A-Rod blasted on Mike & Mad Dog... and my final thoughts of the 2004 Yankees.

[caseyd]

Re: A-Rod blasted on Mike & Mad Dog... and my final thoughts of the 2004 Yankees.

We're slowly turning into the Atlanta Braves of the '90s.

Thankfully, the Braves never blew a 3 games to 0 lead with the lead in the 9th inning of game 4.

But, I do agree with you. It almost looked like they didn't have any heart. Much like the Braves, once they get to the playoffs.

[Pared]

Re: A-Rod blasted on Mike & Mad Dog... and my final thoughts of the 2004 Yankees.

But all you ever heard about was how the Yankees "beat" the Red Sox by getting Arod. They were willing to go the extra mile for their team and the Red Sox weren't.

That's exactly my point. When the Mets had that DISMAL season after acquiring Alomar, Vaughn, and Burnitz, I never made the claim that I never liked the look of the team. Hell, I was calling playoffs, EASY.

But then they sucked and weren't half the players they were, and we stunk it up. Rightfully so. You win some, you lose some.

When the Yankees made these trades, there's NO WAY I'd say the Yankees don't look like a great team on paper. I've always been fond of El Duque, Kevin Brown was solid in LA, and Vasquez was decent. Couple them with Mussina, Lieber's unexpected year... Even as a Met fan, them even with the average bull pen, I had to say they were mighty impressive.

Maybe the Mets sweeping the Yankees were an early indication of things to come.

[Pared]

Re: A-Rod blasted on Mike & Mad Dog... and my final thoughts of the 2004 Yankees.

But all you ever heard about was how the Yankees "beat" the Red Sox by getting Arod. They were willing to go the extra mile for their team and the Red Sox weren't.

That's exactly my point. When the Mets had that DISMAL season after acquiring Alomar, Vaughn, and Burnitz, I never made the claim that I never liked the look of the team. Hell, I was calling playoffs, EASY.

But then they sucked and weren't half the players they were, and we stunk it up. Rightfully so. You win some, you lose some.

When the Yankees made these trades, there's NO WAY I'd say the Yankees don't look like a great team on paper. I've always been fond of El Duque, Kevin Brown was solid in LA, and Vasquez was decent. Couple them with Mussina, Lieber's unexpected year... Even as a Met fan, them even with the average bull pen, I had to say they were mighty impressive.

Maybe the Mets sweeping the Yankees were an early indication of things to come.

[indeed]

Re: A-Rod blasted on Mike & Mad Dog... and my final thoughts of the 2004 Yankees.

It almost looked like they didn't have any heart. Much like the Braves, once they get to the playoffs.[/QUOTE]
The Braves teams where great balance of defence pitching and power. The reason they lose is during the regular season the pitchers "work" the umpires they relied WAY TOO MUCH on that outside part of the plate for a strike. Isn't it quite weird when hitters jam themselves on pitches thrown right down the middle against the Braves? Post season the strike zone rules are more strictly enforced and the results for the Braves is, what over 10 straight titles with but only one World Series to show for it.

[indeed]

Re: A-Rod blasted on Mike & Mad Dog... and my final thoughts of the 2004 Yankees.

It almost looked like they didn't have any heart. Much like the Braves, once they get to the playoffs.[/QUOTE]
The Braves teams where great balance of defence pitching and power. The reason they lose is during the regular season the pitchers "work" the umpires they relied WAY TOO MUCH on that outside part of the plate for a strike. Isn't it quite weird when hitters jam themselves on pitches thrown right down the middle against the Braves? Post season the strike zone rules are more strictly enforced and the results for the Braves is, what over 10 straight titles with but only one World Series to show for it.

[bravosfan]

Re: A-Rod blasted on Mike & Mad Dog... and my final thoughts of the 2004 Yankees.

The Braves teams where great balance of defence pitching and power. The reason they lose is during the regular season the pitchers "work" the umpires they relied WAY TOO MUCH on that outside part of the plate for a strike. Isn't it quite weird when hitters jam themselves on pitches thrown right down the middle against the Braves? Post season the strike zone rules are more strictly enforced and the results for the Braves is, what over 10 straight titles with but only one World Series to show for it.

I think the strike zone deal with the Braves is overstated. All great pitchers (Clemens, Pedro, Unit) get calls, and the Braves had great pitchers. The difference is in the postseason, your great pitchers, are facing other great pitchers - putting the pressure on your hitters to come through. Maddux and Glavine have respectable postseason #'s, aside from their .500 records, and Smoltz is one of the greatest postseason pitchers ever. The Braves playoff problem wasn't their pitching, it was their offense.


Now back to the regularly scheduled Yankees thread, already in progress...

[bravosfan]

Re: A-Rod blasted on Mike & Mad Dog... and my final thoughts of the 2004 Yankees.

The Braves teams where great balance of defence pitching and power. The reason they lose is during the regular season the pitchers "work" the umpires they relied WAY TOO MUCH on that outside part of the plate for a strike. Isn't it quite weird when hitters jam themselves on pitches thrown right down the middle against the Braves? Post season the strike zone rules are more strictly enforced and the results for the Braves is, what over 10 straight titles with but only one World Series to show for it.

I think the strike zone deal with the Braves is overstated. All great pitchers (Clemens, Pedro, Unit) get calls, and the Braves had great pitchers. The difference is in the postseason, your great pitchers, are facing other great pitchers - putting the pressure on your hitters to come through. Maddux and Glavine have respectable postseason #'s, aside from their .500 records, and Smoltz is one of the greatest postseason pitchers ever. The Braves playoff problem wasn't their pitching, it was their offense.


Now back to the regularly scheduled Yankees thread, already in progress...