It looked bad, but I attributed it more to his inability to execute the fundamentals of the game, moreso than him being an ass. Of course, he could've saw he was toast at the plate and decided to go all out on the play.

Yeah, but spikes to the chest? Was he sliding into the plate or throwing a dropkick?

I doubt we hear any backlash for LaRussa leaving in Marquis to finish off the game, even though that meant hitting a new career high with 132 pitches.  Padres finally snap their eight-game losing snap, but Jake Peavy doesn't get the decision, even though he went eight and struck out 10.

Which would be a travesty, because it was an egregious lapse in judgment. Sure, Marquis hadn't really labored through the game; by the time the ninth came around, I believe that the third inning was the only frame where he had eclipsed the twenty pitch mark. That doesn't make it defensible, though, as Marquis hardly had his best stuff (struck out four, but walked five) and the game was way too close to warrant such an idiotic gamble.

 

Take into consideration that Marquis's arm was jello in the second half last year and it becomes even worse.

Not sure if this was covered here or not, but apparently the new word out of Marlins camp is that Burnett is staying. They had the emotional, closed door, we have what it takes to win meeting and they are going for it. Hopefully adding a few pieces without subtracting anything.

 

We'll see how that works out.

That doesn't make it defensible, though, as Marquis hardly had his best stuff (struck out four, but walked five) and the game was way too close to warrant such an idiotic gamble.

I was just shocked to see him in there for the ninth, since Izzy had been warming up. Obviously you want your closer on the road for when you have the lead, but by the same token, you also want your best pitcher out there in a tied game that could end at any moment.

Exactly. I think a tie ballgame in the ninth inning on the road is considered a high leverage situation. You have pitchers on your roster that you have set aside for use in only high leverage situations. USE THEM. Don't put extra strain on a young kid's arm just because you don't want to burn the bullpen early for extra innings, or because he has some bravado and thinks he can put the game away. A win is a win, and LaRussa put Marquis in a position to lose.

 

All managers lose games for their team now and then, and LaRussa's no different. The problem is that, while most of LaRussa's tinkering is somewhat defensible (as he's trying to work out any splits advantage he can get), this one had absolutely no basis in logic and, furthermore, it might have damaged the team's chances in future outings (if Marquis' arm falls off, for example). It's infuriating.

Speaking of infuriating, Jerome Williams is well over the 70-pitch mark, having only completed four innings. He's had five full counts in the first four innings. I think he'd work better out of the pen. Maybe give Rusch another shot in the rotation, since he hasn't done too well in relief.

On baseballprospectus they said the Cardinals were interested in Matt Lawton and Eric Byrnes. I like the Lawton idea, we need some help with all these injuries.

I'm actually a little higher on Byrnes than Lawton (Byrnes make a very handy platoon partner for Walker), but either one could provide some help. Ken Rosenthal has also mentioned Raul Ibanez as a possibility, which wouldn't be too bad at all, except for his ugly contract.

I'm stunned, stunned, stunned I tell you that Kevin Brown is back on the DL for the Yankees.

You know, everybody's wondering if the Yankees are going to make the playoffs but, even if they do, how in the world are they going to get out of the opening round? Their pitching staff is in tatters, their defense is terrible, and the offense can go cold in the blink of an eye.

The offseason will be interesting either way. George doesn't seem to be learning from the mistakes of the last few years. More overpaid over the hill pitchers for all!!!

Randy Johnson and Mike Mussina pretty good 1-2 punch out there for the playoffs. If Leiter, Pavano, Small (pitched well today), Nomo, Wright, or some other starter can give us a good start here or there, we'll be fine. Our bullpen sorta helps us out there though. Sturtze, Gordon, and Rivera is a nice 1-2-3 punch.

 

We still need an everyday centerfielder though.

Randy Johnson and Mike Mussina pretty good 1-2 punch out there for the playoffs. If Leiter, Pavano, Small (pitched well today), Nomo, Wright, or some other starter can give us a good start here or there, we'll be fine.

