Korea's favorite player has been traded.
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/11/shin-soo-choo-heads-to-reds-trevor-bauer-lands-with-indians-in-three-team-mega-trade/related/
QuoteThat three-team mega-trade between the Indians, Reds and Diamondbacks has been made official.
Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports has the breakdown:
Reds get:
OF Shin-Soo Choo
INF Jason Donald
Indians get:
SP Trevor Bauer
OF Drew Stubbs
RP Bryan Shaw
RP Matt Albers
Diamondbacks get:
SS Didi Gregorius
RP Tony Sipp
OF Lars Anderson
Declaring winners and losers moments after a trade has been completed is futile, but it sure seems like the Diamondbacks got hosed here. Gregorius is a strong defensive shortstop, but the 22-year-old has registered a paltry .323 on-base percentage in five minor league seasons and seems doubtful to develop much power. Sipp is only a mediocre left-handed reliever and Anderson's star has faded over the past couple of years.
That's not a very impressive return for a guy like Bauer, who was drafted third overall in 2011 and had gaudy numbers (2.42 ERA, 157/61 K/BB over 130 1/3 innings) in 2012 between the Double-A and Triple-A levels.
On the other side of things, Bauer is exactly what the doctor ordered for the Indians, who have been dying for quality young starting pitching. And Stubbs is a guy that makes sense for the Tribe because he carries such excellent raw tools. The 28-year-old center fielder is worth the risk for a rebuilding franchise.
It's also quite easy to love this deal for Cincinnati. In Choo, the Reds get a perfect leadoff man to place in front of Brandon Phillips, Joey Votto, Ryan Ludwick, Jay Bruce and Todd Frazier. Their outfield defense may be iffy, but that's a dynamic starting lineup that should tear through most National League pitching.
Did he ever call for the death of U.S. service personnel and citizens?
Dog consumption up in Cincy soon.
I am depressed about next year man. Knowing the Orioles would probably suck was no big deal except now they had a miracle season and left me hungering for them to actually win... :(
Quote from: Valmy on December 12, 2012, 09:24:52 AM
I am depressed about next year man. Knowing the Orioles would probably suck was no big deal except now they had a miracle season and left me hungering for them to actually win... :(
Take it from a Wyoming sports fan - savor the kinda good years, they are about as nice as you'll get.
So Hanrahan gets sent to the Red Pox in exchange for a 1B/OF and a RHP.
From the pitcher's scouting report:
QuoteExcellent overall stuff, but struggles with the consistency of his mechanics from outing-to-outing.
He'll fit right in, then, once he hits the majors.
QuoteCeiling of fourth starter/fifth or late inning reliever at the major league level.
Should be a #1 spot with the Pirates.
I'm always weary with Pittsburgh acquiring pitchers or pitching prospects. Sure, their rotation needs desperate improvement, but I feel they aren't the best team in the market to develop pitching talent. They would probably be better served by snatching up veterans that need a second lease on their career, like Burnett last season.
Do the Pirates have a closer-in-waiting already? I thought Hanrahan was pretty good. Could they not afford him anymore?
Quote from: sbr on December 23, 2012, 12:35:49 AM
Do the Pirates have a closer-in-waiting already? I thought Hanrahan was pretty good. Could they not afford him anymore?
He would have gone into arbitration, with an expected $7M annual salary (he's at 4M-something at the moment). I'm guessing Hughes or Grilli will step up as closers for the time beinng.
It was probably either signing Francisco Liriano (2 years, 14M) or keeping Hanrahan - not much of a choice, really. Also, Jerry Sands (the other player acquired in the Hanrahan trade) might be able to help with the Bucs' low production.
I didn't know he was up for arbitration, that explains it.
Quote from: sbr on December 23, 2012, 12:35:49 AM
Do the Pirates have a closer-in-waiting already? I thought Hanrahan was pretty good. Could they not afford him anymore?
The problem is that relief pitchers, particularly those who get the magic label "closer" are terribly overrated, and thus overpriced. I agree that Hanrahan is a pretty good reliever, but IMO nobody pitching less than 100 innings could possibly be worth what he was making, much less what he'll make after arbitration.
Now that's how you celebrate a blue, blue, blue Christmas: a blown save, the messy way.
QuoteFormer Major League Baseball utility infielder Ryan Freel has died at the age of 36.
Freel's death was first reported late Saturday afternoon by First Coast News in Freel's hometown, Jacksonville, Fla. A few hours later, Jacksonville.com reported that the cause of death was suicide, reportedly a self-inflicted shotgun blast, according to Sgt. Mike Paul of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. Authorities are treating Freel's death as a suicide.
Freel played 14 games for the Cubs in 2009.
He spent most of his eight-year MLB career from 2001 to 2009 with the Reds, for whom he played six seasons. He made his Major League debut with the Blue Jays in 2001.
His career batting average was .268. He also stole 143 bases.
Freel retired from pro ball in 2009 and had most recently worked for BLD Baseball, which stands for Big League Development, an organization that helps develop young players. Freel was also named head baseball coach at St. Joseph Academy in Jacksonville earlier this year in June.
Read in the paper today that Peter Asbestos is hammering out an extension for Buck Showalter beyond the 2013 season, should have a deal done in January.
Man, it's to early to talk about Baseball.
Quote from: dps on December 23, 2012, 06:22:09 PM
Quote from: sbr on December 23, 2012, 12:35:49 AM
Do the Pirates have a closer-in-waiting already? I thought Hanrahan was pretty good. Could they not afford him anymore?
The problem is that relief pitchers, particularly those who get the magic label "closer" are terribly overrated, and thus overpriced. I agree that Hanrahan is a pretty good reliever, but IMO nobody pitching less than 100 innings could possibly be worth what he was making, much less what he'll make after arbitration.
Oh, I agree there. I think that the saves stat is a bit silly, because it's relying on the team performance up to that point, and not so much on the individual's ability. A closer's defining criteria is whether he gets batters out or not.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 23, 2012, 07:01:42 PM
Read in the paper today that Peter Asbestos is hammering out an extension for Buck Showalter beyond the 2013 season, should have a deal done in January.
Fantastic! Might make up for the fact he has not brought in any new players for Buck so far this offseason <_<
No kidding.
By comparison, the Pirates have been splurging, with signing Russell Martin (hopefully fixing the catching issues they've had for a while) and Francisco Liriano.
This time they may be in contention for a play-off spot till 4 weeks before end of the regular season. :P
The O's need another power bat, but they (rightfully) let Reynolds go, didn't want to play the Nick Swisher sweepstakes, and are hoping that, with Cody Ross signed by Arizona, either Justin Upton or more likely Jason Kubel might be available for trade.
I think the O's are hoping they could right the ship with all the players returning that missed so much playing time to injuries, but that's not a real strategy.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 24, 2012, 07:32:04 AM
I think the O's are hoping they could right the ship with all the players returning that missed so much playing time to injuries, but that's not a real strategy.
Yeah, having no real depth and praying for the best for the regular starters seems a low chance of dominating. Especially with what's happening with the Blue Jays in that division.
Thing is, all the player talks I've heard, everybody with a tradeable bat wants JJ Hardy in return, and that's just not happening. O's have plenty of pitiching prospects to trade away, but so does everybody else. And even though Manny Machado is the shortstop of the future, he's just fine in the hot corner playing next to Hardy.
The O's aren't going to sacrifice their best asset, infield defense, for a bat. If they have to, they'll play small ball.
Quote from: Razgovory on December 23, 2012, 07:10:51 PM
Man, it's to early to talk about Baseball.
Fuck that. LFFL failed me, the Raiders have been out of contention for weeks, and there is no NHL. Add in my favorite player (Nick Swisher) being signed by my favorite team (Cleveland), and I'm super pumped for this year of baseball to begin! :w00t:
This is going to be a good year to be a Jays fan!
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/10/sports/baseball/no-players-elected-to-baseball-hall-of-fame.html?smid=fb-nytimes&_r=0
QuoteVoters Shut Out Hall of Fame Candidates
In perhaps the most resounding referendum on the legacy of steroids in baseball, voters for the Hall of Fame rejected the candidacy of Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens in voting announced Wednesday. For the first time since 1996, and the eighth time over all, no players received the necessary 75 percent of the votes from baseball writers.
Bonds won a record seven Most Valuable Player awards while setting the career and single-season records for home runs, and Clemens won a record seven Cy Young Awards, and an M.V.P., while surpassing 300 victories and 4,000 strikeouts. But both players were strongly tied to steroid use and received well short of the necessary votes for election.
The Hall of Fame will induct three new members in Cooperstown, N.Y., this summer — the umpire Hank O'Day, the owner Jacob Ruppert and a catcher, Deacon White. All three died in the 1930s and were voted in by the veterans committee in December. As a result, baseball will hold its annual Hall of Fame ceremony next July in an awkward context — without a single living honoree on stage.
The highest vote this time around went to Craig Biggio, who received 388 votes and was named on 68.2 percent of the ballots cast. Biggio, a former Houston Astro who ended his career with 3,060 hits, fell 39 votes short of election. Bonds, meanwhile, was named on 36.2 percent of the ballots and Clemens on 37.6 percent.
Another star from the steroids era, Sammy Sosa, who slugged 609 home runs and was reported by The New York Times to have tested positive for steroids in 2003, finished far behind. He was named on 12.5 percent of the ballots.
Every player on the ballot was active in the era before steroid testing, which began, with penalties, in 2004. But some have escaped suspicion, like Biggio, who fared well in his ballot debut and is likely to be inducted in the next few years.
Others, like the former Mets catcher Mike Piazza and the former Houston first baseman Jeff Bagwell, were muscle-bound sluggers in an era when many such players were taking steroids. They are viewed skeptically by some but have never been linked to performance-enhancing drugs, and both got more votes than Bonds and Clemens: 59.6 percent for Bagwell and 57.8 percent for Piazza in his first time on the ballot.
The player with the second highest percentage was Jack Morris, the former ace of the Detroit Tigers, the Minnesota Twins and the Toronto Blue Jays. He received 67.7 percent. It was the 14th appearance on the ballot for Morris, who has one more year of eligibility on the writers' ballot and faces a crowded field of candidates next year.
In addition to Bonds, Clemens, Sosa and the other holdovers, voters will consider a strong class of newcomers, including Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Frank Thomas, Mike Mussina and Jeff Kent. All will be on the ballot that writers will receive in December 2013. Writers can vote for no more than 10 candidates.
Other top players who fell short of election Wednesday were Tim Raines (52.2 percent), Lee Smith (47.8 percent), Curt Schilling (38.8 percent, in his first time on the ballot) and Edgar Martinez (35.9 percent). Two members of the 500 home run club — Mark McGwire, an admitted steroid user, and Rafael Palmeiro, who failed a test in 2005 — received less than 20 percent of the vote.
Glad to see Hank O'Day gets some HoF loving, though. :)
Surprised Jack Morris didn't get the push over the 75% mark.
I don't know if anyone on the ballot actually deserved to get in or not, but the whole process is screwed up. Baseball writers are the most pretentious pieces of shit and giving them this much power only makes them worse. I know the veterans committee is part of the process and I'm cool with that, but goddamnit I hate the writers.
Quote from: derspiess on January 09, 2013, 03:50:52 PM
Baseball writers are the most pretentious pieces of shit and giving them this much power only makes them worse.
While I agree with this sentiment, the writers are not really the problem here.
All of the non-steroid era candidates are borderline at best, and the failure to admit from that group is not a great outrage. The best of them is the Rock - and he increased his share to over 50%. I really think he should be in but leaving him off isn't like scratching the ballot for Mays, Mantle, Schmidt or Seaver (all of which some writers did in the past).
The problem is obviously the steroid era candidates and the writers collectively clearly have no idea how to handle them or what standard to apply. So some are just ignoring the roids, some are voting no on anyone from the era who could be suspected, and some are using some sliding scale evidentiary standard somewhere in between. The net effect is that it is basically impossible for anyone to get to 75%.
At some point either the Hall of Fame Board or the BBWAA has to address this issue squarely and provide clear standards.
My own view is that it is incongruous that people who are clearly among the very greatest to play the game are kept permanently out of the HOF. Over time many have come to accept the exclusion of Shoeless Joe and Charlie Hustle whether because of the legalistic reasoning of their being on the MLB ineligible list, or because of the unique character of gambling, or because of inertia. But it is one thing when it is just two guys. It is another when you are at risk of situation where you can create an entire all star team from guys left out of the hall that would give a run for the money against the all-star team chosen from the Hall, and would probably whip a team chosen at random from Hall members. At that point, the HOF ceases to have real meaning except as a way for us to express our collective contempt for a class of players at a certain time in history.
that's my 2 c but what's more important is that some clear standard be set one way or another.
No Biggio? Fuck the HoF.
Here's a steroid-era all star-team - all of whom some question or rumor has been raised about at some time:
C: Piazza, Ivan Rodriguez
1B: Bagwell, Palmeiro, McGuire
2B: Jeff Kent
SS: ARod
3B: Jim Thome, Adrian Beltre
OF: Bonds, Manny Ramirez, Gary Sheffield, Andruw Jones
DH: Big Papi
Starting Pitcher - Clemens
Relief Pitcher - Gagne
This team would probably beat the pants off a team selected randomly from a list of hall of famers at each position.
I'm still waiting for NL Rickey to get in. I blame Selig and the player's union as much as the individual players for the steroid era, so holding them responsible while giving other elements a free pass bothers me. I'm not surprised this is how things worked out, just disappointed that it came to this.
Ban them for life, then admit them once they're dead. Problem solved! :smarty:
Was Piazza a roider? I do not really remember. I am pretty sure Pudge was.
I don't understand why you would admit someone to the hall of fame that contributed to the really bad position the steroid users put the sport in.
Absolutely include them in the museum. Have giant exhibits on the prowess and records of Bonds, as well as that crazy season where McGwire and Sosa both broke the HR record. I just don't see why those guys should be inducted as members.
Quote from: Valmy on January 10, 2013, 12:35:25 PM
Was Piazza a roider? I do not really remember. I am pretty sure Pudge was.
I don't think there is strong evidence he was.
Quote from: alfred russel on January 10, 2013, 12:41:00 PM
I don't understand why you would admit someone to the hall of fame that contributed to the really bad position the steroid users put the sport in.
Absolutely include them in the museum. Have giant exhibits on the prowess and records of Bonds, as well as that crazy season where McGwire and Sosa both broke the HR record. I just don't see why those guys should be inducted as members.
Bad position? It's not like people stopped going to the games once the truth came out.
Quote from: Valmy on January 10, 2013, 12:35:25 PM
Was Piazza a roider? I do not really remember. I am pretty sure Pudge was.
There was no real evidence against Piazza that I am aware of; other than a bad case of back acne and going from a non prospect to the best hitting catcher ever right in the middle of the Steroid Era
TM.
Quote from: Valmy on January 10, 2013, 12:35:25 PM
Was Piazza a roider? I do not really remember.
Meh, there were more questions about his sexuality than roiding.
And he was an awesome offensive player; shitty defense, though.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on January 10, 2013, 12:32:20 PM
Ban them for life, then admit them once they're dead. Problem solved! :smarty:
I don't understand the logic behind that. Either they merit entry or they don't. It's not appropriate to use a Hall of Fame vote to chastise someone personally.
Quote from: alfred russel on January 10, 2013, 12:41:00 PM
I don't understand why you would admit someone to the hall of fame that contributed to the really bad position the steroid users put the sport in.
The sport put itself in that position.
What I don't understand is why after decades of Hall of Fame voting where little account was ever taken about evidence of illegal drug or PED use, the standard has changed all of sudden.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on January 10, 2013, 01:44:18 PM
It's not appropriate to use a Hall of Fame vote to chastise someone personally.
Why not, the entire press community of Cleveland does it.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on January 10, 2013, 01:44:18 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on January 10, 2013, 12:32:20 PM
Ban them for life, then admit them once they're dead. Problem solved! :smarty:
I don't understand the logic behind that. Either they merit entry or they don't. It's not appropriate to use a Hall of Fame vote to chastise someone personally.
Logic, smogic! The Hall of Fame is about
feelings! :mad:
Look at the stats and place them in accordingly. Simply throw the old asterisk at the end if you absolutely need to and have a legitimate display piece on the Steroid Era and how it happened and why. There have been many "eras" of questionable tactics and now illegal game elements that were used, this is simply the closest one to our era and one that baseball is ashamed of due to every layer's collective refusal to step up and fix it.
Quote from: Benedict Arnold on January 10, 2013, 04:06:58 PM
There have been many "eras" of questionable tactics and now illegal game elements that were used
Nonsense. Ed Walsh would have gone 40-15 with a 1.42 ERA spitball or no spitball.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on January 10, 2013, 12:32:20 PM
Ban them for life, then admit them once they're dead. Problem solved! :smarty:
And that's exactly what happens to those who fail 3 drug tests. Doesn't help at all for anybody on the ballot now, does it?
Quote from: jimmy olsen on January 10, 2013, 12:42:38 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on January 10, 2013, 12:41:00 PM
I don't understand why you would admit someone to the hall of fame that contributed to the really bad position the steroid users put the sport in.
Absolutely include them in the museum. Have giant exhibits on the prowess and records of Bonds, as well as that crazy season where McGwire and Sosa both broke the HR record. I just don't see why those guys should be inducted as members.
Bad position? It's not like people stopped going to the games once the truth came out.
More than any other sport history, statistics, and records matter in baseball, and steroids have really tainted them. That is a bad position for the sport to be in.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on January 10, 2013, 01:48:05 PM
The sport put itself in that position.
What I don't understand is why after decades of Hall of Fame voting where little account was ever taken about evidence of illegal drug or PED use, the standard has changed all of sudden.
Agreed that the sport put itself in that position, but to use an analogy a store that doesn't lock up and leaves the lights on may be inviting robbery, but the people that walk in and take stuff are still criminals.
I think there is a difference between transgressions that affect the integrity of the game and those that are just immoral or crimes. Throwing games is probably the most serious problem a sports league can have. The steroid issue isn't that bad, but it is still bad. Darryl Strawberry doing Scarface amounts of cocaine doesn't do that.
Quote from: alfred russel on January 10, 2013, 09:03:39 PM
I think there is a difference between transgressions that affect the integrity of the game and those that are just immoral or crimes. Throwing games is probably the most serious problem a sports league can have. The steroid issue isn't that bad, but it is still bad. Darryl Strawberry doing Scarface amounts of cocaine doesn't do that.
PEDs have been ubiquitous in baseball since WW2 and the HOF is full of people known to have used them (e.g. Mantle, Schmidt, Stargell); the only thing that changed in the 90s is that the technology became more sophisticated.
The degree of significance attached to PED use is well illustrated by relative penalties that were in place during the time period the players at issue here were playing:
+ Gambling - lifetime ban
+ Throwing a spitball - automatic 10 day suspension
+ Steroid use, initial violation - referral to treatment, no discipline
It's true that multiple violations could lead to disciplinary action and even explusion (as with Steve Howe) but the message here was clear - MLB did not view PEDs as posing serious risks to the competitive bona fides on the game, as opposed to risks to the game's image generally and player health. What changed that perception was simply the assault on baseball's most "hallowed" statistical record - the single season HR mark. If it came out in 1961 that Maris was popping greeenies like a demon (he wasn't - this is hypothetical) perhaps history would have played out differently.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on January 11, 2013, 09:48:46 AM
PEDs have been ubiquitous in baseball since WW2 and the HOF is full of people known to have used them (e.g. Mantle, Schmidt, Stargell); the only thing that changed in the 90s is that the technology became more sophisticated.
The degree of significance attached to PED use is well illustrated by relative penalties that were in place during the time period the players at issue here were playing:
+ Gambling - lifetime ban
+ Throwing a spitball - automatic 10 day suspension
+ Steroid use, initial violation - referral to treatment, no discipline
It's true that multiple violations could lead to disciplinary action and even explusion (as with Steve Howe) but the message here was clear - MLB did not view PEDs as posing serious risks to the competitive bona fides on the game, as opposed to risks to the game's image generally and player health. What changed that perception was simply the assault on baseball's most "hallowed" statistical record - the single season HR mark. If it came out in 1961 that Maris was popping greeenies like a demon (he wasn't - this is hypothetical) perhaps history would have played out differently.
It isn't just the single season home run mark: it is almost every statistic in baseball. It also isn't just a question of how baseball considers the matter on an individual basis (which is tied into labor agreements and lack of certainty regarding guilt or innocence).
The steroid debacle is arguably the second largest scandal the sport has ever had--and imo will have longer lasting effects. I don't see the need to specifically honor people associated with a major scandal on the basis of statistics they generated in part fueled by the source of the scandal. Put them in the museum, but leave them out of the hall, imo.
Is it really a scandal when EVERYONE in the sport (players, player's union, owners, teams, commissioner, media, fans) all knew and condoned it for so long?
Quote from: alfred russel on January 11, 2013, 12:36:46 PM
It isn't just the single season home run mark: it is almost every statistic in baseball.
The fact is that no one cared until after the big single season numbers were put up and then Congress decided to make a circus out of the affair.
Let's take another big number - the record for lifetime home runs. Hank Aaron broke the record in the early 70s - and he was able to do that because he played over 3000 games and was having 40+ home run seasons into his late 30s. How did he do that? Mostly because like say Barry Bonds, he was an incredibly talented natural hitter who trained hard.
But also because like Barry Bonds he took PEDs. Like most many major leaguers of that day, he took amphetamines to help him maintain focus and concentration and to fight off fatigue. Poor old Babe just had hot dogs and beer.
Now how many of Aarons 755 homeruns would he have not hit without the boost he got from the greenies? We will never know; just like we don't know how many of Bonds' homeruns would still have been hit without the juicing.
Writers in the 50s, 60s, and 70s knew all about this. They knew that baseballs most beloved stars - icons like Mays, Mantle and Aaron - used PEDs as did legions of less distinguished players. And they kept it quiet. When Jim Bouton broke the wall of silence and outed Mantle (among others) the reaction wasn't horror at how baseballs greatest idols were using chemical aids to cheat, it was outrage at Bouton for snitching. And the Commissioner's office reinforced the message by announcing policies that while denouncing chemical use, made it clear through the weak disciplinary consequences that PED use not considered overly consequential as long as the players were discreet about it.
The HOF vote is one of the most egregious examples of closing a barn door too late I have ever seen. Accepting it requires accepting gross hypocrisy and double standards. If we are really serious about "character" being an real criterion and about PED use being a scandal akin to the Black Sox, then the current composition of the HOF is a scandalous mockery and an immediate mass purge is required because the Hall is full of PED users, rule breaking cheaters, and persons of low character. Otherwise all that is happening is a lot of chest-beating writers engaging in moralistic posturing and using the petty authority conferred upon them by the HOF to play to the cheap seats of the gallery and take pot shots at the rich, arrogant talents they once fawned over.
Quote from: alfred russel on January 11, 2013, 12:36:46 PM
It isn't just the single season home run mark: it is almost every statistic in baseball.
Hardly. Who knows exactly when the "Steroids Era" started, but if you look at single season batting average, with one exception, the top 125 marks of all time are all from more than 20 years ago--most of them far longer ago than that. (And the exception is the 1994 season of Tony Gwynn, who is hardly a prime suspect for steroids use.) For most other stats, it's much the same story. The only exceptions really are home runs and saves (and changes in the saves records are mostly because of how relief pitcher usage has changed).
Quote
I don't see the need to specifically honor people associated with a major scandal on the basis of statistics they generated in part fueled by the source of the scandal. Put them in the museum, but leave them out of the hall, imo.
I'd find that position more defensible if we actually knew who did or didn't use steroids.
Quote from: The Minsky MomentPoor old Babe just had hot dogs and beer.
Some people are fond of pointing out that steroids usage isn't just against the rules of baseball, but also illegal. First, that's not technically true--steroids aren't illegal, just controlled and can be legally obtained (though it's probably true that very few if any athletes who are using have obtained their supply legally). And for the majority of Babe Ruth's career, the beer he drank was illegal, too.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on January 11, 2013, 01:22:15 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on January 11, 2013, 12:36:46 PM
It isn't just the single season home run mark: it is almost every statistic in baseball.
The fact is that no one cared until after the big single season numbers were put up and then Congress decided to make a circus out of the affair.
Let's take another big number - the record for lifetime home runs. Hank Aaron broke the record in the early 70s - and he was able to do that because he played over 3000 games and was having 40+ home run seasons into his late 30s. How did he do that? Mostly because like say Barry Bonds, he was an incredibly talented natural hitter who trained hard.
But also because like Barry Bonds he took PEDs. Like most many major leaguers of that day, he took amphetamines to help him maintain focus and concentration and to fight off fatigue. Poor old Babe just had hot dogs and beer.
Now how many of Aarons 755 homeruns would he have not hit without the boost he got from the greenies? We will never know; just like we don't know how many of Bonds' homeruns would still have been hit without the juicing.
Writers in the 50s, 60s, and 70s knew all about this. They knew that baseballs most beloved stars - icons like Mays, Mantle and Aaron - used PEDs as did legions of less distinguished players. And they kept it quiet. When Jim Bouton broke the wall of silence and outed Mantle (among others) the reaction wasn't horror at how baseballs greatest idols were using chemical aids to cheat, it was outrage at Bouton for snitching. And the Commissioner's office reinforced the message by announcing policies that while denouncing chemical use, made it clear through the weak disciplinary consequences that PED use not considered overly consequential as long as the players were discreet about it.
The HOF vote is one of the most egregious examples of closing a barn door too late I have ever seen. Accepting it requires accepting gross hypocrisy and double standards. If we are really serious about "character" being an real criterion and about PED use being a scandal akin to the Black Sox, then the current composition of the HOF is a scandalous mockery and an immediate mass purge is required because the Hall is full of PED users, rule breaking cheaters, and persons of low character. Otherwise all that is happening is a lot of chest-beating writers engaging in moralistic posturing and using the petty authority conferred upon them by the HOF to play to the cheap seats of the gallery and take pot shots at the rich, arrogant talents they once fawned over.
Most of us use drugs to stay alert in our careers: drinking coffee is a common way to ward off fatigue. Some drug use, even illegal drug use, is tolerated. PEDs are not all created equal. A lot of people look at the transformation of the bodies of players like Bonds and McGwire and think that crosses a line that taking stimulants to stay alert don't. I don't follow why anything short of a bright line standard is gross hypocrisy especially when judging something as subjective as the Hall of Fame.
I also don't see it so much as a character issue as an effect on baseball issue.
Joan, I think that post deserves a sound track.
Quote from: alfred russel on January 12, 2013, 12:03:28 AM
Most of us use drugs to stay alert in our careers: drinking coffee is a common way to ward off fatigue. Some drug use, even illegal drug use, is tolerated. PEDs are not all created equal.
Unless you're entering The Matrix there isn't a lot of ambiguity about taking the Green Pill. No one can confuse that with a cup of Joe.
You are right of course that illegal drug use is often tolerated. Indeed, steroid use itself was tolerated for many years - including the very period in which Bonds/Clemens/Piazza/Bagwell etc. were performing. It's not only a double standard, it is a hindsight double standard.
QuoteA lot of people look at the transformation of the bodies of players like Bonds and McGwire and think that crosses a line that taking stimulants to stay alert don't.
Brain Downing transformed his body without (as far as we know) touching a needle outside of his yearly flu shot. With or without steroids, Bonds had an extraordinary training regimen and was going to bulk up no matter what. So where exactly does the line go
QuoteI also don't see it so much as a character issue as an effect on baseball issue.
What is the effect and how does that fit into the HOF criteria?
Best/worst baseball name ever?
http://www.perfectgame.org/players/playerprofile.aspx?ID=346593
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mlb.com%2Fassets%2Fimages%2F4%2F4%2F0%2F41341440%2Fcuts%2Ffenway_parks_vpifera5_qnu3flgl.jpg&hash=b83f2a81400681a1de73dd24f0193d53dd922dde)
That guy is a high schooler? He looks like a 30-year-old.
With that name, I expected a Korean.
