The baseball thread.

**Long Duck Dong** · 09-13-2007, 10:55 AM

Dice is at 184.1 innings. He pitched more than that in 4 of his 9 seasons in Japan, including 240 innings in 2001, and 215 innings in 2005. So, to the extent that he is "breaking down," its probably not any more than he, or any other pitcher, is tired at this point of the season.

**irul&ublo** · 09-13-2007, 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by stump832

You might want to shut your dirty whore mouth.

**Adolf Allerbush** · 09-13-2007, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by Long Duck Dong

Dice is at 184.1 innings. He pitched more than that in 4 of his 9 seasons in Japan, including 240 innings in 2001, and 215 innings in 2005. So, to the extent that he is "breaking down," its probably not any more than he, or any other pitcher, is tired at this point of the season.

Wow...well, I guess he's not running out of gas then. What do you all think is the reason for his average performance? Just getting used to the better hitting in the MLB?

**Lemmiwinks** · 09-13-2007, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by Adolf Allerbush

Wow...well, I guess he's not running out of gas then. What do you all think is the reason for his average performance? Just getting used to the better hitting in the MLB?

I think its just an adjustment thing. Beckett had a pretty rough adjustment year last year and he was only switching from the NL to the AL. Dice-K is switching an entire league which uses a different ball. Since he has so many pitches it will take a while for him to adjust to how the new ball reacts. Also you are right about the hitters, they are worlds better than the AAA league that is Japan.

With that said his performance this year is pretty much on par to what I thought it would be. His suckitude lately is a bit disconcerting though. It seems like he falls behind in the count then grooves a lifeless fastball. Hitters are sitting on it and not missing.

**Lemmiwinks** · 09-13-2007, 11:29 AM

I am also predicting a big playoffs from the goat of the season J.D. Drew. Looks like he is starting to put it together right now.

**stump832** · 09-13-2007, 11:38 AM

Originally Posted by Lemmiwinks

I am also predicting a big playoffs from the goat of the season J.D. Drew. Looks like he is starting to put it together right now.

I predict JD Drew takes 3 strikes from Bob Wickman as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the 9th of the 5th game of the ALDS vs. the Indians. The guy is a fucking joke. He makes Edgar Renteria's time in Boston look like a rousing success. If Tito has any balls he'll play Ellsbury from this point forward.

**Lemmiwinks** · 09-13-2007, 11:56 AM

Originally Posted by stump832

I predict JD Drew takes 3 strikes from Bob Wickman as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the 9th of the 5th game of the ALDS vs. the Indians. The guy is a fucking joke. He makes Edgar Renteria's time in Boston look like a rousing success. If Tito has any balls he'll play Ellsbury from this point forward.

Quoting for future crow eating. His history is that of a .280 20hr 80+ rbi guy. He is better than what you are seeing. Yes he has been bad this year, but he has a lot of distractions so I'm willing to cut him a break.

The constant booing of him is really getting annoying. Thats what Yankees fans do, booing one day and the next asking for curtain calls for solo homeruns when the team is up by 6.

Also, Bob Wickman pitches for the Braves.

**Adolf Allerbush** · 09-13-2007, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by Lemmiwinks

Also, Bob Wickman pitches for the Braves.

I don't think Wickman pitches for anyone right now. Braves designated him for assignment...unless some foolish team picked him up.

EDIT: Foolish team = D-Backs

**Benny Profane** · 09-13-2007, 12:47 PM

I just want to say, if I haven't already, that Dice K is one of the worst nicknames in baseball for a mediocre pitcher I have ever heard. Yo.

**Adolf Allerbush** · 09-13-2007, 12:51 PM

Originally Posted by Benny Profane

I just want to say, if I haven't already, that Dice K is one of the worst nicknames in baseball for a mediocre pitcher I have ever heard. Yo.

Matzu-sucka

**fez** · 09-13-2007, 12:53 PM

is it really a nick name or just a phoenetic spelling of his first name?

i was watching some japanese ninja game show on G4 the other night and there was a competitor name Daisuke (or however you spell it) and the japanese announcers were pronouncing it 'dice k'

**Woodsy** · 09-13-2007, 01:11 PM

Originally Posted by Lemmiwinks

I Also you are right about the hitters, they are worlds better than the AAA league that is Japan.

.

that explains Saito's transition from a mediocre starter in Japan to a lights out closer over here.

