RBI Tournament 2002 Preview

[Gantry]

The high scoring affairs are what make straight pitch so fun.  No matter what the score is, you can always come back...

[Gwynn3k]

geez pines, that game must have taken 30 minutes to play...  were you guys playing death?  

i think straight pitch hinders one's ability to reach their full potential...  having a slug fest like that once in a while isnt  a bad thing either.  i just couldnt handle it all the time... it would be like watching the american league.

[GDavis]

Whoever gets to use detriot is gonna win the tourney.  They're unstoppable, unless you're also using the all star teams too.

[GPines]

No Joe not a death match, it was a Monday afternoon matinee game.

Detroit can be beaten in straight pitch, keep in mind that using a lefty pitcher against them and throwing on the outside corner to the lefties will keep you in the game.

[Gantry]

With the tourney, Detroit has the highest advantage against anyone.  Some notes:

1)  Our games are round-robins with each one being a two-game series.  Each player gets choice in one game, so everyone gets their fair shot.  In the best-of-three finals, the top record get choice in games 1&3, so they earned the advantage there.  A home field Detroit, if you will...

2)  Finding a lefty starter on a team with power is a tough task.  Cali & San Fran don't have a lefty pitcher.  Boston has Hurst, but he blows - you're better off with Clemens.  The other teams don't have the offense to compete with Detroit.

3)  Detroit can put up a very good anti-lefty lineup.  You go AT, Gibby, Evans, Nokes, Madlock, Lemon, Lou and Brookens.  If you are feeling saucy, go Heath for Lou/Nokes. Either way, you have 4 good righties and two lefties (Gibson & Evans) who are still going to crush with a lefty starter.  Not only that but this lineup still leaves you with Sheridan & Bergman on the bench for post-lefty pitcher subs...

It's appears to be a good strategy to use a lefty against Det, but their strong bench gives them the ability to adapt to a gimmick starter.  I prefer going toe-to-toe with Cali...

[GPines]

Pretty solid statement Gantry, Detroit still can get it done no matter what you do to them. They are my favorite for that reason, they are good.

[Gwynn3k]

i would give viola a try cause he is a tiger tamer.  the twins are good as long as laudner and kirby show up.  they dont have the power but they are grinders.

[Gantry]

I had a month-long streak where I was Minnesota, and it didn't work out too well.  They do have some pop, but they are too inconsistent.  Hrbek & Bush are total studs, as is Bruno.  After that, I couldn't consistent production.  Laundromat was very hit-or-miss....

They also have the curse of the six spot, just like San Fran.  Gagne blows, but Smalley ain't much better...

[Gwynn3k]

i would agree... they are the ultimate enigma...  they did carry me to the tengen title with an impressive performance.

when it comes to straight pitch... i would imagine their lack of power is more glaring than it would be if curves were permitted.

[Dill]

I use to think that Gagne was hit or miss, but he has been a rather complete player for me.  I hate kirby Puckett.

[GDavis]

Smart way to do the tourney, i take back my earlier comment.

[Gwynn3k]

i think that come tourney time, you have to throw all the exhibition records out the window... its like spring training... you arent showing your best stuff while working on fundamentals for the show.

[Lips]

I just want to make one comment about the "Detroit Mystique".  Two years ago, it was Mark and I in the finals.  We were really the only two players to use Detroit at the time as Gantry was 100% Cali and Pots was 100% Boston.  Mark and I made the finals, with me having first choice of team.  Naturally, I picked Detroit and Mark's second team was Cali.  What basically happened was Detroit lost all three games in the finals.  Game 1 & 3 with me and Game 2 with Mark (Cali won both games for Mark, as Boston won for me).  Anything can happen come tourney time...  Even the bats of Detroit flame out once in awhile.  You just never know...  We're less than 23 hours away from the tourney and I'm stoked.

[Gwynn3k]

looks like playing straight pitch neutralizes the big cats...  too bad curve style doesnt have the same effect.

[Gwynn3k]

congrats to potsie on your big win...  gantry must be bitter to have the rug ripped out from under him.  i bet they were already popping the champagne in the club house.

[GPines]

Congrats to Potsie on the victory, sounds like it was a fun day all around.