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| 2008 Around the Interruption Week 17; Took Charge of Reconstruction | |
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| Topic Started: Sunday Sep 28 2008, 04:01 PM (245 Views) | |
| PSUSyr5 | Sunday Sep 28 2008, 04:01 PM Post #1 |
The Board Idiot
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Several of the world's most debatable sports fans! This week on ATI:
But wait, there's more...but only if you go Around the Interruption! That's right, I've taken over for the week, so let's start off with some introductions. |
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| PSUSyr5 | Sunday Sep 28 2008, 07:58 PM Post #2 |
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The Board Idiot
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Ok then. Kickoff! After 162 games for most teams, the MLB playoff picture is almost set, with one more piece left in the postseason puzzle. On Monday, the Chicago White Sox will play their make up game against the Detroit Tigers. Should they win that one, then the AL Central is tied and the best players from both teams go to the playoffs. Actually, that's not how it works. Provided the White Sox win Monday, a tie breaker game will decide who will advance to the playoffs and face the Tampa Bay Rays in the first round. The other series are all set. The Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, California, USA, are the other one in the AL. In the NL, the Chicago Cubs will take on the LA Dodgers and the Philadelphia Phillies will face the Milwaukee Brewers. So, who will represent the AL Central (note: if the game has ended with a White Sox loss before you see this, don't bother answering)? What would make the better story, the Rays winning the World Series, or the Cubs winning it? Which of the teams that have home field advantage are most in danger of being eliminated? Anything else you want to add? Due Time: 8:00pm ET on Monday, September 29 Next week: WeatherManNX01 returns as host. Look for Week 18 info soon. |
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| Cougar | Sunday Sep 28 2008, 08:47 PM Post #3 |
 
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The Twins will win the AL Central. Detroit isn't going to be that easy of a game for the White Sox. They'll face Freddy Garcia, who is probably somewhat motivated to play against his former team. But if they win that, they'll face the Twins. The Twins are 10-8 against the White Sox. Nick Blackburn would start for the Twins. Blackburn is 2-2 against the White Sox. However, Blackburn's last win was against the White Sox. I believe the White Sox would have to start John Danks. Danks has faced Minnesota 4 times this season. In 19.1 innings he has 17 earned runs. Minnesota is pretty healthy, while this Chicago team doesn't have their team MVP Carlos Quentin. Both teams have a similar record in September. It'll be close but I'm going to go with the Twins if they play in a tiebreaker. The better story: The Cubs. I like the Rays more, but the Cubs haven't won in a century, literally. The Cubs have had letdown after letdown. This year seems to have been their year. I would love to say the Rays but they haven't even been around for as long as the Cubs. The Angels are in the most danger. Granted the 'better' team doesn't always win but the Cubs are better than the Dodgers, Philly is hotter and better than Milwaukee, Tampa is better than the Twins/White Sox. The Angels are facing the defending champs, who are still a great team. The Angels may win but I think that's the one series where no one would be too surprised if the lower seed won. |
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| Buster | Monday Sep 29 2008, 12:13 PM Post #4 |
Water Boy
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The AL Central is going to end up going to the White Sox. The Tigers have absolutely no reason to play this game, so they can just lie down and let the Sox walk over them. The Sox then can play host to the Twinkies, and the Sox will have the advantage in that game - the Twins will be traveling on short notice to Chicago. Plus, the Sox are just that good. If they weren't, they'd be out of contention already. I have to say that the Rays would make the better story. Yes, I know, the Cubs haven't won in 100 years. But it's like the Red Sox - the curse is just something we're used to and live with every day. The Cubbies have also been a good team before. The Rays, on the other hand, have never been in the playoffs. They have never had a winning season. They have always been an afterthought in the league. To win the World Series might finally lend some legitimacy to this team and give it the boost it needs to keep up in the Majors. Zero to hero is always a better story than "so close" year in and year out. Amazingly, I think the Cubs have a chance to be eliminated. The Cubs have been strong, but the Dodgers have the late push and momentum, and we've seen how that carries into the playoffs with teams like the Rockies. The Dodgers certainly aren't bad, and they could certainly push the Cubs to elimination. In addition, the Phillies have been strong late again, but so have the Brewers. These have the potential to be close games against the Brew Crew, and it's a series that you can't ignore. Sabathia could be damaging to the Phils. Also: the Yankees lose! Theeeeeee Yankees lose! For the first time in over a decade, the Yankees have failed to make the postseason. And leave it to Hank to say something stupid about the Dodgers and Joe Torre getting in while the Yankees go home. As for the Mets...well, you have to admit, it takes talent to lose the playoff push on the last day of two straight seasons. Edited by Buster, Monday Sep 29 2008, 12:15 PM.