**tuffy109** · 09-13-2007, 01:15 PM

Originally Posted by Brock Landers

Didnt you already throw up the white flag? I know Benny did. Im kinda glad the Yanks will prob make the playoffs though- it does make it a lot more interesting.

was it last year that you guys lost the division title on the last day of the season to the yankees?

not saying that i'm predicting it happens again, BUT, stranger things have happened.

after the way the season's panned out, just glad to see the yankees NEAR the playoffs.

and yes, i'm scared of them having the angels in the first round.

**ECbum** · 09-13-2007, 01:39 PM

Originally Posted by stump832

You might want to shut your dirty whore mouth.

I laughed out loud!

**Woodsy** · 09-13-2007, 01:57 PM

Originally Posted by tuffy109

and yes, i'm scared of them having the angels in the first round.

**Brock Landers** · 09-13-2007, 02:56 PM

Originally Posted by tuffy109

was it last year that you guys lost the division title on the last day of the season to the yankees?

not saying that i'm predicting it happens again, BUT, stranger things have happened.

after the way the season's panned out, just glad to see the yankees NEAR the playoffs.

and yes, i'm scared of them having the angels in the first round.

third to last day, i think. we won the last 2 games of the year vs ny but they had already clinched via 10-9 head to head. and stranger things certainly have happened. why cant ny beat the angels either?

**tuffy109** · 09-13-2007, 03:27 PM

i kept blaming randy johnson. mussina's next.

**MassLiberal** · 09-13-2007, 03:38 PM

Originally Posted by Benny Profane

I just want to say, if I haven't already, that Dice K is one of the worst nicknames in baseball for a mediocre pitcher I have ever heard. Yo.

That's how you pronounce his first name, we've already gone over this on page 23, but since Yankees fans possess the baseball knowledge of a field mouse, I'll give you a pass on that.

**Lemmiwinks** · 09-13-2007, 03:58 PM

Originally Posted by Woodsy

that explains Saito's transition from a mediocre starter in Japan to a lights out closer over here.

Hey it happens. But the AL hitters are still several notches above hitters in the Japanese league.

Yes, using the "switching to a new league" is pretty weak. But I think it affects certain players differently. Some can handle it, some can't. With Daisuke, he has so many pitches that it is going to take him longer to really master them again with the different baseball.

**stump832** · 09-13-2007, 03:58 PM

Originally Posted by Lemmiwinks

Quoting for future crow eating. His history is that of a .280 20hr 80+ rbi guy. He is better than what you are seeing. Yes he has been bad this year, but he has a lot of distractions so I'm willing to cut him a break.

The constant booing of him is really getting annoying. Thats what Yankees fans do, booing one day and the next asking for curtain calls for solo homeruns when the team is up by 6.

Also, Bob Wickman pitches for the Braves.

Good point. I meant the other old junk-tosser. Joe Borowski.

And yeah, we've all seen the stats JD Drew used to put up. Hes fucking terrible.

**Benny Profane** · 09-13-2007, 04:18 PM

Originally Posted by MassLiberal

That's how you pronounce his first name, we've already gone over this on page 23, but since Yankees fans possess the baseball knowledge of a field mouse, I'll give you a pass on that.

Well, then, hey, It's not a nickname, right? If it's his first name....right?

And I was getting laid while all you geeks were filling up page 23. nananana.

**fez** · 09-13-2007, 05:27 PM

so you got laid in late may.
congratulations.

**Benny Profane** · 09-13-2007, 08:10 PM

Thank you. It was enjoyable.

Hey, check this out:http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/14/sp...matsuzaka.html

"Five and a half months into Matsuzaka’s hyped first season with the Boston Red Sox, he has deteriorated into a pitching punching bag. Matsuzaka is 1-4 with a 9.57 earned run average over his past five starts, becoming a question mark at an inopportune time. He starts against the Yankees here Friday night."

Yea!

**jon turner** · 09-13-2007, 08:32 PM

Yeah! Go Cubbies! Hopefully, they can keep first place for themselves to finish off September.

**iceman** · 09-13-2007, 08:36 PM

I watched him pitch last Saturday night. steady 94-95 on the heater, no love AT ALL from the umps, you could see that he made a decision to put it right over the plate and then it bit him.

This is probably nuts, but I have watched a shit ton of games over the years and it SEEMS to me that Matsuzaka is getting penalized for being both Japanese and high-paid (not that he is actually is high-paid, but the umps can't be expected to figure this shit out on their own).

Not stating it as a fact. But it sure looks like it to me. As perhaps you might expect.