Screw The World Series....

[Will]

Re: Screw The World Series....

No BK, it was aimed at the original posterr. I appreciate you double checking before laying into me.

I just think it's nuts how the Series is supposedly being ruined by not pitching to one guy on one team who accounts for approximately 5% of the total atbats of each game.

[BaseballGuru]

Re: Screw The World Series....

If your baseball knowledge surpasses ours, then it should be completely evident why the Angels aren't going to pitch to Bonds. The object of the 162 game season, the playoffs, and the World Series is to win in the end. Why risk throwing away the months and months of hard work just to save some pride? Would you think better of them if they pitched to Bonds, he hit a homerun every at bat, and the Angels lost the series? Walks are a part of the game, just like loading the bases to set up a double play and putting on a hit and run. If Benito came through last night, Scioscia would have looked like an idiot for walking Bonds, but he didn't, so it was obviously the right move to make at the time.

[bkrich83]

Re: Screw The World Series....

WIll knowing you,I was pretty sure thats what you meant. And I couldn't agree with you more.

Seems to me the Braves pitched to Bonds in the NLCS quite a bit. What did that get them? And they have arguably the best pitching staff in baseball.

[cookusu]

Re: Screw The World Series....

Guru,

No one strategy is correct, I said I understand it, but I couldn't do it. I would have pitched to him with 1st and 3rd in the first. I am not saying throw the ball down the middle of the plate and let him whack it, but I would try to get him out, if I walked him so be it, but I would give it an honest effort. Later in the game I probably would have intenitonally walked him.

That being said it hasn't ruined the series for me at all, I have enjoyed it quite a bit, I just wish that they challenged Bonds more.

[BaseballGuru]

Re: Screw The World Series....

I hear you cook, and I understand where you're coming from. Everybody wants the drama of Barry and the way he can change the game with one swing of the bat... even I'd like to see it. But I also love the strategy involved and the chance the Angels take by walking him to load the bases.

[cookusu]

Re: Screw The World Series....

I have no beef with your logic Guru, but I also feel that the guy who started this post has the right to be disappointed in the Angles approach. It is similar to the Hack A Shaq in basketball. If the guy could make his free throws people wouldn't do it, if the Giants had a better hitter behind Bonds people may not walk him as much.

[BaseballGuru]

Re: Screw The World Series....

That's the thing, though... they have great hitters in Kent and Aurilia... if Barry is getting walked all the time, they need to adjust the lineup to make it so the Angels pay for the BB. Move Barry to the 3 slot and put Kent behind him... might even result in an extra at-bat or two for Bonds. Even if that extra at bat is a walk, it's a baserunner, and that is better than nothing.

I guess if I was pulling for the Giants to win I'd be upset too... but I'm not... so I'm not.

[cookusu]

Re: Screw The World Series....

Up until half way through the Year Kent always did hit behind Bonds, but they got hot when they switched it up so they are probably afraid to change what got them to the series.

[BaseballGuru]

Re: Screw The World Series....

Yeah, Dusty Baker talked about that yesterday before the game... he said Benito had been getting the job done before, so he's going to keep him hitting behind Barry.

I agree with the adage that if it ain't broke, don't fix it.... but the 2 double plays last night and Benito's .150+ batting average in the series makes me think that maybe it is broke, and they should fix it. Then again, the series is now a best of three, so they've been doing something right.

[Liquidrage]

Re: Screw The World Series....

I see both sides of the "pitch to Barry arguement".
If you're a purist or long time fan of the game, it's just how the game works. It is the right strategy. All 3 intentional walks last night were the right call.

But if you're just a casual fan of the game, then it makes sense to not like how easy it is to avoid pitching to him.

It's just a testament to how well Barry is hitting.
And even when Kent hit behind Barry, he was geting walked just as much. He would have been walked 3 times last night with Sosa hitting behind him.

And Guru, of course the Angels have the better stats. But they aren't outplaying the Giants. They had 1 huge blowout win, 1 1run win and 2 1 run losses.
It's not luck, the Giants are good in close games. They usually score a few late inning runs and have a good bullpen.

Timely hitting and pitching is not luck. It can skew the stats but that's it.

[BaseballGuru]

Re: Screw The World Series....

There was some luck involved last night, though... if Glaus picks up Lofton's bunt a fraction of a second earlier, while it's still in foul territory, who knows where that inning goes. Sometimes the ball just bounces your way, ya know?

I still think the Angels are outplaying the Giants in just about every aspect of the game... the numbers just don't lie. Take away the numbers from the blow out and the Angels are still doing a better job of putting the ball into play, running the bases, etc.... things just haven't fallen their way.

I guess we'll see tonight who has the momentum... I think the Angels do.... but in the end, I just want to enjoy the series and really don't care who wins, 'cause neither team is my favorite.

[Liquidrage]

Re: Screw The World Series....

I think the Angels are a better team.
I think the Giants have better pitching overall.

If Schmidt brings his A game Giants should win.
He's turning into a bonafide #1


Either way, after this year, Giants need to let Kent walk and use that money on someone else that isn't such a jerk.
I'll admit Bonds is a jerk (or seems like it) but Kent isn't Bonds. Unless of course you ask Kent.

[GlassJoe23]

Re: Screw The World Series....

BaseballGURU...stop blowing the Angels ok? And stop Hating on Barry. You obviously dislike this guy irregardless of what the Angels are doing. So the guys a snob, so freakin what. He might be the best hitter of all time and you are missing out witnessing what could be dramatic baseball at it's best.

You are calling me an online bully? That's a new one. You are the one spouting off ignorantly like you are some badass. Please kid, show your true colors for everyone to see.

The Angels aren't pitching to Barry because they are scared, smart call it what you want. If the Angels are afraid that Barry will knock it out of the park so they walk him, that is called SCARED.

Whatever...and to the person who said that my post could be nominated for the dumbest, my comment on slugfest was not intended to mean slugfest in the terms of HR's all game. I meant slugfest in the sense that both teams battle it out with their best being challenged.

I see from several of the responses that many of you are members in little "forum clicks" where you all stick by each other's comments. It should be called "Forum Clits" because some of you really sound like a stale queef.

Pitch to Barry and give the guy a chance to live his dream as a major leaguer. And stop hating on Barry and recognize the man has game. Mad game.

[BaseballGuru]

Re: Screw The World Series....



That post was phat... p-h phat.

[hdaniel1]

Re: Screw The World Series....