I'm so holding you to that. You do realize how bad things have to be to actually invest any faith in Hideo Nomo and Al Leiter, right?

 

Oh, and it's official: Derrek Lee is slumping! He's hitting .212 in his last nine games.

Watch out, if Lee keeps slumping Miguel will overtake him for the batting title. He's up to .350 now.

Randy Johnson and Mike Mussina pretty good 1-2 punch out there for the playoffs. If Leiter, Pavano, Small (pitched well today), Nomo, Wright, or some other starter can give us a good start here or there, we'll be fine.

I'm so holding you to that. You do realize how bad things have to be to actually invest any faith in Hideo Nomo and Al Leiter, right?

 

Oh, and it's official: Derrek Lee is slumping! He's hitting .212 in his last nine games.

I never said we have a kick ass rotation, but in a short playoff series, it's not as bad as you may think. The reason we're reaching for those guys, is because of injury, not performance. We would have had Johnson, Mussina, Pavano, Wang, and Wright before Leiter and Nomo. Although Leiter hasn't pitched bad.

They got Chacon from the Rockies today.

 

And Al Leiter hasn't pitched good either. He ran himself into jams against the twins, who couldnt buy a hit that night. Take it from me, Al Leiter sucks.

So far he has a 4.15 ERA is 3 starts. I'll take that anyday of the week.

that doesn't exactly sound good at all, really.

 

He won't save your bullpen. he'll throw you 150,000 pitches in 5 innings and hit the wheelchair for the rest of the night. he is a real firey competator however. But then again, so is Kevin Brown. and we all love what he did in Game 7 last year

Kevin Brown's not even close to the competitor Leiter is. After Brown gives up a run he just rolls over and dies.

 

Leiter gave up like 5 runs in an inning against Anahiem, and after that early inning, he kept us in the game. All we need him to do is keep us in the game for 5-6 innings, and hope RJ, Mussina, Pavano, and now Chacon can get us to the later innings to rest the bullpen (Aaron Small has also been impressive).

I can't believe you are defending Al Leiter.

 

He's finished.

Not from what i've seen. He was probably too bored to give a damn in Florida.

Not from what i've seen. He was probably too bored to give a damn in Florida.

yeah, he must be rejuvinated by the homosexual advances from Mattingly and Jeter in the Yankees club house

Just one question for you people in Houston. What kind of scum are you? You have the nerve to treat Carlos Beltran like a piece of garbage upon his return to Minute Maid when he is the reason that you people finally won a playoff series, and actually almost went to the world series? Why don't you go ahead and boo your owner for not putting his money where his mouth was. Everyone knew the kind of money he was going to draw after that post season. He hasn't been that good this year anyways, hammy and all. though theres still 6 years remaining after this season.

 

but, my point is that you wanted the guy to stick around, and your team just didnt offer enough. you people really make me sick.

So far he has a 4.15 ERA is 3 starts. I'll take that anyday of the week.

However, in those three starts, he's walked 10 and given up 20 hits in 17.1 IP. He should have gotten SHELLED against Minnesota (7 hits and 5 walks) but the Twins just couldn't get it done. He can't get away with that every time. ESPECIALLY in September/October.

 

And Mussina is still a little too inconsistent to really be counted upon in October. Outside of his first start against them, the Red Sox have smacked him around this year.

I was expecting a backlash against Beltran and boy, was there one. I don't condone it, but I can see where they're coming from. Yes, he was going to draw lots of money following his postseason adventures, but if he had really wanted to be there, he would've stayed, even if it meant taking a little less money.

 

As it is, I don't see why it's that big a deal. He hasn't lived up to the expectations (who could) that his '04 postseason created, plus the Astros have found a great CFer in Willy Taveras.

 

I just can't believe after looking like a joke two months ago, the Stros are now tied for the Wild Card lead.