The Briefing Room
General Category => Sports/Entertainment/MSM/Social Media => Topic started by: EasyAce on January 29, 2017, 12:45:46 am
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Seems appropriate to begin with this: Turns out Mary Tyler Moore had one hell of a great eephus pitch!
(She was also a lefthander.) Watch her hit the corner with this one, before a 2002 Twins game . . .
Watch a smiling Mary Tyler Moore throw a very cheery first pitch for the Twins in 2002 (http://m.mlb.com/cutfour/2017/01/25/214380620/watch-mary-tyler-moore-toss-out-a-first-pitch-for-the-twins-in-2002)
I bet she could have snuck that one past Ted Williams . . . !
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That's awesome!
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Seems appropriate to begin with this: Turns out Mary Tyler Moore had one hell of a great eephus pitch!
(She was also a lefthander.) Watch her hit the corner with this one, before a 2002 Twins game . . .
Watch a smiling Mary Tyler Moore throw a very cheery first pitch for the Twins in 2002 (http://m.mlb.com/cutfour/2017/01/25/214380620/watch-mary-tyler-moore-toss-out-a-first-pitch-for-the-twins-in-2002)
I bet she could have snuck that one past Ted Williams . . . !
888high58888
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(http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l545/Baseballdad2/Other/HU.png)
It Took 70 years.
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And that happened five years ago!
He hasn't played in the American major leagues since 2011.
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Go Cubbies..
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Well, spring training IS only 3½ weeks away…
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Well, spring training IS only 3½ weeks away…
2017 Spring Training Exhibition Schedule (http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/schedule/index.jsp#date=02/22/2017)
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Cleveland Indians to at least the AL finals, they must be hungry and came very close and have generally been consistent in recent years.
I'd have to say the SF Giants are a good bet to come back as well, NLCS.
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Not really my teams though I do like underdog types.
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(http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l545/Baseballdad2/Other/HU.png)
It Took 70 years.
:mauslaff:
888bravo
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Cleveland Indians to at least the AL finals, they must be hungry and came very close and have generally been consistent in recent years.
I expect to see them in the races and maybe taking over the AL Central again, considering a) the Royals
may not be as suited for one more run at it before a rebuild as some people seem to think; and, b) the Tigers'
hopes for one more run aren't as they'd like to think they are, thanks to:
* Age.
* Not as much depth as you think.
* The farm system is parched, thanks to now-Red Sox GM Dave Dombrowski's emptying it
out on behalf of a run a couple of years ago.
* Finances hamstrung for the time being.
I'd have to say the SF Giants are a good bet to come back as well, NLCS.
All they need is for the bullpen to blow a few less saves this year. Madison (Don't Look at Me!)
Bumgarner can't be his own closer every time out.
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Not really my teams though I do like underdog types.
[/quote]
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(http://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/1926660_10153175975852527_1086210287039642051_n.jpg?oh=09f5935393ad87a0c52dd2c480f8db8a&oe=5949FB05)
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It was funny the first time.
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For nothing more heinous than inadvertently bumping into another kid at school, this
eight-year-old got his brains beaten out.
He also found a supporter in a Cubs star:
Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo tweets support to 7th-grader badly beaten at South Elgin school (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-anthony-rizzo-7th-grader-badly-beaten-20170207-story.html)
. . . and, offered the kid two tickets and batting practise passes as soon as he's well.
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MLB to test radical extra-inning rule change in Minors, WBC
Michael Dixon
MSN
February 8, 2017
Lower levels of professional baseball, as well as the upcoming World Baseball Classic, will have a radical rule change. When games reach extra innings, teams will begin their at-bats with a man already on second base. If it works well, the rule could eventually work its way to MLB.
More (http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/mlb-to-test-radical-extra-inning-rule-change-in-minors-wbc/ar-AAmKcd6)
@EasyAce ?
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MLB to test radical extra-inning rule change in Minors, WBC
Michael Dixon
MSN
February 8, 2017
More (http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/mlb-to-test-radical-extra-inning-rule-change-in-minors-wbc/ar-AAmKcd6)
@EasyAce ?
No way that will make it to the majors. Stupidest idea I've heard of......
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It was funny the first time.
I'm slow.
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MLB to test radical extra-inning rule change in Minors, WBC
Michael Dixon
MSN
February 8, 2017
More (http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/mlb-to-test-radical-extra-inning-rule-change-in-minors-wbc/ar-AAmKcd6)
@EasyAce ?
Foolish idea. I like the idea of just signaling an intentional pass and handing the hitter his base without
the pitcher having to throw four wide ones for show. That'll cut a minute at minimum off the time of a
game, but it's better than the foolishness of starting each extra inning with a man on second.
But then baseball government isn't yet looking at a major cause of elongated games: the commercial spots.
There doesn't need to be a commercial for every call to the bullpen in a game, to name just one culprit.
Though speaking of the bullpen, I have one idea that would speed up the games and, while we're at it,
save pitching arms and shoulders: unless a pitcher is coming in to relieve a pitcher who's been injured during
the game, eliminate the eight-warmups tradition before facing his first batter.
It'll hurt the incoming pitcher not. one. bit.
Not even if he was warmed up in a hurry before he came into the game.
Are you nutzo?!?
No---because other than a few loosen-up tosses, he's been throwing pitches in that bullpen.
Sometimes, oftentimes, you have a guy who was warming up from the beginning of an inning before he
was brought in. He's probably thrown equal to two or even three innings' worth of pitches before
you brought him in. He was ready before you gave the signal to bring him in.
Now---if you warmed up a pitcher but didn't bring him in that inning, take a leaf out of Whitey Herzog's
book: if he warmed you up but didn't bring you in that inning or the next, you had the rest of the night
off. (The White Rat followed that rule especially with his long men; if his starter got into early trouble and
he got his long man up, one of two things would happen: the long man would come in; or, if the starter
found his way out of the jam and the long man didn't come in, that long man had the rest of the game
off until or unless it went to extras.)
Herzog would never warm up a pitcher, sit him down, warm him up again later in the game and then
bring him in . . . because he's probably already gassed. Bring him in after two separated warmup spells
and he's likely to either walk the bases loaded or walk a run in, or get himself clobbered out there.
He'll have little to nothing left. And don't think the hitters aren't watching the other guys' bullpen
and following who's been warmed up how often. If the other guys warmed up Reliever A twice already
and then brought him into the game, those hitters are probably figuring out their new RBI totals,
the bump in their on-base percentages from the walks they're going to work out, or the distance their
home runs are going to travel when that gassed pitcher serves them up a meatball on a plate.
I learned that reading Herzog's You're Missin' a Great Game. Two managers who never got
the hint: Tommy Lasorda and Pete Rose. Both those managers had some terrific relief pitchers, and
most of them ended up burning out before their time in due course.
Here's the White Rat himself:
[T]he man won 1,600-some ballgames and two World Series and that's no accident, but the fly in
his ointment---and it baffled me, because Tommy was a pitcher himself---was that he never figured
out how to handle a bullpen. He'd take a reliever and warm him up four or five times during a game
and not use him; then he'd do the same thing the next day. The day after that, he'd put the
guy in a game. He'd have nothing out there, and Tommy'd say, "Hell, you ain't pitched in two days,
what's the matter with you?" Some managers think if a guy's not actually in a game, he's not
pitching. But if he's tossing on the sidelines, man, he's getting hot. Over the years I dealt some of
my pitchers to L.A.---[John] Tudor, [Todd] Worrell, Ricky Horton, Ken Dayley---and they always came
back with the same report: Tommy was still messing up the pen . . .
Pete Rose was like Tommy. Wonderful baseball man but he was impaired when it came to handling
pitchers. Here he had three world class relievers, Norm Charlton, Rob Murphy, and Rob Dibble,
all in the same pen. Two were lefties. Dibble, the righty, threw 100 miles an hour. With those three
guys on your side you shouldn't lose games after the sixth. But Pete found a way.
He'd get Murphy up in the third; he'd warm him up in the fourth. Then he'd sit him down. He'd
get Charlton up in the fifth. Sometimes I'd look down there, and he'd have both lefthanders going
at the same time. Why would you warm 'em both up at once? You're only going to use one lefty
or another! Then, after he'd worked 'em out three or four times, Pete would put one in the game
and be surprised he had no zip. "He can't be tired," he'd say. "He ain't pitched in three days!"
Somebody counted how many timed he warmed Murphy up one year and it was over 200. I like
Pete, boy---but I loved managing against him.
So eliminate the eight warmups out on the mound unless the reliever was brought in to spell
a pitcher who was injured and had to come out. If you use, say, three relievers in the game,
eliminating those warmups knowing your guys were plenty warm and ready when you brought
them in would shave about ten to twelve minutes off a game's time just by itself. And it would
probably put a few extra innings into their careers, too.
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Tommy Lasorda
@EasyAce
Paraphrased, of course: "I'm telling you, that guy is too small to be a starting pitcher. He's a relief pitcher. What we really need is a good second baseman."
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@EasyAce
Paraphrased, of course: "I'm telling you, that guy is too small to be a starting pitcher. He's a relief pitcher. What we really need is a good second baseman."
Tommy Lasorda wasn't quite as smart as he was cracked up to be. How would he have explained the success of
such half-pints on the mound as Hal Newhouser, Bobby Shantz, or even Whitey Ford (who was considered "short"
at 5'10") and Billy Pierce (same height as Ford)? Or Tim Lincecum, before his hip issues? Or Mike Boddicker,
whose career was compromised not because of his height but because of his curve ball? (He threw way too
many of them and he wasn't strong enough to handle the torque, but that wasn't a matter of his height.) Pedro
Martinez was a mere 5'11" and could hide behind a telephone pole, and he pitched his way to Cooperstown,
same as Whitey Ford and Hal Newhouser. And Bartolo (Tortilla Fats) Colon has been a late-life pitching star
despite being 5'11" himself. (Some think his 5'11" goes in both directions, but we won't go there . . . )
Of course, you have to remember that Tommy Lasorda took one look at the kid whom the Brooklyn Dodgers
preferred to keep when cutting him back to the minors. "He'll never amount to anything," Lasorda snorted.
The kid was Sandy Koufax. And Lasorda's been dining out on that story ever since.
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MLB to test radical extra-inning rule change in Minors, WBC
:facepalm2:
This is a silly idea. I don't think even a beer league would consider this kind of chicanery.
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First weird baseball injury of 2017---a Royals pitcher goes through the roof, literally, the poor guy.
A Royals pitcher fell through his barn (http://sports.yahoo.com/news/the-first-weird-injury-of-spring-training-is-here-a-royals-pitcher-fell-through-his-barn-000939634.html)
Speedy recovery, Brian Flynn . . . but knowing ballplayer humour, there's going to be a top ten hits list
tacked to his locker when he makes it back, including but probably not limited to . . .
Up on the Roof (The Drifters)
Up the Ladder to the Roof (The Supremes)
Fiddler on the Roof (Zero Mostel)
The Roof is On Fire (Rock Master Scott and the Dynamic Three)
Rain on the Roof (The Lovin' Spoonful)
Cool Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Woody Herman)
Tear the Roof Off (Parliament)
Rooftop Garden (Legendary Hearts)
Raise the Roof (Carbon Leaf)
Tootin' Through the Roof (Duke Ellington)
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Trey Turner, Washington Nationals moving to shortstop. He's the next phenom in The Show.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/turnetr01.shtml (http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/turnetr01.shtml)
Look at his numbers in just 73 games last year!
He's going to rewrite the book on total bases TB.
Fantasy freaks should grab this kid.
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Trey Turner, Washington Nationals moving to shortstop. He's the next phenom in The Show.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/turnetr01.shtml (http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/turnetr01.shtml)
Look at his numbers in just 73 games last year!
He's going to rewrite the book on total bases TB.
Fantasy freaks should grab this kid.
I don't know if he'll "rewrite" the total bases book, but Turner does have a knack for extorting his way on base. He makes me
think of a prime Tim Raines, an early-in-the-order guy with a little power who can reach base, knows what he's doing when he gets
on base, use up fewer outs than most similar players to get there, and has brains to go with his speed. He hits all over the field with
remarkable zone discipline for such a young player, and it wouldn't shock me to see him draw between 80-100 walks a season. This
should be at least an All-Star in the making. He was worth 3.5 wins above replacement in just 73 games last year; I could see him
as a 5.0-5.5 WAR guy and maybe a little more as he matures. He also impressed me in last fall's division series against the
Dodgers---he scored five runs, had seven hits, and if someone wants to bitch about him striking out eleven times, just ask if they'd
rather have seen him hit into eleven double playes. (He didn't hit into one in the set.) His inexperience showed with his .333 on-
base percentage, which isn't terrible but not what he projects normally. This could be the season he shows himself the Nats'
shortstop of the future---just so long as no brain-damaged coach monkeys around with either that strike zone discipline, that
swing of his, and his knack for staying lower than the usual shortstop to pick or reach for grounders.
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Saw where the Cardinals have lost Reyes for at least a year to TJ surgery. Wow. It will be weird seeing an STL team possibly in last this season.
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Jered Weaver signs with Padres after 11 years with Angels
Right-hander Jered Weaver has agreed to a $3 million, one-year deal with the San Diego Padres after 11 seasons with the Los Angeles Angels.
Weaver and the Padres confirmed the long-anticipated deal Saturday, pending a physical.
More (http://sports.yahoo.com/news/jered-weaver-signs-padres-11-years-angels-232317945--mlb.html)
Stats (http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/weaveje02.shtml)
Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jered_Weaver)
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Jered Weaver signs with Padres after 11 years with Angels
More (http://sports.yahoo.com/news/jered-weaver-signs-padres-11-years-angels-232317945--mlb.html)
Stats (http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/weaveje02.shtml)
Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jered_Weaver)
The Padres must be thinking two things: a) veteran leadership as they break in a few younger starters, and
b) maybe Weaver learned a few things from last year and could be a different pitcher this year, one throwing
with his brain more than his arm. He hasn't really been the same pitcher, mostly, since that elbow injury
a few years ago.
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Anyone paying attention to the World Baseball Classic? I would be, but they're carrying EVERY SINGLE GAME on MLB Network, which I don't have on my cable lineups.
Geez louise, if they want to make this a credible tournament, they can't bury these things on specialty-tier networks.
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bump
Anyone paying attention to the World Baseball Classic? I would be, but they're carrying EVERY SINGLE GAME on MLB Network, which I don't have on my cable lineups.
Geez louise, if they want to make this a credible tournament, they can't bury these things on specialty-tier networks.
Thing is just a distraction to ST, as far as I am concerned. Please April..... get here.
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bump
Anyone paying attention to the World Baseball Classic? I would be, but they're carrying EVERY SINGLE GAME on MLB Network, which I don't have on my cable lineups.
Geez louise, if they want to make this a credible tournament, they can't bury these things on specialty-tier networks.
Looks like they've been earning credibility just by playing the games. But you're right, I'd like to see the next WBC
somewhere like ESPN. Especially since Mike Trout has now said he'd like to play in the next WBC. (He'd rejected
previous invitations over their being spring distractions, but he's been watching this year's rounds and getting a
change of heart over it. Now imagine baseball's best player suiting up for the U.S. of A. in the next round!)
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Houston Mitchell, who covers the Dodgers for the LA Times, is evaluating the NL West teams position by position. Here are his first two installments:
Dodgers Dugout: Ranking the NL West catchers (http://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/la-sp-dodgers-dugout-catchers-20170321-story.html)
Dodgers Dugout: The best first baseman in the NL West is.... (http://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/la-sp-dodgers-dugout-first-basemen-20170322-story.html)
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Dodgers Dugout: Ranking the NL West catchers (http://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/la-sp-dodgers-dugout-catchers-20170321-story.html)
(https://media.giphy.com/media/l0MYDpc4QeyN2Dmqk/giphy.gif)
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The Yankees now belong to Gary Sanchez (http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/18991955/the-new-york-yankees-now-belong-gary-sanchez)
Stats (http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sanchga02.shtml)
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Bryce Harper overrated? That's a clown question, bro!
If spring training is any indication, Bryce Harper is back.
More (http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/18992470/washington-nationals-bryce-harper-back)
Stats (http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/harpebr03.shtml)
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I'm eager to watch Bartolo pitching at Suntrust Park tomorrow!
:cheerlead:
http://www.ajc.com/sports/baseball/big-sexy-start-for-braves-suntrust-park-exhibition-game-friday/AQH5Rr11RHao4peXODd55H/ (http://www.ajc.com/sports/baseball/big-sexy-start-for-braves-suntrust-park-exhibition-game-friday/AQH5Rr11RHao4peXODd55H/)
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Madison Bumgarner became the first pitcher to homer twice in a season opener
Until Madison Bumgarner came along, it had been quite awhile since baseball had such a talented two-way player. Prior to the start of the 2017 campaign, at age 27, he had already belted 14 career homers in 228 games.
In the Giants' season opener, Bumgarner added to the tally. First, he took D-backs starter Zack Greinke deep to put the Giants in front in the top of the fifth by a score of 2-0. He also did so before allowing a single Arizona baserunner -- the D-backs did not get their first man on base until Jeff Mathis tripled with one out in the sixth inning.
Then in his very next at-bat, Bumgarner promptly did it again, crushing another homer, this time off reliever Andrew Chafin. He had allowed a few runs to help the D-backs tie the game at 3, so it was his second go-ahead shot of the day. Bumgarner made baseball history, becoming the first pitcher to homer twice in an MLB opener.
http://m.mlb.com/cutfour/2017/04/02/221960806/madison-bumgarner-opening-day-homers-record (http://m.mlb.com/cutfour/2017/04/02/221960806/madison-bumgarner-opening-day-homers-record)
(http://www.mlb.com/images/4/8/4/221967484/040217_bumgarner_both_hrs_med_y0g8xir7.gif)
Hello, baseball! Oh, how I have missed you!
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In the NATS 1st inning of the season, Miami pitcher E. Volguez gives up a lead-off, frozen rope double to the top of the LF wall, a walk and then gives up a DOUBLE STEAL.
....but strikes out the 3,4,5 hitters. (Harper, Murphy, Zimmerman)
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Tonight, Astros, 7:05.
Go Astros!
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Madison Bumgarner became the first pitcher to homer twice in a season opener
Which is just another reason I despise the DH, the and the AL. I hope Bed Selig BURNS IN HELL for sending my Astros to the AL.
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My Mets jumped the Braves for six in the bottom of the seventh . . . still 6-0 Mets in the top of the ninth . . .
game over on an inning-and-game-ending double play, 6-0 your final, the Mets win it
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My Mets jumped the Braves for six in the bottom of the seventh . . . still 6-0 Mets in the top of the ninth . . .
@EasyAce
I noticed.
:chairbang:
Thor had a good outing.
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@EasyAce
I noticed.
:chairbang:
Thor had a good outing.
He did until he developed a blister. They took no chances and got him out of there. The bullpen
held up very well and Robert Gsellman---usually a starter---took care of two quick hits in the
top of the ninth by starting the game-ending double play.
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Unfortunately, I had to glance at it occasionally on MLB.TV with the volume muted (for some reason, my boss actually expects me to work for my paycheck), but the parts I saw looked pretty good.
Hopefully we'll get our revenge on Wednesday night. Either way, though, I'm just so happy baseball is back!
:beer:
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Unfortunately, I had to glance at it occasionally on MLB.TV with the volume muted (for some reason, my boss actually expects me to work for my paycheck), but the parts I saw looked pretty good.
Hopefully we'll get our revenge on Wednesday night. Either way, though, I'm just so happy baseball is back!
:beer:
:beer:
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Bryce Harper hits his 5TH Opening Day HR, as the NATS beat the MARLINS, 4-2. :patriot:
Adam Lind hit a go-ahead (3-2)pinch-hit 2 run blast to Center Field in the winning effort.
......OH
And my ORIOLES win 3-2 over the BLUE JAYS in eleven innings at home. :patriot:
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Tonight, Astros, 7:05.
Go Astros!
Keuchel 2 hits in 7 IP. If he pitches like 2015. LOOK OUT!!!!!...we may go deep in the playoffs.
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Keuchel 2 hits in 7 IP. If he pitches like 2015. LOOK OUT!!!!!...we may go deep in the playoffs.
Pretty strong line up 1-9 too.
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Fightin' Phillies start strong out of the box with a 4 - 3 win over the Reds. Homers by both sides of their keystone combination - Cesar Hernandez and Freddy Galvis. The announcers volunteered the factoid that that's the first time the keystone combo both hit taters in the opening game since Utley and Rollins. What I'd be curious to find out is when was the last time an opening day game featured homers by both the leadoff batter (Hernandez) and the eight-hole hitter (Galvis)? I bet you have to go back farther than Utley and Rollins for that!
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I'm not sure if it was mentioned anywhere so pardon me if I am repeating it, that baseball great Pedro Guerrero suffered a massive stroke, he has woken up from his coma and spoken to family and friends.
http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/19084159/former-los-angeles-dodgers-star-pedro-guerrero-wakes-coma
"The former player woke up from the coma around 7 a.m. Wednesday, spoke with his relatives and even received a couple of calls from friends, including one from former Dominican Republic president Leonel Fernandez."
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I'm not sure if it was mentioned anywhere so pardon me if I am repeating it, that baseball great Pedro Guerrero suffered a massive stroke, he has woken up from his coma and spoken to family and friends.
http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/19084159/former-los-angeles-dodgers-star-pedro-guerrero-wakes-coma
Out of the coma? That's excellent news!
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Yadier Molina, Cardinals find themselves in a sticky situation
Mark Saxon
ST. LOUIS -- A catcher’s chest protector typically is made of hard plastic over layers of foam. A baseball’s cover is cowhide. At last check, those two materials don’t have a magnetic attraction to one another.
So one would think the St. Louis Cardinals would have had some idea, more than an hour later, why Brett Cecil's 82 mph breaking ball bounced in the dirt and magically stuck to Yadier Molina's torso, allowing Chicago Cubs pinch hitter Matt Szczur to reach first base on a wild pitch to lead off the seventh inning Thursday afternoon at Busch Stadium. The moment -- in retrospect -- swung the game, a 6-4 Cubs victory, in Chicago's favor, primarily because Kyle Schwarber crushed a home run off Cecil two batters later, so it was certainly fresh on everyone’s minds.
And yet the Cardinals said repeatedly, in effect, “I know nothing!” -- summoning images of the great Sergeant Schultz from "Hogan's Heroes" and perhaps unnecessarily raising suspicions around baseball about their methods.
The Cubs could have pressed the matter and made their rivals squirm a bit, at the very least, but they seemed to shrug off the bizarre moment. They never asked umpire Quinn Wolcott to check the ball or pat down Cecil or Molina. Jason Heyward, who played with Molina as recently as 2015, and Schwarber said they assumed he stashed some sticky material somewhere on his gear to help him get a grip for his throws.
(http://a4.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2017%2F0406%2Fr197258_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&w=570)
more at:
http://www.espn.com/blog/st-louis-cardinals/post/_/id/3023/yadier-molina-cardinals-find-themselves-in-a-sticky-situation (http://www.espn.com/blog/st-louis-cardinals/post/_/id/3023/yadier-molina-cardinals-find-themselves-in-a-sticky-situation)
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Yadier Molina, Cardinals find themselves in a sticky situation
Mark Saxon
ST. LOUIS -- A catcher’s chest protector typically is made of hard plastic over layers of foam. A baseball’s cover is cowhide. At last check, those two materials don’t have a magnetic attraction to one another.
So one would think the St. Louis Cardinals would have had some idea, more than an hour later, why Brett Cecil's 82 mph breaking ball bounced in the dirt and magically stuck to Yadier Molina's torso, allowing Chicago Cubs pinch hitter Matt Szczur to reach first base on a wild pitch to lead off the seventh inning Thursday afternoon at Busch Stadium. The moment -- in retrospect -- swung the game, a 6-4 Cubs victory, in Chicago's favor, primarily because Kyle Schwarber crushed a home run off Cecil two batters later, so it was certainly fresh on everyone’s minds.
And yet the Cardinals said repeatedly, in effect, “I know nothing!” -- summoning images of the great Sergeant Schultz from "Hogan's Heroes" and perhaps unnecessarily raising suspicions around baseball about their methods.
The Cubs could have pressed the matter and made their rivals squirm a bit, at the very least, but they seemed to shrug off the bizarre moment. They never asked umpire Quinn Wolcott to check the ball or pat down Cecil or Molina. Jason Heyward, who played with Molina as recently as 2015, and Schwarber said they assumed he stashed some sticky material somewhere on his gear to help him get a grip for his throws.
(http://a4.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2017%2F0406%2Fr197258_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&w=570)
more at:
http://www.espn.com/blog/st-louis-cardinals/post/_/id/3023/yadier-molina-cardinals-find-themselves-in-a-sticky-situation (http://www.espn.com/blog/st-louis-cardinals/post/_/id/3023/yadier-molina-cardinals-find-themselves-in-a-sticky-situation)
@DCPatriot
They know nussing---nussing! (http://www.gopbriefingroom.com/index.php/topic,257563.0.html)
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@DCPatriot
They know nussing---nussing! (http://www.gopbriefingroom.com/index.php/topic,257563.0.html)
The Cardinals are visiting my Nationals for a 3 game series. It would be so cool to see Dusty Baker have the ump check out Molina's equipment for any pine tar, etc..
How hard is it for any catcher to 'doctor' the ball after a setup pitch?
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The Cardinals are visiting my Nationals for a 3 game series. It would be so cool to see Dusty Baker have the ump check out Molina's equipment for any pine tar, etc..
How hard is it for any catcher to 'doctor' the ball after a setup pitch?
Well, if you hit the link I showed you'd have read about Elston Howard scraping a ball against his
shin guard buckles before throwing back to Whitey Ford, when it was late in Ford's career and the
Hall of Famer was looking for any edge he could get before his elbow finally put paid to his career.
Or about Ray Fosse's pocket-edge Vaseline-like goo ring on days he caught Gaylord Perry.
According to Jim Bouton (Ball Four), Howard had another trick he'd use for Ford: if grounds-
keepers wetted down the dirt around the plate a little excessively, Howard could find a particular
spot into which to dip a ball before returning it to Ford. Thus Ford's mud ball. The little patch
would stick on the ball long enough that Angels pitcher/flake Bo Belinsky once said, "If Whitey
left the ball on the mound and the mud patch was still on it, I had two quick outs waiting for
me."
I referred to a little patch of white on Yadier Molina's chest protector at the spot where that ball
got stuck. It wouldn't be difficult for a catcher to apply something to his protector and give
a quick surreptitious rub on the stuff before throwing back to his pitcher, assuming his pitcher
were inclined that way.
Most of the time, though, the pitchers come up with their own little tricks. Whitey Ford once
got away with what you might call a ring ball---his wedding ring had a tiny rasp in it and Ford
would use that to cut a ball. At least, he did until an umpire caught him and, not willing to
toss Ford from the game, simply told him during an inning change, "Whitey, you ought to head
back to the clubhouse first, I think your jock strap needs an adjustment. And when you come
back you better not have that ring."
