magna frumentorum est."

by jch24 on Sep 30, 2008 5:22 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Do I make you horny? Is that why you can't get the movie right?

"You never want to give up a 7-0 lead, in your rival's ballpark, that would put them in first place. Never want to do that." - Ron Darling

by Slyde on Sep 30, 2008 5:24 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Donkey, two things okay? Shut... up.

"Aio, quantitas magna frumentorum est."

by jch24 on Sep 30, 2008 5:30 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Ogres have layers. You know what else has layers? This pile of your incorrect answers.

"You never want to give up a 7-0 lead, in your rival's ballpark, that would put them in first place. Never want to do that." - Ron Darling

by Slyde on Sep 30, 2008 5:38 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

As much as I'd love to continue

I like the night life. I like to boogie.

And I don’t want to end up quoting The Love Guru.

"Aio, quantitas magna frumentorum est."

by jch24 on Sep 30, 2008 5:49 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I'm naked right now, aren't I?

I’m also not jch, which may be why I’m able to get the right movie.

And for as much as I’ve been teasing Slyde for this whole “Stats” thing lately..way to quote one of my favorite always-on-comedy-central movies.

...because there's already someone posing as Jacob Brumfield

by Cy Schourek on Sep 30, 2008 6:20 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I was being retarded as usual

Working my way through the Mike Myers Collection. :)

"Aio, quantitas magna frumentorum est."

by jch24 on Sep 30, 2008 7:39 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I knew you were

I was just playing along.

"You never want to give up a 7-0 lead, in your rival's ballpark, that would put them in first place. Never want to do that." - Ron Darling

by Slyde on Sep 30, 2008 7:45 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Wasn't you I was worried about :)

"Aio, quantitas magna frumentorum est."

by jch24 on Sep 30, 2008 8:24 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

For those of you I didn't email this to earlier today

Here’s something amusing from the news wire. Truly Middletown’s finest.

"Aio, quantitas magna frumentorum est."

by jch24 on Sep 30, 2008 5:32 PM EDT   0 recs

uh...

wow.

I think we overmeet as a society.

by Gray on Sep 30, 2008 5:47 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Heart warming....

Ibn Khaldoun and Hulrich Zwingli - now that's real reform, Mr. McCain.

by Madville on Sep 30, 2008 5:50 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Or at least porch-warming

I’m out kids. My heart is with Junior but I’m taking the Twins, 6-2.

"Aio, quantitas magna frumentorum est."

by jch24 on Sep 30, 2008 5:52 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Where you goin'?

to bail out mom and get your cow suit dry cleaned?

by Brian B on Sep 30, 2008 8:45 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

best mug shot ever

"It will put a smile on your face to see a Chevy with a Soviet transmission"

by justin007000 on Sep 30, 2008 5:56 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

pun'd

Kentuck Arts Festival: October 18th.
Details at Sinful Savage Tigers

by Man Mountain on Sep 30, 2008 6:56 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

pan'd

I think we overmeet as a society.

by Gray on Sep 30, 2008 6:56 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

oh god... Frank TV promos

please no!

www.crosleyfieldterrace.wordpress.com

by xjjeep90 on Sep 30, 2008 7:43 PM EDT   0 recs

who e we rooting for?ar

Hope Springs Eternal! Go Reds

by Caleb on Sep 30, 2008 7:48 PM EDT   0 recs

yes.

I think we overmeet as a society.

by Gray on Sep 30, 2008 7:48 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

damn that's ugly

looks like a madville post

Hope Springs Eternal! Go Reds

by Caleb on Sep 30, 2008 7:48 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

that's what she said?

I think we overmeet as a society.

by Gray on Sep 30, 2008 7:49 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Wise

in his Reds cap on yahoo game tracker.

I think we overmeet as a society.

by Gray on Sep 30, 2008 7:48 PM EDT   0 recs

He was my favorite non-prospect player

when he was with the Bats.

www.crosleyfieldterrace.wordpress.com

by xjjeep90 on Sep 30, 2008 7:49 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I have all these negative memories

of White Sox games, because the broadcasts of them on WGN were so much worse than the Cubs broadcasts.

Plus, I really don’t like teams with strictly b/w logos.

I think we overmeet as a society.

by Gray on Sep 30, 2008 7:49 PM EDT   0 recs

And you can put it on the BOOOOOOOOOOOOAARRRRDDDDD

Ugh.

"Aio, quantitas magna frumentorum est."

by jch24 on Sep 30, 2008 8:25 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

The Rays have sold out the ALDS games without making any tickets availible to the general public.

They had a lottery by registering online and they’d send you an email saying you won. The next day any remaining tickets would be available to the general public. Game 1,2&5 are all sold out. Attendance will not be a problem for the Rays during the playoffs. And if they continue to win, it won’t be a problem during the regular season.

Tools Whore

Sign Bonds!

by Tyler on Sep 30, 2008 8:31 PM EDT   0 recs

I dunno

Announced attendance is always different than actual attendance. I’ve been to many a late season Reds game when there were “15,645” in attendance and I couldn’t swing a dead cat and hit someone.

