It's Opening Day!!! For some reason we already had Opening Night last night, but since it saw the Redbirds defeat the Fighting Fahdiz's, I suppose I'm okay with it.
Predictions?
This season will just not be the same without Seedy :(
Yep. I'm convinced his pessimism helped keep your O's afloat last year.
I am cautiously optimistic about the Tribe. I love all of the resignings they've made the past two offseasons. I love the culture that Tito has helped nurture. I love their rotation. I love their young core players. I love just about everything to do with the team. Perhaps it is time for the drought to end... :ph34r:
Quote from: derspiess on April 06, 2015, 10:16:21 AM
It's Opening Day!!! For some reason we already had Opening Night last night, but since it saw the Redbirds defeat the Fighting Fahdiz's, I suppose I'm okay with it.
Predictions?
Reds suck
The over under on the braves wins this year are lower 70s, tied for 4th worst in baseball. We suck again. :(
The Orioles won. Not that anybody here cares anymore. *sniff*
Wait where did Seedy go?
Oh and the Rangers first loss doesn't start until 9 tonight. Right in the middle of Wisky-Duke. <_<
E: Yovani Gallardo pitching.
Quote from: Benedict Arnold on April 06, 2015, 06:21:18 PM
I am cautiously optimistic about the Tribe. I love all of the resignings they've made the past two offseasons. I love the culture that Tito has helped nurture. I love their rotation. I love their young core players. I love just about everything to do with the team. Perhaps it is time for the drought to end... :ph34r:
I hate to break the news to you, but I held on to Cory Kluber in my fantasy keeper league. :(
Quote from: alfred russel on April 06, 2015, 07:33:55 PM
The over under on the braves wins this year are lower 70s, tied for 4th worst in baseball. We suck again. :(
There is a pretty strong argument for going completely into the toilet, rather than hovering just below mediocrity. The fans and season ticket holders likely aren't interested in that but with a smart management group (no idea if this still describes the Braves) it is the right way to go. You didn't mention it, but the Kimbral trade was the right move. They were already paying him too much, a great closer won't help a terrible team much, and closers are too volatile to count on him still being relevant once the Braves themselves become so.
Quote from: sbr on April 06, 2015, 08:51:14 PM
Quote from: Benedict Arnold on April 06, 2015, 06:21:18 PM
I am cautiously optimistic about the Tribe. I love all of the resignings they've made the past two offseasons. I love the culture that Tito has helped nurture. I love their rotation. I love their young core players. I love just about everything to do with the team. Perhaps it is time for the drought to end... :ph34r:
I hate to break the news to you, but I held on to Cory Kluber in my fantasy keeper league. :(
Oh noes. Jinxed? Dammit! Not the Klubot! :cry: Gotta love that deal he signed the other day. Tito and the front office are building something special. Too bad after tonight they'll have to settle for going 161-1.
Quote from: sbr on April 06, 2015, 08:56:18 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on April 06, 2015, 07:33:55 PM
The over under on the braves wins this year are lower 70s, tied for 4th worst in baseball. We suck again. :(
There is a pretty strong argument for going completely into the toilet, rather than hovering just below mediocrity. The fans and season ticket holders likely aren't interested in that but with a smart management group (no idea if this still describes the Braves) it is the right way to go. You didn't mention it, but the Kimbral trade was the right move. They were already paying him too much, a great closer won't help a terrible team much, and closers are too volatile to count on him still being relevant once the Braves themselves become so.
In basketball, where top draft picks can be so lucrative, I agree completely. To a lesser extent in football (draft picks still matter a lot, and any loss of revenue from turned off fans won't hurt too badly with socialized tv revenue).
I think baseball is different though. Picking a few spots up in the draft isn't that important. The sport is wildly unpredictable. Last year the Royals were supposed to be mediocre to above average, and ended up in the World Series. If you suck and attendance plummets, that is going to really screw your future revenue streams which are needed to get better players. For a team like the Braves, which isn't particularly well off financially, I think the right move is to aim to field teams that on paper win ~85 games. Sometimes you will fall short of that, while hitting it won't excite too many people, but sometimes you will exceed expectations.
The Kimbrel trade made sense, but it sucks for management to be throwing in the towel this early. I'd rather have on the field confirmation that the team sucks before a move like this, but in this case it is probably for the best. What is really amazing is how the Braves made the playoffs 2 years ago and before a late season tailspin were poised to do so last year, despite missing horrendously on some major high profile signings.
Royals win 10-1 on opening day. It's tough while the Jets are still in the playoff hunt, but I'm definitely going to try and pay more attention to the Royals during this season. :cool:
Reds have lost like 5 of their last 6, including a 3-game sweep by the Cardinals :menace: It's kind of shitty for me, because it's a lot more fun when the Reds are doing well. People get way too high on the Reds when they're doing well and way too depressed when they're in a slump.
Either way, I still get lots of nice comments about my Cardinals hat when I wear it while I'm out running errands & whatnot.
Cards are looking decent, but we have been spoiled recently April doesn't mean much to me, we need to be around in October.
In a stunning development the Mariners are not as good as advertised, but at least they are bad in a different way this year. They, and specifically Nelson Cruz, are raking but all of a sudden they can't get anyone out. Hopefully the bats continue to hit and the arms come back to where they have been the last couple of years. If that happens they should be able to be interesting into September.
Quote from: sbr on April 20, 2015, 07:54:42 PM
Cards are looking decent, but we have been spoiled recently April doesn't mean much to me, we need to be around in October.
I see your point, plus as healthy as they are now you know there will be a key injury or two later on.
But I'll enjoy what we have now-- pitching is very solid and you couldn't ask for more timely hitting. I'd like to see Wacha continue to develop into an ace, Lance Lynn continue to win, and the bats continue to give consistent performance throughout the lineup. This Carlos Martinez kid almost looks too good to be true, but Cards have a kick-ass farm system and keep drafting well so maybe he's not a fluke.
Thought this was fairly impressive. Might have helped the Reds snap their losing streak.
http://cleveland.cbslocal.com/2015/04/21/reds-manager-drops-f-word-77-times-during-rant-with-reporters/
And Wainwright tore his Achilles tendon. That's pretty shitty. :(
Quote from: sbr on April 27, 2015, 07:11:50 PM
And Wainwright tore his Achilles tendon. That's pretty shitty. :(
Man, derspiess really jinxed his team with post #16 in this thread, didn't he?
Kirk Gibson has Parkinsons. :(
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/kirk-gibson-diagnosed-with-parkinson-s-disease-170427094.html
Man oh man - Royals are at the top of the AL.
I was sure 2014 was a crazy fluke... :unsure:
Now if their pitchers could just stop throwing at other players....
Braves blow an 8 run lead. Against the Nationals. With Dan Uggla (who blew for the Braves the past couple years) hitting a 3 run 9th inning homer for the Nats to give them the lead.
Cardinals' middle reliever Mitch Harris got his first MLB win last night. He's a 29-year old rookie and former Navy Lieutenant. Cardinals are rolling, off to their best start since 1899 when they were the Perfectos. Of course, anytime I post anything positive about them, they lose. You're welcome, fahdiz.
Quote from: alfred russel on April 28, 2015, 11:16:11 PM
Braves blow an 8 run lead. Against the Nationals. With Dan Uggla (who blew for the Braves the past couple years) hitting a 3 run 9th inning homer for the Nats to give them the lead.
That's what I call winning uggla
So I've been mulling over the Franchise Four for the Cardinals and some other teams.
For the Cards I voted for Musial & Gibson (both no-brainers) and then figured I had to vote for Hornsby due to his lifetime BA. Agonized over my last choice. My heart was with Ozzie but I couldn't leave Pujols out with the numbers he put up. After I put my vote in I checked the all-time WAR for Cards players. The top 4 are Musial, Hornsby, Gibby & Pujols, with Ozzie ranked fifth.
For the Reds I voted Rose, Larkin, Frank Robinson, and Bench. Checked the WAR and bam, nailed it again.
Gonna try to get through every team and see how close I get.
Pepper Martin, Whitey Kurowski, Bob Forsch, and Ray Lankford
For the Reds:
Ernie Lombardi, Ted Kluszewski, Dave Concepcion, Mario Soto
Quote from: derspiess on May 06, 2015, 04:47:51 PM
So I've been mulling over the Franchise Four for the Cardinals and some other teams.
For the Cards I voted for Musial & Gibson (both no-brainers) and then figured I had to vote for Hornsby due to his lifetime BA. Agonized over my last choice. My heart was with Ozzie but I couldn't leave Pujols out with the numbers he put up. After I put my vote in I checked the all-time WAR for Cards players. The top 4 are Musial, Hornsby, Gibby & Pujols, with Ozzie ranked fifth.
For the Reds I voted Rose, Larkin, Frank Robinson, and Bench. Checked the WAR and bam, nailed it again.
Gonna try to get through every team and see how close I get.
Hornsby played too long ago to be real. I would put Ozzie in for him.
Quote from: sbr on May 06, 2015, 05:53:06 PM
Quote from: derspiess on May 06, 2015, 04:47:51 PM
So I've been mulling over the Franchise Four for the Cardinals and some other teams.
For the Cards I voted for Musial & Gibson (both no-brainers) and then figured I had to vote for Hornsby due to his lifetime BA. Agonized over my last choice. My heart was with Ozzie but I couldn't leave Pujols out with the numbers he put up. After I put my vote in I checked the all-time WAR for Cards players. The top 4 are Musial, Hornsby, Gibby & Pujols, with Ozzie ranked fifth.
For the Reds I voted Rose, Larkin, Frank Robinson, and Bench. Checked the WAR and bam, nailed it again.
Gonna try to get through every team and see how close I get.
Hornsby played too long ago to be real. I would put Ozzie in for him.
That's not the problem I have with Hornsby. My problem with him is that he wasn't a very good second baseman. He was a heck of a hitter, but he should have been shifted to a less demanding defensive position. Plus, he was a grade-A ass.
Still, he was such a great hitter that I'm not sure I'd put Ozzie ahead of him.
Quote from: dps on May 06, 2015, 06:28:59 PM
Quote from: sbr on May 06, 2015, 05:53:06 PM
Quote from: derspiess on May 06, 2015, 04:47:51 PM
So I've been mulling over the Franchise Four for the Cardinals and some other teams.
For the Cards I voted for Musial & Gibson (both no-brainers) and then figured I had to vote for Hornsby due to his lifetime BA. Agonized over my last choice. My heart was with Ozzie but I couldn't leave Pujols out with the numbers he put up. After I put my vote in I checked the all-time WAR for Cards players. The top 4 are Musial, Hornsby, Gibby & Pujols, with Ozzie ranked fifth.
For the Reds I voted Rose, Larkin, Frank Robinson, and Bench. Checked the WAR and bam, nailed it again.
Gonna try to get through every team and see how close I get.
Hornsby played too long ago to be real. I would put Ozzie in for him.
That's not the problem I have with Hornsby. My problem with him is that he wasn't a very good second baseman. He was a heck of a hitter, but he should have been shifted to a less demanding defensive position. Plus, he was a grade-A ass.
Still, he was such a great hitter that I'm not sure I'd put Ozzie ahead of him.
I never saw him play so I can't comment on his defense. or how much of an ass he might have been.
And what position is less demanding than second base?
Mathewson, Mays, Bonds, Posey
Quote from: sbr on May 06, 2015, 08:08:41 PM
And what position is less demanding than second base?
Right and first.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on May 06, 2015, 05:21:10 PM
Pepper Martin, Whitey Kurowski, Bob Forsch, and Ray Lankford
:lol: I loved Lank back in the day.
Quote from: sbr on May 06, 2015, 05:53:06 PM
Hornsby played too long ago to be real. I would put Ozzie in for him.