Preacher Roe, once a Brooklyn Dodgers legend, was so well aware of pitchers trying tricks
and subterfuge that he gambled the umpires would never think to look at the most obvious
move---he'd spit right into his glove after chewing up some choice Beech-Nut gum. Roe
eventually admitted to what he was doing after he retired, collaborating with New York
Daily News legend Dick Young on a Sport article, "The Outlaw Pitch Was My Money
Pitch." When he came to the Dodgers in a deal with the Pirates, he sought out catcher Roy
Campanella and asked if he could handle the wet one. No problem, Campy replied: "I caught
'em for years in the coloured leagues."
Then there was the day Tommy John, at the time a Yankee, squared off against Don Sutton,
then with the Angels. George Steinbrenner harassed manager Lou Piniella about Sutton by
phone from Tampa, until Piniella finally told him, "George, if I have the umpires search
Sutton then they'll search T.J. and everybody loses. Whatever they're doing, T.J.'s doing it
better, so let's leave it at that." The Yankees went on to win, and a scout in the press box
cracked, "Tommy John against Don Sutton? If anyone can find one smooth ball from that
game he ought to send it to Cooperstown."
Then there was the day Gaylord Perry ran into the plate umpire who'd had him frisked
on the mound the night before, when the two men were in town before the coming night's
game. They chatted amiable until the ump mentioned his son's Little League team getting
clobbered several nights running or some such thing. The ump's son was one of the
pitchers. "Gaylord," the ump asked sincerely, "could you teach my kid to throw that thing?"
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MLB must rewrite foreign-substance rule
Buster Olney
.......
The folks in uniform, as well as the reporters, could be rescued from this ridiculous dance if Major League Baseball and the players' association would quickly rewrite the foreign-substance rule. The needed changes would relieve the players of the inevitable and silly accusations of cheating, something that Molina is wading through right now, by providing a cover of legitimacy to a common practice. And this possibility has been discussed by baseball officials who recognize the inconsistency.
The truth is that in every single game -- every single game -- you can see pitchers break baseball’s existing rule against the use of foreign substances. A lot of pitchers -- dozens and dozens and dozens, across both leagues -- shave the forearms of their gloved hands and cover that spot with glistening sunscreen or some mix of pine tar. When the pitchers receive a new baseball, or receive a return throw from the catcher, they will quickly wrap their pitching hand around that forearm, to cover their hand in sunscreen to help with their grip.
more at: http://www.espn.com/blog/buster-olney/insider/post/_/id/16464/olney-mlb-must-rewrite-foreign-substance-rule (http://www.espn.com/blog/buster-olney/insider/post/_/id/16464/olney-mlb-must-rewrite-foreign-substance-rule)
______________________________________________________________
-
MLB must rewrite foreign-substance rule
Buster Olney
.......
The folks in uniform, as well as the reporters, could be rescued from this ridiculous dance if Major League Baseball and the players' association would quickly rewrite the foreign-substance rule. The needed changes would relieve the players of the inevitable and silly accusations of cheating, something that Molina is wading through right now, by providing a cover of legitimacy to a common practice. And this possibility has been discussed by baseball officials who recognize the inconsistency.
The truth is that in every single game -- every single game -- you can see pitchers break baseball’s existing rule against the use of foreign substances. A lot of pitchers -- dozens and dozens and dozens, across both leagues -- shave the forearms of their gloved hands and cover that spot with glistening sunscreen or some mix of pine tar. When the pitchers receive a new baseball, or receive a return throw from the catcher, they will quickly wrap their pitching hand around that forearm, to cover their hand in sunscreen to help with their grip.
more at: http://www.espn.com/blog/buster-olney/insider/post/_/id/16464/olney-mlb-must-rewrite-foreign-substance-rule (http://www.espn.com/blog/buster-olney/insider/post/_/id/16464/olney-mlb-must-rewrite-foreign-substance-rule)
______________________________________________________________
I think that would be a sound idea, to rewrite the rule, particularly regarding pine tar, which hitters
and pitchers use to get better grips on their pitches or their bats. You'd probably be very hard
pressed to find a hitter who doesn't end up with some extra stuff on his hands when he rubs up
his bat. Or, a pitcher with a good volume of it on his hand when he's gone to the rag a few times
to dry his hand off.
Now, I wonder: what about a pitcher who sweats a la Phil Regan and lets the sweat run onto the
ball? I still can't fathom how something from your own body could be called a foreign substance.
;)
One thing you don't want to do is what Whitey Ford once did. Ford once kept a kind of roll-on
kind of pine tar in a bottle similar to a roll-on deodorant, to help his grip on cooler days. It
provided a painfully hilarious moment in the clubhouse once when Mickey Mantle, who'd gotten
tired of Yogi Berra mooching personal products when he ran out until he could replace them
with his own stuff, left Ford's roll-on stickum on the edge of a locker shelf. Sure enough, Yogi
fell for it, thinking it was deodorant. Two moments later he was screaming in the trainer's room.
He had to have his arms shaved free from his sides.
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(http://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/17972171_10154913125095189_5425829992183769771_o.jpg?oh=6c5e9685d1402eb9b4dc0ad517269a0b&oe=59828CA4)
Bryce Harper scoring walk off run from 1st base on ANOTHER Daniel Murphy game-winning hit....and a league-leading 10 game hitting streak!
This game was against the Phillies.
Harper was clocked at a maximum 19.5 mph and scored from 1st base in 10.8 seconds.
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Cabrerra still getting it done.
Home run yesterday, home run today.
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Cabrerra still getting it done.
Home run yesterday, home run today.
Hmmmm..... hitting a buck sixty-seven with a 3-something SLG? 22222frying pan
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Hmmmm..... hitting a buck sixty-seven with a 3-something SLG? 22222frying pan
Home Run last night, 3 run homer tonight. That's 4 runs in 2 games.
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What Inciarte accomplished in the Atlanta Braves' 1st game in their brand new stadium was ANYTHING but trivial....but here's some trivia for you....
1) Caught the 1st out ever obtained in the new park....a can of corn to CF
2) Got the 1st base hit....recorded the 1st run, on a Nick Markakis double off the base of the RF wall
3) Got the 1st HR.
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What Inciarte accomplished in the Atlanta Braves' 1st game in their brand new stadium was ANYTHING but trivial....but here's some trivia for you....
1) Caught the 1st out ever obtained in the new park....a can of corn to CF
2) Got the 1st base hit....recorded the 1st run, on a Nick Markakis double off the base of the RF wall
3) Got the 1st HR.
Beat me to it. :laugh:
Ender had a heck of a night.
(http://www.mlb.com/images/4/8/8/224392488/041417_mlb_gif_inciarte_hr_med_9y1ocv0m.gif)
(He caught the 3rd out in the 9th inning, too, just to cap it all off.)
There was plenty of pomp and circumstance to christen the new facility. Hammerin' Hank threw out the first pitch to Bobby Cox, which was pretty cool.
(http://www.mlb.com/images/9/5/4/224366954/041417_mlb_gif_hank_first_pitch_med_5y1rayvc.gif)
And for the record, my boy Freddie Freeman recorded the first XBH, right before Markakis doubled home those first RBIs.
The new ballpark is beautiful -- love the brick. Can't wait to visit in person in a couple of weeks!
(https://i.makeagif.com/media/11-29-2014/loaRAX.gif)
Go Braves!
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Go Braves!
It hurt me to see Hank Aaron holding on to a walker and throwing underhanded to the plate.
I remember watching him run like a deer out in the field.
Read that the stadium complex cost well over a BILLION dollars. Must be beautiful.
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It hurt me to see Hank Aaron holding on to a walker and throwing underhanded to the plate.
If only the ballplayers we watched growing up could stay something close enough to those old selves. Sandy
Koufax is a notable exception. He looks his 81 years but he's still in terrific physical shape--in fact, he's said
to be about thirty pounds below his playing weight. And it looks as though he's re-married; his biographer
Jane Leavy wrote in her book about him in 2003 that he "has a loving relationship with a woman his own
age with whom he shares his life."
(http://m.mlb.com/assets/images/8/5/4/165666854/cuts/Sandy_Koufax_ppsvjljm_4n1w4gc7.jpg)
He retired as a Dodger advisor last year but he still goes to spring training and mentors pitchers
for a week or so.
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If only the ballplayers we watched growing up could stay something close enough to those old selves. Sandy
Koufax is a notable exception. He looks his 81 years but he's still in terrific physical shape--in fact, he's said
to be about thirty pounds below his playing weight. And it looks as though he's re-married; his biographer
Jane Leavy wrote in her book about him in 2003 that he "has a loving relationship with a woman his own
age with whom he shares his life."
He retired as a Dodger advisor last year but he still goes to spring training and mentors pitchers
for a week or so.
Al Kaline started playing for the Tigers in 1953 and still works for the Tigers today.
(http://i.imgur.com/NSNz4GC.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/RPmwkBf.png)
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Astros now 8 and 4 after todays big comeback win. Don't know if they have what it takes for the long haul but they are doing great right now.
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Al Kaline started playing for the Tigers in 1953 and still works for the Tigers today.
(http://i.imgur.com/NSNz4GC.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/RPmwkBf.png)
Did you know: Al Kaline, Sandy Koufax, and Catfish Hunter are the only so-called "bonus babies" (players
signed for bonuses above a certain level between 1947 and 1965) who a) never played in the minors and b) became Hall of
Famers. (Harmon Killebrew was also a bonus baby, but he did go to the minors when his two-year bonus period
expired.)
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Did you know: Al Kaline, Sandy Koufax, and Catfish Hunter are the only so-called "bonus babies" (players
signed for bonuses above a certain level between 1947 and 1965) who a) never played in the minors and b) became Hall of
Famers. (Harmon Killebrew was also a bonus baby, but he did go to the minors when his two-year bonus period
expired.)
Kaline got a $35,000 signing bonus.
(From Wiki)
In 1955, at age 20, Kaline ended the season with a .340 batting average, becoming the youngest player ever to win the American League batting title. No 20-year-old major league player had won a batting title since Ty Cobb in 1907. During the 1955 season, Kaline became the 13th man in major league history to hit two home runs in the same inning, became the youngest to hit three home runs in one game, and finished the year with 200 hits, 27 home runs and 102 RBIs. He also finished second to Yogi Berra in the American League's 1955 Most Valuable Player Award voting. He was selected to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, the first in a string of consecutive All-Star selections that lasted through 1967.
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Kaline got a $35,000 signing bonus.
Yes. Sandy Koufax got $14,000; Harmon Killebrew got $20,000; and, Catfish Hunter got, I think,
a $50,000 bonus, but the bonus rule was modified by the time he signed and he only had to spend
a single season on the major league club before they could send him to the minors if they wanted
to do so, which they never did. The bonus rule under which Kaline, Killebrew, and Koufax signed
was that if their bonuses were higher than $4,000, they had to be kep on the parent club for
two full seasons. Koufax's time extended to his third season because he missed time on the DL
in his second.
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Yes. Sandy Koufax got $14,000; Harmon Killebrew got $20,000; and, Catfish Hunter got, I think,
a $50,000 bonus, but the bonus rule was modified by the time he signed and he only had to spend
a single season on the major league club before they could send him to the minors if they wanted
to do so, which they never did. The bonus rule under which Kaline, Killebrew, and Koufax signed
was that if their bonuses were higher than $4,000, they had to be kep on the parent club for
two full seasons. Koufax's time extended to his third season because he missed time on the DL
in his second.
I can't imagine what it must have been like for an 18 year old kid to get $35,000 in 1953. I'll bet he felt like an instant millionaire.
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I can't imagine what it must have been like for an 18 year old kid to get $35,000 in 1953. I'll bet he felt like an instant millionaire.
Generally, he might have until the season began and he experienced a lot of disdain from the team's veterans.
A lot of the bonus babies of that time were given that treatment. The rule generally hurt more than helped
both the players and their teams. The teams couldn't afford to keep these sprouts on their rosters; the
players missed on much-needed experience they weren't going to get on the parent club, for the most
part.
Case in point: Joey Jay, pitcher. The Braves made him a bonus baby, and though he eventually did spend
some time in the minors Jay had a tough time proving himself, not to mention cracking a rotation that
already included Warren Spahn, Lew Burdette, and Bob Buhl up top. He had his moments, particularly
in one World Series, but by the end of 1960 the Braves sent him to the Reds. In Cincinnati Jay was
put into the rotation and his acquisition probably meant the pennant for the Reds in 1961. He had two
big peak years and then hit his downslope, but you can't help wondering whether he might not have
had a longer peak if the Braves had known just what to do with him.
(Jay was also once famous for another reason: he was the first Little Leaguer to grow up to play major
league baseball . . . and he once wrote an article for Boys' Life, the magazine of the Boy Scouts,
urging parents to think twice and then thrice before letting their kids play Little League. Jay had
experienced difficulty in Little League because he was tall for his age and organisers gave him and
his family a hard time when he signed up to play.)
-
Astros now 8 and 4 after todays big comeback win. Don't know if they have what it takes for the long haul but they are doing great right now.
Happy with results right now too, Of course a good bit of this is against the M's and A's. Real test will be later this month when we play the Rays and Indians.
-
Generally, he might have until the season began and he experienced a lot of disdain from the team's veterans.
A lot of the bonus babies of that time were given that treatment. The rule generally hurt more than helped
both the players and their teams. The teams couldn't afford to keep these sprouts on their rosters; the
players missed on much-needed experience they weren't going to get on the parent club, for the most
part.
Case in point: Joey Jay, pitcher. The Braves made him a bonus baby, and though he eventually did spend
some time in the minors Jay had a tough time proving himself, not to mention cracking a rotation that
already included Warren Spahn, Lew Burdette, and Bob Buhl up top. He had his moments, particularly
in one World Series, but by the end of 1960 the Braves sent him to the Reds. In Cincinnati Jay was
put into the rotation and his acquisition probably meant the pennant for the Reds in 1961. He had two
big peak years and then hit his downslope, but you can't help wondering whether he might not have
had a longer peak if the Braves had known just what to do with him.
(Jay was also once famous for another reason: he was the first Little Leaguer to grow up to play major
league baseball . . . and he once wrote an article for Boys' Life, the magazine of the Boy Scouts,
urging parents to think twice and then thrice before letting their kids play Little League. Jay had
experienced difficulty in Little League because he was tall for his age and organisers gave him and
his family a hard time when he signed up to play.)
I'm actually glad that the MLB dropped the bonus baby thing despite the fact that Kaline and some others handled it well. Its why I think the MLB isn't plagued with prison bound man child athletes the way the NFL and NBA are.
Player development in baseball takes years now and that's a good thing. A problem player is removed from the pool before his name is ever known among the general public. In contrast you have kids like Jayru Campbell who was given a scholarship to MSU to play football. The scholarship was revoked after he returned to highschool after doing time for beating his girlfriend and upon returning to school bodyslammed a security guard.
Ball clubs do sign kids out of high school but it's a tentative thing that doesn't bring the instant fame. The Tigers signed Justin Verlander's brother and Torii Hunter Jr right out of high school with the requirement that they go to college and finish. Last I knew Hunter was playing football and Ben Verlander is still with the Tigers in the minors playing outfield.
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Happy with results right now too, Of course a good bit of this is against the M's and A's. Real test will be later this month when we play the Rays and Indians.
Tigers beat the Indians yesterday but lost today.
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I'm actually glad that the MLB dropped the bonus baby thing despite the fact that Kaline and some others handled it well. Its why I think the MLB isn't plagued with prison bound man child athletes the way the NFL and NBA are.
Player development in baseball takes years now and that's a good thing. A problem player is removed from the pool before his name is ever known among the general public. In contrast you have kids like Jayru Campbell who was given a scholarship to MSU to play football. The scholarship was revoked after he returned to highschool after doing time for beating his girlfriend and upon returning to school bodyslammed a security guard.
Ball clubs do sign kids out of high school but it's a tentative thing that doesn't bring the instant fame. The Tigers signed Justin Verlander's brother and Torii Hunter Jr right out of high school with the requirement that they go to college and finish. Last I knew Hunter was playing football and Ben Verlander is still with the Tigers in the minors playing outfield.
A bonus baby you probably forgot or didn't know was a bonus baby:
(https://static01.nyt.com/images/2014/10/10/sports/Y-JP-ALCS-2/Y-JP-ALCS-2-master180.jpg)
Moe Drabowsky---shown pitching in Game One, 1966 World Series, when he struck out eleven Dodgers
in relief including six consecutive---and they were all swinging strikeouts. Almost as famous for being one
of baseball's most relentless practical jokers, including but not limited to:
* Mimicking the voice of then-Athletics manager Alvin Dark so accurately that he once called the A's
bullpen and ordered a relief pitcher to start throwing . . . while starter Jim Nash was working on a
no-hitter. (Needless to say, Nash came unglued at the sight of bullpen action. The pitcher Drabowsky
as Dark ordered to start throwing: Lew Krausse, normally a starter.)
* Running a line of firecrackers from the visiting bullpen to the teepee of Braves mascot Chief
Noc-A-Homa and lighting them off in a string. (Said Moe: "I was waiting for the Chief to surrender.")
* Ordering Chinese takeout . . . from a restaurant in Taiwan, on the bullpen telephone.
* Doing a dead-on impression of A's owner Charlie Finley and calling fellow contract holdouts
ostensibly to give them the business---but he also found out what they were making, when
they'd complain such-and-such dollars weren't enough, and gave himself and them a slightly stronger
bargaining position even if they didn't know it.
* Teaming up with Oriole teammate Luis Aparicio to leave a huge Buddha statue in the doorway
of reserve catcher Charlie Lau.
* Giving commissioner Bowie Kuhn a hotfoot . . . by slipping a match to Kuhn's shoe surreptitiously
and running a trail of lighter fluid to it when Kuhn visited the Orioles' clubhouse during Drabowsky's
second stint with the team.
When Drabowsky died in 2006, his widow came up with a beauty: she snuck a little mound of
shaving cream to the crown button of a guest eulogist's Orioles cap. The speaker in question
had no idea what the hell the crowd was laughing at as he wore the cap without knowing about
the shaving cream on top. A perfect send off.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkcLwRBLbUY
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkcLwRBLbUY
THe clip wasn't saved, but the best hotfoot of all time---Roger McDowell, Mets relief pitcher. The victim:
Bill Robinson, Mets first base coach. McDowell loaded Robinson's heel with his almost patented slow
cigarette-burn-into-matchbook rig and lit the cigarette. The hotfoot didn't erupt until Robinson took
his place back on the first base coaching line. Even the Reds in the other dugout were cracking up.
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@Cripplecreek
Some classic baseball practical jokes:
* Warren Spahn and Lew Burdette were inveterate pranksters. One of their longest running gags
was hiring limousines to bring certain opposing players to the games . . . players whom either
Spahn or Burdette owned. (Joe Garagiola was said to be a frequent recipient of such largesse.)
* Mickey Mantle once told rookies Joe Pepitone and Phil Linz they'd arrived, it was time to go
out with the big boys, so just take a cab to the Flame in Detroit and ask for Whitey Ford's table.
Pepitone and Linz dressed to the nines, hailed a cab for the Flame . . . and learned the hard
way the once-venerable rhythm and blues restaurant was long since closed and broken down
in one of the city's worst slums.
* Bo Belinsky once talked a lady friend of his into calling fellow Angels pitcher Dean Chance,
with whom Chance had once had an affair, and telling him she was pregnant and he, Chance,
was the father. Chance panicked. When he saw Belinsky in the hotel lobby and told him
"something terrible's happened," Belinsky deadpanned, "Calm down, Dean, you're acting like
an expectant father." Chance chased Belinsky around the hotel furiously until he couldn't
help laughing.
* Juan Marichal's favourite prank was to hand teammates elaborately carved glass bottles
of perfume to give their wives or girlfriends. The hapless players and their ladies would learn
the hard way the perfume bottles were actually loaded with stink bombs.
* When Joe Torre was with the Mets toward the end of his playing career, he was looking
for a way to get teammate Dave Kingman, mired in a slump, to lighten up. He noticed
Kingman shared his thing for cigar smoking and had an idea. When Kingman went up
to bat, Torre snuck into the clubhouse, spotted a cigar in Kingman's locker, and inserted
a small explosive load into it. After the game, Kingman lit up and kaboom! Kingman
had a hearty laugh and managed to find out the identity of the culprit without Torre
knowing. The next day, Torre lit up a cigar in the clubhouse before a game and kaboom!
The two spent the rest of the season in a kind of contest to see who could put the louder
loads in whose cigars first.
* Seattle Pilots pitcher Fred Talbot once received genuine legal papers naming him in a
paternity suit. He learned the hard way it was a prank hatched by his roommate, reserve
catcher Merritt Ranew.
* Oriole relief pitchers Eddie Watt and Pete Richert spiked the Pilots bullpen's water cooler . . .
with live goldfish. (Watt and Richert were also supposed to have started a tradition in the
Oriole pen for awhile---taking a tip from Whitey Ford's old habit of laying a checkered
tablecloth, a wine bottle with a candle, and Italian bread and cold cuts on the Yankee
bullpen, Watt and Richert started having wienie roasts in the Oriole pen.)
* Jim Bouton walked into the Pilots clubhouse one day and discovered his game spikes
were nailed to the floor. The culprit: fellow relief pitcher Gene Brabender.
* Bob Feller was said to have a small handheld device that could produce spider webs. Feller
would use it only when visiting homes where he knew the lady of the house was particularly
Felix Unger-like about cleanliness and neatness.
* Righthanded Lew Burdette once posed for his baseball card as a lefthanded pitcher.
* Jay Johnstone once locked the door to Tommy Lasorda's office . . . with Lasorda inside,
and also took the clubhouse phones off the hook so nobody could hear Lasorda calling
for help to get his office unlocked.
* Johnstone also once replaced the portraits of celebrities Lasorda rubbed elbows with with
goofy pictures of assorted Dodger teammates.
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@Cripplecreek
Some classic baseball practical jokes:
* Jim Bouton walked into the Pilots clubhouse one day and discovered his game spikes
were nailed to the floor. The culprit: fellow relief pitcher Gene Brabender.
Surprised Bouton's citation didn't include Doug Rader from my late '60's and early '70's Astros. I understand his stunts were more disgusting, sick, and gross, than traditional pranks........so that may be a different category.
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Surprised Bouton's citation didn't include Doug Rader from my late '60's and early '70's Astros. I understand his stunts were more disgusting, sick, and gross, than traditional pranks........so that may be a different category.
Rader wasn't on the Pilots; Bouton didn't become his teammate until a midseason trade sending Bouton to the 'Stros.
Joe Pepitone mentioned one of Rader's more rank pranks in his own memoir Joe, You Coulda Made Us Proud,
though. I won't repeat it here. There may be ladies present.
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Rader wasn't on the Pilots; Bouton didn't become his teammate until a midseason trade sending Bouton to the 'Stros.
Joe Pepitone mentioned one of Rader's more rank pranks in his own memoir Joe, You Coulda Made Us Proud,
though. I won't repeat it here. There may be ladies present.
Pretty sure some of "Ball Four" contained some discussion of his (Bouton)time with the Astros and Rader. I'll check.
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Pretty sure some of "Ball Four" contained some discussion of his (Bouton)time with the Astros and Rader. I'll check.
Bouton wrote about both the Pilots and the Astros in Ball Four. (He was traded to the Astros in late August,
straight up for a nondescript ex-Yankee teammate named Dooley Womack---prompting his famous crack,
"Dooley Womack? The Dooley Womack?"
The first time he mentions Doug Rader is in a sequence on Old-Timer's Day when the team is needling manager
Harry Walker. "Son of a bitch," Rader is quoted as saying. "Every time we have an Old Timer's game Harry
gets a hit up the middle and breaks up the double play."
The next mention is a number of pages later, when Bouton quotes Rader as telling outfielder Nate Colbert, "Hey,
Nate, I think you're cute. Not ugly, cute. Cute like an iguana."
Then, on page 368 (in the original hardcover edition, which I have), there's this:
Doug Rader, the third baseman, may be a good-looking cat, but I'm afraid he might be too tight
for a pennant race like this. Right after he hit a soft popup that sent the second baseman back on the
grass, he came into the dugout and said to me, "How far did that last one go?"
"All the way out to second base," I said.
"It's all in the wrists," he said.
On page 372, Bouton refers to some attitudes between white and black players and notes Rader
mentioned he was often called "n@gger-lover" because he was friendly with Leon McFadden,
a black teammate. After mentioning McFadden's observation that some white players could be
friendly to his face but drop the N-word when they're sure no black players are around, Bouton
notes Rader said it happened around him all the time even though they knew he was one
white player who didn't like that word, and all he could do was get up and walk away.
On the next page, he references a breakfast he had with Rader in which they agreed they
liked Walker as a manager, especially Walker's ability to apologise to a player when he handled
something wrong.
Then this, on page 388:
In the dark of the airplane, Doug Rader was saying that he feels he's living out
of time and out of place. He thinks he would have been much happier as a Tahitian
war lord or even a pirate. And Norm Miller said, "I think I would have made a good pirate.
I wonder if there have ever been any good Jewish pirates?"
And that was pretty much it for Doug Rader.
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Pirates OF Starling Marte gets 80-game ban after positive PED test
(http://a4.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2016%2F0906%2Fr122586_1296x518_5%2D2.jpg&w=800&h=320&scale=crop&cquality=80&location=origin)
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Starling Marte has been suspended 80 games by Major League Baseball after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance, it was announced Tuesday.
Marte tested positive for nandrolone, which violated MLB's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. The suspension is effective immediately, and Marte is eligible to return in mid-July.
"I have been informed that I have tested positive in one of the tests that are regularly done in my job," Marte said in a statement released by the Major League Baseball Players Association. "In this very difficult moment, I apologize to my family, the Pittsburgh Pirates, my teammates, my fans, and baseball in general.
"Neglect and lack of knowledge have led me to this mistake with the high price to pay of being away from the field that I enjoy and love so much. With much embarrassment and helplessness, I ask for forgiveness for unintentionally disrespecting so many people who have trusted in my work and have supported me so much. I promise to learn the lesson that this ordeal has left me. God bless you."
more at: http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/19186772/pittsburgh-pirates-starling-marte-suspended-80-games (http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/19186772/pittsburgh-pirates-starling-marte-suspended-80-games)
_______________________________________________________________
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Neglect and lack of knowledge have led me to this mistake
Any word on how he neglectfully and unknowingly ingested a banned substance?
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Any word on how he neglectfully and unknowingly ingested a banned substance?
"I was a poor kid who was virtually raised on the street. If I had a daddy to teach me......"
Meh.....Let ONE of the leagues encourage PED usage.
Then the World Series will be a David vs Goliath spectacle.
And beisbol is the only professional sport where an average built man can be an All-Star and a Hall of Famer.