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| The Dark Knight | Monday Sep 29 2008, 12:53 PM Post #5 |
 
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The AL Central will go to the Twins. Have you seen the White Sox play lately? Not that good. Can they handle the pressure of win or your done? Doubt it, especially when they'd have to deal with that two times just to get in the playoffs. The White Sox are 11-6 against Detroit so far, so they will most likely get by them. The problem is Minnesota, who have beaten the White Sox 10 times, including a sweep this past week. Buster is right, the Rays make the better story. After being bad for so long, they finally have a great team, and what better way to end it than with a World Series title? The Cubs had their chance when they blew it a few years ago against the Marlins. It's now Tampa's turn. Whoever comes out of the AL Central has a great chance to beat the Rays, so Tampa is most in danger of losing the series with home field advantage. It's a new level, one that Tampa Bay hasn't felt before, so can they handle it? I rather doubt it. |
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| Cougar | Monday Sep 29 2008, 02:09 PM Post #6 |
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Tampa has the best home record in the league. New level? Sure. But playoff experience never guarantees you success and in many sports, there have been teams with little playoff experience advance into later stages of the playoffs, some even going to the finals or even winning it all. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=baseball/four/051003 It's a bit old but read it. The 2002 Angels and 2003 Marlins had little playoff experience. Edited by Cougar, Monday Sep 29 2008, 02:10 PM.
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| The Dark Knight | Monday Sep 29 2008, 05:26 PM Post #7 |
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Oh, you want to go by records? Ok then. Boston is 1-8 against the Angels this year. Not quite the biggest of threats. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay is 3-3 against Minnesota, including 2 losses at Tropicana Field. The White Sox are 4-6 against the Rays, winning 3 times at Tampa. So while Tampa may have the league's best home record, against the White Sox and Twins, either of which they'd face in the opening round, they haven't done so well. |
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| PSUSyr5 | Monday Sep 29 2008, 07:15 PM Post #8 |
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The Board Idiot
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Interesting points all around. Scores
But wait! Two of you aren't part of the group, so just like how I docked TDK a point for each topic when he didn't register back in 2006, I'm docking Buster and Cougar a point now.
Buy/Sell This past week was the craziest of the college football season so far. In all, 9 AP teams lost, 6 of which were to unranked teams. It all started when #1 Southern Cal lost to Oregon State on the road. Other notables are #3 Georgia falling at home to #8 Alabama, #4 Florida losing on a missed extra point and a stop on 4th down to Mississippi at home, #9 Wisconsin falling to Michigan after leading 19-0 at the half, #16 Wake Forest losing at home and becoming Navy's first ranked victim in over 20 years, #20 Clemson losing at home to Maryland at home and #23 East Carolina's dream season quickly becoming a nightmare with a loss at home to Houston. #22 Illinois and #24 Texas Christian lost on the road to higher ranked teams. Of course, all these rankings are from last week. Buy or sell Southern Cal's loss to Oregon State as the most surprising of the week. Due Time: 8:00pm ET on Tuesday, September 30 Next week: WeatherManNX01 returns as host. Look for Week 18 info soon. |
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| Cougar | Monday Sep 29 2008, 07:49 PM Post #9 |
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Buy. Anytime the #1 ranked team loses to an unranked team, it's the biggest surprise of the week (unless the #2 loses to a lower division team). USC were big favourites, and Oregon just went in there and pulled off a victory. They didn't crush them, but they didn't have to, it was still an upset. |
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| WeatherManNX01 | Monday Sep 29 2008, 10:06 PM Post #10 |
The Emperor
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Week 18: Topic suggestions, join the group. |
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