Is it wrong that I'm not following playoffs?

by MJesser on Oct 12, 2008 12:18 AM EDT

I've been checking in with my usual Twins blogs over the past week and a half since we lost our playoff chances. I like to stay up to date on what the Twins community thinks about their team.

This evening, as I was checking in, it occurred to me that I had no idea what was happening in the ALCS/NLCS games. I had paid just enough attention to know who was in it, but short of that, I didn't know how many games had been played, what the series were at, etc.

I live in Chicago, so I had my fair share of entertainment in the ALDS/NLDS watching the Cubbies and Sox self-destruct, but after the Sox were out, I stopped caring. Is my lack of interest in this year's playoffs due to the Twins being out of it? Perhaps it's because there are no teams left that are geographically close to me? Maybe it's because I have a vested interest in the AL Central and with the Sox out, don't care?

So my question to you is this: How closely are YOU watching the playoffs this year?

Poll

How closely are you watching the playoffs this year?

Watching every/most AL and NL games

13 votes

Watching an occasional AL or NL game

10 votes

Watching the AL games only

0 votes

Checking the scores each day, but not watching

9 votes

Checking scores/highlights occasionally

4 votes

Not paying attention

2 votes

38 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Painful to watch the Rays and Sox

It’s hard not to ask what might have been, especially tonight as Garza and Lester face off. Just sayin’.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Oct 12, 2008 10:16 AM EDT reply actions

I'm following

I’m following the games pretty closely, but I’m not watching them much yet. I actually can’t watch the AL games because I don’t get TBS. Mostly, I’m jut too busy to watch baseball too much right now without the Twins.

I will watch most or all of the World Series though. I’m hoping to see some Raysball there.

"You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the damn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all."
~ Earl Weaver
"In God we trust. All others must provide evidence."
~ Billy Beane

by AdamOnFirst on Oct 12, 2008 3:11 PM EDT reply actions

Because of my fantasy keeper teams I am watching the Rays/Dodgers.

I would like a World Series with no East Coast teams. I have a lot of “what if” feelings in me especially seeing how the bad the White Sox did against the Rays. If it is the Red Sox against the Phillies in the WS I will pass on watching it.

But… THERE IS ONLY 128 DAYS UNTIL PITCHERS AND CATCHERS REPORT:

by Beerbear on Oct 12, 2008 6:37 PM EDT reply actions

Garza

I was absolutely baffled as to how a pitcher can shut down the Red Sox with a fastball. I didn’t realize the game was on until the 5th, but he was sitting them down. It seems like the Rays have all but abandoned the idea of having him develop an effective off-speed pitch. I just don’t get how you can go through a major league lineup 2 or 3 times with one pitch you can throw for a strike without getting figured out.

The White Sox seemed to get it after one time through. I was stunned the Red Sox, who have been seeing a lot of him this year, couldn’t get that straight.

Unless he develops a change-up, I still see him long term as a fire-balling 8th inning set-up man.

by TMW on Oct 14, 2008 12:14 PM EDT reply actions

Garza's approach

I don’t think you get away from the fastball until the opposition proves it can hit it. This is how the Twins’ approach didn’t make sense. They wanted him to throw offfspeed pitches when they hadn’t yet caught up to the fastball. If the oppositions’ bats are slow, the last thing you want to do is pitch to their bat speed.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Oct 14, 2008 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Of course

I know that’s what the Twins were thinking and probably why he was the guy to get traded for Young.

The White Sox did catch up to the fastball the second time through. I was really surprised the Red Sox didn’t considering how up and down patient that lineup is. It’s not like he’s throwing 100, he’s throwing 95-96 with unimpressive movement. Major leaguers can hit that. It’s most effective in a key 8th inning type situation when the starter has been throwing 91 for the first 3 plate appearances. For some reason the Red Sox just couldn’t get the fat part of the bat on the ball.

Don’t get me wrong, I hope he succeeds. I just think the odds are against him as a successful starting pitcher long term unless he develops a change up. Over the long term, a fastball is hittable. I think the curveball is a lost cause for Garza. If you’ve seen him pitch live, you can notice a difference in his delivery from the outfield bleachers when he tries the curve. Not only that, but he consistently struggles to throw it for strikes. The only real hope is a change up.

But I could be wrong, but to me he has Grant Balfour/Matt Thornton/Latroy Hawkins 2002-2004 written on his forehead, which would still be a successful career for him.

by TMW on Oct 14, 2008 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree

It’s a mystery that he has been this affective this year, considering that he reverted back to his 2006 form after he left the team. He must have some deception or something that prevents hitters from seeing the ball well, ‘cause they’re not catching up to his fastball. And I was advocating turning him into a reliever last year for the same reasons you state. It’ll be interesting to follow his career.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Oct 14, 2008 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions