2011 AL Central Thread

[HD MM]

If I didn't know any better, you would've thought the umps had money on the White Sox winning last night.

Did anyone see the ball that skimmed home plate and kicked up dirt that was called a strike?! This happened more times than I could count. Pitches so freaking low and out of the zone, it hit the ground! Besides all the missed calls in the field, the home plate ump was blind as a bat!

 

[riffjim4069]

I just wish they would play Betemit pretty much every day and stop playing Kelly at third so often. Inge was only given 8 days off when healthy all season and Betemit has already been given 8 days off in his short time here.

Yeah, I don't understand why they're sitting Betemit so often...he's doing a good job at 3B and with the bat.

Those bats better be alive today. Its hard to trust Penny now and it would be tough to lose a series against the Twins at home in the middle of this race.

Absolutely! I would only feel comfortable if we were spotted a 10-run lead with Penny on the mound. Our long-relief is suffering with Al on the DL. The worst scenario is Penny getting yanked in the 3rd only to be replaced with Coke for innings 3-6.

 

[king3pj]

I was actually referring to a different play. Probably about the 6th or 7th run the umps cost us yesterday....

It was early in the game. A Choo “single” with Brantly on first. When Brantley was interfered with rounding second, Choo was CLEARLY cruising on his way into second and even fell over stopping himself to get back to first base (because of the Brantly collision just in front of him). Brantley was correctly awarded third, and I’m unaware of any official rules here, but Choo would have easily been on second. Instead he was on first and boom…double play ball. Inning over.

I saw the everything after the 6th or 7th inning when the blackout was lifted for the sports pack on the Chicago station. I don't know the official rules either but that play seemed wrong to me too. The most obviously wrong call to me was Hafner's check swing during his strikeout in the 8th or 9th. I think the play where the pitcher got in the way was wrong too. It looked like he was tagged out to me.

I thought the home plate up was having a tough game. He seemed to be trying to pick fights with players from both teams and Ozzie Guillen.

In my opinion the umpire should not be yelling back at the players when they complain. They are trying to make themselves part of the show. Instead of arguing with players and trying to fire them up more just shut up and let them say their piece. If the player takes it to far than eject them but there is no reason to visibly fight with a player or coach in front of everyone.

In my opinion the only umpires who are doing their jobs correctly are the ones you don't notice. Famous umpires like Country Joe and Angel Hernandez are ruining the profession and shouldn't exist in the game of baseball.

 

[king3pj]

Yeah, I don't understand why they're sitting Betemit so often...he's doing a good job at 3B and with the bat.



Absolutely! I would only feel comfortable if we were spotted a 10-run lead with Penny on the mound. Our long-relief is suffering with Al on the DL. The worst scenario is Penny getting yanked in the 3rd only to be replaced with Coke for innings 3-6.

I usually am one to defend Leyland but I just don't understand where his grudge against Betemit came from.

 

[riffjim4069]

I usually am one to defend Leyland but I just don't understand where his grudge against Betemit came from.

Maybe he's preparing him for when Inge returns, which raises another question...what happens to Betemit when Inge returns?

 

[Jimbo]

The Lineup is so much better than it was at the beginning of the year and going back to last season. We took Inge out of the lineup and Rayburn is no longer an every day player. We have Martinez at DH now, Avila is hot, and now we replaced Mags with Young.

I just wish they would play Betemit pretty much every day and stop playing Kelly at third so often. Inge was only given 8 days off when healthy all season and Betemit has already been given 8 days off in his short time here.

Those bats better be alive today. Its hard to trust Penny now and it would be tough to lose a series against the Twins at home in the middle of this race.

This shows that they probably dont think Betimit is the answer either, maybe they will go out and get a top notch 3B over the off season.

Sent from my Samsung Epic using SatelliteGuys

 

[riffjim4069]

This shows that they probably dont think Betimit is the answer either, maybe they will go out and get a top notch 3B over the off season.

Sent from my Samsung Epic using SatelliteGuys

They are few and far between (if available). I'm fine with Betemit...big plus for us.

 

[king3pj]

Maybe he's preparing him for when Inge returns, which raises another question...what happens to Betemit when Inge returns?

I would hope Betemit would be the starter and Inge would be a bench player. I don't know if that's how it would play out though. Leyland thought it was important for Inge to be out there almost every game but he doesn't feel the same way about Betemit who is a much better hitter. I would take a top level guy at 3rd but I don't think we will find one either. I would be ok with Betemit if they would just say he is the starter and stop this platoon crap.

 

[riffjim4069]

I would hope Betemit would be the starter and Inge would be a bench player. I don't know if that's how it would play out though. Leyland thought it was important for Inge to be out there almost every game but he doesn't feel the same way about Betemit who is a much better hitter. I would take a top level guy at 3rd but I don't think we will find one either. I would be ok with Betemit if they would just say he is the starter and stop this platoon crap.

I don't see Inge sitting on the bench next year and I hate the idea of paying a player 5.5 million to spit sunflower seeds and drink gatorade.

 

[king3pj]

I don't see Inge sitting on the bench next year and I hate the idea of paying a player 5.5 million to spit sunflower seeds and drink gatorade.

I don't like it either but I also don't wanna play someone who isn't as good just because they make 5.5 million. In an ideal world he wouldn't be our problem anymore but if he is going to be with Detroit he needs to be on the bench.

 

[king3pj]

They are few and far between (if available). I'm fine with Betemit...big plus for us.

Kelly is starting at 3rd over Betemit for the 2nd day in a row. I don't understand this at all. Betemit is batting over .300 since becoming a Tiger and it seems like he is out of the lineup more than he is in it.

 

[riffjim4069]

Kelly is starting at 3rd over Betemit for the 2nd day in a row. I don't understand this at all. Betemit is batting over .300 since becoming a Tiger and it seems like he is out of the lineup more than he is in it.

That's very strange. Unless Betemit is suffering from an undisclosed minor injury I think Leyland is making a huge mistake. Does anyone have any info as to why Betemit is sitting when he should be playing?

 

[SandraC]

If I get to watch Cleveland/Chicago tonight I'll watch the STO feed...so I can hear the Indians announcers can point out all the times the Indians are robbed!


Sandra

 

[riffjim4069]

In all fairness I didn't see the Indians-Sox controversy/game last night. However, for some reason it triggers a memory of Galarraga (Tigers) having his perfect game bid ruined by a bad call made by Jim Joyce. Regardless, the umps still get it right almost all of the time and the bad calls usually balance themselves out.

 

[Sparkman]

You'll have to tonight, no Chicago feed due to the game being OTA on WCIU on Chicago. MLBEI doesn't pickup WCIU games.

 

[riffjim4069]

Kelly is starting at 3rd over Betemit for the 2nd day in a row. I don't understand this at all. Betemit is batting over .300 since becoming a Tiger and it seems like he is out of the lineup more than he is in it.

Phooey! Kelly is 0-2 with his less-than-stellar .230 batting average. I can't help but think how Betemit would have had the key hits and we would be up a run or two right now.

 

[jrp]

Valverde has a strange motion from the stretch.

 

[jrp]

Weird eigth & ninth. Twins up 6-4.

 

[riffjim4069]

I have the Ten Commandments in the background (History Channel) and I broke of them in the top of the 9th.

 

[riffjim4069]

I don't get it...Rayburn hitting for Jackson??? Bitter loss this evening.