Tuesday update: Decker, two new managers, and one prediction
Posted on October 27th, 2009 – 4:01 PMBy Joe Christensen
A few quick notes on World Series eve:
(*) The Twins drafted Gophers WR Eric Decker in the 27th round this year but no longer have his rights. The deadline to sign him was Aug. 17, and Decker had committed to playing football. Now, Decker is out for the season and might need surgery to repair a sprained foot. Though Decker hadn’t planned to play baseball for the Gophers next spring, the Twins or one of the other 29 MLB clubs could still draft him, hoping he reconsiders a baseball career.
(*) The Astros and Indians reportedly both made managerial offers to Manny Acta on Saturday, and he chose the Indians, who offered a third year guaranteed, while the Astros offered two years with an option. This makes it look like the Astros had to settle for Red Sox bench coach Brad Mills. But I think both of these hires are solid.
I first met Acta in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic during the 2004 Caribbean Series. I was covering the Orioles, and they had just signed Miguel Tejada, who was playing for Acta on the Dominican squad along with David Ortiz. It always stuck with me, how much passion Acta, Tejada and Ortiz showed in winning that tournament.
Acta received good reviews during his first year managing the Nationals, in 2007, when they went 73-89. Some questioned Acta’s passion before the Nationals fired him this year, after a 26-61 start, but the team’s talent was so thin, it was a hard situation to assess. I felt he deserved another chance somewhere else.
I don’t know Mills personally, but I’ve heard terrific things from people in the game I really respect. My hunch is both of these managers will help steer their clubs in the right direction.
(*) I don’t remember the last time I got a World Series prediction right, but I am looking forward to this Yankees/Phillies matchup and believe it has promise for a long, captivating series. I’d like the Phillies’ chances more if they were starting LHPs Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels in the first two games at Yankee Stadium. Manager Charlie Manuel’s decision to start Pedro Martinez over Hamels in Game 2 is an easy first guess, but Manuel knows this situation far better than me, and it would be great theater to see Pedro prove him right Thursday (weather permitting).
The Yankees have looked unstoppable this month, but all the numbers change to zero again. This is A-Rod’s first Fall Classic, so no matter what kind of zone he’s been in, he has to prove himself yet again. The bullpen edge seems to favor the Yankees, especially with Mariano. Then again, Brad Lidge said he’s finally feeling healthy again for the Phillies, and that can make all the difference.
Almost all my instincts tell me to pick the Yankees in 5, but I’m taking the Phillies in 6.
22 Responses to "Tuesday update: Decker, two new managers, and one prediction"
Joe, I think Charlie’s decision to start Pedro in Game 2 will backfire, especially if Yankees fans chat, “Who’s your Daddy,” at him again!
I like my prediction of Yanks in 5. Jeter is Jeter, A-Rod is locked in, Teixeira is playing well and Lidge vs Rivera is a no contest.
I think we’ve also seen that the Yankees scouts are pretty good, and they will find ways to pitch to the heart of the Phillies order. If the Yanks lead after six, it’s over because Rivera is in two innings mode now, so New York can ride whoever is more effective between Joba and Hughes.
..between Joba and Hughes in the seventh, that is.
Phils in 7
Umpires in 4.
La Velle,
Mark Teixeira has been great in the field but offensively he is 5-39 so far in the post season. He is hitting .205 with only two extra base hits that is hardly the definition of playing well.
letterman says the yankees are working on a long-term contract for kate hudson.
MLB is happy that Yanks made it, they did their part (pay the umps…). Now they will try their hardest to extend the series 7 games, they don’t care who wins though.
heetcpa says:
October 27th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
“Umpires in 4″
Tremendous line! LOL!
heetcpa,
POD for your 6:46 comment. The umpiring has been awful and I can’t imagine it will get worse but just when you say that - it does.
It should be more competitive than when these two teams faced each other in 1950, but I agree with LaVelle: Yankees in 5. Fox in more money than they deserve.
over/under how many times they show kate hudson?
over/under how many times they refer to jeter as a god?
over/under how many times the umps look like total fools?
over/under how many times the channel needs to be turned before barfing at all the yankee luv?
over/under how many times they show bud sleeping in the front row?
ggg, Whatever the line posts at, I’ll take the over. Good propositions though.
Snow in 6
Heart says Phills in 4.
Head says Yanks in 7.
Frankly, I have no love whatsoever for either team so I don’t care, really. I suppose I’d prefer the Phillies as they’re slightly less despised than the Evil Empire.
My main rooting interest is for the fanbase, long term.
Along those lines, I hope it’s a godawful series that ends in 4-5 games with enough weather delays/cancelations that the TV ratings totally tank and threaten to send FOX in to bankruptcy. Maybe someone would do something about the insane postseason scheduling.
I also hope there are enough umpiring errors to force someone in to instituting a replay review system. Of course, that would only work if the mistakes go against the Yankees and (dare I hope?) maybe even cost them the title. We all know that any mistakes that award the Evil Empire with their rightful WS title will simply be accepted as “part of the game.”
Of course, in order to address those issues, Bud Selig would have to come out of his coma… and I don’t like those chances.
I hope Pedro throws a no hitter and then body slams the Yankees hitting coach. Phillies in 6.
over/under how many times they show kate hudson? - 6 games x 1/inning=54 (not taking into account any extra inning games), maybe 56
over/under how many times they refer to jeter as a god? - 5 Ab’s/game = 10, plus 9 innings/game in the field= 27, depends on the number of games, 6 games = 37×6=222 PLUS the postgames & after it ends, add 12 times per game PLUS if they win add 93 more = 387
over/under how many times the umps look like total fools? - 6 games, twice per game = 12
over/under how many times the channel needs to be turned before barfing at all the yankee luv? - 6 games, 4 hrs per game, 1 near barf per minute = 1,440
over/under how many times they show bud sleeping in the front row? - he’s too ugly, he’ll hurt ratings, I say only 1
DID YOU KNOW…?
You won’t see prime time Big Ten football games after this weekend because the conference required clauses in their network contracts that do not allow their network partners to move start times in to prime time once we hit November. The league feels that colder weather in B10 territory in November adversely effects the quality of its games if they’re pushed in to the evening hours.
Never fear, however, MLB sees no such problem with the quality of its baseball games being played at night in November.
I disagree that the Yankee’s looked unbeatable. The Phillies are a very good baseball team that I just don’t see themselves shooting themselves in the foot like the Twins and Angels did. I thought even against the Twins they looked vulnerable.
Sounds like Joe C loves Acta as much as he loves his “top 5 manager”
Nothing wrong with that, wade. Joe C can love anyone he wants, that is his job. GoJoe!
That’s great info, JC.
