>>>>>>>>>>As I type, the Phils are 3 outs away from beating LA (yawn) again....
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>I just heard a baseball sports fact that I couldn't believe...
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>Since 1900, only 3 times have NL Teams won back-to-back World Series titles...most recently the 75-76 Big Red Machine (the other two were the Cubs and Giants, going WAY back to the early 1900's.). Amazingly, the Cardinals and Dodgers have never done it.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Phils are the first NL in over a decade to even get there back to back.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>It was electric in the ballpark last night. I can't begin to tell you how many times we were on our feet. (My section--130--seems particularly prone to standing in anticipation of excitement.)
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Getting home was an adventure, too. Two intersections along our usual route were filled with people and closed to traffic.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Tamar
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>It's too bad you're going to have to face the Yankees. Write to the team. Tell them, "Don't throw anything anywhere near the plate to ARod."
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>I have never been much of an A-Rod fan. Respect, yes; liking, no. He is one cold fish, not to mention roided to his eyeballs. Until this year he has been Mr. May. But he has been en fuego in the playoffs this year. Credit where credit is due.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Actually, I kind of doubt that he is still roided, considering the history.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>The Angels rallied last night to cut the deficit to 3 games to 2. The odds are still with the Yankees. But don't sell the Phillies short. They just won it last year and have a bunch of mashers in the lineup.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>They rallied because A.J. Burnette (who used to be a Bluejay) can't handle pressure. He should have been gone after the 1st inning. Granted he came back, but once the Yanks took the lead, he should have been lifted.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Did you see that the Angels broke a cardinal rule last night (never put the go ahead run on base intentionally). That's how much they fear ARod.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Again, I'm not a Yankee fan, but jeez! What a batting order! And Teixeira at first - wow!
>>>>>
>>>>>They spent their money well last winter. Sure, they've got a $200 million payroll -- you can do a lot with a $200 million payroll - but they may have picked up the American League MVP, Teixeira, and the Cy Young winner, Sabathia.
>>>>
>>>>That's kind of why the Jays will be perennial 3rd or 4th placers. With the payrolls the Yanks and Sox put out, it's hard to compete when you're stingy. It's not like the Jays organisation couldn't afford to compete; they just don't seem to want to. And now we are very probably going to lose Halladay. If they don't trade Doc before the end of 2010, they'll look like idiots when he leaves as a free agent after the season. he wants to play on a team with a shot. He's still the only 100 game winner who's never pitched in a playoff game. Can't blame the guy if he wants out. He has too much class to have said any such thing, but I think everyone knows anyway.
>>>>
>>>>The other problem is the lack of a balanced schedule. Thanks to TV advertising and owner greed, the Jays are stuck playing far too often against the Yanks and the Sox. They'll never bring in a balanced schedule no matter how much clamouring there may be for it.
>>>
>>>I agree with you. Especially when you factor in Canadian taxes,and in the division of huge spenders, it is very, very difficult for them to compete.
>>>
>>>Here in Chicago we have a legendary losing team which spends a fortune with nothing to show for it. (With an assist to Dusty Baker for pitching the arms off Mark Prior and Kerry Wood in 2003). Milton Bradley, anyone? He's all yours for only 15 million a year. For those who think of athletes as overpaid crybabies, he made the classic comment of this season: I hope the game is over quick so I can go home. Earth to Milton!
>>>
>>>We have had this discussion before about the best pitcher in baseball. Halladay is certainly up there. I would still pay money to watch Tim Lincecum pitch ahead of anyone else. He playes on the worst offensive team in baseball and still had a pretty good record. The kid is a freak. I have no idea how that velocity comes out of that body.
>>
>>Doesn't really matter where you place Halladay among the top 2 pitchers in baseball (even when you're wrong ;)), if they let him walk away as a free agent, all they'll get for him is a couple or three draft picks. There will be a lynching. Although, Halladay does have a trade approval clause, so he'll have to approve any trade they try to make. If they make a good deal (ie - a lot of good players for Halladay) with a team that has a chance, I doubt Halladay would handcuff them.
>>
>>He really likes it here in Toronto. He enjoys the anonymity of playing and living here. If he were in New York, his anonymity would be sorely pressed. But, he would go there if asked.
>>
>>I'd hate to lose him, but I think he deserves a shot at playing at the end of October.
>
>There was a profile of him in Sports Illustrated a few weeks ago and it came through loud and clear that he likes his anonymity. He makes a lot of money already and I'm not sure he will go just anywhere just to make a little more. A chance at the World Series, that may be a different story.

Absolutely. He won't move just for money. He's been underpaid in Toronto for a number of years. Yes, he makes a lot, but not what he's worth, and he knows it. But he's stayed because he likes it here, and they keep promising him that they have a plan. He wants to play in the post season. No question he'll move for that.

>He would look good in a Brewers uniform ;-) (Like they can afford him, yeah, right).

Nah. I don't think he'd be willing to move just for a few crummy percentage points in the standings. ;)