It would be interesting to see what players would 'run' to the PED League. :laugh:
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Any word on how he neglectfully and unknowingly ingested a banned substance?
5 reasons Starling Marte’s suspension will ruin the Pirates’ season (http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/gallery/pittsburgh-pirates-starling-marte-suspension-ped-test-prediction-replacement-problems-041817)
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5 reasons Starling Marte’s suspension will ruin the Pirates’ season (http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/gallery/pittsburgh-pirates-starling-marte-suspension-ped-test-prediction-replacement-problems-041817)
80 games is a serious suspension.
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Well there's a happy birthday HR for Miggy at 430 feet.
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It's early, but Bryce Harper is showing how you win MVP
Mark Simon
NEW YORK -- You don’t win MVP awards in April, but you can sure put some distance between yourself and the rest of the field with the kinds of performances Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper has turned in over the past few days.
The latest came at Citi Field on Friday, in the first of what should be an enthralling best-of-19 with their top division rivals, the injury-depleted New York Mets. Harper homered in the first inning to start things off, then finished them in the 11th inning by hitting an opposite-field double, taking third (barely) on a wild pitch and scoring the winning run on Trea Turner’s walk in the Nationals' 4-3 decision.
(http://a3.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2017%2F0421%2Fr201993_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&w=570)
Bryce Harper drove in two of the Nats' four runs on Friday with his fifth homer in five games, then scored the winner in the 11th inning. Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports
snip....
Yet when you ask Harper about how comfortable his swing is right now, he seems guarded, almost as if he doesn’t want to jinx it. He doesn’t break from a straight face, giving a simple, “I feel good.”
So do the Nationals, who have a nice jump-start on a Mets team that figures to be their top rivals in the East.
“That was championship-level baseball,” Baker said.
And the Nationals have a championship-level player leading the way.
more at: http://www.espn.com/blog/washington-nationals/post/_/id/2380/its-early-but-bryce-harper-is-showing-how-you-win-mvp (http://www.espn.com/blog/washington-nationals/post/_/id/2380/its-early-but-bryce-harper-is-showing-how-you-win-mvp)
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(http://d2s3dt9f4iyeup.cloudfront.net/images/standard_v1/3f462276-8515-4cb0-baad-e309b2c26b08.jpg)
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(http://d2s3dt9f4iyeup.cloudfront.net/images/standard_v1/3f462276-8515-4cb0-baad-e309b2c26b08.jpg)
Not many liked to talk about it, but there was one simple reason for Harper's drop-off last season: he was playing
hurt, with shoulder and neck issues. He looked healthy right out of the chute this year. Now if only he can stay
that way . . .
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Not many liked to talk about it, but there was one simple reason for Harper's drop-off last season: he was playing
hurt, with shoulder and neck issues. He looked healthy right out of the chute this year. Now if only he can stay
that way . . .
That HAD to be it...the 'injury'.
But, that didn't explain his off-the-table drop in ALL his numbers after the series last year in which they intentionally walked Harper every AB.
After that, he cheated on his swing, opened his hips and was a dead sucker for any breaking ball on his out-half.
Now...instead of taking those pitches to left field...as he's doing this year...he kept going for section 241. Upper deck. Big Fail.
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That HAD to be it...the 'injury'.
But, that didn't explain his off-the-table drop in ALL his numbers after the series last year in which they intentionally walked Harper every AB.
On the surface, no. But if you deal with a neck issue as well as a shoulder issue, you're trying to find some kind of
comfortable swing. He seems to have incurred the issues not long after that series; the right shoulder took it first
and it affected the base of his neck, but the upshot was that he struggled pulling the bottom hand (his right) through
his swing, affecting his power. The apparent cause of the injury issue, from what I was able to find in assorted
searches, was a hard head first slide early in the season.
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JaCoby Jones got hit in the mouth by a 90 MPH fastball thrown by Justin Haley today in Minneapolis (3rd inning). It looked pretty bad but it sounds like he won't lose the teeth.
Then in the 5th inning Tiger pitcher Matt Boyd hit Miguel Sano in the hip leading to Sano charging the mound, benches clearing and Boyd and Sano being ejected.
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Lets git it on.
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=19219637&sf72551681=1
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Getting ready for NATS vs METS tonight on ESPN Sunday Nite Game of the Week.
Announcer Dan Schulman says out of the box, "The METS are a mass shooting right now!"....in describing the injuries to the lineup.
...very poor choice of words, IMHO.
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Getting ready for NATS vs METS tonight on ESPN Sunday Nite Game of the Week.
Announcer Dan Schulman says out of the box, "The METS are a mass shooting right now!"....in describing the injuries to the lineup.
...very poor choice of words, IMHO.
\
Hey, DCP...we Zonies want your guys to look sharp the next few games. We really need Colorado to pick up some "L"s.
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MLB's pathetic punishment for throwing at a player's head needs to change
Suspensions in baseball are based on precedent, and precedent, in the case of Red Sox pitcher Matt Barnes throwing a 90-mph fastball inches behind the head of Orioles star Manny Machado on Sunday, says he will face anywhere from a three- to six-game ban. [Four games, as it turns out.] This is ridiculous, and Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association have good reason to work together, make an example of Barnes and end the farcical tradition that places the entire sport in peril every time a pitcher is foolish enough to engage in it.
[...]
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/mlbs-pathetic-punishment-throwing-players-head-needs-change-055215684.html (http://sports.yahoo.com/news/mlbs-pathetic-punishment-throwing-players-head-needs-change-055215684.html)
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MLB's pathetic punishment for throwing at a player's head needs to change
Suspensions in baseball are based on precedent, and precedent, in the case of Red Sox pitcher Matt Barnes throwing a 90-mph fastball inches behind the head of Orioles star Manny Machado on Sunday, says he will face anywhere from a three- to six-game ban. [Four games, as it turns out.] This is ridiculous, and Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association have good reason to work together, make an example of Barnes and end the farcical tradition that places the entire sport in peril every time a pitcher is foolish enough to engage in it.
[...]
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/mlbs-pathetic-punishment-throwing-players-head-needs-change-055215684.html (http://sports.yahoo.com/news/mlbs-pathetic-punishment-throwing-players-head-needs-change-055215684.html)
Meanwhile the Twins pitcher who hit Tigers batter Jacoby Jones in the mouth with a fastball wasn't ejected. Then Detroit pitcher Matt Boyd hit Miguel Sano in the ass causing Sano to throw a punch at McCann leading to and Boyd and Sano being ejected.
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=19220819
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Meanwhile the Twins pitcher who hit Tigers batter Jacoby Jones in the mouth with a fastball wasn't ejected. Then Detroit pitcher Matt Boyd hit Miguel Sano in the ass causing Sano to throw a punch at McCann leading to and Boyd and Sano being ejected.
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=19220819
I went to a fight and a baseball game broke out.
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Meanwhile the Twins pitcher who hit Tigers batter Jacoby Jones in the mouth with a fastball wasn't ejected. Then Detroit pitcher Matt Boyd hit Miguel Sano in the ass causing Sano to throw a punch at McCann leading to and Boyd and Sano being ejected.
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=19220819
There's a reason why the Twins pitcher who hit Jones didn't get ejected. He wasn't trying to throw at him.
If you saw his reaction as he saw the pitch hit Jones, he looked too obviously distraught over it. I'm not
a lip reader but it looked like "oh sh@t no!" came out of his mouth as he spun around the mound
grabbing his head in embarrassment. That's not the act of a guy who's looking to deck a hitter.
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There's a reason why the Twins pitcher who hit Jones didn't get ejected. He wasn't trying to throw at him.
If you saw his reaction as he saw the pitch hit Jones, he looked too obviously distraught over it. I'm not
a lip reader but it looked like "oh sh@t no!" came out of his mouth as he spun around the mound
grabbing his head in embarrassment. That's not the act of a guy who's looking to deck a hitter.
There was also no good reason for Boyd to get tossed. No warnings had been issued and Boyd was having severe control issues anyway. Even without debating intent, no one would have been ejected without Sano's reaction. Had Sano just taken his base he could have grumbled about it to Boyd all the way down the baseline and let it go, the game would have continued.
The craziest ejection I ever saw was Mike Maroth (Pitching for the Tigers against the Twins) getting tossed while facing the first batter of the game. However that one did come with a pregame warning from the brawl the previous day that led to something like 9 players ejected.
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There was also no good reason for Boyd to get tossed. No warnings had been issued and Boyd was having severe control issues anyway.
Right there said it all. But beware: just grumbling up the base line is sometimes enough to start a brawl.
The craziest ejection I ever saw was Mike Maroth (Pitching for the Tigers against the Twins) getting tossed while facing the first batter of the game. However that one did come with a pregame warning from the brawl the previous day that led to something like 9 players ejected.
How about the one that began between the Padres and the Braves in August 1984 that began when Pascual Perez
drilled Alan Wiggins on the game's first pitch? That started an evening of multiple brushbacks and three brawls
before it ended.
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Tigers are tearing it up tonight with all their minor league call ups.
currently 7-2 over Seattle in the top of the 5th without Miggy, JD Martinez, Iglesias, and Jacoby Jones.
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OK that's weird.
No pitch intentional walk to Avila.
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OK that's weird.
No pitch intentional walk to Avila.
I don't like the no pitch intentional walk. Worst rule change in decades.
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I don't like the no pitch intentional walk. Worst rule change in decades.
Im guessing the Mariners are wishing this inning would end. 12-4 14-4 16-4 in the bottom of the 5th.
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Biggest inning of the year for the Tigers. 9 runs scored.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjCbbAxUDg8
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Good thing the Tiger bats were hot last night because the defense was not spectacular.
Despite being beaten by 10 runs, the Mariners still managed to score 9 runs themselves.
Most impressive from the Tigers was taking out "King" Hernandez in 2 innings.
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I don't like the no pitch intentional walk. Worst rule change in decades.
Here's the Top 5 in my lifetime
1. DH (by far)...plus that f'n slug Selig moving my team to the ALW, where I have to put up with extra midnight baseball and DH almost all the time.
2. NBAization of MLB by having 4 WC spots in playoffs
3. (not a rule but).... Exponential Growth in MLB salaries, and effect on ticket prices
4. Changes in slide rule.
5. NP intentional walk. I have seen a number of times WP's or PB's on an IBB that have changed the game.
I do like the instant replay, and when auto -strike zone becomes reality. Got to make this game C.B. Bucknor proof.
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Here's the Top 5 in my lifetime
1. DH (by far)...plus that f'n slug Selig moving my team to the ALW, where I have to put up with extra midnight baseball and DH almost all the time.
2. NBAization of MLB by having 4 WC spots in playoffs
3. (not a rule but).... Exponential Growth in MLB salaries, and effect on ticket prices
4. Changes in slide rule.
5. NP intentional walk. I have seen a number of times WP's or PB's on an IBB that have changed the game.
I do like the instant replay, and when auto -strike zone becomes reality. Got to make this game C.B. Bucknor proof.
Good list, @catfish1957
I have an idea for automation used in calling "East-West" borders of the plate.
All it takes is one person with another as backup and installed sensors inside the border of the rubber home plate.
The sensor would pick up any breach "...on the black".
Once the batter is finished with his 'practice' half swings in the box and is set.....those two guys push a button.
All the ump has to do is call high and low.
And since most umps look over ONE shoulder anyway they can move to the catcher's right shoulder to 'see' even better!
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Here's the Top 5 in my lifetime
...
5. NP intentional walk. I have seen a number of times WP's or PB's on an IBB that have changed the game.
I do like the instant replay, and when auto -strike zone becomes reality. Got to make this game C.B. Bucknor proof.
That's precisely why I don't like the NP Intentional Walk. It screws the offense by removing four opportunities for errors. Name one other rule in baseball that does that. Even the infield fly rule doesn't do that.
I hear ya about making the sport Bucknor-proof. I don't think there's a team in MLB that hasn't been jacked by that jag-off.
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@DCPatriot The Nats did a great job last night! Let's have another! D-Backs could use that Colorado loss...
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Good list, @catfish1957
I have an idea for automation used in calling "East-West" borders of the plate.
All it takes is one person with another as backup and installed sensors inside the border of the rubber home plate.
The sensor would pick up any breach "...on the black".
Once the batter is finished with his 'practice' half swings in the box and is set.....those two guys push a button.
All the ump has to do is call high and low.
And since most umps look over ONE shoulder anyway they can move to the catcher's right shoulder to 'see' even better!
I like those ideas. Considering Tennis uses this technology without flaw, it seems baseball could actually implement easily.
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@DCPatriot The Nats did a great job last night! Let's have another! D-Backs could use that Colorado loss...
That final score scares the hell out of me.
And it should scare the hell out of you, too. And every beisbol fan in the world.
We don't need no steenkin' 'Arena Baseball'.
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I'd like to see the mound height back to what it was. And the rulebook strikezone called. Letters to knees.
Not so sure how today's pitcher's breaking balls would react, though. LOL!
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That final score scares the hell out of me.
And it should scare the hell out of you, too. And every beisbol fan in the world.
We don't need no steenkin' 'Arena Baseball'.
I agree. Mrs. Liberty watched the final innings on Gameday, and boy was she pissed....
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I'd like to see the mound height back to what it was. And the rulebook strikezone called. Letters to knees.
Not so sure how today's pitcher's breaking balls would react, though. LOL!
I agree with the part about the mound, too. It was a failed experiment to increase hitting, and it didn't. It did, however, increase pitching injuries and contributed to fewer pitchers pitching full games.
The strike zone is an issue that dates back to Doubleday.
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That's precisely why I don't like the NP Intentional Walk. It screws the offense by removing four opportunities for errors. Name one other rule in baseball that does that. Even the infield fly rule doesn't do that.
I hear ya about making the sport Bucknor-proof. I don't think there's a team in MLB that hasn't been jacked by that jag-off.
True enough. I've seen batters reach out and hit intentional balls and I've also seen intentional balls go to the backstop
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I DO NOT understand why people insist on fixing things that aren't broken!
I long for the days when baseball was played for the love of the game!
Astros are 14 and 6!
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Is baseball too slow? The battle lines are drawn -- and MLB is taking a side
PHILADELPHIA -- Art Nelson knows that up the New Jersey Turnpike on Park Avenue, Major League Baseball's deepest thinkers are hard at work trying to solve maybe the hottest topic on commissioner Rob Manfred's to-do list: pace of game.
But here in Ashburn Alley, with a cheesesteak in his hand and a Mets-Phillies game about to unfold before his eyes, Nelson would like the commish to know something just as important:
He's in no hurry to go home.
[-snip-]
[...] new polling data, compiled for ESPN this month by digital insights company Toluna, confirm the sentiments of folks in Ashburn Alley. It's all those people who aren't at the park, the ones sitting at home with a clicker or smartphone -- or not watching at all -- who say games are moving way too slowly.
[-snip-]
"They're trying to appeal to the non-passionate fan," Sutton said. "They're looking to attract people who could become fans if you make it appealing enough. That's their biggest problem -- bringing in that audience that they're not getting because the game is too slow."
But the current fans have a question, and it's an excellent one: How does baseball know it can ever attract those fans?
"I don't like all these changes to baseball to please [people] who will never like it," tweeted Bob Romano (@chisox927). "I don't expect soccer to change so I'll like it more."
[-snip-]
Meanwhile, as our polling shows, the incredible divide between the TV/mobile fan base and the in-the-park crowd might remain as impossible to bridge as ever -- because there seems to be only one thing everyone can agree upon.
"Baseball still feels timeless," Bill Sutton said, "if you're at the game."
http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/19192828/is-baseball-too-slow-battle-lines-drawn-mlb-taking-side (http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/19192828/is-baseball-too-slow-battle-lines-drawn-mlb-taking-side)
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-- because there seems to be only one thing everyone can agree upon.
Two things, actually -- the second one being get rid of CB Bucknor.
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@Polly Ticks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cloU58N0YVI
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@Polly Ticks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cloU58N0YVI
:thumbsup:
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True enough. I've seen batters reach out and hit intentional balls and I've also seen intentional balls go to the backstop
I think it was in the World Series where Johnny Bench had two strikes on him.
The catcher called time out, went out to the mound for a meeting.
They threw three intentional balls.
As Johnny Bench stood there, they threw strike three right down the middle.
That won't happen again.
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I think it was in the World Series where Johnny Bench had two strikes on him.
The catcher called time out, went out to the mound for a meeting.
They threw three intentional balls.
As Johnny Bench stood there, they threw strike three right down the middle.
That won't happen again.
Nope. Not with Intentional Walks like they are now. All in the name of "pace."
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I've said it before, I'll say it again. They want to quicken the pace of a baseball game,
stop cutting to commercials every time a manager goes to his bullpen in the middle
of a tough inning. (And find C.B. Bucknor another line of work.)
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I DO NOT understand why people insist on fixing things that aren't broken!
I long for the days when baseball was played for the love of the game!
Astros are 14 and 6!
888high58888
Love that Houston stadium.
I believe 45 games is a good barometer in which to judge and evaluate teams/players.
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I think it was in the World Series where Johnny Bench had two strikes on him.
The catcher called time out, went out to the mound for a meeting.
They threw three intentional balls.
As Johnny Bench stood there, they threw strike three right down the middle.
That won't happen again.
My way around that rule?
Don't ask for the intentional pass. Just throw four pitch-outs.
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My way around that rule?
Don't ask for the intentional pass. Just throw four pitch-outs.
A pitcher will never do that because the new rule protects them from Wild Pitches and Passed Balls. The rule only screws the batter.
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A pitcher will never do that because the new rule protects them from Wild Pitches and Passed Balls. The rule only screws the batter.
I was merely satisfying the 'purist' in the box seat. LOL!
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I was merely satisfying the 'purist' in the box seat. LOL!
Moi? ****slapping
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Trea Turner triple shy of another cycle as Nats rough up Rockies
DENVER -- Good luck navigating through the top five of Washington's lineup these days.
It's definitely a pick-your-poison sort of situation.
Trea Turner nearly hit for the cycle for a second straight night, finishing a triple shy, and Bryce Harper had four more hits to run his average to .432 as the Nationals beat the Colorado Rockies 11-4 on Wednesday.
In all, the combination of Adam Eaton, Turner, Harper, Ryan Zimmerman and Daniel Murphy went 13 of 24 with three homers and all 11 RBI to help the Nationals improve to 8-1 on their 10-game trip.
Now that's production.
more at: http://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=370426127 (http://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=370426127)
_________________________________________________________________
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Trea Turner triple shy of another cycle as Nats rough up Rockies
DENVER -- Good luck navigating through the top five of Washington's lineup these days.
Nats do look tough this year.
My Astros may not have that level of "murderer's row" but the lineup is rock solid 1-9. Add a resurgent Keuchel , a good front 3 (which is all you need in playoffs), and maybe the best pen in MLB, and we might be seeing y'all in October.
Still real early but.....
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Nats do look tough this year.
My Astros may not have that level of "murderer's row" but the lineup is rock solid 1-9. Add a resurgent Keuchel , a good front 3 (which is all you need in playoffs), and maybe the best pen in MLB, and we might be seeing y'all in October.
Still real early but.....
The Astros are fun to watch. Like the Royals' teams when they first realized they were contenders.
But I don't care how 'fearsome' your lineup can be. Good pitching will shut down hitting, especially in a short series.
Max Scherzer ERA 1.95
Stephen Strasburg - ERA 2.89
Gio "Nat Gio" Gonzalez ERA 1.35
Tanner Roark - ERA 3.64
Joe Ross - only 11 innings pitched. too small a sample size.
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Your guys did great last night, @DCPatriot! Unfortunately, my Dbacks blew it in the Ninth, so we're still 1/2 game behind Colorado. :shrug:
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3 way tie in the AL Central right now. Sox, Indians, and Tigers are all 11-9 at .550
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The Astros are fun to watch. Like the Royals' teams when they first realized they were contenders.
But I don't care how 'fearsome' your lineup can be. Good pitching will shut down hitting, especially in a short series.
Max Scherzer ERA 1.95
Stephen Strasburg - ERA 2.89
Gio "Nat Gio" Gonzalez ERA 1.35
Tanner Roark - ERA 3.64
Joe Ross - only 11 innings pitched. too small a sample size.
Gonna be a LONG hot summer! We'll see whos left standing in September.
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The Astros are fun to watch. Like the Royals' teams when they first realized they were contenders.
But I don't care how 'fearsome' your lineup can be. Good pitching will shut down hitting, especially in a short series.
Max Scherzer ERA 1.95
Stephen Strasburg - ERA 2.89
Gio "Nat Gio" Gonzalez ERA 1.35
Tanner Roark - ERA 3.64
Joe Ross - only 11 innings pitched. too small a sample size.
I'm glad Scherzer is working out for you. He didn't do so well for us the last season he was here. I always liked his style, though.
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Your guys did great last night, @DCPatriot! Unfortunately, my Dbacks blew it in the Ninth, so we're still 1/2 game behind Colorado. :shrug:
The only players in major league baseball with more RBIs than Ryan Zimmerman (21) are this teammates Bryce Harper (22) and Daniel Murphy (22)
The other day, they were interviewing Dusty Baker on his decision to bat Ryan Zimmerman behind Bryce Harper instead of lefty Daniel Murphy....against right-handed pitching.
He was reminded that last year, Harper's woes started when the CUBS refused to pitch to him even if it meant loading the bases...and electing to pitch to Zimmerman, who at the time was half the player he exhibits today.
Anyway, Ray Knight, the NATS announcer took issue with that....as I did...that Harper's game-winning homerun last week on a 3-2 count was because Daniel Murphy was on deck.
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<snip>
Harper is off to a good start this season -- one that indicates he may be on track to have a season more like his 2015 performance than his 2016. Harper is leading the majors with a .418 batting average and is second with a 1.358 OPS.
But April wasn’t the issue last year, either. Harper hit nine HR in April last season and 15 the rest of the season, and that wasn’t the only rate that fell off. Harper hit .286 with an 1.121 OPS in April and followed it with a .235 batting average and a .759 OPS the rest of the season.
more at: http://www.espn.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/131492/april-28th-is-mike-trout-and-bryce-harper-day (http://www.espn.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/131492/april-28th-is-mike-trout-and-bryce-harper-day)
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Not strictly baseball but it should be interesting.
LIVE STREAM: ‘A New Day in Detroit’
http://www.foxsports.com/detroit/story/live-stream-a-new-day-in-detroit-042717
FOX Sports Detroit
Apr 27, 2017 at 1:17p ET
Narrated by Oscar-winner and Detroit’s own J.K. Simmons, “A New Day In Detroit” tells the story of the city’s renaissance through the eyes of movers and shakers, and everyday sports fans.
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HOLY COW!
NATS are up on the METS 23-5 in the 8th inning.
Anthony Rendon has 10 RBI.
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HOLY COW!
NATS are up on the METS 23-5 in the 8th inning.
Anthony Rendon has 10 RBI.
They will be qualified to run 50 yard dashes in the next olimpics at that rate.
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HOLY COW!
NATS are up on the METS 23-5 in the 8th inning.
Anthony Rendon has 10 RBI.
Whoa! Enjoy it while you can, 'cause you're against Phoenix Tuesday. :whistle:
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Whoa! Enjoy it while you can, 'cause you're against Phoenix Tuesday. :whistle:
22222frying pan :laugh:
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22222frying pan :laugh:
Don't get all comfy. We have a day off, and Walker's pitching. :0001:
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Noah's bark should have gotten a Mets bite
By Yours Truly
http://throneberryfields.com/2017/04/30/noahs-bark-should-have-gotten-a-mets-bite/
It’s one thing for baseball players to have the kind of contract negotiating autonomy they’ve enjoyed in the
free agency era. But it’s something else when the keys to the zoo get lifted by the animals, as the Mets may be
learning the hard way. Players may choose for whom they play when contracts expire, but they still, alas, have
bosses. Or so we thought.
Don’t be surprised if the 23-5 terrorist attacks the Nationals laid upon the Mets Sunday afternoon have a lot of
people wondering just who’s been running the Mets.
Because when Noah Syndergaard—scratched from his start against the Braves last Thursday due to a bicep and
shoulder discomfort—shenked an MRI appointment the day after, the purported ace of a team who swore they’d
be monitoring their youthful pitching staff very closely no matter what, he made them look like liars.
Syndergaard and, it’s been reported, a few coaches watching, swore he was fine throwing a bullpen session Friday.
But come Sunday, he tried throwing bullets that went few places he wanted them to go, avoiding Nats bats being
one of them. Then, he tried throwing a few offspeed pitches. In the second inning, with the Nats getting friskier,
Syndergaard strained his right lateral muscle and had to leave the game.
This is just what the Mets’ already overworked and beleaguered bullpen didn’t need, after two days’ worth of arduous
work in containing the Nats long enough for the Mets to take the first two of a weekend set.
Syndergaard and the Mets’ bosses, field level and front office alike, better hope and pray that Thor’s lat strain isn’t
serious enough to warrant a trip to the disabled list. But if they’d really been looking out for Syndergaard’s and the
team’s well being, they’d have done what New York Daily News columnist John Harper suggested hours after the
Sunday massacre (http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/noah-syndergaard-mets-fault-no-mri-article-1.3120822), “exerted more influence, or flat told him that if he didn’t get [the Friday MRI] he was going on
the disabled list.”
Manager Terry Collins himself told reporters gambling with Met arms in general, and Syndergaard’s in particular
considering last week’s doings, was not an option. “It’s quite obvious we cannot take a chance on him,” Collins said,
“hurting this guy, especially when you’re talking about anything that runs into the shoulder to where he changes
his delivery and other things happen.”
Bergen Record columnist Bob Klapisch—who once wrote, with Harper, an excellent if troubling book about the horrific
1993 Mets, The Worst Team Money Could Buy—wasn’t quite as forgiving in his expression as Harper was (https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/columnists/bob-klapisch/2017/04/30/klapisch-syndergaard-leaves-game-arm-injury/101130838/).
Syndergaard could have made the [Friday MRI] episode easier for the Mets, if only he’d
been less petulant about the MRI. There was no reason for him to refuse, other than to
prove he could force the club to backpedal. Add that to an incident in the clubhouse,
where Syndergaard berated Jay Horwitz, the 70-year-old media relations director, and
you have the personality profile of an immature star, not a self-aware ace who understands
the responsibility of acting like one.
Remember this, too: Syndergaard was warned about the risk of a heavy weight-lifting
regimen that added thickness to his upper body last winter. The Mets were against his
unorthodox approach. Motion analysis expert Tom House said Syndergaard’s obsession
with new muscle was a “worst-case scenario.” House told The Record two months ago
that there was strong probability Syndergaard would be injured before June 1.
Syndergaard, however, blew off the prediction as casually as he said no to the MRI.
He knew better. “My arm is loose, my flexibility is good,” Thor said back in February.
“I’m not worried.”
Instead of getting a duly-scheduled MRI after one issue got him scratched from a scheduled start, where a possible
coming issue might have been prevented with a little smart management from there, Syndergaard played the side
of old-school thought that gets old-school thought a bad reputation in the first place.
I don’t need no MRI. I’m tough! I’m the Mighty Thor!! Thou shalt have no other gods of thunder before me!!!
Except that he wasn’t, on Sunday. A Mets bullpen in dire need of at least two thirds of a day off got yanked into action
early, with little enough reserve, and—after the Mets had carved their way back to within one run—the Nats violated
their Eighth Amendment rights.
It got bad enough that manager Terry Collins got backup catcher Kevin Plawecki to pitch two innings. If Plawecki
volunteered, he should be nominated for a Nobel Prize. The good news was Plawecki getting three outs to end
the seventh.
The bad news was, he got them after Josh Smoker, perhaps the last man standing in the Mets’ bullpen, surrendered
an RBI double to Daniel Murphy, a run scoring on an infield error, and a three-run homer to Matt Wieters.
Then, Plawecki got three outs in the eighth. The worse news was, he got those after Bryce Harper opened by hitting
a ball-one pitch into the right center field seats, Ryan Zimmerman followed promptly with a base hit, pinch hitter
Adam Lind followed that with a short over the center field fence, and Anthony Rendon—adding a cherry-and-whipped
cream topping to his history-making sundae afternoon (6-for-6 with ten steaks, the highest-ever RBI total of any 6-for-6
man)—blasted his third bomb of the day into the left field bleachers.
Take one for the team? Plawecki took the tail end of the London Blitz.
I’ve written that baseball players shouldn’t have to apologise for becoming injured in the line of duty. But if they’re
foolish enough with injuries, and it leads to disaster almost at once, maybe they should be made to write 100 times,
“I will not shenk my MRI. I will not shenk my MRI.”
Don’t even think about it: the Players’ Association wouldn’t have had a leg to stand on if the Mets gave Syndergaard
the not-so-fast order when learning Syndergaard planned to shenk Friday’s MRI. As Harper pointed out, should the
Players’ Association have claimed the Mets were trying to strong-arm an uninjured player, the Mets would have
countered what happened to be true: it was Syndergaard himself who first reported his biceps and shoulder issue
last Wednesday night.
“Would the MRI have disclosed a lat issue or reaffirmed some concern about the bicep?” asked general manager
Sandy Alderson about Syndergaard’s stubbornness. “We’ll never know.” The Mets may know sooner than they
think. Because guess why Syndergaard wasn’t available to talk after the game? He was high-tailing it to New York
for a Monday appointment.
For an MRI.
And don’t think the Mets weren’t tempted to order the MRI operators to have his head examined while they were
at it.
Collins—who flipped and threw a cup when an admittedly foolish reporter asked if he was upset over Syndergaard’s
lat strain (https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjm542J783TAhXrwFQKHeh2B04QqUMIKTAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthecomeback.com%2Fmlb%2Fmets-terry-collins-syndergaard-injury-erupts-you-think.html&usg=AFQjCNFIlsU_s5Vk3l4jxRgRUrSbcrk1AQ&sig2=7jJs6RX3EpSQf2uX-boCtQ) (that’s like asking Poland if it was upset about being the receiving end of the war-opening Nazi blitz)—has always
sounded the call of accountability from his players. If ever that call needed to be sounded, it was Sunday, before
Thor could escape.
The Mets should have ordered Syndergaard to stay put until after Sunday, Bloody Sunday finally ended and he could
face the press explaining himself. After he made them look like chumps before leaving his team to human rights
violations, it’s the least the Mets could have asked of their purported ace.
Update: Syndergaard underwent the MRI today. Torn lat muscle. The Mets say there's no time frame for his return,
but you might care to rememember Steven Matz missed two months with the same injury in 2015.
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Just posting here:
Red Sox apologize for fans' racial taunts toward Adam Jones
By The Associated Press
BOSTON — May 2, 2017, 12:06 PM ET
Boston Red Sox President Sam Kennedy is apologizing for fans at Fenway Park taunting Baltimore Orioles center fielder Adam Jones with racial slurs.
Kennedy also apologized Tuesday for a fan throwing peanuts at Jones during Monday night's game. He said the organization is "sickened by the conduct of an ignorant few."
Jones, who is black, said he was "called the N-word a handful of times" in quotes reported by USA Today Sports and The Boston Globe.
"It's unfortunate that people need to resort to those type of epithets to degrade another human being," Jones said.
Continued: http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/report-orioles-adam-jones-claims-racist-taunts-boston-47150545
I've been to a game and what was some loud person in the stand calling one of the players on the field some name, "loser" or something like that but clearly nothing like this reported incident in Boston. Some name-calling of course, is not altogether uncommon. Racial slurs? The fan should face a 1 season ban at least I'd say. At least, for that kind of name-calling.
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Hey @DCPatriot! We have a couple of good games lined up, tonight and tomorrow! Four excellent pitchers. I thought letting Scherzer go was a mistake...
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Hey @DCPatriot! We have a couple of good games lined up, tonight and tomorrow! Four excellent pitchers. I thought letting Scherzer go was a mistake...
I'm still saying the same about Scherzer. I think that may have been why Dombrowski was sent packing.
At least Miggy is back and hit a home run last night.
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I'm still saying the same about Scherzer. I think that may have been why Dombrowski was sent packing.
At least Miggy is back and hit a home run last night.
You guys are here for two games next week, then later in the season we're there.
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I'm still saying the same about Scherzer. I think that may have been why Dombrowski was sent packing.
It wasn't so much letting Max Scherzer go as it was a) tying the Tigers up with five or six fat contracts
worth over $480 million and thus compromising some of their flexibility in building/rebuilding the
system (even if Dombrowski did get a nice pitching prospect back from the Mets in the Yoenis Cespedes
deal, Michael Fulmer; and, get JaCoby Jones from the Pirates); and, b) never really building a solid
bullpen during his tenure, that compelled the Tigers to let Dombrowski go.
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You guys are here for two games next week, then later in the season we're there.
Hard to say how the Tigers are going to do this season.
I think the way they're handling injuries this year is a lot smarter. Rather than letting a player try to play through a minor injury and end up out for a month, they're putting them on a 10 day DL immediately so they can fully heal from the minor injury.
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Toledo Mud Hens in Twitter dispute over Beatles-themed uniform reveal
The official Twitter account from the 'World Famous' Toledo Mud Hens, the Detroit Tigers' Triple-A affiliate, isn't backing down after the Fresno Grizzlies essentially accused the Mud Hens of copying their idea.
http://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2017/05/02/toledo-mud-hens-uniform-beatles/101215792/
(http://i.imgur.com/GESZOzW.png) (http://i.imgur.com/iYSFLSw.png)
The MudHen's Bobba Fett uniforms were pretty good too.
(http://i.imgur.com/wYD5yMk.png)
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Hard to say how the Tigers are going to do this season.
I think the way they're handling injuries this year is a lot smarter. Rather than letting a player try to play through a minor injury and end up out for a month, they're putting them on a 10 day DL immediately so they can fully heal from the minor injury.
It takes a good set of farm teams to be able to do that. Glad you can.
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How can one leave this group?
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How can one leave this group?
Uh, you can check out any time you like but you can never leave?
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How can one leave this group?
Why don't you stab it with your steely knives for a while and let us know how it goes?
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So, the Orioles/Red Sox Saga continues.
In the 2nd inning, O's starter Kevin Gausman plunks Sox shortstop 'Xander Bogaerts in the left butt cheek....with a 77 mph breaking ball.
Immediately the home plate Umpire ejected Gausman....and the O's went nutz!
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So, the Orioles/Red Sox Saga continues.
In the 2nd inning, O's starter Kevin Gausman plunks Sox shortstop 'Xander Bogaerts in the left butt cheek....with a 77 mph breaking ball.
Immediately the home plate Umpire ejected Gausman....and the O's went nutz!
That's outrageous! Was there a fight? Hit in the ass with a 77? Shit, my Dad spanked me harder than that.
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That's outrageous! Was there a fight? Hit in the ass with a 77? Shit, my Dad spanked me harder than that.
No fight....but I half expected the O's catcher (Joseph) to cold-cock the HP umpire during the outbreak.
What bugs the hell out of me.....if this was the National League, the Tinkerbell, Chris Sale, wouldn't have thrown at Machado.
Maybe Manny is good friends with a few NL hurlers....you never know. :smokin:
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So, the Orioles/Red Sox Saga continues.
In the 2nd inning, O's starter Kevin Gausman plunks Sox shortstop 'Xander Bogaerts in the left butt cheek....with a 77 mph breaking ball.
Immediately the home plate Umpire ejected Gausman....and the O's went nutz!
Considering the Red Sox nonsense since the final game of the set in Camden Yards a week and a half ago,
can you blame the Orioles? I mean, I get that the plate ump wanted to put an end to it, but anyone
who didn't think that even the Orioles were going to send a message to the Red Sox after all the other
crap just didn't think, period. The ejection was too quick. Nobody wants to see anyone hurt,
but the Orioles had every right to send a message at last and throwing a 77 mph pitch in the ass isn't exactly
going to decapitate or amputate anyone. All the ump had to do was what the plate ump Tuesday did after
Chris Sale drilled Manny Machado: send out the warnings.
The foolish part: Apparently, before the game, MLB had a conference call with both teams and all but told
them to knock it the hell off. (Also: there's a chance that Sale will be suspended for throwing at Machado.)
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Uh, you can check out any time you like but you can never leave?
Why don't you stab it with your steely knives for a while and let us know how it goes?
..... they just can't kill the beast!
Go Cubbies
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No game in Detroit today.
Ark building is optional.
Carry on.
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No game in Detroit today.
Ark building is optional.
Carry on.
I think the whole middle third of the country is waterlogged.
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I think the whole middle third of the country is waterlogged.
Its been raining here since March. Mark my words, by the end of summer they'll be reporting the shocking news that the great lakes are at record levels.
(http://i.imgur.com/BxXjqdz.png)
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(http://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-KB6iDbLGBZ4/AAAAAAAAAAI/AAAAAAAASsk/zDCqk2QopR0/s0-c-k-no-ns/photo.jpg)
Chicago Cubs
15-12, 1st in National League Central
Today, 1:20 PM on WGN, CSPh
Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
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Astros currently 19/9 .679 Best in baseball currently!
Go Stros!
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Astros currently 19/9 .679 Best in baseball currently!
Go Stros!
.... even this Correa line....
3 Hr, 11 RBI's, .255 ba
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.... even this Correa line....
3 Hr, 11 RBI's, .255 ba
Last night Correa went 4/5 (two singles a double and one 4 bagger) as the stros drubbed the Rangers 10 to 1.
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Last night Correa went 4/5 (two singles a double and one 4 bagger) as the stros drubbed the Rangers 10 to 1.
Yep, and that line even includes last night's performance. Maybe he is turning it around
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No game in Detroit today.
Ark building is optional.
Carry on.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ddyNGms_q8c/WHsEX_EMfmI/AAAAAAAA80U/05DzZjQkg389iLASWo1JLnkKCTd5nTWygCLcB/s640/NY40.jpg)
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Cue the music: The Evil Empire has returned
Andrew Marchand
CHICAGO -- As Brett Gardner's two-out, two-strike, ninth-inning, three-run homer traveled through the bitterly cold and windy Wrigley air, you could almost imagine the soundtrack to the shot.
Dun, dun, dun, dun, tadah ... dun tadah
The supposedly rebuilding New York Yankees were making the world champion Chicago Cubs feel like lovable losers again. The Cubs were classy all day, handing a ring to Adam Warren for his 35 innings of 5.91 ERA work in 2016, having a little pregame ceremony for Aroldis Chapman -- who, in Game 7 of the World Series, almost joined the Billy Goat, Leon Durham and the black cat in Cubs misery -- and putting together a video tribute for Starlin Castro as if he were Derek Jeter.
It appeared as if the Cubs were going to cap off the day with a victory. Hector Rondon was being asked to close it out instead of Wade Davis, who had pitched each of the past three days. Rondon allowed two runners to reach with two outs to set up Gardner in the ninth.
Gardner pulled a hanging 2-2 slider to right, which was almost the only direction the ball could go out with the wind so fierce.
It flew through the air and ...
Dun, dun, dun, dun, tadah ... dun tadah
lots more [bullshit] :whistle: at:
http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/96157/cue-the-music-the-evil-empire-has-returned (http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/96157/cue-the-music-the-evil-empire-has-returned)
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Although, I must confess that I will be checking out Yanks/Cubs to night...MORE than Caps/Penquins. :shrug:
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Live - Top 7th
New York Yankees 8
Chicago Cubs 2
Damn Yankees.
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Live - Top 7th
New York Yankees 8
Chicago Cubs 2
Damn Yankees.
They're back.....damnit! ^-^
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Tigers are tearing it up tonight with all their minor league call ups.
currently 7-2 over Seattle in the top of the 5th without Miggy, JD Martinez, Iglesias, and Jacoby Jones.
@Cripplecreek
We don't see eye to eye it seems...on anything.
..but baseball.
You were the first person I thought of, my friend...when the A's walked off in the 9th.
That was a helluva slide, though. ^-^
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@Cripplecreek
We don't see eye to eye it seems...on anything.
..but baseball.
You were the first person I thought of, my friend...when the A's walked off in the 9th.
That was a helluva slide, though. ^-^
I went to bed because I figured the Tigers had it wrapped up.
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Its got to be a real pain playing in Oakland with all those damn seagulls.
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I went to bed because I figured the Tigers had it wrapped up.
The September fade has come early to Arizona. You lucky devil. @Cripplecreek, you're playing us Tuesday. Time to run up the standings.
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Citi Field's Animal House; or, the Wreck of the Metsperus (http://www.gopbriefingroom.com/index.php?topic=261795.msg1313834#msg1313834)
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Astros currently 19/9 .679 Best in baseball currently!
Go Stros!
Yep, great fun to watch.
Solid 1 to 9 lineup.
Deep bench.
Kuechel looking strong.
Marisnek hitting in the .280's?
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"September Fade" came early to the Diamondbacks this year. **nononono*
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"September Fade" came early to the Diamondbacks this year. **nononono*
I don't think so....just a rough stretch. ^-^
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I don't think so....just a rough stretch. ^-^
I hope you're right...that's a bad case of Silent Bat Syndrome they have going on.
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Tonight: Three game set begins between the Mess and the Giants. The Mets: up and down of late, scoring
five or more in nine straight until Sunday's debacle against Miami. The Giants: nosediving. Who will
come out of it the worse wreck?
Tonight's pitchers: Jacob deGrom (Mets; won his last start despite surrendering a season-high five earned) vs.
Matt Moore (Giants; took the loss surrendering nine runs in three and a third during that 13-5 waxing by the
Dodgers last Tuesday).
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Freakin K-Rod. **nononono*
4 blown saves this year with 2 of them in a row.
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Say bye.
Statcast: Upton's 454-ft. homer
http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/6479266/v1373521683/detari-upton-drills-454ft-homer-at-1142-mph
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Say bye.
Statcast: Upton's 454-ft. homer
http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/6479266/v1373521683/detari-upton-drills-454ft-homer-at-1142-mph
That was an awesome slammer.
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That was an awesome slammer.
The look on the D-Back pitcher's face was perfect.
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The look on the D-Back pitcher's face was perfect.
It was. I said it before. The Diamondbacks' September fade came in May this year, and the odds are they aren't going to be worth a damn this season. :shrug:
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Fight to the ... tie? Extra innings moving toward extinction
Buster Olney
(http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2017%2F0509%2Fr208072_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&w=1006&h=566&scale=crop&cquality=80&location=origin)
It was sometime around midnight that the Chicago Cubs' search for the run that would end the extra-inning madness against the New York Yankees became desperate. With Chicago batting -- I think it was in the bottom of the 16th inning, although sleeplessness has added a hazy halo around some of the details -- somebody in the Cubs' dugout started firing a barrage of sunflower seeds toward the field. Dozens of seeds, one at a time; a couple reached the third-base foul line, and then one or two bounced onto the field, with third-base umpire Alan Porter glancing over.
Players occasionally launch seeds like this onto the field from game to game, but the sudden eruption in the sixth hour of play Sunday suggested a brilliant attempt to alter the karma of the baseball gods. Rally seeds. But like the hitters for both teams in overtime, the sunflower ploy failed; the Cubs did not score, again, and at the end of the half-inning, the player responsible for the seeds threw out another handful, like the last burst at the end of a fireworks show.
The next inning, Kyle Schwarber donned a catcher's mask in the dugout, and Ben Zobrist wore a helmet backward. Anything to end the game, which finally concluded after 18 frigid innings, 6 hours and 5 minutes, and 583 pitches. As a reporter looking for interesting stuff to happen, I thought it was fun, a baseball marathon to be recounted to grandchildren in a quarter-century. I love the chance for chaos -- the baseball landmark for chaos might be the rain-delayed, 19-inning game between the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves that started on July 4, 1985, and ended with the promised fireworks just before breakfast.
more at: http://www.espn.com/blog/buster-olney/insider/post/_/id/16653/olney-fight-to-the-tie-extra-innings-moving-toward-extinction (http://www.espn.com/blog/buster-olney/insider/post/_/id/16653/olney-fight-to-the-tie-extra-innings-moving-toward-extinction)
_______________________________________________________________________________
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Fight to the ... tie? Extra innings moving toward extinction
Buster Olney
sputter . . . choke . . . Communist! . . . Bolshevik! . . . square dance caller!
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One of the most beautiful phrases in the English language: extra innings.
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One of the most beautiful phrases in the English language: extra innings.
I agree. Heresy!! :smokin:
Felt like breaking something after scanning that piece.
I don't give a fig how many gazillions of $$$ they have invested in a player.
If you're concerned? You've got a bench.
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One of the most beautiful phrases in the English language: extra innings.
:beer:
Also known as "free baseball".
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The longest American League game to end in a tie was a 24-inning contest between the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Athletics on July 21, 1945.
Seems like the Tigers had one a few years back that went 18 or 19 innings
In 1962 the Tigers and Yankees played a 22 inning game that went 7 hours.
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@Cripplecreek
The longest American League game to end in a tie was a 24-inning contest between the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Athletics on July 21, 1945.
Seems like the Tigers had one a few years back that went 18 or 19 innings
In 1962 the Tigers and Yankees played a 22 inning game that went 7 hours.
In 1964, the Mets and the Giants played a 23-inning game---and it was the second game of a doubleheader!
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:beer:
Also known as "free baseball".
@Polly Ticks
Never mind beer, you deserve this for that . . .
(https://brokensecrets.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/wine-cheers.jpg?w=455&h=303)
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@Polly Ticks
Never mind beer, you deserve this for that . . .
(https://brokensecrets.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/wine-cheers.jpg?w=455&h=303)
@EasyAce
Oooooo, thanks! Fancy-schmancy! But can I drink it with my baseball hat on?
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@EasyAce
Oooooo, thanks! Fancy-schmancy! But can I drink it with my baseball hat on?
@Polly Ticks
Of course you can!
I would!
(I have: Brooklyn Dodgers, Cubs, Indians, Los Angeles Angels, Washington Nationals, and
Red Sox caps to choose from!)
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Braves release former MVP Ryan Howard from minor league deal (https://sports.yahoo.com/news/braves-release-former-mvp-ryan-howard-minor-league-000413010--mlb.html)
Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Howard)
Career stats (http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/howarry01.shtml)
@EasyAce
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@Polly Ticks
Of course you can!
I would!
(I have: Brooklyn Dodgers, Cubs, Indians, Los Angeles Angels, Washington Nationals, and
Red Sox caps to choose from!)
I have a new tomahawk spring training cap I got from my trip down to Sun Trust Park this past Friday. I think I'll wear that one.
(http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/hello/waving-hat-smiley-emoticon.gif) (http://www.sherv.net/)
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I have a new tomahawk spring training cap I got from my trip down to Sun Trust Park this past Friday. I think I'll wear that one.
(http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/hello/waving-hat-smiley-emoticon.gif) (http://www.sherv.net/)
Perfect!
I'll wear this one . . .
(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/23/9b/fc/239bfc6fcf92d017be26bb5b2f3e7d67.jpg)
(I bought one at Angel Stadium two years ago when taking my son in California to a game . . . )
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Perfect!
I'll wear this one . . .
(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/23/9b/fc/239bfc6fcf92d017be26bb5b2f3e7d67.jpg)
(I bought one at Angel Stadium two years ago when taking my son in California to a game . . . )
Nice! My son and I were half-frozen to death -- it was 47 degrees that evening -- by the time the Cards were finished blowing us out of the park, but we had a marvelous time. Memories for a lifetime, yes?
^-^
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Nice! My son and I were half-frozen to death -- it was 47 degrees that evening -- by the time the Cards were finished blowing us out of the park, but we had a marvelous time. Memories for a lifetime, yes?
^-^
Indeed!
My favourite baseball memory with my son, when he was little: We went to see the Angels play the Mariners.
Ichiro Suzuki, of all people, hit one into the right field bleachers in the top of the ninth to tie it; the game
ended up going extra innings.
Somewhere in the tenth he asked if we could move down from the upper deck and get an abandoned seat
in the left field bleachers behind the bullpens. Sure, why not! The crowd leaving the ballpark meant it took
us until the twelfth inning to get there. And no sooner do we sit down than Jose Guillen (then with the
Angels) hit one into those bullpens to win it!
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Astros 23/11 .676 Best in baseball!
Go Stros!
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In 1964, the Mets and the Giants played a 24-inning game---and it was the second game of a doubleheader!
I remember some scribe pointing to Gaylord Perry's performance in that game and saying that it was a turning point in Perry's career.
@EasyAce
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I remember some scribe pointing to Gaylord Perry's performance in that game and saying that it was a turning point in Perry's career.
@EasyAce
@Machiavelli
That season was his turning point, never mind that game: he was put into the Giants' starting rotation
for the first time that season. He finished 21-8 though he slumped in August; he was the National League's
Player of the Month for June, a month in which he went 5-0 with an 0.90 ERA and 31 strikeouts. In the
doubleheader marathon, on Memorial Day, Perry came on in the tenth inning and went ten innings to pick
up the win; the Giants won on back-to-back RBI hits (a double by Del Crandall and a single by Jesus
Alou) in the 23rd inning and Bob Hendley---a year from nearly pitching a no-hitter on the backside of
Sandy Koufax's perfect game (the only hit in the game didn't factor in the lone Dodger run)---retired
the Mets in order in the bottom to save it. The win improved Perry's record to 3-1.
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Should the Mets consider sending Matt Harvey to the minors?
Buster Olney
Sure, the Mets have a long and dubious history with medical issues, and yes, the relationship between certain players and the team has seemed odd -- co-dependent, rather than the typical employer-employee dynamic. But the strategically leaked he-said, he-said about the circumstances of pitcher Matt Harvey’s absence from the park last weekend should not distract from the reality that the pitcher didn’t show up for work.
This whole issue is not a Mets problem -- this is a Matt Harvey problem.
That the Mets chose to suspend him rather than to give him another pass shows they are fed up, and they are looking to effect change with a player who might have enormous value -- but only if that change happens.
Which is why folks with other teams are wondering whether the Mets will consider the nuclear option available to them: sending Harvey to the minors.
They can do this without his permission because he is a player with less than five years of service time; at the start of the season, he had four years and 72 days.
more at: http://www.espn.com/blog/buster-olney/insider/post/_/id/16634/the-mets-should-send-matt-harvey-to-the-minors (http://www.espn.com/blog/buster-olney/insider/post/_/id/16634/the-mets-should-send-matt-harvey-to-the-minors)
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Every walk-up song for the 2017 Detroit Tigers pitchers and hitters
http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2017/05/detroit_tigers_walk-up_music.html#incart_river_home
Alex Wilson (Snake farm) is definitely among the best. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89VR_lZehw4
Ian Kinsler uses Detroit's own Jack White (Battle Cry) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qFGsHxSxo0
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Astros 23/11 .676 Best in baseball!
Go Stros!
Biggest test of the year to date coming up with 4 with NYY. @ NY. Will be ecstatic with a split.
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Chief Wahoo decision could be sped up because of MLB involvement (https://sports.yahoo.com/news/chief-wahoo-decision-sped-mlb-involvement-221254115.html)
Nobody really expects the controversy surrounding the Cleveland Indians’ Chief Wahoo logo to go away anytime soon. If we’ve learned anything from the drama with the Washington Redskins and their name it’s that these fights are like the Energizer Bunny — they keep going. And going. And going.
But from the sound of things, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred might have sped up the Indians’ timetable to figure things out when he said last month that he wants the Indians to “transition away” from Wahoo.
That’s actually something the Indians have been doing for a few years now, as they’ve changed their primary logo and de-emphasized Chief Wahoo on some of their uniforms. However, the message the Indians appear to be getting is: “Speed this up.”
I wonder who might be next on the "chop"ing block...
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Aaron Altherr is Breaking Out (http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/aaron-altherr-is-part-of-the-phillies-core/)
Not too much to cheer lately in Philly, but Aaron Altherr took an opportunity created by Howie Kendrick's injury and ran with it. He's currently on a roll of hitting three-run homers in three days straight.
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Biggest test of the year to date coming up with 4 with NYY. @ NY. Will be ecstatic with a split.
Nice way to start the first one. Kuechel wins and Marisnek throws out the runner at home.
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Diamondbacks Chris Iannetta got drilled in the face with a pitch, no concussion, broken teeth and nose.
http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/MLB/2017/05/14/Chris-Iannetta-drilled-in-face-with-93-mph-fastball-no-concussion/7881494772912/
Former MLB All-Star Doug DeCinces convicted of insider stock training
Former Baltimore Orioles and California Angels third baseman Doug DeCinces was convicted of insider trading on Friday.
According to the Associated Press, DeCinces was found guilty on 13 federal insider trading charges after he purchased stock in Advanced Medical Optics eight years ago that eventually netted him a $1.3 million profit.
DeCinces reportedly purchased more than 90,000 shares of the company just before it was sold to Abbott Laboratories after allegedly learning about the sale from a neighbor who was the CEO of Advanced Medical Optics. The 66-year-old now faces the prospect of serving 10 or more years of jail time. However, a sentencing date has yet to be determined.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2709398-former-mlb-all-star-doug-decinces-convicted-of-insider-stock-trading
Washington Nationals Bryce Harper inks huge baseball deal.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/bryce-harper-reportedly-agrees-to-record-deal-for-2018-with-nationals/ar-BBB5QRV?OCID=ansmsnnews11
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Diamondbacks Chris Iannetta got drilled in the face with a pitch, no concussion, broken teeth and nose.
http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/MLB/2017/05/14/Chris-Iannetta-drilled-in-face-with-93-mph-fastball-no-concussion/7881494772912/
We're really glad about the no concussion, but that's going to smart for a while. It was scary to see it happen.
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JD Martinez returned to the Tigers after his long recuperation with a 2 HR night.
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JD Martinez returned to the Tigers after his long recuperation with a 2 HR night.
888high58888
You played very well here, looking forward to our next short series in Detroit, June 13-14.
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888high58888
You played very well here, looking forward to our next short series in Detroit, June 13-14.
Tigers are kind of erratic this year. So far not terrible but not great either. Tied for second in their division at .514 with Cleveland. The Twins look like they're way out front at .576 but they've played fewer games. The Sox are hot on our heels at .471 and the Royals are only 5.5 games out.
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Derek JETER has retired from baseball tonight.. Yankss retired #2
http://nypost.com/2017/05/14/derek-jeter-to-exploding-yankee-stadium-thank-you/
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Derek JETER has retired from baseball tonight.. Yankss retired #2
http://nypost.com/2017/05/14/derek-jeter-to-exploding-yankee-stadium-thank-you/
The player retired three years ago, the number was retired tonight. You can put final paid to his career
in two years when he's likely to get to the Hall of Fame, first ballot. ;)
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Derek JETER has retired from baseball tonight.. Yankss retired #2
http://nypost.com/2017/05/14/derek-jeter-to-exploding-yankee-stadium-thank-you/
And on page 10 of the sports page, my Astros beat them 3 of 4 on their turf. Somehow that story got lost.
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White Sox allow hilarious walk-off as outfielder gets hit by Albert Pujols flyball (https://sports.yahoo.com/news/white-sox-allow-hilarious-walk-off-outfielder-gets-hit-albert-pujols-flyball-070151930.html)
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White Sox allow hilarious walk-off as outfielder gets hit by Albert Pujols flyball (https://sports.yahoo.com/news/white-sox-allow-hilarious-walk-off-outfielder-gets-hit-albert-pujols-flyball-070151930.html)
:silly:
At least it wasn't a homerun?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbIHRGUesZQ
(https://media.giphy.com/media/XXAHM0g1pcEyk/giphy.gif)
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:silly:
@Polly Ticks
At least it wasn't a homerun?
File it in your "Keep Your Head in the Game" department. ;)
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File it in your "Keep Your Head in the Game" department. ;)
You know, in retrospect, that might actually help explain some of Canseco's crazier tweeting and such ...
-
You know, in retrospect, that might actually help explain some of Canseco's crazier tweeting and such ...
Couldn't be. Not with him having a cement block for a head. ;)
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Couldn't be. Not with him having a cement block for a head. ;)
LOL -- I stand corrected.
(But not in the outfield, with a ball hitting me in the head.)
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LOL -- I stand corrected.
(But not in the outfield, with a ball hitting me in the head.)
@Polly Ticks
My dear Polly, if it had been you, you would have caught the ball off your head, not let it
bounce into the seats for a home run!
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@Polly Ticks
My dear Polly, if it had been you, you would have caught the ball off your head, not let it
bounce into the seats for a home run!
:beer:
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:beer:
@Polly Ticks
(http://celebratinghomewithkarieengels.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/2-wine-glasses-clinking.jpg)
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Today in baseball history:
17 May 1979: Phillies 23, Cubs 22.
Mike Schmidt: Two home runs.
Dave Kingman: Three home runs.
. . . and even a couple of pitchers hit one out . . .
Phillies 23, Cubs 22 (http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=19403627)
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Today in baseball history:
17 May 1979: Phillies 23, Cubs 22.
Mike Schmidt: Two home runs.
Dave Kingman: Three home runs.
. . . and even a couple of pitchers hit one out . . .
Phillies 23, Cubs 22 (http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=19403627)
Friendly confines my ass.
-
Friendly confines my ass.
Please, Schmidt and Kingman couldn't be confined in the Grand Canyon.
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@Polly Ticks
My dear Polly, if it had been you, you would have caught the ball off your head, not let it
bounce into the seats for a home run!
Wait...that looked like a ground-rule double.
-
Nice way to start the first one. Kuechel wins and Marisnek throws out the runner at home.
3-0 Astros over FL.
Now 29-12 !!!!!!!!
Think ESPN will ever notice us?
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3-0 Astros over FL.
Now 29-12 !!!!!!!!
Think ESPN will ever notice us?
@catfish1957
I sure hope not! ESPN is the PITS!
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@catfish1957
I sure hope not! ESPN is the PITS!
The PITS?....Yep, and the NYY, the BOS, the NYM, etc. Bozos have failed to realize baseball exists outside the coasts.
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Wait...that looked like a ground-rule double.
Apparently not.
If a fly ball is first touched by a player in fair territory and then goes over the fence, it is a home run.
7.05(a) Each runner including the batter-runner may, without liability to be put out, advance ... to home base scoring a run, if a fair ball goes out of the playing field in flight and the runner touches all bases legally;
When the batted ball was touched by the player in fair territory, the ball automatically became fair. The ball remains in flight until it touches the ground - touching a player does not alter this. Thus, this rule applies.
If a fly ball is first touched by a player in foul territory and then goes over the fence, it is a foul ball.
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Apparently not.
Well, I'll be. I stand corrected, because that's a perfect description of what's on the video.
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You know, in retrospect, that might actually help explain some of Canseco's crazier tweeting and such ...
No, he was going nuts long before that ball whacked him.
-
3-0 Astros over FL.
Now 29-12 !!!!!!!!
Think ESPN will ever notice us?
Congrats on the stellar start to the season. Looking good. But … go Rangers!!! If y’all would quit winning every damn game, maybe we could gain some ground on you. 7 straight for the boys from Arlington.
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3-0 Astros over FL.
Now 29-12 !!!!!!!!
Think ESPN will ever notice us?
Who has the best record in baseball?
The HOUSTON ASTROS!
YeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeHawwwwwwwwwwwwww!
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http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/19411434/freddie-freeman-atlanta-braves-least-8-weeks-fractured-left-wrist-according-reports (http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/19411434/freddie-freeman-atlanta-braves-least-8-weeks-fractured-left-wrist-according-reports)
Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman has a fractured left wrist and is expected to miss at least eight weeks, according to multiple reports.
:hard crying:
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http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/19411434/freddie-freeman-atlanta-braves-least-8-weeks-fractured-left-wrist-according-reports (http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/19411434/freddie-freeman-atlanta-braves-least-8-weeks-fractured-left-wrist-according-reports)
:hard crying:
That hurts! Especially so when you consider that he is really all they have!
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That hurts! Especially so when you consider that he is really all they have!
Actually, he's not all they have, but he is definitely the cornerstone and he's been having a MVP season thus far. By some accounts, the only guy better so far this year is Mike Trout:
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/top-100-players-in-mlb-so-far-this-season-freddie-freeman-aaron-judge-among-elite/ (http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/top-100-players-in-mlb-so-far-this-season-freddie-freeman-aaron-judge-among-elite/)
Matt Kemp has been hitting just about everything thrown to him lately, and Ender Inciarte is having a nice streak, too. Offense hasn't been our problem nearly so much as pitching.
But anyway you slice it, this is a big loss.
-
Actually, he's not all they have, but he is definitely the cornerstone and he's been having a MVP season thus far. By some accounts, the only guy better so far this year is Mike Trout:
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/top-100-players-in-mlb-so-far-this-season-freddie-freeman-aaron-judge-among-elite/ (http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/top-100-players-in-mlb-so-far-this-season-freddie-freeman-aaron-judge-among-elite/)
Matt Kemp has been hitting just about everything thrown to him lately, and Ender Inciarte is having a nice streak, too. Offense hasn't been our problem nearly so much as pitching.
But anyway you slice it, this is a big loss.
The Braves without Freddie Freeman are like the Angels if they should lose Mike Trout for any considerable
length of time. Never underestimate the psychological power of having your franchise face on the field
with you.
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The Braves without Freddie Freeman are like the Angels if they should lose Mike Trout for any considerable
length of time. Never underestimate the psychological power of having your franchise face on the field
with you.
Oh, I know, believe me. We had proof enough of that in 2015.
88kleenix
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Oh, I know, believe me. We had proof enough of that in 2015.
88kleenix
Look at the Mets and how they're not doing, without Noah Syndergaard and Yoenis Cespedes.
-
Look at the Mets and how they're not doing, without Noah Syndergaard and Yoenis Cespedes.
Absolutely. It's bad for the team, bad for the fans, bad for the game.
-
Absolutely. It's bad for the team, bad for the fans, bad for the game.
Is that why they're 8-2 for the last 10? We just swept them....
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Absolutely. It's bad for the team, bad for the fans, bad for the game.
I've argued for a long time that teams need to be a lot smarter---and a lot firmer, depending---regarding
injuries. Playing through injuries may get you cred but it can damage your team and shorten your career.
Classic examples:
* Carl Crawford. Played through a bad elbow after signing a gigabucks deal with the Red Sox. Turned out
to need Tommy John surgery in 2012. Admitted he kept his mouth shut for fear of being called a quitter---
especially when Bobby Valentine (who once denounced Mets pitcher Pete Harnisch as a quitter when
Harnisch was actually suffering clinical depression while withdrawing from smokeless tobacco addiction)
managed the Red Sox.
* Leo Durocher was notorious for denouncing injured players as quitters. Among other things, that was
a key reason why the 1969 Cubs collapsed down the stretch: injured players feared speaking up. At one
point, Durocher fined players $500 for not reporting injuries, then fined them for reporting them claiming
they'd reported them "too late." Hell if you do, hell if you don't.
* When Burt Shotton managed the Brooklyn Dodgers, he believed the best way to recover from injuries
was to play through them. It wrecked the career of pitcher Carl Erskine, who pitched through his first
shoulder injury and, though he had a fine 13-year career, never became the ace he was predicted to
become and pitched his entire career in pain.
* David Ortiz tried to come back too soon from an Achilles Tendon injury in late August 2012 . . . and
ended up having to miss the rest of the season.
* Sandy Koufax called it a career after pitching two heavily-medicated seasons with an arthritic elbow.
The Dodgers wouldn't contend again until the 1970s.
* Remember Mark (The Bird) Fidrych? Spring training following his sensational rookie season: injured
his knee, came back too soon, and made a habit of coming back too soon from assorted injuries until
he learned the hard way his rotator cuff had been shredded completely: he learned it after he retired.
* Butch Hobson. Played the game like it was fourth and goal. Played through a shattered elbow and
became notorious for trying to re-arrange the bone chips in both elbows at the plate; set a record for
errors by a third baseman; never got a third of what he should have gotten out of his talent.
* Wayne Garland. Desperate to live up to one of the first long-term big-money free agency contracts,
Garland pitched through a shoulder injury in its first year. Learned after that season it was a rotator
cuff injury he pitched through. Had surgery but was never again the 20-game winning pitcher
for the Orioles that lured the Indians into signing him in the first place, though he did earn a
reputation for guts for trying to pitch on anyway. Fat lot of good it did him.
* Roger Maris. Lost most of his long ball power through a series of hand and wrist injuries, many
of which the Yankees actually tried to hide from him, the better to keep him going out there and
use his remaining box-office appeal as the team faded away in the mid-1960s.
* Jerome Walton. 1989 National League Rookie of the Year. Stole bases like they had his name on them.
Never again equaled that season: a broken wrist and hand turned him into a journeyman, barely.
* Steve Avery---Pitched through an armpit injury in the year he made his lone All-Star team; further
injuries in 1994 finished him as a winning pitcher.
* J.R. Richard---Could throw a shot put through concrete. Pitched through shoulder miseries in
1980, suffered accusations of it all being in his head. After the All-Star break: stroke. Career over.
Just to name a few.
-
I've argued for a long time that teams need to be a lot smarter---and a lot firmer, depending---regarding
injuries. Playing through injuries may get you cred but it can damage your team and shorten your career.
Classic examples:
<snip>
Just to name a few.
Yes, agreed. I don't mean to imply that players who are injured should suck it up and play through it. I just meant that it is a shame on many levels when the superstar-level players (like Syndergaard or Baumgarner) get injured.
Your day-in-day-out hard core fans :whistle: are still going to be there watching every game, but your more casual fans who might plan a visit or two to the ballpark over the summer are probably less likely to do so if they aren't going to get to see the team's marquee player. As you pointed out, the team morale takes a hit when the clubhouse leader goes down for the count.
Just bad luck, but still bad for the team, bad for the fans, bad for the game.
Freddie Freeman's comments on Thor were spot on:
"This is bad for baseball," Freeman said. "He is one of the top three pitchers in the game. The Mets are obviously feeling it a lot more than we are. But when you're talking about one of the game's best pitchers, you want him out there every fifth day. Having him out there is good for baseball and you want to compete against the best. And actually, the best are Syndergaard and Clayton Kershaw."
"You don't want to see people get hurt," Freeman said. "I don't care if I was 0-for-30 with 30 strikeouts against him, you don't want to see that. He's out there competing. He doesn't want to get hurt and we don't want him to get hurt. There are going to be people that say, 'Good, he got hurt.' That's not how I feel and it's not how 99 percent of baseball feels. It's not good. This is one of those guys when you see him on TV, you stop to watch."
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Freddie Freeman's comments on Thor were spot on:
Bingo!
I mentioned what I mentioned earlier because Syndergaard declined a scheduled MRI and nobody on the Mets'
brass thought to tell him, "You get that MRI, we need you right!" Then they let him pitch two days later and
bing! Down he went.
Freddie Freeman I've always respected because he's always respected the people who play the game well and
do it right and well even if he's the victim.
-
@Polly Ticks
Speaking of Clayton Kershaw, did you see him the other night? When the Giants' Johnny Cueto threw one
near Yasmani Grandal's head and both benches emptied, Kershaw just walked right through the mob that
was just jawing and jawing and then walked back in the dugout. As if to say, "I don't have time for this B.S."
Clayton Kershaw is a class act.
I had the pleasure of watching him pitch live two years ago and squeezed this shot of him mid-motion:
(https://scontent.flas1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/11986375_10153308263037912_3246241866070785567_n.jpg?oh=a352ff9741f3b74ddf05450848bd3e11&oe=59C1351D)
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@Polly Ticks
Speaking of Clayton Kershaw, did you see him the other night? When the Giants' Johnny Cueto threw one
near Yasmani Grandal's head and both benches emptied, Kershaw just walked right through the mob that
was just jawing and jawing and then walked back in the dugout. As if to say, "I don't have time for this B.S."
Clayton Kershaw is a class act.
I had the pleasure of watching him pitch live two years ago and squeezed this shot of him mid-motion:
(https://scontent.flas1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/11986375_10153308263037912_3246241866070785567_n.jpg?oh=a352ff9741f3b74ddf05450848bd3e11&oe=59C1351D)
Yes! Definitely a class act.
Wow - that's a fantastic photo!
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Yes! Definitely a class act.
Wow - that's a fantastic photo!
@Polly Ticks
Thank you!
Squeezed these off of Mike Trout at a different game . . .
(https://scontent.flas1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/10524359_10152373573332912_8353662598608966770_n.jpg?oh=1c881c23ba44a0569f1407af433f9f54&oe=59BBE186)
(https://scontent.flas1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/10491098_10152373577292912_6263455588312908768_n.jpg?oh=fb0e87eebc9d92944f4f7fe2e4da08cb&oe=59B8346F)
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@Polly Ticks
Thank you!
Squeezed these off of Mike Trout at a different game . . .
(https://scontent.flas1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/10524359_10152373573332912_8353662598608966770_n.jpg?oh=1c881c23ba44a0569f1407af433f9f54&oe=59BBE186)
(https://scontent.flas1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/10491098_10152373577292912_6263455588312908768_n.jpg?oh=fb0e87eebc9d92944f4f7fe2e4da08cb&oe=59B8346F)
Nice! I love Mike Trout. He's a good guy.
I'm not much of a photographer, but here's my favorite snapshot of Freddie from our trip to Atlanta last year:
(http://i67.tinypic.com/22jkom.jpg)
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Nice! I love Mike Trout. He's a good guy.
I'm not much of a photographer, but here's my favorite snapshot of Freddie from our trip to Atlanta last year:
(http://i67.tinypic.com/22jkom.jpg)
@Polly Ticks
From the look of that evidence you're a good photographer!
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LOL -- thanks, but really I just got lucky because my husband bought me REALLY good seats for Christmas.
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LOL -- thanks, but really I just got lucky because my husband bought me REALLY good seats for Christmas.
Good seats and a zoom lens work!
(For both the games I photographed, I had seats down the right field line, and a zoom lens that could
hone right in on the mound or the plate at Angel Stadium.)
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Congrats on the stellar start to the season. Looking good. But … go Rangers!!! If y’all would quit winning every damn game, maybe we could gain some ground on you. 7 straight for the boys from Arlington.
9 straight. Boy, the Phillies are spiraling down like a shot bird.
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Who would say no? Dealing the Nationals a closer
(http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2017%2F0518%2Fr210688_1296x518_5%2D2.jpg&w=1006&h=402&scale=crop&cquality=80&location=origin)
The Need: A Closer for the Nationals
The Washington Nationals need a closer. Heck, some would argue they need a whole new bullpen. Entering Thursday, they ranked 27th in the majors in bullpen ERA, 20th in win probability added and 16th in strikeout percentage minus walk percentage, while five different relievers have picked up saves. It's enough to make a modern manager's head explode.
With a commanding lead in the terrible NL East, the Nationals have time to sort through the guys on the roster. Veterans Shawn Kelley and Joe Blanton have each surrendered six home runs in 23⅔ combined innings, and if those two don't figure things out, the Nationals will be looking for more than just a closer. One possible addition: Erick Fedde, the 2014 first-round pick, who has been moved to a relief role at Double-A Harrisburg.
snip......
The trade: Soto and a second-tier pitching prospect for Herrera and Cain.
As good as Soto is, he's also just 18 and a few years from the majors. He's probably a left fielder in the long run since he lacks a prototypical right fielder's arm.
The Nationals make a huge upgrade in center field with Cain (who is a free agent) to replace the injured Adam Eaton and acquire Herrera for this season and next.
The Royals get a premium hitting prospect in a system that lacks one, which they'll need as Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas hit free agency.
more at: http://www.espn.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/79614/who-would-say-no-dealing-the-nationals-a-closer (http://www.espn.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/79614/who-would-say-no-dealing-the-nationals-a-closer)
__________________________________________________
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I cannot sit and watch the Nationals from the 7th inning on...
Nauseating.
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I cannot sit and watch the Nationals from the 7th inning on...
Nauseating.
I know how you feel.
We went through that with the Astros last year.
If they had held on to 1/2 of their late inning leads, they'd won the division outright, instead of missing the wildcard like they did.
-
10-15 runs a game? You don't need no steeenkin bullpen. :seeya:
@DCPatriot
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I know how you feel.
We went through that with the Astros last year.
If they had held on to 1/2 of their late inning leads, they'd won the division outright, instead of misting the wildcard like they did.
@DCPatriot
@GrouchoTex
Psst. Pssst. Let's talk to DCP, and see If we can get the Nats to take Fiers for long relief. :silly:
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10-15 runs a game? You don't need no steeenkin bullpen. :seeya:
@DCPatriot
LOL!
Pitching is everything. Starts there.
-
@DCPatriot
@GrouchoTex
Psst. Pssst. Let's talk to DCP, and see If we can get the Nats to take Fiers for long relief. :silly:
@DCPatriot
@catfish1957
Catfish,
I think you may be on to something.
:pondering:
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I know how you feel.
We went through that with the Astros last year.
If they had held on to 1/2 of their late inning leads, they'd won the division outright, instead of misting the wildcard like they did.
I love the Astros. Goes with always cheering the underdog. Each season, they improve. Watch out.
That freaking left field wall will be as famous as the one in Fenway.
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The census seems to be that indeed...the ball is 'juiced'.
Two-fifty hackers are hitting them out. To the opposite field.
Okay. But, didn't you want to "shorten" the game?
More importantly, who in the hell guards the baseballs used in the game?
Today, the average 'life span' of a baseball in a major league game is 4.7 pitches
http://www.foxsports.com/other/story/major-league-baseballs-have-a-short-shelf-life-062912 (http://www.foxsports.com/other/story/major-league-baseballs-have-a-short-shelf-life-062912)
But how secure are the baseballs from where the ball boy gets them in that 'bin'?
How possible is it that NORMAL baseballs were pitched to one team and JUICED baseballs pitched to the hometeam?
(Heard some guy got his streak of selecting ballplayers will hit safely in that day's game to 51.....out of the goal of 57. :laugh:)
I just want a level playing field, and it's bullsh*t to watch a guy weighing 180, hitting it out to the opposite field...at 110 mph.
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I just want a level playing field, and it's bullsh*t to watch a guy weighing 180, hitting it out to the opposite field...at 110 mph.
Funny you should mention that. Willie Mays's playing weight in his prime was 170 pounds. And he wasn't
strictly a pull hitter. ;)
Meanwhile, here's hoping the Astros lose only one start from Dallas Keuchel over that pinched nerve. Him they
can't afford to lose for longer than that.
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How possible is it that NORMAL baseballs were pitched to one team and JUICED baseballs pitched to the home team?
For a time in the mid-to-late 1960s, the White Sox kept baseballs to be used for their home games
in a kind of cooler.
The idea, of course, is that cool, damp baseballs don't travel as far as warm, dry baseballs, and the White Sox
were not exactly sluggers.---Jim Bouton, in Ball Four.
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For a time in the mid-to-late 1960s, the White Sox kept baseballs to be used for their home games
in a kind of cooler.
The idea, of course, is that cool, damp baseballs don't travel as far as warm, dry baseballs, and the White Sox
were not exactly sluggers.---Jim Bouton, in Ball Four.
Forgot about that. :laugh:
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Forgot about that. :laugh:
Consider us even, buddy! I forgot about the once-infamous Coors Field humidor!
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This just in . . . the Braves dealt for Matt Adams (Cardinals), sending the Cardinals
minor league infielder Juan Yepez.
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Couple of really nice catches by McCann against the rangers last night.
http://m.mlb.com/det/video/v1410935683
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Freakin no pitch intentional walk.
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Freakin no pitch intentional walk.
A horrible rule. Possibly the worst rule change since the DH rule. Even worse than the Managers' Challenge.
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A horrible rule. Possibly the worst rule change since the DH rule. Even worse than the Managers' Challenge.
Soon to be surpassed by the ghost man imaginary runner rule coming up in 2030. /s
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Soon to be surpassed by the ghost man imaginary runner rule coming up in 2030. /s
Don't give them any ideas! ^-^
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A horrible rule. Possibly the worst rule change since the DH rule. Even worse than the Managers' Challenge.
I don't like the normal intentional walk anyway.
I'd fix the intentional walk by giving the batter 2 bases so the batter could trot past the mound and thank the pitcher personally as the runner at 2nd or 3rd scores.
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Orioles hope for more diversified offense vs. Astros
HOUSTON -- There was a clear theme developing from the Baltimore Orioles' clubhouse in the aftermath of their fourth consecutive loss Wednesday, the last three coming at home to the American League Central-leading Minnesota Twins.
The Orioles, power-hitting juggernauts under manager Buck Showalter, have been a bit too reliant on the home run of late. Baltimore (25-20) has ranked no lower than fourth in the AL in home runs under Showalter, averaging 216.8 between 2011-16 while pacing the league in long balls three times during that span.
During their skid, the Orioles have clubbed five home runs -- four coming with the bases empty. Baltimore, third in the majors this season batting .311 with runners in scoring position, is 4-for-20 in that situation over the past four games.
After an off day on Thursday, the Orioles now must contend with the Houston Astros, as the teams open a three-game series Friday at Minute Maid Park.
more at: http://www.espn.com/mlb/preview?gameId=370526118 (http://www.espn.com/mlb/preview?gameId=370526118)
_________________________________________________________________________________________
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Gausman , 2-3, 6.65 vs. Musgrove, 3-4, 5.63
The O's are in a terrible slide (Manny Machado 'slump'), but my $$$ is on Kevin Gausman tonight.
Any takers? @Bigun ?? :laugh:
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This Just In.....Sam Dyson just gave up another run.
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Freakin no pitch intentional walk.
@EasyAce What do you think of this rule?
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@EasyAce What do you think of this rule?
@Machiavelli
I don't really object to it. I mean, why waste time throwing four wide lobs when you can just
declare an intentional walk.
As a time-saver, though, I'm not sure it's going to to half as much as would do some things
I've argued for in the past: cutting the damn commercials during pitching changes, having
relief pitchers coming into the middle of innings shenk the eight warmup pitches (for
God's sake, they probably threw two, three, even four innings' worth of pitches getting
ready to come in in the first place!) . . .
I watched the Vegas 51s play the Omaha Storm Chasers two weeks ago and noticed the
pitch clock working. Funny thing---I didn't notice any of the pitchers or the hitters objecting,
and the game was actually a nifty pitching duel with the 51s leading 1-0 off a second-inning
bomb, until the 51s bullpen fell apart in the eighth and the Chasers hung up a five spot.
(The final was 7-3.) I'd love to see the pitch clock in the Show, or at least put the umpires
in charge of enforcing a twenty-second rule between pitches.
I also saw a bona-fide submariner pitching for the 51s at one point. He's a tall righthander
named Ben Rowen. His delivery reminds you a bit of Chad Bradford; he bends almost to
a full right angle as he delivers, and it looks like his pitching hand goes through
the mound as he delivers. He also throws a sinkerball, if you can picture a submariner
throwing something like that---his ball lifts a bit and then drops. The Chasers couldn't
hit this guy with snow shovels. He pitched an inning and a third spotless relief and looked
like he could have gone another inning. Unfortunately, the 51s lifted him, and thus the
eighth inning bullpen meltdown.
This is a shot I squeezed off of Rowen in his follow-through:
(http://throneberryfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/DSC00745.jpg)
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@Machiavelli
I don't really object to it. I mean, why waste time throwing four wide lobs when you can just
declare an intentional walk.
As a time-saver, though, I'm not sure it's going to to half as much as would do some things
I've argued for in the past: cutting the damn commercials during pitching changes, having
relief pitchers coming into the middle of innings shenk the eight warmup pitches (for
God's sake, they probably threw two, three, even four innings' worth of pitches getting
ready to come in in the first place!) . . .
I disagree, because every mound is different.. The home plate backgrounds are different.
The blond MILF flashing you in the corporate box seats are different.
You need to feel comfortable on the pitching rubber.
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I disagree, because every mound is different.. The home plate backgrounds are different.
The blond MILF flashing you in the corporate box seats are different.
You need to feel comfortable on the pitching rubber.
You have to remember not a lot of bullpens look right onto the field. And I think most ballparks
sculpt the bullpen rubber areas to be matches or near-matches to the field mound rubber,
even if the bullpen mound by necessity isn't as large an area. I once had seats looking into the
bullpens in Angel Stadium and noticed how near-exact the rubbers in both bullpens were to
the field mound.
Aside from which, it's very true that a relief pitcher just might have thrown up to four innings'
worth of pitches getting ready in the bullpen---assuming his manager has brains enough not
to sit him down, then an inning or two later warm him up again. If that happens, the
guy's thrown the equivalent of a quality start before he even got into the game. You might
as well give him the rest of the day or night off because if you bring him in he's maybe less
than half the pitcher he should be when you bring him in.
I learned about things like that reading Whitey Herzog's memoir Your Missin' a Great Game.
He really opened my eyes about relief pitching. He talked about managers who did as I just
described and basically ruined a lot of good bullpen arms that way. Two culprits in particular
that he singled out were Tommy Lasorda and Pete Rose: They'd warm a guy up, sit him down,
warm him up again, sit him down, then get him "ready" fast, bring him in, and wonder why
he had nothing left on the mound and just got himself killed out there.
(A real smart manager pays attention to the other manager's bullpen use. So do real
smart hitters. They see a guy up and throwing, back on the bench, up and throwing again,
back on the bench, they're praying that guy is brought in, because he'll have little
enough left that the hitter can start tabulating the lift in his on base percentage, his batting
average, maybe even the distance he's going to hit that home run off a guy who's gassed
when brought in at last.)
The White Rat wasn't just blowing smoke about it: he'd dealt some relievers to the Dodgers
and the Reds in those years and if they came back to him they'd tell him those guys were
messing their bullpens up that way. And Lasorda and Rose couldn't get it, they'd be asking,
"What's wrong, he ain't pitched in three days!" What did they think those relief pitchers
were doing each time they warmed up? Answering their fan mail?
Herzog had a policy: if he warmed you up but didn't bring you in then or in the next
inning, you had the rest of the game off. He got a lot more miles out of his bullpens than
Lasorda, Rose, and other managers got out of theirs.
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I don't really object to it. I mean, why waste time throwing four wide lobs when you can just
declare an intentional walk.
That surprises me. You are an expert on the game, I'm just a fan for 15-20 years, but I disagree.
This new rule totally benefits the defense at the expense of the offense. Opportunities for errors are not a waste of time, they're a part of the game. That four lazy lobs could be wild pitches or passed balls, or even hit by pitch, and runners could advance. To just deem it "done" without the exercise of actually throwing the ball short-circuits the game.
In what other play does the pitcher forfeit a base to a runner? Doesn't feel right to me.
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That surprises me. You are an expert on the game, I'm just a fan for 15-20 years, but I disagree.
This new rule totally benefits the defense at the expense of the offense. Opportunities for errors are not a waste of time, they're a part of the game. That four lazy lobs could be wild pitches or passed balls, or even hit by pitch, and runners could advance. To just deem it "done" without the exercise of actually throwing the ball short-circuits the game.
In what other play does the pitcher forfeit a base to a runner? Doesn't feel right to me.
They've got more good things coming your way soon. Extra innings start with a runner on second and such as that.
Insist on fixing what ain't broke!
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That surprises me. You are an expert on the game, I'm just a fan for 15-20 years, but I disagree.
I only wish I was an expert and not a jerk of all trades. ;)
This new rule totally benefits the defense at the expense of the offense. Opportunities for errors are not a waste of time, they're a part of the game. That four lazy lobs could be wild pitches or passed balls, or even hit by pitch, and runners could advance. To just deem it "done" without the exercise of actually throwing the ball short-circuits the game.
I haven't seen any pitchless intentional walk short circuit the game yet.
In what other play does the pitcher forfeit a base to a runner? Doesn't feel right to me.
You ever heard of a balk? ;)
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They've got more good things coming your way soon. Extra innings start with a runner on second and such as that.
It isn't going to happen. Nobody's going to be that absurd.
Insist on fixing what ain't broke!
They're using pitch clocks in the minors and the game hasn't suffered for it.
If they get rid of the damn commercials during pitching changes, the game won't suffer for it.
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Something else that could help the game---stop looking exclusively at pitchers who can throw lamb chops
past wolves and start looking for the pitchers who pitch with their brains no matter how fast their fastballs
are. Show me the pitcher with a mixture of off-speed and breaking stuff and brains in hand with a decent
fastball, and I'll show you a few Hall of Famers. (Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Warren Spahn, Juan Marichal
---and he sure didn't hurt himself with those fourteen or so different windups he had, either---to name a
few.) Give me the brain pitcher and a) he'll win me a lot of ballgames and b) have a pretty long career
for me.
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I haven't seen any pitchless intentional walk short circuit the game yet.
You ever heard of a balk? ;)
No, you're not going to see it short-circuit a game, because you'll never know it would have happened. Can't make an error on a ball not thrown. The thing about the balk is good. You'd need an ump who would actually call one, haven't seen one lately. :shrug:
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@EasyAce What do you think of this rule?
The only real benefit is that it shows which batters they're afraid of.
Craziest thing I ever saw, A pitcher intentionally walking Miguel Cabrera with bases loaded and walking a run in so he could pitch to Cecil Fielder which ended up being a big mistake.
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Ok...I know this is petty but...lol. Please let the Rangers end the season in last! I worked with one of the owners of the team...not a nice guy.
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The only real benefit is that it shows which batters they're afraid of.
Depends on the hitter. You don't have to put the big bopper on intentionally, sometimes you put the
number 7 or 8 hitter on to set up a double play.
Craziest thing I ever saw, A pitcher intentionally walking Miguel Cabrera with bases loaded and walking a run in so he could pitch to Cecil Fielder which ended up being a big mistake.
If he walked Cabrera to pitch to Cecil Fielder it'd have been a huge mistake. :silly:
Crazier: Mets manager Terry Collins putting Mike Trout on to load the bases and (we think) avoid big disaster.
And the next guy up hits a grand slam.
It happens.
Andjuar's law: In baseball there's just one word---you never know.
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Something else that could help the game---stop looking exclusively at pitchers who can throw lamb chops
past wolves and start looking for the pitchers who pitch with their brains no matter how fast their fastballs
are. Show me the pitcher with a mixture of off-speed and breaking stuff and brains in hand with a decent
fastball, and I'll show you a few Hall of Famers. (Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Warren Spahn, Juan Marichal
---and he sure didn't hurt himself with those fourteen or so different windups he had, either---to name a
few.) Give me the brain pitcher and a) he'll win me a lot of ballgames and b) have a pretty long career
for me.
The pitcher who can live on fastballs in the big leagues hasn't come along yet. The closest we ever came was J.R. Richard (no not Nolan Ryan who lived on intimidating hitters) and even he couldn't do it. If you are going to make it in the bigs you are going to have to have two are three pitches that you can throw for strikes every time you go out there! That and a catcher that knows YOU and calls the game accordingly goes a long way these days.
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The pitcher who can live on fastballs in the big leagues hasn't come along yet. The closest we ever came was J.R. Richard (no not Nolan Ryan who lived on intimidating hitters) and even he couldn't do it. If you are going to make it in the bigs you are going to have to have two are three pitches that you can throw for strikes every time you go out there! That and a catcher that knows YOU and calls the game accordingly goes a long way these days.
Man we had an awesome staff '79-'80. Fireballers Richard and Ryan, with Joe Niekro knuckling in between. Add Sambito, and Smith in the pen....... Too bad we couldn't hit a lick.
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The pitcher who can live on fastballs in the big leagues hasn't come along yet. The closest we ever came was J.R. Richard (no not Nolan Ryan who lived on intimidating hitters) and even he couldn't do it. If you are going to make it in the bigs you are going to have to have two are three pitches that you can throw for strikes every time you go out there! That and a catcher that knows YOU and calls the game accordingly goes a long way these days.
We've had more major league pitchers living on their fastballs than you think, and to the extent they have other
pitches they're more or less show-me pitches to set up more fastballs. Pitchers who can live on brains and off-
speed stuff are a little more rare now than in even Nolan Ryan's day.
J.R. Richard didn't go down because of his fastball, he went down because the Astros mistook his shoulder
fatigue for laziness and didn't heed a warning sign---and boom! Stroke, career over. If they'd paid attention
sooner a good doctor would have seen what was coming and stopped it.
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. . . a catcher that knows YOU and calls the game accordingly goes a long way these days.
How about a catcher who knows the hitters in the league? He could know you and your tendencies but if he doesn't
know the hitters a little better, you're a dead duck before you throw the first pitch. If I'm a manager and I've got
a hot new young catcher, the first thing I tell him is get every scouting report you can get on every hitter in the
league, watch what these hitters do when you see them, then worry about what your pitchers are going to
throw. The number one way to get your pitcher on the page is to know as much as you can about the hitters you're
going to face before you get out there. Otherwise, you're going to call for that delicious slider your man throws
thinking no way they're gonna hit this but you're going to got some splainin' to do when that delicious
slider got hit for delicious distance.
I once asked Catfish [Hunter] why he never shook me off. He said, "It's your job to know the hitters. You just tell
me what to throw and I'll throw it.---Ray Fosse.
I looked confident out there but I really wasn't. It was Yogi [Berra] who gave me that confidence with what he knew about
me and what he knew about the other guys. If anyone else was my catcher, I couldn't have pitched the way I did.
---Whitey Ford.
(A favourite Berra story: He happened upon a meeting of pitchers before an All-Star Game and the subject was pitching
to Stan Musial. "Forget it," Berra said, deadpan. "You guys are trying to figure out in fifteen minutes what nobody's
figured out in fifteen years.")
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We've had more major league pitchers living on their fastballs than you think, and to the extent they have other
pitches they're more or less show-me pitches to set up more fastballs. Pitchers who can live on brains and off-
speed stuff are a little more rare now than in even Nolan Ryan's day.
J.R. Richard didn't go down because of his fastball, he went down because the Astros mistook his shoulder
fatigue for laziness and didn't heed a warning sign---and boom! Stroke, career over. If they'd paid attention
sooner a good doctor would have seen what was coming and stopped it.
Never said Richard went down because of the fastball. I said he couldn't make it throwing them exclusively and he got bombed several times before he figured that out.
Show me a pitcher that throws fastballs 80% or more and I'll show you a pitcher who's career will be short!
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Randy Johnson? Any pigeon will tell you his fastball was murder.
(https://i.makeagif.com/media/3-27-2015/1AsjCu.gif)
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Never said Richard went down because of the fastball. I said he couldn't make it throwing them exclusively and he got bombed several times before he figured that out.
He lived on his fastball, which wouldn't have been a horror except that it took him several seasons to develop
control of the pitch. When he wasn't getting bombed, he was handing out walks like they were holiday candy until
he finally learned control.
Did you know: The night Richard broke the National League's record for seasonal strikeouts by a righthander (he passed
Tom Seaver's 290), he pitched against . . . Jim Bouton, making an odd comeback with the Braves. Bouton was
pitching with little but a knuckleball, yet he and Richard went mano-a-mano, though Bouton scattered five hits,
and each came out with the game tied at two. (Joaquin Andujar lost in relief for the Astros.)
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Show me a pitcher that throws fastballs 80% or more and I'll show you a pitcher who's career will be short!
If he throws them to the same spots, sure his career will be short. You can live on a single pitch
if you know how to change speeds with it and work the entire zone, not just throw them through
the same slot.
One fastballer I remember: Dick Radatz, for a few years the Red Sox relief ace. He was, until
Ted Williams convinced him to try throwing a sinkerball Williams thought Radatz could handle.
(Radatz threw about 85-90 percent fastballs, was expert at the "climbing the ladder" kind of
fastball pitching, and usually threw a couple of changeups in for good measure.)
Living on the fastball didn't kill him. Fixing what wasn't broken did. (Especially after he'd pitched
an average 130+ innings a year out of the pen from 1962-65.) Radatz began losing what
made him so fearsome after three seasons. He lost his control and his arm gave him fits, and
he disappeared almost as fast as he'd arrived in the first place.
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How about them Astros? GREAT comeback!
Go Stros!
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How about them Astros? GREAT comeback!
Go Stros!
Those guys look more tenacious every game.
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How about them Astros? GREAT comeback!
Go Stros!
Still can't believe it. I bet someone has to help Santana pick up his jaw off the floor. Leaving at the end of 7 with a 6 run lead, and have your bullpen give up 11? :beer:
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Those guys look more tenacious every game.
They are the real deal! Hope they can stay healthy!
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Bryce Harper, Hunter Strickland start bench-clearing brawl between Nats, Giants
Washington Nationals star Bryce Harper charged San Francisco Giants reliever Hunter Strickland in the eighth inning of the teams' game on Monday.
Strickland plunked Harper in the hip with a 98 mph pitch. Harper then gestured at Strickland with his bat, strode to the mound, threw his helmet at the Giants pitcher and the two exchanged blows as benches cleared.
The 6-foot-4, 220-pound right-hander had to be carried off the field by several of his Giants teammates to keep him away from the melee.
It was the first time the two had met since Harper hit two home runs off Strickland during the 2014 NLDS between the Nats and Giants.
video at link
http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/19492344/bryce-harper-washington-nationals-hunter-strickland-san-francisco-giants-start-bench-clearing-brawl (http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/19492344/bryce-harper-washington-nationals-hunter-strickland-san-francisco-giants-start-bench-clearing-brawl)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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Bryce Harper, Hunter Strickland start bench-clearing brawl between Nats, Giants
Washington Nationals star Bryce Harper charged San Francisco Giants reliever Hunter Strickland in the eighth inning of the teams' game on Monday.
Strickland plunked Harper in the hip with a 98 mph pitch. Harper then gestured at Strickland with his bat, strode to the mound, threw his helmet at the Giants pitcher and the two exchanged blows as benches cleared.
The 6-foot-4, 220-pound right-hander had to be carried off the field by several of his Giants teammates to keep him away from the melee.
It was the first time the two had met since Harper hit two home runs off Strickland during the 2014 NLDS between the Nats and Giants.
video at link
http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/19492344/bryce-harper-washington-nationals-hunter-strickland-san-francisco-giants-start-bench-clearing-brawl (http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/19492344/bryce-harper-washington-nationals-hunter-strickland-san-francisco-giants-start-bench-clearing-brawl)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Apparently, Strickland held a grudge over those two division series bombs from three years earlier. ;)
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There went his hopes for a third MVP and maybe the Angels' hopes of staying in the races . . .
Angels' Mike Trout to disabled list with torn thumb ligament (http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/19492695/mike-trout-los-angeles-angels-shelved-torn-ligament-thumb)
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Harper did NOT throw his helmet at Strickland.
At the last moment he slammed it into the 2nd base infield grass.
Harper should get ZERO games suspension for defending himself.
Strickland should get a whole month off. :laugh: freaking weasel.
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Harper did NOT throw his helmet at Strickland.
At the last moment he slammed it into the 2nd base infield grass.
Harper should get ZERO games suspension for defending himself.
Strickland should get a whole month off. :laugh: freaking weasel.
Sorry! Watched the video and don't see it that way at all!
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Harper did NOT throw his helmet at Strickland.
At the last moment he slammed it into the 2nd base infield grass.
Harper should get ZERO games suspension for defending himself.
Strickland should get a whole month off. :laugh: freaking weasel.
@DCPatriot
I saw the same video. Looked to me like Harper did want to throw his helmet to one side and not
at Strickland. And Strickland clearly was aiming his pitch at Harper's anatomy.
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This Tigers Royals game is going to give me a stroke.
8-7 Tigers bases loaded with Tigers and 1 out.
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This Tigers Royals game is going to give me a stroke.
8-7 Tigers bases loaded with Tigers and 1 out.
Looks like Miguel Cabrera killed your stroke in the crib---bases loaded, two-run single. 10-7 Tigers your final.
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There went his hopes for a third MVP and maybe the Angels' hopes of staying in the races . . .
Angels' Mike Trout to disabled list with torn thumb ligament (http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/19492695/mike-trout-los-angeles-angels-shelved-torn-ligament-thumb)
Hated to see that. I was looking forward to watching him yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
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Astros currently at 36/16 52 games in 110 left to play. If they simply play .500 from here on out they finish 91/71.
Just sayin!
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Astros currently at 36/16 52 games in 110 left to play. If they simply play .500 from here on out they finish 91/71.
Just sayin!
Yep.....now I can agree they're for real.
...while my Orioles have fallen like a rock.
The Yankees are due for a slump. I'm waiting........ :laugh:
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Harper did NOT throw his helmet at Strickland.
At the last moment he slammed it into the 2nd base infield grass.
Harper should get ZERO games suspension for defending himself.
Strickland should get a whole month off. :laugh: freaking weasel.
Funny way to defend ones self. But Stricklan pretty clearly threw at him.
If Harper wasn't such a punk he'd a just taken first base. Whats that - his 9th ejection?
He'll get the max suspension for that helmut deal.
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Funny way to defend ones self. But Stricklan pretty clearly threw at him.
If Harper wasn't such a punk he'd a just taken first base. Whats that - his 9th ejection?
He'll get the max suspension for that helmut deal.
Luckily, the helmet slipped and went into the grass on the 2nd base side of the mound.
Getting a 5 game (one start) suspension for waiting THREE F**KING YEARS to get back at one of the best players in the GAME with a lethal weapon 98 mph fastball is insane and criminal.
He should get a minimum of a 30 game suspension.
GD Giants are a dozen games under .500 and about to have a fire sale.
Buster Posey knows that Scherzer is going to nail him tonight....or Strasburg tomorrow.
Talk about Posey.......the "Posey Rule" and the "Chase Utley Rule" immediately came about with SAFETY of the player (asset) in mind.
We need a "Harper Rule" now.
Harper gets 5 games. Strickland gets 30 games.
And Harper presses formal charges for assault with a deadly weapon. :laugh:
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Luckily, the helmet slipped and went into the grass on the 2nd base side of the mound.
Getting a 5 game (one start) suspension for waiting THREE F**KING YEARS to get back at one of the best players in the GAME with a lethal weapon 98 mph fastball is insane and criminal.
He should get a minimum of a 30 game suspension.
GD Giants are a dozen games under .500 and about to have a fire sale.
Buster Posey knows that Scherzer is going to nail him tonight....or Strasburg tomorrow.
Talk about Posey.......the "Posey Rule" and the "Chase Utley Rule" immediately came about with SAFETY of the player (asset) in mind.
We need a "Harper Rule" now.
Harper gets 5 games. Strickland gets 30 games.
And Harper presses formal charges for assault with a deadly weapon. :laugh:
Stricklan hits Harper in the butt with a pitch, Harper tries to brain Stricklan with a batting helmut from fifteen feet. And Harper presses charges?
Hilarious.
Luckily Panic fielded the helmut and threw Harper out at first.
The officials will issue a warning today. So if Posey gets beaned there'll be hell to pay.
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The pitcher who can live on fastballs in the big leagues hasn't come along yet. The closest we ever came was J.R. Richard (no not Nolan Ryan who lived on intimidating hitters) and even he couldn't do it. If you are going to make it in the bigs you are going to have to have two are three pitches that you can throw for strikes every time you go out there! That and a catcher that knows YOU and calls the game accordingly goes a long way these days.
Here is the complete opposite of someone living on fastballs.
Charlie Hough https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Hough (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Hough)
Our Co. had season tickets to the Rangers. I'd try to time it so I'd get to see Nolan Ryan pitch, then something would throw off the rotation and my luck would have it....I'd get stuck watching Charlie Hough. If his knuckleball was on, it was a great night. If it was off...it would be homer after homer and it would be an early trip to the car for the trip back home.
-
Yep.....now I can agree they're for real.
...while my Orioles have fallen like a rock.
The Yankees are due for a slump. I'm waiting........ :laugh:
Sat at the local icehouse watching the Astros game yesterday.
I thought I was going to run out of beer money, and I didn't get there until the 3rd inning!
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Here is the complete opposite of someone living on fastballs.
Charlie Hough https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Hough (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Hough)
Our Co. had season tickets to the Rangers. I'd try to time it so I'd get to see Nolan Ryan pitch, then something would throw off the rotation and my luck would have it....I'd get stuck watching Charlie Hough. If his knuckleball was on, it was a great night. If it was off...it would be homer after homer and it would be an early trip to the car for the trip back home.
The fans enjoy home runs, and we have assembled a pitching staff that is sure to please them.---Clark Griffith, Washington Senators
owner, speaking a little jocularly in the 1940s. (From when the watchword was, Washington---first in war, first in peace, and last in the
American League.)
-
Stricklan hits Harper in the butt with a pitch, Harper tries to brain Stricklan with a batting helmut from fifteen feet. And Harper presses charges?
Show me anyone who can throw a batting helmet anywhere near the velocity of a 90mph+ fastball. Superman doesn't count.
-
Show me anyone who can throw a batting helmet anywhere near the velocity of a 90mph+ fastball. Superman doesn't count.
IMO it'd be pretty easy to injure someone by spiking a batting helmut at him from point blank range. But lets see what the league has to say.
BTW Stricklan can take a hike. The Giants have always played clean and we don't need a reliever with a 98mph fastball and nothing else but an ego.
-
IMO it'd be pretty easy to injure someone by spiking a batting helmut at him from point blank range. But lets see what the league has to say.
I was hoping the Giants themselves would say something first.
As the Orioles did, once upon a time, when Armando Benitez drilled Tino Martinez right after Edgar Martinez hit a grand slam and
triggered a bench-clearing brawl: they sent Benitez to the minors for three weeks.
As the Blue Jays did earlier this month, when Kevin Pillar responded to a quick-pitch strikeout by calling Jason Motte a nasty
euphemism for gay: the Jays suspended Pillar themselves, compelling Pillar to hold himself accountable publicly.
BTW Strickland can take a hike. The Giants have always played clean and we don't need a reliever with a 98mph fastball and nothing else but an ego.
I wrote about the Strickland-Harper scrum here (http://www.gopbriefingroom.com/index.php/topic,265118.0.html).
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I was hoping the Giants themselves would say something first.
As the Orioles did, once upon a time, when Armando Benitez drilled Tino Martinez right after Edgar Martinez hit a grand slam and
triggered a bench-clearing brawl: they sent Benitez to the minors for three weeks.
As the Blue Jays did earlier this month, when Kevin Pillar responded to a quick-pitch strikeout by calling Jason Motte a nasty
euphemism for gay: the Jays suspended Pillar themselves, compelling Pillar to hold himself accountable publicly.
I wrote about the Strickland-Harper scrum here (http://www.gopbriefingroom.com/index.php/topic,265118.0.html).
Maybe they aren't 100% certain the pitch was intentional. After all, the last encounter between the two was three years ago.
-
I was hoping the Giants themselves would say something first.
As the Orioles did, once upon a time, when Armando Benitez drilled Tino Martinez right after Edgar Martinez hit a grand slam and
triggered a bench-clearing brawl: they sent Benitez to the minors for three weeks.
As the Blue Jays did earlier this month, when Kevin Pillar responded to a quick-pitch strikeout by calling Jason Motte a nasty
euphemism for gay: the Jays suspended Pillar themselves, compelling Pillar to hold himself accountable publicly.
I wrote about the Strickland-Harper scrum here (http://www.gopbriefingroom.com/index.php/topic,265118.0.html).
Whew! Tell us what you think next time! :beer:
-
Maybe they aren't 100% certain the pitch was intentional.
Two out, nobody on, the Giants down 2-0, the first pitch to Harper going right at his body.
Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuure it wasn't intentional.
-
IMO it'd be pretty easy to injure someone by spiking a batting helmut at him from point blank range. But lets see what the league has to say.
BTW Stricklan can take a hike. The Giants have always played clean and we don't need a reliever with a 98mph fastball and nothing else but an ego.
He should have split his nose with the beak of the helmet. Luckily, he'll probably only sit a week.
But Strickland....who LITERALLY had to carried off the field in a breakdown rage...should miss 30 days MINIMUM.
-
Two out, nobody on, the Giants down 2-0, the first pitch to Harper going right at his body.
Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuure it wasn't intentional.
Harper obviously has Strickland's number. Strickland's first pitch attempts to back him off the plate but is poorly thrown.
The simple truth is neither you nor I know for sure.
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Harper obviously has Strickland's number. Strickland's first pitch attempts to back him off the plate but is poorly thrown.
The simple truth is neither you nor I know for sure.
Horsesh@t. Strickland aimed it right at Harper. Or didn't anyone else notice Posey put a sign for a curve ball
down and Strickland threw a fastball anyway, never mind that he aimed right at Harper.
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Just now breaking---Harper gets a four game suspension, Strickland a six. Someone's brains
in baseball government must have gone to bed. Or was it presumptuous of me to assume
they have brains?
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Horsesh@t. Strickland aimed it right at Harper. Or didn't anyone else notice Posey put a sign for a curve ball
down and Strickland threw a fastball anyway, never mind that he aimed right at Harper.
Posey said the pitch, assuming he means the one he called for, was fastball in.
http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/05/29/all-out-brawl-nationals-bryce-harper-giants-hunter-strickland-land-punches/
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Posey said the call was fastball in.
And Momma said the neighbour's china closet Junior just put his foot through shouldn't have been there in the first
place.
-
And Momma said the neighbour's china closet Junior just put his foot through shouldn't have been there in the first
place.
Whatever dude.
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Bryce Harper Should Have ‘Brought the Bat’ to the Mound, the Junkies say
By Chris Lingebach
WASHINGTON — Monday was the first time Bryce Harper had faced Hunter Strickland since they met in the 2014 NLDS, during which Harper took Strickland deep twice — in Games 1 and 4 — in two plate appearances.
Their latest encounter came with the Nationals leading the Giants 2-0 in the eighth inning, and there would be only one pitch thrown — a 98-MPH fastball Strickland flung directly into the batter’s box, striking Harper square in the hip.
Harper squared up to shout at Strickland, then launched his helmet as he charged the mound seeking a fistful of revenge
“So Bryce Harper did charge the mound yesterday,” John-Paul Flaim of The Sports Junkies said Tuesday morning. “I just think baseball brawls, and the old baseball rules, are just stupid. I mean this guy, Hunter Strickland, is holding a grudge for three years!”
“I mean, let’s be honest. Yes, there have been brawls forever and they’re never gonna stop,” Jason Bishop said. “But when it’s a guy who is pissed off about a couple of bombs from three years ago? He’s got some issues. …It’s a bigger story when it’s a star in the game, and Bryce obviously is a star.”
“But it’s more than the bombs,” Erick Bickel said. “It was just that Bryce got a little overexcited for his liking, right? I mean, it’s not just the bombs.”
“But that’s what I think is stupid,” Flaim said. “Shouldn’t you be excited when you hit a home run in the playoffs? In the playoffs!”
“I agree. But I’m just saying, if you were to be technical about it, I don’t think he was necessarily upset that he hit two bombs off him,” Bickel said. “I think he was upset about just how excited he got.”
“Well the first one that he hit in Game 1, I didn’t think there was a problem with it at all,” Bishop recalled. “He hit the ball — he crushed it — he ran around the bases and ran to the dugout. Now, maybe the second one in Game 4…”
“A lot of hooting and hollering in there,” Bickel said.
“Yeah, but remember: after the first one, Strickland was staring at Bryce,” Bishop said. “That was all on Strickland.”
“Why you staring? Why you being a jerk? You gave up a big meatball down the middle,” John Auville said. “It’s not Bryce’s fault he hit it 500 feet!”
more at: http://washington.cbslocal.com/2017/05/30/bryce-harper-should-have-brought-the-bat-to-the-mound-the-junkies-say/ (http://washington.cbslocal.com/2017/05/30/bryce-harper-should-have-brought-the-bat-to-the-mound-the-junkies-say/)
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Bryce Harper Should Have ‘Brought the Bat’ to the Mound, the Junkies say
By Chris Lingebach
Not going to take a position either way, but Harper might wish he had these four games played come MVP voting time.
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Not going to take a position either way, but Harper might wish he had these four games played come MVP voting time.
Nope....and Harper is NOT the team MVP. That would be Ryan Zimmerman, if voting were today.
Luckily the rest of the NL East are under .500.
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Nope....and Harper is NOT the team MVP. That would be Ryan Zimmerman, if voting were today.
Luckily the rest of the NL East are under .500.
You know the team better than I do. Still, though I don't care for the guy, he's maybe the best raw hitting talent behind Trout, and maybe Goldschmidt.
Still ..........2/3 of the season left? I wouldn't write off his season yet.
-
This just in: Bryce Harper's suspension was cut to three games. No word yet on whether Hunter Strickland got
his suspension reduced on appeal.
Ponder this: Assuming Strickland's original suspension term holds up, it means Harper suspended for a minimum
of 27 innings and Strickland, being a relief pitcher, suspended for . . . six innings, perhaps seven. When
Strickland instigated things by exercising a grudge almost three years old.
You see why some people are sour on baseball government? Every time you hope for Solomon, you wind up getting
Maxine Waters.
-
I know how you feel.
We went through that with the Astros last year.
If they had held on to 1/2 of their late inning leads, they'd won the division outright, instead of missing the wildcard like they did.
Last year’s Astros switched places with my Rangers this season. I was quite surprised at their comeback last night … thanks to Elvis!
-
Last year’s Astros switched places with my Rangers this season. I was quite surprised at their comeback last night … thanks to Elvis!
That Astros Memorial day game was nuts.
Down 8-2 going into the 8th, at Minnesota.
Score 11 in the eighth and 3 in the ninth to win 16-8.
-
D'backs in the process of blowing a late close game, too. Bottom of the 9th, and the go-ahead just walked on.
-
This just in: Bryce Harper's suspension was cut to three games. No word yet on whether Hunter Strickland got
his suspension reduced on appeal.
Ponder this: Assuming Strickland's original suspension term holds up, it means Harper suspended for a minimum
of 27 innings and Strickland, being a relief pitcher, suspended for . . . six innings, perhaps seven. When
Strickland instigated things by exercising a grudge almost three years old.
You see why some people are sour on baseball government? Every time you hope for Solomon, you wind up getting
Maxine Waters.
Bryce Harper is #1 in All-Star vote tallies to date.
In protest, he should boycott playing in the All-Star Game.
Stay home and work on going to the opposite field.
-
Bryce Harper is #1 in All-Star vote tallies to date.
In protest, he should boycott playing in the All-Star Game.
Might not be a bad idea!
Stay home and work on going to the opposite field.
I dunno. Whatever he's doing is working big for him; he's neck and neck with Ryan Zimmerman leading that Nats
lineup. The pair of them are deep in the MVP hunt as it is, and this may just be the best-operating Nats team of
the past few seasons.
The good news: Losing Harper for three games won't hurt the Nats in the big season picture as badly as losing
Mike Trout for 6-8 weeks (torn thumb ligament he got sliding into second on a steal) hurts the Angels. They were
barely in second in an AL West that doesn't look that great to begin with behind the Astros, and Trout was
what one writer said: "hitting like Ted Williams but with four backup catchers for protection." Without him for
a time frame that long, the Angels don't even look like a back-door wild card team this year.
-
Speaking of the AL West, bank on it: The A's probably will move Sonny Gray at or before the non-waiver
trade deadline. Teams in dire need of help in the rotation are probably debating internally on the packages
they'll offer the A's even as I write. (Are you listening, New York Mets? Do not even think of including Amed
Rosario in any package you're dreaming up for a play at Gray, who'd probably help you bigtime in the event
either Steven Matz or Seth Lugo don't round back into full shape after they come off their rehab assignments.)
-
That Astros Memorial day game was nuts.
Down 8-2 going into the 8th, at Minnesota.
Score 11 in the eighth and 3 in the ninth to win 16-8.
That was crazy! Hopefully Texas will find some defense next week against y’all.
-
Might not be a bad idea!
I dunno. Whatever he's doing is working big for him; he's neck and neck with Ryan Zimmerman leading that Nats
lineup. The pair of them are deep in the MVP hunt as it is, and this may just be the best-operating Nats team of
the past few seasons.
The good news: Losing Harper for three games won't hurt the Nats in the big season picture as badly as losing
Mike Trout for 6-8 weeks (torn thumb ligament he got sliding into second on a steal) hurts the Angels. They were
barely in second in an AL West that doesn't look that great to begin with behind the Astros, and Trout was
what one writer said: "hitting like Ted Williams but with four backup catchers for protection." Without him for
a time frame that long, the Angels don't even look like a back-door wild card team this year.
Hmmm....I don't know, buddy.
I watch him every night. And with Daniel Murphy and a scalding 'hot' Ryan Zimmerman....I'm tired of seeing him always opening up while still trying to pull everything over the wall. He looks silly missing that outside pitch. I'm weary of it.
I'm not HALF as confident of Harper with two strikes as I am with Murphy.
You'd think he'd watch Murph....who always manages to square up. And he's only two lockers down. ^-^
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I'm not HALF as confident of Harper with two strikes as I am with Murphy.
You should be, though.
Through this writing, Bryce Harper has had 118 counts that included two strikes. His slash line in those counts: .280/.347/.579(.927 OPS).
Daniel Murphy through this writing has had 92 counts that included two strikes. His slash line in those counts: .235/.244/.494 (.738 OPS).
Harper in two-strike counts: 30 hits, including eight doubles and eight home runs, with 22 runs batted in.
Murphy in two-strike counts: 19 hits, including six doubles and five home runs, with 11 runs batted in.
I think you should be far more confident with Harper at the plate in any two-strike count.[/quote]
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You should be, though.
Through this writing, Bryce Harper has had 118 counts that included two strikes. His slash line in those counts: .280/.347/.579(.927 OPS).
Daniel Murphy through this writing has had 92 counts that included two strikes. His slash line in those counts: .235/.244/.494 (.738 OPS).
Harper in two-strike counts: 30 hits, including eight doubles and eight home runs, with 22 runs batted in.
Murphy in two-strike counts: 19 hits, including six doubles and five home runs, with 11 runs batted in.
I think you should be far more confident with Harper at the plate in any two-strike count.
Hmmmm...... my lyin' eyes are acting up again. 888high58888
-
Hmmmm...... my lyin' eyes are acting up again. 888high58888
:beer:
-
Spectator behind the plate in Minnesota with a sign that says "Covfefe the Tigers". :silly:
-
That was crazy! Hopefully Texas will find some defense next week against y’all.
I wouldn't count on it. This edition of the Texas Rangers is one of the worst teams I've seen in terms of fundamentals, and their bullpen is horrid. Their pitchers walk too many, the batters strike out too often, they have too many lapses on the base paths, and did I say the bullpen is horrid?
For a team payroll of nearly $180 million, Jon Daniels should be on the hot seat, he constructed this mess.
-
Warwick Saupold is kind of unique in the MLB.
An Aussie relief pitcher. He had a very solid scoreless 3 inning outing in the Tiger's win over the Royals last night.
-
Still bugging the Shiite out of me regarding the uneven disbursement of game suspensions to Strickland vs. Harper.
Harper...3 games....27 innings....15+/- PAs
Strickland...6 games as a closer/reliever.....6 innings
WTF, @EasyAce ???
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Still bugging the Shiite out of me regarding the uneven disbursement of game suspensions to Strickland vs. Harper.
Harper...3 games....27 innings....15+/- PAs
Strickland...6 games as a closer/reliever.....6 innings
WTF, @EasyAce ???
@DCPatriot
My sentiment exactly!
You see why some people are sour on baseball government? Every time you hope for Solomon,
you wind up with Inspector Clouseau.
-
Tigers doing it to the White Sox again. 15-5 win last night and currently 9-1 in the bottom of the 8th now.
-
Miami just no-hittered the Diamondbacks. I don't think the Dbacks have had that happen since 2006.
:boring:
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Miami just no-hittered the Diamondbacks. I don't think the Dbacks have had that happen since 2006.
:boring:
In '06, it was another Marlins pitcher (Anibal Sanchez) who no-hit the Snakes.
-
In '06, it was another Marlins pitcher (Anibal Sanchez) who no-hit the Snakes.
Funny that. One more game in the quartet. 10AM tomorrow here....
-
Shock of the weekend: Jon Lester (Cubs) picked off Tommy Pham (Cardinals) in the top of the fifth.
Pham took about an eighteen-foot lead off first. Lester came to his set. Did nothing but move his
left foot off the rubber and in the same split second threw a lob that looked slower than a knuckleball
to nail Pham and retire the side.
The best news, for the Cubs: The Schwarbinator's grand salami in the seventh, pointing the Cubs
to the win.
-
Astros win! Astros win! Astros win again! 9 in a row on the road! 40/16 overall!
DAMN these guys are fun to watch!
-
Albert Pujols---hits number 600 and a grand salami at that.
Edinson Volquez---no-hits the Diamondbacks after rolling his ankle on an infield play off the game's third pitch.
In the immortal words of Mel Allen, how about that!
Sad note: Jimmy Piersall---whose spectacular crackup with the early 1950s Red Sox turned into his memoir
and film Fear Strikes Out, revealing his battle with mental illness in a time when mental illness was
still something you shoved under the rug---passed away at 87.
-
Albert Pujols---hits number 600 and a grand salami at that.
Edinson Volquez---no-hits the Diamondbacks after rolling his ankle on an infield play off the game's third pitch.
In the immortal words of Mel Allen, how about that!
Sad note: Jimmy Piersall---whose spectacular crackup with the early 1950s Red Sox turned into his memoir
and film Fear Strikes Out, revealing his battle with mental illness in a time when mental illness was
still something you shoved under the rug---passed away at 87.
Jimmy Piersall was one scary dude. May he rest in peace!
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Jimmy Piersall was one scary dude. May he rest in peace!
What he was was a great defensive outfielder. He once pulled back a home run on Mickey Mantle,
leaping way over a high enough fence to get it, and Mantle kicked a ton of dirt out of the infield
over it. Mantle later quoted a sportswriter as writing, "In seventeen years covering baseball I
never saw a catch like that!"
Piersall turned up as a Met for a spell in 1963. While there, he hit his 100th career home run.
He backpedaled around the bases to run it out, cracking up both the crowd and the Phillies,
off whom he hit it.
-
Astros win! Astros win! Astros win again! 9 in a row on the road! 40/16 overall!
DAMN these guys are fun to watch!
Note to John Daniels...."SELL! EVERYTHING MUST GO!!!!"
-
Jimmy Piersall was one scary dude. May he rest in peace!
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51758Y5jznL._SX297_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg)
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What he was was a great defensive outfielder. He once pulled back a home run on Mickey Mantle,
leaping way over a high enough fence to get it, and Mantle kicked a ton of dirt out of the infield
over it. Mantle later quoted a sportswriter as writing, "In seventeen years covering baseball I
never saw a catch like that!"
Piersall turned up as a Met for a spell in 1963. While there, he hit his 100th career home run.
He backpedaled around the bases to run it out, cracking up both the crowd and the Phillies,
off whom he hit it.
Yeah! No doubt about it! But I also saw him try to climb the fence behind home plate to get at a fan that was giving him the business. Scary!
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Yeah! No doubt about it! But I also saw him try to climb the fence behind home plate to get at a fan that was giving him the business. Scary!
If I remember the incident right, Piersall got in the guy's face, after the guy called him "screwball,"
and replied, "Bet you wish you were making the money this screwball's making!"
The electroshock treatments he underwent wiped out his memory of the previous year (sportswriter
Al Hershberg had to help him re-piece it to write Fear Strikes Out), but during that year
his funniest bit was a dead-on impression of Satchel Paige's pitching motions, which he'd do when
he reached base against Paige. Even Paige had to crack up.
He also goaded Billy Martin into a fight during that year. Believe it or not, that was the only
fight Martin ever admitted he regretted, saying, "If I'd known how sick he was, I wouldn't have
fought him."
-
If I remember the incident right, Piersall got in the guy's face, after the guy called him "screwball,"
and replied, "Bet you wish you were making the money this screwball's making!"
The electroshock treatments he underwent wiped out his memory of the previous year (sportswriter
Al Hershberg had to help him re-piece it to write Fear Strikes Out), but during that year
his funniest bit was a dead-on impression of Satchel Paige's pitching motions, which he'd do when
he reached base against Paige. Even Paige had to crack up.
He also goaded Billy Martin into a fight during that year. Believe it or not, that was the only
fight Martin ever admitted he regretted, saying, "If I'd known how sick he was, I wouldn't have
fought him."
888high58888
-
Holy crap.
José Iglesias just roundhouse kicked the up in the face at second base and took him down and still got the out.
:thud:
-
J Up for a 3 run walk of homer for a sweep of the White Sox.
Crazy day, Verlander only went 2 innings with Warwick Saupold taking over and looking like an ace.
Kung Fu baseball. http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/6479266/v1463700383/cwsdet-iglesias-hangs-on-after-collision-with-ump
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I wouldn't count on it. This edition of the Texas Rangers is one of the worst teams I've seen in terms of fundamentals, and their bullpen is horrid. Their pitchers walk too many, the batters strike out too often, they have too many lapses on the base paths, and did I say the bullpen is horrid?
For a team payroll of nearly $180 million, Jon Daniels should be on the hot seat, he constructed this mess.
I couldn’t agree more. We have a few hot bats, and some good infield players, but the bullpen is pathetic at best … and overall defense just sucks. Houston embarrassed them over the weekend.
-
Astros win! Astros win! Astros win again! 9 in a row on the road! 40/16 overall!
DAMN these guys are fun to watch!
Most days, I’d agree. But not at the expense of my Rangers. That was hard to watch.
-
Astros win! Astros win! Astros win again! 9 in a row on the road! 40/16 overall!
DAMN these guys are fun to watch!
Another W tonight.
Our Astros are now 42-16 , 11 in a row.
14 ahead in division
8 ahead of closest AL competitor
5 ahead of the next best record in MLB. (Wash)
Just Dayum!!!!!!
-
Another W tonight.
Our Astros are now 42-16 , 11 in a row.
14 ahead in division
8 ahead of closest AL competitor
5 ahead of the next best record in MLB. (Wash)
Just Dayum!!!!!!
888high58888 888high58888 888high58888
If they just play .500 ball from here on out they finish 94/68!
-
Surprised there's nothing posted about Scooter Gennett's 4 HR game.
A solo home run, 2 runs scored HR, 3 runs scored HR and a grand slam all from a utility player not known for being a power hitter.
-
MLB: The 6 Greatest Catchers to Ever Play the Game (http://www.cheatsheet.com/sports/the-6-greatest-catchers-to-ever-play-baseball.html/?a=viewall)
@EasyAce
-
MLB: The 6 Greatest Catchers to Ever Play the Game (http://www.cheatsheet.com/sports/the-6-greatest-catchers-to-ever-play-baseball.html/?a=viewall)
@EasyAce
Pudge was a sniper.
-
GEEZ.....
My Orioles looked like Division 2 college players against these freaking Yank-Me's! Drop to 6.5 back
My NATS get swept by the Texas Rangers. At home.
The good news is the rest of the NL EAST has played .500 ball too, the last 10 played...still leading the pack by 9.5
-
MLB: The 6 Greatest Catchers to Ever Play the Game (http://www.cheatsheet.com/sports/the-6-greatest-catchers-to-ever-play-baseball.html/?a=viewall)
@EasyAce
In no particular order:
Roy Campenella
Yogi Beria
Johnny Bench
Gary Carter
-
In no particular order:
Roy Campenella
Yogi Beria
Johnny Bench
Gary Carter
Can argue with those selections.
:beer:
-
Can argue with those selections.
:beer:
Need two more. They will come to me.
-
No sooner than I hit the post key Carlton Risk came to mind.
Tim Macarver probably needs to be there as well.
-
MLB: The 6 Greatest Catchers to Ever Play the Game (http://www.cheatsheet.com/sports/the-6-greatest-catchers-to-ever-play-baseball.html/?a=viewall)
@EasyAce
@Machiavelli
I'd have put Yogi Berra slightly ahead of Johnny Bench for these reasons:
* With Yogi Berra as the Yankees’ regular catcher, Yankee pitchers not named Whitey Ford did better on the mound
when throwing to him than they did with anyone else behind the plate, Yankee or otherwise; and, they did better as
Yankees with Berra behind the plate than they ever did with any other team for whom they pitched. That group
included the one Yankee pitcher not named Ford who was thought to be a Hall of Famer in the making but fell short
enough: Allie Reynolds.
(Bench wasn't as good as Yogi at doing that with his pitching staffs, but in all fairness Bench also ran into a syndrome
that afflicted Reds pitching staffs both before and after his career: whenever they came up with good young pitchers
who might become aces, nearly every last one of them developed arm and shoulder trouble and ended up with
careers shortened too early, comparatively speaking. Jim Maloney, Sammy Ellis, Gary Nolan, Don Gullett, and Tom
Browning were only the most classic examples.)
* Only two men in major league history have hit 350+ lifetime home runs while striking out less than 500 times: Berra,
and Joe DiMaggio. (In case you were wondering, Berra never struck out 40 times or more in any season and, in five of his
seasons, his home runs out-numbered his strikeouts. For any hitter that would be an impressive achievement. For a classic
bad-ball hitter who’d swing at anything that was anywhere within Yankee Stadium’s ZIP code—oops, Berra played before
the ZIP code—that’s an unbelievable achievement.)
* Between Berra’s rookie season (1947) and the first season of expansion (1961, when the American League introduced
the Angels and the second Washington Senators), only one man in baseball drove in more runs than Berra: Stan Musial.
(Classic Berra: Before one All-Star game, Berra happened upon a meeting of American League pitchers when the subject
was pitching to Musial. “Forget it,” Berra cracked. “You guys are trying to figure out in fifteen minutes what nobody’s figured
out in fifteen years.”)
* Berra is compared most often to Bench, but those who argue for Bench’s superiority must confront the fact that Yogi
a) led his league in putouts eight times, assists five, defensive double plays six, and fielding percentage twice, to Bench
leading his in putouts twice, assists once, defensive double plays once, and fielding percentage once.
b) needed 38 fewer total games to drive in 54 more runs, score 83 more, strike out 864 fewer times, ground into 55 fewer
double plays, and hit for a higher lifetime slash line.
-
Yogi get's my vote as the best who ever played the game and by a WIDE margin!
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Yogi get's my vote as the best who ever played the game and by a WIDE margin!
Bench or Yogi.... Greats
Here is the wisest of them all. :dx1:
(https://i1.wp.com/bp3.blogger.com/_8gSTCfLn73Y/SJIE_ItnY8I/AAAAAAAAADs/sV9dtiy0f00/s400/08-crashdavis-0731.jpg)
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Yogi get's my vote as the best who ever played the game and by a WIDE margin!
@Bigun
In Yogi Berra's first season in the minors, at Norwalk, Virginia, he played a doubleheader
and drove in 23 runs. His late wife, Carmen, often deadpanned about that: "When I heard
about the 23-RBI day, I figured he probably had a future."
In later years, she liked to tease him whenever reporters visited them by urging him to
tell them about "the anniversary card." Apparently, on one wedding anniversary (they were
married 65 years when Carmen died in 2014), he gave her a card signed "Love, Yogi
Berra." Bill Madden of the New York Daily News, visiting the Berras for his chapter
on Yogi in Pride of October: What it Was to Be Young and a Yankee, was aghast.
He asked Yogi why he did that.
"I dunno," Berra replied. "I guess out of habit."
"I was actually kind of glad he thought to sign his last name," Carmen cracked. "I wouldn't
have wanted to confuse him with all the other Yogis I know."
Carmen Berra was a looker to the tenth power when the Berras married, and it inspired no
few wisecracks from those in baseball who made a sideline of wisecracking about Yogi's
not-so-handsome looks. The smartest crack may have come from Tiger pitcher Dizzy Trout:
Hey, Yogi, I hear ya got married. How does your wife like living in a tree?
Mrs. Berra kept her looks for a very, very long time. In 1964, when Yogi first got to
manage the Yankees, he was invited to be the mystery guest on the CBS panel quiz
What's My Line? The panel figured him out in about three seconds, so host John
Daly decided to help fill in the time by bringing Carmen Berra out and introducing her
as "Yogi's lovely bride." The CBS switchboards went nuclear with outraged callers demanding
to know just when Yogi threw his wife and three kids over for this little homewrecker!
The Berras did rather splendidly for a couple who first met when she worked as a waitress
in the St. Louis steakhouse into which Stan Musial eventually bought, helping make him
a junior-grade millionaire. But Carmen Berra was no pushover: when George Steinbrenner
moved to heal the rift between Yogi and the Yankees that happened when Steinbrenner
fired him as manager in 1982, after The Boss promised Yogi a full season but dumped
him after sixteen games (saying infamously, "I didn't fire Yogi, the players did"), Mrs.
Berra insisted it wouldn't happen unless she was present. And Steinbrenner relented. Why
was she so adamant? She wouldn't forget that when Steinbrenner canned her husband,
he sent Clyde King to deliver the execution papers.
-
@Bigun
In Yogi Berra's first season in the minors, at Norwalk, Virginia, he played a doubleheader
and drove in 23 runs. His late wife, Carmen, often deadpanned about that: "When I heard
about the 23-RBI day, I figured he probably had a future."
In later years, she liked to tease him whenever reporters visited them by urging him to
tell them about "the anniversary card." Apparently, on one wedding anniversary (they were
married 65 years when Carmen died in 2014), he gave her a card signed "Love, Yogi
Berra." Bill Madden of the New York Daily News, visiting the Berras for his chapter
on Yogi in Pride of October: What it Was to Be Young and a Yankee, was aghast.
He asked Yogi why he did that.
"I dunno," Berra replied. "I guess out of habit."
"I was actually kind of glad he thought to sign his last name," Carmen cracked. "I wouldn't
have wanted to confuse him with all the other Yogis I know."
Carmen Berra was a looker to the tenth power when the Berras married, and it inspired no
few wisecracks from those in baseball who made a sideline of wisecracking about Yogi's
not-so-handsome looks. The smartest crack may have come from Tiger pitcher Dizzy Trout:
Hey, Yogi, I hear ya got married. How does your wife like living in a tree?
Mrs. Berra kept her looks for a very, very long time. In 1964, when Yogi first got to
manage the Yankees, he was invited to be the mystery guest on the CBS panel quiz
What's My Line? The panel figured him out in about three seconds, so host John
Daly decided to help fill in the time by bringing Carmen Berra out and introducing her
as "Yogi's lovely bride." The CBS switchboards went nuclear with outraged callers demanding
to know just when Yogi threw his wife and three kids over for this little homewrecker!
The Berras did rather splendidly for a couple who first met when she worked as a waitress
in the St. Louis steakhouse into which Stan Musial eventually bought, helping make him
a junior-grade millionaire. But Carmen Berra was no pushover: when George Steinbrenner
moved to heal the rift between Yogi and the Yankees that happened when Steinbrenner
fired him as manager in 1982, after The Boss promised Yogi a full season but dumped
him after sixteen games (saying infamously, "I didn't fire Yogi, the players did"), Mrs.
Berra insisted it wouldn't happen unless she was present. And Steinbrenner relented. Why
was she so adamant? She wouldn't forget that when Steinbrenner canned her husband,
he sent Clyde King to deliver the execution papers.
Thanks for the inside dope! I grew up watching the Yog, Whitey Ford, Mickey Mantle, and all of the other Yankee greats play but Yogi was always my favorite. Don't know how anyone could not like him!
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Thanks for the inside dope! I grew up watching the Yog, Whitey Ford, Mickey Mantle, and all of the other Yankee greats play but Yogi was always my favorite. Don't know how anyone could not like him!
@Bigun
It was impossible to dislike him.
But once during his playing days Yogi had a strange habit---he loved to mooch personal products whenever
he ran out. At the same time, Whitey Ford used a special kind of stickum that he kept in a roll-on deodorant
bottle, using the stuff for a better grip on his curve ball. Knowing Berra's quirk, Mickey Mantle moved
the label-less bottle to a spot on Ford's locker shelf where Berra was sure to see it. Sure enough, Yogi took
the bait. Two minutes later he went screaming into the trainer's room---he had to have his arms shaved
loose from his sides.
Yogi otherwise was thought to be so much the type to whom good things happened almost preternaturally
that Casey Stengel once wisecracked, "Mr. Berra could fall into a sewer and come up with a gold watch."
It don't matter if you're ugly in this racket. All you have to do is hit the ball. And I never saw anyone
hit one with his face.---Yogi Berra, on the cracks about his looks.
Whitey Ford was pretty witty himself. When he learned Sandy Koufax went to New York to accept a
Corvette as the 1963 World Series MVP, and that Koufax went down to the car after the luncheon to
see it parked on the sidewalk with a $15 ticket attached to the windshield, Ford cracked, "Sandy has
only two flaws. He can't hit, and he can't park."
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Who is Aaron Judge?
Real or not? Aaron Judge on MVP path, Corey Seager is still great (http://www.espn.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/80316/real-or-not-aaron-judge-on-mvp-path-corey-seager-is-still-great)
Yankees' 6-foot-7 wunderkind is starting to get MVP whispers after 2 home runs unlike anything baseball has seen lately (http://www.businessinsider.com/aaron-judge-home-runs-mvp-2017-6)
The other side of Aaron Judge’s legend: The pitches he spits on (http://nypost.com/2017/06/12/the-other-side-of-aaron-judges-legend-the-pitches-he-spits-on/)
Where the Hell Did Aaron Judge Come From? (https://theringer.com/mlb-new-york-yankees-aaron-judge-home-runs-statcast-5490ad475103)
Why Yankees' Aaron Judge gets yet another MLB honor (http://www.nj.com/yankees/index.ssf/2017/06/why_yankees_aaron_judge_gets_yet_another_mlb_honor.html)
If Aaron Judge can chase Roger Maris’ 61 home runs, it could bring feel-good vibe to baseball (http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/aaron-judge-chasing-roger-maris-bring-feel-good-vibe-mlb-article-1.3241665)
Wikipedia article (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Judge)
Career stats (http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/judgeaa01.shtml)
@EasyAce
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Bench or Yogi.... Greats
Here is the wisest of them all. :dx1:
(https://i1.wp.com/bp3.blogger.com/_8gSTCfLn73Y/SJIE_ItnY8I/AAAAAAAAADs/sV9dtiy0f00/s400/08-crashdavis-0731.jpg)
Ah, but he never said ninety percent of the game was mental and the other half was physical. ;)
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Inside the Nationals' endgame identity crisis
(http://a4.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2017%2F0616%2Fr220492_2_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&w=1006&h=566&scale=crop&cquality=80&location=origin)
Blake Treinen and the rest of the Washington Nationals bullpen are the weak link in the District -- and their problems are starting to become the clubhouse's problems
Eddie Matz
The Washington Nationals' bullpen spent the first couple months of the season coughing up leads in games. Recently, they've graduated to coughing up the division lead.