His lifetime BA is just too great to keep him off, and bonus points for that .424 year. And in *no way* am I biased because I used to tear up Micro League using his 1924 year stats on the NL Greatest team.
Quote from: katmai on May 06, 2015, 08:14:42 PM
Mathewson, Mays, Bonds, Posey
Mays, Mathewson, McCovey, Ott.
The choices for the expansion teams are a joke. Yankees is a tough one, though. I went with Ruth, Gehrig, Mantle & Jeter.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on May 06, 2015, 02:09:10 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on April 28, 2015, 11:16:11 PM
Braves blow an 8 run lead. Against the Nationals. With Dan Uggla (who blew for the Braves the past couple years) hitting a 3 run 9th inning homer for the Nats to give them the lead.
That's what I call winning uggla
Move aside "2 girls 1 cup". Something even more horrible has been posted on the internet.
Quote from: derspiess on May 06, 2015, 09:43:12 PM
Quote from: katmai on May 06, 2015, 08:14:42 PM
Mathewson, Mays, Bonds, Posey
Mays, Mathewson, McCovey, Ott.
There's gotta be half a dozen other guys in Giants history who'd rank ahead of McCovey. Don't get me wrong, McCovey was great, but the Giants have had a lot of great players. I'd go with your other 3 and either Roger Connor or Juan Marichal. Have to think on that one a bit.
Quote from: derspiess on May 06, 2015, 10:03:16 PM
The choices for the expansion teams are a joke. Yankees is a tough one, though. I went with Ruth, Gehrig, Mantle & Jeter.
Jeter over DiMaggio? LOLZ?
The only modern player who I would consider is Rivera.
This changes depending if you count the St. Louis Browns as Orioles.
If you do then Sisler, Brooks Robinson, Palmer, and Ripken. If you don't plug in Murray for Sisler.
I went to the Website and they have no Browns....so I guess I vote Murray, Ripken, Brooks Robinson, and Palmer. I really really want to vote for Frank because he is one of my personal favs but he only played for Baltimore for a short time.
I noticed Frank is also listed for the Reds. Maybe I should have voted for him so he could be the MVP in both leagues again :P
If you vote Nats you are actually voting for the greatest Expos. Also I don't think Frank Howard ever played for the Rangers, only for the Second Senators. Warren Spahn never pitched an inning in Atlanta. Seems kind of arbitrary what they do for the teams that moved.
I am kind of a Negro League buff so I voted for Gibson, Paige, Buck Leonard, and Oscar Charleston.
There is also a weird category for old guys who played for teams that no longer exist. Went with Keeler, Sisler, Grover Cleveland Alexander 'Slayer of the Yankees', and Cap 'I am a fucking racist even by the standards of my time' Anson. Seriously fuck Cap Anson...damn great ballplayer though.
Huh. Why was Alexander here and not with the Cubs, Phillies, or Cardinals? I don't get this category at all.
Baltimore hmm tough one - too many good 70s/80s choices but slim pickins after.
How bout
Boog Powell, Ken Singleton, Mike Flanagan, Brady Anderson
Quote from: derspiess on May 06, 2015, 10:03:16 PM
Yankees is a tough one, though.
Lefty Gomez, King Kong Keller, Gil McDougald, Ron Guidry.
Crap, no room for Bernie. Yankees are tough.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on May 07, 2015, 09:52:19 AM
Baltimore hmm tough one - too many good 70s/80s choices but slim pickins after.
How bout
Boog Powell, Ken Singleton, Mike Flanagan, Brady Anderson
Brady?? Dude had like 2 good years.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on May 07, 2015, 09:52:19 AM
Boog Powell, Ken Singleton, Mike Flanagan, Brady Anderson
:lol:
Yi: Minsky is joking.
:face:
I'm serious just using different criteria. ;)
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on May 07, 2015, 10:03:41 AM
I'm serious just using different criteria. ;)
The criteria of best supporting cast members?
Quote from: Valmy on May 07, 2015, 10:04:49 AM
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on May 07, 2015, 10:03:41 AM
I'm serious just using different criteria. ;)
The criteria of best supporting cast members?
That are indelibly associated with that team, and the zeitgeist of the team in the era they played.
Oh and no Hall of Famers. Yeah Gomez and Lombardi are in but they are old school Veterans committee selections so doesn't count for this purpose.
Quote from: Valmy on May 07, 2015, 08:52:44 AM
I am kind of a Negro League buff so I voted for Gibson, Paige, Buck Leonard, and Oscar Charleston.
There is also a weird category for old guys who played for teams that no longer exist. Went with Keeler, Sisler, Grover Cleveland Alexander 'Slayer of the Yankees', and Cap 'I am a fucking racist even by the standards of my time' Anson. Seriously fuck Cap Anson...damn great ballplayer though.
Huh. Why was Alexander here and not with the Cubs, Phillies, or Cardinals? I don't get this category at all.
For Negro League players I voted Judy Johnson, Satchel Paige, Cool Papa Bell, and Oscar Charleston. But I'm a little biased because I got to meet three of those guys as a kid. I had a little bit of a hard time understanding Cool Papa Bell :Embarrass:
It was a fun exercise going through every team. Some were just a joke. Other more established teams had a surprising dearth of top choices, like the Cubs. I ended up picking 2 guys from the 80s.
Then with the Yankees, Reds, Cardinals, and a few other teams it's an embarrassment of riches.
I was thinking about the Cubs and drew a blank after Ernie Banks. Who did you come up with?
Cubs - if I were doing it "real"
Banks, Santo, Sandberg, Stan Hack
Doing it my way:
Charlie Root, Phil Caravetta, Rick Reuschel, Mark Grace
Quote from: Admiral Yi on May 07, 2015, 04:27:19 PM
I was thinking about the Cubs and drew a blank after Ernie Banks. Who did you come up with?
Sandberg, Ferguson Jenkins, and Cap Anson (no idea why he's in that other category and not here). Actually, I was kind of miffed that you can only vote for one write-in candidate per team, or I'd have gone with Frank Chance instead of Jenkins.
New book about Ty Cobb says all the stuff about him being a monster was fabricated.
QuoteFrank Chance
Yeah it was kind of weird there were no players from the Cubs glory days, such as they were.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on May 08, 2015, 07:17:16 AM
New book about Ty Cobb says all the stuff about him being a monster was fabricated.
I had heard something to that effect before. It wouldn't surprise me if some of that was fabricated.
Quote from: derspiess on May 08, 2015, 08:33:14 AM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on May 08, 2015, 07:17:16 AM
New book about Ty Cobb says all the stuff about him being a monster was fabricated.
I had heard something to that effect before. It wouldn't surprise me if some of that was fabricated.
Once you get a reputation like that, and you are somebody like Cobb, the legend only grows.
But he was a racist super competitive jerk. The discussion typically revolves around how that made him unusual among ball players at the time. Even he himself admitted he had been a little too hostile as a player in his old age.
Based on the interview with the author on NPR, it seems the racist thing was either fabricated or greatly exaggerated as well.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on May 08, 2015, 08:36:33 AM
Based on the interview with the author on NPR, it seems the racist thing was either fabricated or greatly exaggerated as well.
Fabricated? No. Exaggerated? Yes.
Cobb once stole second, third, and home on three consecutive pitches.
Yi is this the book you were talking about? Listening to the NPR interview right now.
https://onpoint.wbur.org/2015/05/07/ty-cobb-detroit-tigers-new-biography
Must be. It was On Point.
He was a yokel from the deep South from the turn-of-the-century so of course he was racist. I do recall the story that in the 50s, Cobb said the only player he respected was Willie Mays; he also went on the record favoring integration at that time.
The dude talking about the book in the link above said that Cobb's family had been abolitionists and Ty's dad had supposedly broken up a lynch mob.
Quote from: derspiess on May 08, 2015, 12:27:14 PM
The dude talking about the book in the link above said that Cobb's family had been abolitionists and Ty's dad had supposedly broken up a lynch mob.
The question was the extent his racism was remarkable in any way.
I do want to point out that Cobb had a tough relationship with his family so those factors may not be proof of anything.
I'd like to read this new book to see what evidence the author has to support his picture of Cobb's personality. But at this point I think we can safely throw out anything Al Stump wrote that isn't backed up by solid evidence.
I am going to have to come to the terms with the fact the Os may just not be very good this year. They lack the big bats without much improvement to the pitching.
So an 0-5 pitcher with an ERA above 5.00 is going to do pretty shitty against the team with the best current record in baseball, right? No. Kluber for the Indians pitched a no-hitter through 6 2/3 innings and only allowed one hit after that. Oh, and he got 18 strikeouts.
Cardinals really need to win this afternoon. The Indians are the one AL team the Cardinals have not yet won a series against.
Quote from: derspiess on May 14, 2015, 11:17:30 AM
So an 0-5 pitcher with an ERA above 5.00 is going to do pretty shitty against the team with the best current record in baseball, right?
You didn't really think the 0-5 start reflected his true ability? Even before that game he still had a 4-1 k/BB ratio.
0-5 can mean a lot of things but 5.0 usually means something real.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on May 14, 2015, 11:26:26 AM
Quote from: derspiess on May 14, 2015, 11:17:30 AM
So an 0-5 pitcher with an ERA above 5.00 is going to do pretty shitty against the team with the best current record in baseball, right?
You didn't really think the 0-5 start reflected his true ability? Even before that game he still had a 4-1 k/BB ratio.
Nah, I just threw that in there. I don't put much stock in pitchers' W-L since they only control about half the equation. He did have an ERA above 5.00, though.
It would have been a very interesting game had Lance Lynn not allowed those two runs in the bottom of the first. After that, it was like neither team wanted to score.
Quote from: derspiess on May 14, 2015, 11:35:10 AM
He did have an ERA above 5.00, though.
Not anymore. :D
Seriously, where one game can swing your ERA by almost a full run, it shows the sample size is too small to draw conclusions from, especially where there is an established track record.
one could argue that last year was the outlier for kluber. Especially since I kept him in my keeper league this year. :(
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on May 14, 2015, 11:43:32 AM
Quote from: derspiess on May 14, 2015, 11:35:10 AM
He did have an ERA above 5.00, though.
Not anymore. :D
Seriously, where one game can swing your ERA by almost a full run, it shows the sample size is too small to draw conclusions from, especially where there is an established track record.
What remains is that he had a shitty start to his season only to pitch possibly the best game of his career against one of the best hitting teams so far this year. DON'T DENY ME MY IRONY
The Klubot actually pitched really well during his first three outings, he just got no run support. The ensuing games before yesterday were ugly though. Losing Yan Gomes behind the plate has definitely hurt the entire pitching staff. The Indians are a dumpster fire right now though. It's not pretty. Thankfully it is still early.
I should have gone up for a couple of those games. Turned out to be a slow week at work.
Kluber continues to be en fuego-- 29 strikeouts in 2 games. ERA is now a very respectable 3.79 :D
So on a whim a picked up a pack of baseball cards at Target-- in that pack were separate cards of Kluber and Kershaw.
Quote from: derspiess on May 19, 2015, 08:38:58 AM
Kluber continues to be en fuego-- 29 strikeouts in 2 games. ERA is now a very respectable 3.79 :D
Now the ERA is down to 3.52. He also racked up 50 k's in 4 games, a feat only accomplished by Bob Feller in Tribe history previously. In the words of Keanu's John Wick, "People keep asking if I'm back. Yeah, I'm thinking I'm back." :)
You all forget I see Sabathia pitch every 5. So I know what it looks like when a guy who pitched for Cleveland loses his stuff. Kluber's not that guy.
Cardinals team ERA is down to 2.64. I suppose I can accept that.
Matt Holliday's on-base streak ended at 45 games, which was punctuated by him being thrown out of the game arguing a strike.
Gallo had a pretty good MLB debut.
Cleveland's Brandon Moss hit his 100th homer. Into his team's bullpen. They wrote this ransom note:
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CGjA8nWUgAEmaPd.jpg)
:lol: I figured Rzepczynski was a weirdo.
Quote from: derspiess on June 03, 2015, 11:58:26 AM
:lol: I figured Rzepczynski was a weirdo.
According to Wiki his nickname is "Scrabble." :lol:
Quote from: Syt on June 03, 2015, 12:04:27 PM
Quote from: derspiess on June 03, 2015, 11:58:26 AM
:lol: I figured Rzepczynski was a weirdo.
According to Wiki his nickname is "Scrabble." :lol:
:lol:
Quote from: Syt on June 03, 2015, 12:04:27 PM
Quote from: derspiess on June 03, 2015, 11:58:26 AM
:lol: I figured Rzepczynski was a weirdo.
According to Wiki his nickname is "Scrabble." :lol:
Yep! Best nickname on the team. Chicken is Cody Allen. The rest are pretty easy to decipher.
Woman sustained life threatening injuries when hit in the face with a broken bat at Fenway park on Saturday. :(
They say you could hear her screams over the radio. Thankfully, she is now in serious, but stable condition.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on June 08, 2015, 02:22:50 AM
Woman sustained life threatening injuries when hit in the face with a broken bat at Fenway park on Saturday. :(
They say you could hear her screams over the radio. Thankfully, she is now in serious, but stable condition.
They're probably going to need to extend the net-- there's a lot of that happening these days. As much as I'd like to catch a game-used bat, that's a lot of risk.
Well, it seems Apple will pitch n to help Brandon Moss get his home run ball back. :rolleyes:
Quote from: Syt on June 08, 2015, 03:39:34 PM
Well, it seems Apple will pitch n to help Brandon Moss get his home run ball back. :rolleyes:
Least they can do for the huge free product placement from the tribe pen.
I hope they give Rzepczynski the lube, though. :P
Yeah, because we definitely need to give pampered professional athletes even more free stuff :rolleyes:
I guess the lube can come from Tim Cook's personal stash :ph34r:
Btw, Kershaw's pitching Saturday night was absolutely insane. Not sure the last time I saw that much movement on a curve, pitch after pitch. Cardinals were lucky to get that one hit off him.
:huh:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2015/06/16/st-louis-cardinals-hack-houston-astros-fbi-investigation-jeff-luhnow/28811187/
QuoteST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Cardinals confirmed Tuesday that they are under federal investigation to determine if members of their front office hacked into the Houston Astros' internal database.
"The St. Louis Cardinals are aware of the investigation into the security breach of the Houston Astros' database," the team said in a statement. "The team has fully cooperated with the investigation and will continue to do so. Given that this is an ongoing federal investigation, it is not appropriate for us to comment further."
The FBI and the Justice Department uncovered evidence that front-office officials for the Cardinals hacked into the internal networks of the Astros to potentially steal information, as first reported by the New York Times.
Pretty troubling. Hopefully it was just one or two lower level employees that did it. It's not like it was some sophisticated hack. Apparently Lunhow re-used the same password(s) at Houston that he used in St. Louis.
Quote from: Syt on June 08, 2015, 03:39:34 PM
Well, it seems Apple will pitch n to help Brandon Moss get his home run ball back. :rolleyes:
They didn't give him the lube. Bastards. The starters are holding Lindor's first hit ball for a Samsung ransom. And Scrabble's lube. Hahahaha :lol: http://www.foxsports.com/buzzer/story/cleveland-indians-ransom-francisco-lindor-first-hit-samsung-061515
Quote from: derspiess on June 16, 2015, 04:09:47 PM
Pretty troubling. Hopefully it was just one or two lower level employees that did it. It's not like it was some sophisticated hack. Apparently Lunhow re-used the same password(s) at Houston that he used in St. Louis.
Yeah, this is bad news. The club needs to cut out anyone involved, and quick.
Why the Astros?
Quote from: Syt on June 17, 2015, 05:19:51 AM
Why the Astros?
I think Spicey's post answers that one.
I can't find a GIF to embed but this is great. :lol:
https://pbs.twimg.com/tweet_video/CIi2nCiUYAAocDq.mp4
Just voted 100 times for Carlos Martinez while waiting for some report jobs to run. Also voted for Moustakas in accordance with the Cards-Royals #VoteMO thing.
So with certain Twitter hashtags being counted as votes, Twitter got fun for me today (possibly for the first time ever). Whenever one of my local friends tweeted a vote for Cueto, I responded to them with a vote for Martinez. Retweeted every #VoteTsunami tweet I could find, on top of that.
Also I talked to Bob Uecker's grandson at lunch. Things are getting pretty turned up today for All Star Weekend/Week/Whatever.
It seems that the Blue Jays are playing the Royals this afternoon. Sounds like BB will have a rare opportunity to watch his favorite team in action.
Just can't make this up. During the All Star parade, Don Mattingly threw me a set of fuzzy dice with the Cardinals logo on them. I was going to stay for the whole parade, but once I saw all the Cardinals players I decided it was too damned hot outside.
Yesterday I was at the Mike & Mike show they did at the Christian Moerlein Lager House and got to meet Golic. Then my brother, son, nephew and I went to the Fan Fest. Spent almost half our time waiting in line, but we saw and got autographs from Rollie Fingers & Gaylord Perry plus a couple old Negro League players. Kids got autographs from some team mascots (didn't even know that was a thing) and some other freebies. Plus I got to leer over the Commissioner's shoulder on TV.
In other racism news, ESPN fired Colin Cowherd after a remark about Dominican players:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2530784-colin-cowherd-espn-part-ways-after-comments-on-dominican-mlb-players?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=programming-national
QuoteCowherd came under fire Thursday when discussing the complexity of the game of baseball.
"Like I've never bought into that, 'Baseball's just too complex,'" Cowherd said, according to the New York Times' Richard Sandomir. "Really? A third of the sport is from the Dominican Republic."
Everyone knows the dumb ones are Puerto Ricans.
Cowherd was already on his way out, this coming Friday was to be his last day, so he just got let go a week earlier.
The 'interesting' questions are whether Fox will still pick him up as was the rumor and what ESPN might have done if he wasn't already mostly out the door.
Never could much stand Cowherd anyway, personally. The guy basically has two modes: Captain Obvious and Dead Wrong.
I really liked him when he was here doing local radio; he was good, very funny. I didn't get to listen to him much once he went to ESPN because of his time slot, but the few times I did hear him didn't do much to make me want to find a way to listen anymore. I can't put my finger on exactly what changed, but he seemed much more arrogant and mean-spirited than I remember him being when I listened regularly.
Apparently he continued to get huge ratings, so he was doing something right.
One helluva lucky catch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDQpRdEUVvQ
:lol:
Cueto to the Royals. Beeb should be happy.
Beeb is already into his Jets preseason giddiness or that aberration known as CFL.
Quote from: dps on July 26, 2015, 12:14:39 AM
Never could much stand Cowherd anyway, personally. The guy basically has two modes: Captain Obvious and Dead Wrong.
Yeah, guy was a dipshit.
The European B-Championships are held in Vienna this week:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.baseballem2015.at%2Ffileadmin%2Fredaktion%2F_processed_%2Fcsm_spielplan_2015-03-01-wheader_fe8edab720.png&hash=c87620f8fb1b22c69ad8408df14f1c1c02ec99da)
Who is the favorite?
Fuck if I know. Not Austria. :lol:
It's funny how last year I was checking the wild card race like crazy.
But this year I'm checking the division standings like crazy. :cool:
Quote from: Barrister on July 27, 2015, 09:48:20 AM
It's funny how last year I was checking the wild card race like crazy.
But this year I'm checking the division standings like crazy. :cool:
They're chugging. In the AL it's the Royals, Angels, Astros, and I guess the Yankees for now. Don't see any other teams showing much of a spark.
The O's have a small spark :(
The Tigers have to have a run in them if Miggy comes back soon and they don't sell off all of their starting pitching.
Quote from: Syt on July 25, 2015, 03:02:30 AM
In other racism news, ESPN fired Colin Cowherd after a remark about Dominican players:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2530784-colin-cowherd-espn-part-ways-after-comments-on-dominican-mlb-players?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=programming-national
QuoteCowherd came under fire Thursday when discussing the complexity of the game of baseball.
"Like I've never bought into that, 'Baseball's just too complex,'" Cowherd said, according to the New York Times' Richard Sandomir. "Really? A third of the sport is from the Dominican Republic."
Cowherd is a blowhard, but it isn't necessarily racist to say/imply that people from third world countries with crappy education systems are disproportionately stupid.
The article made little sense to me until, buried right near the end...
QuoteCowherd was already set to leave ESPN when his contract expired next Friday, per Sports Business Journal's John Ourand, but Thursday's comments accelerated his departure timetable.
What a brave stand for ESPN to take - firing a host who had already quit. :lol:
Quote from: alfred russel on July 27, 2015, 11:45:33 AM
Cowherd is a blowhard, but it isn't necessarily racist to say/imply that people from third world countries with crappy education systems are disproportionately stupid.
The younger talent from D.R. ought to at least have their brains finely tuned for baseball by now. I believe most of these guys are the product of all the baseball academies set up in the country a few years ago, where they eat, sleep & breathe baseball (and hopefully learn English along the way).
Pedro was one of the most baseball smart players I ever saw.
Of course on the flip side is Manny.
Maybe the lesson is that categorizing by race is really really really dumb?
It would be. But he did not mention a race, but a nationality. I presume it was a joke that he was not actually categorizing people by nationality.
It appears that the Tribe has gone full on 2011 Red Sox under Tito this year without having had the benefit of winning two World Series first. <_<
Quote from: Syt on July 27, 2015, 09:06:16 AM
The European B-Championships are held in Vienna this week:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.baseballem2015.at%2Ffileadmin%2Fredaktion%2F_processed_%2Fcsm_spielplan_2015-03-01-wheader_fe8edab720.png&hash=c87620f8fb1b22c69ad8408df14f1c1c02ec99da)
Who is WeiBrussland?
Well that was a hell of a home run by the Cards. Is Speiss at that game?
Quote from: Admiral Yi on July 27, 2015, 08:22:36 PM
Quote from: Syt on July 27, 2015, 09:06:16 AM
The European B-Championships are held in Vienna this week:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.baseballem2015.at%2Ffileadmin%2Fredaktion%2F_processed_%2Fcsm_spielplan_2015-03-01-wheader_fe8edab720.png&hash=c87620f8fb1b22c69ad8408df14f1c1c02ec99da)
Who is WeiBrussland?
Belarus, I'd think.
I'm probably running out of things that "I'd never thought I'd see the day"...
but I never thought I'd see the day when the Royals make a big splash by adding talent at the trade deadline. It appears to be World Series or Bust at Kaufman Stadium.
I like it. I like they aren't just resting on their once in 30 years WS appearance. :cool:
Quote from: Razgovory on July 27, 2015, 08:42:58 PM
Well that was a hell of a home run by the Cards. Is Speiss at that game?
Wish I had been. Tommy has decided Kolten Wong is his favorite player and he was obviously pretty happy to see him hit a game-winning grand slam.
Cards will be here in Cincy next week. We're going to a couple of the games.
Ha. Just saw the Rangers - Yankees score from last night: :lol:
The Orioles are now basking in above .500 glory. Somewhere Seedy is predicting doom and cursing management's penny pinching.
Thank God they got rid of Nelson Cruz. All those long home runs and line drives just make the games drag on longer.
Blue Jays coming on strong!
