Comments on: Keep panic button in the closet http://blogs.eagletribune.com/sports/2007/08/11/keep-panic-button-in-the-closet/ Bill Burt's blog on sports Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:25:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.2.1 By: Andy http://blogs.eagletribune.com/sports/2007/08/11/keep-panic-button-in-the-closet/#comment-1812 Andy Tue, 14 Aug 2007 16:03:58 +0000 http://blogs.eagletribune.com/sports/2007/08/11/keep-panic-button-in-the-closet/#comment-1812 Bill, no doubt that the Yanks SP is weaker than the Sox. To my mind, as far as starting pitching goes, the Sox' main advantage over NYY is how much less the starters will wear down come October. Even should the Yankees manage to make the playoffs, it's hard to believe that Mussina, Pettitte, or Clemens will have much gas left in the tank. Hughes will have plenty of gas but has no playoff experience and will be facing excellent-hitting teams in the postseason. Wang is the only reliable post-season starter as far as I see it. Whereas for the Sox, Matsuzaka is still young, not even close to overworked, and has lots of playoff experience in Japan and the WBC. Wakefield, though old, has tons of pitches left in his arm. Schilling, also old, had lots of time off and may excel in the postseason. And Beckett is obviously fine. To me, this is the big concern for the Yankees. Their offense is not going to be able to beat up the best pitchers in the playoffs the way they have thumped sub-.500 team's staffs lately, and their own SP isn't necessarily going to be enough to make up for it. The Sox offense, by the way, has been fine except for the same lack of power they've been suffering all year. Bill, no doubt that the Yanks SP is weaker than the Sox. To my mind, as far as starting pitching goes, the Sox’ main advantage over NYY is how much less the starters will wear down come October. Even should the Yankees manage to make the playoffs, it’s hard to believe that Mussina, Pettitte, or Clemens will have much gas left in the tank. Hughes will have plenty of gas but has no playoff experience and will be facing excellent-hitting teams in the postseason. Wang is the only reliable post-season starter as far as I see it. Whereas for the Sox, Matsuzaka is still young, not even close to overworked, and has lots of playoff experience in Japan and the WBC. Wakefield, though old, has tons of pitches left in his arm. Schilling, also old, had lots of time off and may excel in the postseason. And Beckett is obviously fine. To me, this is the big concern for the Yankees. Their offense is not going to be able to beat up the best pitchers in the playoffs the way they have thumped sub-.500 team’s staffs lately, and their own SP isn’t necessarily going to be enough to make up for it.
The Sox offense, by the way, has been fine except for the same lack of power they’ve been suffering all year.

]]> By: Bill Burt http://blogs.eagletribune.com/sports/2007/08/11/keep-panic-button-in-the-closet/#comment-1810 Bill Burt Tue, 14 Aug 2007 02:03:03 +0000 http://blogs.eagletribune.com/sports/2007/08/11/keep-panic-button-in-the-closet/#comment-1810 Andy, Gagne would not have been my first choice. That was Jermaine Dye. But right now everybody is hitting, even Drew and Lugo. Sox are set at starter and bullpen, even without Gagne, is one of the best in the game. As for the Yanks improving with Giambi and Chamberlain, I agree, but let's give both of them a chance before sending them to Cooperstown. Yanks problem, as I see it, is their starting pitching isn't as good as the Sox. Andy,
Gagne would not have been my first choice. That was Jermaine Dye. But right now everybody is hitting, even Drew and Lugo. Sox are set at starter and bullpen, even without Gagne, is one of the best in the game.
As for the Yanks improving with Giambi and Chamberlain, I agree, but let’s give both of them a chance before sending them to Cooperstown.
Yanks problem, as I see it, is their starting pitching isn’t as good as the Sox.

]]> By: Andy http://blogs.eagletribune.com/sports/2007/08/11/keep-panic-button-in-the-closet/#comment-1809 Andy Tue, 14 Aug 2007 01:16:18 +0000 http://blogs.eagletribune.com/sports/2007/08/11/keep-panic-button-in-the-closet/#comment-1809 I don't think (nor did I say) I think he's finished, although he recent serious injury is a concern. What I don't get is why the Sox addressed a strength (bullpen) but not by far their biggest weakness (offense.) Look at the Yankees, who in August have added Hughes to the rotation, Chamberlain to the bullpen, and Giambi to the bench. No team improved more. I don’t think (nor did I say) I think he’s finished, although he recent serious injury is a concern. What I don’t get is why the Sox addressed a strength (bullpen) but not by far their biggest weakness (offense.) Look at the Yankees, who in August have added Hughes to the rotation, Chamberlain to the bullpen, and Giambi to the bench. No team improved more.