I hope you’re right though, that team really deserves an enthusiastic crowd and might be able to pull off some magic if they get it.

"Aio, quantitas magna frumentorum est."

by jch24 on Sep 30, 2008 8:39 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Crap

I’m emotionally reliant upon Griffey doing something positive tonight.

by Brian B on Sep 30, 2008 8:41 PM EDT   0 recs

Griffey!

Nails Cuddyer at the plate! Finally he’s throwing to a catcher who can CATCH the ball.

by Brian B on Sep 30, 2008 8:50 PM EDT   0 recs

Damned kids and their commandeering of the TV

Go Junior!

Oh and I stand by my previous statement. I want Junior to win but I think the Twinkies win this game.

"Aio, quantitas magna frumentorum est."

by jch24 on Sep 30, 2008 9:08 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Yep, that's a rec

"Aio, quantitas magna frumentorum est."

by jch24 on Sep 30, 2008 9:09 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

fuck griffey

i want the twins to win…

and i want the red sox to win the world series.

i still like casey

What's the ratio of Stanley Nickels to Schrute Bucks?

by chandrathan on Sep 30, 2008 9:15 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Good to see you could make it, Bill

"Aio, quantitas magna frumentorum est."

by jch24 on Sep 30, 2008 9:17 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Splat'd

Just because I remember Marty sounding more and more desperate as the rain delay went on. I think subconsciously, he knew it might be the last time the team would ever have a shot, and now he’s a crotchety old bastard due to the horrors of the season post-1999.

 As we’re the same age, Justin, this is really our one good memory of anything playoff-like. I remember Benito Santiago hitting a homerun vs. LA in the 1995 LDS and Reggie Sanders striking out 67 times in the ’95 LCS, but Al Leiter and Steve Parrish are the ones truly seared into my memory.

Politickin' in God's Country

by chesirecat on Sep 30, 2008 11:51 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

i remember Mark Lewish hitting a pinch hit grandslam in the NLDS.

"It will put a smile on your face to see a Chevy with a Soviet transmission"

by justin007000 on Oct 1, 2008 1:05 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

So, um.

Is anyone ever going to score?

I think we overmeet as a society.

by Gray on Sep 30, 2008 9:15 PM EDT   0 recs

Thome decided to hit a solo shot

that was nice

www.crosleyfieldterrace.wordpress.com

by xjjeep90 on Sep 30, 2008 9:20 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Hey, Griffey doubled.

Who replaces him in center?

I think we overmeet as a society.

by Gray on Sep 30, 2008 9:26 PM EDT   0 recs

No one mentioned it

But Griffey had a nice throw to nail the runner at the plate.

by Brendanukkah on Sep 30, 2008 9:30 PM EDT   0 recs

stephen colbert's guest tonight?

"It will put a smile on your face to see a Chevy with a Soviet transmission"

by justin007000 on Sep 30, 2008 9:32 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

who was that?

I think we overmeet as a society.

by Gray on Sep 30, 2008 9:50 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

no idea

the show isn’t on for another hour, and i don’t feel like looking it up

"It will put a smile on your face to see a Chevy with a Soviet transmission"

by justin007000 on Sep 30, 2008 9:50 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I also had an argument with my roomate who became a Red Sox fan when he moved to Boston

I took the position that all Red Sox fans were douchebags. I don’t know that I persuaded him, but who’s with me?!

by Brendanukkah on Sep 30, 2008 9:31 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

me

"It will put a smile on your face to see a Chevy with a Soviet transmission"

by justin007000 on Sep 30, 2008 9:31 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

i guess you are a douchebag

"It will put a smile on your face to see a Chevy with a Soviet transmission"

by justin007000 on Sep 30, 2008 9:33 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

i didn't want to fuck it up

i copied doucebag from brendan’s post.

"It will put a smile on your face to see a Chevy with a Soviet transmission"

by justin007000 on Sep 30, 2008 9:37 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

i also sold a few douches at Meijer

during the summer. I giggled just a bit. I also sold a few vibrating condoms. Vibrating condoms and magnum condoms rang up as “condoms” on the receipt, regular condoms rang up as “medical devices”.

"It will put a smile on your face to see a Chevy with a Soviet transmission"

by justin007000 on Sep 30, 2008 9:38 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Vibrating condoms?

Srsly? Explain please.

"Aio, quantitas magna frumentorum est."

by jch24 on Sep 30, 2008 9:39 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

condoms are for pussies

"It will put a smile on your face to see a Chevy with a Soviet transmission"

by justin007000 on Sep 30, 2008 9:50 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

justin doesn't get it

"My wife ain't never ran and got me no pheasant." - Fistbands

by BK on Sep 30, 2008 9:50 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Sounds like you and 'than have some catching up to do.

"My wife ain't never ran and got me no pheasant." - Fistbands

by BK on Sep 30, 2008 9:51 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

simulpost?

I say yes.

"Aio, quantitas magna frumentorum est."

by jch24 on Sep 30, 2008 9:52 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs