Thoughts on Cliff Lee to Phillies?

[msudawg12]

The fact that they got Lee without giving up Drabek, whom the media has fellated in a Tebowesque manner, is great for the Phillies. I hate it for the Bravos. But, I'm glad to see a former MCC'er with great talent get a chance to get a ring instead of waste his talent at the Jake

 

[Coach34]

...

 

[wbc40]

There is a logjam at the top of the wild card race, it is still very much in the air. The runner-up in the Central in no way has a lock on the wild card berth.

 

[Coach34]

.

 

[patdog]

The NL race is strictly for second place (and wouldn't even be that except you have to have 1 NL team in the World Series). The gap between the AL and NL is ever wider than usual this year.

 

[Coach34]

and I wouldnt count out the Phillies or Dodgers...the Cubs and Tards need to add some more pieces to the puzzle

 

[DawgatAuburn]

Few gave the Dbacks a chance in 01 against the three time defending champion Yankees.
Fewer gave the 03 Marlins a prayer.
The 06 Cardinals (barf) were heavy underdogs against the Tigers.
The Phillies last year were even money against the Rays, who had the second best record in baseball in the hardest division.

The AL seems to always have home field (THANKS BUD) but the NL has fared pretty well in the WS since </a><a title="the Last Nioht of the Yankee Dynasty." href="http://">the Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty.

 

[patdog]

The overall record in inter-league play for the NL is abysmal though:

<span class="mw-headline">Wins by league</span> <table class="wikitable" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"> <tbody> <tr> <th>Year</th> <th>Best Record</th> <th>American League</th> <th>National League</th> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFCCCC"> <td>1997</td> <td>National</td> <td>97</td> <td>117</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#D0E7FF"> <td>1998</td> <td>American</td> <td>114</td> <td>110</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFCCCC"> <td>1999</td> <td>National</td> <td>116</td> <td>135</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#D0E7FF"> <td>2000</td> <td>American</td> <td>136</td> <td>115</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#D0E7FF"> <td>2001</td> <td>American</td> <td>132</td> <td>120</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFCCCC"> <td>2002</td> <td>National</td> <td>123</td> <td>129</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFCCCC"> <td>2003</td> <td>National</td> <td>115</td> <td>137</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#D0E7FF"> <td>2004</td> <td>American</td> <td>126</td> <td>125</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#D0E7FF"> <td>2005</td> <td>American</td> <td>136</td> <td>116</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#D0E7FF"> <td>2006</td> <td>American</td> <td>154</td> <td>98</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#D0E7FF"> <td>2007</td> <td>American</td> <td>137</td> <td>115</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#D0E7FF"> <td>2008</td> <td>American</td> <td>149</td> <td>103</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#D0E7FF"> <td>2009</td> <td>American</td> <td>137</td> <td>114</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Overall</td> <td>American</td> <td>1,673</td> <td>1,534</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

That's 546-713 (.443) against the AL in the past 5 years.

 

[DawgatAuburn]

The WS in theory matches the best of each league. At worst it is one of the four or five best from each league. The AL may have more top to bottom depth, hence the advantage in IL play, but if the best team in the NL is better than the best team in the AL, then that's who should win the WS. I don't buy that they don't "deserve" it, especially in a best of seven, not the unfair best of three series they play in Louisiana high school baseball. You are implying that the best NL teams might not even make the playoffs if they were to change leagues. That too is something I don't agree with.

 

[Todd4State]

that Halladay won't be traded. The only way I could see that happening is if the Yankees, Red Sox come up with something.

I think the Phillies have to be happy that they kept Drabek and Happ and still got a quality pitcher.

 

[Coach34]

"not the unfair best of three series they play in Louisiana high school baseball"

Louisiana HS baseball does the March Madness playoffs. One and done Tourney for the title. If it was best of 3, I would have won at least 1 title.

 

[patdog]

The 3 NL division leaders are 6-12, 6-8 and 9-9 against the AL this season.