Phightins

Having both leagues with a DH would be about the last thing I'd want.

I like it the way it is too. I am not a fan of the DH, but each league is unique and that is cool. However, if I have to choose between watching a random NL game and a random AL game, I will watch the NL game. I enjoy the style and strategical element much more.

Tony LaRussa has said a lot of things that make no sense, this being one of them. Well, it is "hard" to manage a Major League Baseball team, regardless of which league. There are so many things that go into it. But you cannot deny that strategically, there is so much more that a National League manager has to do in a game, or at least consider doing. There is absolutely no arguing this.

Nice man. Happy b-day.

Hmm...I am trying to think of a way to put this that won't sound completely rude, but I am coming up empty so I will just be flat out honest. You are clueless. I will start by saying that I think a good manager in the American League can be a good manager in the National League. If a guy has been around baseball long enough they can pick up on it. But you sound like a complete dunce by saying there is no difference in strategy. Have you ever watched a National League game before? I am doubting that. I will offer a few examples. In the American League, if you want to make a pitching change, there are only three issues that need to be considered. 1. Is the current pitcher gassed/getting rocked? 2. Is there a relief pitcher warmed up in the bullpen? 3. Is it late in the game and do you want to hand the game over to a closer/setup guy/specialist of some sort? If the answer to any of these questions is "yes", the manager can trot out to the mound and make the change. In the National League, you must consider the implications it has on your lineup. Say it is the 5th inning and your starting pitcher is on the mound but in a lot of trouble. There is 1 out, but the guy is getting shelled. The pitchers spot is due up 2nd in the next half inning. The manager must weigh in his head "do I go get this guy now and waste a relief pitcher for just 2 outs?", or "do I go get this guy now and let the incoming relief pitcher bat in the next inning to save the bench?", or "do I make a double switch here and take out one of my starters this early in the game", or simply "do I let the current pitcher finish the inning, even if it means a couple additional runs being scored?". Another example of strategy prevalent only in NL baseball. Say you are the home team. It is the bottom of the fifth inning, bases loaded, 2 outs, pitchers spot coming up. Your starting pitcher has been very good thus far and could easily throw another inning or two, but you are facing the other team's ace and who knows if another opportunity like this will come up. Do you let the pitcher bat and get the additional innings out of him, all while letting a golden opportunity for some runs go to waste? Or do you go to your bench, and leave the game in the hands of the bullpen at this relatively early stage of the game? In the American League, if you have this situation, you can go to the bench without it having any implications on the pitching staff. Or better yet, you could be lucky enough to have a lineup like the Red Sox, Yankees, or Angels, where any batter in the lineup could hit 1-5 in almost any NL lineup, and thus such a situation will never arise. Another example. Say your team is in the field, and there are 2 runners on base and 2 outs with the other team's 8-hole batter up. Do you intentionally walk the 8-hole hitter and more than likely get out of the inning? Do you pitch around him and hope he gets himself out, with the worst-case-scenario of him walking and then facing the pitcher? Or do you go after him and try to get him out so the pitchers spot leads off the next inning? These are all the basic things that National League managers need to ponder during the course of a game that American League managers do not even need to think about. And this only scratches the surface. So, do you still stand by your statement that the strategy is the same for both leagues? Actually, don't even answer that, I know you will say yes and spew some bull[expletive] all while refusing to admit that you were wrong.

I agree.

I am not taking away anything from Terry Francona (although he has managed in the National League and did a horrible job at it, granted his teams sucked) or any other AL manager, not sure where you got that from. I am rebutting ECN's point that managing in the NL is not that much harder than managing in the AL. There is far more in game strategy/thinking that goes into managing in the National League, nobody can argue this.

You really think it's that simple? Really?

That is pure luck....everything has to fall into place. The runners have to be on the move and the ball has to be hit hard to precisely the right spot, and the fielder can't have a brain cramp. There's a reason it has only happened 14 or 15 times in MLB history.

That game was a lot of fun. Fish, Citi Field is really nice IMO. I like it a lot more than the new Yankee Stadium. The staff was all very friendly too. And to Jagmit...I have no idea to be honest. I can make educated guesses but I really have no idea. Lidge has looked decent the past 2 weeks though, but I am still waiting on Hamels to come around.

Because in every other ballpark where there is a gap under the padding, there is a ground rule saying to throw your arms up if the ball gets lodged and it's a ground rule double. He should have read up on the Citi Field ground rules I guess.

Well I am sure there are lots of people in that organization who would rather trot Pedro out there every fifth day over Ollie Perez, or the revolving door at the 5th starter's spot.

I disagree. I think the emotion of facing his former team got the best of him early on. He was horrible when the Mets went to Fenway for the first time after he signed with him. What I liked was that Pedro got stronger as the game went on, and retired the last 6 guys he faced. He looked his strongest in that sixth inning and probably could have pitched the seventh too. He looked very good in Chicago with the exception of one inning, and he was great in the first three innings against Arizona before the rain delay forced him out of the game. I honestly did not expect much but he has been a pleasant surprise so far. I know one thing for sure, the Mets absolutely could have used him this year.

Can't have too much depth I suppose.

Wow....Eric Bruntlett turns an unassisted triple play to end the game. Crazy [expletive]. And Lidge looked good yet again. He has looked really good for the past 2 weeks despite not always getting the results, but has had [expletive] luck and [expletive] defense behind him. The defense looked like it was going to fail him again today until Bruntlett bailed them out. Also, Pedro looked really shaky at first and looked like he was going to get rocked, but he settled down and went 6 giving up 4 runs. Probably could have pitched the 7th too but there was no need to push it.

He can still pop one on occasion. A scary bat to face late in the game for sure.

I actually laughed my [expletive] off at that line. That was actually pretty funny, but even funnier now a couple months after they made it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAx8ky5-NnI Uhh

Yeah I am pretty sure he will get booed heavily. They apparently showed him on the scoreboard in game 1 of the series and everybody booed. I can understand people being upset that he signed with the Phillies, but it's not like he left on bad terms or anything. He said his first choice was to go back to the Mets but they did not want him. He never badmouthed the team or anything.

Yeah I was at a game in 2004 (I think) back when we had Randy and he hit 2 homeruns and I think almost hit for the cycle. I still miss the Wolf Pack!

Fish what do you think of Pedro Martinez? If you were at the game tomorrow, would you "boo" him? Not going to judge you, just curious.

The most homeruns by any Met player at Citi Field this year is 5 (Sheffield, Wright, Tatis). Chase Utley has 4. Kind of crazy, considering the Phillies as a team hit horribly there, with the exception of one or two games.

Yeah I heard that. I don't think it will be his choice though, I'm sure the NFL will step in and make sure it gets fixed.

Seriously what is the point of that scoreboard hanging over the center of the field? It looks cool I guess, and is probably Jerry Jones's way of saying "I have more money than you", but this is not a hockey/basketball arena, there is absolutely no point to it. For all the billions of dollars they put into building that thing, were they honestly too dumb to realize that punts would hit that?

Also, back to Hamels...I really thought tonight could be the night he got back on track. He usually gets extra fired up for games against rivals, and even though this rivalry isn't the same as it was last year, there is still hatred between the two teams. Also, he has had trouble with homerun balls lately, so I thought going to Citi Field might save him a run or 2. But I guess when you throw a flat fastball right down the middle of the plate to Jeff Francouer, it is going to get hit out no matter which stadium you are playing in. Excited for Happ tomorrow, though.