Hey, katmai, what do you think of Lincecum's new look? :P
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/843889_10151437931192451_1153319835_o.jpg)
Though it's not as shocking a transformation as Brett Keisel's annual de-bearding.
If it helps him drop his ERA by 3pts i'm all for it! :P
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8914127/jonah-keri-worst-contracts-mlb
QuoteThe 15 Worst Contracts in Baseball
Mike Trout. Andrew McCutchen. Ryan Braun. We've broken down the 50 most valuable trade assets in baseball, a list stuffed with MVP candidates and colossal bargains.
Unfortunately, many teams aren't lucky enough to have blue-chippers signed to wildly favorable contracts. Worse, some of those teams are carrying players signed to deals that are so miserable, you couldn't give them away for free. We've brought you Grantland's MLB Trade Value Rankings. Time for the Negative Trade Value Rankings.
The players you'll find on this list aren't uniformly bad. In fact, several of them would be great assets to all 30 teams; that is, if their contracts weren't so terrible for their employers. But all of them would attract little to no interest if they were made available for trade tomorrow. In many cases, you'd have to pay the other team just to take these players off your hands (see the sidebar for a full list of Trade Value rules).
Let's meet our albatrosses.
Negative Trade Value Rules
1. Contracts matter. Per FanGraphs, Alfonso Soriano and Josh Willingham were both worth about four Wins Above Replacement in 2012. Debate the specifics of WAR if you wish, but the two players posted similar numbers if you use traditional stats too. But the Twins owe Willingham $14 million over the next two seasons, while the Cubs have committed $36 million to Soriano over that same span. One can debate whether or not $36 million over two years constitutes a big overpay in the current market. But let's just say Soriano was considered for this Negative Trade Value list, while Willingham, by any reasonable standard, is a bargain.
2. We shouldn't speak in absolutes about these players' trade value. Several of the players on this list were either recently signed to the contracts they're now on, were recently acquired in an actual trade by an actual team, or both. As long as Guggenheim Partners and the high-rollingest general manager in the business keep running the Dodgers, we can't be absolutely certain these players would have no takers if they were made available. Maybe the better way to frame it is, "There's a good chance 29 teams not named the Dodgers won't touch these guys."
3. A contract that's expensive is not necessarily undesirable. Matt Kemp and Evan Longoria are both owed well more than $100 million for the duration of their deals. They'd still be huge gets for any other team.
4. We're excluding generic replacement-level players. Sure, no one's going to offer much, if anything, for Greg Dobbs. But you can also cut a player like that with little to no financial repercussions. For a player to have Negative Trade Value, he needs to be a burden on his team's payroll and be unattractive to the rest of the league.
5. Deferred contracts don't count. There are players no longer in Major League Baseball who'll collect big chunks of change from their former employers in 2013. Manny Ramirez will make $8.3 million from the Dodgers in 2013 per Baseball Prospectus's excellent Cot's team-and-player-salary tool. Even long-gone stars like Bobby Bonilla, Ken Griffey Jr., and Gary Sheffield have years of paychecks coming to them. We'll leave those guys alone. Same with players who've been dropped from their former teams with a bunch of cash still owed. So Jason Bay doesn't make the list even though the Mets owe him about $21 million (so the Mariners, paying next to nothing, could theoretically find a trade partner for him), and Chone Figgins doesn't either, because his next employer will also pay him very little, with the Mariners picking up the $8 million left on his tab.
Honorable Mention
Jonathan Papelbon, pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies:
Let's start with the usual arguments against paying big bucks for closers. They have a limited impact on the game, throwing one-third or even one-quarter as many innings as top starters; they have a high attrition rate, whether due to injuries, diminished performance, or both; and good closers usually come from humble beginnings and can thus be had cheap. Eric Gagne was an amateur free agent and a failed starter before he became an elite closer, while Fernando Rodney looked washed up before the Rays signed him for next to nothing and turned him into the 2012 version of Mariano Rivera. Still, with Rivera's season-ending injury last season, Papelbon owns the longest uninterrupted track record of health and success for any closer in baseball, with a seven-year run that includes a 2.32 ERA, a best-in-baseball 2.52 FIP, and a strikeout-to-walk rate of about 5-to-1. If you're a team with money to spend, and you've got a dominant relief pitcher in your sights, giving him a lucrative long-term deal isn't the end of the world.
So what's the problem with the three years and $39 million left on Papelbon's contract (four years, $52 million assuming he hits some very reachable performance markers and sees his 2016 salary vest)? It's the rigid way that managers use closers, with Charlie Manuel one of the game's worst offenders. Whether due to fear of being second-guessed, fear of using pitchers in anything but the most predictable circumstances, or simple inertia, closers get used far more often in easy-to-manage, up-two, bases-empty, ninth-inning situations than they do in tie games with runners on and the game actually on the line. Crashburn Alley ran an excellent post documenting the times Manuel could have and should have used Papelbon in high-leverage situations, only to see the manager save his closer for a save situation and have the Phillies go on to lose instead. This happened seven times. Publication date of that post? June 10.
Until the Phillies start using him in situations where he's actually needed, rather than almost exclusively in spots that nearly any pitcher with a pulse can handle successfully 85–90 percent of the time, Papelbon will remain the $200,000 Aston Martin that never leaves the garage. The reason Papelbon merits only honorable mention is because someone, somewhere, might use him properly if the Phillies ever traded him. In a way, this is more of a tragic waste of resources than an untradeable contract.
Carlos Marmol, pitcher, Chicago Cubs:
Sort of like Papelbon in terms of overpaying a pitcher with a limited role, except the Cubs are only on the hook for one more year at a shade less than $10 million. That and unlike Papelbon, Marmol is not a good pitcher, and has more trouble finding the plate than just about anyone else in the big leagues. Even teams who believe in the mystique of the Proven Closer probably wouldn't touch Marmol at this point.
Alfonso Soriano, outfield, Chicago Cubs:
Now that we're down to the final two years of Soriano's hideous-from-day-one eight-year, $136 million contract, you can close your eyes, squint, and make out a not-that-terrible ending. Soriano cranked 32 homers and was a four-win player in 2012; given the going rate for a win on the open market lies somewhere between $5 million and $6 million, you could theoretically argue that Soriano might be a bargain with two years and $36 million left on his deal. Of course two of Soriano's prior three seasons resulted in numbers barely above replacement level. Moreover, this offseason has featured a glut of available corner outfielders: If Jason Kubel is available for $7.5 million a year (and not exactly attracting an army of suitors), what chance does Soriano have at two and a half times that number?
Mark Teixeira, first base, New York Yankees:
It's hard to know exactly what's happened to Teixeira in the four years since he joined the Yankees. An MVP-caliber player when he first put on pinstripes in 2009, his numbers have fallen precipitously since then. Here are his BA/OBP/SLG:
2008 .308/.410/.552
2009 .292/.383/.565
2010 .256/.365/.481
2011 .248/.341/.494
2012 .251/.332/.475
It might be that Yankee Stadium's short porch has goaded Teixeira into more of an uppercut swing from the left side. Perhaps the leaguewide trend toward defensive shifts has led to more outs, whether due to better defensive positioning or Teixeira overcompensating with a different approach. (Teixeira's batting average on balls in play since 2007: .342, .316, .302, .268, .239, .250 — so either defenses have figured him out, or he's on a hellaciously bad streak.) Or maybe age has slowed his bat, leaving the soon-to-be-33-year-old switch-hitter headed in the wrong direction with four years and $90 million left on his deal. There might be another guy on this team getting a lot more grief for his declining skills and terrifying contract. But the Yankees are stuck with Teixeira at this point, almost as much as they are with that other guy.
You can find the rest of the list through the link, the total article is way over the 20000 character limit and I'm not breaking up into multiple posts for you. If you are interested it is a good read.
#1 is pretty easy to guess, but there are some other real head scratchers on there.
Not for why they are on the list, but for why in the hell they were offered those deals.
Woohoo, Zito only made 6th!
Quote from: katmai on February 13, 2013, 06:17:40 PM
Woohoo, Zito only made 6th!
I'm sure he would be Top 5 if he had more than one year left.
Well his performance in playoffs last year bought him a bunch of good will :P
The Orioles are gonna suck this year. Magic: gone. :(
The Italians have done amazing in the WBC...but looking at their roster I see they were very liberal in their definition of 'Italian' :lol:
Quote from: CountDeMoney on February 13, 2013, 08:00:04 PM
The Orioles are gonna suck this year. Magic: gone. :(
Don't stop believing! Because...um...why not?
Quote from: Valmy on March 11, 2013, 02:29:34 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on February 13, 2013, 08:00:04 PM
The Orioles are gonna suck this year. Magic: gone. :(
Don't stop believing! Because...um...why not?
Thing is, they might suck and still win the division. Let's see: The Red Sox may still be completely disfunctional; if they re-started the senior's league, almost the Yankee's whole roster would be eligible; Toronto hasn't proved anything yet; and who know how long the Rays can keep winning with their shoestring finanaces. If I was a betting man, personally, I'd bet on the Rays to win the division, but the Orioles definately have a shot.
Quote from: Valmy on March 11, 2013, 02:29:34 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on February 13, 2013, 08:00:04 PM
The Orioles are gonna suck this year. Magic: gone. :(
Don't stop believing! Because...um...why not?
Why not? Because I remember 1990.
Quote from: dps on March 12, 2013, 02:58:46 AM
Thing is, they might suck and still win the division. Let's see: The Red Sox may still be completely disfunctional; if they re-started the senior's league, almost the Yankee's whole roster would be eligible; Toronto hasn't proved anything yet; and who know how long the Rays can keep winning with their shoestring finanaces. If I was a betting man, personally, I'd bet on the Rays to win the division, but the Orioles definately have a shot.
I saw the Yankees were making a run at Chipper Jones. He had a good season last year which implies he can still play, but on the surface it looks funny to try to plug holes on a really old team possibly breaking down with a guy that is retired.
Quote from: alfred russel on March 12, 2013, 08:59:02 AM
Quote from: dps on March 12, 2013, 02:58:46 AM
Thing is, they might suck and still win the division. Let's see: The Red Sox may still be completely disfunctional; if they re-started the senior's league, almost the Yankee's whole roster would be eligible; Toronto hasn't proved anything yet; and who know how long the Rays can keep winning with their shoestring finanaces. If I was a betting man, personally, I'd bet on the Rays to win the division, but the Orioles definately have a shot.
I saw the Yankees were making a run at Chipper Jones. He had a good season last year which implies he can still play, but on the surface it looks funny to try to plug holes on a really old team possibly breaking down with a guy that is retired.
Well, I could make a joke, but the fact is that they need someone at 3rd if ARod can't go, and I'm not sure who would be available at the position. But I don't see why Jones would sign with them knowing he's likely to be released after a couple months or so if ARod is able to come back. Might be different if instead of retiring, he'd been released and had been trying to find a team to sign with.
Is youkalis hurt too?
No love here for the WBC?
Canada is out, again. I actually sat down and watched the Canada-US game. I forgot how interesting a baseball game can be when it's one game, winner-take-all. I didn't recognize any names besides Joe Mauer, but whatever.
Of course I had to leave around the 7th inning to get some groceries. When I left Canada was up by one run. Of course when I finally found the score (online - it wasn't being reported on any sports channel) it was a US blowout. <_<
Quote from: Barrister on March 12, 2013, 12:30:30 PM
No love here for the WBC?
I watched the US lose to Mexico.
I commented on Italy and their amazing collection of pseudo-Italians earlier :P
Quote from: Barrister on March 12, 2013, 12:30:30 PM
No love here for the WBC?
Canada is out, again. I actually sat down and watched the Canada-US game. I forgot how interesting a baseball game can be when it's one game, winner-take-all. I didn't recognize any names besides Joe Mauer, but whatever.
Of course I had to leave around the 7th inning to get some groceries. When I left Canada was up by one run. Of course when I finally found the score (online - it wasn't being reported on any sports channel) it was a US blowout. <_<
Well, at least you can take comfort in the fact that it wasn't Canada that finished last in the pool and will have to qualify for 2017.
I'd figure that Mexico's last-place finish isn't going down so good there.
The Dominicans are going to win it.
Quote from: fahdiz on March 12, 2013, 12:40:16 PM
The Dominicans are going to win it.
The sorta-Italians are making penne pasta out of them as we type.
WBC has pretty much gone under the radar here, but the Canada-Mexico bench-clearing brawl got some attention.
Anyone else see it? Any comments?
The story is... Canada appeared to have the game well in hand, but Canada was still trying to score (in particular, they laid down a bunt). This upset the Mexicans, who proceeded to narrowly miss the next hitter twice, and then the third pitch hit him in the back. The player then had some words and stepped up to the mound, which quickly devolved into the bench-clearing brawl.
Some are saying that trying to run up the score is against the "unwritten rules" of baseball, but the Canadians response was that since "run differential" was part of tournament scoring they had to do it.
Mexico was being humiliated so they took it poorly. Canada did not nothing wrong there IMO.
Quote from: fahdiz on March 12, 2013, 12:40:16 PM
The Dominicans are going to win it.
I don't know, I figure the Japanese are a good bet to repeat. Or did you mean just the Domincan-Italy game, not the tournament?
If the Dutch or the Italians were to win would anybody in Italy or the Netherlands notice? :hmm:
Quote from: dps on March 12, 2013, 12:51:06 PM
Quote from: fahdiz on March 12, 2013, 12:40:16 PM
The Dominicans are going to win it.
I don't know, I figure the Japanese are a good bet to repeat. Or did you mean just the Domincan-Italy game, not the tournament?
Yeah I think the Japanese are going to repeat.
Quote from: Barrister on March 12, 2013, 12:49:43 PM
WBC has pretty much gone under the radar here, but the Canada-Mexico bench-clearing brawl got some attention.
Anyone else see it? Any comments?
The story is... Canada appeared to have the game well in hand, but Canada was still trying to score (in particular, they laid down a bunt). This upset the Mexicans, who proceeded to narrowly miss the next hitter twice, and then the third pitch hit him in the back. The player then had some words and stepped up to the mound, which quickly devolved into the bench-clearing brawl.
Some are saying that trying to run up the score is against the "unwritten rules" of baseball, but the Canadians response was that since "run differential" was part of tournament scoring they had to do it.
Yep. Had Italy defeated the US to go 3-0 in pool play, and all 3 other teams ended up 1-2, which was still possible at that point, then run differential would determine who besides Italy moved on to the second round.
There's been some suggestion that the Mexicans weren't aware of or didn't understand that, but I find that unlikely. They may have just lost sight of it in the heat of the moment (which is what Rick Renteria, the Mexican manger said, and I have no reason to doubt him). OTOH, I'm not sure it was all about the bunt. Robinson had made some hard slides into 2nd earlier, and while they were clean, sometimes even clean plays cause hard feelings and lead to retaliation.
Quote from: Valmy on March 12, 2013, 12:51:59 PM
If the Dutch or the Italians were to win would anybody in Italy or the Netherlands notice? :hmm:
In the Netherlands, yes. Not so sure about Italy.
Quote from: Valmy on March 12, 2013, 12:46:57 PM
Quote from: fahdiz on March 12, 2013, 12:40:16 PM
The Dominicans are going to win it.
The sorta-Italians are making penne pasta out of them as we type.
Al contrario, mi amigo!
Quote from: dps on March 12, 2013, 12:51:06 PM
Quote from: fahdiz on March 12, 2013, 12:40:16 PM
The Dominicans are going to win it.
I don't know, I figure the Japanese are a good bet to repeat.
The Japanese are awesome but I just have a feeling about the DR...
My first fantasy draft in ~4 hours. I am: unprepared.
Quote from: fahdiz on March 12, 2013, 03:44:29 PM
Quote from: dps on March 12, 2013, 12:51:06 PM
Quote from: fahdiz on March 12, 2013, 12:40:16 PM
The Dominicans are going to win it.
I don't know, I figure the Japanese are a good bet to repeat.
The Japanese are awesome but I just have a feeling about the DR...
I'd just like to point out that I called it. :smarty:
My team. 5th pick in a 12 team league.
C B Posey SF
1B A Gonzalez LAD
2B J Kipnis CLE
SS S Castro CHC
3B M Moustakus KC
1B/3B P Konerko CHW
2B/SS E Aybar LAA
OF A McCutcheon PIT
OF B Harper Was
OF M Trumbo LAA
OF N Cruz Tex
OF C Crisp Oak
UTIL R Howard PHI
Bench N Markakis Balt
P Z Grienke LAD
P K Medlen Atl
P J Shields KC
P A Reed CHW
P J Parker Oak
P R Vogelsong SF
P J Grilli Pitt
P T Wilhelmsen Sea
P B Rondon Det
Bench M Estrada Mil
Bench C Luebke SD
I'm not really sure what to make of this. I don't like it one bit, though I don't think I made too many bad decisions, it just didn't come together right.
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/35006_555467774493865_1056438041_n.jpg)
http://extramustard.si.com/2013/03/29/a-song-of-ice-and-fire-and-baseball/
QuoteA Song of Ice and Fire and Baseball
Pairing Game of Thrones clans with MLB teams
ENTERTAINMENT, LISTS, PHOTOS
BY MALLORY RUBIN
Sunday, March 31, is going to be a beautiful day in America. Why? Well, two reasons: First, the Texas Rangers will take on the Houston Astros on Major League Baseball's Opening Night, and second, Season 3 of the critically-acclaimed drama Game of Thrones will premiere on HBO. Clearly, we at Extra Mustard couldn't ignore such a confluence of epic events. It's a sign from the Seven, a whisper from the weirwoods, a gallop from the Great Stallion forcing us to compare MLB teams and Thrones groups.
Fear not, bibliophobes: We're limiting our references to 10 houses and orders that played roles in the show's first two seasons, so no book spoilers here.
House Lannister: New York Yankees
"I can't stand the wailing of women ... or Red Sox fans." (Getty & HBO)
Rich as a Lannister? Try rich as a Steinbrenner. The Lannisters have the looks, the smarts and the charm, but they're the most powerful family in the Seven Kingdoms because they're the richest. The Yankees have the bats, the gloves and the arms, but they're the premiere franchise in baseball because they've got the most money. A dynasty breeds enemies, though. The Lannisters' hold on the Iron Throne is under siege from myriad would-be rulers, while the Yankees' AL East dominance is being threatened by four fellow challengers. The injuries are mounting, too. Tyrion and Lancel suffered wounds during the Battle of the Blackwater, while Mark Teixeira and Curtis Granderson joined Alex Rodriguez on the DL this spring. But alas: A Lannister always pays his debts, and a Yankee always pays more than any other team for the best available free agent.
House words: Hear Me Roar!
Team words: Hear Me Spend!
House Stark: St. Louis Cardinals
Watching Albert Pujols leave and Tony La Russa retire in the same offseason has to be the baseball equivalent of seeing Ned Stark's head get chopped off, right? And yet, the Cardinals and Starks found a way to persevere. St. Louis made the playoffs in Year 1 AP (After Pujols), and Robb rose up to claim dominion of the North after learning of Ned's execution. The Cardinals have a Young Wolf of their own, as touted prospect Shelby Miller has finally earned a spot in the starting rotation. Cardinals aren't quite as magical as direwolves, but Bran could probably dream his way into one all the same. And can't you just see Arya sneaking her way to the top of the Gateway Arch to take in a home game? While there's no universally beloved team in baseball, the Cardinals, like the Starks, fill the hero role as well as any. They're both old powers, forces in the realm, but rarely showy. Plus, like the Starks, the red birds don't migrate when winter is coming. They stick their opponent with the pointy end and add another trophy to the case.
House words: Winter Is Coming
Team words: Wainwright Is Coming
House Targaryen: Baltimore Orioles
"When my Orioles are grown, we will take back what was stolen from me and destroy those who wronged me." (HBO)
A once-great house forced into irrelevance by the Mad King Aerys II; a once-great franchise forced into irrelevance by the Mad Owner Peter Angelos. Yet after nearly two decades in the shadows, there's hope: Daenerys Targaryen is biding her time across the Narrow Sea with three dragons, while Dylan Bundy is biding his time in the minors with a fastball as hot as dragon fire. Dany made a bit of a scene in Qarth, and the Orioles caused a bit of a stir by earning a wild-card berth in 2012, so Westeros and baseball can no longer ignore these burgeoning threats. Remember: The dragon has three heads, and Oriole Magic is built on the three-run homer.
House words: Fire And Blood
Team words: Heaters And Homers
House Baratheon: San Francisco Giants
The Baratheons technically hold the Iron Throne, but since King Joffrey is really a filthy inbred Lannister, it's kind of a hollow claim. The Giants technically won the World Series two of the last three years, but since the Nationals, Braves and Dodgers seem to be getting all of the preseason NL love, it's kind of a hollow reign. The Baratheons would actually fit in quite well in San Francisco: Robert would have loved being in wine country, while Renly and Stannis would surely appreciate the city's open attitude toward sexuality and religion, respectively. Of course, Stannis is too busy licking his wounds, staring into prophetic fires and plotting his next coup attempt to really drink in culture. If he quit fathering shadow babies for a minute, he could bond with Tim Lincecum over what it's like to be the forgotten man.
House words: Ours Is The Fury
Team words: Ours Is The Freaky
House Greyjoy: Miami Marlins
"Why should I be jealous? Anyone with a few coppers in his pocket can buy a Marlins ticket." (Getty & HBO)
The Greyjoys are Iron Islanders, seafaring folk who fly a Kraken sigil and pray to the Drowned God. You know what else lives in the sea? Marlins! But the parallels don't just run scale deep. Thrones fans hate the Greyjoys, and baseball fans hate the Marlins. Clueless leadership has fueled that contempt. Some free advice for the Greyjoy family and Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria: You can't win rebellions when you sell your soul, and you can't win fans when you sell half your team.
House words: We Do Not Sow
Team words: We Do Now Sell
House Martell: Kansas City Royals
For two seasons, House Martell of Dorne has lurked on the fringes of the story, much like the Kansas City Royals have lurked on the fringes of national relevance. We've heard talk of Dornish wine and Dornish women, and we know House Martell must be pretty powerful if Tyrion deemed it a suitable match for Princess Myrcella, but the Martells have yet to arrive as major players. Likewise, we've heard talk of Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas, and we know KC is supposed to boast enough young talent to put the rest of baseball to shame, but the Royals have yet to break through as serious contenders. Perhaps this will be the season for both.
House words: Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken
Team words: Unproven, Unpolished, Unphased
The Night's Watch: Chicago Cubs
"What the hell do you know about being a Chicago Cubs fan?" (Getty & HBO)
Listen, "I shall wear no crowns and win no glory" is a line in the Night's Watch oath. If that doesn't scream "Cubs!" what does? The North Side's loveable losers have a lot in common with the North's Black Brothers. They're both overlooked outcasts who rarely make a splash, but without them baseball and Westeros would crumble. Speaking of crumbling: Wrigley Field and Castle Black might not be long for this world, though the iconic ivy and ice help mask the decay. Hey, Since Lord Commander Mormont hails from Bear Island and sports "The Old Bear" moniker, do we even need to superimpose a new sigil?
Night's Watch words: Night gathers, and now my watch begins. It shall not end until my death. I shall take no wife, hold no lands, father no children. I shall wear no crowns and win no glory. I shall live and die at my post. I am the sword in the darkness. I am the watcher on the walls. I am the shield that guards the realms of men. I pledge my life and honor to the Night's Watch, for this night and all the nights to come.
Team words: Spring gathers, and now the season begins. It shall not end until it feels like death. We shall take no titles, hold no pennants, father no dynasties. We shall wear no crowns and win no glory. We shall live and die in the field. We are the bats in the darkness. We are the gloves on the ivy-covered wall. We are the shields that guard the North Side from the South. We pledge our careers and honor to the Chicago Cubs, for this season and all the seasons to come — until we can play for a contender.
The Thirteen of Qarth: New York Mets
The Qartheen refer to their walled-in home as "the greatest city that ever was or will be," which seems a bit crazy — but no crazier than fans continuing to refer to their downtrodden franchise as the "Amazin' Mets." The Thirteen of Qarth wear gaudy outfits, hole up in The House of the Undying and boast of vaults filled with incomprehensible riches, but the outfits are literally laced with bugs, the holy tower got penetrated by a teenage girl and the vaults are empty. Meanwhile the Mets play in a snazzy new stadium, make the backpages nearly every day and spend freely on pricey talent, but the Shake Shack line at Citi Field is always too long, the headlines are usually mean jokes and those free agents usually go bust. These groups are fronting power and wealth, but it's all style, very little substance. What's so great and amazin' about that?
Qarth words: The Greatest City That Ever Was Or Will Be
Team words: Meh
The Dothraki: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
"A prince is riding ... His enemies will cower before him in the new-look AL West." (Getty & HBO)
Just as all cities in Essos tremble when a Dothraki herd approaches, all opposing fans and pitchers will shudder when Khal Trout and bloodriders Hamilton, Pujols and Trumbo arrive this season. But as good as that lineup is, the Dothraki and Angels know a khalasar is only as strong as its horses. Can Jered Weaver and C.J. Wilson lead the Angels safely through the Shadow Lands? They've certainly got hair long enough to oil, braid and lace with victory beads. If only former owner and horseman Gene Autry were still around to curse the maegi, swing an arakh and officially anoint Trout "The Stallion Who Mounts the World."
Unofficial Dothraki words: My Sun And Stars
Team words: My Son The Star
House Tyrell: Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers made a string of splashes last season and offseason by acquiring Hanley Ramirez from the Marlins, Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and Josh Beckett from the Red Sox and Zack Greinke via free agency. The Tyrells made quite a splash in Season 2 by funding Renly's run at the throne, then aligning with the Lannisters in battle and a marriage pact. They're high-rollers at Highgarden and Chavez Ravine, big spenders with a real flair for the dramatic. But flashy folk tend to attract scandal, as the McCourts and Ser Loras know all too well. Amid distraction, it's crucial to maintain focus: The Dodgers don't want to be a team in L.A., they want to be the team. Margaery Tyrell doesn't want to be a queen, she wants to be the queen. Gotta have goals, folks.
House words: Growing Strong
Team words: Going Long
:lol: :nerd:
:lol: That is an awesome find.
Quite well done. :nerd:
Rate my ESPN fantasy team Hawt or Nawt.
10 team league, standard scoring, I was drafting 10th; I got the double dip with Fielder and Verlander with the 10th and 11th picks, so I did what I could with all that waiting in between double picks.
GangstaKitty's Knuckleballers (MEOW)
C Joe Mauer, Min C, 1B, DH
1B Prince Fielder, Det 1B
2B Rickie Weeks, Mil 2B
3B Ryan Zimmerman, Wsh 3B
SS Jose Reyes, Tor SS
2B/SS Erick Aybar, LAA SS
1B/3B Ryan Howard, Phi 1B
OF Jay Bruce, Cin OF
OF Desmond Jennings, TB OF
OF Carlos Beltran, StL OF
OF Torii Hunter, Det OF
OF Alfonso Soriano, ChC OF
UTIL David Ortiz, Bos DH
Bench Kendrys Morales, Sea 1B, DH
PITCHERS
P Justin Verlander, Det SP
P Johnny Cueto, Cin SP
P James Shields, KC SP
P Jonathan Papelbon, Phi RP
P Mike Minor, Atl SP
P Edwin Jackson, ChC SP
P Trevor Cahill, Ari SP
P A.J. Burnett, Pit SP
P Alex Cobb, TB SP
Bench Clay Buchholz, Bos SP
Bench Jason Vargas, LAA SP
Waive the Boston shit.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on March 31, 2013, 09:04:07 AM
Rate my ESPN fantasy team Hawt or Nawt.
10 team league, standard scoring, I was drafting 10th; I got the double dip with Fielder and Verlander with the 10th and 11th picks, so I did what I could with all that waiting in between double picks.
GangstaKitty's Knuckleballers (MEOW)
Pick 10 sucks, with all of the guys that come off the board between your picks you really have to take more chances than you would in other positions.
My comments are probably only relevant if you are doing a weekly head-to-head league, your method is probably much better for a rotisserie league format where a balanced team is much more important. You do seem to have a decent balance between speed and power. You have a couple of guys who are doing to really hurt your batting average, but hopefully the rest of your team can pull them up.
