Over/Under
By Mr Opposite
I've been wanting to do this for some time, so I thought I would just do it. I bring to you, YankeesSuck.com's version of Over/Under. For those who never watch Pardon The Interruption (PTI), this is where the game is borrowed from (no doubt it is borrowed from someone else, but this is where I got it from). The Game involves having a number, followed by a statement. The idea is to reply by saying that the answer will be over or under the particular number, followed by a short response why.
So I asked a couple of bloggers on here some questions. For those of you I didn't ask, next time. Seeing this is the first time, I didn't quite think through some of the questions, which resulted in a lot of the same answers, but now I know to accommodate for that the next time I do it. The questions were also asked about 6 or so days ago, so some answers may be a little outdated.
Over/Under: (2) - Number of 20 game winners this season.
Joe Davis - Over - Curt Schilling and Mark Mulder should reach the 20 game mark this season. They both have 17 wins right now. Other potential 20 game winners are Roy Oswalt, Carl Pavano, Johan Santana. I think that Johan Santana will get 20 wins.
Derek Bunker - Under - Curt Schilling is only 3 games away, and with Boston seeing a lot of Tampa, Baltimore, and NY, who they have embarrassed this season, it’s easy to say Schilling will get it. I don’t see Mark Mulder (17) getting three more, as I think (mostly hoping) the A's will decline and the Angels will win the AL West. Carl Pavano might get 20, but let’s be honest. 12-13 with the WS winners last year?
Mr. Opposite - Over - 4 - Schilling, Santana, Oswalt and Pavano. I don’t think Mulder will get their, the bullpen may not hold up, and he hasn’t exactly been pitching all that great. The offence is what is getting him wins. Oswalt has got an easy schedule, so does Pavano.
Over/Under: (100) - Number of game won by the Yankees this season.
Derek Bunker - Over - Although the Yanks play six more with the Sox, their schedule is relatively weak. They should be able to pull off victories over the likes of Baltimore, Tampa Bay, and (dare I say) Toronto. The Twins is their only test outside of Boston.
Mr. Opposite - Under - Their pitching is already (and will continue to be) falling apart on them. I go with 99. They will struggle against Boston and Minnesota.
Over/Under: (15) - Number of teams with a plus .500 average at the end of the season.
Lefty - Over - For this one I’m working backwards. Arizona, Colorado, Milwaukee, Montreal, sorry to say the Mets, Seattle, KC, Toronto, Tampa Bay all have a zero chance of finishing at .500. The Yankees, Red Sox, Minnesota, Oakland, Anaheim, Texas, Atlanta, Florida, St Louis, Cubbies, Houston, Dodgers, Giants, Padres are all virtual certainties. That’s 14. So, unless one of the lesser teams decides to play .700 ball for the rest of the season, it comes down to Philadelphia, Cleveland and Baltimore.
Philly, yes, 15, Cleveland no. Cleveland used up all their runs against the Yankees. The Mazilli factor makes it interesting. Baltimore would need to play .643 ball, 18-10, in their last 28 games to finish at .500. The O’s have been streaky all year. They lost 12 in a row before winning the last 6 even beating the Yankees twice. They play Boston 8 more times this season, and the Yankees 4. I think the “Italian Stallion” will delight in the spoiler roll. He’ll relish the chance to give his buddy, former boss, mentor, and fellow Brooklyn born friend Joe Torre a helping hand in those 8 games against the Red Sox. The O’s finish at .500.
Derek Bunker - Over - 16 - I think every team that is now above 50% will stay above. I also think Cleveland will come back from 4 games back to make it over. The Phillies? With a lot of Montreal and other such teams in their future, their challenges are limited. But I’m probably wrong. Two weeks ago I would have said the Mets were 50%+ material.
Over/Under: (18) - Most games lost by one player.
Lefty - Over — The Royals Darrell May must have inspired this question. I’m rooting for 20, just for oddity.
Mr. Opposite - Over - Darrel May is going to pick up 3 more losses. It is a shame, because he hasn’t pitched as badly as the loss and ERA columns indicate.
Over/Under (230) - Number of time Barry Bonds gets walked.
Fuzz martin - Over - Barry Bonds will have to hire a pinch walker to actually walk the bases for him so that his precious legs do not get tired.
Joe Davis - Over - Simply because San Francisco is facing playoff contending teams, they can't afford Barry beating them with the long ball.
Lefty - Over - 245.
Mr. Opposite - Under - I think he will be wearing out soon. The rest of the team will soon fail around him and when no one is one base, they are going to pitch to him. I say he gets about 228 walks.
Derek Bunker - Over - He is too dominant.
Well, that's it for now. If you think you might want to get involved with this in the future, send me an email at MrOpposite@YankeesSuck.com
