soccer10k

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I was a senior in high school during World Cup 2002 (it was one of the last days of the year) but I rubbed that game in to every single Mexican friend I had, especially my teammates. It was so much fun.

I think the evidence above shows that it much better to put the first pitch of the at bat in play than the second through fifth pitches. And depending on your preference of OBP or SLG in the makeup of OPS, you could even make the argument that putting the first pitch in play is better than the second through eighth pitches (though I'm not going that far). At the ninth pitch, the OPS of .819 goes past that of the first pitch at .814.

didn't we say that about the white sox last year Arroyo, Harang, Milton, and Claussen is a far cry from Buehrle, Contreras, Garcia, and Garland. This is true, but to be fair, this time last year it wasn't that big a jump at all. Any of those four White Sox pitchers would be aces on the Reds. You also have to factor in that the Reds are in the NL and the White Sox are in the AL.

HAHAHAHAHA. Awesome picture. I think Rusch may have tripled in size since then.

I think how many pitches a batter takes, at least with the starter, is determined upon the situation and the period in the game. In the first couple innings, a batter should try to take more pitches to see exactly how a pitcher is throwing that day. Is he accurate or wild? How good are his various pitches? Those things should be figured out early in the game. Obviously if a pitcher throws a pitch that the batter likes on the first pitch of the at bat, then by all means the batter should swing. In the later innings, deciding to swing at the first pitch or not should be determined by the tendencies of the pitcher the team should have noticed over the course of the game. If you see the pitcher throwing a majority of first pitch fastballs (or any other pitch) then you should go up looking for that pitch. If you get it, swing. If you don't get what you expect, then don't swing. If you notice that a pitcher is throwing a lot of strikes, you should go up to the plate looking to swing if a decent pitch comes. No point in sitting there and taking two pitches if the guy is throwing strikes because you are quickly going to find yourself in 0-2 counts and the pitcher is going to eat you alive more times than not. On the other hand, if a pitcher is having a problem finding the strike zone and is getting three ball counts and walking a bunch of batters, don't swing at the first pitch. Make him throw you strikes. In this case, then it is smart to take a pitch or two because you aren't likely to find yourself in a quick 0-2 count. You are more likely to find yourself in a 1-1 or 2-0 count.

I can't wait for the Reds-White Sox series. That will really tell us how good the Reds are. I'm not trying to downplay sweeping Houston and St Louis, but Houston was in a bigtime slump and St. Louis just lost the best player in the game. Don't forget that in 2004, the Reds were 34-22 but ended up 76-86 and were even 47-41 at the All Star Break that year. The Reds are currently 35-24. I'm still not high on them.

Arroyo is going to hit one of the 7 Reds home runs of Glendon tomorrow.

I'm just happy that in less than two days I will have a month long distraction from this atrocity we call a baseball team.

-Italy isn't going to win the World Cup. -Brazil is the favorite, but I agree, they won't win the Cup. -If the US doesn't advance it will be very dissapointing. -Group E is tough. The sky is also blue. -Ghana is good. They're just not great. I agree. I don't know where he came up with that one. I think by the Ghana comment Smyth meant that a lot of people are writing them off as easily the worst team in the group and one that has no chance of advancing. Just curious, who are you picking to win the Cup?

Tommy Smyth on PTI -US could get out of the group but won't win the Cup -Ghana is better than people think -Group E is very tough group -If US doesn't get out of first round, not a disaster even though expectations high -Brazil is definately the favorite but doesn't think they will win it all -picks Italy to win the World Cup

Portugal 2002? 2002 was played in South Korea, not Europe. The US has traditionally been awful in European World Cup finals. I think this is a much better team than in years past but I did misunderstand what you said in that regard.

Portugal 2002?

Group Stage: Group A: Germany, Poland Group B: England, Sweden Group C: Netherlands, Argentina Group D: Mexico, Portugal Group E: USA, Italy Group F: Brazil, Japan Group G: France, South Korea Group H: Spain, Ukraine Round of 16: Germany over Sweden Netherlands over Portugal England over Poland Argentina over Mexico USA over Japan France over Ukraine Brazil over Italy Spain over South Korea Quarterfinals Netherlands over Germany USA over France England over Argentina Brazil over Spain Semifinals Netherlands over USA Brazil over England Final, 3rd Place USA over England Brazil over Netherlands I figure I'll go out on a limb and pick Brazil to win it.

What's that mean? You mean, like, not swing at the 1st pitch? I don't get it. Novel idea, eh?

Yesterday, somebody said that it could still be Treeman's start because technically he hasn't lost. I'm not sure. Serena will have to straighten things out.

It's a good thing I have a sloshball game this afternoon.

:beer:

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Woot! Cubs Suck!!

Can Barrett and Ramirez get Mission Impossible-esque masks and go up to the plate looking like Albert Pujols. At the very least it should scare Lidge.

I don't dislike Len and Bob, but I really miss Steve Stone.

Heard that and yes, it is telling and very interesting.

The Cubs are pathetic.

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