It is hard to judge your team because it is so far from my normal philosophy (which is neither good nor bad). I don't like pitchers in fantasy baseball and don't draft them high at all, I prefer to draft a bunch of stud hitters who play every day and MacGyver together a pitcher staff of late round boom or bust/rookies/older players/guys coming off injury and play the free agent and waiver wire market hard. I also like to have 3-4 mid to low tier closers.
I pretty much punt the pitching ratio categories and try to win 3-4 offensive cats each week. Then with 3-4 closers you should be in the running on Saves and then I try to win Wins and Strikeouts just through sheer numbers by streaming a bunch of trash from the waiver wire through the last spot or two in my rotation on a weekly basis. It looks like you are punting saves though so that wouldn't work; maybe you could completely give up saves and trade Papelbon for another stick in your outfield.
Oh yeah. Opening Day. :cheers: :punk: :yeah:
Quote from: sbr on March 31, 2013, 11:16:41 AM
Pick 10 sucks, with all of the guys that come off the board between your picks you really have to take more chances than you would in other positions.
My comments are probably only relevant if you are doing a weekly head-to-head league, your method is probably much better for a rotisserie league format where a balanced team is much more important. You do seem to have a decent balance between speed and power. You have a couple of guys who are doing to really hurt your batting average, but hopefully the rest of your team can pull them up.
It is hard to judge your team because it is so far from my normal philosophy (which is neither good nor bad). I don't like pitchers in fantasy baseball and don't draft them high at all, I prefer to draft a bunch of stud hitters who play every day and MacGyver together a pitcher staff of late round boom or bust/rookies/older players/guys coming off injury and play the free agent and waiver wire market hard. I also like to have 3-4 mid to low tier closers.
I pretty much punt the pitching ratio categories and try to win 3-4 offensive cats each week. Then with 3-4 closers you should be in the running on Saves and then I try to win Wins and Strikeouts just through sheer numbers by streaming a bunch of trash from the waiver wire through the last spot or two in my rotation on a weekly basis. It looks like you are punting saves though so that wouldn't work; maybe you could completely give up saves and trade Papelbon for another stick in your outfield.
I dispensed with last year's strategy of trying to pile up Ks and SVs and ERA with relievers and closers, runs, RBIs, OBP and steals as far as sticks went; didn't work out, and I finished 9th. I went back to a more balanced team (scoring is daily, not weekly), since I've seemed to fare better in previous seasons with that approach.
I skimped on OF, since keeping an eye on guys getting hot on waivers is, IMHO, more productive than sacrificing than the every day position players. I prefer doing that than trying to Kreskin pitchers like you do: all it takes is one bad outing to totally fuck up a pitcher that only gets one start a week. And OFs are a dime a dozen, I'll burn through them all season long. You never know when you uncover the next 2011 Mike Cuddyer or something.
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Good old A-Rod. Best thing to ever happen to Yankee haters (yes there is 2009 but every other year more than makes up for it)
Why Jeffrey Loria was ever permitted to get near a baseball team is still one of the world's great unsolved mysteries.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on April 01, 2013, 10:38:33 AM
Why Jeffrey Loria was ever permitted to get near a baseball team is still one of the world's great unsolved mysteries.
Does MLB require approval of the other owners for somebody to purchase a team, like the NFL?
Not that the NFL has ever done anything to stop assclowns with money to ruin franchises or anything, but still.
Well it stopped snowing and the sun is out. And it got above 40F. Game isn't til late afternoon but so far so good :)
Watching the BoSox-Yanks; pretty ironical how they played the Imperial March from Star Wars during BoSox intros, and the Throne Room during Yankee intros.
I mean, really now: just who is the Evil Empire here after all?
Yankees opening day lineup would be lucky to score against a team of Ewoks.
Volquez for Padres is at over 45 or so pitches after two innnings. :pinch:
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on April 01, 2013, 10:38:33 AM
Why Jeffrey Loria was ever permitted to get near a baseball team is still one of the world's great unsolved mysteries.
Being friends with the commissioner has its benefits. :bleeding:
I'm hoping I can find a bar that will show the Indians game for me tomorrow.
Nice day at the ballpark. Didn't stay for all 13 innings but got my fix. Maybe it was because I worked most of the day and didn't start drinking sometime in the morning, but the all the drunks outside the stadium (there are actually good bars & restaurants to hang out at now) annoyed the piss out of me. It was a later game than usual for the opener, but just like with Bengals primetime games, people around here start drinking really early and don't know how to pace themselves.
Nomaaah is doing the Cardinals-Diamondbacks game. Not doing too horrible a job. Thank God baseball season is finally here. Spring training/pre-season is just unwatchable for me.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on April 01, 2013, 12:48:12 PM
Yankees opening day lineup would be lucky to score against a team of Ewoks.
The Astros are in the AL now, so at least they can get some runs this year.
Quote from: derspiess on April 01, 2013, 10:09:37 PM
Nomaaah is doing the Cardinals-Diamondbacks game. Not doing too horrible a job. Thank God baseball season is finally here. Spring training/pre-season is just unwatchable for me.
Yeah, watching a bit of it, especially since I picked up Carpenter on waivers. Way to go with the DP, dude.
Quote from: derspiess on April 01, 2013, 10:09:37 PM
Nice day at the ballpark. Didn't stay for all 13 innings but got my fix.
Still kinda weird to start the season with an interleague game.
Sadly the norm now <_<
Yup. They should either remove 3 teams in each league (fat chance) or add one each. Let's bring back the Expos and add a Northwest team (Vancouver, Portland . . . ).
Quote from: Syt on April 02, 2013, 02:15:58 AM
Let's bring back the Expos and add a Northwest team (Vancouver, Portland . . . ).
Good ideas, both.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on April 01, 2013, 10:44:21 AM
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on April 01, 2013, 10:38:33 AM
Why Jeffrey Loria was ever permitted to get near a baseball team is still one of the world's great unsolved mysteries.
Does MLB require approval of the other owners for somebody to purchase a team, like the NFL?
Not that the NFL has ever done anything to stop assclowns with money to ruin franchises or anything, but still.
His Miami ownership is his reward for getting the Expos out of Montreal.
So as always, the MLB channel (or Time Warner Cable, dunno which) screws me out of seeing the Cardinals. I'd like to know how Giants-Dodgers is more "regional" for my area than a Cardinals game.
Quote from: derspiess on April 02, 2013, 10:01:28 PM
So as always, the MLB channel (or Time Warner Cable, dunno which) screws me out of seeing the Cardinals. I'd like to know how Giants-Dodgers is more "regional" for my area than a Cardinals game.
Giants-Dodgers is the national game that's going to most areas of the country.
Quote from: dps on April 02, 2013, 10:24:12 PM
Quote from: derspiess on April 02, 2013, 10:01:28 PM
So as always, the MLB channel (or Time Warner Cable, dunno which) screws me out of seeing the Cardinals. I'd like to know how Giants-Dodgers is more "regional" for my area than a Cardinals game.
Giants-Dodgers is the national game that's going to most areas of the country.
But the listing says "regional coverage: Cards-D'backs or Giants-Dodgers"
Giants vs Dodgers is the marquee matchup these days. :P
Yu Darvish one out from a perfect game. Ow. :( The Tribe won though, so I'm pumped. Now to keep it going. Which could be incredibly tough since Ubaldo Jimenez pitches next. :(
Quote from: Benedict Arnold on April 03, 2013, 01:13:19 AM
Yu Darvish one out from a perfect game. Ow. :( The Tribe won though, so I'm pumped. Now to keep it going. Which could be incredibly tough since Ubaldo Jimenez pitches next. :(
Yeah, a true shame. And ESPN's headline is painful even to someone like me who enjoys puns:
"OH NO YU DIDN'T"
So my first two fantasy roster moves involved Cardinals; adding Matt Carpenter in the short run, and John Jay for the long haul. I already have Beltran on the roster, so my OF is very red.
Fuckers better produce. I'd feel better if Tony LaRussa was still around. :(
Wahoo! First place baby!
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn-www.i-am-bored.com%2Fmedia%2Ftampa-bay-rays-sign.jpg&hash=900b6e1017f6c67c6a4c3aea3fbaebeeb32a54ff)
That's wrong, but hilarious.
Go Cubs? :unsure:
Quote from: Syt on April 06, 2013, 07:13:14 AM
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:face:
Lackey. :(
Dickey gets slaughtered by the Red Sox. :bleeding:
Quote from: Syt on April 02, 2013, 02:15:58 AM
Yup. They should either remove 3 teams in each league (fat chance) or add one each. Let's bring back the Expos and add a Northwest team (Vancouver, Portland . . . ).
Won't happen in Portland. The Powers That Be decided that Portland's a soccer town, not a baseball town. They are likely correct; Timbers games sell out and Timbers fans are considered the best in the MLS even though the Timbers suck, whereas Beavers games were generally pretty empty-seated affairs. Alas.
There was a pretty serious movement to bring MLB to Portland for years; they just couldn't get enough support, and the futbolistas won out.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on April 03, 2013, 06:49:04 AM
So my first two fantasy roster moves involved Cardinals; adding Matt Carpenter in the short run, and John Jay for the long haul. I already have Beltran on the roster, so my OF is very red.
Fuckers better produce. I'd feel better if Tony LaRussa was still around. :(
Beltran is solid-- my favorite Cardinal these days. Matt Carpenter has a ton of potential. John Jay should put up some good numbers for you-- unfortunately for me he puts up good numbers only when they're not needed as much :mellow:
Your boy Carlos and his .190 average ain't doing me any fucking favors.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on April 09, 2013, 04:12:59 AM
Your boy Carlos and his .190 average ain't doing me any fucking favors.
IT'S STILL EARLY
After a 1-3 start, the Cardinals have rallied to go 6-4 with sole possession of 1st place in the NL Central. #12in13
Quote from: derspiess on April 12, 2013, 11:16:03 PM
After a 1-3 start, the Cardinals have rallied to go 6-4 with sole possession of 1st place in the NL Central. #12in13
And the Cubs are off to a start that...well, will probably look a lot like the rest of their season.
Stupid Orioles giftwrapped that game for the Yankees. 3 run error. Hitting into a 4-6-5-6-5-3-4 triple play. WTF, Manny.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on April 12, 2013, 11:29:34 PM
Stupid Orioles giftwrapped that game for the Yankees. 3 run error. Hitting into a 4-6-5-6-5-3-4 triple play. WTF, Manny.
:blink: How did that happen!?
Quote from: jimmy olsen on April 12, 2013, 11:52:24 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on April 12, 2013, 11:29:34 PM
Stupid Orioles giftwrapped that game for the Yankees. 3 run error. Hitting into a 4-6-5-6-5-3-4 triple play. WTF, Manny.
:blink: How did that happen!?
I haven't seen it but I would guess that the 2nd baseman caught a hard line drive that somehow caught 2 runners off base that both got caught in rundowns.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on April 12, 2013, 11:29:34 PM
Stupid Orioles giftwrapped that game for the Yankees. 3 run error. Hitting into a 4-6-5-6-5-3-4 triple play. WTF, Manny.
If you're looking at someone to blame it should be Jones' and his botched catch in the 7th that let 3 Yankees score.
Quote from: sbr on April 13, 2013, 12:03:56 AM
I haven't seen it but I would guess that the 2nd baseman caught a hard line drive that somehow caught 2 runners off base that both got caught in rundowns.
Pretty much, yeah.
The Yankees played Sweet Caroline during the 7th inning stretch tonight.
That was pretty cool of them.
Buck Showalter Terrified To Walk Alone To Mound At Night (http://www.theonion.com/articles/buck-showalter-terrified-to-walk-alone-to-mound-at,32077/)
QuoteBALTIMORE—Calling it "a bad part of the field, plain and simple," Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter told reporters Tuesday that he is terrified of walking to the Camden Yards pitcher's mound by himself late at night. "It's dangerous enough during day games, but you're not going to see me out there on my own once the sun goes down," said Showalter, adding that in the event he has no other choice but to make a visit to the hill at night, he takes a well-lit path and always makes sure to bring a catcher with him. "It's a tough crowd that hangs out in this ballpark, but that mound is definitely the worst. I mean, I don't want to sound racist here, but the last time I stopped by, there was this huge Mexican guy with a baseball bat standing no more than 60 feet and 6 inches away from me. No thank you." Showalter added that he also makes sure to take a wide berth around Camden Yards' perilous outfield, recounting how last fall he was robbed at knifepoint by Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis.
lulz
A lot of people in my office went to the Reds-Phillies game last night that went 9 scoreless innings and then got rained out. I imagine they left with a bit of an empty feeling :lol:
They're going to finish that one at 5:30 today and then start the regularly scheduled game around 7:00.
Beltran is killing me, dude.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on April 17, 2013, 10:45:00 AM
Beltran is killing me, dude.
I swear I've seen every single one of his hits. Every time I turn on the game and he's batting he gets on base :D
Anyway, Matt Carpenter is producing. Jon Jay's kinda in there in the middle, being Jon Jay.
I'm waiting for ESPN to adjust Carpenter's fantasy positions, because he's been playing 2B enough, and they still have him at 1B, 3B and OF. Considering I've lost both my SS (Erick Aybar) and 2B (Jose Reyes :cry:) in the same week, I need them to hurry the fuck up already. It's fucking up my infield. Mark Ellis and Jean Segura are only bubblegum and bale wire fixes.
I keep Jay in the lineup because he's smacking the ball around and crosses the plate. But Beltran needs to wake the fuck up already; I already have to deal with Ryan Howard stinking up my power numbers as it is, and who knows what Ortiz is going to look like when he finally comes back. Thank God for Prince Fielder.
All things considered with all my walking wounded, including Johnny Cueto, I'm in 2nd place in my league.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on April 17, 2013, 11:12:43 AM
(Jose Reyes :cry:)
Key lesson learned: durability is a skill.
There's a reason teams keep letting him move on despite the undeniable talent.
He could've at least waited until August to fold. Fuck. I need the SBs.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on April 17, 2013, 11:12:43 AM
All things considered with all my walking wounded, including Johnny Cueto, I'm in 2nd place in my league.
The moans that went up around town when Cueto got put on the DL were cute. I mean, at least he didn't get cleated in the head by someone and have a career-ending concussion-- you know, like he did to Jason LaRue :angry:
And the Pirates hand the Braves their first defeat on the road. :cool:
Quote from: CountDeMoney on April 17, 2013, 11:33:27 AM
He could've at least waited until August to fold. Fuck. I need the SBs.
Beltran is up close to .260 and has 3 HR. He'll be around .300 by sometime in May.
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Quote from: derspiess on April 19, 2013, 11:40:15 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on April 17, 2013, 11:33:27 AM
He could've at least waited until August to fold. Fuck. I need the SBs.
Beltran is up close to .260 and has 3 HR. He'll be around .300 by sometime in May.
He's had a good week; unfortunately, Jay's tailed off, as if they've switched places. Oh well.
I was right to have drafted Poppy Ortiz's injured ass and activate him immediately, though. :smarty:
Cards win a close one, thanks mostly to them not having to use the bullpen but for a couple outs. Reds tie it up in the bottom of the 9th as their lucky asses tend to do, but have *their* bullpen get cold-cocked in the 10th, with surprisingly no answer for it in the bottom of the 10th. Cards slide back into 1st.
Can't wait to get into work tomorrow. Cocky fuckers were giving me so much shit.
The Red Sox have been surpistingly good this season. I'm really glad I bout the online MLB pckage. :)
Reds & Cards are being too nice to each other. More fights plz.
I hope they do, if only to wake Jay Bruce the fuck up this season.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on April 30, 2013, 09:48:01 PM
I hope they do, if only to wake Jay Bruce the fuck up this season.
People are ready to run Bruce out of town. Good thing for him people still hate Dusty Baker even more.
Anyway, Beltran is about where I thought he'd be so far. Jay is has been surprisingly clutch but his numbers are still lagging (opposite of his normal pattern).
Cards starting pitching is tearing it up, and they have what looks like a solid closer in Mujica. They need to get some decent middle relievers, though.
Quote from: derspiess on May 08, 2013, 10:35:06 PM
Anyway, Beltran is about where I thought he'd be so far.
Yeah, he's turned out to be the least of my fantasy team problems now.
QuoteJay is has been surprisingly clutch but his numbers are still lagging (opposite of his normal pattern).
1 HR, man. One. Gack.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on May 08, 2013, 10:40:36 PM
1 HR, man. One. Gack.
He's actually got 3. But if you picked up Jon Jay for home runs, you will be disappointed.
Ah, I was talking about Jay Bruce. I dropped John Jay a couple weeks ago.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on May 08, 2013, 10:54:17 PM
Ah, I was talking about Jay Bruce. I dropped John Jay a couple weeks ago.
Ouch. Well, Bruce did pick up one more HR today, but it did nothing to satisfy the yokels as it happened when they were down something like 7-1.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on May 08, 2013, 10:54:17 PM
I dropped John Jay a couple weeks ago.
That'll show him what happens when you sign sweetheart treaties with the British.
I believe I mentioned something earlier about the Cards' starting pitching being pretty decent. Shelby Miller just pitched a 1-hit complete game. Who knows how long it'll last, but I haven't seen their starters this good since-- 1985??
Watching MLB Network Strike Zone. Nice getting a glimpse of the Cardinals, but the Astros and Giants orange jerseys succeeded in giving me a headache.
edit: Oh, goodie. They're showing the Astros and Giants games simultaneously now :bleeding:
Fear the Gigantes!
Saw my favorite Orioles reliever of all time last night at my niece's choral recital, my man Tippy. Nobody stared down the plate like he did. Picked off three Blue Jays in one inning.
Why is he stalking your niece.
:lol: Good one.
He's a grandfather now, Muttski.
Cardinals have the best NL record at 24-13. Rangers have the best AL record at 24-13. Didn't work out last year but a 2011 WS rematch would be fun.
Quote from: katmai on May 10, 2013, 10:23:47 PM
Fear the Gigantes!
:D
I can (and do root for the Braves) at the pub, but they know when it's a SF vs. Atlanta game, I'm with SF.
Bryce Harper is turning out to be an entertaining player.
Since the Caps season has ground to its predictable conclusion it is time to focus on the Orioles. I usually listen to 105.7 in Baltimore is that the best station for Orioles talk CdM?
That loss last night Fing sucked but the season has started better than I would have hoped.
Yeah, I like 105.7 for sports talk. They have a lot of bleedover of Ravens coverage during the call-in shows, though.
1090AM is good too, mainly because it's the broadcast network for the Orioles games, so you get good coverage pre- and post-game. 1300AM has good sports coverage, but it's also a lot of CBS Sports programming. But they're both AM. :yuk:
But overall, I prefer 105.7
Is 98 Rock still a good station? I used to get that clear as a bell in Newark, DE. But when I moved to Wilmington I couldn't get it at all.
It's still there, very popular morning drive show. I don't always listen to it--terrestrial rado-wise, I prefer more alternative stuff like Towson's radio station--but they still play your standard rock during the days, and more cutting edge rock after prime time in the evenings. DC101's still doing their thing, too.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on May 15, 2013, 04:24:38 PM
It's still there, very popular morning drive show. I don't always listen to it--terrestrial rado-wise, I prefer more alternative stuff like Towson's radio station--but they still play your standard rock during the days, and more cutting edge rock after prime time in the evenings. DC101's still doing their thing, too.
Cool, might tune in sometime.
ESPN's battle of the uniforms is down to the final 8. Cardinals are leading the Pirates in their matchup.
http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/post/_/id/9275345/quarterfinal-round
Yeah, been keeping an eye on that :lol: Surprised the Orioles have gotten as far as they have, really don't see them getting past the Tigers. Detroit's a purist's porn uni.
Love the Dodgers all-whites, but the Cards should edge them out, only to lose to east-coast Boston bias.
Anything the Giants don't win is suspect and just wrong.
Watched an extended snippet of the Nats-Dodgers game. Forgot how much Vin Scully sounds like some speech synthesizer.
Timmy was right about Mike Piazza.
Latest study suggests that he was consistently above average in pitch framing, to the tune of 5-6 runs per year. That would make up for any arm issues.
I think he is over the HOF line in any case but this just bolsters the case.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on May 16, 2013, 04:49:33 PM
Timmy was right about Mike Piazza.
I was right about him first. Timmay Taint cannot hurt him.
So did Piazza turn out to be gay or no?
HE WAS NEVER GAY DAMMIT
Not that there's anything wrong with that.
There were some rather strong rumors.
That was just Mets hate. It was all being generated from the Bronx.
Anyway, the Cardinals lost today so they only take 3 of 4 games vs. the Mets. Reds just swept the Marlins :rolleyes: so all my Reds fan friends are giving me shit even though their team is still 1.5 games behind the Cards.
Giants hopefully break the losing streak tonight in Colorado.
I got a kick out of this Ty Cobb documentary.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPDJ_-ZT1-I
I splurged & got mlb.tv premium for this month. No native app for Google TV so I have to watch it through the browser. Looks okay but my controls are obscured from view. Runs great on Xbox, though Kinect thinks I'm trying to rewind or something whenever I reach for a beer.
This losing streak is just one kick in the balls after the next.
Quote from: Valmy on May 20, 2013, 10:37:40 PM
This losing streak is just one kick in the balls after the next.
Holy shit, I've seen parts of the last few O's games but didn't realize they've lost 6 straight. When the Cards go on a skid it gets so painful after the 4th straight loss I avoid looking at scores for a few days.
I know I'm a homer and all, but Yadier Molina is flat-out amazing. It's not so much that he reacts so quickly to a base stealer-- it's like he knows what's going to happen.
Quote from: derspiess on May 20, 2013, 10:55:42 PM
Quote from: Valmy on May 20, 2013, 10:37:40 PM
This losing streak is just one kick in the balls after the next.
Holy shit, I've seen parts of the last few O's games but didn't realize they've lost 6 straight. When the Cards go on a skid it gets so painful after the 4th straight loss I avoid looking at scores for a few days.
The number 6 does not even begin to describe the painful ways the O's have been losing. Three straight blown saves, and that strange ability to always score just enough to lose. That wonderful streak where if your team holds the opposition to 2 they score 1 and if your team explodes for 10 the other team puts up 11.
Quote from: Valmy on May 20, 2013, 11:09:32 PM
The number 6 does not even begin to describe the painful ways the O's have been losing. Three straight blown saves, and that strange ability to always score just enough to lose. That wonderful streak where if your team holds the opposition to 2 they score 1 and if your team explodes for 10 the other team puts up 11.
Reminds me of the Cardinals 1998 season. I think Brantley set some sort of record for blown saves. The bullpen consistently let them down despite some decent run support late in the game. Every time I hear Brantley's voice on the radio for Reds games, I think of that season.
And the league's worst bullpen lets the Padres pull ahead. And the Cardinals's bats went dead late in the game. Why am I staying up to watch this??
A Tribe Called Indians. Wow. I'm loving this season. Of course every season since I defected from the Royals they've had amazing first halves and horrible second half collapses, but even that an improvement over the 13ish years I spent languishing in the hell that is Royals fandom. This team is just so much more alive. From their announcers (Tom Hamilton is amazing) to the players to the underlying sense of hope despite adversity, it's a welcome breath of fresh air.
Well Fuck. :mad:
QuoteRyan Vogelsong felt the best he had in months, then it all ended on one painful swing.
The right-hander broke his throwing hand chasing an inside fastball after pitching himself toward his first win in seven starts, and the San Francisco Giants returned from a terrible road trip to beat the Washington Nationals 8-0 on Monday night.
Inside the Park HR in bottom of 10th to win game! (http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/happened-giants-angel-pagan-delivers-first-walkoff-inside-011147558.html)
Quote from: katmai on May 25, 2013, 09:56:44 PM
Inside the Park HR in bottom of 10th to win game! (http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/happened-giants-angel-pagan-delivers-first-walkoff-inside-011147558.html)
That was about as perfect an off-the-wall bounce that goofy shaped park outfield can deliver.
Quote from: katmai on May 25, 2013, 09:56:44 PM
Inside the Park HR in bottom of 10th to win game! (http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/happened-giants-angel-pagan-delivers-first-walkoff-inside-011147558.html)
Better throws could have gotten him and there was 1 out...The third base coach might have felt bad standing there in the 15th inning if the Rockies got him. Sort of ballsy.
The Rangers unis are okay, but nothing particularly great. I think I actually like the red ones better than the blue ones. I don't like the font though, or at least the little....er...things?...that stick out in the middle of the letters.
I see they were lined up against the White Sox in the first round, so that's and automatic L.
E: Oops, forgot the quote. Uhhhh...I don't know where that is now. Uhhhh
There it is:
Quote from: speissESPN's battle of the uniforms is down to the final 8. Cardinals are leading the Pirates in their matchup.
http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/post/_/id/9275345/quarterfinal-round
Quote from: Benedict Arnold on May 21, 2013, 03:07:41 AM
A Tribe Called Indians. Wow. I'm loving this season. Of course every season since I defected from the Royals they've had amazing first halves and horrible second half collapses, but even that an improvement over the 13ish years I spent languishing in the hell that is Royals fandom. This team is just so much more alive. From their announcers (Tom Hamilton is amazing) to the players to the underlying sense of hope despite adversity, it's a welcome breath of fresh air.
Defected from the Royals?
George Brett will hunt you down and beat you to death with a .390 hitting average. :mad:
I of course have just abandoned MLB entirely, rather than adopt another team. -_-
I'm loving it. The Reds have been on a tear lately & as of today have the second-best record in baseball. But everyone here is still frustrated & pissed off about them trailing the Cards in the division :D
I'm not saying anything, don't want to jinx the Pirates' good run.
Quote from: Syt on May 29, 2013, 12:37:09 PM
I'm not saying anything, don't want to jinx the Pirates' good run.
Too late! :menace:
Quote from: Syt on May 29, 2013, 12:37:09 PM
I'm not saying anything, don't want to jinx the Pirates' good run.
It self-jinxes in July or early August anyway. No need to worry.
Quote from: derspiess on May 29, 2013, 12:41:27 PM
Quote from: Syt on May 29, 2013, 12:37:09 PM
I'm not saying anything, don't want to jinx the Pirates' good run.
It self-jinxes in July or early August anyway. No need to worry.
Yeah, All Star Break is when it went to shit the last two seasons.
Cardinals bullpen fucked up what would have been a win for a kid they just called up & who had started his first game. Wacha went 4 no-hit innings and ended up pitching 7 innings with one run allowed and only 4 hits. Then Mitchell Boggs steps in and allows the tying run in a one-shot HR and walks what became the go-ahead run. Why is that fucker and his 10.00+ ERA on this team.
Very troubling this Giants rotation. :(
The Orioles have resurrected Freddy Garcia's chunky-style ass.
Quote from: katmai on May 30, 2013, 11:33:41 PM
Very troubling this Giants rotation. :(
Good, good... :menace:
I see Cain's ERA is up around 5.00 :)
Quote from: CountDeMoney on May 30, 2013, 11:43:13 PM
The Orioles have resurrected Freddy Garcia's chunky-style ass.
I think it was more reflective of the Nats crappy lineup.
Quote from: Valmy on May 31, 2013, 08:47:09 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on May 30, 2013, 11:43:13 PM
The Orioles have resurrected Freddy Garcia's chunky-style ass.
I think it was more reflective of the Nats crappy lineup.
Nah, he's been pitching decent for a 5th starter since he was brought up from the minors. Only 3-3, but he's pitched 6 or more innings 4 times and has kept it in the park for most of his time, something they've needed.
Hm. The A's and the Angels have closed the gap on the Rangers quite a bit.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on May 31, 2013, 08:50:32 AM
Nah, he's been pitching decent for a 5th starter since he was brought up from the minors. Only 3-3, but he's pitched 6 or more innings 4 times and has kept it in the park for most of his time, something they've needed.
Yeah he has been pretty decent but not 8 shutout innings decent.
