phillies repeat 09'

 well, the Dodgers are now in a freefall, as they lost to the Rockies in extra innings yesterday and lead only by 2 games.

just at the All Star break, I think the Dodgers had a double digit lead.

holy cow!!!

 How about those Rockies!   Think they got a chance?

The Rockies have been hot since June, of course they have a chance.  Troy T. is picking the team up in a hurry.  Jason M. has not been too shabby either. 

The BoSox are still in the wild card lead, but TX and TB are not too far behind.  The Sox and the M's are still within striking distance.  

Lidge has been struggling of late, so the Phillies to repeat will depend on Lidge.  Hitting is there and the pickup of Lee was fantastic.  Look at Halladay right now, not doing well in the second half.  My feeling is that Boston will take the wildcard spot as Ortiz is starting to hit more homers and the pickup of Victor Martinez boosted their lineup.  The Boston pitching is coming along nicely as well.

Texas is one team that's a cinderella team, and I wouldn't mind if they take the wildcard spot.

 I would love to see the Rangers take the wildcard spot, as that means my Angels will not have to meet the Red Sox in the playoffs, lolol

we can beat the heck out of the Yankees, at home or at Yankees stadium (the only team with a winning record against the Yankees since 1996, I believe)

but, we get the crap kick out of us by the Red Sox, not to mention the White Sox

and I'll take my chances with meeting the Rangers sometime in the playoffs, even if they've dominated us so far in the regular season

Stan, I think Big Papi got his shipment of 'roid lmao.  It has come in handy for the BoSox. 

I love seeing the Rangers making the postseason.   Kinsler has not been hitting of late though. 

I would love to see the Rockies do it again, despite their stingy owners. But they just lost the last two games to the Dodgers, not good. Now they go back to the Giants. And then I think to LA. I lot will be decided in the west and the wildcard.

I think its going to be St. Louis.

 going into September, Rockies have a very good chance to catch the Dodgers, who don't have any reliable starters. 

 Billingsley, the supposed ace, gave up 4 runs in 5 innings in a loss to the Reds today. But, he is 12-8

Kershaw is a talented rookie, but he's 21-y/o

Wolf is their most reliable starter in the past 10 or so starts

I am hoping Dodgers still make it; but we need Manny, who's struggling like heck!

The Angels got Scott Kazmir, and that will add to their pitching.

Hopefully Kazmir will help the Angels in the regular season and in the playoffs (barring any setbacks by the Angels towards the end of the season).

 fairly decent performance by Kazmir yesterday vs. the Mariners...

but, as the Angels have often shown:

a) they will destroy your #3, #4, #5 starting pitchers

b) they will lose to your #1, #2 starting pitchers

and the kicker of it all....

if you start a pitcher making his major league debut...the Angels can't beat him

In 2008, I think the Angels faced roughly 8-10 pitchers making either their debut, or else one of their early starts against the Angels, and won 5-6 of those games for their 1st big league victories.

I don't recall exact stats....

 hopefully, Kazmir will not go the way of Kerry Wood or Mark Price (or was it Pryor, that pitcher out of USC?) - both were 1-2 year wonders, and then dropped from Planet Earth.

what the heck happened to Mark Price of the Cubs

 As for Morales, the Angels made out like hotcakes!!!

They saved $250M (and even if they have to sign Morales to a $125M salary down the line, they still have the rest remaining to keep Bobby Abreu and Chone Figgins and John Lackey

That guy was Mike Prior, and the Cubs had two great young pitchers who had injuries and just lost control of their pitches.  The same with Rick Ankiel, who then became a power hitter (well the power was last season).

Steve Avery rings a bell of a guy who was young, had potential to be like a Smoltz, Glavine or Maddux, but injuries hurt him and he's been gone from baseball for a long time.

Liriano is another pitcher that was great but after injuries and surgery, and look to be done within two years.

BJ Ryan is another who will not last in baseball within a year or two.

The Angels and Morales will be fine in the playoffs.  But their pitching has to withstand the offense of the Yankees and Phillies and Red Sox (if the Sox get the wildcard).

Yea Mark Prior was so good tht one year it seemed like he was a veteran, just like Verlander was.  Liriano was hailed as the next Johan Santana with his nasty change-ups from the L side, with a 2.16 something ERA before he got hurt.  Now he's like Sidney Ponson. 

BJ Ryan was really dominat for 5 to 6 years, so you can'y label him as one of those 1-2 year wonder.  

 I am not too concerned about the Angels pitching with respect to the Red Sox and Yankees.

what I am concerned with is having runners in scoring position (regardless of the number of outs left in the inning) --- in the playoffs, all Angels players (except Mark Texeira and Torii Hunter last year) in the last 3-4 years have flat out frozen....like a deer caught in headlights.

and Chone Figgins has been AWFUL in the playoffs

Perhaps this will be the year that all the players come together and play well.  Vlad will need to step it up, as this season is basically a wash (due to injuries).

Morales is now struggling to find his power.  Can't remember when he last hit a homer.  So this may be a concern going into the playoffs.  A guy like Pujols is crushing the ball right now.  47 homers and counting.

O def, we still have to remember Morales is a first yr full time player. 

Pujols def rocks on my fantasy team.  3 Hrs this week and counting.  He is amazing.