Sports, Sports, Sports

Well, a few thoughts regarding Smoltz:

A) take out a fastball straight down the pipe to Encarnacion and the game is only 1-0 at that point. Yeah, would have, should have, could have...but he just caved after that. His his was shot at that point and he just couldn't recover.

B ) it is only one game. Remember, he hasn't started a real game since 01. He looked fantastic on the mound, actually. He made Delgado look foolish on three straight pitches. He'll just have to re-think his game plan. His velocity was there, his location just lacked. But, this is why they play 161 more games.

C) he pitched 19 scoreless innings in spring training and comes out of the 1st REAL game giving up runs like they are hamburgers at Mo Vaughns luncheon. Who knows which Smoltz will prevail.

But hey, it isn't the end of the world. I won't give up on my team, just like the Red Sox fans won't write off their team after an 0-2 start. Javier Vasquez had exactly the same line in his first start for Arizona, but you know what? He'll be fine. These guys are pros and will work their shit out. Santana wasn't his normal self either, yet we all know that he'll be fine.

Both Smoltz and Beckett got in trouble early, but Beckett was the winner of the battle. Furcal doesn't slip on the tag back to second and the game is in a different direction. Beckett has a history of being TERRIBLE against the Braves and it was only a matter of time before he worked his game to his potential. He is too good of a pitcher to let one team rattle him. Now if he can only maintain his health. His stuff is just flat nasty though when working. That splitter just dives at the last second and he can DOMINATE with that pitch. It is also the pitch that he develops his blister problem that has landed him on the DL each of the last few years. It is just filthy though. It makes hitters just look dumb.

I had the same feeling yesterday as i did a few years ago when Maddux made his opening day start. He blew that day. Glavine on the next day had a similar outing. It is weird though. Smoltz has KILLED the Marlins as a reliever, converting 22 of 22 save opps. Hampton goes tonight and this is harkening back to that year Maddux and Glavine started out of the gate in flop-form. I keep my fingers crossed for Hampton to take care of business, but the REAL game i look forward to is the debut of Hudson. Except for the fact that Delgado OWNS him. Ugh. Could be interesting.

God, i love baseball. Can ya tell?

Good luck with the Twins this year. I still don't like the left side of the infield, but that's just me. Cuddyer made some nice plays last night though. And i'll pull for Bartlett because i like his game. At least he got the job over Punto and Castro.

Speaking of Twins...looks like the Braves have some former Twins in line to make a roster appearance in the event of injury. Seth Greisinger and John Barnes were sent to AAA Richmond. I always thought Barnes would be a MONSTER, but he has yet to live up to that. Too bad. He has some sick power when he wants to. Greisinger? Meh. Don't know much about him. But for some reason i see him and Adam Bernero (Tigers reject) shuffling roster spots very often.

BTW- not a good start to the season for closers. Rivera and Hoffman BOTH have been tagged. Rivera today: 5 runs, 1 earned. Doesn't sound like that NY defense is doing him any favors. The Sox are just flat out HITTING him and capitalizing on NY's mistakes. Yesterday he was able to come back and win the game. Not so fortunate today.

BTWvII- Welcome to SC, AJ. I hear you are doing a really good job thus far.

QUOTE (Malmstorm! @ Apr 6 2005, 04:40 PM)

giving up runs like they are hamburgers at Mo Vaughns luncheon. Who knows which Smoltz will prevail.

Now, that's funny. If you can't poke fun at your own team then you shouldn't poke fun at others.

It's Smoltz first regular season start in four years, you gotta expect some rust. There's no way he can pitch that bad all season. If he does it look like it's going to be a long season for Ryan, and i'll have to change my predictions.

Speaking of predictions, I'm suprised that no one else has posted theirs.

Aparently, Percival got knocked around too. Nathan on the other hand pitched 2 inning no runs 1 save, and Benitez racked up his first save in Black and Orange (and grey).

It's nice to see that 40 year olds can still pitch. Johnson and Moyer pitched well and Mullholland pitched a perfect inning. Man, I saw Mullholland pitch in his rookie season when I was 11.

RE:BTWvII Thank you, so far so good. Although, getting up by 7 has been brutal. It's nice to know the bribe I gave Jeff is paying off

I rarely do predictions. Not for my division anyways because it is just so freaking tough, especially this year. Gonna be a fight all year w/ the Marlins, Braves, Phils and Mets. Even the Nats will throw some tough games in there. Todays Braves/ Marlins game ruled ass. Such intensity there, it was amazing.