Been a pretty encouraging start so far. I know the Birds struggling bullpen has blown alot of leads lately but generally I think the club is better than they were last year and I expect for alot of wins in the second half of the season.
Poor Cain. A 7-run inning and they have to leave him in there to keep the relievers fresh for game 2 of the doubleheader.
Even though he's a yankees fan, thought it was cool story.
Oldest Yankee fan going strong at 111 (http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/111-old-bernando-lapallo-visits-third-different-yankees-151629881.html)
Quote from: katmai on June 02, 2013, 11:07:47 PM
Even though he's a yankees fan, thought it was cool story.
He has seen the greats, so he gets a pass.
Man, I love working the FA and waiver wires in fantasy baseball. You mean to tell me I was the only one that knew Francisco Liriano was coming back?
http://tecmobowl.org/topic/52785-baseball-simulator-2013-nes/
Those of you with NES emulators...your chariot awaits.
Cards-Diamondbacks are in the 14th inning. Dunno why I'm watching, other than to just see it through. Cards always lose in extra innings.
Btw, Matt Carpenter was hit by a pitch 3 times tonight. WTF
Fucking lame Cards <_<
Quote from: derspiess on June 04, 2013, 11:46:47 PM
Btw, Matt Carpenter was hit by a pitch 3 times tonight. WTF
I SWEAR UMP HE WAS FATTER
Quote from: derspiess on June 04, 2013, 11:46:47 PM
Cards-Diamondbacks are in the 14th inning. Dunno why I'm watching, other than to just see it through. Cards always lose in extra innings.
Btw, Matt Carpenter was hit by a pitch 3 times tonight. WTF
Now see, I came up with a rule that would apply in this situation. If the pitcher hits you three times in one game, you get to him once with the bat. The Bosch thing is getting big. I checked the list, so far no cards were on there.
Cardinals draft another college pitcher with a great change in the first round, this time a lefty.
EDIT: Make that two lefties in the first round!
My honest picks for who should start in All Star game.
Now to stuff Ballot box for Giants :menace:
Quote
American League
1B - Davis, Chris
2B - Cano, Robinson
SS - Hardy, J.J.
3B - Cabrera, Miguel
C - Saltalamacchia, Jarrod
DH - Ortiz, David
OF - Cruz, Nelson
OF - Jones, Adam
OF - Trout, Mike
Write-in - N/A
National League
1B - Goldschmidt, Paul
2B - Phillips, Brandon
SS - Tulowitzki, Troy
3B - Sandoval, Pablo
C - Posey, Buster
OF - Beltran, Carlos
OF - Brown, Domonic
OF - Gonzalez, Carlos
Buster Posey over Yadi? Even voting honestly you're a homer.
Cards took 2 of 3 this weekend here in Cincy. I saw both wins. Thus ends my 8-game losing streak as a Cards fan seeing them in person.
Got Tommy a new Cardinals jersey to wear (sure it's, a Lance Berkman jersey I got on clearance but he doesn't care). I could only get him to take it off briefly Saturday night so I could wash it for him to wear Sunday. Took Lola to her first baseball game. Cards dominated offensively and defensively Friday. Yesterday's game was a rough start for St. Louis but they managed to tie it up & get a rare extra innings win due to a monstrous 10th inning highlighted by a Matt Holiday grand slam. All in all a great baseball weekend.
During the game Friday they honored a 92 year old WWII Marine vet. Old dude looked sharp in his dress blues & stood up on the Reds dugout to wave to the crowd.
Thanks to kat's reminder, I made use of some dead time on a conference call to put in my 35 All-Star ballots :D
Of course I voted all Cards, and voted for the few AL guys I liked, semi-randomly filling in the rest of my AL ballot.
My 'honest' All-Star picks would be as follows:
National League
1B - Joey Votto
2B - Marco Scutaro (Phillips probably deserves it more, but I can't stand him)
SS - Troy Tulowitzki
3B - David Wright
C - Yadier Molina
OF - Carlos Beltran
OF - Bryce Harper
OF - Shin-Soo Choo
I don't follow the AL so much so my picks weren't that noteworthy. I did vote for Rick Ankiel on the AL side just for shits & gigs, particularly since he's with the Mets now.
So I'm sitting around the house waiting for the AT&T dude to finish everything up (two week delay there...that was nice), and I noticed there was some minor league baseball on the MLB network, so I turned it on.
Daisuke Matsuzaka was the starting pitcher for one of them (Columbus Clippers), apparently in one of his first games back following some sort of strain, but then had to leave because of a blister. Talk about your career going down the drain.
Huh. I'm bored with the Jets long out of the playoffs, and CFL only in training camps.
Curiously the Royals are doing well recently, and you can get access to mlb.tv for a pretty modest $42 per year. Maybe I should try and get into watching baseball?
Quote from: Barrister on June 11, 2013, 02:08:50 PM
Huh. I'm bored with the Jets long out of the playoffs, and CFL only in training camps.
Curiously the Royals are doing well recently, and you can get access to mlb.tv for a pretty modest $42 per year. Maybe I should try and get into watching baseball?
It's fun. I really like the fact there is almost always a game going on in the evening when you get home from work.
Yep, it's good to have on the background (even as radio broadcast if playing a game) with its relaxed pace. Also, how many sports are there where each team has its own sets of announcers/commentators calling the games? Even with a mediocre team like the Pirates you become attached to the familiar voices.
What is a good online source for news for small-market American teams?
And Syt - hockey certainly has its own sets for announcers for each team. Oh how I miss the nasally tones of Dennis Beyak... :(
Quote from: Barrister on June 11, 2013, 03:20:13 PM
What is a good online source for news for small-market American teams?
Are you specifically looking for Royals coverage?
I'm sure the Kanas City Star has pretty good coverage on the Royals. This blog is written by a very good writer: http://www.ranyontheroyals.com/
Sorry, katmai! :P
You better apologize!
Quote from: stjaba on June 11, 2013, 09:14:03 PM
Quote from: Barrister on June 11, 2013, 03:20:13 PM
What is a good online source for news for small-market American teams?
Are you specifically looking for Royals coverage?
I'm sure the Kanas City Star has pretty good coverage on the Royals. This blog is written by a very good writer: http://www.ranyontheroyals.com/
Well, yes. :blush:
I'll check it out.
Quote from: katmai on June 11, 2013, 11:13:18 PM
You better apologize!
Do you think Lincecum will ever rise back above mediocrity?
Quote from: Syt on June 12, 2013, 12:28:34 AM
Quote from: katmai on June 11, 2013, 11:13:18 PM
You better apologize!
Do you think Lincecum will ever rise back above mediocrity?
I think he's gonna end up following the Eckersley route.
So I turned on the TV tonight and jokingly asked David which team he wanted to watch and he inexplicably answered 'The Giants!'
I was a little taken aback so I asked again and mentioned a few other teams and he answered 'no, I wanna watch the Giants!' so I flipped over the MLB channel and sure enough the Giants were playing the Pirates so we watched the Giants (Pirates won 8-2).
I have no idea how he had even heard of the SF Giants and it was doubly funny that they just happened to also be on that night.
Saw Wacha pitch last night at Citi Field. Looked completely lost in the first inning - couldn't find the plate and gave up a HR to Omar Quintanilla (his 8th in 8 years in the majors). After that he settled down, didn't allow a run. Watching live, it was hard to see how. He doesn't seem to have outstanding stuff, but somehow it works.
Mets were godawful terrible - 1962 level bad. Couldn't hit, couldn't pitch. Couldn't field. Embarrassing to see.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on June 12, 2013, 09:42:17 AM
HR to Omar Quintanilla (his 8th in 8 years in the majors)
:nelson: Take that Aggie.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on June 12, 2013, 09:42:17 AM
Saw Wacha pitch last night at Citi Field. Looked completely lost in the first inning - couldn't find the plate and gave up a HR to Omar Quintanilla (his 8th in 8 years in the majors). After that he settled down, didn't allow a run. Watching live, it was hard to see how. He doesn't seem to have outstanding stuff, but somehow it works.
He was outstanding in his first ever start. Went 7 innings with just 2 hits, no walks and 1 run allowed. Then last week he got shelled by Arizona. Glad he settled in & picked up his first win last night.
God the Cubs suck this year :cry:
Quote from: derspiess on June 12, 2013, 10:29:16 AM
Glad he settled in & picked up his first win last night.
From my vantage point, couldn't really see how the change was working. He did make a couple of guys look bad on early swings. But he also gave up some drives that got caught. In that park against that offense he got away with it, but it would have been ugly in Denver.
Quote from: fahdiz on June 12, 2013, 11:48:04 AM
God the Cubs suck this year :cry:
Here's a book to cheer you up:
http://www.amazon.com/Crazy-08-Boneheads-Magnates-Greatest/dp/0060889381
Very entertaining read, adding a few trivia stories of the time (like the story of a serial killer near Chicago that gripped public attention back then).
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on June 12, 2013, 11:55:40 AM
Quote from: derspiess on June 12, 2013, 10:29:16 AM
Glad he settled in & picked up his first win last night.
From my vantage point, couldn't really see how the change was working. He did make a couple of guys look bad on early swings. But he also gave up some drives that got caught. In that park against that offense he got away with it, but it would have been ugly in Denver.
Dunno. Some pitchers just seem to be able to get guys out. Maybe it's luck-- too early to tell.
Quote from: Barrister on June 11, 2013, 03:20:13 PM
What is a good online source for news for small-market American teams?
My personal favorite site/family of sites: http://www.royalsreview.com/
Again, sorry katmai! :P
Pfft it's early, let's see if have to worry about Pirates come Sep.
:P
Quote from: katmai on June 13, 2013, 12:52:28 AM
Pfft it's early, let's see if have to worry about Pirates come Sep.
:P
:(
There are about 20 people at the Mets-Cardinals game right now, and by the sound of it they're all Cardinals fans :D
Quote from: Syt on June 12, 2013, 12:00:57 PM
Quote from: fahdiz on June 12, 2013, 11:48:04 AM
God the Cubs suck this year :cry:
Here's a book to cheer you up:
http://www.amazon.com/Crazy-08-Boneheads-Magnates-Greatest/dp/0060889381
Very entertaining read, adding a few trivia stories of the time (like the story of a serial killer near Chicago that gripped public attention back then).
:thumbsup: Awesome. I'll have to check that out.
Sorry Syt! :menace:
I almost wish I followed baseball so I could troll Katmai whenever the Cards or Braves beat the Giants. :P
Sorry Eddie Wiggin :(
The Cubs' offense this year comes in spurts - when they win a game, it's by several runs, and yet we can't manufacture the runs when it comes to more important games.
Valmy
Dude
You NEED Uverse or Grande. Right now, they're showing Horns regular season baseball in glorious HD. It's a replay, of course, but still. Yesterday (or Thursday, since its 120), I watched The Major, Ricky, Dusty Renfro (remember him?), and Casey Hampton kick Nebraska's ass.
It's just beautiful. Eric Crouch was a poon.
I got tickets for tomorrow night's Reds-Pirates game, so I suppose I'll appoint myself as Syt's official envoy to the game and root for the Pirates.
Quote from: derspiess on June 17, 2013, 12:38:50 PM
I got tickets for tomorrow night's Reds-Pirates game, so I suppose I'll appoint myself as Syt's official envoy to the game and root for the Pirates.
:hug:
I sure know my family ain't rooting for them. <_<
Quote from: Syt on June 17, 2013, 12:48:17 PM
Quote from: derspiess on June 17, 2013, 12:38:50 PM
I got tickets for tomorrow night's Reds-Pirates game, so I suppose I'll appoint myself as Syt's official envoy to the game and root for the Pirates.
:hug:
I sure know my family ain't rooting for them. <_<
Why not?
They're just indifferent. They prefer football.
Quote from: Syt on June 17, 2013, 01:18:38 PM
They're just indifferent. They prefer football.
A friend of mine from Western PA pretty much told me the same thing Saturday. Too bad-- they have a nice stadium & rich history. Whatever happens later in the season, they're doing well now so people ought to support them.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on June 15, 2013, 01:22:12 AM
You NEED Uverse or Grande. Right now, they're showing Horns regular season baseball in glorious HD. It's a replay, of course, but still. Yesterday (or Thursday, since its 120), I watched The Major, Ricky, Dusty Renfro (remember him?), and Casey Hampton kick Nebraska's ass.
It's just beautiful. Eric Crouch was a poon.
As soon as I can my friend as soon as I can. I guess I will check to see if either are available in my area now.
Quote from: derspiess on June 17, 2013, 01:23:26 PM
Quote from: Syt on June 17, 2013, 01:18:38 PM
They're just indifferent. They prefer football.
A friend of mine from Western PA pretty much told me the same thing Saturday. Too bad-- they have a nice stadium & rich history. Whatever happens later in the season, they're doing well now so people ought to support them.
The people in PA loved them in the 70s through the early 90s, I am sure they will come around. They have just gotten used to ignoring the Pirates.
Quote from: Valmy on June 17, 2013, 01:37:19 PM
Quote from: derspiess on June 17, 2013, 01:23:26 PM
Quote from: Syt on June 17, 2013, 01:18:38 PM
They're just indifferent. They prefer football.
A friend of mine from Western PA pretty much told me the same thing Saturday. Too bad-- they have a nice stadium & rich history. Whatever happens later in the season, they're doing well now so people ought to support them.
The people in PA loved them in the 70s through the early 90s, I am sure they will come around. They have just gotten used to ignoring the Pirates.
You make Maz and Roberto cry.
Caught part of the Tigers-O's game. Arrieta got rocked :pinch:
Pirates need to make the "P" a bit bigger on their away uniforms.
Wow, the Cubs just wasted a very solid pitching effort by Wood.
Quote from: Valmy on June 17, 2013, 01:37:19 PMThe people in PA loved them in the 70s through the early 90s, I am sure they will come around. They have just gotten used to ignoring the Pirates.
The Yinzer bastards have yet to find a bandwagon they don't enjoy the ride on, nor an ability to cheer for a loser. They are the ultimate fair weather fandom. :yucky:
Pirates-Reds turned out to be a nice little game. Perfect weather (rain stopped just in time for warmup) and Reds lose but get the 11 strikeouts needed for all ticketholders to get a free pizza at La Rosa's tomorrow. Pirates relief pitching is pretty damned good.
Apparently the Pirates have won the last 4 games I've seen them play at GABP, so Syt if you order me a ticket I should be able to make it out tomorrow night :D
Quote from: derspiess on June 18, 2013, 10:10:31 PM
Pirates-Reds turned out to be a nice little game. Perfect weather (rain stopped just in time for warmup) and Reds lose but get the 11 strikeouts needed for all ticketholders to get a free pizza at La Rosa's tomorrow. Pirates relief pitching is pretty damned good.
Apparently the Pirates have won the last 4 games I've seen them play at GABP, so Syt if you order me a ticket I should be able to make it out tomorrow night :D
:P
Quote from: Benedict Arnold on June 18, 2013, 01:46:05 AM
Quote from: Valmy on June 17, 2013, 01:37:19 PMThe people in PA loved them in the 70s through the early 90s, I am sure they will come around. They have just gotten used to ignoring the Pirates.
The Yinzer bastards have yet to find a bandwagon they don't enjoy the ride on, nor an ability to cheer for a loser. They are the ultimate fair weather fandom. :yucky:
Really, what's the point of cheering on some guy who makes more in a year than you do in a lifetime as he heroically manages to win 40% of his games?
Quote from: derspiess on June 17, 2013, 10:50:48 PM
Wow, the Cubs just wasted a very solid pitching effort by Wood.
They do that a lot.
Quote from: Syt on June 12, 2013, 12:28:34 AM
Quote from: katmai on June 11, 2013, 11:13:18 PM
You better apologize!
Do you think Lincecum will ever rise back above mediocrity?
See then he goes and puts up numbers like this tonight
QuoteIP H R ER BB K HR
T. Lincecum 5.0 1 1 1 1 7 1
Watching the Mariners game I was reminded that Seattle traded Doug Fister for Charlie Furbush.
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1048713_594143580626284_2121933695_o.jpg)
:D
No repeat for Gigantes if they can't keep anyone healthy.
Quote from: katmai on June 27, 2013, 04:08:03 PM
No repeat for Gigantes if they can't keep anyone healthy.
Yeah, it's like the fucking black plague over there.
Rookie pitcher Cole is now 4-0, despite giving up 3 runs in the first inning. He's also batting .333
Ah, so I see that tool Ken Harrelson is still the main guy on the WGN White Sox announcing crew.
*Indians take the lead*
*2 minutes of background noise*
The Rangers game needs to hurry up and start.
On bandwaggoning Pittsburghers: PNC Park has been sold out five times in a row for the first time since 2001.
Also, the Bucs have the best record in baseball. I will savor it while it lasts (I expect the annual breakdown after the All Star Game. :P ).
Quote from: Syt on June 30, 2013, 01:27:16 AM
On bandwaggoning Pittsburghers: PNC Park has been sold out five times in a row for the first time since 2001.
Also, the Bucs have the best record in baseball. I will savor it while it lasts (I expect the annual breakdown after the All Star Game. :P ).
The Pirates are smoking...like haven't been since Leyland was the manager.
Quote from: Syt on June 30, 2013, 01:27:16 AM
On bandwaggoning Pittsburghers: PNC Park has been sold out five times in a row for the first time since 2001.
Also, the Bucs have the best record in baseball. I will savor it while it lasts (I expect the annual breakdown after the All Star Game. :P ).
If they can keep up their pitching mojo, it may last longer than most people expect.
Indians are back in first! Roll Tribe! :cool:
Bryce Harper with a HR in his first AB off the DL.
He is a punk-ass, but a hell of a player.
Anybody else cast an All-Star ballot yet? My picks:
AL
1B Chris Davis
2B Robinson Cano
SS Jed Lowrie
3B Miguel Cabrera
C Joe Mauer
OF Jacoby Ellersby
Mike Trout
Adam Jones
DH Edwin Encarnacion
NL
1B Joey Votto
2B Matt Carpenter
SS Jean Segura
3B David Wright
C Yadier Molina
OF Micheal Cuddyer
Dominic Brown
Andrew McCutchen
Watched the Red Sox last game, what an error to end on. That 1st base man must be beating himself up over that one.
Homer Bailey is 4 outs away from no-hitting katmai's Gigantes.
Quote from: derspiess on July 02, 2013, 08:37:17 PM
Homer Bailey is 4 outs away from no-hitting katmai's Gigantes.
The Giants are so banged up it isn't even funny/
Quote from: katmai on July 02, 2013, 09:07:53 PM
Quote from: derspiess on July 02, 2013, 08:37:17 PM
Homer Bailey is 4 outs away from no-hitting katmai's Gigantes.
The Giants are so banged up it isn't even funny/
Hmm, so are you suggesting maybe we should put an asterisk next to this one? I suppose I could go along with that. I'll see what the yokels think.
No, not that at all. Looking at lineup it seems to be the predominant starters they have been tossing out most of season and had in World Series last year.
I just meant this year in general has been rough.
Damn. Oh, well...
Not only was that Bailey's second no hitter, no one else has thrown one since Bailey pitched his first.
Quote from: sbr on July 03, 2013, 07:54:53 AM
Not only was that Bailey's second no hitter, no one else has thrown one since Bailey pitched his first.
Yeah, as they keep repeating on the radio here. You'd think the Reds just won the damned Series, the way everyone here is celebrating.
Quote from: derspiess on July 03, 2013, 08:40:30 AM
Quote from: sbr on July 03, 2013, 07:54:53 AM
Not only was that Bailey's second no hitter, no one else has thrown one since Bailey pitched his first.
Yeah, as they keep repeating on the radio here. You'd think the Reds just won the damned Series, the way everyone here is celebrating.
It's not like it would be less of an accomplishment if 4 other guys had thrown no-hitters since September.
Great gift! :D
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/twins-mariano-rivera-rocking-chair-made-broken-bats-040853093.html
QuoteTwins give Mariano Rivera rocking chair made of broken bats
By David Brown | Big League Stew – Wed, Jul 3, 2013 12:08 AM EDT
The Minnesota Twins perfected the practice of giving a meaningful, personalized gift to a star player on a retirement tour with Mariano Rivera in town Tuesday.
The Twins even named the rocking chair made of broken bats they gave to Rivera before playing the New York Yankees at Target Field: The Chair of Broken Dreams, they called it.
A brainchild of manager Ron Gardenhire, the chair is comprised of some of the actual bats broken by Rivera cut fastballs in games against the Twins. Sluggers such as Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau — even Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett — donated wood to the project. Now that's how you treat the all-time saves leader. (Although they probably could have built him a dinette set, if they wanted to.)
That's Glen Perkins (right) and Justin Morneau with Gardenhire on the mic and Rivera on the left.
The Twins also donated $10,000 to Rivera's charitable foundation, which surely made him happy, but perhaps not as happy as when he saw the chair:
Via MLB.com, Gardenhire explained his feelings for Rivera, who has 34 saves against the Twins of the 635 total in his career — including one Tuesday night that capped New York's 7-3 victory:
"He's kind of done it all the right way," Gardenhire said of Rivera. "When you talk about respect of the game, he'll be right up there at the top. He's a player you respect, and the way he's gone about it. A classy individual."
Rivera, who has said he is retiring at the end of the season, has been given some neat gifts along his farewell tour:
A surfboard and a bottle of wine in Oakland by the Athletics, a photo collage of himself along with a jar of Tiger Stadium dirt in Detroit, and a gold record of "Enter Sandman" by the Indians in Cleveland.
All thoughtful, and many unique. But if anybody tops the Twinkies and their rocking chair of broken bats, it'll be an upset.
That's pretty damned cool.
So the Cubs seem...not very good. I mean, sure, it's only 5-2 in the bottom of the 6th, but it feels like the Pirates should be beating them by a fair bit more.
Jeff Samarzjijzjjzjiida or whatever the former Domer WRs name is was having some control issues and was walking a lot of guys, but hey, he made it out of the 6th despite walking two and all that. He's not in anymore, of course.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on July 05, 2013, 05:00:05 PM
So the Cubs seem...not very good. I mean, sure, it's only 5-2 in the bottom of the 6th, but it feels like the Pirates should be beating them by a fair bit more.
The Cubs are not at all good this year.
QuoteJeff Samarzjijzjjzjiida or whatever the former Domer WRs name is was having some control issues and was walking a lot of guys.
That's irregular for him; he's usually quite good. His teammates just can't seem to manufacture the runs or play good defense.
Quote from: fhdz on July 05, 2013, 05:03:16 PM
That's irregular for him; he's usually quite good. His teammates just can't seem to manufacture the runs or play good defense.
The announcers were saying that too. To be fair, some of the pitches that weren't called strikes seemed pretty....borderline...to me, could have gone either way, etcetcetc, although I'm just a dude sitting on the couch. The score should actually be 4-2, but there was a bad call at first in the 5th inning that allowed a run to score.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on July 05, 2013, 05:10:17 PM
Quote from: fhdz on July 05, 2013, 05:03:16 PM
That's irregular for him; he's usually quite good. His teammates just can't seem to manufacture the runs or play good defense.
The announcers were saying that too. To be fair, some of the pitches that weren't called strikes seemed pretty....borderline...to me, could have gone either way, etcetcetc, although I'm just a dude sitting on the couch. The score should actually be 4-2, but there was a bad call at first in the 5th inning that allowed a run to score.
Especially now that Marmol's gone, whatever weaknesses the Cubs have (and they are myriad) they don't really include the pitching staff.
Hm. Watched the O's closer totally blow the save vs. the Yankees, so that sucks, but hey the Rangers are up 10-4 over the Astros in the bottom of the 7th. Maybe they won't blow this LIKE THEY DID THE LEAD IN THE AL WEST <_< :mad:
Let's go Buffalo Bills Rangers!
As a side note, I think now I like the blue/white uniforms of all types more than the red/whites. Maybe. I find all their uniform combos to be pretty solid, except for the font with those little notches or whatever all over the place.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on July 05, 2013, 09:43:17 PM
Hm. Watched the O's closer totally blow the save vs. the Yankees, so that sucks,
Yeah, he's having quite the Nuke LaLoosh season. AL lead in saves, AL lead in blown saves, AL lead in mascots hit in the head.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on July 05, 2013, 09:47:16 PM
Yeah, he's having quite the Nuke LaLoosh season. AL lead in saves, AL lead in blown saves, AL lead in mascots hit in the head.
:D Now I want to watch Bull Durham again. Have there been any good baseball movies made recently?
E: I mean aside from 42. I hear that one is solid, but gotta wait till it comes out on disc. Moneyball was cool too, but I saw that one a while ago.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on July 05, 2013, 09:51:59 PM
E: I mean aside from 42. I hear that one is solid, but gotta wait till it comes out on disc. Moneyball was cool too, but I saw that one a while ago.
Oh well that was the one to see. Harrison Ford was pretty awesome as Branch Rickey. I thought it was really good.
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/1006256_599499410090701_1548216548_n.jpg)
http://throughthefencebaseball.com/mlb-all-star-game-snubs/34967
QuoteMLB All-Star Game snubs upset first-place Braves; change voting process?
I love baseball and breathe it in every day. But I intentionally missed the MLB All-Star Game selection progam. I already knew who the All-Stars were going to be.
Every year, the players selected are players you see promoted every day on ESPN, MLB, FOX Sports, etc., and stats don't really matter. The players who get in aren't always the most deserving players, but not every deserving player can make the team because there aren't enough spots. What upsets me every single year, without fail, is when a few players are voted in over more deserving players.
In my opinion, the MLB All-Star Game voting process is broken, and Atlanta Braves pitcher Tim Hudson echoes my opinion on the snubbed Braves players:
"A lot of times, the better players are even left off the All-Star ballot altogether. And as players, we might have the opportunity to play in the World Series, I think we should determine which starting nine we put out there (in the All-Star game). Our livelihood and our season and our chances to win a World Championship (are affected by) that game."
More on that later.
First and foremost, I'm a Braves fan. Many of you will move on to another article and discredit everything I'm saying here, but the Braves were hit hard this year with MLB All-Star Game snubs.
Not much has been made of the Braves this year — not much press, not much of anything. A quiet, first-place team. Yes, first place. If the Braves end up losing the lead this year, most would not even believe the Braves held a lead because, as mentioned, no one is really covering them.
Still, the Braves are a first-place team, and they have been the whole year. The MLB All-Star Game is a representation of a great first half by the players representing it. The Braves have had a great first half. So, why do they have only one All-Star selection? And it's Craig Kimbrel, who just earned his third straight All-Star selection. Kimbrel is deserving and has 23 saves with a 1.72 ERA, but only one player from Atlanta? How can a team only have one selection and be in first place for the whole season so far? Only one player worthy? Perhaps they have a balanced team that is just well-rounded. ... Yeah.
So, let's run through the team.
Catcher - Brian McCann – .293 batting average, .378 OBP, .535 SLG, 10 home runs, 28 RBI.
First Base – Freddie Freeman – .307/.384/.466, nine home runs, 56 RBI.
Second Base - Dan Uggla – .204/.323/.420, 16 home runs, 39 RBI.
Third Base - Chris Johnson – .333/.376/.477, five home runs, 28 RBI.
Shortstop - Andrelton Simmons – .251/.287/.357, seven home runs, 29 RBI.
Outfield - Justin Upton – .247/.352/.444, 15 home runs, 39 RBI.
Outfield - B.J. Upton – .176/.271/.307, eight home runs, 19 RBI.
Outfield - Jason Heyward – .228/.325/.375, seven home runs, 20 RBI.
Starting Pitcher - Tim Hudson, 5-7, 4.03 ERA.
Starting Pitcher - Kris Medlen, 6-7, 3.11 ERA.
Starting Pitcher - Julio Teheran, 6-4, 3.23 ERA.
Starting Pitcher - Paul Maholm, 9-7, 3.81 ERA.
Starting Pitcher - Mike Minor, 8-4, 3.15 ERA.
