The baseball thread.

**Benny Profane** · 05-10-2007, 10:05 PM

Originally Posted by Brock Landers

I dont think DiceK is going to win the Cy Young. Too much competition:Beckett,Papelbon,Okaji...

[spitting out nightcap]......dude, you can't buy the Cy Young. Not yet. jeezuz, that takes season long talent. [back to nightcap]

**shmerham** · 05-11-2007, 09:33 AM

Originally Posted by fez

right now the AL Cy is Beckett's to lose.

Wake is giving him a run for his money.

**iceman** · 05-11-2007, 02:57 PM

Was the roof open at Rogers Centre last night? I only saw the ninth and didn't notice. That knuckler is crazy in domes is why I ask. With no wind it totally has a mind of its own.

**MassLiberal** · 05-11-2007, 03:16 PM

The roof was open, I believe. At least that's what weei said before the game.

**fez** · 05-11-2007, 03:41 PM

Originally Posted by shmerham

Wake is giving him a run for his money.

wake is having the season of his life so far. if he could only get run support he would be 7-0 as well.

**Brock Landers** · 05-11-2007, 05:23 PM

Originally Posted by fez

wake is having the season of his life so far. if he could only get run support he would be 7-0 as well.

Check out his first half in 1995.

**pappag** · 05-13-2007, 05:28 PM

Please tell me someone here was at the Sox game today. I need to know what the stadium was like during the 9th inning.

Thanks in advance.

**smmokan** · 05-13-2007, 05:46 PM

It was like a bunch of douchbags jumping up and down being really annoying.

**CantDog** · 05-13-2007, 07:49 PM

Originally Posted by smmokan

It was like a bunch of douchbags jumping up and down being really annoying.

He meant Fenway, not the Colorado Mini.

**MassLiberal** · 05-13-2007, 09:30 PM

Twas pretty sweet, and to think, my mom wanted to leave in the seventh. I told her to go ahead, I'd pick her up a mile or two down the road when I left after the game was over.

**smmokan** · 05-13-2007, 09:46 PM

Originally Posted by CantDog

He meant Fenway, not the Colorado Mini.

That joke was so funny the first 25 times you used it, but I think its played out now.

**Brock Landers** · 05-14-2007, 07:24 AM

I was drinking beers all day, watching the BC game and came home in the 5th to watch the Sox and drink more. After the top of the 9th I hopped on the T and headed down to the Sailloft. Going through Kenmore stops, noone seemed excited or anything- I just figured the Sox had lost and people were just pissed. Then I get to the bar and watch the highlights on TV and nearly shit myself- couldnt believe they won. And noone on the T said anything either.

**Steven S. Dallas** · 05-14-2007, 08:18 AM

Originally Posted by Brock Landers

Going through Kenmore stops, noone seemed excited or anything- I just figured the Sox had lost and people were just pissed. Then I get to the bar and watch the highlights on TV and nearly shit myself- couldnt believe they won. And noone on the T said anything either.

That's because they left early, the suckers.

The 2007 Red Sox- I say god damn (so far).

**Woodsy** · 05-14-2007, 08:37 AM

Originally Posted by smmokan

That joke was so funny the first 25 times you used it, but I think its played out now.

maybe I have really not been around,
but i laughed
speaking of pitcjers anybody paying attention to Penny?
5-0with ot much hitting to help
and an ERA under 1.5?
damn

**pappag** · 05-14-2007, 09:16 PM

Awesome win by the Mets to come from behind with two outs. Even on a pitchout, Reyes still manages to steal a base.

**cmsummit** · 05-15-2007, 08:02 AM

bump for a "mediocre" japanese pitcher(as called by many here), that pitched a complete game last night and improved to 5-2 overall.
he sucks.

go sox!

