Comments on: And That Happened: Sunday’s scores and highlights

By: spudchukar

spudchukar — Mon, 09 May 2011 20:16:06 +0000

There is William Goldman and then there are all the rest.

By: uyf1950

uyf1950 — Mon, 09 May 2011 19:15:34 +0000

spudchukar, my friend. It’s a good thing the Angels overall record of 20-15 sku’s the winning percentage of the Rays opponents by 2/1000′s of a point. While the Rays head to head record versus the Angels in 1-4 a .200 winning %. We can go on and on. Add this team or that number, subtract this team or that team. Like I said in my previous response the bottom line is the Rays have not beaten a team with a winning record all season, whereas the Yankees have at least beaten one the Rangers.
Now you can go on and find a team a stat or something else to fit neatly into the point you want to make, as I can. But as far as I’m concerned we’ve beaten this horse to death. I’m done. So good luck to you and the Cardinals on Tuesday when they take on the Cubs. Enjoy.

By: feartherallythong

feartherallythong — Mon, 09 May 2011 18:58:50 +0000

Mr. Calcaterra,
I am writing to laud you for your consistent and appropriate use of “Princess Bride” references in your columns. Great book, and I hear they made a decent movie out of it as well…

By: spudchukar

spudchukar — Mon, 09 May 2011 18:25:56 +0000

To date the Yankee opposition sports an overall .441 winning percentage, the Rays, .443. UYF, my Bud, as the Rays sit in a first-place tie with the mighty Yanks, it is only fair to say that neither have had a more favorable schedule than the other, and neither have played better than the other. As we near the quarter pole the projected demise of the boys from the Bay has been greatly exaggerated.

By: Old Gator

Old Gator — Mon, 09 May 2011 17:19:45 +0000

The Feesh salvaged one - I say one - game against the Gnats on the strength of Anibal Sanchez' unconscious performance. On the down, down, downside, bubbles are coming up from where Hanley Ramirez submerged for the second time beneath the turbid surface of Rio Mendoza this weekend after a brief floatation with positive numbers. He has been brutal at the plate so far this season. Logan Morrison returns later this week, we hope, but that isn't going to offset the singularity in the lineup where Hanley was supposed to be the big production number this season. Whoever she is, I hope she goes back to her husband soon so Hanley can get his head into the game again.

By: Kevin S.

Kevin S. — Mon, 09 May 2011 17:19:44 +0000

Why is it shocking? The Braves have scored more runs and allowed fewer this season.

By: uyf1950

uyf1950 — Mon, 09 May 2011 17:00:06 +0000

oops. about should be “above .500″ in my reference to the Rangers record. Sorry.

By: uyf1950

uyf1950 — Mon, 09 May 2011 16:56:57 +0000

My friend, Don’t you think that after just 30+ games it’s a bit to soon to pat yourself on the back with your comment about the Rays “competing in 2011″. As far as the comment I made about the schedules, etc.. I’m sure I did say that or something very close to that. That sounds like something I would say.
I have two problems with your most recent reply. First you add another team into the Yankees equation by adding the O’s. See I could add the the White Sox into my comment about the Rays to make it 10 of their 20 wins…and we can go on and on. Secondly, while the Yankees have a winning record against at least one team playing about .500 (the Rangers). The same can not be said for the Rays while the Rays have played one team with a winning record they do NOT have a winning record against that team (Angels). In fact they are 1-4 against them. So while you may not want to admit it there is a difference in the records that each team has played.
The bottom line is the Rays have played only one team with a winning record and they themselves are 1-4 against that very team (Angels).
The Yankees on the other hand while having played only one team with a winning record as well have a winning record against that team 6-1 (against the Rangers).
That’s not an opinion, but a fact my friend.

By: yankeesfanlen

yankeesfanlen — Mon, 09 May 2011 16:52:35 +0000

Sounds more like Sprio Agnew to me.

By: phukyouk

phukyouk — Mon, 09 May 2011 16:40:44 +0000

am i really the only one that pictured this post as a Dr. Seuss book?

By: ultimatecardinalwarrior

ultimatecardinalwarrior — Mon, 09 May 2011 16:18:00 +0000

Kyle McClellan is a back of the rotation beast. He’s gotten lucky, but you have to commend the guy for his great start to the season.