Who do you think deserves to be on the All-Star team? Kimbrel is a lock. McCann and Freeman have put up stellar numbers, but not better than the reserves on the NL All-Star team. Although, Freeman does have an incredibly high RISP average, but more on him later. Who else? Justin Upton looked like an All-Star and even led the votes at one time. Now, he didn't even make the reserves. The pitching has been great, and with the exception of Minor, none were All-Star worthy. Perhaps this team does just play great together with some timely hitting and pitching.
Freeman, a final vote contender, said this when asked about competing with Yasiel Puig for the final spot: "Good luck with that, huh? He's already on the lead ESPN ticker."
Uggla mentioned this to the AJC about the chances of Freeman beating Puig:
Quote"Nobody has a chance. He's been getting covered since he broke in. And he should be getting covered; he's an exciting story. But should he make the All-Star team? No, not this year. But he's going to make it. Which sucks for Freddie and other (final vote) guys, because they've been doing it the whole year."
He's exactly right. Why isn't ESPN and MLB running campaigns for the other guys? As Hudson said, this shouldn't be a popularity contest. It's about who performs better and is most deserving to be there. For the first place Braves, the All-Star game means a lot. It effects the World Series and shouldn't be taken lightly.
Courtesy of the AJC again, here is what Uggla, a three-time former All-Star who was voted to start in the game last summer, said about the issue:
Quote"If they wanted to start making it matter, they should let the players vote and get the right guys in. But they made it a fans' game. The fans are going to vote in who they want in. Which is fine. They just need to change that to where this game doesn't matter. It needs to be fun."
Should MLB change the voting process, or should it make the All-Star Game just a "fun" game with no strings attached?
People had it up to here with the Braves in the 90s. Fuck 'em.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on July 08, 2013, 10:07:25 PM
People had it up to here with the Braves in the 90s. Fuck 'em.
Yep, with a rusty spoon.
I'm generally pleased with the All-Star selections.
The Cuddyer/Harper picture is a good demonstration of what is wrong about some of criticism of the selections.
The AS game is supposed to bring together the very best players in baseball, not a compilation of pretty decent guys who happened to put together a strong 70 game stretch to start the season. No one thinks the Cuddyer is actually a better player than Harper. If you had a must-win one game playoff tomorrow, even Cuddyer's mother wouldn't pick him over Harper. So it is kind of silly to suggest there is something wrong about the selection.
The second thing wrong with the picture is the use of non park adjusted triple crown stats as the sole basis of comparison. Harper's OBP and Slugging percentage are very close to Cuddyer, and of course Cuddyer plays in the easiest hitter's park in the game. Harper is faster and a much better defender. So even looking at performance to date, Harper has performed at a higher level.
The Rangers have managed to tie it up with Oakland for the moment due to a three game winning streak and 5 of the last 6. Of course, the A's haven't finished playing the Pirates yet today, so if they win (and they currently are), they can go back up by 1/2 game.
As a side note, I broke down and bought The Show 13. 11 is a great game, but it was time for an upgrade.
4 in a row for the Cubs.
7-2 win tonight vs. the Angels, who have been hotter than a two-dollar pistol.
It's Bizarro-World, folks.
Quote from: fhdz on July 09, 2013, 10:04:09 PM
4 in a row for the Cubs.
7-2 win tonight vs. the Angels, who have been hotter than a two-dollar pistol.
It's Bizarro-World, folks.
They're a mere 13.5 games back now :P
Or I guess it will be 14 in a few minutes. Man, are the Astros even trying to field a team these days?
Quote from: derspiess on July 09, 2013, 10:08:25 PM
Quote from: fhdz on July 09, 2013, 10:04:09 PM
4 in a row for the Cubs.
7-2 win tonight vs. the Angels, who have been hotter than a two-dollar pistol.
It's Bizarro-World, folks.
They're a mere 13.5 games back now :P
:D I have to take what I can get.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fsports.cbsimg.net%2Fimages%2F%2Fvisual%2Fwhatshot%2FAlfonso_Soriano061912.jpg&hash=7841143c36788d9d3a51fa92eadbe7b48652975e)
THIS GUY
Quote from: fhdz on July 09, 2013, 10:12:33 PM
Quote from: derspiess on July 09, 2013, 10:08:25 PM
Quote from: fhdz on July 09, 2013, 10:04:09 PM
4 in a row for the Cubs.
7-2 win tonight vs. the Angels, who have been hotter than a two-dollar pistol.
It's Bizarro-World, folks.
They're a mere 13.5 games back now :P
:D I have to take what I can get.
Yeah, I've been there.
Meanwhile, Reds fans around here are ready to jump off the Roebling Bridge en masse. Reds have just totally fallen flat, with no signs of life. I'd enjoy the wailing if it weren't so pathetic.
Fhdzhdz's Flubs are up 1-0 on my Cards. I'm not amused.
MAH BIG RED MACHINE
Quote from: Ed Anger on July 11, 2013, 07:37:39 PM
MAH BIG RED MACHINE
Nobody wants to talk about them around here, suddenly. Outside of the brief elation over Homer Bailey's perfect game, the yokels seem almost ready to write off the season. And Dusty Baker is worse than TEH HITLAR apparently.
Enjoy this one, F-deez :glare:
Lincecum no hitter through 8 innings.
Quote from: katmai on July 13, 2013, 11:47:13 PM
Lincecum no hitter through 8 innings.
Way to go Timmay!
No hitter, 4bb's, 13k's
Fluke. :P
Quote from: Syt on July 14, 2013, 12:16:15 AM
Fluke. :P
For his sake i hope not, liked him since his college days. But yeah would be lucky if this is anything but a blip in the trajectory he has been on last two years.
Don't get me wrong, I like him. And it's always a shame to see a good pitcher lose his mojo.
Always thought that he was a major injury risk because of his slim build, but that hasn't been his problem. Last year, someone on a different forum linked to a video comparing his pitching motion then to what it had been before, and it was extremely obvious that his mechanics had changed.
Quote from: Syt on July 14, 2013, 12:20:49 AM
And it's always a shame to see a good pitcher lose his mojo.
Seems like these things most often happen with guys who appear to have lost their mojo. Like David Wells and Tom Browning with their perfect games.
Loss of velocity is very common in a power pitcher once they hit the age 29-32. There is nothing mysterious about it. It happened to guys like Seaver, Carlton, Clemens, plenty of others. The question is how long it takes to adjust. Some never do and wash themselves out of the league, but many (like the guys I mentioned) do adjust and go one to have more Cy Young caliber years. Lincecum may just have hit that wall a little bit earlier.
Interesting thing with Lincecum is that is K ratios continue to be very high - more than 1 per inning. He has been giving up a few more home runs, but not at Phil Hughes kind of rates. His big problem is walking too many guys. You can't win consistently in the majors if you walk 4 guys every game.
The no-no demonstrates that he still has the stuff to get people out if has a solid game plan.
But it is not reassuring that he walked 4. You can get away with that if there are zero hits, but in a normal game that's trouble.
Walking 4 in a 9-inning game, even a normal game, isn't necessarily trouble.
Tommy fell asleep watching baseball with me yet again. I know it's a ploy to stay up later, but I don't mind :)
Shouldn't feel like an accomplishment, but the Cardinals fought back to even the series vs. the Flubs tonight. Yadi's HR was the exclamation point #12in13
Quote from: derspiess on July 14, 2013, 10:24:06 PM
Walking 4 in a 9-inning game, even a normal game, isn't necessarily trouble.
Necessarily, no. Not in a single game. But over a season yes.
There are very few pitchers who could walk 4 or more per 9 and have any sustained success.
The only ones I can think of are Ryan and Feller, both unique cases.
He's always been in 3.1-3.7 per 9 till last year when he went to 4.35
I'm quite happy with the Tribe's results so far this season, and actually see them having potential to stick around this year and not horribly collapse in the second half. :)
Quote from: derspiess on July 14, 2013, 11:01:31 PM
Shouldn't feel like an accomplishment
Why shouldn't it? The Cubs are playing really well this series.
Quote from: fhdz on July 15, 2013, 04:17:53 PM
Quote from: derspiess on July 14, 2013, 11:01:31 PM
Shouldn't feel like an accomplishment
Why shouldn't it? The Cubs are playing really well this series.
;) Just trashing the Cubs. I'm contractually obligated to do so, what with the rivalry & all.
Quote from: derspiess on July 15, 2013, 04:53:08 PM
Quote from: fhdz on July 15, 2013, 04:17:53 PM
Quote from: derspiess on July 14, 2013, 11:01:31 PM
Shouldn't feel like an accomplishment
Why shouldn't it? The Cubs are playing really well this series.
;) Just trashing the Cubs. I'm contractually obligated to do so, what with the rivalry & all.
Ah so :) I was happy to see Wood going to the All-Star - he's a very good pitcher surrounded by very poor run production.
Quote from: fhdz on July 15, 2013, 06:12:41 PM
Quote from: derspiess on July 15, 2013, 04:53:08 PM
Quote from: fhdz on July 15, 2013, 04:17:53 PM
Quote from: derspiess on July 14, 2013, 11:01:31 PM
Shouldn't feel like an accomplishment
Why shouldn't it? The Cubs are playing really well this series.
;) Just trashing the Cubs. I'm contractually obligated to do so, what with the rivalry & all.
Ah so :) I was happy to see Wood going to the All-Star - he's a very good pitcher surrounded by very poor run production.
I see he's shaved his beard; look for him to perform dismally :(
I hope he kicks ass. Go NL!
The Rangers looked like garbage for the rest of their little pre all star break road trip. They ended up splitting the series with the O's (so they lost the last two), then lost two out of three to Detroit. At least they can take a little break now and maybe get their shit together.
Quote from: derspiess on July 16, 2013, 03:48:58 PM
I hope he kicks ass. Go NL!
Me too; I actually suspect he will. :)
Worst MLB All Star broadcast ever. From the cheesy faux SNL opening to the stupid in-game stuff-- and Joe Buck-- just terrible, all-around. Good job, Fox.
Shitty result too.
Because nothing says "baseball" like a pre-game wine tasting. :hmm:
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/1065122_10151751532537931_1357252878_o.jpg)
Though Minsky might be interested in such a crossover. :P
Also: Dreadnought Wines? Either these wines are awful ("Drink this and dread nought!") or Neil has gone into viticulture.
"If you hear any noise it's just me and the boys sippin'"
Maybe they're trying to increase chick attendance at the games.
Makes sense for something you'd have in the luxury boxes.
I'll send them some Chateau de Childbride.
Quote from: Ed Anger on July 18, 2013, 07:05:00 PM
I'll send them some Chateau de Childbride.
Needs to be cellared for a couple years.
MLB 13 The Show is a pretty solid game. Started up an RTTS with a starting pitcher (RH), and I'm buzzsawing bitches at the AA level. Dude has a nasty cutter. Like...Andy Pettite's roid cutter sucks compared to this thing. I like being put in the AA rotation immediately vs. being a reliever for some awful team for a progression cycle. Makes it more interesting.
Also, the Rangers haven't managed to lose since my last post. Of course, they haven't played either, but that's a small detail.
E: Dude's pitches are:
2seam FB - 88 - 91mph, moves down and in on right handers
Cut FB - 88 - 91, moves straight away from right handers
Change 78-81, drops straight down
I should note he was drafted into the Mariners org, which is just horrific.
So we finally get some real baseball back today. I've erased the All-Star game from my memory, so it's basically just been a week without baseball.
Anyway, local Reds fans are awfully low key about the Pirates series this weekend. Reds could theoretically tighten up the NL Central with a sweep, but there's this sense of impending doom given the Reds' recent performance.
Also, I'm surprised Syt hasn't posted this story, involving the Pirates, a stripper/pr0n star, a Pittsburgh police sergeant, and a unicorn mask.
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/07/18/the-bizarre-story-behind-why-this-police-officer-is-under-investigation-involves-a-porn-star-unicorn-mask-and-baseball/
Not really that weird of a story. Just if a porn star tries to take a picture with you, and you are a cop, run away.
Quote from: Valmy on July 19, 2013, 11:02:58 AM
Not really that weird of a story. Just if a porn star tries to take a picture with you, and you are a cop, run away.
The unicorn mask thing is odd to me, but I don't see why people are talking about punishing the cop. Everyone knows how uptight I usually am, but FFS people lighten up.
Getting his picture taken with a unicorn mask on his head? The sergeant stripes on his uniform mean he should know better.
Ah, the good ole' 'murican pasttime.
Baseball fans furious about "foreignor" singing "God Bless America" for All-Star game (http://publicshaming.tumblr.com/post/55715208108/baseball-fans-super-angry-hispanic-american-superstar)
Quote from: CountDeMoney on July 19, 2013, 11:13:41 AM
Getting his picture taken with a unicorn mask on his head? The sergeant stripes on his uniform mean he should know better.
Why is that such a horrible thing? I think it shows that cops can have a sense of humor.
Quote from: merithyn on July 19, 2013, 11:16:41 AM
Ah, the good ole' 'murican pasttime.
Baseball fans furious about "foreignor" singing "God Bless America" for All-Star game (http://publicshaming.tumblr.com/post/55715208108/baseball-fans-super-angry-hispanic-american-superstar)
Yeah, most of my Puerto Rican friends have been flipping the hell out about this on Facebook.
One good thing about the Internet is that it makes the idiots a lot more visible.
Quote from: fhdz on July 19, 2013, 11:23:10 AM
One good thing about the Internet is that it makes the idiots a lot more visible.
Apparently a few of those twitter accounts have already been deleted. :D
Quote from: derspiess on July 19, 2013, 11:19:11 AM
Why is that such a horrible thing? I think it shows that cops can have a sense of humor.
It's a horrible thing for the command staff, which isn't known for its sense of humor.
We had an extended barricade situation once, we're blocking off the street and taking cover behind our cars while this guy is taking shots out the window; while we waited for TAC to arrive, a Major shows up, wanting to know why we weren't wearing our hats and demanded we put them on.
So yeah, it's a very horrible thing.
Quote from: merithyn on July 19, 2013, 11:25:30 AM
Quote from: fhdz on July 19, 2013, 11:23:10 AM
One good thing about the Internet is that it makes the idiots a lot more visible.
Apparently a few of those twitter accounts have already been deleted. :D
I shouldn't be surprised, but I can't believe what people post on Twitter, Facebook, news article discussion threads, etc. these days with their (apparently) real name and picture right beside it.
The Zimmerman verdict seems to have brought things to new lows, on both sides of the issue.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on July 19, 2013, 11:30:44 AM
Quote from: derspiess on July 19, 2013, 11:19:11 AM
Why is that such a horrible thing? I think it shows that cops can have a sense of humor.
It's a horrible thing for the command staff, which isn't known for its sense of humor.
We had an extended barricade situation once, we're blocking off the street and taking cover behind our cars while this guy is taking shots out the window; while we waited for TAC to arrive, a Major shows up, wanting to know why we weren't wearing our hats and demanded we put them on.
So yeah, it's a very horrible thing.
:lol: Okay, I get it.
Quote from: derspiess on July 19, 2013, 11:35:01 AM
Quote from: merithyn on July 19, 2013, 11:25:30 AM
Quote from: fhdz on July 19, 2013, 11:23:10 AM
One good thing about the Internet is that it makes the idiots a lot more visible.
Apparently a few of those twitter accounts have already been deleted. :D
I shouldn't be surprised, but I can't believe what people post on Twitter, Facebook, news article discussion threads, etc. these days with their (apparently) real name and picture right beside it.
For added stupidity, this is a carbon copy repeat of what happened with that kid who sang the anthem at the Spurs game during the finals.
Quote from: merithyn on July 19, 2013, 11:16:41 AM
Ah, the good ole' 'murican pasttime.
Baseball fans furious about "foreignor" singing "God Bless America" for All-Star game (http://publicshaming.tumblr.com/post/55715208108/baseball-fans-super-angry-hispanic-american-superstar)
Anytime a non-white person does anything the KKK crowd on twitter flips out.
Quote from: fhdz on July 19, 2013, 11:37:22 AM
For added stupidity, this is a carbon copy repeat of what happened with that kid who sang the anthem at the Spurs game during the finals.
Yeah. I think we should only have Latinos sing the national anthem from now on just so these people will keep outting themselves.
Quote from: Valmy on July 19, 2013, 11:37:47 AM
Quote from: merithyn on July 19, 2013, 11:16:41 AM
Ah, the good ole' 'murican pasttime.
Baseball fans furious about "foreignor" singing "God Bless America" for All-Star game (http://publicshaming.tumblr.com/post/55715208108/baseball-fans-super-angry-hispanic-american-superstar)
Anytime a non-white person does anything the KKK crowd on twitter flips out.
MAH WHITE HOMELAND
Quote from: Valmy on July 19, 2013, 11:40:01 AM
Quote from: fhdz on July 19, 2013, 11:37:22 AM
For added stupidity, this is a carbon copy repeat of what happened with that kid who sang the anthem at the Spurs game during the finals.
Yeah. I think we should only have Latinos sing the national anthem from now on just so these people will keep outting themselves.
Sounds good to me! IMPLEMENT
Quote from: Valmy on July 19, 2013, 11:37:47 AM
Quote from: merithyn on July 19, 2013, 11:16:41 AM
Ah, the good ole' 'murican pasttime.
Baseball fans furious about "foreignor" singing "God Bless America" for All-Star game (http://publicshaming.tumblr.com/post/55715208108/baseball-fans-super-angry-hispanic-american-superstar)
Anytime a non-white person does anything the KKK crowd on twitter flips out.
Coming from the other side, the Zimmerman verdict seemed to bring out a lot of death threats against Zim and the jurors.
There were several tweets that juror B27 (or whomever it was that was on CNN) should be raped and/or killed, and disturbingly most of them seemed to be from women.
Quote from: Valmy on July 19, 2013, 11:40:01 AM
Quote from: fhdz on July 19, 2013, 11:37:22 AM
For added stupidity, this is a carbon copy repeat of what happened with that kid who sang the anthem at the Spurs game during the finals.
Yeah. I think we should only have Latinos sing the national anthem from now on just so these people will keep outting themselves.
I like this idea. :) Throw in a few Koreans, a Chinese guy or two, and maybe a Pakistani for good measure.
The funny thing is that these same people wouldn't have said word one about Celine Dion singing it. :D
Quote from: derspiess on July 19, 2013, 11:44:51 AM
Coming from the other side, the Zimmerman verdict seemed to bring out a lot of death threats against Zim and the jurors.
There were several tweets that juror B27 (or whomever it was that was on CNN) should be raped and/or killed, and disturbingly most of them seemed to be from women.
You're equating that with this? Seriously?
Quote from: derspiess on July 19, 2013, 11:44:51 AM
Coming from the other side, the Zimmerman verdict seemed to bring out a lot of death threats against Zim and the jurors.
The key difference being that Zimmerman ignored police instruction, continued stalking Martin, started a fight, and then shot him to death, which is apparently just hunky dorey under Florida law. Marc Anthony's crime on the other hand is, you know, singing. In public.
Quote from: merithyn on July 19, 2013, 11:48:02 AM
Quote from: derspiess on July 19, 2013, 11:44:51 AM
Coming from the other side, the Zimmerman verdict seemed to bring out a lot of death threats against Zim and the jurors.
There were several tweets that juror B27 (or whomever it was that was on CNN) should be raped and/or killed, and disturbingly most of them seemed to be from women.
You're equating that with this? Seriously?
I'm hoping he's trolling ;)
Quote from: derspiess on July 19, 2013, 11:44:51 AM
Coming from the other side, the Zimmerman verdict seemed to bring out a lot of death threats against Zim and the jurors.
There were several tweets that juror B27 (or whomever it was that was on CNN) should be raped and/or killed, and disturbingly most of them seemed to be from women.
That is different. First none of the KKK racists were threatening anybody with death and/or rape. Secondly singing the national anthem before a sporting event is a slightly less provocative and serious situation than shooting a teenager.
The KKK crowd flips out at petty idiotic things, like that black actress playing some character in the Hunger Games movie, and generally just says stupid things not death threats. This makes them funny.
Quote from: merithyn on July 19, 2013, 11:46:06 AM
The funny thing is that these same people wouldn't have said word one about Celine Dion singing it. :D
Now *that* would make me lose my shit.
Quote from: fhdz on July 19, 2013, 11:48:08 AM
Quote from: derspiess on July 19, 2013, 11:44:51 AM
Coming from the other side, the Zimmerman verdict seemed to bring out a lot of death threats against Zim and the jurors.
The key difference being that Zimmerman ignored police instruction, continued stalking Martin, started a fight, and then shot him to death, which is apparently just hunky dorey under Florida law. Marc Anthony's crime on the other hand is, you know, singing. In public.
What makes you people think I'm talking about the alleged original offenses? I'm only talking about ill-advised things people say on Twitter, etc.
Chill.
Quote from: Valmy on July 19, 2013, 11:49:35 AM
The KKK crowd flips out at petty idiotic things, like that black actress playing some character in the Hunger Games movie, and generally just says stupid things not death threats. This makes them funny.
Yeah, they like to talk about being "broken-hearted" and shit. :lol: Their Glenn Beck tears are delicious.
Quote from: derspiess on July 19, 2013, 11:52:24 AM
Quote from: merithyn on July 19, 2013, 11:46:06 AM
The funny thing is that these same people wouldn't have said word one about Celine Dion singing it. :D
Now *that* would make me lose my shit.
:lol:
Quote from: derspiess on July 19, 2013, 11:54:01 AM
What makes you people think I'm talking about the alleged original offenses? I'm only talking about ill-advised things people say on Twitter, etc.
Chill.
Um... provocation is kind of the point here.
Quote from: Valmy on July 19, 2013, 11:49:35 AM
That is different. First none of the KKK racists were threatening anybody with death and/or rape.
Right, but it's still pretty ugly and goes under the "think before you post" category.
Quote from: derspiess on July 19, 2013, 11:54:01 AM
Quote from: fhdz on July 19, 2013, 11:48:08 AM
Quote from: derspiess on July 19, 2013, 11:44:51 AM
Coming from the other side, the Zimmerman verdict seemed to bring out a lot of death threats against Zim and the jurors.
The key difference being that Zimmerman ignored police instruction, continued stalking Martin, started a fight, and then shot him to death, which is apparently just hunky dorey under Florida law. Marc Anthony's crime on the other hand is, you know, singing. In public.
What makes you people think I'm talking about the alleged original offenses? I'm only talking about ill-advised things people say on Twitter, etc.
Chill.
It's a different situation, that's all. People have very strong reactions to seeing folks get away with murder, which is exactly what happened. It doesn't excuse any death/rape threats by any means, but one hopefully can understand why it would make a significant amount of people really upset.
Quote from: merithyn on July 19, 2013, 11:55:55 AM
Quote from: derspiess on July 19, 2013, 11:54:01 AM
What makes you people think I'm talking about the alleged original offenses? I'm only talking about ill-advised things people say on Twitter, etc.
Chill.
Um... provocation is kind of the point here.
Not mine, dear. I was talking about the posts themselves.
Quote from: derspiess on July 19, 2013, 11:57:12 AM
Not mine, dear. I was talking about the posts themselves.
:mellow:
Quote from: fhdz on July 19, 2013, 11:56:38 AM
It's a different situation, that's all. People have very strong reactions to seeing folks get away with murder, which is exactly what happened.
I strongly disagree with that. No murder took place. But that's beside the point I was trying to make.
QuoteIt doesn't excuse any death/rape threats by any means, but one hopefully can understand why it would make a significant amount of people really upset.
People can get upset all they want. I'm just amazed how people lack so much restraint when they post something online that can likely be traced to them.
Quote from: derspiess on July 19, 2013, 12:00:30 PM
Quote from: fhdz on July 19, 2013, 11:56:38 AM
It's a different situation, that's all. People have very strong reactions to seeing folks get away with murder, which is exactly what happened.
I strongly disagree with that. No murder took place. But that's beside the point I was trying to make.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57433184/fla-mom-gets-20-years-for-firing-warning-shots/
This lady didn't even kill anybody. On the other hand, she's black. Which basically explains it.
QuotePeople can get upset all they want. I'm just amazed how people lack so much restraint when they post something online that can likely be traced to them.
Yeah, as I was saying - I like how it makes them clearly visible.
Quote from: derspiess on July 19, 2013, 11:44:51 AM
Coming from the other side, the Zimmerman verdict seemed to bring out a lot of death threats against Zim and the jurors.
Yeah, fears of possible vigilantism. Imagine that.
Quote from: fhdz on July 19, 2013, 12:03:36 PM
Quote from: derspiess on July 19, 2013, 12:00:30 PM
Quote from: fhdz on July 19, 2013, 11:56:38 AM
It's a different situation, that's all. People have very strong reactions to seeing folks get away with murder, which is exactly what happened.
I strongly disagree with that. No murder took place. But that's beside the point I was trying to make.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57433184/fla-mom-gets-20-years-for-firing-warning-shots/
This lady didn't even kill anybody. On the other hand, she's black. Which basically explains it.
:huh: Even further away from my point. Keep going, if it floats your boat.
Quote
Yeah, as I was saying - I like how it makes them clearly visible.
Dunno. It is kind of cool to see people out themselves as idiots & whatnot, but there are a lot of times where it would be nice for people to show a little restraint.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on July 19, 2013, 12:11:51 PM
Quote from: derspiess on July 19, 2013, 11:44:51 AM
Coming from the other side, the Zimmerman verdict seemed to bring out a lot of death threats against Zim and the jurors.
Yeah, fears of possible vigilantism. Imagine that.
:yawn:
Quote from: derspiess on July 19, 2013, 12:16:54 PM
:huh: Even further away from my point. Keep going, if it floats your boat.
I was responding to "no murder took place".
Quote from: fhdz on July 19, 2013, 12:20:17 PM
Quote from: derspiess on July 19, 2013, 12:16:54 PM
:huh: Even further away from my point. Keep going, if it floats your boat.
I was responding to "no murder took place".
You said there was, and I couldn't let that go uncountered. Maybe you were trying to provoke me :mad:
:P
Quote from: derspiess on July 19, 2013, 12:22:36 PM
Quote from: fhdz on July 19, 2013, 12:20:17 PM
Quote from: derspiess on July 19, 2013, 12:16:54 PM
:huh: Even further away from my point. Keep going, if it floats your boat.
I was responding to "no murder took place".
You said there was, and I couldn't let that go uncountered. Maybe you were trying to provoke me :mad:
:P
:D You'd never shoot me; I'm insufficiently dark.
Started trying to catch up on this thread and thought I'd entered the wrong one. It's the baseball thread, people! Take your Zimmerman crap elsewhere. <_< That being established... baseball is back tonight! I'm definitely looking forward to the second half. An odd feeling to have after so many years in the abusive relationship I had with the Royals. :lol:
I'm excited to try and figure out who I'll be rooting for in the playoffs, since, you know...not Cubs.
So, Ryan Braun got suspended. Apparantly some sort of plea deal--he's suspended the rest of the season (including the postseason--not that it matters, since the Brew Crew wasn't going to be there even with him), but will be back to start next season.
I don't like the idea of athletes using PEDs, but what really makes me happy to see this is how sanctimonious he was about denying PED usage earlier.
Yeah, he was really smug about being "innocent" of the charges, when it was clear that he got off because of technicality.
As it happens (and as I just noticed by chance) the European B-Championship is currently held in Vienna:
http://www.baseballem2013.at/tournament/schedule/
Puerto Ricans should go back to Korea :mad:
Quote from: Syt on July 23, 2013, 04:34:21 AM
As it happens (and as I just noticed by chance) the European B-Championship is currently held in Vienna:
http://www.baseballem2013.at/tournament/schedule/
Ugh. Only thing worse than Euros playing baseball is euros playing American Football. :yuk:
Quote from: fhdz on July 19, 2013, 04:36:02 PM
I'm excited to try and figure out who I'll be rooting for in the playoffs, since, you know...not Cubs.
(https://s3.amazonaws.com/live_object_images/3343/1.gif)
They have the super-clean-please-God-don't-be-using-PEDs Chris Davis who is just awesome.
Quote from: Syt on July 23, 2013, 04:34:21 AM
As it happens (and as I just noticed by chance) the European B-Championship is currently held in Vienna:
http://www.baseballem2013.at/tournament/schedule/
Are you going to check it out? The baseball league they had in Southern France back in 1998 when I was there was hilarious. Teams would score like 22 runs on 8 hits.
