Re: It's the All-Star break...
Doug Pensinger wrote: Julia wrote: I wrote: Do you really think 5 games (Rangers) or even 7.5 (A's) games behind is too much to overcome in seventy some odd games? For the Rangers, yes. Just off the cuff. The Rangers have a pattern of doing fairly well before the All-Star break, and then blowing it the second half of the season. I'd say the A's have a better chance of it than the Rangers, based on what I read above. (I have no idea what the current standings are -- but I can tell you who won the stage yesterday in the Tour de L^HFrance.) Well, the A's have won 7 straight, have picked up 2 games on the Angels (5 behind) and they've won something like 37 of their last 50 games. They took sole possession of the wild card lead tonight with a 13-4 win over the Indians. I could gush at much greater length, but you're probably bored already 8^). Bottom line - the A's have become the odds on favorite to win the wild card spot even if they can't catch the Angels. Which of course, if you're asking me, they can... I believe you. One recent day, the front page of my sports section informed me that the A's had swept the Rangers. :) I looked upon this as a perfect illustration of my point above. Julia ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: It's the All-Star break...
Julia wrote: I wrote: Do you really think 5 games (Rangers) or even 7.5 (A's) games behind is too much to overcome in seventy some odd games? For the Rangers, yes. Just off the cuff. The Rangers have a pattern of doing fairly well before the All-Star break, and then blowing it the second half of the season. I'd say the A's have a better chance of it than the Rangers, based on what I read above. (I have no idea what the current standings are -- but I can tell you who won the stage yesterday in the Tour de L^HFrance.) Well, the A's have won 7 straight, have picked up 2 games on the Angels (5 behind) and they've won something like 37 of their last 50 games. They took sole possession of the wild card lead tonight with a 13-4 win over the Indians. I could gush at much greater length, but you're probably bored already 8^). Bottom line - the A's have become the odds on favorite to win the wild card spot even if they can't catch the Angels. Which of course, if you're asking me, they can... -- Doug ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: It's the All-Star break...
Doug Pensinger wrote: Gautam wrote: She is, however, a really nice person, and in her honor I will root for the Rangers...except the Angels are just a little too far ahead. I am suspicious, however, of any team that plays Erstad at 1B. Socia's old school, and the A's are a second half team. And if you rely on ESPN (TV or web) or the local media for your news, you don't know just how good the A's might be. Our young staff has been very impressive over the last month+, our relief core is much improved and our defense is outstanding (except Jason Kendal couldn't throw _me_ out.) If these kids can keep improving at the plate and Chavez has his typical hot second half (he's raised his average nearly 70 points since late May) we will certianly be in the wild card race, and we may challenge the Angels for the division. Do you really think 5 games (Rangers) or even 7.5 (A's) games behind is too much to overcome in seventy some odd games? For the Rangers, yes. Just off the cuff. The Rangers have a pattern of doing fairly well before the All-Star break, and then blowing it the second half of the season. I'd say the A's have a better chance of it than the Rangers, based on what I read above. (I have no idea what the current standings are -- but I can tell you who won the stage yesterday in the Tour de L^HFrance.) Julia ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: It's the All-Star break...
Gautam wrote: She is, however, a really nice person, and in her honor I will root for the Rangers...except the Angels are just a little too far ahead. I am suspicious, however, of any team that plays Erstad at 1B. Socia's old school, and the A's are a second half team. And if you rely on ESPN (TV or web) or the local media for your news, you don't know just how good the A's might be. Our young staff has been very impressive over the last month+, our relief core is much improved and our defense is outstanding (except Jason Kendal couldn't throw _me_ out.) If these kids can keep improving at the plate and Chavez has his typical hot second half (he's raised his average nearly 70 points since late May) we will certianly be in the wild card race, and we may challenge the Angels for the division. Do you really think 5 games (Rangers) or even 7.5 (A's) games behind is too much to overcome in seventy some odd games? I'm routing for Miggy and the Orioles by the way. Hey, maybe Sammy's just still in withdrawall and he'll be OK in a bit. 8^) What pitcher did is your friend marrying? -- Doug ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
RE: It's the All-Star break...
Behalf Of Gautam Mukunda NL Central: St. Louis (this one's too easy) Please, please, *please* don't jinx them! Although I did see someone who has already calculated their magic number last week. It was 68 as of 7/6. As for the playoffs...insert my standard disclaimer about playoff games being essentially random events here...the Cards are clearly the class of the NL. Why, thank you. We like to think so. Even when we aren't leading the division... slightly better. So anybody can win this one - I'll say the Red Sox just because they were _so_ superior to the Cards last year and the Cards have not improved, although the Sox clearly have fallen back. I don't agree with the above. Yes, the Red Sox dominated the Cards in the WS. But that was more a case of the Red Sox coming off an emotional high (beating the Yankees) and having an extremely hot streak. While on the other side of the diamond, the Cardinals were clearly drained by the series with Houston and were flat as all their bats went silent at the same time. As an admittedly biased Cardinals fan, I'm not convinced the Sox were the better team overall. They got hot at the right time. But they were the better team when it counted, that's for sure. There's no denying that! Which is why they have the rings and the Cardinals don't. Just wait until October! As long as we can win that pesky All-Star Game and get home field advantage. (Did I mention how much I hate Bud Selig and his stupid idea...?) - jmh ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