Yup...we may not get a Stanley Cup parade down yonge street anytime soon...but looks like another world series drunken revelry is in the works.... I was there in 93...think I'm too old this time...will leave it to you young 'uns
You won't be the only oldie there. Enjoy the revelry.
Quote from: Josephus on August 14, 2015, 03:27:07 PM
Yup...we may not get a Stanley Cup parade down yonge street anytime soon...but looks like another world series drunken revelry is in the works.... I was there in 93...think I'm too old this time...will leave it to you young 'uns
There's no chance the Jays can defeat the mighty Kansas City Royals in order to make it to the world series. :menace:
Quote from: Barrister on August 14, 2015, 03:42:06 PM
Quote from: Josephus on August 14, 2015, 03:27:07 PM
Yup...we may not get a Stanley Cup parade down yonge street anytime soon...but looks like another world series drunken revelry is in the works.... I was there in 93...think I'm too old this time...will leave it to you young 'uns
There's no chance the Jays can defeat the mighty Kansas City Royals in order to make it to the world series. :menace:
There's no stoppin' them :punk:
Lol derspicy, how about these AL hosers?
Mad Bum!
Quote from: katmai on August 14, 2015, 04:49:03 PM
Lol derspicy, how about these AL hosers?
Yep. I just wish the damned Pirates and Cubs would stop winning so much. Cardinals are 34 games over .500 and still have the Pirates breathing down their neck. Though :nelson: at the Cubs for having such a good record and only being in third place in the NL Central.
How many games are the Cubs back of the Pirates right now, and how many games left to play?
2.5 games back
Pirates have 37 left, Cubs have 38.
EDIT: They play each other 6 times the rest of the season.
Thanks bro.
de nada
The Tribe are still (theoretically) in contention! :) I'm wondering if we'll have a 30th Anniversary Cards v. Royals World Series.
I think the Yi-ster jinxed the Cubs (or added to the existing jinx). They are now 4 games behind the Pirates and, might I mention, 8.5 behind the Cardinals.
Hopefully the Flubs have cooled off and I won't be bombarded with as many ESPN articles about them for a while.
Since Yi was bitching about baseball talk anyplace else...
Your Kansas City Royals have clinched the AL Central pennant tonight. :cool:
Too bad they will lose to the Cards, it's their turn to win again :ultra:
The Rangers fixed....whatever it was that was wrong....and really turned things around in the last half/end of the season. They're 3.5 up on Houston (currently leading in the 6th inning 6-2 in game one of the last three game series with them) and 5 on the Angels, with the last series of the regular season being four games vs. LA. There are three games against Detroit in-between.
Quote from: derspiess on August 28, 2015, 07:39:02 AM
I think the Yi-ster jinxed the Cubs (or added to the existing jinx). They are now 4 games behind the Pirates and, might I mention, 8.5 behind the Cardinals.
They are still in third place, but have still clinched a playoff berth. :hmm: Too many wild cards these days.
Actually as much as I like to bust on the Cubs it's a shame that they will have to play in the one-game Wild Card playoff round, given how well they've played. Hell, if the Cardinals don't take care of business against the Pirates these next few days they may be in the same boat. You theoretically could have a 100-game winner have to settle for a Wild Card spot.
Quote from: derspiess on September 27, 2015, 08:11:44 PM
You theoretically could have a 100-game winner have to settle for a Wild Card spot.
Cubs could still end up with the 3rd best record in baseball and still be 3rd in their own division.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on September 25, 2015, 10:07:47 PM
The Rangers fixed....whatever it was that was wrong....and really turned things around in the last half/end of the season. They're 3.5 up on Houston (currently leading in the 6th inning 6-2 in game one of the last three game series with them) and 5 on the Angels, with the last series of the regular season being four games vs. LA. There are three games against Detroit in-between.
Tainted. They're 1-3 since this post.
Hey the Rangers did it. They beat LA in the last game of the season to clinch the division and toss the Angels out of the playoffs. :)
So derspicey won't let me forget the 1985 World Series, but few people remember the 1985 ALCS, where the Blue Jays were up 3-1 against the Royals, before the Royals stormed back to win it all.
I wonder if we're heading for a rematch... :shifty:
Of course what'll be even more amusing is if the Yankees win the wild card game to face the Royals in 7. My old man... he was a sportswriter when I was growing up. And being a sportswriter in the Canadian prairies meant a covering a whole lot of CFL and hockey. So he's always been somewhat detached from those sports. But what he has always been is a life-long Yankees fan.
Now throughout my entire life the Royals and the Yankees have never had any kind of meaningful rivalry (gimme a break, I may have been alive in the late 70s but I was a toddler and didn't follow baseball), so this could be interesting...
Blowing the ALCS used to be a Blue Jays tradition.
Quote from: sbr on May 14, 2015, 11:47:17 AM
one could argue that last year was the outlier for kluber. Especially since I kept him in my keeper league this year. :(
Looking at 2 pitchers end of years stats
Pitcher 1: 222 IP, 189H, 22HR, 45BB, 245K
Pitcher 2: 218 IP, 181H, 21HR, 39BB, 234K
Pitcher 2 is a bit stronger but it's pretty close on those numbers.
Pitcher 1 is Kluber. W/L 9-16
Pitcher 2 is Madison Bumgarner. W/L 18-9
Kluber's raw outcome numbers aren't far off Keuchel either..
Quote from: Valmy on October 04, 2015, 09:56:34 PM
Blowing the ALCS used to be a Blue Jays Royals tradition.
Unlike BB I still have conscious memory of the late 70s.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on October 05, 2015, 04:48:52 PM
Quote from: sbr on May 14, 2015, 11:47:17 AM
one could argue that last year was the outlier for kluber. Especially since I kept him in my keeper league this year. :(
Looking at 2 pitchers end of years stats
Pitcher 1: 222 IP, 189H, 22HR, 45BB, 245K
Pitcher 2: 218 IP, 181H, 21HR, 39BB, 234K
Pitcher 2 is a bit stronger but it's pretty close on those numbers.
Pitcher 1 is Kluber. W/L 9-16
Pitcher 2 is Madison Bumgarner. W/L 18-9
Kluber's raw outcome numbers aren't far off Keuchel either..
Hmm. Kluber and Bumgarner are a lot closer than I would have guessed. I guess most of the difference in the W-L record is their teams, though the Giants weren't all that much better than the Indians this year. Indians run support must have been very uneven this year.
OTOH, there's no doubt that Kluber was better in 2014 than he was this year. Just using the same stats you posted above:
2014: 235.3 IP, 207H, 14HR, 51BB, 269K
2015: 222 IP, 189H, 22HR, 45BB, 245K
The difference in hits, walks, and, to a lesser extent, strikeouts is basically just due to the difference in innings pitched, but the rate of home runs hit against him nearly doubled. Still, while he was better in 2014 than in 2015, he wasn't
that much better. Certainly nothing there to explain dropping from 18-9 to 9-16. I'd say the 18-9 record in 2014 represents how well he pitched fairly accurately. For his W-L record to do the same in 2015 it would have to be something like 15-10 or so.
I feel like those numbers aren't giving us the whole story without the ERA. It's possible that one pitcher is doing much better with runners in scoring position.
CC Sabathia checks into rehab and will miss the playoffs. Granted, he hasn't been playing well, but still...Interesting that rehab couldn't wait a month.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on October 05, 2015, 04:48:52 PM
Quote from: sbr on May 14, 2015, 11:47:17 AM
one could argue that last year was the outlier for kluber. Especially since I kept him in my keeper league this year. :(
Looking at 2 pitchers end of years stats
Pitcher 1: 222 IP, 189H, 22HR, 45BB, 245K
Pitcher 2: 218 IP, 181H, 21HR, 39BB, 234K
Pitcher 2 is a bit stronger but it's pretty close on those numbers.
Pitcher 1 is Kluber. W/L 9-16
Pitcher 2 is Madison Bumgarner. W/L 18-9
Kluber's raw outcome numbers aren't far off Keuchel either..
Yep, goes to show what a garbage number Wins for a pitcher is.
I couldn't find anywhere that had a Top XX list of Quality Starts but I looked up these 8 guys:
Keuchel 27
Kershaw 24
Felix 22
Bumgarner 22
Greinke 21
Kluber 19
Arrieta 18
Price 17
fwiw
Too bad... I was pulling for a Yankees - Royals ALDS, just for sheer revenge factor (and did I mention my dad is a huge Yankees fan)...
Quote from: dps on October 05, 2015, 05:58:10 PM
OTOH, there's no doubt that Kluber was better in 2014 than he was this year.
No doubt. But still very good.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on October 05, 2015, 06:23:15 PM
I feel like those numbers aren't giving us the whole story without the ERA. It's possible that one pitcher is doing much better with runners in scoring position.
Kluber 2014: 2.44
Kluber 2015: 3.49
Bumgarner 2015: 2.93
Keep in mind that in the DH league, 3.49 is actually pretty good.
He had a huge split in RISP vs. bases empty.
With RISP his OPB/Slug against was .350/.444. as opposed to .248/.333 with bases empty.
BUT . . . big component of that was BABIP (batting average on balls in play): .337 RISP vs. .271 empty.
So question is whether he developed some character flaw that led to some huge loss of command with RISP or whether there is some bad "hit luck" at work.
Isn't that normal? When runners are on base, fielders have to cover bases and holes open up in the infield.
Quote from: Valmy on October 07, 2015, 12:16:43 PM
Isn't that normal? When runners are on base, fielders have to cover bases and holes open up in the infield.
Not to that degree.
Major league wide, the split .294/.298, only 4 points
The biggest splits were for runner on first alone (runner is usually held opening up the hole) and runner on third (probably because flies that score the runner aren't treated as outs).
Cubs win! Cubs win!
Only good team in NL is now out.
So I have quite the dilemma tomorrow.
Do I watch the Royals v Astros in the ALDS Game 1?
Or do I watch Jets v Bruins, Game 1 of the regular season?
I'm pretty sure I go with the Royals, but it's not without some regrets...
Use your back button and watch both.
Quote from: Barrister on October 07, 2015, 10:43:09 PM
So I have quite the dilemma tomorrow.
Do I watch the Royals v Astros in the ALDS Game 1?
Or do I watch Jets v Bruins, Game 1 of the regular season?
I'm pretty sure I go with the Royals, but it's not without some regrets...
Unless your team is raising a championship banner or receiving rings playoffs >>>>>>>> opening game.
No matter the sport, Toronto is Toronto
Pedro Martinez' English has really, really improved.
You know I freely admit that pro sports is completely unimportant in the great scheme of things. It's really bread-and-circuses kind of stuff.
But tonight, when both the Royals, and the Jets, win their games, I can't help but have a smile on my face. :)
I deny the legitimacy of the proceedings. Yankees lost to a National League team; shouldn't affect their progress in the AL playoffs.
Crazy 2nd inning Cards/Cubs.
Cubs run back to back safety squeeze plays. Next at bat is an infield RBI hit. Next at bat is a HR. Cubs up 5-1.
Cubs pitcher is hitting 8th. Anyone understand the reasoning on this?
Quote from: Admiral Yi on October 10, 2015, 05:27:06 PM
Cubs pitcher is hitting 8th. Anyone understand the reasoning on this?
Maybe their catcher really sucks.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on October 10, 2015, 05:27:06 PM
Crazy 2nd inning Cards/Cubs.
Cubs run back to back safety squeeze plays. Next at bat is an infield RBI hit. Next at bat is a HR. Cubs up 5-1.
Cubs pitcher is hitting 8th. Anyone understand the reasoning on this?
