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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2014 17:00:31 GMT -5
An otherwise boring Greece-Costa Rica game has suddenly picked up...with a 90th minute goal from Greece who was once again on the brink of a defeat. Extra time begins shortly...
And what a game of yellow cards! Some idiot on the bench got one and he's not even on the field. So did the Costa Rican goalie. I should have wagered on cards as I couldn't pick a clear winner for this game...
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Post by Hoosier X on Jun 29, 2014 17:58:20 GMT -5
Costa Rica wins on penalty kicks, will face the Netherlands in quarterfinals.
!Porra, Costa Rica!
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Post by Prince Hal on Jun 30, 2014 7:36:13 GMT -5
I think Lester did indeed outduel Tanaka, who threw a gem himself. Had Stephen Drew not misplayed a ball that led to a Yankee run that scored on a fielder's choice, the Yankees don't score at all. Lester overcame early control problems, and dropped in as many nasty pitches as Tanaka. Granted, neither lineup was even close to a Jaywalkers' Row, but both pitchers pitched very nicely indeed, each evading a few perilous moments. He foolishly threw a fastball to Napoli that he was trying to sneak over the outside corner. Napoli was looking for it (Tanaka had been doing that all night to him) and and he smacked it. From the look on Tanaka's face as he watched the line drive shoot into the right field seats that are seemingly about twenty feet further back than they are in Williamsburg, PA, he never expected Napoli to do more than wave at the pitch. Very foolish to give Napoli anything remotely close to the plate, as he was followed inexplicably in the lineup by the aforementioned Drew, whose batting average is plunging to the level of a high fever. I forgot it was on tv and had the ESPN gamecast on my computer when I got home from work, and only caught the bottom of the ninth on tv, so I was going by the analysts going on and on about Tanaka's p[itch selection when McCann came up in the ninth to gauge what happened in the Nap at bat. Prince Hal-what do you make of the Mookie Betts call up and Rubby demotion? Personally I think it's too soon for Betts-he tore up the lower levels and had a hot streak at Pawtucket, but I like to see how a guy deals with both success and failure at the AAA level before getting to the show, to make sure they can handle adversity and not lose confidence. JBJ is having a hard time right now as is Xander, but both seem to be able to deal with that and still contribute in other ways, but not sure Betts is experienced enough at the outfield position to contribute if he struggles at the plate yet. I don't like the Rubby decision, but I get keeping Peavy. At worst, you want to give him a shot to turn things around so he has trade value at the deadline, and taking him out of the rotation would remove that opportunity. I'd have found a way to keep De La Rosa in the mix somehow though. Maybe even altering the rotation so Clay gets extra rest between starts to keep wear and tear down. But I don't get to see the team up close or get the local media perspective, just good ole Gordon Edes and his Eeyor like gaze on ESPN Boston. -M Sorry, didn't see this till just now, m. On Peavy, I think the current wisdom's that they almost had him traded last week, but it didn't pan out, and that they need him to toss a decent start to see if there's any further interest in him (probably in the NL). If they'd disabled him w/ some fake injury, whatever value he has would have been further reduced. Rubby will be back, but he had options, and if they are going to bid Peavy farewell, he has to be allowed to show what he can still do. I'm of two minds re Betts. Though everyone, both in the Red Sox and around the league, thinks Betts is the goods, we've heard that before (Kevin Morton, Craig Hansen, Frankie Rodriguez, et al). However, no one they can acquire via trade to give the team a jolt, and some options, can do any better than what this kid's been doing at Portland and Pawtucket. It's a moribund offense, despite last night's result, and anything they can do to get it going is worth a shot. The risk is long-term damage to Betts's psyche, I suppose, but that's the risk a struggling team takes that a contending one wouldn't. Sox are now only 6 games out of first. Any kind of a run here (and they're home for quite a while till the All-Star break), and they could be back in it in what has become a mediocre division. M, be sure you're linking to Boston.com to read Chad Finn's column for a hometown view of things: he writes well, gives opinions, and is a nice mix of Bill James-style interpretation and old-school baseball stuff. The Globe sports section has taken a real step downward for all the obvious reasons (so sad given how epic it was in its heyday), but Finn is always refreshing. www.boston.com/sports/touching_all_the_bases/ |
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Post by DubipR on Jun 30, 2014 7:47:18 GMT -5
Take that San Francisco Giants! My boys in blue, the Dodgers, come back from 9 1/2 back to tie up the NL West. Kershaw pitched beautifully yesterday, striking out 13 and moving his ERA to 2.08  (Edited by shaxper for language) |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2014 20:28:09 GMT -5
Sox offense was supposed to be back on track after last night against the Yankees-7 innings in the books against that Ace of Aces Jake Arietta of the Cubs and the Sox have managed 1 walk and no hits.
And Peavy looked better but still managed to give up a 2 run homer to the "light-hitting" Cubbies that were supposed to be the tonic he needed to get his first win since April....NOT.
-M
EDIT: And Stephen Drew of all people breaks up the no no bid in the bottom of the 8th with a 2 out single....
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Post by DubipR on Jul 1, 2014 7:59:11 GMT -5
Dodgers almost had another no-hitter last night. Dan Haren, combined with Brian Wilson and Kenley Jansen for one hit. And have taken over first place in the NL West Division.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2014 8:31:54 GMT -5
I came thisclose to dropping Haren, who'd been scuffling his last few starts, from my fantasy roster Sunday now that Gerrit Cole's back from the DL. Glad I didn't, obviously. And with Yunel Escobar having the consideration to go on the DL, I've been able to activate Cole anyway.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2014 18:39:08 GMT -5
Sorry USA  |
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Jul 1, 2014 18:48:41 GMT -5
For some weird reason,I couldn't care.Bring on the polo ponies
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ironchimp
Full Member
Simian Overlord
Posts: 456 
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Post by ironchimp on Jul 1, 2014 18:56:54 GMT -5
you missed a good game. usa fought very hard
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2014 19:06:02 GMT -5
you missed a good game. usa fought very hard Yes. I'm amazed at the amount of nil-nil scores after the regulatory 90 minutes play. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2014 19:13:48 GMT -5
Tough loss, but the last 30 minutes was some of the best soccer I've ever seen. And Howard with a record 16 saves in this game, just wow.
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ironchimp
Full Member
Simian Overlord
Posts: 456
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Post by ironchimp on Jul 1, 2014 19:23:08 GMT -5
another 5mins and USA would have had them - Belgium's centre midfield could barely walk while some of USA's players still had some running in them. Real man's performance against a team that would cost over $500million to buy.
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ironchimp
Full Member
Simian Overlord
Posts: 456
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Post by ironchimp on Jul 1, 2014 19:34:42 GMT -5
you missed a good game. usa fought very hard Yes. I'm amazed at the amount of nil-nil scores after the regulatory 90 minutes play. Costa Rica v Greece extra time was brutal - with costa rica playing an hour with ten men - never seen players so tired in my life. |
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Post by Action Ace on Jul 1, 2014 19:53:35 GMT -5
Dodgers almost had another no-hitter last night. Dan Haren, combined with Brian Wilson and Kenley Jansen for one hit. And have taken over first place in the NL West Division. The Padres were another one hit wonder team yesterday, but they won. The team batted a live ball era record worst .171 for June, so they have to win that way. |
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