I have a question for Mets and Yankee fans.

[MikeG]

Having now bought your 2005 teams, do you feel like pigs?

[JohnKleeb]

1. hahahaha

I want them both to suck next year!

[WilliamPitt]

2. *snarf*

[JohnKleeb]

3. seriously man, you think the yanks couldnt get any more greedy

but you know what, I read Jayson Stark the other day and he says Pavano may have a tough time transfering leagues, and Johnson is way past his prime.

[Arkana]

8. That actually may be true regarding RJ

He was, after all, only 16-14 last season--clearly beatable.

[JohnKleeb]

10. well to be fair, he had that record because arizona gave him cruddy run

support.

[nickgutierrez]

17. RJ should have won the Cy Young last year.

That 16-14 mark was down to not just bad, but horrendous run support from a really bad team.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/statistics/exp_wl_pitcher2004.html

The link above shows Randy Johnson as the 8th most unlucky pitcher in all of baseball last year with more than 30 starts, and says that, given his performance, he should have expected a W-L record of about 21-13.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/glossary/index.php?context=18

[DaveinMD]

19. John

I like you,but he was 16-14 on the worst team in the league. He was the best pitcher in baseball last year. Look at his era, strikeouts and low walk total. I'm tired of whining by other teams. Did the Red Sox beat the Cardinals because they spent more than St. Louis. I think not.

[nickgutierrez]

22. Johan Santana > Randy Johnson

But not many others. I claimed earlier that RJ should have won the NL Cy last year.

For what it's worth, Value Over Replacement Player has Johan Santana, followed by a massive gap, followed by Curt Schilling who is closely trailed by Randy Johnson.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/statistics/vorp_pitcher2004.html

[DaveinMD]

24. good saber stuff

RJ is still in his prime. I'll be interested to see Santana do it again this year.

[StopTheMorans]

4. SNAP!

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!

[DinahMoeHum]

5. As a Yankees fan, my attitude about Johnson is the same as for Clemens:

They're mercenaries who just want the ring. I never really accepted Clemens and the same feeling extends to the Big Tool.

The Yankees won a World Series (1996) without either of them.
And they had a viable pipeline of upcoming stars from their farm teams.

:evilfrown:

[tsakshaug]

6. had is the key word

the keep trading them away to buy old guys

[DinahMoeHum]

7. Bingo!

That's what got the Yankees in deep ca-ca in the 1980's.

:evilfrown:

[dr.strangelove]

9. Not at all

The Yankees and Mets are good for baseball. Al teams sell more tickets to Yankees games than any other team. The Mets, Atlanta and Dodgers all rotate in the top three in the NL. These rich powerhouse teams are good for baseball because they sell tickets. In order for the Royals and Brewers to have a chance, they need to drive up revenue. Revenue sharing is getting better, but its not there yet. This tax on the Sox, Yankees, Mets and Dodgers is a start.

I mean, what should Georgedo, field a team worth $50 million and pocket $250 million each year? Instead he only pockets "a few million" and pours the rest into the team. The Twins and Royals both made more money for their ownership than the Yankees last year (lost less actually). Why not pour you money into your team?

[CTLawGuy]

12. I have an even better idea

how about a system where EVERY team draws interest and all games sell out? Rather than just 4 teams.

In order for that to happen we need a salary cap (not revenue sharing, which don't hamper george or john henry) to keep talent balanced and accurately priced. if teams are evenly matched, they will draw more interest.

We also need to add one or two more playoff spots. The playoff situation structures it so 75% of the teams are out of the race by august and lose 1-2 months worth of interesting games.

I like the idea of having 2 wild cards and a one game playoff immediately following the season to see which team will progress to the actual playoffs. This is also good because it will force the wild cards to use their best pitcher before game 1 of the DS, and will force their number 2 to face the division winner's best pitcher, thus giving the division winner an advantage.

[DaveinMD]

20. untrue

baseball has never been more popular and has never had more competitive balance. The game is perfect just the way it is.

[sniffa]

11. i thought

you were just obnoxious as a steeLers' fan... i'm gLad to see you spreading your wings. :evilgrin:

[MikeG]

13. A Bostonian complaining about someone being obnoxious.

What will they think of next?

[sniffa]

14. Laughing at steeLer fans

[MikeG]

15. Manning's going to slice your team up.

The Steelers will then end his season next week.

[sniffa]

16. congratuLations

on your first superbowL since teddy bradshaw had more hair. you've earned it!

i wait with baited breath for your next ******OFFICIAL STEELERS GLOAT THREAD*******

[MikeG]

18. It will be coming this weekend after your team's season ends.

[sniffa]

21. go for it

aLthough the coLts don't stand a chance - the refs are on the patriots' payoLa (or so i keep hearing).

you better hope the jets beat you since that's too much humbLe pie for one man to eat.

[Tweed]

23. The Mets will suck as always

Beltran will prove he had a career year last year and Pedro will blow his arm out. The Marlins and Phillies will do better and the Braves will win the division. That's how it has been since 2001. I don't see any reason for that to change.

[sniffa]

25. c'mon

go for the groin and caLL their fans, pigs.

[Tweed]

26. Their fans are fine

They are better than Yankees fans at least.

[bigwillq]

27. Nope-Baseball is a business

You do what you can to get that business running successfully. It's sad but true.

Go YANKS!