Idea is that best hitters should be grouped together. Usually best hitters are 1-5, therefore putting pitcher right in front of them is suboptimal. Moving up the pitcher one slot doesn't hugely increase number of pitcher ABs especially since manager has flexibility to pinch hit. It's discussed in "The Book" (Tango/Lichtman), which I guarantee Theo Epstein has read.
The Pirates tried that for a season or two under John Russell. Didn't help them much.
Quote from: Syt on October 12, 2015, 09:20:01 AM
The Pirates tried that for a season or two under John Russell. Didn't help them much.
The difference on a per game basis is 0.012 runs per game, or 2 runs over a 162 games season.
Cards did it some under LaRussa; not sure it they still do it any with Matheny.
Something funny is happening on the way to the Astros' ALCS appearance. This is getting interesting.
Beeb! :cry:
Here we go 6-4. Bases still loaded with nobody out.
Tied up and moussaka on the dish.
Baclava on the sideboard.
Now for some Chinese (Gordon).
Bases loaded again. One out and still tied. Can the fighting BBs live to fight another day?
And the Royals take the lead. Hitting behind the runner like a pro.
Can the stros turn back the might that is Alcides Escobar?
Wow. Have to support the Royals from here on after that.
Quote from: alfred russel on October 12, 2015, 04:37:21 PM
Wow. Have to support the Royals from here on after that.
I couldn't spend all day on a holiday glued to the tv, but I had the game on and kept checking the score. Awesome. :cool: :cool:
Here's hoping for the Jays to win so I can troll everyone in Canada by repping the Royals. I want to slam people for being fair-weather Blue Jays fans, but, well... :blush:
:bleeding:
Man oh man - how can you not cheer for these Royals. :cool:
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on October 12, 2015, 05:23:39 PM
:bleeding:
That hour that started when the Astros 8th inning began was an ugly one for Baseball fans all over Texas.
For one the Governor tweeted this after the 7th inning.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CRJILTZUEAATgTo.jpg:large)
I am just imagining what would happen to the governor of Illinois if he cursed the Cubs like that.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.tapatalk-cdn.com%2F15%2F10%2F11%2F226dc83a1afb2ca022ba96bca74e0f78.jpg&hash=c873c771aa6cb7ee7ec36032104e41f77d5bfd61)
Americans are not only ignorant of foreign countries and cultures but also our own geography :P
Cubs win series! Cubs win series!
Sucks for St Louis. The Cubs were dangerous as hell.
Astros are in the AL now? :unsure:
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on October 13, 2015, 10:38:28 PM
Astros are in the AL now? :unsure:
Moved in 2013 after they were sold in order to even out the leagues at 15 teams a piece.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on October 13, 2015, 10:38:28 PM
Astros are in the AL now? :unsure:
Should have moved the damn Brewers back. Nobody wanted this.
Quote from: Valmy on October 13, 2015, 10:49:19 PM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on October 13, 2015, 10:38:28 PM
Astros are in the AL now? :unsure:
Should have moved the damn Brewers back. Nobody wanted this.
It is more geographically convenient and puts both Texas teams in the same division.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on October 13, 2015, 10:57:38 PM
It is more geographically convenient and puts both Texas teams in the same division.
That means no potential for all-Texas WS.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on October 13, 2015, 10:57:38 PM
It is more geographically convenient and puts both Texas teams in the same division.
It shits all over fifty years of baseball history. Why not move the Cubs or the Mets or the Dodgers then? They are even closer to an AL team.
The strongest argument for putting the Stros back in the AL is their history of outlandish uniforms.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on October 13, 2015, 11:07:08 PM
The strongest argument for putting the Stros back in the AL is their history of outlandish uniforms.
Having been watching this ALDS closely I kind of miss their multi-coloured outlandish uniforms...
that ump could use a little technology assist to call the strike zone properly.
Quote from: Valmy on October 13, 2015, 11:05:20 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on October 13, 2015, 10:57:38 PM
It is more geographically convenient and puts both Texas teams in the same division.
It shits all over fifty years of baseball history. Why not move the Cubs or the Mets or the Dodgers then? They are even closer to an AL team.
Because they were not an NL central team that could fit geographically into the AL west? Not complicated.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on October 14, 2015, 04:29:12 PM
Because they were not an NL central team that could fit geographically into the AL west? Not complicated.
They should have left the leagues unbalanced and not gone to every day interleague play.
I prefer balanced leagues but surely there was a better candidate than the Astros.
I didn't have a dog in the Toronto/Texas fight but the behavior of the Toronto fans compels me to root for the Rangers.
Rangers would fit better in the National than the Astros.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on October 14, 2015, 05:47:20 PM
I prefer balanced leagues but surely there was a better candidate than the Astros.
I didn't have a dog in the Toronto/Texas fight but the behavior of the Toronto fans compels me to root for the Rangers.
Rangers would fit better in the National than the Astros.
There were 16 teams in the national league and 14 in the american. There were 6 teams in the NL Central and 4 in the AL West. The natural thing was to move a team from the NL Central. The obvious team was the Brewers with their history, but the Seligs used to own the Brewers. Obviously wouldn't move the Cubs, Cards, Pirates, or Reds. So that left the Astros.
WELP
I think I heard the announcers say first time in playoffs 3 errors in one inning.
Quote from: Valmy on October 13, 2015, 10:15:01 AM
That hour that started when the Astros 8th inning began was an ugly one for Baseball fans all over Texas.
For one the Governor tweeted this after the 7th inning.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CRJILTZUEAATgTo.jpg:large)
I am just imagining what would happen to the governor of Illinois if he cursed the Cubs like that.
Oops.
Congrats Beeb. :)
Quote from: jimmy olsen on October 14, 2015, 04:29:12 PM
Quote from: Valmy on October 13, 2015, 11:05:20 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on October 13, 2015, 10:57:38 PM
It is more geographically convenient and puts both Texas teams in the same division.
It shits all over fifty years of baseball history. Why not move the Cubs or the Mets or the Dodgers then? They are even closer to an AL team.
Because they were not an NL central team that could fit geographically into the AL west? Not complicated.
The Gulf of Mexico is on the West Coast now? Interesting geography.
This was done so Selig could keep his club in the NL. Everything had to be sacrificed so this bizarre objective could be achieved.
If the Dodgers win there are no good teams left.
Might as well nuke the playoffs from orbit.
Quote from: Valmy on October 14, 2015, 10:37:11 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on October 14, 2015, 04:29:12 PM
Quote from: Valmy on October 13, 2015, 11:05:20 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on October 13, 2015, 10:57:38 PM
It is more geographically convenient and puts both Texas teams in the same division.
It shits all over fifty years of baseball history. Why not move the Cubs or the Mets or the Dodgers then? They are even closer to an AL team.
Because they were not an NL central team that could fit geographically into the AL west? Not complicated.
The Gulf of Mexico is on the West Coast now?
C'mon Valmy, we already know he sucks at spelling, can you be surprised geography isn't his strong suit either?
And of course both Texas teams choke horribly. The Rangers at least went quietly :lol:
Quote from: Valmy on October 14, 2015, 10:37:11 PM
The Gulf of Mexico is on the West Coast now? Interesting geography.
Tim has been spending too much time staring at alt-plate tectonic maps. He probably has thought through the implications of the different pangea breakup scenarios on MLB divisions.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on October 14, 2015, 05:47:20 PM
I didn't have a dog in the Toronto/Texas fight but the behavior of the Toronto fans compels me to root for the Rangers.
Dallas fans: 'So...Toronto is like Philadelphia but with the metric system?'
Ouch Toronto. Ouch.
Quote from: Valmy on October 14, 2015, 10:37:11 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on October 14, 2015, 04:29:12 PM
Quote from: Valmy on October 13, 2015, 11:05:20 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on October 13, 2015, 10:57:38 PM
It is more geographically convenient and puts both Texas teams in the same division.
It shits all over fifty years of baseball history. Why not move the Cubs or the Mets or the Dodgers then? They are even closer to an AL team.
Because they were not an NL central team that could fit geographically into the AL west? Not complicated.
The Gulf of Mexico is on the West Coast now? Interesting geography.
This was done so Selig could keep his club in the NL. Everything had to be sacrificed so this bizarre objective could be achieved.
Texas has traditionally been considered out west.
Quote from: katmai on October 14, 2015, 10:38:25 PM
Quote from: Valmy on October 14, 2015, 10:37:11 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on October 14, 2015, 04:29:12 PM
Quote from: Valmy on October 13, 2015, 11:05:20 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on October 13, 2015, 10:57:38 PM
It is more geographically convenient and puts both Texas teams in the same division.
It shits all over fifty years of baseball history. Why not move the Cubs or the Mets or the Dodgers then? They are even closer to an AL team.
Because they were not an NL central team that could fit geographically into the AL west? Not complicated.
The Gulf of Mexico is on the West Coast now?
C'mon Valmy, we already know he sucks at spelling, can you be surprised geography isn't his strong suit either?
Certified to teach Geography in the great state of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations.
Thanks again for demonstrating the downfall of America.
Rhode Island isn't that great. It's not really an island and it doesn't even have that big statue like the Greek one did.
Man oh man - Royals vs Blue Jays. It's like 1985 all over again. :cool:
Quote from: Barrister on October 14, 2015, 11:04:36 PM
It's like 1985 all over again. :cool:
1908. Facial hair is even back in style.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on October 14, 2015, 10:48:37 PM
Texas has traditionally been considered out west.
Pittsburgh was out west too at one point. Lets put them in the west division and have Tim explain to them why they have to spend a gazillion hours on flights to the west coast each year.
It is easy to make fun of Tim, but he really seems ready to lead conference football realignment. Notre Dame and Louisville for the Atlantic Coast Conference and Utah and Colorado for the Pacific 12?
Quote from: alfred russel on October 14, 2015, 11:13:24 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on October 14, 2015, 10:48:37 PM
Texas has traditionally been considered out west.
Pittsburgh was out west too at one point. Lets put them in the west division and have Tim explain to them why they have to spend a gazillion hours on flights to the west coast each year.
It is easy to make fun of Tim, but he really seems ready to lead conference football realignment. Notre Dame and Louisville for the Atlantic Coast Conference and Utah and Colorado for the Pacific 12?
The Texas Rangers were already in the AL West.
Adding Milwaukee would have added a lot more miles to the odometer than adding Houston would if that's what you're worried about.
An amusing little baseball tale:
I was comming home from work through the underground towards the subway. It was just after rush hour, so there were only a few people in the corridors ... when I heard ahead of me what sounded like a feral roar of rage. Wondering what the hell was happening, I looked up to see, at the end of the corrodor, a crowd - that was about half cops - yelling, screaming, and waving fists in the air. Riot? Murder? No - they were watching the baseball game on the big-screen TV right by King Station.
Apparently, the umpire had made a call the crowd disagreed with, that allowed the other team to score, and they were furious about it. On the screen, you could see angry fans throwing stuff onto the field.
I wondered why there were so many cops just standing around watching the game on TV, but then realized - King Station is really close to Rogers Field, where the game they were watching was being played at this very moment. The cops were there, presumably, to control the crowds when they left the stadium. Though these particular cops looked just as riled up as everyone else - if there was a fan riot, it looked to me like they would join in. :lol:
Anyway, I decided to stay for a couple of minutes, and ended up watching the rest of that inning - it surely was an odd one. After that call that angered the crowd, Texas could do nothing right. Their players kept dropping the ball, and finally our team scored a bunch of runs off of a massive hit.
There were still a couple of innings to go, but I realized it would be really dumb to hang about until the game was over - then thousands of fans would descend on the station. Also, it looked like our team had a big lead, and I was hungry. So I went home.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on October 15, 2015, 12:44:49 AM
The Texas Rangers were already in the AL West.
Adding Milwaukee would have added a lot more miles to the odometer than adding Houston would if that's what you're worried about.
Put the Brewers in AL Central, move the Royals to the West.
Quote from: Malthus on October 15, 2015, 08:00:27 AM
An amusing little baseball tale:
I was comming home from work through the underground towards the subway. It was just after rush hour, so there were only a few people in the corridors ... when I heard ahead of me what sounded like a feral roar of rage. Wondering what the hell was happening, I looked up to see, at the end of the corrodor, a crowd - that was about half cops - yelling, screaming, and waving fists in the air. Riot? Murder? No - they were watching the baseball game on the big-screen TV right by King Station.
Apparently, the umpire had made a call the crowd disagreed with, that allowed the other team to score, and they were furious about it. On the screen, you could see angry fans throwing stuff onto the field.
I wondered why there were so many cops just standing around watching the game on TV, but then realized - King Station is really close to Rogers Field, where the game they were watching was being played at this very moment. The cops were there, presumably, to control the crowds when they left the stadium. Though these particular cops looked just as riled up as everyone else - if there was a fan riot, it looked to me like they would join in. :lol:
Anyway, I decided to stay for a couple of minutes, and ended up watching the rest of that inning - it surely was an odd one. After that call that angered the crowd, Texas could do nothing right. Their players kept dropping the ball, and finally our team scored a bunch of runs off of a massive hit.
There were still a couple of innings to go, but I realized it would be really dumb to hang about until the game was over - then thousands of fans would descend on the station. Also, it looked like our team had a big lead, and I was hungry. So I went home.
Back when I used to work on an ambulance, we discovered that we could just drive up and enter the Braves games while we waited for emergency calls. We would just drive up to the police barricades blocking the road in front of the stadium, wave to the cops, move the barricade, drive through, put it back, park on the grass next to the stadium, and walk in through the turnstiles carrying our medical bag.
No one ever tried to stop us. :)
Quote from: Valmy on October 13, 2015, 10:49:19 PM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on October 13, 2015, 10:38:28 PM
Astros are in the AL now? :unsure:
Should have moved the damn Brewers back. Nobody wanted this.
Yet more Selig follies.
At least that long national nightmare is over.
Meanwhile, in the distant future of, uhm, 2015 ...
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcontent.sportslogos.net%2Fnews%2F2014%2F12%2FCubs-win-2015-World-Series-Back-to-the-Future-2-418x800.jpg&hash=d0e5a1e68cfb20dc6e975a054fdf2067ac27dd8f)
I wonder how Miami makes it to the WS at this point. :hmm:
Well the Royals made short work of BB's countrymen. We will see if the NLCS is more interesting.
Damn I just realized every single team left wears blue uniforms and none of them are the Dodgers.
Quote from: Valmy on October 16, 2015, 11:52:39 PM
Well the Royals made short work of BB's countrymen. We will see if the NLCS is more interesting.
A bunch of Dominicans and Americans playing for a team based in Toronto are no countrymen of mine. :menace:
Was an awesome game, even if I was trapped in a car dealership for most of the night. <_<
Death to Toronto.
KC with an impressive comeback. :cool:
Quote from: Barrister on October 17, 2015, 12:40:50 AM
A bunch of Dominicans and Americans playing for a team based in Toronto are no countrymen of mine. :menace:
Whoa, immigrant workers come to your country to pursue their dreams and better opportunities, do do nothing but profess love of their new home, and you still reject them so harshly? :(
:P
Cubs lose! Cubs lose!
As a non-Cubs fan, I kind of prefer the reputation of them being the team that hasn`t won since 1908 to the idea of them winning now. I mean - the Red Sox used to be cool, the Curse of the Bambino and all, but now they`re just the mini-Yankees.
By which of course I mean - Go Royals Go!
Quote from: Barrister on October 18, 2015, 11:11:34 PM
As a non-Cubs fan, I kind of prefer the reputation of them being the team that hasn`t won since 1908 to the idea of them winning now. I mean - the Red Sox used to be cool, the Curse of the Bambino and all, but now they`re just the mini-Yankees.
By which of course I mean - Go Royals Go!
There never has and will never be anything cool about the Red Sox. Their agony was more annoying than awesome.
Quote from: Valmy on October 19, 2015, 10:51:19 AM
Quote from: Barrister on October 18, 2015, 11:11:34 PM
As a non-Cubs fan, I kind of prefer the reputation of them being the team that hasn`t won since 1908 to the idea of them winning now. I mean - the Red Sox used to be cool, the Curse of the Bambino and all, but now they`re just the mini-Yankees.
By which of course I mean - Go Royals Go!
There never has and will never be anything cool about the Red Sox. Their agony was more annoying than awesome.
Yeah, I was glad when they finally won a WS just so it would stop the whining.
So tonight we'll see if Johnny Cueto can continue on from his dominant performance in Game 5 of the ALDS. I was actually worried when I heard he was getting the start back then - boy was I wrong.
Trouble is - Federal election results are about the only thing that could tear me away from baseball, and well...
The "last" button on my clicker is going to get a workout tonight.
Quote from: Valmy on October 19, 2015, 10:51:19 AM
There never has and will never be anything cool about the Red Sox.
They had Babe Ruth and Ted Williams play for them. That's pretty cool.
Fenway is cool. The Green Monster is cool. Wade Boggs was cool. Schilling was cool. Pudge was supercool. All kinds of cool.
Red Sox are the enemy.
But they did have El Tiante.
Verdict: cool.
Ok fine the Red Sox have had cool things about them. But their angsty fanbase during their cursed years was not cool.
Quote from: Barrister on October 19, 2015, 03:41:28 PM
So tonight we'll see if Johnny Cueto can continue on from his dominant performance in Game 5 of the ALDS. I was actually worried when I heard he was getting the start back then - boy was I wrong.
Trouble is - Federal election results are about the only thing that could tear me away from baseball, and well...
The "last" button on my clicker is going to get a workout tonight.
You jinxed him.
Poor BB. Two of his loves are going down tonight.
Has any team ever had a black catcher?
Quote from: Admiral Yi on October 19, 2015, 09:45:37 PM
Has any team ever had a black catcher?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Campanella
Quote from: Admiral Yi on October 19, 2015, 09:45:37 PM
Has any team ever had a black catcher?
Yes, lots. Altho, there have been a sharp decline since the start of the 2000.
Charles Johnson
Josh Gibson
Sandy Martinez is a very dark skinned Dominican. What's your definition of 'black'?
Quote from: Admiral Yi on October 19, 2015, 09:59:12 PM
Quote from: sbr on October 19, 2015, 09:53:28 PM
What's your definition of 'black'?
Negotiable.
The list just got really long then.
Russel Martin is half black.
(https://nbchardballtalk.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/russell-martin.jpeg)
Quote from: Barrister on October 19, 2015, 03:41:28 PM
So tonight we'll see if Johnny Cueto can continue on from his dominant performance in Game 5 of the ALDS. I was actually worried when I heard he was getting the start back then - boy was I wrong.
Guess not - they lit Cueto up. :o
On to game 4.
Quote from: Barrister on October 18, 2015, 11:11:34 PM
As a non-Cubs fan, I kind of prefer the reputation of them being the team that hasn`t won since 1908 to the idea of them winning now. I mean - the Red Sox used to be cool, the Curse of the Bambino and all, but now they`re just the mini-Yankees.
By which of course I mean - Go Royals Go!
Them's fightin' words! :mad:
Quote from: Admiral Yi on October 19, 2015, 09:45:37 PM
Has any team ever had a black catcher?
Josh Gibson was probably the greatest catcher to ever play.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Gibson
Quote from: jimmy olsen on October 20, 2015, 12:28:13 AM
Quote from: Barrister on October 18, 2015, 11:11:34 PM
As a non-Cubs fan, I kind of prefer the reputation of them being the team that hasn`t won since 1908 to the idea of them winning now. I mean - the Red Sox used to be cool, the Curse of the Bambino and all, but now they`re just the mini-Yankees.
By which of course I mean - Go Royals Go!
Them's fightin' words! :mad:
The truth hurts, doesn't it. :console:
Elston Howard, dammit!
Being mini-Yankees is sure better than being the east coast Cubs.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on October 20, 2015, 09:53:23 AM
Elston Howard, dammit!
Anybody who has not been dead for 30+ years?
Quote from: Valmy on October 20, 2015, 09:55:10 AM
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on October 20, 2015, 09:53:23 AM
Elston Howard, dammit!
Anybody who has not been dead for 30+ years?
Manny Sanguillen is still alive.
Earl Battey might still be alive.
Holy crap - Royals put up 4 against the Jays in the 1st. :yeah:
Yeah, well the conservatives still lost!
Quote from: HVC on October 20, 2015, 03:35:59 PM
Yeah, well the conservatives still lost!
Damn you, John Oliver!
And they're at it again in the 2nd! :yeah:
Break up the Royals!
The Cubs are going to need something close to a 2004 Red Sox miracle now.
Very soon something identical to it.
Quote from: Valmy on October 20, 2015, 09:40:25 PM
The Cubs are going to need something close to a 2004 Red Sox miracle now.
Very soon something identical to it.
Anyone but the mets. I'll be a die hard Royals fan for the next two weeks if that is what it takes. Toronto...I'll over look their crimes in 1992 and support them as well.
Shit - I forgot that MLB goes 2-3-2, and that there's a game tonight.
Jays up 1-0 at the bottom of 6.
I know the Royals are up 3-1 in the series, but in a reference only a Royals fan would use, the '85 Royals came back from 3-1 deficits in both the ALCS and WS, so no lead is safe in baseball.
Ouch. Voloquez just walked a run in. :pinch:
2-0 Jays.
5-0. :(
Wait till next year eh Cubs?
Go Mets.
Kyle Schwarber is positioning himself as the next coming of Manny Ramirez.
Quote from: Valmy on October 22, 2015, 08:17:05 AM
Wait till next year eh Cubs?
Cubs swept! Cubs swept!
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2582033-toronto-and-kansas-city-public-libraries-have-twitter-war-over-alcs-using-books?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=programming-national
QuoteToronto and Kansas City Public Libraries Have Twitter War over ALCS Using Books
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CRzH1JmUwAE0Vt6.jpg)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CR3K2PTWUAAwCNS.jpg)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CR4G-5oUEAAyfW7.jpg)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CR4IatjU8AID0ou.jpg)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CR8x2z_VAAA0YdQ.jpg)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CR_z1VNWsAAc2Yz.jpg)
:D
I'd rather have the bacon than the wines, anyway.
Bad call on the home run interference
Quote from: HVC on October 23, 2015, 07:39:12 PM
Bad call on the home run interference
Better throw some beer cans at some babies.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on October 23, 2015, 08:08:54 PM
Quote from: HVC on October 23, 2015, 07:39:12 PM
Bad call on the home run interference
Better throw some beer cans at some babies.
theyve got soft heads, they're ok :D
Man oh man - tense game.
Quote from: Barrister on October 23, 2015, 08:51:54 PM
Man oh man - tense game.
I'll take past perfect for 400 please Alex.
Royals up 3-1 going to 8th inning.
Fox keeps trying to jinx the Royals though. :grr:
Woo
Motherfucker! :mad:
Quote from: Barrister on October 23, 2015, 09:50:45 PM
Motherfucker! :mad:
a game 7 would be so more exciting :console:
Quote from: HVC on October 23, 2015, 09:54:19 PM
Quote from: Barrister on October 23, 2015, 09:50:45 PM
Motherfucker! :mad:
a game 7 would be so more exciting :console:
I don't want exciting. I want a World Series.
Rain delay <_<
You went the WS last year, BB. What's the use to go back & lose again?
Quote from: Grey Fox on October 23, 2015, 10:16:40 PM
You went the WS last year, BB. What's the use to go back & lose again?