**ECbum** · 05-15-2007, 08:10 AM

Yeah, and I love all the hype and worries about how he goes a complete game. Last week he threw a bullpen session of 110 pitches in between starts, he has over 75 complete games in Japan, and only gets better later into the game. Jerry and Remdog were talking about complete game records in the MLB, Nolan Ryan had 57 I believe....some guys are built to do it.

The man is a stud, could easily be undefeated, and is close to breaking into an ERA of under 4...not bad for a mediocre rookie pitcher from Japan.

If he keeps it up, he'll be worth the $100 mil.

ps. anybody see that splitter he threw to Guillen that broke back in? Absolutely nasty.

**cmsummit** · 05-15-2007, 08:15 AM

yeah, he's coming around just fine. Keep in mind that he's a ROOKIE, used to throwing a smaller, lighter ball and working with a larger strike zone.

**iceman** · 05-15-2007, 08:27 AM

Is that true, that Japanese baseballs are smaller and lighter? I had heard that they were a bit softer and smoother (the seams are more raised on American baseballs, apparently), but I hadn't heard anything about a size/weight difference.

**ECbum** · 05-15-2007, 08:30 AM

No rookie, only to our game. Also, a lighter ball is tougher on the arm. Try throwing a tennis ball or dried out baseball...the arm doesn't like it. A little resistance (slight increase in weight of the ball) might be good for his pitching, of course, he'll need to keep conditioning and work on his core being aligned straight as he moves towards the plate. (Anyone see Hershisers break down on young pitchers and their tendencies to fall (plane of shoulders) away from the plate. Successful pitchers (velocity and location) drive towards the mound with level shoulders = very strong core.

In pitching, the arm is only the lever for propelling the ball, all the energy comes from the core of the body and legs. Good mechanics decreases the wear on the arm, and flexibility of the forearm and fingers increases velocity and the break of many pitches. Look at Pedro's fingers and you'll understand why his cutter has (had) so much movement.

Dice-K is a seasoned professional, he is making all the adjustments to MLB very quickly. I'm excited to see him only get better.

**Dexter Rutecki** · 05-15-2007, 08:32 AM

Yeah, Dice-K is always talking about the difference in the ball, and how it feels different when he grips it. If you remember when Clemens pitched in the Texas League last year he got a special waiver to use MLB balls, so I guess there's even a difference between minor league balls and the MLB kind.
And Clemens definitely has MLB balls, to insist on staying home when he's not pitching...

**cmsummit** · 05-15-2007, 08:47 AM

Originally Posted by ECbum

No rookie, only to our game. Also, a lighter ball is tougher on the arm.

yeah, a rookie to our game, that's what I was referring to.

I also agree that a lighter ball is tougher on the arm, but what about movement? I would think that you could get more movement out of a lighter ball. Seems to me that with a lighter ball, there is a larger ratio of air resistance acting upon the ball per the weight of the ball. I dunno know, maybe the difference is negligible.

**ECbum** · 05-15-2007, 08:53 AM

I would think that a lighter ball might allow for more movement, but I think the seams of the ball would make a much larger impact. But again, movement is dependent on mechanics and flexibility, so if you have a lighter ball and are putting more spin on it, you better be doing it soundly or your arm wil go to shit.

I'm gonna have to go look at a comparison between the balls, but I was shocked the first time I held one, at how tight the seams are on a major leaque ball.

The things pro pitchers do with such tight seams is just rediculous...

**Brock Landers** · 05-15-2007, 06:31 PM

Lighter ball isnt tougher on the arm. Go out and throw 100 fastballs with a water logged ball.

**smmokan** · 05-16-2007, 08:46 AM

Originally Posted by Dexter Rutecki

And Clemens definitely has MLB balls, to insist on staying home when he's not pitching...

This wasn't Clemens' idea- it was originally the Astros' suggestion, and now it was insisted upon by the Yankees management. I'm sure Clemens had no problem taking the perk, obviously.

So its true that the Japanese use lighter and smaller baseballs? Can anyone confirm this- and what kind of size/weight difference are we talking about here? I find it pretty interesting if that's the case.