Oh god. Frenchmen playing baseball. A cigarette in one hand and a baguette in the other.
Quote from: fhdz on July 19, 2013, 04:36:02 PM
I'm excited to try and figure out who I'll be rooting for in the playoffs, since, you know...not Cubs.
In the interest of divisional solidarity, I think you should throw your support behind whomever is leading the NL Central. I'll have to check to see who that is at the moment, but you should support that team.
Quote from: Valmy on July 23, 2013, 08:48:00 AM
Quote from: Syt on July 23, 2013, 04:34:21 AM
As it happens (and as I just noticed by chance) the European B-Championship is currently held in Vienna:
http://www.baseballem2013.at/tournament/schedule/
Are you going to check it out? The baseball league they had in Southern France back in 1998 when I was there was hilarious. Teams would score like 22 runs on 8 hits.
I may go tomorrow or Thursday, dpending on temperatures. It's blistering heat in Vienna (38° scheduled for weekend), so I prefer staying inside rather than sitting on the bleachers somewhere.
I know that the best player in the Austrian league a few years ago (possibly still?) was a Japanese dude who was manager, best pitcher and best slugger for one of the Vienna teams. :lol:
Quote from: Syt on July 23, 2013, 09:26:58 AM
I may go tomorrow or Thursday, dpending on temperatures. It's blistering heat in Vienna (38° scheduled for weekend), so I prefer staying inside rather than sitting on the bleachers somewhere.
Ouch. It was "only" around 90F here Sunday but it was 1:00pm with the blazing sun directly over us for the Reds-Pirates game. My buddy & I had our kids with us & they only lasted 1 inning there before their complaining became intolerable. Had to try to watch as much as I could from the relatively cool, shaded concourse area while the kids played.
I almost forget what it's like to go to a baseball game without one or more high-maintenance kids :mellow:
Quote from: Valmy on July 23, 2013, 08:41:59 AM
Quote from: fhdz on July 19, 2013, 04:36:02 PM
I'm excited to try and figure out who I'll be rooting for in the playoffs, since, you know...not Cubs.
(https://s3.amazonaws.com/live_object_images/3343/1.gif)
They have the super-clean-please-God-don't-be-using-PEDs Chris Davis who is just awesome.
Nah, Detroit is my usual go-to when Chicago drops off the map.
So ARod is looking at a huge suspension. Guy on Mike & Mike is saying they have more on him than they did on Braun, 100 game suspension, etc. CBS is saying MLB might go for a lifetime ban.
Quote from: fhdz on July 23, 2013, 11:12:40 AM
Nah, Detroit is my usual go-to when Chicago drops off the map.
Barf. Why not root for the ChiSox? Same town, dammit.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on July 24, 2013, 07:41:22 AM
So ARod is looking at a huge suspension. Guy on Mike & Mike is saying they have more on him than they did on Braun, 100 game suspension, etc. CBS is saying MLB might go for a lifetime ban.
Even with out a life time ban his career may be over.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on July 24, 2013, 09:49:32 AM
Quote from: fhdz on July 23, 2013, 11:12:40 AM
Nah, Detroit is my usual go-to when Chicago drops off the map.
Barf. Why not root for the ChiSox? Same town, dammit.
Crosstown rivalry. It's why I can't bring myself to root for the Cardinals despite the fact that I lived in St. Louis for quite a while.
I'm going to a Cubs game next week. They play the Brewers. Yay. :rolleyes:
Quote from: Caliga on July 24, 2013, 12:06:05 PM
I'm going to a Cubs game next week. They play the Brewers. Yay. :rolleyes:
:D TARD FIGHT
Yeah, and I got a stupid Cubs baseball cap today. Double yay! :moon:
I've yet to see a game at Wrigley. I've seen a few White Sox home games, but my schedule never worked out for Cubs home games.
Quote from: Caliga on July 24, 2013, 12:09:43 PM
Yeah, and I got a stupid Cubs baseball cap today. Double yay! :moon:
HEY NOW
Quote from: derspiess on July 24, 2013, 12:13:28 PM
I've yet to see a game at Wrigley.
It's magnificent.
Quote from: fhdz on July 24, 2013, 12:14:14 PM
Quote from: derspiess on July 24, 2013, 12:13:28 PM
I've yet to see a game at Wrigley.
It's magnificent.
I'm sure it is, despite the overwhelming presence of Cubs fans. I get enough of those clowns when they play the Reds here in Cincy.
Quote from: derspiess on July 24, 2013, 12:13:28 PM
I've yet to see a game at Wrigley. I've seen a few White Sox home games, but my schedule never worked out for Cubs home games.
This is a 'work event'. I get to wear business casual with my Cubs hat. Triple yay!
Quote from: derspiess on July 24, 2013, 12:20:25 PM
Quote from: fhdz on July 24, 2013, 12:14:14 PM
Quote from: derspiess on July 24, 2013, 12:13:28 PM
I've yet to see a game at Wrigley.
It's magnificent.
I'm sure it is, despite the overwhelming presence of Cubs fans. I get enough of those clowns when they play the Reds here in Cincy.
:lol: An Ohioan complaining about Cubs fans. That's rich. :D
Quote from: fhdz on July 26, 2013, 11:06:09 AM
:lol: An Ohioan complaining about Cubs fans. That's rich. :D
:huh: I guess I'm missing the irony.
Quote from: derspiess on July 26, 2013, 11:57:58 AM
Quote from: fhdz on July 26, 2013, 11:06:09 AM
:lol: An Ohioan complaining about Cubs fans. That's rich. :D
:huh: I guess I'm missing the irony.
Indeed!
Go on.
Looks like Albert Pujols may miss the rest of the year with a partially torn plantar fascia. I would never wish ill on him for leaving the Cardinals, but I am sure glad the Cards "lost" the bidding war for him.
Quote from: derspiess on July 26, 2013, 01:42:32 PM
Go on.
I presume it has something to do with the reputation of Ohioans as the world's most obnoxious sports fans.
Quote from: Valmy on July 28, 2013, 11:37:37 PM
Quote from: derspiess on July 26, 2013, 01:42:32 PM
Go on.
I presume it has something to do with the reputation of Ohioans as the world's most obnoxious sports fans.
I thought that was Boston or Philadelphia?
Quote from: Valmy on July 28, 2013, 11:37:37 PM
Quote from: derspiess on July 26, 2013, 01:42:32 PM
Go on.
I presume it has something to do with the reputation of Ohioans as the world's most obnoxious sports fans.
I thought it was Saskatchewan. <_<
Quote from: jimmy olsen on July 29, 2013, 12:34:26 AM
Quote from: Valmy on July 28, 2013, 11:37:37 PM
Quote from: derspiess on July 26, 2013, 01:42:32 PM
Go on.
I presume it has something to do with the reputation of Ohioans as the world's most obnoxious sports fans.
I thought that was Boston or Philadelphia?
Hey I do not know for sure I just figured that was what Fahdiz was getting at.
If you rate ball clubs by how many hotties they regularly put in the bleachers I think Wrigley does pretty well for itself.
Quote from: Valmy on July 28, 2013, 11:37:37 PM
Quote from: derspiess on July 26, 2013, 01:42:32 PM
Go on.
I presume it has something to do with the reputation of Ohioans as the world's most obnoxious sports fans.
New York fans. :bleeding: In happier news, the Tribe just swept Texas and their starters are really looking like they're settling into a nice groove for the second half. I am: cautiously optimistic. :)
Quote from: Benedict Arnold on July 29, 2013, 02:55:02 AM
New York fans. :bleeding: In happier news, the Tribe just swept Texas and their starters are really looking like they're settling into a nice groove for the second half. I am: cautiously optimistic. :)
The Rangers make lots of teams look like they're settling into a groove, it seems.
Discomfiting to see the Orioles bats are still on the All-Star Break.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on July 29, 2013, 06:22:30 AM
Quote from: Benedict Arnold on July 29, 2013, 02:55:02 AM
New York fans. :bleeding: In happier news, the Tribe just swept Texas and their starters are really looking like they're settling into a nice groove for the second half. I am: cautiously optimistic. :)
The Rangers make lots of teams look like they're settling into a groove, it seems.
The starters have looked great since coming back from the break, it's the defense that has led to losses combined with an all or nothing offense.
I'd prefer to just pretend last weekend did not happen. Getting swept by the damned Braves, ugh. Thankfully the Pirates and Reds also played like shit.
Quote from: Valmy on July 28, 2013, 11:37:37 PM
Quote from: derspiess on July 26, 2013, 01:42:32 PM
Go on.
I presume it has something to do with the reputation of Ohioans as the world's most obnoxious sports fans.
Second only to New York.
Quote from: fhdz on July 29, 2013, 04:07:23 PM
Quote from: Valmy on July 28, 2013, 11:37:37 PM
I presume it has something to do with the reputation of Ohioans as the world's most obnoxious sports fans.
Second only to New York.
I dunno, man...the top two obnoxious baseball fanbases are still really New York and Boston. They're the baseball equivalent of the monied classes, though: one one hand, you've got New York with its long legacy of "old money" sophistication; annoying, yes, but also to the point where it's expected of them to be dicks, but more of a landed gentry dickishness with their we're-better-than-you-and-you-and-I-and-Cooperstown-all-know-it Monopoly Guy arrogance. And then there's Boston with their
nouveau riche obnoxiousness, suddenly pulling themselves out of the ghetto with alarming Lotto success, showing up at the country club in Hawaiian shirts and flip flops, letting their urine-smelling snot-bubble kids run screaming around the tables as they put their cigarettes out in their water glasses.
Orioles fans are nice though. Couldn't help but be. The very idea of a major league baseball team in Baltimore: how absolutely adorable. Of course we all did our soft polite clap when they won their one World Series every decade before that parvenu Angelos showed up.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on July 29, 2013, 06:19:41 PM
Orioles fans are nice though. Couldn't help but be. The very idea of a major league baseball team in Baltimore: how absolutely adorable. Of course we all did our soft polite clap when they won their one World Series every decade before that parvenu Angelos showed up.
Stupid Mets and Pirates. Orioles coulda been contendas.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on July 29, 2013, 06:19:41 PM
Orioles fans are nice though. Couldn't help but be. The very idea of a major league baseball team in Baltimore: how absolutely adorable. Of course we all did our soft polite clap when they won their one World Series every decade before that parvenu Angelos showed up.
See, fahdiz? Yankees fans, Exhibit #2,149. <_<
Weren't the Yankees originally from Baltimore?
Quote from: Benedict Arnold on July 29, 2013, 03:40:29 PM
The starters have looked great since coming back from the break, it's the defense that has led to losses combined with an all or nothing offense.
What's nice about the tonight's game is that even if they lose, which they are and it's the 8th, they'll still be at 2-8 over the last ten, since it's just replacing a loss instead of one of the Ws. :P
Quote from: jimmy olsen on July 29, 2013, 07:42:42 PM
Weren't the Yankees originally from Baltimore?
:unsure:
Pretty sure a southern state wouldn't have a team called the Yankees.
Maybe you're thinking of the Babe Ruth purchase.
Yankees started out as the New York Highlanders, didn't they?
Quote from: Admiral Yi on July 29, 2013, 09:24:55 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on July 29, 2013, 07:42:42 PM
Weren't the Yankees originally from Baltimore?
:unsure:
Pretty sure a southern state wouldn't have a team called the Yankees.
Maybe you're thinking of the Babe Ruth purchase.
Yankees started out as the New York Highlanders, didn't they?
Before they were the New York Highlanders they were the Baltimore Orioles! :contract:
No shit.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on July 29, 2013, 09:41:08 PMBefore they were the New York Highlanders they were the Baltimore Orioles! :contract:
Yep for two entire seasons: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Yankees#Origins_in_Baltimore_.281901.E2.80.931902.29
This was mostly because the AL had bribed the NL Baltimore Orioles' star John McGraw to jump to the AL and hoped to win over the defunct NL clubs' fans. It failed miserably but why is not clear.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on July 29, 2013, 09:45:01 PM
No shit.
Yeah the current Orioles were the original Milwaukee Brewers while the current Yankees were the Baltimore Orioles.
Still trying to figure out the thing about Ohio fans of some specific or non-specific team or sport being so ill-reputed.
Browns fans? They have the Dawg Pound, but generate more pity than anything. They're the Browns.
Bengals fans? Bungles. Nuff said.
Reds fans? They have a sense of entitlement, but when your team goes back to 1869 and had the 70s Big Red Machine that's almost understandable.
Indians fans? Not known outside the AL Central
Cavs fans? Have not recovered from the LeBron thing and never will. Cleveland sucks and they know it. But they're not Detroit!
Ohio State fans? A bit dorky, but harmless.
I guess I should've seen Fhzdzhdz's obvious troll, but I haven't heard of "Ohioans" being known to be anywhere near the level of Chicagoans when it comes to obnoxiousness.
Piecing together a pilgrimage to St. Louis in a couple weeks. I'm thinking we'll stay at the Hilton right next to the stadium, catch a Cubs game on Sunday, do non-baseball stuff Monday, then a Pirates game on Tuesday, driving home on Wednesday. Wife seems willing to go along with it, and Tommy is all in-- though I think he has some idea that we're going to hang out at Yadier Molina's house or something.
Quote from: derspiess on July 29, 2013, 11:09:01 PM
Reds fans? They have a sense of entitlement, but when your team goes back to 1869 and had the 70s Big Red Machine that's almost understandable.
The original 1869 Reds are today's Atlanta Braves. The Braves fans probably neither know nor care their team is the oldest major professional sports team in the US (if not this entire hemisphere but I could be wrong about that).
Quote from: Valmy on July 29, 2013, 11:47:42 PM
Quote from: derspiess on July 29, 2013, 11:09:01 PM
Reds fans? They have a sense of entitlement, but when your team goes back to 1869 and had the 70s Big Red Machine that's almost understandable.
The original 1869 Reds are today's Atlanta Braves. The Braves fans probably neither know nor care their team is the oldest major professional sports team in the US (if not this entire hemisphere but I could be wrong about that).
I didn't realize the Braves went further back than Boston! :o
Haha the Rangers ended up winning with two homers in the bottom of the 9th. :showoff:
If there's one thing you can depend upon Matt Holliday to do, it's ground into a double play in the 10th inning with 1 out & runners on the corners. Fucker.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on July 30, 2013, 12:07:02 AM
Quote from: Valmy on July 29, 2013, 11:47:42 PM
Quote from: derspiess on July 29, 2013, 11:09:01 PM
Reds fans? They have a sense of entitlement, but when your team goes back to 1869 and had the 70s Big Red Machine that's almost understandable.
The original 1869 Reds are today's Atlanta Braves. The Braves fans probably neither know nor care their team is the oldest major professional sports team in the US (if not this entire hemisphere but I could be wrong about that).
I didn't realize the Braves went further back than Boston! :o
It's not so much that the original Reds franchise moved to Boston as that the Boston team bought up all the assets of the Reds club, including their founder and manager.
Quote from: Valmy on July 29, 2013, 10:35:08 PM
This was mostly because the AL had bribed the NL Baltimore Orioles' star John McGraw to jump to the AL and hoped to win over the defunct NL clubs' fans. It failed miserably but why is not clear.
During the 1890s it became common for multiple teams to share common ownership. The old NL Orioles were one of baseball's first great dynastes in -1890s. But after the 1898 season, the owners began to shift the best players to Brooklyn. Under economic pressures, the Orioles were dropped from the NL and more stars moved to Brooklyn. The rump franchise was invited top join the American League and did play as the Baltimore Orioles (AL) for 2 years under McGraw. They failed in part because most of the top players were left behind in Brooklyn, although McGraw did manage to bring in two promising young future stars - Roger Bresnahan and Turkey Mike Donlin. Perhaps the bigger problem was that Ban Johnson couldn't get along with McGraw. In 1902, Johnson suspended McGraw and a few Oriole players for brawling and baiting umpires. McGraw responded by ditching the team, taking with him Bresnahan, Dan McGann, and Joe McGinnity, among others (eventually Donlin would join with the Giants as well). The Orioles finished in last with terrible attendance, at which point Ban Johnson brought in two New York investors to salvage the franchise. Thus, the Highlanders were born. It is suspected by some that Johnson's intention was to move the Orioles from the start and the McGraw suspension was a pretext of convenience for both parties - McGraw, so he could do a deal with a Giants; Johnson - so he could move a disfavored franchise to New York and put it under new management.
But it is true that there is a direct connection between the Yankees franchise of today and the old Orioles of the NL.
Goddamn. Biggest Cards meltdown I can remember. Lost 7 straight & are on the verge of a *five* game sweep by the Pirates. The Pirates are supposed to be fading away at this point in the season.
Seems like the team always falters when I plan a trip out to St. Louis.
Quote from: derspiess on July 31, 2013, 09:44:56 PM
Goddamn. Biggest Cards meltdown I can remember. Lost 7 straight & are on the verge of a *five* game sweep by the Pirates. The Pirates are supposed to be fading away at this point in the season.
Still two months to go. I like what teh Pirates do, but I still don't dare to hope.
Cubs game: rained out. I wasnt paying attention anyways. :) I had many glasses of hard cider. :cool:
Quote from: Caliga on July 31, 2013, 10:53:45 PM
Cubs game: rained out. I wasnt paying attention anyways. :) I had many glasses of hard cider. :cool:
Don't forget, Goettafest is this week.
Is it actually this weekend? :hmm:
btw Cubs game didn't actually get rained out. I got bored and left and like ten minutes later it resumed. :blush: :blush: :blush:
Yep. Let me know if you can make it up. Should be lots of good beer there. Some new breweries in town to visit as well.
Cards aren't back in St Louis until after I leave. :(
Quote from: sbr on August 01, 2013, 09:39:38 PM
Cards aren't back in St Louis until after I leave. :(
I'll be there the week of 8/11 :)
Quote from: derspiess on August 01, 2013, 09:42:04 PM
Quote from: sbr on August 01, 2013, 09:39:38 PM
Cards aren't back in St Louis until after I leave. :(
I'll be there the week of 8/11 :)
I go home on Sunday the 4th. :)
Quote from: derspiess on July 29, 2013, 11:30:18 PM
Piecing together a pilgrimage to St. Louis in a couple weeks. I'm thinking we'll stay at the Hilton right next to the stadium, catch a Cubs game on Sunday, do non-baseball stuff Monday, then a Pirates game on Tuesday, driving home on Wednesday. Wife seems willing to go along with it, and Tommy is all in-- though I think he has some idea that we're going to hang out at Yadier Molina's house or something.
You can take him up in the arch, which is near by. He might get a kick out of that.
Quote from: Razgovory on August 01, 2013, 10:23:23 PM
You can take him up in the arch, which is near by. He might get a kick out of that.
I dunno, he doesn't strike me as
that kinky.
Prevert.
Anyway, my itinerary has us doing 1 game with just Tommy & me and one with the whole fan-damily. We'll go up in the Gateway Arch and do the other touristy crap (Magic House, City Museum, etc.) the Monday that there is no game. And I will try to get out to Schlafly's taproom and Alpha Brewing.
I keep telling the wife I got us a great rate on a hotel in East St. Louis. She doesn't think that's funny.
Quote from: Valmy on July 29, 2013, 11:47:42 PM
The original 1869 Reds are today's Atlanta Braves. The Braves fans probably neither know nor care their team is the oldest major professional sports team in the US (if not this entire hemisphere but I could be wrong about that).
Sort of . . .
The Cinci team wasn't really a franchise at all in the way we understand it. It was more like a "club" in the true sense of that word. It was located in Cincinatti in part because even as late as 1869, the amateur ethos was still strong on the east coast.
The only real connection between that team and the Boston team in the NA is that Harry Wright was the organizer of the 1869 club and was the general manager of the Boston team, and he managed to convince a few stars from the Cinci club to join the Boston team.
The Braves are still the oldest continually operating franchise in the game, either way.
I really, really regret my choice of words from my post a few days ago. Had I remembered I was on Languish, I wouldn't have used the word "franchise".
Quote from: derspiess on August 02, 2013, 10:23:16 AM
I really, really regret my choice of words from my post a few days ago. Had I remembered I was on Languish, I wouldn't have used the word "franchise".
Oh for godsake. I just thought it was an interesting factoid and I thought started an interesting little discussion on baseball history. Does that really annoy you on a baseball thread?
Quote from: Valmy on August 02, 2013, 10:47:13 AM
Quote from: derspiess on August 02, 2013, 10:23:16 AM
I really, really regret my choice of words from my post a few days ago. Had I remembered I was on Languish, I wouldn't have used the word "franchise".
Oh for godsake. I just thought it was an interesting factoid and I thought started an interesting little discussion on baseball history. Does that really annoy you on a baseball thread?
Never mind. I just realized I didn't actually use the word "franchise" in the first place :D
Quote from: derspiess on August 02, 2013, 10:55:18 AM
Quote from: Valmy on August 02, 2013, 10:47:13 AM
Quote from: derspiess on August 02, 2013, 10:23:16 AM
I really, really regret my choice of words from my post a few days ago. Had I remembered I was on Languish, I wouldn't have used the word "franchise".
Oh for godsake. I just thought it was an interesting factoid and I thought started an interesting little discussion on baseball history. Does that really annoy you on a baseball thread?
Never mind. I just realized I didn't actually use the word "franchise" in the first place :D
Yeah I wasn't being pedantic there intentionally I just thought it was interesting and stuff.
And we're confirmed for the Cardinals pilgrimage. Got cheap-ish seats for both games, as the kids will not want to stay in them when they realize there is kids stuff for them to do.
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1097147_711296642219040_677534259_o.jpg)
That's a lot of driving, but sounds like a fun trip.
Not crazy driving.
Pittsburgh-Boston-Bawlmer-DC-Philly-NYC-Cooperstown-NYC-Cleveland-Chicago.
Course they could have gone apeshit and went
Pittsburgh-Arizona-Seattle-Atlanta-Chicago-Denver-Cooperstown-Motown-Anaheim-Minneapolis.
Lol, when did Fuck Face (Billy Ripken) start doing MLBTV analysis?
Was Houston always in the AL? :huh:
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on August 06, 2013, 11:15:25 PM
Was Houston always in the AL? :huh:
Switched as of this year.
Quote from: derspiess on August 06, 2013, 10:49:00 PM
Lol, when did Fuck Face (Billy Ripken) start doing MLBTV analysis?
Couple seasons now.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 06, 2013, 11:53:33 PM
Quote from: derspiess on August 06, 2013, 10:49:00 PM
Lol, when did Fuck Face (Billy Ripken) start doing MLBTV analysis?
Couple seasons now.
How did I miss that :unsure:
Anywho, this was pretty entertaining:
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/bryce-harper-history-home-run-ken-griffey-jr-hit-by-pitch-benches-clear-twitter-war-clown-question-bro-080713
Quote from: derspiess on August 07, 2013, 08:37:27 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 06, 2013, 11:53:33 PM
Quote from: derspiess on August 06, 2013, 10:49:00 PM
Lol, when did Fuck Face (Billy Ripken) start doing MLBTV analysis?
Couple seasons now.
How did I miss that :unsure:
Probably the same way everybody else has: by not watching MLBTV.
Quote from: derspiess on August 07, 2013, 08:38:05 AM
Anywho, this was pretty entertaining:
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/bryce-harper-history-home-run-ken-griffey-jr-hit-by-pitch-benches-clear-twitter-war-clown-question-bro-080713
And then there's this. I would never cheer someone getting hit by a pitch. Unless it's A-Rod.
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/08/07/chicago-fans-cheer-after-a-rod-hit-by-pitch-girardi-miffed/
I dunno, man...Bryce Harper deserves every plunk in the hip he gets.
Quote from: derspiess on August 07, 2013, 08:38:05 AM
Anywho, this was pretty entertaining:
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/bryce-harper-history-home-run-ken-griffey-jr-hit-by-pitch-benches-clear-twitter-war-clown-question-bro-080713
What was Chipper's beef? Harper's trot looked normal to me.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on August 07, 2013, 08:52:17 AM
Quote from: derspiess on August 07, 2013, 08:38:05 AM
Anywho, this was pretty entertaining:
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/bryce-harper-history-home-run-ken-griffey-jr-hit-by-pitch-benches-clear-twitter-war-clown-question-bro-080713
What was Chipper's beef? Harper's trot looked normal to me.
I don't know. I don't get the delicate pitcher ego thing to begin with, though.
Quote from: derspiess on August 07, 2013, 09:08:41 AM
I don't know. I don't get the delicate pitcher ego thing to begin with, though.
If I let up a monster shot like that, I would just as soon draw as little attention to it as possible.
Also - Chipper Jones, great player, but clearly has too much time on his hands.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on August 07, 2013, 10:47:45 AM
Also - Chipper Jones, great player, but clearly has too much time on his hands.
Yep.
Considering how much time he's missed the last several seasons, you'd think he'd have figured out a better hobby.
I watched MLB Network in disbelief last night as a network owned by major league baseball and carrying the MLB brand breathlessly hyped the return of ARod to Yankees stadium to be broadcast 7 PM tonight.
What's a little hypocrisy when there a couple extra promotional bucks to be squeezed out?
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on August 09, 2013, 09:39:57 AM
I watched MLB Network in disbelief last night as a network owned by major league baseball and carrying the MLB brand breathlessly hyped the return of ARod to Yankees stadium to be broadcast 7 PM tonight.
What's a little hypocrisy when there a couple extra promotional bucks to be squeezed out?
In all fairness, from a reporting standpoint, it was the big story of the night. It's not like they could just ignore it.
One good thing is that no matter how bad the Cubs suck, we still manage to beat the Cards a lot.
Quote from: fhdz on August 10, 2013, 01:46:29 PM
One good thing is that no matter how bad the Cubs suck, we still manage to beat the Cards a lot.
That's kind of a recent (as in this year) thing. Anyway, I was at the game Sunday, and I'm pretty certain my presence staved off a Cubs sweep. Was also at the Pirates-Cards game last night, and though I did not make my family sit through all 14 innings, I believe my presence there caused the 9th inning two-base error that kept the Cards in the game :D
That was a fun trip. Gonna have to let the kids grow up a little before I try it again, but it was worth doing.
Cards beat the Braves & get within a half game of the Pirates for the division lead. The pessemist in me sez the Braves will win the next two games of the series, but anyway for now I can watch the Giants-Pirates game an root even more than Bluto does for the Gigantes.
Oh look, the Giants scored a run as I was typing this. I am: a good luck charm.
Still need a couple more runs to tie it up, but what the hey.
Last night was a brutal brutal loss. I am starting to lose hope Seedy. The Os may belt homers but without a bullpen they are not going anywhere. :(
Reds fans are all depressed about their team. They hate the Cardinals with a burning passion. It's such a one-sided rivalry, but I love it.
http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=330903108
QuoteTravis Snider HR helps Pirates end string of 20 straight losing seasons
MILWAUKEE -- This one was for Roberto Clemente. The Hall of Famer's retired jersey is still the only 21 that matters for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Pinch-hitter Travis Snider homered in the ninth inning to lift Pittsburgh to a 4-3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night that clinched the Pirates' first non-losing record in two decades.
Clemente played right field for Pittsburgh and finished his career with exactly 3,000 hits. He died in a plane crash on New Year's Eve 1972 while trying to deliver food and relief supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.
"The one family I'm happy for is the Clemente family," manager Clint Hurdle said. "They told me earlier in the season that we can't have 21 losing seasons, that we've got to find a way to not have Roberto's number tied to that. I told them we'd find a way to take care of that. It's been taken care of."
Snider drove a 2-2 pitch from Jim Henderson (3-5) over the wall in center for his second pinch-hit homer of the season. He also accomplished the feat against the Chicago Cubs on May 21.
It was victory No. 81 for Pittsburgh, ensuring it will not finish with a losing record for the first time since it went 96-66 in 1992. More importantly, it boosted the Pirates' lead in the NL Central to two games over St. Louis.
"It was on our to-do list," Hurdle said. "We'll move on from here. Our plans are continue to play and compete and go further."