By: indaburg

indaburg — Mon, 09 May 2011 16:15:19 +0000

Spud, they’re just angry that our little 45 million dollar team is hanging tight with them. The Rays are young with great pitching. The Yankees are old with good hitting. I can’t wait for the head to head series. (Don’t look now, but the Diet Coke of Evil Empires is in third place creeping in on our little party.)

By: uyf1950

uyf1950 — Mon, 09 May 2011 16:11:38 +0000

basiltharat, my friend. You are correct fair is fair. Just one question anyone of those teams that you mentioned that have a losing record that the Yankees have played account for nearly a 1/3 of the Yankees wins? Because by my calculation the Yankees best record against any of those teams is against the O’s and that’s 4-0. 4 wins as a percentage of 19 total wins comes out to 21%. Versus 6 wins for the Rays versus the Twins out of 20 wins or 30%.
But at this point it makes nice copy but as we all know the AL East is going to come down to head to head competition probably between the Yankees, perhaps the Rays (but I’m of the same opinion as paperloins as for their staying power) and yes the Red Sox (at some point when they get their act together).
That’s just my opinion.

By: Chris Fiorentino

Chris Fiorentino — Mon, 09 May 2011 15:58:48 +0000

Typical…rather than debate, people just push the Thumbs Down button. So simple from some truly simple people. So many thumbs downs and not a single post refuting anything I have said.

By: indaburg

indaburg — Mon, 09 May 2011 15:52:12 +0000

Correction: I think everyone knowS that.. (can’t we have an edit post button, please?)

By: indaburg

indaburg — Mon, 09 May 2011 15:51:07 +0000

No one said an ugly win is worth less than a “pretty win” or a “pretty loss.” The writer was just describing the win. The game was won in spite of some ugly play. At the end of the day, pretty wins and ugly wins are worth the same. I think everyone know that there are no style points in baseball. You got thumbs down for stating the obvious–that a fan will take a win no matter what.

By: spudchukar

spudchukar — Mon, 09 May 2011 15:40:01 +0000

UYF, mon ami, the statement “reclaiming the top spot in the AL East” is correct. Granted the Yanks also cling to first. Two things, first, you among many others here belittled my claims that the Rays would contend in the AL East in 2011, and were you not the same UYF, who last week uttered phrases like, “the schedule is the schedule”, and “you play who you play”, when I brought it to your attention that the boys in pinstripes played an ungodly amount of early season home games?

No one, more than a Yankee fan should be aware of “retirement centers”, since it is the imminent and impending home of the vast majority of the starting line-up, but by all geographical accounts it is the Southeast.

Yes, the Rays competition has been less than stellar, and that would carry considerable more weight if the Yanks had not played the EXACT SAME NUMBER OF WINNING TEAMS. That actually should read team, as all six of the Yanks, above .500 contests have been against the depleted Texas Rangers.

No doubt the Twins have been hapless and pathetic, but 8 of the 19 Yankee wins have come to those same Twinkies, the plummeting O’s and the even more hapless and pathetic White Sox.

By: Chris Fiorentino

Chris Fiorentino — Mon, 09 May 2011 15:31:42 +0000

Well, they haven’t really had any of them much this season…Lidge is always a gimp, Contreras is 100 years old and Utley is really just gravy for a team as stacked as the Phillies. They really miss Ruiz behind the plate and of course, if Oswalt doesn’t get well soon, that will hurt too. He just needs to focus on baseball and not on his excavator and bulldozer.

By: Jonny 5

Jonny 5 — Mon, 09 May 2011 15:27:06 +0000

And second baseman, and #5 pitcher, and closer #1, and closer #2. Let’s not overlook them now.

By: basiltharat

basiltharat — Mon, 09 May 2011 15:25:11 +0000

Funny thing about that: The Yankees have played SIX games against teams above .500, all of them against Texas. The rest: Tigers, Twins, Red Sox, Orioles, Blue Jays, White Sox. I think New York is better than Tampa Bay, but fair is fair.

