Sammys Boombox

I have Villanova losing next round, so I would love to see American win.

I just got about a 20 second look-in on Clemson/Michigan. I saw an air ball and a horrible charge. Sloppy, sloppy.

I was perfect until Mississippi St./Washington. Although I have Purdue going to the Elite Eight and they didn't look so hot today. I have Texas in the Elite Eight as well, so this game is important for me.

Fuku is 0-for-2 with a BB so far in the Japan/Cuba game.

Team Stats & Scoring 1. Number of Cubs wins, 2009 93 2. Number of Cubs wins, Cardinals season series (16 games) 9 3. Number of runs scored, 2009 835 4. Number of runs allowed, 2009 670 5. Final Placement in the NL Central Division First Place Player Stats & Scoring 1. Number of Aramis Ramirez Home Runs 32 2. Number of Soriano Stolen Bases 25 3. Ryan Theriot's Batting Average .285 4. Milton Bradley's RBIs 105 5. Ryan Dempster's Wins 14 6. Sean Marshall's ERA 3.65 7. Carlos Zambrano's Ks 145 8. Rich Harden's Innings Pitched 175 Bonus Questions I (20 points each) 1. Which will be higher: Lee's RBIs or Soto's RBIs? Soto 2. Which will be higher: Aaron Heilman's starts or Aaron Heilman's relief appearances? Relief Appearances 3. Which will be higher: Aaron Miles' at-bats or Mike Fontenot's at-bats? Mike Fontenot's AB 4. Who will have more HRs: Fontenot or Fukudome? Fontenot 5. Who will have more wins: Harden or Marshall? Harden 6. Who will have a higher SLG: Bradley or Ramirez? Bradley Bonus Questions II (30 points each) 1. Most HRs: Soriano 2. Highest OBP (min. 400 ABs): Bradley 3. Lowest ERA (min. 150 IPs): Harden 4. Most saves: Gregg The Annual Tiebreaker: July 11 vs. STL on FOX

He got one hit...

MLB Network/MLB.tv only. Lilly got Soto to pop out on a 3-2 count in the only AB he had against him.

Group A: R Howard Group B: R Braun, M Teixeira Group C: A Soriano, C Quentin, J Hamilton Group D: D Ortiz, J Bruce, J Votto, J Morneau, C Young WC: Will be PM'd

Soto is in the lineup. Lilly is pitching. He picked off Pudge to end the first. 1 K, 1 BB.

I figured he would pitch today against PR, setting up the possible Geo/Lilly matchup. I'm sure he's getting some live pitching in for the hitters. Think of how all those stars are only getting a few ABs. I'm not too worried.

That was rather embarrassing.

I agree with this. The problem with Soto 7th (or 6th) is that you are limiting his at-bats over the course of the season (while giving more AB's to Fukudome/Lee). I agree, obviously. I really am hoping for a much better season from Fukudome, but I'm not counting on it. Therefore, he should be hitting 7th. I know one thing, the person hitting in the 2-hole is going to see a lot of good pitches. That person would be hitting with 4 other all-stars (as in guys that could potentially make the team this year, Lee and Fukudome don't count) around him (Soriano, Ramirez, Bradley, Soto).

The ump has a big zone, but I liked the way Bako and Wells exploited it. Wells hit that spot over and over again.

For what it's worth (nothing), I would like to see the middle of the order look like this: 3. Ramirez 4. Bradley 5. Soto 6. Lee (Kind of scary to have Mr. 6-4-3 right after tubby)

This game is simply amazing. I like the guy doing jumping jacks to get loose while everybody else is clinging onto their last energy.

If it's successful the tying run is in scoring position. and if it's not you're down to your last out and need a home run to tie it. I'm not saying I agree with it, but I don't think it's terrible. There was good reasoning behind the decision. Getting the tying run in scoring position if fine motivation, but the reasoning isn't all that great when you consider the consequences. Running with runners on 1st and 2nd and 1 out is actually the ideal time to run. You need to make it less than 60% of the time to make it worthwhile (less if the catcher throws to 2nd than to 3rd). Then when you add in that the team was in a situation where the team needed 2 runs and stealing becomes even a better option than normal. On the other hand, Youkilis is more of a fly ball hitter which is a detriment to stolen bases, and both him and Wright are threats to get the extra base hit that ties the game. It's one of those rare calls where both sides are pretty equally defensible. Against a very tough reliever, I can see why the manager would think that the stolen base/single combination is more likely than an extra base hit. It's a terrible idea to do in the 9th inning and down by two runs. The math would indicate otherwise. Of all the times to steal, that's pretty close to the absolute best time to steal. You want to avoid stealing: 1) early in the game 2) with poor to average baserunners (which this case certainly wasn't. Rollins has 123 SB to only 13 CS the last 3 years which is absolutely incredible). 3) when you don't need just 1 run in the inning (or 2 in this specific case of runners on 1st and 2nd). Stealing at a decent rate limits your chance at the big inning while increasing the chance you score the baserunners already on the bases. The only way this situation could have even been more ideal for stealing was if somebody like Theriot was at the plate (a double play threat and singles hitter). Other then that, it's pretty much exactly how you would dream it up. I find it difficult to say the decision was terrible. You may or may not agree with it, but it's definitely not terrible.

Do you guys all remember that guy that wears the hats and suits at Dodgers games and operates the radar gun? He's doing the same thing at the Mexico/Cuba game tonight.

If it's successful the tying run is in scoring position. and if it's not you're down to your last out and need a home run to tie it. I'm not saying I agree with it, but I don't think it's terrible. There was good reasoning behind the decision.

If it's successful the tying run is in scoring position.

I was thinking the same thing last night for Marmol, about the gun, not about the nice 1-2-3 inning.

I just went back and watched and Marmol was punching in the dugout. Not good.

This is scaring me. I want Netherlands to win, but I don't like this being in Carlos' head.

I would, DR loses, and Marmol comes home. That crossed my mind.

I'm so torn with Marmol on the mound. I really wanted the upset.

10 K's in 4 innings by Ubaldo Jimenez for the Dominicans.