FINALLY! :punk: :beer: :w00t:
(Of course they might well go back to 20 years of suckage after this one ... :blush: )
Not that I was cheering him on, but I'm always impressed by pitchers who make extra effort to give themselves run support. In his first game back from the DL, on his first at-bat Tony Cingrani bunted himself a single, then stole second, then scored from second on a base hit.
And Beltran just grounded into his second double play of the night. Goddamnit, you're not Matt Holliday :angry:
I'll forgo gloating over the Cards' 3-game sweep of the Pirates to take 1st place, to bitch about Reds attendance. For all the talk about this being such a good baseball town (and it for the most part), they're only drawing average league attendance, for a team almost guaranteed of a playoff spot and still very much in contention for the division pennant.
http://espn.go.com/mlb/attendance
Last Friday during happy hour I had a room full of Reds fans bitching about the small crowds. Funny thing was that none of them had any plans to go the the game that was about to start. An informal poll revealed that I had been to more Reds games than anyone else in the room. Put your money where your mouth is, guys :rolleyes:
You probably go to more baseball games than 99.9% of the country.
I can only deal with baseball games in April and late Sept/early October. Just too goddamned hot, and absolutely no breeze in Camden Yards at all. It was OK being 22 and drunk, but now...meh, cable gives me a better angle on the strike zone.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on September 09, 2013, 11:13:59 PM
You probably go to more baseball games than 99.9% of the country.
I get a deal on 300-level seats for certain games, plus there are always good ticket promotions to take advantage of for other games, and I already pay for a parking spot near the stadium.
I can take Tommy to a game & do the whole basic experience (hot dogs, peanuts, maybe a snack for him) for less than $20 out of my pocket. I burned him out on baseball games this year :D
I only go to minor league games.
http://www.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t459
:)
I only go to College games....well except the two times a decade or so I am in Baltimore during the season.
I'm hoping to get out to Cleveland for a game before the end of the season. I'd love to go more often, but the drive is 7ish hours for me. <_<
Quote from: Benedict Arnold on September 10, 2013, 02:32:57 PM
I'm hoping to get out to Cleveland for a game before the end of the season. I'd love to go more often, but the drive is 7ish hours for me. <_<
I still have not been there for a baseball game. It's close to a 5 hour drive for me :bleeding:
It's in Cleveland for me. :bleeding:
So the Reds sweep the Dodgers, only to drop their first two to the Cubs. As bad as they are, the Cubs do a good job of being spoiler.
Cards look to maintain their slim one game lead-- damned Texans can't seem to beat the damned Pirates.
I jinxed the Rangers 9th inning rally. As soon as I turned to that game, Adrian Beltre struck out on three consecutive pitches. YOU'RE WELCOME SYT
Quote from: derspiess on September 10, 2013, 10:35:46 PM
I jinxed the Rangers 9th inning rally. As soon as I turned to that game, Adrian Beltre struck out on three consecutive pitches. YOU'RE WELCOME SYT
:)
Quote from: derspiess on September 10, 2013, 08:05:31 AM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on September 09, 2013, 11:13:59 PM
You probably go to more baseball games than 99.9% of the country.
I get a deal on 300-level seats for certain games, plus there are always good ticket promotions to take advantage of for other games, and I already pay for a parking spot near the stadium.
I can take Tommy to a game & do the whole basic experience (hot dogs, peanuts, maybe a snack for him) for less than $20 out of my pocket. I burned him out on baseball games this year :D
Years ago, I went in on a 12 game package for the Orioles. By game 7 or 8, I'd definitely had my fill. Wound up being more of a chore than actual fun.
Quote from: derspiess on September 10, 2013, 10:35:46 PM
I jinxed the Rangers 9th inning rally. As soon as I turned to that game, Adrian Beltre struck out on three consecutive pitches. YOU'RE WELCOME SYT
:mad:
Was wondering why I hadn't seen Jerry Remy the last few times I've watched a game and googled him. Holy crap, I had no idea his son was charged with murdering his girlfriend. Just terrible all around :(
Pieces are falling into place for the Tribe. I'm an emotional and nervous wreck. I haven't had to worry about a team I follow even being in the playoff hunt since I was a kid watching Rickey in Oakland. This is my first adult baseball fan experience of success. It's... awesome. :)
Just like I told all you guys in the off-season, the Orioles' inability to get free agents and sit pat with their bullpen has doomed them.
Such great seasons by Davis, Jones and Machado: wasted.
Quote from: Benedict Arnold on September 14, 2013, 04:20:12 AM
Pieces are falling into place for the Tribe. I'm an emotional and nervous wreck. I haven't had to worry about a team I follow even being in the playoff hunt since I was a kid watching Rickey in Oakland. This is my first adult baseball fan experience of success. It's... awesome. :)
I haven't had a baseball thrill since 1990.
I miss Marge Schott.
Quote from: Ed Anger on September 14, 2013, 08:58:14 AM
I miss Marge Schott.
A sportswriter's dream.
"I never once called any of my porch monkeys a 'nigger', that would be wrong."
Quote from: CountDeMoney on September 14, 2013, 09:00:06 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on September 14, 2013, 08:58:14 AM
I miss Marge Schott.
A sportswriter's dream.
"I never once called any of my porch monkeys a 'nigger', that would be wrong."
I never laughed so hard when she called Dave Parker her million dollar nigger.
Fun fact: Dave Parker owns a bunch of Popeye's franchises.
Quote from: Ed Anger on September 14, 2013, 08:58:14 AM
I haven't had a thrill since 1990.
I miss Marge Schott.
:hmm:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm3.static.flickr.com%2F2661%2F4070394586_b7f24435b1.jpg&hash=e3f33fc7c8647c5a54673cb519194592207f820e)
Miguel Cabrera has 1256 RBI and is only 30.
Could he be the 4th player to pass the 2000 RBI plateau? :hmm:
Somewhere in Hell, Marge Shott's getting fingercuffed by Bob Irsay and Al Davis. Schottzie's on deck.
Timmay got the triple fuck you play.
Dumbass hit into an unassisted triple play.
He ran onto the field screaming " NOMAAAAAAAAAAAR", only to be tazed in the nads.
When did you guys become such overly sensitive weenies?
I hope the ghost of Schottzie shits in his mouth.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on September 14, 2013, 09:51:49 PM
When did you guys become such overly sensitive weenies?
Go fuck yourself.
The Rangers aren't looking so good right now.
Three errors on the Orioles so far. That doesn't help in a close game like this.
It's cute to see Nats fans act like their team has a real shot at the postseason :lol:
Holy shit Rangers win! Rangers win!
Cards are up 8-0 9-0 (after that Holliday HR) on the Rockies and Pirates just lost. Cards are poised to take sole possession of 1st place-- again. For the moment.
And it's nice to see the Dodgers and Braves backsliding.
10-4 now. I guess that Domincan guy didn't turn out to be such a good pitcher.
Quote from: Razgovory on September 17, 2013, 10:33:14 PM
10-4 now. I guess that Domincan guy didn't turn out to be such a good pitcher.
Good time for him to learn. Hey, there's Mitchell Boggs pitching for the Rockies! :lol:
15 hits last night and only 3 runs. :bleeding:
Go fuck yourself.
Seriously.
:D
Quote from: derspiess on September 17, 2013, 09:31:11 PM
Cards are poised to take sole possession of 1st place-- again. For the moment.
Cards are probably going to win the division at this point, just based on scheduling--6 of the Reds and Pirates last 9 games are against each other.
I hope the Nationals play well enough this weekend to stay in the playoff hunt. Just so the Cardinals can swoop in next week and end their playoff hopes :menace:
Wildcard bitches! Yeehaw! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYtjpIwamos (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYtjpIwamos)
Just finished watching the game. What a freak accident with the Jays center fielder getting a ball in the face like that, they really are snake bit this year. Hope he's ok.
Red Sox clinch the division! :w00t:
Go fuck yourself.
Ugh, even if the Orioles were going to the playoffs--and they won't--it wouldn't be any fun without Machado. :(
So it looks like the NL playoff teams have all been set. Just needs to be decided who's winning the division and who will be playing in the "win or GTFO" one game playoff. Cardinals magic number is 4, but there are only 5 games left :D
Just saw on ESPN that this is the first time in 37 years the Reds have back to back playoff years :lol:
Alex Rios hit for the cycle tonight.
I wanna see that. Matt Holliday got a single, then double, then HR on his first three at bats the other night. But I didn't get too excited about his chances of completing the cycle, 'cuz he just doesn't do triples :D
I do too. The were talking about it in the Sportscenter intro, but are just going over the MNF game still.
Reading the recap turned up something interesting about guys hitting for the cycle recently. Rios did it against the Astros, but the last Rangers player to do it was Beltre vs. Seattle last year. The other two this year (Mike Trout and Brandon Barnes) were also against the Mariners. What I'm saying is keep an eye on Matt Holliday the next time he plays against Seattle.
:yeah:
The Bucs can theoretically still clinch the division, but I guess it'll come down to a final face off with the Reds. The battered, bitter Pirates fan in me says that it'll be a short post season for the team. :P
Quote from: CountDeMoney on September 23, 2013, 09:09:59 PM
Ugh, even if the Orioles were going to the playoffs--and they won't--it wouldn't be any fun without Machado. :(
That was unfortunate. I hope he's ready to go 100% for the start of next season, but it didn't look good. When I first saw it, I thought he'd broken his leg--the way it was flopping around reminded me of when Tim Krumrie broke his leg in the Super Bowl--but apparantly, it's a knee injury.
Quote from: Syt on September 23, 2013, 11:05:29 PM
:yeah:
The Bucs can theoretically still clinch the division, but I guess it'll come down to a final face off with the Reds.
It will come down to the last day or two. The Cards are in the driver's seat, but they're only up by 2 games on a couple of teams that are tied for second. So it will be pretty tight unless the Mets and Cubs do me a favor & both win tonight and tomorrow.
QuoteThe battered, bitter Pirates fan in me says that it'll be a short post season for the team. :P
Playoff experience factors pretty hugely in playoff performance, so that's working against them. On the other hand, everyone thought the Pirates would fall off the cliff in August the way the traditionally have done, and that obviously didn't happen. So who knows what they're capable of.
The AP is reporting that Machado didn't tear the ACL or MCL, but torn his medial patellofemoral ligament. They say no surgery and he could be running again in 6-8 weeks.
I really hope that is true.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/good-news-orioles-machado-didnt-223951512--mlb.html
Yeah, that's great news if accurate.
No kidding. This town's been on needles today like I hadn't seen since Cal Ripken Jr was deciding whether or not to rest a game.
Welp. Scratch that no hitter.
Dang. Wacha just lost his no-hitter on his last would-be out. that sucks.
The Great Giambino, Big G, Jason goddamn Giambi coming up increibly clutch again. Man, I love the baseball. :cry: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEsAe_tDF-4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEsAe_tDF-4)
The Cardinals' magic number is now 2. If the Cubs can keep the Pirates at bay and manage another run, it will become 1. Reds are now eliminated from contention for the division pennant race and are now just competing for home field for the one-game wild card playoff.
And the Cards' magic number is now 1 after that loss by the Pirates. This makes things a bit easier for this weekend. Cardinals have to either win just 1 game or have the Pirates not sweep the Reds to win the NL Central.
I believe the absolute worst case scenario (or best if you're Syt) at this point is the Cardinals and Pirates finish tied for the NL Central, and if that happens there will be a one game playoff to decide the winner (head to head doesn't matter).
Touching moment with Mariano Rivera being pulled out of the game for the last time at home.
Now with that behind us, can we please cut the Yankees coverage and focus on the teams actually in (or in contention for) the playoffs??
Quote from: CountDeMoney on September 23, 2013, 09:09:59 PM
Ugh, even if the Orioles were going to the playoffs--and they won't--it wouldn't be any fun without Machado. :(
That may have actually been the game that mathematically elminated them. Fortunately Machado's injury was not anywhere as bad as it looked at the time.
Damn this season was as disappointing as last season was magical. No bullpen at all, they lost far too many games they should have won.
Quote from: derspiess on September 27, 2013, 09:15:13 AM
Touching moment with Mariano Rivera being pulled out of the game for the last time at home.
Now with that behind us, can we please cut the Yankees coverage and focus on the teams actually in (or in contention for) the playoffs??
Nah it is always like Ken Burn's Baseball.
New York New York New York New York New York New York! Oh and lets talk about Curt Flood, he played for this obscure non-New York team.
Quote from: Valmy on September 27, 2013, 12:51:56 PM
Damn this season was as disappointing as last season was magical. No bullpen at all, they lost far too many games they should have won.
Maybe this offseason they'll learn they need to upgrade the pitching instead of standing pat with what they have.
Watching the Sox-Orioles game.
Why did the Umps call that home run back, as the ground rule was explained by the broadcaster, a ball that lands on the grounds crew roof is a home run. :unsure:
Oh Cubbies. :weep:
Quote from: fhdz on September 27, 2013, 09:01:15 PM
Oh Cubbies. :weep:
You're still paying attention? Cubs fans are supposed to stop caring in August. Your Bears got one from us though :hug:
Cards are 3 outs away from winning the NL Central pennant. Trevor Rosenthal and his 100mph arm are on the mound.
Cards win the NL Central!!!! #12in13
Need to get me a playoff sweatshirt :)
Quote from: derspiess on September 27, 2013, 09:40:27 PM
Quote from: fhdz on September 27, 2013, 09:01:15 PM
Oh Cubbies. :weep:
You're still paying attention? Cubs fans are supposed to stop caring in August. Your Bears got one from us though :hug:
There was a snowball's chance they could have got the wild card. Alas :D
Time to shift gears, dude. Your Bears could well be 4-0 after this weekend, so there's that.
Quote from: derspiess on September 27, 2013, 10:24:47 PM
Time to shift gears, dude. Your Bears could well be 4-0 after this weekend, so there's that.
I know, right? The o-line's doing well, the new plays are great, and Cutler's got his shit in a pile.
Quote from: fhdz on September 27, 2013, 10:17:09 PM
Quote from: derspiess on September 27, 2013, 09:40:27 PM
Quote from: fhdz on September 27, 2013, 09:01:15 PM
Oh Cubbies. :weep:
You're still paying attention? Cubs fans are supposed to stop caring in August. Your Bears got one from us though :hug:
There was a snowball's chance they could have got the wild card. Alas :D
There's always next year! :hug:
The Red Sox went from 69-93 in 2012 to 97-64. Cubs can too!
Cards secure the top NL playoff position and will probably play the Pirates (Reds might as well not make the trip for their wild card playoff game). Cards finished hot, which is what you want, but hopefully they won't get too cold with their time off.
So it looks like Texas may win today-- I guess they'd get a tiebreaker game vs. Tampa Bay tomorrow?
Quote from: derspiess on September 29, 2013, 04:58:40 PM
Cards secure the top NL playoff position and will probably play the Pirates (Reds might as well not make the trip for their wild card playoff game). Cards finished hot, which is what you want, but hopefully they won't get too cold with their time off.
So it looks like Texas may win today-- I guess they'd get a tiebreaker game vs. Tampa Bay tomorrow?
Yep, and Texas gets bring back Nelson Cruz. And they get to be the home team--no idea how that gets determined.
Quote from: dps on September 29, 2013, 06:40:35 PM
Yep, and Texas gets bring back Nelson Cruz. And they get to be the home team--no idea how that gets determined.
Pretty sure it's because they won the season series vs. Tampa Bay.
I won the EUOT fantasy baseball keeper league for the third straight year. :showoff:
:hmm: Seems like the wildcard "playoff" should be a series. Something short like best of three.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on September 29, 2013, 11:49:28 PM
:hmm: Seems like the wildcard "playoff" should be a series. Something short like best of three.
That would drag things out too long IMO. Either keep it as is or scale back to just one wild card team.
The NL wild card game is just a formality. Reds are done. They haven't shown any life for several days. Dusty Baker is being rightly vilified around here for scoffing at the notion that the team needed to show a sense of urgency heading into the last couple regular season series.
Sucks that the Rangers didn't win their "play in" game. They put together a nice little run at the end of the season & it would have been interesting to see that continue.
It would add some time to things, sure, but it seems kind of strange to have the two wild cards playing a single game in order to get into the (e:) "real" playoffs when everything else up to that point, except the stupid all star game, has been in a series format.
Re: The Rangers: They pissed it all away at the beginning of this month, and weren't going anywhere. Sure, they managed to win 7 in a row, or whatever it was, late to get into that tiebreaker game, but they went like 5-15 before the little win streak started. Do that in July (they did it in July too, actually: 11-15, with a little streak at the end) or August (20W in August), it's not good, but you can recover. Do it in September while trying to win the division? Yeah go on home.
Quote from: derspiess on October 01, 2013, 03:39:28 PM
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on September 29, 2013, 11:49:28 PM
:hmm: Seems like the wildcard "playoff" should be a series. Something short like best of three.
That would drag things out too long IMO. Either keep it as is or scale back to just one wild card team.
The NL wild card game is just a formality. Reds are done. They haven't shown any life for several days. Dusty Baker is being rightly vilified around here for scoffing at the notion that the team needed to show a sense of urgency heading into the last couple regular season series.
Sucks that the Rangers didn't win their "play in" game. They put together a nice little run at the end of the season & it would have been interesting to see that continue.
It really helps the Rays that Price pitched a complete game last night. But the back to back do or die games shouldn't do the pitching staffs any favors should they survive to the division round, especially coming off of basically do or die games at the end of the season.
I think the Cards are better served by getting the best record in that they get to face the Wild Card winner as opposed to home field in a potential NLCS.
Intense crowd in P-burgh. Hopefully after tonight we can stop hearing over & over how long it had been since the Pirates had been in the playoffs.
As I mentioned, the Reds are done. It may only be the 7th inning, but let me be the first to congratulate Syt on his team advancing.
Meh, TBS baseball coverage sucks anyway.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on October 01, 2013, 09:38:59 PM
Meh, TBS baseball coverage sucks anyway.
No shit. This is painful. I laughed at the people at work who said they were going to watch the game but listen to the local radio feed. Shit, I'd rather be listening to Marty Brennaman right now. And I can't stand Marty.
Forgot from last year how horrible TBS is.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on October 01, 2013, 09:38:59 PM
Meh, TBS baseball coverage sucks anyway.
Yeah, I want the club announcers all the way (hence radio - MLB online stream caters for that, fortunately). The TBS folks are just .... eh.
Oh and: :yeah:
Dusty Baker may be done for in Cincy. I used to defend him, but he's made some horrible decisions. Starting Cueto who was on the DL not long ago may be the worst in recent memory.
Anyway, bring on the real NL playoffs. Cards-Pirates & Braves-Dodgers will be a good couple of series to watch.
They are still having playoffs even with the Giants not in? :o
Quote from: derspiess on October 01, 2013, 09:47:01 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on October 01, 2013, 09:38:59 PM
Meh, TBS baseball coverage sucks anyway.
No shit. This is painful. I laughed at the people at work who said they were going to watch the game but listen to the local radio feed. Shit, I'd rather be listening to Marty Brennaman right now. And I can't stand Marty.
Forgot from last year how horrible TBS is.
The crew they had last night for the Rays / Rangers game was good, I thought.
Grats Syts on Ass. :cheers:
Quote from: katmai on October 01, 2013, 10:45:59 PM
They are still having playoffs even with the Giants not in? :o
There are still the Red Sox. If they get eliminated I'm sure they will call the rest of them off.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on October 01, 2013, 10:53:01 PM
Grats Syts on Ass. :cheers:
:P
Well, just goes to figure - the one time the Bucs make it to the play offs the Steelers have their worst season start since 1968. :lol:
Anyways, at this point each Bucs win feels like winning the World Series. :D
:lol: Charlie Sheen being interviewed after last night's game.
http://msn.foxsports.com/video/MLB?vid=66de3a8e-4537-454a-9935-7591e47af2bc&from=foxsports/mlb/stories
Didn't know he was a Reds fan.
:cry:
MLB gamepass or whatever they call is so much shitter than the NFL's. It's always crashing and resetting from the beginning. <_<
Quote from: jimmy olsen on October 03, 2013, 09:13:49 AM
MLB gamepass or whatever they call is so much shitter than the NFL's. It's always crashing and resetting from the beginning. <_<
I have yet to have thta issue.
Quote from: Syt on October 03, 2013, 09:24:18 AM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on October 03, 2013, 09:13:49 AM
MLB gamepass or whatever they call is so much shitter than the NFL's. It's always crashing and resetting from the beginning. <_<
I have yet to have thta issue.
Ditto. I watched it on my phone, PC, and Xbox all season and had no issues with it at all. The Xbox interface is particularly nice.
The Playoff version of the MLB pass is a lot different than the regular season one. At least here in the States.
Quote from: Benedict Arnold on October 03, 2013, 01:24:03 PM
The Playoff version of the MLB pass is a lot different than the regular season one. At least here in the States.
Ah-- I actually canceled mine around the end of the regular season.
Cards. Win.
The guy who's doing color for the Dodgers/Braves sounds like James Woods.
Well, that did not go too well.
Quote from: Syt on October 04, 2013, 02:44:16 AM
Well, that did not go too well.
You people are gonna make me root for the Cardinals dammit! <_<
Well, I was giving the Pirates a 40% chance to make it against the Cards. Might still make it, but I see the advantage on the side of StL.
Otherwise I would root for the Dodgers and Tigers.
Quote from: Syt on October 04, 2013, 02:58:20 AM
Well, I was giving the Pirates a 40% chance to make it against the Cards. Might still make it, but I see the advantage on the side of StL.
Otherwise I would root for the Dodgers and Tigers.
Dead to me German
Dusty baker fired as reds manager.
Quote from: sbr on October 04, 2013, 08:24:46 AM
Dusty baker fired as reds manager.
Cue the "Bring Back Pete" chants from the yokels here :lol:
Ten bucks says they end up with someone worse than Dusty. But man, is he hated here.
Quote from: katmai on October 04, 2013, 02:46:15 AM
Quote from: Syt on October 04, 2013, 02:44:16 AM
Well, that did not go too well.
You people are gonna make me root for the Cardinals dammit! <_<
If you want the Gigantes to win it all next year, you ought to be doing that anyway to continue the pattern :contract:
Quote from: Syt on October 04, 2013, 02:58:20 AM
Well, I was giving the Pirates a 40% chance to make it against the Cards. Might still make it, but I see the advantage on the side of StL.
Otherwise I would root for the Dodgers and Tigers.
I'm just glad game 1 wasn't played in P-burgh. Cards need to win tonight to hopefully dampen the crowd a little for game 3.
:showoff:
Wow, looks like the Rays outfield never played om Fenway before.
Nice win for the Sox.
I knew that the Pirates depended on their pitching, but I had no idea their offense was so anemic. Amazing that a team could win that many games with those stats, even in the N.L.
W-L 94-68
BA .245
RPG 3.9
ERA 3.26
Quote from: jimmy olsen on October 06, 2013, 07:44:57 AM
I knew that the Pirates depended on their pitching, but I had no idea their offense was so anemic. Amazing that a team could win that many games with those stats, even in the N.L.
W-L 94-68
BA .245
RPG 3.9
ERA 3.26
They scored 140 more runs than they allowed: 688-548. With that ratio, their expected W-L record would be 98-64, so, no, it's not amazing for them to win 96 games. 688 runs scored is hardly anemic--it'sgood enough for 4th in the NL in runs scored (and one of the teams ahead of them is Colorado), and no team allowed fewer runs.
Also, I don't know where you got your numbers, but 688 runs scored in 162 games is 4.2 RPG, not 3.9; and according to Baseball Reference, their team ERA was 3.18, not 3.26, and their batting average was .249, not .345.
I got the numbers from the ESPN matchup page.
Do they draw a ton of walks?
As everyone knows now, the only stat that matters is on base %.
Dammit all. :mad:
Quote from: Admiral Yi on October 06, 2013, 06:21:50 PM
Do they draw a ton of walks?
As everyone knows now, the only stat that matters is on base %.
A good amount, yes. They were second in the league in walks, but even with that, they were only 6h in OBA. Their offense is based on power--they lead the NL in HR and slugging %. That might surprise some people, because no one on the team hit a lot of homers. The thing is, though, everyone on the team who was appeared in at least 100 games except B.J. Upton (who hit terribly all-around) hit for at least decent power totals.
Another almost-no hitter by Wacha-- game 5 to be played in St. Louis. Cardinals need to find their bats again if they want to make it to the NLCS.
Quote from: derspiess on October 07, 2013, 05:56:30 PM
Another almost-no hitter by Wacha-- game 5 to be played in St. Louis. Cardinals need to find their bats again if they want to make it to the NLCS.
Bats are asleep. Need rum and cigars.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fpunkyg.files.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F09%2Fjobu.jpg&hash=91193f044e4bbd9abc7ec36f94864c8f605c37d6)
Quote from: derspiess on October 07, 2013, 05:56:30 PM
Another almost-no hitter by Wacha
His little brother Lucas is a linebacker at Wyoming
Oof, that was a nail-biter. Glad Detroit pulled through.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-2TUgsIwqn3A%2FTbYPsf9qgZI%2FAAAAAAAACP8%2FwRK4nrxDdUs%2Fs1600%2FBengalTiger.jpg&hash=9124a0147c7fa26e49562a60e948edebf08504c0)
Go get 'em, Tiger.
Dang Sav I figured you would have become a Marlins fan by now.
Tigers are much cooler than fish, even if they are overexposed.
Hard to see Pittsburgh beating Wainwright tonight.
Quote from: Valmy on October 08, 2013, 10:05:31 PM
Dang Sav I figured you would have become a Marlins fan by now.
:lol: There are no Marlins fans.
Quote from: Valmy on October 09, 2013, 08:20:24 AM
Hard to see Pittsburgh beating Wainwright tonight.
DON'T JINX HIM
Cole is a pretty decent pitcher as well. He shut the Cards down in Game 2, allowing just one run.
:lol:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcbscleveland.files.wordpress.com%2F2013%2F10%2Fscreen-shot-2013-10-04-at-2-02-44-pm-1.png%3Fw%3D300&hash=027dfa8aa3f01e3588d52ba308a1e585aa7aec7e)
Thanks, but we don't need expansion just yet.
Funny how those gotta-be-offended-about-something folks complaining about Indian team names never complain about the Vikings or Celtics.
Cleveland really should redo their logo.
:punk: Cards win in convincing fashion. Wainwright was a stud, and nice home runs by Mister Freese and Matt Adams. Wish I had been able to be there.
:cheers:
Suck it Pirates!
I missed Olbermann doing baseball recap & analysis. If he can just stick to sports and leave his politics at home, he's awesome.
Aaaand then there's Pedro Martinez slowing things down. I'd be happier with him doing his analysis in Spanish.
Ah well, it was fun while it lasted. :)
I'm kinda expecting a losing season again next year (because as a Pirates fan that's what you do).
Anyways, Go Tgers!
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on October 09, 2013, 09:44:25 PM
Funny how those gotta-be-offended-about-something folks complaining about Indian team names never complain about the Vikings or Celtics.
Nothing on the Fighting Irish.
Quote from: derspiess on October 09, 2013, 10:30:51 PM
I missed Olbermann doing baseball recap & analysis. If he can just stick to sports and leave his politics at home, he's awesome.
Always loved sports Olbermann. He is one of the best around.
Quote from: derspiess on October 09, 2013, 10:30:51 PM
I missed Olbermann doing baseball recap & analysis. If he can just stick to sports and leave his politics at home, he's awesome.
Aaaand then there's Pedro Martinez slowing things down. I'd be happier with him doing his analysis in Spanish.
I agree with you here. I found him strident and self-righteous in the extreme.
Quote from: Razgovory on October 10, 2013, 04:06:45 AM
Quote from: derspiess on October 09, 2013, 10:30:51 PM
I missed Olbermann doing baseball recap & analysis. If he can just stick to sports and leave his politics at home, he's awesome.
Aaaand then there's Pedro Martinez slowing things down. I'd be happier with him doing his analysis in Spanish.