By: Chris Fiorentino

Chris Fiorentino — Mon, 09 May 2011 15:18:38 +0000

Woah, Cerrano. I never “smashed” the Phillies for losing. They took 2 of 3 in Atlanta and these things have a tendency to even out over the course of a season. They hit into too many DPs yesterday and Cole made 2 mistakes that resulted in 3 runs in 7 innings. Still struck out 9 and had a WHIP under 1, so all in all, it was a good day for the #4 starter. Now if the Guppies and Cowards are going to be contenders this week, let them both take 2 of 3 at least from the Phillies and show they are going to compete. Because a Phillies 6 game winning streak will all but end the NL East race by Sunday afternoon.

By: Mr. Jason "El Bravo" Heyward

Mr. Jason "El Bravo" Heyward — Mon, 09 May 2011 15:10:30 +0000

By golly geewillickers, the Braves out-pitched the Phillies! How ’bout that, Fiorentio? Don’t forget to credit the Bravos for winning the series while smashing your own team for losing. There were indeed two teams on the field each of the three days.

By: Chris Fiorentino

Chris Fiorentino — Mon, 09 May 2011 15:03:32 +0000

Are you referring to the “the Phast, Phading, Pheels” who are playing .667 baseball in their last nine games with their starting catcher and #3 pitcher on the DL?

By: Chris Fiorentino

Chris Fiorentino — Mon, 09 May 2011 15:01:04 +0000

Why don’t you refute what I said, instead of resorting to name-calling. Least then, maybe we can have a debate? How about it…tell me why I shouldn’t be pissed off that my teams’ #3 starter went home to be with his family for 8 days and instead of just resting his bad back, he goes ahead and rebuilds the city with an aching back and is now on the DL because of it? Is it because I said EVERYBODY puts their family first? Or because I said I like the fact that guys like Doc and Lee put BASEBALL second, or at least they freaking pretend to…unlike Oswalt who admits that he like hunting and building more than baseball, which, by the way, he gets paid $16 million dollars to play.

Again, instead of saying I am “reinforcing negative stereotypes about Philly fans since 2010″ tell me what I said that was so wrong.

By: spudchukar

spudchukar — Mon, 09 May 2011 15:00:27 +0000

As the invincibility continues to lose its luster, and the chinks in the armor continue to mount, we can expect to see the Pheelie Phaithful to Phind Phuture Phillie Phaults with the same unPhorgiving Phlair as the aPhorementioned Phiorentino. Once the Phightens’ leave the Phriendly conPhines of their home Phield and Phinally Phoray into the upper crust of the NL, these Phrustrations will continue to be Phelt. As the Phailures mount and the Phall from Phirst Phoments Phuming comments like those above, we who endured the Phatuous declarations of superiority now Phind the Phlailings Phunny. While one should certainly Phear the Pheesh, and try to Phorget the Phiasco against the Bravos, the Phuture is bright. With the Nats and Mets in the division their should be little chance of Phalling to Phourth.

By: uyf1950

uyf1950 — Mon, 09 May 2011 14:55:19 +0000

Just to elaborate on paperlions comment. Nearly 1/3 of the Rays wins so far 6 of their 20 wins have been against the hapless or perhaps more appropriately the pathetic Twins (winners of just 12 of their 32 games).

By: paperlions

paperlions — Mon, 09 May 2011 14:38:21 +0000

The Rays have played 5 games all year against teams with a winning record. Five. I rather doubt that their current level of performance will be sustainable when they start to play good teams.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Mon, 09 May 2011 14:36:27 +0000

Chris, no one here has ripped Philly fans, just you…for being a myopic jackass (at least, that was my reason).

By: uyf1950

uyf1950 — Mon, 09 May 2011 14:35:58 +0000

The last time I looked my friend the Yankees were still in 1st place. Besides I wasn’t aware that Tampa/St. Pete was considered the Southeast. I always thought of it more as “retirement central”. And with the exception of 2008 the Yankees have advanced farther in the post season then the Rays in every year of their existence and that includes last year. So again before we assign them the mantle of “heir apparent” it might be nice if they won something first and not just attended the dance. It’s not a knock against the Rays just telling it like it is, my friend.

By: Jonny 5

Jonny 5 — Mon, 09 May 2011 14:34:41 +0000

No one likes Jor-El quotes? You people make me ILL!!!