Silver Linings -- Baseball Talk

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Date Posted: 10:39:18 05/01/03 Thu
Author: weas
Subject: Silver Linings

Okay 13-14 is not a great record for most teams, but for Texas to be at this point considering who they have played is pretty damn good. All but 2 of their games have come against 5 of the top 10 teams in baseball last season( NYY, BOS, SEA, ANA, and OAK). While I would hardly say their pitching has finally arrived, I think they are getting back to where they never should have left: bash the shit out of it and see if the other team can keep up. Ideally, sure we'd all love to have Oakland's staff, or a Johnson/ Schilling combo at least, but Texas doesn't, and won't anytime soon. They have the makings of one of the more solid bullpens in the AL, some decent young starters who should improve as the year goes along, and an offense that can give them 10 runs on any given night. Add to that, 23 of their next 29 games are against TOR, CLE, BAL, and TB, and it seems like Texas has very good shot at being in the race past May for the 1st time in several years( They're currently 4 games out). Plus, Texas has the advantage of having Gonzo( .278, 9 homers, 24 rbi) and Carl Everett(.333, 9 homer, 20 rbi) playing for contracts, and both have a history of staying healthier and having huge years in contract years. A-Rod will be A-Rod, Raffy will continue to be a horse, and Blalock( .388, 5 homers, 13 rbi) is playing like he is trying to send Texiera back to the minors with every swing. Don't be surprised if this quintet carries Texas into October this spring.
Okay, on to the other end of the spectrum. It is May 1st, and I've already read 2 articles claiming that the Yankees can hold a meeting to discuss playoff shares, set up their postseason rotation, and start selling playoff tickets now, because they're a cinch for the WS. Well, if they got to play their next 125 games against TOR, TB, and MIN I'd agree, but since 22 of their next 26 are against SEA, OAK, ANA, TEX, and BOS, I'd at least wait on ordering the bubbly. There's no doubt they are great, but there's also no doubt they have played a creampuff schedule so far against mostly their own creampuff division. Soriano will not continue to hit .371, Mondesi won't stay at .347, though I think he will finally have a huge career year, so I might be wrong on him, and Posada won't keep up the power he's displayed early. Giambi will wake up and Jeter will return to make up for some of the dropoff, but not enough to get to that 135 win plateau Yankees fans are already predicting. I'm not even daring to think Texas can make the WS, but just because George tried to buy North America and get a lease on Asia this offseason doesn't mean NY will either. We'll all have a better idea come June.

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Replies:

Re: Silver Linings -- =-), 08:06:27 05/09/03 Fri
- Re: Silver Linings -- Gina, 15:42:30 05/09/03 Fri