Royals are in win or bust mode. Several players are free agents after this year.
But good news - tarp is coming off. Should resume soon.
The Giants have been committing unspeakable rites and rituals to demonic forces that give them super baseball powers in even numbered years. The Mets have no such supernatural powers so the Royals might have a chance.
Dammit
Royals in the lead, going to top on 9. :ph34r:
Never knew you were much of a baseball fan HVC.
Quote from: Barrister on October 23, 2015, 11:02:39 PM
Royals in the lead, going to top on 9. :ph34r:
Never knew you were much of a baseball fan HVC.
im not a die hard fan, but I watch a few games through the season and have been to a few games this year with coworkers
So close
:yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah:
Quote from: Valmy on October 23, 2015, 10:41:30 PM
The Giants have been committing unspeakable rites and rituals to demonic forces that give them super baseball powers in even numbered years. The Mets have no such supernatural powers so the Royals might have a chance.
The Mets are the new religion & David Murphy is our new prophet.
Man, fuck the mets.
Quote from: HVC on October 23, 2015, 11:07:46 PM
Quote from: Barrister on October 23, 2015, 11:02:39 PM
Royals in the lead, going to top on 9. :ph34r:
Never knew you were much of a baseball fan HVC.
im not a die hard fan, but I watch a few games through the season and have been to a few games this year with coworkers
Well I can't argue - I'm hardly a die-hard Royals fan. I ignored them for, oh, 25 years or so.
But they are still my oldest love when it comes to sport teams. :wub:
Quote from: Barrister on October 23, 2015, 11:55:22 PM
But they are still my oldest love when it comes to sport teams. :wub:
Not the Jets or any other hockey team? Canadian citizenship: revoked.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on October 23, 2015, 11:56:18 PM
Quote from: Barrister on October 23, 2015, 11:55:22 PM
But they are still my oldest love when it comes to sport teams. :wub:
Not the Jets or any other hockey team? Canadian citizenship: revoked.
Meh.
Nope, as a kid it was always the Royals.
My initials are KC, so someone (I think maybe my dad) gave me a Royals hat at some point. I thought it was pretty cool - it had my name on it! I proceeded to get a whole series of Royals hats - I had a whole collection going at one point. But non-stop wearing KC Royals hats kind of morphed into being a Royals fan - specially when they managed to win the world series when I was 10 in '85.
I'm a bigger hockey fan (and CFL football fan) than I am a baseball fan. But watching the Royals advance to the world series again... man it just speaks deeply to my inner 10 year old. :wub:
:) Nice. Did you ever get to go to any games? Always had a damn good time going to Ranger games with my dad back in the day. I think the last time I saw them in person freaking Jose Canseco and Will Clark played for them. Mid 90s I guess it was.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on October 24, 2015, 12:10:47 AM
:) Nice. Did you ever get to go to any games? Always had a damn good time going to Ranger games with my dad back in the day. I think the last time I saw them in person freaking Jose Canseco and Will Clark played for them. Mid 90s I guess it was.
Nope. Only MLB game I ever saw was the Expos at the Big O. My dad, who was a sportswriter, took me with him on a road trip to see the 'Riders vs the Riders in Ottawa, then the next day we drove to Montreal to see the Expos. Man, I will always remember that trip. :wub: (since both of the home teams no longer exist)
My "bucket list" has long contained one entry at the top however: see a baseball game at Royals Stadium (now Kaufman Stadium).
Ha the Riders. There was a...whatever league....team here that was called the Riders who nearly joined the CFL back in the 90s (they would have had to change their name because of "your" Riders), but IIRC they folded before they got the chance. Their colors were like....brown and yellow. Mike Riley was their head coach lolz. The Oregon State/Nebraska Mike Riley.
E: WLAF: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Antonio_Riders Quality football right there. Check out QB #3. :D
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on October 24, 2015, 12:25:13 AM
Ha the Riders. There was a...whatever league....team here that was called the Riders who nearly joined the CFL back in the 90s (they would have had to change their name because of "your" Riders), but IIRC they folded before they got the chance. Their colors were like....brown and yellow. Mike Riley was their head coach lolz. The Oregon State/Nebraska Mike Riley.
E: WLAF: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Antonio_Riders Quality football right there.
Don't you dare speak badly of Mike Riley. He is, to this day, the last Blue Bomber coach to win the Grey Cup. :mad: :wub:
He'll always be the "Blue Bombers" Mike Riley to me. :wub:
He should never have gone to Nebraska. :mad: I consider him a bad person now.
As a totally fair-weather fan I believe I am qualified to judge, so I want to put on the record that in my considered opinion Beeb is not a fair-weather fan of the Royals.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on October 24, 2015, 02:04:18 AM
As a totally fair-weather fan I believe I am qualified to judge, so I want to put on the record that in my considered opinion Beeb is not a fair-weather fan of the Royals.
You're very kind, Yi.
I just don't want to overplay my Royals fandom. Because there was a, oh, 20 year stretch, where I'd check the MLB standings once or twice per season, shake my head, and then think no more about baseball for the rest of the year.
But goddamit - am I ever pumped for Royals - Mets.
Quote from: Barrister on October 25, 2015, 01:32:22 AM
Because there was a, oh, 20 year stretch, where I'd check the MLB standings once or twice per season, shake my head, and then think no more about baseball for the rest of the year.
Including all 15 years of my being a diehard Royals fan. Bastards. My sports jinx continues. I think they've decided to build a statue of me in KC for transferring team loyalties. <_<
Ok, WS starts tonight. Predictions? I say Royals in 6.
Mets in 6
Quite a start for the Royals.
Yes very nice start. :)
Royals kin 6.
Sweet the feed crapped out and we now have Vasgersian and Smoltz instead of the retards Joe Buck and Harold Reynolds.
Vasgersian keeps threatening to send us back to Buck and Reynolds though.
You don't like Buck? He definitely needs to lose that beard but IMO he's the best play by play man in the business. Arguably one of the best all time?
Joe Buck sucks monkey nuts. Harold just doesn't know where he is, so that's okay I guess.
E: Granderson just sent one over the fence.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO they took over the international feed
Is that still Smoltz with a mic/headset though? Huh.
I don't love Joe Buck, but he's not bad and I have no complaints with his calls.
Tense game, going into 8th. :ph34r:
Harumph.
Mets up by one going to bottom of 8.
Yep. Quite a game. I have had it on in the background all evening.
Boom! Here come the Royals.
Ok that might have been it there. I had a bad feeling when the Mets brought in Familia.
Booooom
:w00t:
Alex Freaking Gordon
Nice start to this series.
Awesome game.
On to extra innings. :ph34r:
Damn the batters got mowed down in that inning.
Now that was some bunting. Somewhere in Austin Augie Garrido is smiling.
Oh hell Mets and Royals you are entertaining my but I have to work tommorow. Good luck with your 12th inning.
Holy fuck going into 13.
Man oh man - I kind of want to go to bed.
But more than that - I want a Royals win.
And I get what I want. :)
It just struck me--what kind of bullshit name is "Royals" for an American team? Do they celebrate July 4th in Kansas City?
I wonder if this is why beeb is a fan. :hmm:
Anyway, any team going up against the mets is okay for me. Go Royals Kansas City! :)
Quote from: alfred russel on October 28, 2015, 12:47:09 AM
It just struck me--what kind of bullshit name is "Royals" for an American team? Do they celebrate July 4th in Kansas City?
I wonder if this is why beeb is a fan. :hmm:
Anyway, any team going up against the mets is okay for me. Go Royals Kansas City! :)
The name is a tribute to the old Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues.
Why the Negro League team called itself the Monarchs, or why Ewing Kaufman didn't just use that name for his team, I don't know.
Quote from: dps on October 28, 2015, 04:59:12 AM
Quote from: alfred russel on October 28, 2015, 12:47:09 AM
It just struck me--what kind of bullshit name is "Royals" for an American team? Do they celebrate July 4th in Kansas City?
I wonder if this is why beeb is a fan. :hmm:
Anyway, any team going up against the mets is okay for me. Go Royals Kansas City! :)
The name is a tribute to the old Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues.
Why the Negro League team called itself the Monarchs, or why Ewing Kaufman didn't just use that name for his team, I don't know.
According to Wiki they were named after American Royal, a livestock show held in Kansas City every year (though they cite the Monarchs as an alternate explanation).
Ok well tonight was not as entertaining. I only caught the first four innings and then the top of the 9th so I missed most of the action.
Quote from: Valmy on October 28, 2015, 10:11:44 PM
Ok well tonight was not as entertaining. I only caught the first four innings and then the top of the 9th so I missed most of the action.
But much easier on my heart (and my sleep schedule!).
Impressive performance by Cueto. Pitching a complete game in the world series? Nice.
I'm watching on Canadian Sportsnet channel. They have the Fox feed, but occasionally cut away to their own analysts back in Canada (where they still keep talking about the Blue Jays!). Anyways, the analyst there is convinced the Royals are stealing signals, which is how they were able to get so many hits against deGrom in the fifth.
Is that ok?
I think it should be.
Quote from: Grey Fox on October 29, 2015, 08:36:03 AM
Is that ok?
I think it should be.
If they figured it out the old fashioned way by just observing them in the game it's not illegal, just frowned upon. If they stole/hacked the info somehow, then it's illegal.
Quote from: Grey Fox on October 29, 2015, 08:36:03 AM
Is that ok?
I think it should be.
This article from mlb.com seems to say it's "part of the game".
I know it is early but it feels like the Mets' night tonight.
Alright looking like the Mets are going to roll. It was fun but I think I am out for the night....which probably means the Royals will come back for a dramatic victory :P
Quote from: Valmy on October 30, 2015, 09:41:37 PM
Alright looking like the Mets are going to roll. It was fun but I think I am out for the night....which probably means the Royals will come back for a dramatic victory :P
Yeah, I still have the game going, but I've gone from "actively watching" to "having it on in the background".
Ah well, a 4 game sweep would have been boring anyways.
Quote from: Barrister on October 30, 2015, 09:58:48 PM
Quote from: Valmy on October 30, 2015, 09:41:37 PM
Alright looking like the Mets are going to roll. It was fun but I think I am out for the night....which probably means the Royals will come back for a dramatic victory :P
Yeah, I still have the game going, but I've gone from "actively watching" to "having it on in the background".
Ah well, a 4 game sweep would have been boring anyways.
i quite enjoyed it in 2012.
Quote from: katmai on October 30, 2015, 11:02:12 PM
Quote from: Barrister on October 30, 2015, 09:58:48 PM
Quote from: Valmy on October 30, 2015, 09:41:37 PM
Alright looking like the Mets are going to roll. It was fun but I think I am out for the night....which probably means the Royals will come back for a dramatic victory :P
Yeah, I still have the game going, but I've gone from "actively watching" to "having it on in the background".
Ah well, a 4 game sweep would have been boring anyways.
i quite enjoyed it in 2012.
Especially because you thought it would be the last one.
Anyone watching Game 4?
I didn't watch the first part (kiddies needed to go trick-or-treating), but the Royals just rocked the top of the 8th to pull into a two run lead. :cool:
Quote from: Barrister on October 31, 2015, 10:08:51 PM
Anyone watching Game 4?
I didn't watch the first part (kiddies needed to go trick-or-treating), but the Royals just rocked the top of the 8th to pull into a two run lead. :cool:
No I watched a football game that ruined my week :weep:
I will make sure I tune in to watch the Royals win it all tomorrow.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on October 30, 2015, 11:07:51 PM
Quote from: katmai on October 30, 2015, 11:02:12 PM
Quote from: Barrister on October 30, 2015, 09:58:48 PM
Quote from: Valmy on October 30, 2015, 09:41:37 PM
Alright looking like the Mets are going to roll. It was fun but I think I am out for the night....which probably means the Royals will come back for a dramatic victory :P
Yeah, I still have the game going, but I've gone from "actively watching" to "having it on in the background".