I agree with you here. I found him strident and self-righteous in the extreme.
For a minute I thought you were talking about Pedro and I was so confused! :D
Quote from: Syt on October 09, 2013, 11:37:36 PM
Ah well, it was fun while it lasted. :)
I'm kinda expecting a losing season again next year (because as a Pirates fan that's what you do).
Anyways, Go Tgers!
If they can keep the same formula they had this year, they'll be fine. That catch by Marte was amazing, btw. Would have been a triple for sure.
Well, crap.
QuoteDespite initial hopes that Orioles third baseman Manny Machado could avoid surgery on his injured left knee, the Orioles' 21-year-old All-Star has decided to undergo a reconstructive surgery on the knee Monday in Los Angeles, the club announced Thursday night.
Machado, who tore the medial patellofemoral ligament – a small ligament that connects to the kneecap -- in his left knee, faces a rehab time of four to six months, but Machado still hopes to be ready for spring training in mid-February.
"I sent my MRI results to a couple of doctors and knee specialists and we decided that in the long run and for my future as a baseball player, this surgery would be the best plan," Machado said in a statement released by the team. "I will immediately begin the rehabilitation process in hopes of being ready for the start of spring training."
The procedure will be performed by Dodgers orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache at the Kerlan-Jobe Clinic in Los Angeles.
When Machado injured his knee after landing awkwardly on first base and falling to the ground during a game on Sept. 23, the Orioles feared the worst – that he had torn a major ligament in the knee, the ACL or MCL.
But an MRI on the joint revealed no major ligament damage, and a visit to nationally renowned orthopedist Dr. James Andrews for a second opinion confirmed the Orioles' initial prognosis of rest and rehab with no surgery.
"After conferring with several doctors, Manny has elected to have surgery to repair his left knee," Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette said. "He has the full support of the Orioles organization with this decision and we look forward to seeing him back on the field in Sarasota at full strength."
When the Orioles first diagnosed the injury, Duquette said it wasn't necessarily a new injury because Machado suffered a kneecap injury two years ago in the minor leagues playing at Class-A Delmarva that could have weakened the ligament.
So after getting other opinions on the knee, a decision to undergo surgery had to be made sooner than later in order to have any chance to return in time for spring training.
In his first full season, Machado hit .283 with 14 homers and 71 RBIs while leading the AL with 51 doubles. He played in his first All-Star Game in July and will be a strong candidate for the Gold Glove with his defense at third.
Quote from: Valmy on October 08, 2013, 10:05:31 PM
Dang Sav I figured you would have become a Marlins fan by now.
:P
Although I do feel a strange sense of deja vu whenever I watch the Jaguars. :unsure:
My impression is that carpetbaggers keep their hometown affiliation, which is why I think it's smart for the Miami franchises to market heavily to Latinos, and why I suspect the Tampa Bay franchises will always have anemic fan support.
It's pretty fun to watch one guy single-handedly win a 13 inning baseball game.
Quote from: sbr on October 12, 2013, 12:28:30 AM
It's pretty fun to watch one guy single-handedly win a 13 inning baseball game.
Beltran was a machine. The only thing he didn't do was pitch. He's been my favorite player the last couple of years.
Joe Kelly deserves props as well. The ever so smart baseball experts were predicting an easy Dodger win & were puzzled as to why the Cards would pitch Kelly. He's been rock-solid as a starter-- the best one they had through a stretch of the season. He's not going to pitch a complete game and he doesn't get a lot of strikeouts-- he just gets guys out.
How the hell does a 1-0 game, with a combined 10 hits last almost 4 hours?!?
Lots of walks, lots of long at bats.
Pitching changes.
Dubya4Commish
Repeat of the '68 World Series!
No :angry:
Unless you're just talking about the matchup. Remember the deal: Giants, Cards, Giants, Cards, Giants...
Quote from: derspiess on October 13, 2013, 08:49:34 PM
No :angry:
Unless you're just talking about the matchup. Remember the deal: Giants, Cards, Giants, Cards, Giants...
I meant matchup yes :)
Carry on, then :abrazos:
Quote from: derspiess on October 12, 2013, 11:50:02 AM
Beltran was a machine. The only thing he didn't do was pitch. He's been my favorite player the last couple of years.
2-3 more healthy years (which would get him over 400 HRs), he will be a decent HOF candidate. 400 HRs isn't quite what it used to be, but Beltran isn't a roider and he does lots of other stuff well.
Umpire Wally Bell just passed away :(
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/10/14/umpire-wally-bell-dies-at-age-48/
Goddamned playoff games make me so nervous. HURRY UP & BE OVER WITH ALREADY
As helpful as he was in the NLDS, Jon Jay is doing his damnedest to help the Dodgers in the NLCS.
But I'll be honest, I watched that pickoff of Nick Punto 7 times.
Cards. Win. Went back & watched the Punto pickoff a couple more times. Matt Holliday is born again hard, to quote Sgt. Hartmann.
Cardinals need to win one out of the next three to put this pesky Dodgers team behind them & advance to the World Series.
:cheers:
Just saw some footage on MLBTV of a dejected Yasiel Puig. Boo-fucking-hoo. Hopefully after tomorrow afternoon you'll have all winter to practice flipping your bat.
I got a congratulatory text from my mom. God love her. Nobody else in my family ever displays such tact.
Also, Ron Darling sounds like James Woods. That is all.
I am absolutely amazed the Red Sox are winning this series, the Tigers have had the best starting pitcher I've ever seen in my life.
Quote from: derspiess on October 15, 2013, 10:32:33 PM
Cards. Win. Went back & watched the Punto pickoff a couple more times. Matt Holliday is born again hard, to quote Sgt. Hartmann.
Cardinals need to win one out of the next three to put this pesky Dodgers team behind them & advance to the World Series.
Damn. I was in the evening then went to sleep early. Didn't see it.
Cards are really cleaning up tonight. So far it's 9-0.
Raz's jinx aside, I am pleased thus far.
Hell yeah. Wish I were at Busch tonight. #12in13
Grats to your Cardinals DerSpicy!
FUCK THE PUTO Dodgers
Quote from: derspiess on October 15, 2013, 11:09:25 PM
Also, Ron Darling sounds like James Woods. That is all.
So that's who that is. I made the James Woods comment about 4 weeks back.
Quote from: katmai on October 18, 2013, 11:14:06 PM
Grats to your Cardinals DerSpicy!
FUCK THE PUTO Dodgers
Why are they Spicy's Cards? Raz and I are at least as big fans as he is. :mad:
He blabs about it a lot more than either of you.
Cardinals - Red Sox. Meh.
Quote from: Syt on October 19, 2013, 11:12:22 PM
Cardinals - Red Sox. Meh.
An epic battle of Good vs Evil.
Not at all. I'll always root for Notre Dame against The OSU, for instance. Just anti-New England(the Celtics are ok though).
QuoteST. LOUIS (AP) -- Rosters turn over so quickly these days, the St. Louis Cardinals used only seven players from their 2011 World Series roster in this year's NL championship series.
The NL champions got contributions from 20 rookies this season, many in starring roles on a team that led the NL with 97 wins and then reached the World Series for the second time in three years.
General manager John Mozeliak sees little commonalities, pointing out the '11 team sneaked into the postseason as the second wild card and this year's team that until now has had the home-field advantage.
''The good story line is you've got two teams that have the best records in the game matching up in the World Series,'' Mozeliak said. ''And I think that's nice. A lot of times, that doesn't work out.''
Lance Lynn is the only pitcher left from two years ago, joined against the Dodgers by position players Yadier Molina, Matt Carpenter, Daniel Descalso, David Freese, Matt Holliday and Jon Jay. Cleanup man Allen Craig, sidelined by a foot injury since early September, is expected to join them in the Series and would open as the DH.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on October 20, 2013, 03:32:45 AM
Quote from: Syt on October 19, 2013, 11:12:22 PM
Cardinals - Red Sox. Meh.
An epic battle of Good vs Evil.
Yeah, not too difficult to figure out who to root for in this one.
:yes: The team with only 7 Championships, rather than the one with 11.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on October 20, 2013, 11:16:45 PM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on October 20, 2013, 03:32:45 AM
Quote from: Syt on October 19, 2013, 11:12:22 PM
Cardinals - Red Sox. Meh.
An epic battle of Good vs Evil.
Yeah, not too difficult to figure out who to root for in this one.
Fenway to collapse and bury both teams in the rubble?
Quote from: Razgovory on October 21, 2013, 07:43:59 AM
Quote from: Valmy on October 21, 2013, 07:30:53 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on October 21, 2013, 04:52:23 AM
:huh:
The Cardinals. Get it?
No.
These guys:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.cdn.turner.com%2Fcnn%2Fdam%2Fassets%2F130228083733-cardinals-story-top.jpg&hash=47c678ba9412962724466dffce3b93a68929e669)
and these guys:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.forbes.com%2Fmedia%2Flists%2F33%2F2010%2Fst-louis-cardinals.jpg&hash=5c80f8e47a4c1f7b19a90b5181422a76097b4120)
Are both called Cardinals. Since PW said it was an epic battle between good and evil, and in Tim's mind the obvious evil are the Cardinals, he was making a joke about that being anti-Catholic bigotry. Yuk yuk.
Quote from: Syt on October 20, 2013, 11:26:44 PM
Fenway to collapse and bury both teams in the rubble?
:lol: Seems like the only people who hate the Cardinals are fans of other teams on the NL Central.
Still trying to figure out if my father in law & brothers in law are going to go full retard like they did in the 2004 WS and root for the Red Sox. Because, you know, my father in law attended a trade show in Boston when they won the ALCS that year :rolleyes:
Ugh. Evil vs Evil
Pass.
Anyway, I'm making no predictions on the outcome, but I'm pretty stoked to have a starting lineup that includes both Allen Craig and Matt Adams. For once I'm happy about the DH.
Jim Leyland is stepping down as tiger's manager.
Per Twitter
So will this be a replay of the 1967 World Series or the 2004 World Series? :hmm:
Can't be like the 1946 World Series with all these minorities around being able to play and stuff.
Cardinals had like 4 Hall of Famers on that 1967 team-- 5 if you count the manager.
Personally, I'm just glad the Cardinals made it through this far, and I would think it's good for baseball to finally have the two best teams (in terms of season record) matched up. As long as they don't get swept like 2004, It will be hard to get too disappointed. Having a recent WS title kind of helps cushion most disappointment.
That said, I really would like to see the Giants-Cards-Giants-Cards pattern in the history books :D
Quote from: sbr on October 21, 2013, 10:50:36 AM
Jim Leyland is stepping down as tiger's manager.
Per Twitter
FREEP just reported it: http://www.freep.com/article/20131021/SPORTS02/310210075/detroit-tigers-jim-leyland (http://www.freep.com/article/20131021/SPORTS02/310210075/detroit-tigers-jim-leyland)
It's too bad he never won the World Series in Detroit (he had in Miami), but given the team he took over in 2006 it's amazing that he made it to the playoffs, much less the World Series.
Quote from: Valmy on October 21, 2013, 07:55:33 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on October 21, 2013, 07:43:59 AM
Quote from: Valmy on October 21, 2013, 07:30:53 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on October 21, 2013, 04:52:23 AM
:huh:
The Cardinals. Get it?
No.
These guys:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.cdn.turner.com%2Fcnn%2Fdam%2Fassets%2F130228083733-cardinals-story-top.jpg&hash=47c678ba9412962724466dffce3b93a68929e669)
and these guys:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.forbes.com%2Fmedia%2Flists%2F33%2F2010%2Fst-louis-cardinals.jpg&hash=5c80f8e47a4c1f7b19a90b5181422a76097b4120)
Are both called Cardinals. Since PW said it was an epic battle between good and evil, and in Tim's mind the obvious evil are the Cardinals, he was making a joke about that being anti-Catholic bigotry. Yuk yuk.
Oh, see that never registered as "evil".
Meh. From my POV, not so much Evil vs Evil as Evil vs Boring.
Well it is baseball.
Two more hours! :)
I might pick some apples. In the dark.
Well, fuck. I had a bad feeling about this as soon as they showed Waino banging his head on the dugout.
Goddamnit, Waino. If you wave someone off, you catch the fucking ball.
And there's Kozma's second error in as many innings. I have not seen fielding this terrible in a long time.
Only guy on the team playing like he has any sense is Holliday, of all people... and Beltran.
This game is so bad, even the cat walked away. Oh look, Platoon is on Ovation.
I can handle a loss, but shitty play like this is just too much to handle. It was nice seeing Beltran rob Papi and save 3 runs, but the way this game is going, he might as well have just let it go and save the rib injury.
Quote from: derspiess on October 23, 2013, 08:28:31 PM
I can handle a loss, but shitty play like this is just too much to handle. It was nice seeing Beltran rob Papi and save 3 runs, but the way this game is going, he might as well have just let it go and save the rib injury.
BOSTON STRONG
The Cards are all of a sudden starting to look like, well, the Cubs.
Ugh. What a slaughter.
That was almost as bad as this week's Monday Night Football game. The only difference was that Monday night, both teams sucked.
Quote from: fhdz on October 23, 2013, 08:55:13 PM
The Cards are all of a sudden starting to look like, well, the Cubs.
For last night's performance, that's an insult to the Cubs.
Perhaps I was too optimistic in comparing this to the 2004 World Series :(
Maybe they were just nervous.
Quote from: derspiess on October 24, 2013, 08:18:49 AM
Quote from: fhdz on October 23, 2013, 08:55:13 PM
The Cards are all of a sudden starting to look like, well, the Cubs.
For last night's performance, that's an insult to the Cubs.
:D True story.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on October 24, 2013, 08:40:16 AM
Maybe they were just nervous.
HEY GUYS DO I LOOK FAT IN THIS
Well, that turned out better than I expected. At the very least, least we won't have a repeat of 2004 (i.e., no sweep).
Quote from: derspiess on October 24, 2013, 10:23:28 PM
Well, that turned out better than I expected. At the very least, least we won't have a repeat of 2004 (i.e., no sweep).
Yep. The double steal really surprised me.
Yeah, and the Red Sox fielding breakdown was the icing on the cake. Now that the game is over & won, I can objectively say that was a beautiful HR by Ortiz. He got Wacha to put it right where he wanted it.
Awesome game otherwise by Wacha-- he deserved the win.
Yay
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fintoxicationnation.forhangovers.com%2Fimages%2Fcontent%2Fbaseball.jpg&hash=2ae94c197a36da8b1fcdadef2c8cac430fda8d2e)
Bud Light! :wacko:
Quote from: derspiess on October 24, 2013, 10:32:38 PM
Yeah, and the Red Sox fielding breakdown was the icing on the cake. Now that the game is over & won, I can objectively say that was a beautiful HR by Ortiz. He got Wacha to put it right where he wanted it.
Awesome game otherwise by Wacha-- he deserved the win.
Ortiz, despite playing for a team as evil as the Red Sox, is a fucking awesome hitter.
QuoteChicago fans are most likely to have woken up somewhere surprising.
:D
QuoteDetroit fans are most likely to have gotten kicked out of a bar or venue
YOU DON'T SAY
<_<
Well, I'll be damned. The Cards win due to stupid luck.
I'll take it. Hell of a hard-fought game.
Joe Buck seemed really disappointed that the game ended on an obstruction call. WELL GET OVER IT
I was curious and looked up the rule. The definition of obstruction (by a fielder) gives an example. The example happens to almost exactly describe the play.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on October 26, 2013, 11:21:30 PM
I was curious and looked up the rule. The definition of obstruction (by a fielder) gives an example. The example happens to almost exactly describe the play.
Yeah, they're going over & over it on MLB TV. Joe Torre is on right now explaining further-- intent is irrelevant.
Outcry from Bahhston fans on espn.com and Facebook is hilarious.
Brandon Workman :(
Tough loss for one of my favorite players.
Quote from: derspiess on October 26, 2013, 11:48:18 PM
Outcry from Bahhston fans on espn.com and Facebook is hilarious.
Theyah teahs of angah ah wickhead hahdcoah.
What a crazy game last night, at tleast the good guys got the win.
Even though my team won, I hate to see games end like that. It just doesn't quite feel as good as a game without the controversy. I don't hate it like the call shouldn't have been made though. I'm not in the swallow the whistle at the end of the game party. If a rules violation affects the outcome of the game, don't the officials decide the game if they didn't call it, giving the othe rteam the advantage? The player that violated the rules help decide the game, not the official that saw and correctly called the violation.
Not that anyone here has made that arguement yet *waiting on Tim* but it is out there and seems rather popular with the mouthbreathing folk.
Quote from: sbr on October 27, 2013, 09:39:20 AM
What a crazy game last night, at tleast the good guys got the win.
Even though my team won, I hate to see games end like that. It just doesn't quite feel as good as a game without the controversy. I don't hate it like the call shouldn't have been made though. I'm not in the swallow the whistle at the end of the game party. If a rules violation affects the outcome of the game, don't the officials decide the game if they didn't call it, giving the othe rteam the advantage? The player that violated the rules help decide the game, not the official that saw and correctly called the violation.
Not that anyone here has made that arguement yet *waiting on Tim* but it is out there and seems rather popular with the mouthbreathing folk.
Nope. The rules are the rules.
I had this game written off as a loss with Lance Lynn starting it. I the 7th inning, I'm calling it for the Red Sox. Tomorrow night is a must-win. Waino is due for a strong outing.
You need to syenergize more.
Quote from: Ed Anger on October 27, 2013, 10:00:24 PM
You need to syenergize more.
He lacks focusness. :punk:
What the fuck, people.
I don't get it. The media player won't show video on my home computer but it will on the computer at school which is at least 5 years older and way crappier. I watched game 4 at school and listened to game 5 on the radio when I got home. Needless to say, I'm pleased. This has been an incredibly entertaining world series so far.
Pretty tough for the Cardinals to win a series where Wainwright loses twice. I guess it all comes down to Aggie Wacha.
Honestly, I'm surprised the Sox have gotten this far. The pitching of Detroit and St. Louis has just been superb and I feel like we're just managing to scrap by via guts alone.
Quote from: Valmy on October 29, 2013, 08:22:40 AM
Pretty tough for the Cardinals to win a series where Wainwright loses twice. I guess it all comes down to Aggie Wacha.
And they keep pitching to Ortiz. I don't question managers very often, but that plus starting Craig last night were bad decisions.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on October 29, 2013, 08:27:42 AM
Honestly, I'm surprised the Sox have gotten this far. The pitching of Detroit and St. Louis has just been superb and I feel like we're just managing to scrap by via guts alone.
We.
I think Tim was an alternate bat boy once.
So I didn't post my prediction for game 5 here but I was pretty close. I thought that Wainwright would pitch a decent game but the Cards would lose 2-1. Tonight I'm predicting that Wacha will allow no more than 3 or 4 hits while he's in the game, but the Cards will still lose.
Just don't pitch to Ortiz unless you absolutely have to, FFS.
Quote from: derspiess on October 29, 2013, 11:34:34 AM
I think Tim was an alternate bat boy once.
He carried those bats on guts alone.
Quote from: derspiess on October 30, 2013, 10:45:14 AM
Just don't pitch to Ortiz unless you absolutely have to, FFS.
That bat boy has a wicked swing.
Yeah, maybe it is actually time to put Tim McCarver out to pasture.
"The ball hit 'em in the arm, right where the padding is. It probably hurts, but not as much as without the padding."
With the Cards' hitting so anemic in the series, a 3-0 deficit in this game is gonna require a miracle to overcome.
This game is rapidly becoming a coronation. The Cards need some 2011 type magic here.
I switched over to the Cincinnati-Memphis game after the Red Sox went up 6-0. Really thought Wacha would have another strong game & keep it close.
Anyway, I can't be too disappointed. I'm still basking in the afterglow of 2011.
I was glad Workman got to pitch the 8th there, I was dreaming for a second he might close it out for the Sox. I guess after 1986 they are not going to have anymore Longhorns close out any game sixes.
Congrats to the Red Sox, they pretty much dominated this season.
Quote from: Valmy on October 30, 2013, 11:14:58 PM
I was glad Workman got to pitch the 8th there, I was dreaming for a second he might close it out for the Sox. I guess after 1986 they are not going to have anymore Longhorns close out any game sixes.
Congrats to the Red Sox, they pretty much dominated this season.
It's the beards.
Yeah those beards were getting to be Civil War General sized.
"Now Pinch hitting for Boston: Lafayette McLaws"
Meh.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! :w00t: :w00t: :w00t: :w00t:
Evil triumphed. Now we get to get bombarded with more shitty BAHSTAN STRONG bullshit.
Thank GOD I don't live up there anymore. Yesterday would have been another day where I wouldn't have been able to get home due to all the drunks and scumbags in front of Fenway blocking my way to the train station from my old office. Today, I'd have to put up with a bunch of lowlifes running around shouting "RED SAWKS" at work instead of working.
Down here, nobody gives a shit. :showoff:
Quote from: Caliga on October 31, 2013, 06:44:47 AM
Thank GOD I don't live up there anymore. Yesterday would have been another day where I wouldn't have been able to get home due to all the drunks and scumbags in front of Fenway blocking my way to the train station from my old office. Today, I'd have to put up with a bunch of lowlifes running around shouting "RED SAWKS" at work instead of working.
Down here, nobody gives a shit. :showoff:
At least they wouldn't be swinging yellow washrags like Steeler scum.
I liked the Onion's "Drunk dedicating trash can he set on fire to the Marathon victims". Not too far from the truth.
Quote from: Caliga on October 31, 2013, 06:44:47 AM
Thank GOD I don't live up there anymore. Yesterday would have been another day where I wouldn't have been able to get home due to all the drunks and scumbags in front of Fenway blocking my way to the train station from my old office. Today, I'd have to put up with a bunch of lowlifes running around shouting "RED SAWKS" at work instead of working.
Down here, nobody gives a shit. :showoff:
What they didn't riot down there when Louisville won?
Quote from: Valmy on October 31, 2013, 08:53:20 AM
Quote from: Caliga on October 31, 2013, 06:44:47 AM
Thank GOD I don't live up there anymore. Yesterday would have been another day where I wouldn't have been able to get home due to all the drunks and scumbags in front of Fenway blocking my way to the train station from my old office. Today, I'd have to put up with a bunch of lowlifes running around shouting "RED SAWKS" at work instead of working.
Down here, nobody gives a shit. :showoff:
What they didn't riot down there when Louisville won?
Presumably they were too drunk and too ripped on Meth to have the energy.
Too full of HAWT BROWNS.
Quote from: derspiess on October 30, 2013, 10:21:14 PM
Really thought Wacha would have another strong game & keep it close.
Yeah, that was kind of what I figured as well.
I read somewhere before the series started that the Cardinals figured that they could win at least 1 game in Boston, but that Boston wouldn't be able to win any in St. Louis. Well, the Cards did manage to take a game in Boston, but they weren't able to sweep the games in St. Louis--if they had, they'd have won the series.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on October 31, 2013, 06:17:04 AM
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! :w00t: :w00t: :w00t: :w00t:
Seedy, I think he needs a time out.
It was a good series, I watched a few games. Last night was an entertaining one to watch (as entertaining beisbol can be for me).
Quote from: Valmy on October 31, 2013, 08:53:20 AM
What they didn't riot down there when Louisville won?
No clue. My office is out in the suburbs. :cool:
"I don't care how he does it, but Buchholz needs to gain 20 pounds".
My Dad seems to think that Clay will be more durable if he gains 20 pounds of muscle, I'm not sure that's how it works. I don't know if you should interfere with his natural body type, could do more harm than good.
Clay Buchholz might be the ugliest man I have ever seen. He is at least giving Ron Howard a run for his money.
Quote from: sbr on November 10, 2013, 10:24:47 AM
Clay Buchholz might be the ugliest man I have ever seen. He is at least giving Ron Howard a run for his money.
How about Clint Howard?
Heard a rumor that the Cardinals are looking to deal Freese to the Yankees so they can move Carpenter to third base and get the speedster Kolton Wong in at second base. Freese has been a little spotty since his spectacular 2011 postseason, so I don't know what the Yankees would be willing to give up for him.
If there is no trade of Freese, St. Louis is likely to non-tender. He is coming off a down year on the wrong side of 30. So my guess is they will get very little back. The only question is whether some other team needs a 3B as badly and is willing to pay the $4 million or so Freese will cost. Even then the Yankees are in rebuilding mode (or what passes as such in the Bronx) so I don't see Cashman chasing an auction.
Freese and Fernando Salas have been traded to the Angels for a couple outfielders I'm not familiar with. So now if the Cards can get a hold of a decent hitting shortstop, their infield will be set.
While this initially hit me like a punch to the gut, seven years is simply too long a contract for a 30 year old player that depends on his speed to the extent that Ellsbury does.
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/12/03/yankees-agree-to-seven-year-contract-with-free-agent-outfielder-jacoby-ellsbury/related/
:zipped:
Quote from: jimmy olsen on December 03, 2013, 09:29:03 PM
While this initially hit me like a punch to the gut, seven years is simply too long a contract for a 30 year old player that depends on his speed to the extent that Ellsbury does.
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/12/03/yankees-agree-to-seven-year-contract-with-free-agent-outfielder-jacoby-ellsbury/related/
Actually, players who have speed as their central skill tend to age better.
That said, I wouldn't want to be on the hook for a 7-year contract for
any 30 year old player.
Orioles made a $10M salary dump today. Didn't even bother to inspect it.
The Mariners signed Robinson Cano to a 10 year $240 million dollar contract.
Damn. When will teams learn not to do that shit.
Quote from: sbr on December 06, 2013, 11:47:25 AM
The Mariners signed Robinson Cano to a 10 year $240 million dollar contract.
If a player is 24 and has three all star seasons under his belt I can see offering some one a 10 year contract, any older than that and it's just fucking crazy.
Carlos Beltran signed with the Yankees for 3 years and a bunch of $$.
Quote from: sbr on December 07, 2013, 05:31:02 PM
Carlos Beltran signed with the Yankees for 3 years and a bunch of $$.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.tumblr.com%2Ftumblr_lw6ynqEMAl1qkys3f.gif&hash=fecb3ba87b9b8ae86b23d7826b8a7429d366ed4f)
Yankees offense is gonna be really good next year if they stay healthy. <_<
Quote from: derspiess on December 07, 2013, 07:23:06 PM
Quote from: sbr on December 07, 2013, 05:31:02 PM
Carlos Beltran signed with the Yankees for 3 years and a bunch of $$.
***Weezie Jefferson Memorial***
Like he was going to go anywhere else. C'mon.
Weezie?? Try Florida. Some black person you are...
Quote from: jimmy olsen on December 07, 2013, 08:00:05 PM
Yankees offense is gonna be really good next year if they stay healthy. <_<
Only so-so without Cano but the outfield defense is going to be excellent.
Quote from: derspiess on December 08, 2013, 12:25:02 AM
Weezie?? Try Florida. Some black person you are...
lol. shit.
BECAUSE THEY ALL LOOK THE SAME, RIGHT??
The concept of Mother is universal.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 08, 2013, 12:50:03 AM
The concept of Mother is universal.
J.J. Evans only had one momma.
Roy Halladay's retired. Shame, always liked his game, but everyone gets old.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/cy-young-winner-halladay-retires-174303909--mlb.html
Quote from: jimmy olsen on December 10, 2013, 03:56:24 AM
Roy Halladay's retired. Shame, always liked his game, but everyone gets old.
He's the same age as AJ Burnett, Dempster, Westbrook, among others.
If I heard correctly on CNN, MLB has just banned collisions at the plate. Catcher can only block if he has the ball, and runner must slide.
Who cares, Peter Angelos has destroyed the Orioles more than any home plate collision could.
I'd like to see Timmay repeatedly rammed at home plate.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on December 11, 2013, 06:49:06 PM
If I heard correctly on CNN, MLB has just banned collisions at the plate. Catcher can only block if he has the ball, and runner must slide.
It's always been in the rules that the catcher can't block home plate unless he has the ball (just as fielders can't block other bases without having the ball). For some reason, that hasn't been enforce since, well, longer than I can remember.