SB Nation - Esteban Loaiza

Wait, so how exactly is this anything like 2004?

CrazyYankeeChick — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:32:45 -0000

Yeah, I'm just not seeing it...

The 2009 ALCS and 2004 ALCS are practically mirror images of each other.

Indistinguishable.

Talk about carbon copies! I haven't seen this level of uncanny similarity since watching Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes in White Men Can't Jump.

Yeah, that's about how alike these two series are.

If I have to read one more thinly veiled (or downright overt, even) suggestion that the 2009 ALCS is "2004 all over again," I may spoon out my eyeballs with my bare hands without skipping a beat.

I'm sorry, HOW exactly is this ANYTHING like 2004?

As much as it pains me to even think about that dark time in my life, I'm going to bite the bullet for the sake of putting an end to this ridiculous Y2K-like mass hysteria and unfounded panic.

Let's consider the elements that shaped the 2004 mess:

The Greatest Rivalry in Sports
Yankees took 3-0 lead
Red Sox hadn't beat the Yankees since the dawn of time
A-Rod's empty performance
Red Sox were the favorite entering series
Yankees pitching: Mike Mussina, Jon Lieber, Javier Vasquez, El Duque, Esteban Loaiza, Kevin Brown
Yankees Big Bats: Miguel Cairo, Derek Jeter, Hideki Matsui, Gary Sheffield (all below .300)

And in 2009?

Not the greatest rivalry, or even a rivalry at all
Yankees went up 2-0. Then 2-1. Then 3-1. Then 3-2.
Yankees haven't beaten the Angels since the dawn of time
A-Rod's immortal-like production and clutchness
Yankees were favorite entering series
Yankees pitching: CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, Andy Pettitte
Yankees Big Bats: Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano, Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez, Hideki Matsui

Not only is 2009 not that similar to 2004, but it's arguably the polar OPPOSITE of it. The Yankees aren't squandering away a swift 3-0 lead. The past 5 games have been back and forth, in terms of series record.

If this is considered to be a repeat of 2004, then I have to assume that anytime the Yankees lose a single game in the postseason, it's going to be linked to a Dave Roberts steal clip.

When the Angels lose tomorrow, I expect to read volumes of column inches asserting the blatant redux of the 1986 ALCS. Because, you know, they're practically one in the same. The Angels lost that one. They're going to lose this one. And apparently, that's about all the matching elements you need these days, to substantiate a cross-season comparison.

Next thing you know, they're gonna start telling me Papelbon and Mo are identical closers! Oh, wait...

Pay no attention to this 2004 drivel, Yankee fans. It's the hollow propaganda of haters everywhere.

And as George Bernard Shaw said, "Hatred is the coward's revenge for being intimidated."

-CYC

Padilla, Dodgers Look To Get Back Into The Win Column

Eric Stephen — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 17:30:18 -0000

by David Zalubowski - AP

Vicente Padilla takes the mound for the Dodgers today in Arizona.

View full size photo »

The Dodgers' last eight games have gone like this: Win. Loss. Win. Loss. Win. Loss. Win. Loss. It would be nice to continue that trend today, as the Dodgers begin a three-game series in Arizona with a Labor Day day game.

Dodger pitchers have give up more than four runs only twice in their past 26 games. In he two games they had the audacity to allow more than four runs, they allowed only five runs, and in extra innings to boot. In other words, the Dodgers have not given up more than four runs in regulation in nearly a month.

The Dodgers have won each of the last two Labor Days, in games started by someone acquired after the July 31 non-waiver trading deadline:

In 2007, Esteban Loaiza (acquired August 29) started his first game as a Dodger, beating the Cubs at Wrigley Field, 11-3
In 2008, Greg Maddux (acquired August 19) started and beat the Padres, 5-2 at Dodger Stadium

Today, Vicente Padilla (acquired August 19) starts his third game as a Dodger, against his original team. Padilla has done well so far in Dodger blue, allowing a total of three runs over 10.1 innings. This is a small sample size warning of course, but as a Dodger, Padilla has a 2.61 ERA and a 2.27 FIP.

The Dodgers have to face Max Scherzer, who shut them down Wednesday at Dodger Stadium. Scherzer has started against the Dodgers three times in his career, giving up three earned runs, then two, then one. Let's hope that trend doesn't continue downward today. This is Scherzer's first career start against the Dodgers in Arizona.

Per the Dodger game notes, the Dodgers outscored their opponents 7-0 in the first inning on their last road trip, and they haven't given up a first inning run in their last 15 road games. The Dodgers are 57-25 in games when they score first this season.

The Dodgers have won nine of 15 games against Arizona this season, including splitting six games in Arizona. They are 38-20 against the NL West this year, including 17-11 on the road.

For those outside of the Los Angeles area, this week will bring some games you can watch. Wednesday's 7:10pm start in Arizona will be televised on ESPN, in addition to Prime Ticket, and Saturday's 6:05pm start in San Francisco, also a Prime Ticket game, will be on MLB Network.

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Check out Xeifrank's simulation of today's game here.

Don't forget to RSVP for True Blue LA Day at Dodger Stadium, on the next-to-last day of the regular season, October 3 against the Rockies.

Get your guesses in for our today's "One, Two, Three Strikes, You're Out," here.

Game Time: 12:40pm

TV: Prime Ticket

Baseball Reference Preview

The Return of World Baseball Classic

Tyler Bleszinski — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 07:02:55 -0000

I remember just a few short years ago in March of 2006, the World Baseball Classic came around for its inaugural run. At the start you can say that I was quite the skeptic. My feeling was that the A's had just come off an injury-plagued season and I was afraid that it would only make it worse. The A's have had quite a few injury-plagued seasons since then, but I don't think the WBC had anything to do with it (although I do think Loaiza wound up injured because of his participation in the first tournament).

I had forgotten that it was even coming back this year until recently when my brother sent me a text message asking if I wanted to go see a game with him at Dodger Stadium. I figured it might be fun to go, but the first WBC would be mostly remembered by me for seeing Matsuzaka the first time and looking for the famed gyroball. Well that and the fact that some dude named Stubby Clapp was going to be playing for Canada. Other than that, I didn't get that much into it. I will get more into it this time if AN's own Brad Ziegler makes the USA squad as Flashfire pointed out in his recent Fanpost. I'm still overly paranoid that Joey Devine or Ziegler makes the squad and blows out an elbow or something throwing harder than they're ready to that early in the spring.

So we're almost into February now and before we know it, we're going to see the players working to get ready for the World Baseball Classic. I understand that it matters so much to some of the other countries involved. I mean, the Dominican Republic, Japan and Puerto Rico? I can imagine that this tournament is a great measuring stick by which they draw national pride from. I just don't feel that way. I came around later in the tournament, but initially I just watched the games hoping that any of our potential players didn't get hurt.

Here is my question for you, AN. Do you care about this tournament? Did the last one sell you on it or do you think it's still just a cheap marketing gimmick by Selig and his cronies? Maybe this is one instance where I'm just a cynical dude and I should pony up for my USA cap.

Poll

Are you going to watch the World Baseball Classic in 2009?

Yes, I love baseball so I'm going to watch regardless.

332 votes

No, it's a gimmick and I want the MLB season to start.

145 votes

Maybe, I haven't thought about it much.

136 votes

613 votes | Poll has closed