Ah well, a 4 game sweep would have been boring anyways.
i quite enjoyed it in 2012.
Especially because you thought it would be the last one.
:huh:
Quote from: Valmy on October 31, 2015, 10:14:40 PM
Quote from: Barrister on October 31, 2015, 10:08:51 PM
Anyone watching Game 4?
I didn't watch the first part (kiddies needed to go trick-or-treating), but the Royals just rocked the top of the 8th to pull into a two run lead. :cool:
No I watched a football game that ruined my week :weep:
I will make sure I tune in to watch the Royals win it all tomorrow.
Top of 9, it 'aint over yet.
And since I keep reminding people about '85, you can't count on a 3-1 series lead. :ph34r:
But the Royals do have a 3-1 series lead. :ph34r:
From mlb.com:
QuoteTeams holding a 3-1 lead in best-of-seven postseason series are 68-12 (.850) all-time, and 39-6 (.867) in World Series play. No team has come back from a 3-1 deficit in the World Series since the Royals in 1985.
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/156113714/royals-rally-vs-mets-to-game-4-win
Which is what has me worried. :ph34r:
Go Royals though.
...
Mrs. B and I were talking about childhood Halloween costumes, and I was all of a sudden reminded of one. It was 1985. Ghostbusters came out the year before - and I went to a kids party where the guest of honour was playing a VHS copy of Ghostbusters at Halloween. My costume: a very old-school ghost (sheet with eye holes), but I also had a baseball glove and a Blue Jays logo on my chest. I was the Ghost of Blue Jays playoffs dreams. (the Jays having been eliminated a few days earlier - against the Royals, of course).
The Royals won that year, of course. Much to my pleasure. God Dammit, I hope they win again. :ph34r:
Top of nine... Here we go again?
Quote from: Barrister on November 01, 2015, 11:00:11 PM
Top of nine... Here we go again?
:cool:
Into extra innings.
On to twelve...
Holy crap the Royals blow it wide open in the twelfth.
Grats Beeb, i look forward to Giants taking title back next season.
:showoff:
Holy crap the Royals won. I honestly never thought that would happen.
My inner ten year old is very happy. As is my outer fourty year old. :yeah:
Put them side by side and no one will be able to tell the difference.
Quote from: katmai on November 02, 2015, 12:53:25 AM
Put them side by side and no one will be able to tell the difference.
Outer forty year old has a hell of a lot more grey hair.
Dammit. This is the first time "my team" has won anything since, I dunno, 1990? (and I don't think that counts, since it was the Blue Bombers and they weren't really my team at the time).
This is a good night. K.C. Uber Alles.
Official estimate was 800,000 at the Royals World Series parade today. :showoff:
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/sam-mellinger/article42767697.html
Quote from: Barrister on November 02, 2015, 01:12:07 AM
Dammit. This is the first time "my team" has won anything since, I dunno, 1990? (and I don't think that counts, since it was the Blue Bombers and they weren't really my team at the time).
I think you've won a few hockey golds since then.
Arietta gets the Cy, nice story how he turned his career around.
Kershaw finishes 3rd making the 5th year in a row he was in the top 3. I believe that has never been done before.
So weird his ERA is lower than it was in College.
Valmy - it's not that weird - he used to walk 3-4 guys/9 IP in college, now he is below 2. Some people just need time and maturity to hone their control and learn how to pitch. Think of guys like Koufax or RJ.
Also forgot to mention - Kluber finished 9th in the AL voting, not too shabby given the early season struggles.
Was at the bar last night watching Korea beat Japan in the 9th inning. The crowd was pleased. :)
Looking at Bryce Harper's stats... How can a player bat .330, slug .649 and hit 42 home runs, 38 doubles and triple while only managing to drive in 99 runs? How terrible was the front of the Nat's line up? Someone with stats like that should have driven in like 125 on an average team.
Jimmy - he was walked a lot with runners in scoring position. He had no protection in that lineup - pitchers just don't give him anything to hit in those situations.
NL MVP is younger than NL Rookie of the Year.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on November 19, 2015, 02:28:33 PM
Valmy - it's not that weird - he used to walk 3-4 guys/9 IP in college, now he is below 2. Some people just need time and maturity to hone their control and learn how to pitch. Think of guys like Koufax or RJ.
Plus, colleges use the metal bats (they haven't changed back to wood have they? There was some discussion of doing so a couple of years or so ago), which really inflates hitting stats.
Quote from: dps on November 19, 2015, 10:23:13 PM
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on November 19, 2015, 02:28:33 PM
Valmy - it's not that weird - he used to walk 3-4 guys/9 IP in college, now he is below 2. Some people just need time and maturity to hone their control and learn how to pitch. Think of guys like Koufax or RJ.
Plus, colleges use the metal bats (they haven't changed back to wood have they? There was some discussion of doing so a couple of years or so ago), which really inflates hitting stats.
Yeah you are about 20 years out of date. They deadened the bats years ago. They are designed to perform like wooden bats now, frankly I think they are worse. But that could just be because my team plays in a massive park and hit about five home runs at home a year.
Is this the latest MLB thread?
Whatevs. There's a new thing re: slides on double play attempts:
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CcE66rhVIAALP3n.jpg)
Part of me likes this rule, but it seems to put too many requirements on a "bona fide slide".
Anyway speaking of baseball, I signed Tommy up for his first season in Little League. He never played tee-ball or any organized baseball, so I had no idea what they'd think of him in tryouts. They couldn't believe he hadn't played before. I guess all the throwing and hitting I did with him last year paid off.
I just wish he threw right-handed instead of left, so he'd have the chance to play 2nd, shortstop & 3rd. I tried to "encourage" him to throw right since he seemed to be ambidextrous when he was younger, but once he saw his cousin throwing and batting left all bets were off.
Anyway, excited to see him start practicing and playing. The league he's in only practices once a week once they get into their season, so I signed him up for the "enhanced" program that puts him on a second team. Also looking for a camp to get him a head start, since practices don't start for another month.
Quote from: derspiess on February 25, 2016, 01:52:36 PM
Part of me likes this rule, but it seems to put too many requirements on a "bona fide slide".
Anyway speaking of baseball, I signed Tommy up for his first season in Little League. He never played tee-ball or any organized baseball, so I had no idea what they'd think of him in tryouts. They couldn't believe he hadn't played before. I guess all the throwing and hitting I did with him last year paid off.
I just wish he threw right-handed instead of left, so he'd have the chance to play 2nd, shortstop & 3rd. I tried to "encourage" him to throw right since he seemed to be ambidextrous when he was younger, but once he saw his cousin throwing and batting left all bets were off.
Anyway, excited to see him start practicing and playing. The league he's in only practices once a week once they get into their season, so I signed him up for the "enhanced" program that puts him on a second team. Also looking for a camp to get him a head start, since practices don't start for another month.
Are you crazy? If he's a lefty get him into pitching ASAP.
Meh. I'd rather he be able to rotate through every position in the field. If he develops enough control, the pitching thing will come to him.
Knowing the inevitability of the Giants winning the World Series does weaken my anticipation for this season :P
Quote from: derspiess on February 25, 2016, 01:52:36 PM
Anyway speaking of baseball, I signed Tommy up for his first season in Little League. He never played tee-ball or any organized baseball, so I had no idea what they'd think of him in tryouts. They couldn't believe he hadn't played before. I guess all the throwing and hitting I did with him last year paid off.
Hybrid vigor.
Quote from: Valmy on February 25, 2016, 02:53:48 PM
Knowing the inevitability of the Giants winning the World Series does weaken my anticipation for this season :P
Even year! Even year!
Is that why derpsicy didn't make new thread?
Quote from: katmai on February 25, 2016, 03:23:36 PM
Quote from: Valmy on February 25, 2016, 02:53:48 PM
Knowing the inevitability of the Giants winning the World Series does weaken my anticipation for this season :P
Even year! Even year!
Is that why derpsicy didn't make new thread?
Figured I would leave that honor to you, actually.
I'd be okay with the Giants getting their even year title this year. It would be at least another one for my dad while he's still around, plus it would mean the Cubs didn't make it..
Quote from: katmai on February 25, 2016, 03:23:36 PM
Quote from: Valmy on February 25, 2016, 02:53:48 PM
Knowing the inevitability of the Giants winning the World Series does weaken my anticipation for this season :P
Even year! Even year!
Is that why derpsicy didn't make new thread?
Bah - all shall tremble before the ongoing Kansas City Royals dynasty.
It's the Tribe's year! :yeah: I can't wait for baseball to come back. Tribefest at the end of January starts the baseball year off right for me.
Quote from: Barrister on February 25, 2016, 05:11:36 PM
Quote from: katmai on February 25, 2016, 03:23:36 PM
Quote from: Valmy on February 25, 2016, 02:53:48 PM
Knowing the inevitability of the Giants winning the World Series does weaken my anticipation for this season :P
Even year! Even year!
Is that why derpsicy didn't make new thread?
Bah - all shall tremble before the ongoing Kansas City Royals dynasty.
:yawn: get back to me when won more than one title every 30 years.
Quote from: Benedict Arnold on February 25, 2016, 05:23:09 PM
It's the Tribe's year! :yeah: I can't wait for baseball to come back. Tribefest at the end of January starts the baseball year off right for me.
I thought last year was gonna be their year. I'd love to see them have a year.
May have to finally make a run up there this summer. Let me know if you have any availability and we'l meet up. Baseball & epic beer exchange.
Quote from: katmai on February 25, 2016, 06:22:50 PM
Quote from: Barrister on February 25, 2016, 05:11:36 PM
Quote from: katmai on February 25, 2016, 03:23:36 PM
Quote from: Valmy on February 25, 2016, 02:53:48 PM
Knowing the inevitability of the Giants winning the World Series does weaken my anticipation for this season :P
Even year! Even year!
Is that why derpsicy didn't make new thread?
Bah - all shall tremble before the ongoing Kansas City Royals dynasty.
:yawn: get back to me when won more than one title every 30 years.
It's been thirty years - surely you won't deny me this little pleasure of gloating?
Besides... back to back world series appearances is nothing to sneeze at. I don't see any reason why the Royals shouldn't be considered a favourite for 2016.
As long as it's not the Cubs.
Quote from: Barrister on February 26, 2016, 12:45:05 AM
I don't see any reason why the Royals shouldn't be considered a favourite for 2016.
Mean reversion.
Quote from: derspiess on February 25, 2016, 10:25:03 PM
Quote from: Benedict Arnold on February 25, 2016, 05:23:09 PM
It's the Tribe's year! :yeah: I can't wait for baseball to come back. Tribefest at the end of January starts the baseball year off right for me.
I thought last year was gonna be their year. I'd love to see them have a year.
May have to finally make a run up there this summer. Let me know if you have any availability and we'l meet up. Baseball & epic beer exchange.
Sounds like a heck of an idea. I'm thinking about maybe catching a game or two in April before I go back to my seasonal Park Service job. That or head out during the summer at some point. I'll let you know how things develop. :cheers:
CB and I went to see Nationals-Tigers today at Space Coast stadium. Tigers lost 4-8 (:(), but we did see Jim Leyland (:)); he was signing autographs outside the gate. A little girl sitting two rows ahead of us got a line drive right in the chest (:pinch:) fortunately she was okay, and got to keep the ball.
This is the last year the Nationals will be playing on the Space Coast, they're moving to Fort Lauderdale next year. The next closest spring training to us is the Astros in Kissimmee.