NL East
1)Braves/Marlins
2)Marlins/Braves
3)Mets (need more than Pedro and Beltran, bullpen in shambles)
4)Phils (rotation is going to have a LONG year, especially in that ballpark)
5)Nats (wouldn't surprise me to see them at the top of the division for the first half and then tail off after the break)

NL Central
1)Cards
2)Cubs
3)Reds (see Nats description)
4)Astros (rotation NOT going to be as strong this year)
5)Pirates (could be better than Astros for much of the year, but i wouldn't bet on it)
6)Brewers

NL West
1)SF
2)Pads (pitching really lacks the depth it had last year, Woody Williams does not make up for the loss of Wells)
3)D'backs
4)Dodgers
5)Rockies

AL East
1)Yanks
2)Sox
3)O's (could be a contender with some better pitching)
4)Rays (these guys are sleepers if they ever get their shit together. A worst to first in any other division would be highly probable. LOTS of talent on that club, if they can hold onto it.)
5)Jays

AL Central
1)Twins
2)White Sox
3)Indians
4)Tigers
5)Royals

AL West
1)Anaheim (World Series Champs)
2)Mariners
3)A's
4)Rangers (last year was a fluke. they CAN'T be a playoff team with the pitching staff they have.)

Wow, now there's some predictions. I won't go that far. There's aboslutely no chane you'll be 100%. Hell, I'll be suprised if I'm right with my picks.

The AL Central is going to be close yet again. I think the Tigers could pull it together and wind up second if their bullpen can hold together. Speak of usually close divisions... I expect there to be a big 3 team fight in the NL West... for last place.

I couldn't agree with you more on the Mets comment. What the hell were they thinking?

I doubt the Angel's will win it all this year. I thought they'd do it last year. There's still possibly the scariest team in the league.

Yeah, i may have to retract my Angels 2005 WS Champs statement. They don't have dick for pitching still. Colon has to have his ERA under 4 for them to have a chance. Escobar is decent, Byrd can be good, Washburn is fluky...I may have to opt for choosing an NL team. I give that to ST Louis. The Marlins are going to be STUNNING if they stay healthy. I can see them giving everyone a run for their money. Scariest team i have seen from them in their existance, including 2003.

I dunno, something tells me that NY will win the WS. The Big Eunich can really dish it out. I can't imagine that Rivera will pull a Mark Wohlers this year or anything.

Hard to say about Rivera he has already blown 2 saves, and he didn't pitch well in the playoffs either, he blew 3 or 4 saves. I have a feeling Rivera being the dominant AL closer days are numbered and the numbers aren't very big.

If the Big Unit can stay healthy they Yankees have a lock on the division. If the Unit is healthy for the playoffs there are going to be next to impossible to take a series from.

The Cards are offensively a scary team, but after last year WS i'm not sure they have the pitching to win it all.

Moises Alou was just put on the DL. The Giants are already showing their age. I knew it would happen. I just didn't think it would be this soon. I guess it's good to get it out of the way early.

Problems for the Cards in the pitching dept? I dunno...i thought they addressed that issue with the acquisition of Mulder. They return all their 15 game winners from last year, with the exception of Woodrow Williams.

Mulder
Carpenter
Suppan
Marquis
Morris

I'd say this years rotation is WAY better, but then again, all the above guys had career years, with the exception of Mulder and Morris. I don't know what you can count on that kind of repeat, but with the offense the Cards have, i'd put money on them being better than last year. And i don't bet very often either.

Damn, I forgot about Mulder, some reason I keep thinking he went to the Phillies (probably cause the uni's are similarly colored).

I spoke too soon. He got hit around a little today. Oh well...

It's his 1st game in the NL i'm not suprised he got knoced around a little. Switching leagues can make a sligth difference especially to pitchers (unless your Randy Johnson). I'm sure he'll have a good season.

Man, i'm starting to worry about the Giants. The bullpen is looking to similar to last year. I would have like to have seen a few moves there in the off season myself, but I put my faith in Sabean's wisdom that Benitez would solve last year's problems. At least the non-roster invitee Jeff Fassero (42... god damn this team is old) has looked excellent so far.

BTW Mark my words, Noah LowryIS going to be a CY Young winner someday. This guy's hasn't lost a game in his first 15 starts and k'd 79 in 109 IP. If only the Giant's pen was as deep as their Starting rotation.

Usually it is the other way around, NL pitcher goes to AL and flames out. But oh well. You're right. He should still have a solid season.

Aside from Schmidt, Lowry is the only other pitcher that i really dig in the SF rotation. I still don't know why Rueter is out there. Tomko is pretty good. I remember there was "talk" of a deal of Brett Tomko for Marcus Giles a few years back. Glad the Braves didn't pull the trigger on that one. Good pitcher, but Giles (if healthy) is a hard to find middle infielder with good power. Wish he wasn't so injury prone though. He just makes some dumb mistakes that i wish he'd be more cautious of in the future.

But anyways....Lowry....yeah, i agree. Cy material one day. Maybe not in the next 2-3 years, but soon after.