]]> By: Bill Burt http://blogs.eagletribune.com/sports/2007/08/11/keep-panic-button-in-the-closet/#comment-1808 Bill Burt Mon, 13 Aug 2007 22:46:13 +0000 http://blogs.eagletribune.com/sports/2007/08/11/keep-panic-button-in-the-closet/#comment-1808 Andy It doesn't look good. But do you really believe Gagne is finished? Andy
It doesn’t look good. But do you really believe Gagne is finished?

]]> By: Andy http://blogs.eagletribune.com/sports/2007/08/11/keep-panic-button-in-the-closet/#comment-1807 Andy Mon, 13 Aug 2007 21:34:44 +0000 http://blogs.eagletribune.com/sports/2007/08/11/keep-panic-button-in-the-closet/#comment-1807 Panic? I'm a Yankees fan. Be sure to check out where Gagne's current streak ranks: http://www.baseball-reference.com/sotd/archives/185 Panic? I’m a Yankees fan.
Be sure to check out where Gagne’s current streak ranks:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/sotd/archives/185

]]> By: Bill Burt http://blogs.eagletribune.com/sports/2007/08/11/keep-panic-button-in-the-closet/#comment-1806 Bill Burt Mon, 13 Aug 2007 04:01:39 +0000 http://blogs.eagletribune.com/sports/2007/08/11/keep-panic-button-in-the-closet/#comment-1806 Andy & Co. As expected, panic is setting in. But really, Sox are playing well. Other than Gagne, who will turn it around, isn't there much more good than bad? Check out Monday's ET Publishing papers for a column I wrote on that very subject. Andy & Co.
As expected, panic is setting in.
But really, Sox are playing well. Other than Gagne, who will turn it around, isn’t there much more good than bad?
Check out Monday’s ET Publishing papers for a column I wrote on that very subject.

]]> By: Andy http://blogs.eagletribune.com/sports/2007/08/11/keep-panic-button-in-the-closet/#comment-1805 Andy Mon, 13 Aug 2007 00:50:45 +0000 http://blogs.eagletribune.com/sports/2007/08/11/keep-panic-button-in-the-closet/#comment-1805 Hey Bill, you sure were right. It would never happen again that Okajima and Gagne would falter in the same game. Hey Bill, you sure were right. It would never happen again that Okajima and Gagne would falter in the same game.

]]> By: Andy http://blogs.eagletribune.com/sports/2007/08/11/keep-panic-button-in-the-closet/#comment-1802 Andy Sun, 12 Aug 2007 11:25:10 +0000 http://blogs.eagletribune.com/sports/2007/08/11/keep-panic-button-in-the-closet/#comment-1802 Gagne's 3.300 WHIP so far with Boston is, uh...big. Gagne’s 3.300 WHIP so far with Boston is, uh…big.

]]> By: Bill Burt http://blogs.eagletribune.com/sports/2007/08/11/keep-panic-button-in-the-closet/#comment-1800 Bill Burt Sat, 11 Aug 2007 23:11:14 +0000 http://blogs.eagletribune.com/sports/2007/08/11/keep-panic-button-in-the-closet/#comment-1800 Chuck Don't bring up college, though Merrimack was the best four years of my life. I still have nightmares about finals my senior year. Thanks for the correction ... And thanks for your stats from "clutch" piece that I did. Readers out there should note that Chuck W. i.e. the Maniacal One, has documented every Red Sox pitch (yes, I said pitch) on his computer since 1983 I believe. Thanks again. Chuck
Don’t bring up college, though Merrimack was the best four years of my life. I still have nightmares about finals my senior year. Thanks for the correction … And thanks for your stats from “clutch” piece that I did. Readers out there should note that Chuck W. i.e. the Maniacal One, has documented every Red Sox pitch (yes, I said pitch) on his computer since 1983 I believe.
Thanks again.

]]> By: Chuck Waseleski http://blogs.eagletribune.com/sports/2007/08/11/keep-panic-button-in-the-closet/#comment-1799 Chuck Waseleski Sat, 11 Aug 2007 21:14:57 +0000 http://blogs.eagletribune.com/sports/2007/08/11/keep-panic-button-in-the-closet/#comment-1799 Bill, Bill, Bill, a "different tact"??? Surely, your Merrimack education taught you it should be "tack". But I agree with you completely. Bill, Bill, Bill, a “different tact”??? Surely, your Merrimack education taught you it should be “tack”.

But I agree with you completely.

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