# Baseball August 2009 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 1, 2009, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-august-2009/504998 "2009-08-01T20:41:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Ichbin\_Dubist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ichbin\_Dubist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichbin_Dubist)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-august-2009/504998/201 "2009-08-30T18:42:44Z")
The lineup that the Pirates are currently trotting out is no great shakes, either. I’m too lazy to do any kind of thoughtful statistical comparison, but they’re 4th from last in runs scored with a lineup that’s appreciably worse than what they started out with in April. Yikes. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-august-2009/504998/202 "2009-08-30T19:35:07Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I mean, this is a lineup that’s not only terrible, but _devoid of hope_. There’s only one prospect in it. Well, they _are_ still six-and-a-half games up on Baltimore. 🙂 Of course, the Orioles have plenty of young hitting talent, so the future should be better than the present. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-august-2009/504998/203 "2009-08-31T01:46:07Z")
For the Royals, the Zack Attack is back in full gear, following up a 15-strikeout performance with a one-hitter. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-august-2009/504998/204 "2009-08-31T03:00:03Z")
> [@Ichbin\_Dubist](#): > > This is who Los Mets ran out against the Cubs yesterday Okay, I admit, that is a pretty terrible lineup. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-august-2009/504998/205 "2009-08-31T03:22:59Z")
> [@Ichbin\_Dubist](#): > > This is who Los Mets ran out against the Cubs yesterday: Do you mean Loss Mets? A sad year in Queens. ---
**Author:** ![JpnDude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@JpnDude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JpnDude)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-august-2009/504998/206 "2009-08-31T05:11:47Z")
What a difference a week makes… All the pundits were claiming that the Rockies were ready to pass up the Dodgers as they climbed to 2 games back. However, 5 straight losses later, and they are 6 back again. Even giving up sole possession of the wild card. **GO BLUE!** ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-august-2009/504998/207 "2009-08-31T05:48:39Z")
> [@JpnDude](#): > > What a difference a week makes… > > All the pundits were claiming that the Rockies were ready to pass up the Dodgers as they climbed to 2 games back. However, 5 straight losses later, and they are 6 back again. Even giving up sole possession of the wild card. > > **GO BLUE!** I spent the weekend rooting for the Giants. I have taken two showers today, and I still feel dirty. Now that they’re tied atop the Wild Card and no longer playing each other, life can return to normal. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-august-2009/504998/208 "2009-08-31T07:09:51Z")
In non-MLB news, the big baseball story here in San Diego this weekend is the Little League World Series victory by Chula Vista Park View. They overcame a 3-0 deficit to beat Taiwan 6-3 in the final today, and all the local media is devoting plenty of airtime to the victory. The team hit a LLWS-record 19 homers before the final game, and having watched a couple of their games, i was amazed at the size of some of these kids. We all know the sorts of rumors that follow the big home-run hitters nowdays. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ichbin\_Dubist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ichbin\_Dubist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichbin_Dubist)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-august-2009/504998/209 "2009-08-31T17:12:18Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Okay, I admit, that is a pretty terrible lineup. Of course, you could argue that the Mets have that lineup by accident but that Riccardi and whoever is making the decisions in Pittsburgh (my theory is 4 drunken teenagers and a Ouija board) put theirs together on purpose. (Unless you buy into the conspiracy theories about the Mets’ run of injuries.) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-august-2009/504998/210 "2009-08-31T17:46:47Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > In non-MLB news, the big baseball story here in San Diego this weekend is the Little League World Series victory by Chula Vista Park View. How do you think they would do against the Padres? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-august-2009/504998/211 "2009-08-31T19:01:27Z")
> [@Ichbin\_Dubist](#): > > Of course, you could argue that the Mets have that lineup by accident but that Riccardi and whoever is making the decisions in Pittsburgh (my theory is 4 drunken teenagers and a Ouija board) put theirs together on purpose. Well, I had to concede the point. I did not say “let’s see somone come up with a worse lineup that isn’t ravaged by injuries.” I challenged someone to come up with a worse lineup, and by gum, someone did. But your point’s true. The Mets will get back David Wright and Jose Reyes. The Blue Jays will get back… nobody. That lineup I posted is _their full strength lineup_. There is nobody waiting in the wings; Snider is the only ready prospect. There are no injured stars coming back. Those were, in fact, the nine best ballplayers the Toronto Blue Jays organization has, save swapping out McDonald for any one of a number of crappy ballplayers, and swapping out Raul Chavez for Rod Barajas, who is no better. Nobody good was hurt, or taking a night off. What kills me is they wanted to trade Roy Halladay for other pitchers. They’ve got major league calibre pitchers at AAA right now, and more due to come back from injury. But their AAA team doesn’t even have many \*\*AAA-calibre \*\*hitters. This team has absolutely no succession plan whatsoever with regards to any position on the field, save pitcher. If Marco Scutaro or Aaron Hill get hurt there’s nobody to take their place except John McDonald, which is about as sad as it gets. And you know how they say pitching is 75% of baseball? The Jays prove it’s not. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-august-2009/504998/212 "2009-09-01T00:54:29Z")
Pettitte just lost a Perfect game bid in the 7th to a Jerry Hairston Error and the no hitter to a hit. ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-august-2009/504998/213 "2009-09-01T02:07:09Z")
The Cardinals end August with a double-digit lead over the Cubs. Granted the Cards had a soft schedule, the only team they played that was above .500 were the slumping Dodgers. But the Cubs played virtually the same teams. An oddity, the Cardinals- on a day they have played a game- have not lost any ground to the Cubs since July 30- while picking 10.5 games in the standings. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-august-2009/504998/214 "2009-09-01T02:08:56Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > How do you think they would do against the Padres? Dunno, but they better make sure that David Eckstein gets the right uniform, or he might accidentally end up on the wrong team. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-august-2009/504998/215 "2009-09-01T02:43:18Z")
The Blue Jays seem eager to choke away an 11 run lead to the Rangers. Unbeliveable. Hopefully, \*\*Rickjay \*\*went to bed thinking the game was a shoo in. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-august-2009/504998/216 "2009-09-01T03:38:07Z")
The Rangers seem determined to make sure they don’t win the game. After closing the gap, now they are losing 18-10. Did I mention these teams are playing a doubleheader tomorrow? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-august-2009/504998/217 "2009-09-01T12:29:45Z")
_Whitesox have a bad weak and turn surrender monkeys._ Why did the trade away Thome and Contreras? ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-august-2009/504998/218 "2009-09-01T12:48:44Z")
The D-backs are now fielding a AAA team. Embarrassing. Jon Garland is gone to the Dodgers to help them win. Qualls is probably out for the season. No pitching except for Haran. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2009, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-august-2009/504998/219 "2009-09-05T22:15:19Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > _Whitesox have a bad weak and turn surrender monkeys._ > > Why did the trade away Thome and Contreras? [http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/chi-05-white-sox-ken-williams-sep05,0,7227598.story](http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/chi-05-white-sox-ken-williams-sep05,0,7227598.story) This is the official explanation. Thome wanted to go to a contender. But Williams claims they did not give up and are still a contender. It does not follow very well. He also felt he had 3 guys on the bench who could perform as well including Dye and Konierko. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2009, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-august-2009/504998/220 "2009-09-05T22:17:36Z")
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