Knuckle Curve » mark_teixeira http://www.everyjoe.com/knucklecurve Major League Baseball News from Spring Training to the World Series Sat, 20 Mar 2010 08:11:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 NL Divisional Showdowns, Battle of ‘77 Expansion Teams http://www.everyjoe.com/knucklecurve/nl-divisional-showdowns-battle-of-77-expansion-teams/ http://www.everyjoe.com/knucklecurve/nl-divisional-showdowns-battle-of-77-expansion-teams/#comments Fri, 31 Aug 2007 16:06:45 +0000 Geoff Young http://www.knucklecurve.com/nl-divisional-showdowns-battle-of-77-expansion-teams/ Post from: Knuckle Curve

]]> Introductions? We don’t need no stinkin’ introductions. Here are your games for a Friday:

American League

  • Mariners at Blue Jays, 4:07 p.m. PT — This is the only weekend series in the AL that features two winning teams. You’ve also got the whole “battle of ‘77 expansion teams” going in this one. Whatever happened to Leroy Stanton and Otto Velez, anyway?

National League

  • Mets at Braves, 4:35 p.m. PT — The Mets just got swept in Philadelphia and now lead the Phillies by a mere 2 games. The Braves, for their part, are only 4 1/2 back in the NL East. If the Mets are going to win the division, it sure isn’t going to be easy. The opener in this weekend showdown features right-handers John Maine and Tim Hudson. Maine’s overall numbers (13-8, 3.68) obscure the fact that he’s been brutal (3-4, 5.94) since the All-Star break. He’s allowed six runs in three of his last five starts. Hudson, meanwhile, has enjoyed a terrific resurgence this year. The guy we saw from 2001 to 2003 most likely is gone forever, but even if he continues to perform at 2004-2005 levels, that’s pretty darned good.
  • Dodgers at Padres, 7:05 p.m. PT — This divisional showdown features a truly dreadful pitching matchup, so what else is going on here? David Wells faces his former team for the first time since leaving, as does Milton Bradley on the other side. Bradley, in case you didn’t get the memo, has been terrorizing NL pitchers since coming to San Diego on July 7. He’s hitting .345/.441/.655 in 33 games with the Padres (compare with the more ballyhooed Mark Teixeira’s .327/.416/.664 in 27 games with Atlanta).

I’ll be keeping an eye on the Padres, of course. If you have no general rooting interest, though, and are looking for a potentially great game, go with the Mets and Braves.

Happy watching…

Post from: Knuckle Curve

]]> http://www.everyjoe.com/knucklecurve/nl-divisional-showdowns-battle-of-77-expansion-teams/feed/ 0 Sosa to All-Star Game? http://www.everyjoe.com/knucklecurve/sosa-to-all-star-game/ http://www.everyjoe.com/knucklecurve/sosa-to-all-star-game/#comments Thu, 28 Jun 2007 16:13:23 +0000 Geoff Young http://www.knucklecurve.com/sosa-to-all-star-game/ Post from: Knuckle Curve

]]> I have to admit, I’m not a fan of the All-Star game. That said, the notion that Sammy Sosa, a designated hitter who can’t crack an 800 OPS while playing half his games in Arlington, might make the American League squad offends me more than a little bit.

Mark Teixeira would be the obvious choice to represent the Rangers, but he’s hurt. Pitchers? Not the rotation — nobody has an ERA under 5.90. Okay, then, reward Akinori Otsuka for his fine 2006 season. Or Eric Gagne for mostly staying healthy. Or ditch the rule that says every team has to be represented. Or ditch the game itself.

Ah, don’t mind me. I’m just in a cranky mood today…

Post from: Knuckle Curve

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