In the space of one week (June 6–12), the first-place Nats lost four games off their division lead, going from a season-high 12.5 games ahead in the National League East to just 8.5 games up. Granted, there are 28 other teams in the league that would kill to have "just" an 8.5-game lead (the Astros are all set, thanks). Still, when you lose a third of your cushion in the blink of an eye, it’s concerning. It’s especially alarming when you consider that Washington’s bullpen, which has been a sore spot from Day 1, has played a key role.
rest at:
http://www.espn.com/blog/washington-nationals/post/_/id/2660/inside-the-nationals-endgame-identity-crisis (http://www.espn.com/blog/washington-nationals/post/_/id/2660/inside-the-nationals-endgame-identity-crisis)
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Reds honor Pete Rose with perfectly designed statue (https://sports.yahoo.com/reds-honor-pete-rose-perfectly-designed-statue-192451693.html)
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Reds honor Pete Rose with perfectly designed statue (https://sports.yahoo.com/reds-honor-pete-rose-perfectly-designed-statue-192451693.html)
Sorry...I just don't see the likeness.....
(https://d3ra9f22wt26dh.cloudfront.net/images/detailed/8/8300-32-roulette-wheel.jpg)
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Here's the real one!
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DCiO3OPXsAAJgRJ.jpg)
I heartily approve!
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Here's the real one!
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DCiO3OPXsAAJgRJ.jpg)
I heartily approve!
It should have shown him sliding into a betting window. ;)
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Five outs in two at-bats in the same game
Clarence Mitchell is famous for two things:
- He was a grandfathered spitball pitcher (http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Spitball).
- While batting for the Brooklyn Robins, he made five outs in two at-bats in the same game (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarence_Mitchell_(baseball)):
On October 10, 1920, in Game 5 of the 1920 World Series, Mitchell made history when, with men on first and second and no outs, he hit a rising liner that Cleveland Indians second baseman Bill Wambsganss caught. Wambsganss was able to double up the lead runner, Pete Kilduff, who was still running toward third, then tagged out Otto Miller, who had come down from first base. Mitchell is the only player in Major League history to hit into an unassisted triple play in a World Series. In his next at bat, Mitchell hit into a double play, making him responsible for five outs in two consecutive trips to the plate, another World Series record.
Ironically, he was a good hitting pitcher (http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Clarence_Mitchell).
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Dusty Baker needs to retire. Now, would be soon enough.
Max Scherzer pitched a no-hitter for 8-1/3 innings, when he instinctively reached up to snap a come-backer, balling ticking up off the webbing of his glove. Shortstop throws an adequate major league short-hop that Zimmerman can handle sitting down.
But wait! Zimmerman was riding the bench. A genuine defensive star sitting on the bench with a 1-0 lead with six outs to go??
But wait! There's more!!
Michael A Taylor, who runs like a deer, was sitting on his a$$ too! He may have gotten to that short-hop basehit to left field that scored the tying run.
Night game...Day game. Travel. I get it.
But no excuse to help Scherzer get his no-hitter by having defensive STARTERS sitting on their ass.
-
http://www.espn.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/80593/max-scherzer-is-mlbs-ultimate-must-see-ace (http://www.espn.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/80593/max-scherzer-is-mlbs-ultimate-must-see-ace)
Max Scherzer is MLB's ultimate must-see ace
David Schoenfield
No, Max Scherzer didn’t become the sixth pitcher with three career no-hitters. He didn’t even win the game thanks to a rotten-luck eighth inning. But I’ll say this: With apologies to Clayton Kershaw and Chris Sale, Scherzer is the ultimate must-watch starting pitcher right now.
I was in the office Wednesday afternoon, and we were all riveted as to our television screens as Scherzer dominated the Miami Marlins for the first seven innings. The no-hitter seemed like a sure thing. It was the 11th time the right-hander had taken a no-hit bid into the sixth inning in his three seasons with the Washington Nationals, five more than any other pitcher has in that span (Corey Kluber has six). More than that, it was the electric quality of the stuff that was so impressive.
His slider was devastating -- Nationals announcer F.P. Santangelo called it the best he’s seen from Scherzer -- and by the middle innings, Scherzer went almost exclusively to fastballs and sliders. What made the slider so impossible for the Marlins to hit was that Scherzer would start it at a right-handed hitter and have it break over the plate for a strike, or start it over the plate and see Marlins hitters flail as it broke six inches off the plate.
more at link
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Dusty Baker needs to retire.
Crusty is a blight on the game. Prior and Wood may have been HOF bound if it wasn't for this idiot's (mis)management of pitching staff.
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Crusty is a blight on the game. Prior and Wood may have been HOF bound if it wasn't for this idiot's (mis)management of pitching staff.
Scherzer threw 120+ pitches, I believe.
He had a no-hitter going and was DOMINATING into the 8th inning.
YOU go out there and tell him he's coming out!
Guys like Scherzer...and Sale? No way, Jose!
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Scherzer threw 120+ pitches, I believe.
He had a no-hitter going and was DOMINATING into the 8th inning.
YOU go out there and tell him he's coming out!
Guys like Scherzer...and Sale? No way, Jose!
I missed this. Scherzer had a no-hitter going in the 8th, and he was pulled?? Do I understand this? He was a Diamondback, and I was peeved when we let him go, but he's been great for the Nats.
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It should have shown him sliding into a betting window. ;)
@catfish1957
@Bigun
@EasyAce
- He's an a$$hole.
- He does belong in the HOF.
- He's still an a$$hole.
-
- He's an a$$hole.
- He does belong in the HOF.
- He's still an a$$hole.
@Machiavelli
1. Right
2. Wrong (The Hall of Fame says those banned from baseball aren't eligible to stand for election to the HOF---a lot
of people don't realise the Hall of Fame isn't governed by MLB and can make their own rules about eligibility---and
they were a) within their rights, and b) right as rain, to say and do so.)
3. Right
;)
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Scherzer threw 120+ pitches, I believe.
He had a no-hitter going and was DOMINATING into the 8th inning.
YOU go out there and tell him he's coming out!
Guys like Scherzer...and Sale? No way, Jose!
@DCPatriot
Sometimes circumstances dictate being able to leave a pitcher in, who might have extra stuff that day. My point is that on a macro scale Crusty has had a history of overusing and ruining pitchers. F him.
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@catfish1957
@Bigun
@EasyAce
- He's an a$$hole.
- He does belong in the HOF.
- He's still an a$$hole.
He's also one of the best to ever play the game! And you are right! He DOES belong in the HOF!
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He's also one of the best to ever play the game! And you are right! He DOES belong in the HOF!
It's the betting thing. Reminds people of the Black Sox. That's a big deal.
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He's also one of the best to ever play the game! And you are right! He DOES belong in the HOF!
All for him getting in on a posthomous basis.
-
It's the betting thing. Reminds people of the Black Sox. That's a big deal.
Yep, if Rose gets in, they need to also let in Shoeless Joe.
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It's the betting thing. Reminds people of the Black Sox. That's a big deal.
Yeah! I know! Pete never was the smartest guy around! Just out hustled most of them!
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Yeah! I know! Pete never was the smartest guy around! Just out hustled most of them!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtkU3apSMHw
Of course Fosse shares in some of the blame here.
-
It's the betting thing. Reminds people of the Black Sox. That's a big deal.
Actually, it's Rule 21(d):
(d) BETTING ON BALL GAMES. Any player, umpire, or club official or
employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in
connection with which the bettor has no duty to perform shall be declared
ineligible for one year.
Any player, umpire, or club or league official or employee, who shall
bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which
the bettor has a duty to perform shall be declared permanently ineligible.
I wrote at length about the issue when Michael Bertolini's notebook surfaced:
Closing the (note)book on Rose at last?
http://throneberryfields.com/2015/06/23/closing-the-notebook-on-rose-at-last/
23 June 2015
Really, now, only one thing should shock about the now-firm evidence that Pete Rose bet on baseball while he
still played baseball: that anyone should be shocked, when all is said and done. The telltale signs have been
there. And, numerous observers are saying (and have said in the past), Rose changes his story almost as often
as he once changed his sanitary socks.
One year after Fay Vincent was purged as baseball’s commissioner, Vincent told at least one reporter, “He bet
[on baseball] as a player with the Phillies.” Rose’s own mother once told a Cincinnati newspaper reporter her
son lost bets on the Padres to win the 1984 World Series. And now comes evidence from documents formerly
unseen outside official investigative channels.
If what ESPN’s Outside the Lines transmitted Monday (http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/13114874/notebook-obtained-lines-shows-pete-rose-bet-baseball-player-1986) is certain, the last known defense available to Rose in
his quest to return from baseball’s Phantom Zone to the Hall of Fame has crumpled. Big. “This is the final piece
of the puzzle,” says John Dowd, the one-time federal prosecutor deputised to investigate Rose originally for
baseball government. “This is it, this does it. This closes the door.” Over a quarter century since Rose first insisted
he never bet on the game as a player, there comes a smoking gun.
The smoker is a notebook that once belonged to Michael Bertolini, once a Rose marketing partner, through
whom Rose bet with mob-tied bookmakers, apparently. The notebook is damning. Very damning. It shows Rose
betting extensively on baseball in his final playing season, 1986. (The player-manager played in 72 games,
collected 52 hits, and hit .219 before ending the playing part of his career 17 August 1986.)
The notebook sat under court-ordered seal for 26 years before going to the National Archives’ New York division,
seized as part of a mail fraud investigation during a kind of raid at Berolini’s home two months after then-commissioner
A. Bartlett Giamatti banished Rose (http://www.nytimes.com/1989/09/03/sports/sports-of-the-times-the-commissioner-who-went-one-for-one.html). ESPN says its authenticity is verified by two officers involved in the 1989 raid.
Attorneys for Rose and Bertolini say their clients won’t talk; in Rose’s case, his statement through his attorney says
he won’t talk until after he meets with commissioner Rob Manfred about his reinstatement application.
Among other things, the notebook’s pages say that in late April 1986 Rose—still the Reds’ player-manager, not yet
close to his final playing game—dropped bets down on several games including at least one or two involving his
Reds. He bet several other baseball games, too. Either he or Bertolini made notes of the games’ starting pitchers in
hand with each bet:
* Rose bet $2,000 on the Mets on a game started by Dwight Gooden, the defending National
League Cy Young Award winner: “2=D 2000 vs. Pete," the entry reads.
* He bet $500 on the Blue Jays with Doyle Alexander—eventually a Brave sent to the Tigers in the deal
that made a Brave out of freshly-elected Hall of Famer John Smoltz—taking the ball, and won that bet.
* He bet $1,000 on the Red Sox with forthcoming World Series standout Bruce Hurst—who’d beat the
Mets twice in the Series before running out of fuel in Game Seven—on the mound, and won.
* He bet $1,000 on the Royals with Charlie Liebrandt, knuckleball specialist, on the bump, and won.
* He bet $1,000 on the Orioles with Storm Davis (their starter and winner in Game Four of the 1983
World Series) starting, and lost.
* He bet $500 on the Indians with another knuckleball specialist, Tom Candiotti, starting (Candiotti
eventually portrayed Hall of Famer Hoyt Wilhelm in Billy Crystal’s film about the 1961 home run chase,
61*), but the entry seems a little muddy and it’s hard to tell whether he won or lost the bet.
* He bet $500 on Jose Rijo and the Athletics, and lost.
* He bet $500 on Mike Scott—emerging that season from nobody special to never better—and the
Astros, and won.
* He bet $1,000 on Rick Horton and the Cardinals, and lost.
* He bet on Candiotti and the Indians in another game, and won $1,000.
* On twenty-one of the days the notebook makes absolutely clear he was betting on baseball, Rose
dropped bets on the Reds, one way or the other, including possibly for several games in which Rose
did play.
* Most if not all of the time, Rose was likely to drop as much as $2,000 per bet, on average, with the
highest recorded bet during the timeframe being a Boston Celtics basketball game. Charlie Hustler
lost that bet. He bet big on basketball, college and pro, that March, and once lost $15,400 in a single
March day, during a week in which he lost $25,500 total.
Two postal inspection service agents weren’t figuring on anything other than a failure to render services complaint
when the service got a complaint from a dissatisfied customer of Bertolin’s Hit King Marketing, Inc. operation. The
agents called the realtor tasked with selling the home posing as a couple looking to buy and got a guided tour of
the house.
When they saw an item another complainer said hadn’t been returned (Bertolini apparently might have been forging
baseball autographs, including, ESPN says, those of Rose and Hall of Famers Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Mike Schmidt,
and Duke Snider) the agents sought and got a search warrant. That search produced the notebook that may now
close the book on Rose permanently.
The notebook’s existence wasn’t exactly a secret, ESPN notes, with themselves and several news organisations seeking
access under the Freedom of Information Act following Bertolini’s guilty plea for tax fraud. Because it was introduced
as a grand jury exhibit, ESPN continues, those requests were denied. Only after the notebook transferred to the National
Archives at a U.S. Attorney’s Office request, were the contents able to be copied.
“There has never been a doubt about the serious danger that Rose brought to baseball though his chronic gambling,”
writes Kostya Kennedy, author of Pete Rose: An American Dilemna (http://www.amazon.com/Pete-Rose-An-American-Dilemma/dp/1618930966), for Sports Illustrated (http://www.si.com/mlb/2015/06/22/pete-rose-betting-games-player-gambling-cincinnati-reds#). "But there had always been
three factors held up as mitigating Rose’s sin: 1) There was no hard proof that he bet while a player; 2) He never bet
on his own team to lose; and 3) Betting on his team did not influence his managerial decisions.”
Obviously, factor number one is now “passe,” to use Kennedy’s polite-way-to-phrase-it word. Factor number two should
be blown away by the language of Rule 21(d) which does not distinguish between betting to win and betting to lose.
As for factor three, someone might remind Manfred (and anyone else) that strictly as a manager Rose is now known to
have withheld betting on his Reds on certain days, with certain pitchers starting, which Sports Illustrated‘s Jay Jaffe
previously reminded us actually sends signals to other bettors to bet against the team (http://www.si.com/mlb/2015/03/17/pete-rose-reinstatement-hall-of-fame-rob-manfred).
Kennedy recalls, correctly, that in the original 1989 investigation Rose and his legal team mounted a “horrifically botched
defense [that] revolved around questioning minute details and picayune facts of baseball’s investigation, trying to wriggle
free of guilt on technicalities rather than meet the allegations head on.”
With even a modicum of sincere admission, Rose might have escaped with far
less than permanent ineligibility. So although Rose has continued to deny he bet as a player
—as recently as last year—his best move now is to come completely clean when he meets
the commissioner.
He’s come “clean” how many times? Sooner or later, even the sturdiest garment can come clean only so often before it’s
washed up. There’s been much talk in recent years about a mercy factor, about showing Rose mercy after all these years.
But every time the mercy factor arises, it seems that something else comes forth to throw it a knockdown pitch.
A month ago Rose told a radio station he “never once” bet on baseball while he still played the game (http://web.yesnetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20150622&content_id=132235606&oid=0). The Bertolini notebook
blows that one away, too. Strike three called, curve ball on the inside corner. When at last will Rose, his shrinking circle of
defenders, and even baseball’s commissioner, agree that enough’s enough, that it’s time to quit defending what can’t be
defended?
-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtkU3apSMHw
Of course Fosse shares in some of the blame here.
Yep! And as an aside, a play just like that ended my baseball career and it was my fault!
-
Actually, it's Rule 21(d):
I wrote at length about the issue when Michael Bertolini's notebook surfaced:
Two postal inspection service agents weren’t figuring on anything other than a failure to render services complaint
when the service got a complaint from a dissatisfied customer of Bertolin’s Hit King Marketing, Inc. operation. The
agents called the realtor tasked with selling the home posing as a couple looking to buy and got a guided tour of
the house.
When they saw an item another complainer said hadn’t been returned (Bertolini apparently might have been forging
baseball autographs, including, ESPN says, those of Rose and Hall of Famers Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Mike Schmidt,
and Duke Snider) the agents sought and got a search warrant. That search produced the notebook that may now
close the book on Rose permanently.
The notebook’s existence wasn’t exactly a secret, ESPN notes, with themselves and several news organisations seeking
access under the Freedom of Information Act following Bertolini’s guilty plea for tax fraud. Because it was introduced
as a grand jury exhibit, ESPN continues, those requests were denied. Only after the notebook transferred to the National
Archives at a U.S. Attorney’s Office request, were the contents able to be copied.
“There has never been a doubt about the serious danger that Rose brought to baseball though his chronic gambling,”
writes Kostya Kennedy, author of Pete Rose: An American Dilemna (http://www.amazon.com/Pete-Rose-An-American-Dilemma/dp/1618930966), for Sports Illustrated (http://www.si.com/mlb/2015/06/22/pete-rose-betting-games-player-gambling-cincinnati-reds#). "But there had always been
three factors held up as mitigating Rose’s sin: 1) There was no hard proof that he bet while a player; 2) He never bet
on his own team to lose; and 3) Betting on his team did not influence his managerial decisions.”
Obviously, factor number one is now “passe,” to use Kennedy’s polite-way-to-phrase-it word. Factor number two should
be blown away by the language of Rule 21(d) which does not distinguish between betting to win and betting to lose.
As for factor three, someone might remind Manfred (and anyone else) that strictly as a manager Rose is now known to
have withheld betting on his Reds on certain days, with certain pitchers starting, which Sports Illustrated‘s Jay Jaffe
previously reminded us actually sends signals to other bettors to bet against the team (http://www.si.com/mlb/2015/03/17/pete-rose-reinstatement-hall-of-fame-rob-manfred).
Kennedy recalls, correctly, that in the original 1989 investigation Rose and his legal team mounted a “horrifically botched
defense [that] revolved around questioning minute details and picayune facts of baseball’s investigation, trying to wriggle
free of guilt on technicalities rather than meet the allegations head on.”
He’s come “clean” how many times? Sooner or later, even the sturdiest garment can come clean only so often before it’s
washed up. There’s been much talk in recent years about a mercy factor, about showing Rose mercy after all these years.
But every time the mercy factor arises, it seems that something else comes forth to throw it a knockdown pitch.
A month ago Rose told a radio station he “never once” bet on baseball while he still played the game (http://web.yesnetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20150622&content_id=132235606&oid=0). The Bertolini notebook
blows that one away, too. Strike three called, curve ball on the inside corner. When at last will Rose, his shrinking circle of
defenders, and even baseball’s commissioner, agree that enough’s enough, that it’s time to quit defending what can’t be
defended?
Yeah! You're right! And it's sad that it only happens in baseball!
-
Yeah! You're right! And it's sad that it only happens in baseball!
In case there are those who took that literally, no it doesn't:
* Thirty-five active and former college basketball players were accused of fixing games when
a point-shaving scandal that began at CCNY rocked the NCAA in 1951.
* Detroit Lions tackle Alex Karras and Green Bay Packers halfback Paul Hornung were banished
for one year after revelations they'd bet on NFL games. They were forced to sit out 1963.
* Connie Hawkins was kicked out of the University of Iowa after he testified in a 1961 point-shaving
scandal---and Hawkins actually hadn't played a single minute before he testified.
* In 1978-79, four Boston College players were exposed as having been part of a point-shaving
scheme masterminded by Lucchese Family figure Henry Hill. The players were banned for life;
two served jail terms, I think.
* Art Schlichter, once a star Ohio State quarterback, was banished from the NFL over his gambling
addictions, which eventually got him sent to prison several times for fraud, forgery, and other
crimes tied to his gambling.
* In 1996, thirteen Boston College football players were suspended for a year and six banned for
life, after it came out that BC players bet against their own team in a loss to Syracuse.
-
Cardinals kept their Christian day;
http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/fischer/170619
That's good, but at the same time, are they planning a Pride night too?
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/cardinals-planning-pride-night-at-busch-stadium/article_afd026bf-08a2-587f-b615-b0a477383096.html
-
Who'd a thunk the Brewers would have been in first place in the NL Central closing in on the All-Star break?
-
Tebow promoted to high Class A St. Lucie by Mets
http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/tebow-promoted-to-high-class-a-st-lucie-by-mets/ar-BBDbegw?OCID=ansmsnnews11
-
Tebow promoted to high Class A St. Lucie by Mets
http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/tebow-promoted-to-high-class-a-st-lucie-by-mets/ar-BBDbegw?OCID=ansmsnnews11
Any other player hitting .222 wouldn't have had a chance at even that kind of promotion, with
or without Tim Tebow's work ethic, and he has an excellent such ethic. Tebow's a little different,
though---he's a guy who hadn't played any kind of baseball in over a decade, so him hitting .222
in the low minors is better than you'd expect. Does it mean he has a real pro baseball future? The jury's
still out.
Some of the move had economic motives: with Tebow, the smallest crowd at any of his games in
the South Atlantic League was about 2,645 people, and the Florida State League in which St. Lucie
plays is averaging 1,404 per game, so he'll have an economic impact going in that magnifies
when you throw in that---unlike with the Columbia Fireflies---the Mets own their St. Lucie affiliate
and they get a more direct bump than the Fireflies did.
A guy with a .651 OPS in the low-A SAL isn't exactly a long-term prospect no matter how hard
he works at the game, and Tebow is one of the hardest workers in the business. Then why make the
move, especially with tantalising hints that Tebow might even get a September call-up to the Mets
no matter how he does at St. Lucie---in a league level where the game is considerably more tough
than in the SAL?
Easy enough, and slightly disgraceful if you think deeply about it: Tebow is the Mets' Michael
Jordan---and the White Sox when Jordan tried and failed playing pro baseball in their organisation
didn't have even half the problems this year's Mets have---a feel-good story some in the Mets'
administration might hope, cynically enough, would distract from the major issues dogging
the Mets:
* Matt Harvey's apparent off-field breakdown and the troublesome antics it provoked.
* The mishandling of Noah Syndergaard's MRI folderol, which turned into a near three-month
trip to the disabled list when he got murdered by the Nationals and left that game with the lat
tear the MRI he tried to shenk might have turned up before he was sent out to take
that beating pitching at less than full strength.
* A team that was supposed to go to this year's postseason coming apart little by little
under injuries, aging, and attitude issues.
* Asdrubal Cabrera publicly denouncing the move to second base the day he came off the
DL and almost no one in the Mets' administration taking him to real task for it. (Once upon a
time, when Ted Simmons rejected a move to third base, his then-manager Whitey Herzog
---who suffered neither fools nor non-team players gladly---wasted no time moving him
out of town and elsewhere no matter how long Simmons had been in the Show, and
Simmons was about a twelve-year veteran at the time. Talk now is that the Mets are looking
to move a few veterans including Cabrera, but not pouncing when he pronounced himself
shall we say displeased over moving to second base weakens them administratively.)
* A bullpen not quite as notorious as those of the Nationals and the Giants but with
troubles enough beginning with how overworked they were in the first two months
of the season.
* Stubbornly refusing to call up Show-ready shortstop prospect Amed Rosario from
AAA Las Vegas and relying on their aging infield corps that produces less and less
overall.
-
RIP Anthony Young . . .
Anthony Young dies at 51; lost record 27 straight games (http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/19752843/anthony-young-holds-mlb-record-skid-dies-51)
Former pitcher Anthony Young, who still holds the major league record with 27 consecutive losses, died in Houston on Tuesday, the New York Mets announced.
He was 51 years old. His death comes on the anniversary of his 24th consecutive loss, which broke the record, on June 27, 1993 against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Former Mets pitcher Turk Wendell said in a statement that Young said earlier this year at the Mets' fantasy camp that he had been diagnosed with a brain tumor.
"Anthony was a true gentleman," Wendell said. "At this year's fantasy camp, he told us he had a brain tumor. That was Anthony. He never ran away from anything."
-
Question for you
Rizzo scoring from 1st base on the triple...he was hit-by-pitch, leading off the inning.
Was it an earned or unearned run to Scherzer? I'm thinking it could be ruled an E-1...but the run scored before 2 outs were made.
-
Question for you
Rizzo scoring from 1st base on the triple...he was hit-by-pitch, leading off the inning.
Was it an earned or unearned run to Scherzer? I'm thinking it could be ruled an E-1...but the run scored before 2 outs were made.
Actually, there were two out before Kris Bryant tripled Anthony Rizzo home: Tommy LaStella struck out looking
and Ian Happ flied out to center before Bryant batted. Hit batsmen aren't generally ruled errors on the pitcher.
And the run was ruled earned, Scherzer's only earned run surrendered on the day.
-
Punkass catcher Miguel Montero out of a job. An NFL quarterback doesn't impugn his linemen for sacks. A NASCAR driver doesn't fault his crew for crashes. And a major-league catcher doesn't blame his pitcher for stolen bases — especially one who has failed to throw out a base-stealer this season.
Maybe Dick Durbin who got Montero is US citizenship can find him a new job!.
:beer:
-
Actually, there were two out before Kris Bryant tripled Anthony Rizzo home: Tommy LaStella struck out looking
and Ian Happ flied out to center before Bryant batted. Hit batsmen aren't generally ruled errors on the pitcher.
And the run was ruled earned, Scherzer's only earned run surrendered on the day.
Thanks, @EasyAce !! :laugh:
I bet my son that Harper was going to get plunked before the series is finished....not so much now.
It's Strasburg tonight! LOVE this series.
Arrieta looked very human last night. Although I though the HP ump was squeezing him a bit.
-
Punkass catcher Miguel Montero out of a job. An NFL quarterback doesn't impugn his linemen for sacks. A NASCAR driver doesn't fault his crew for crashes. And a major-league catcher doesn't blame his pitcher for stolen bases — especially one who has failed to throw out a base-stealer this season.
Maybe Dick Durbin who got Montero is US citizenship can find him a new job!.
:beer:
The crazy world we live in, if I was Trey Turner, I'd hire a 24/7 guard for protection until this guy reports to his team.
I actually felt sorry for the catcher, because both Turner and Taylor ran at will...and it wasn't even close.
Still...bad-mouthing the Ace publicly? 22222frying pan
-
Still...bad-mouthing the Ace publicly? 22222frying pan
@DCPatriot
I just wrote about the brouhaha:
Badly timed not-so-grand slam punches Montero’s ticket out
http://throneberryfields.com/2017/06/28/badly-timed-not-so-grand-slam-punches-monteros-ticket-out/
Once upon a time, Cliff Robertson, playing cartoonish Western villain Shame on the cartoonish television series Batman,
barked at one of his henchmen, “A big mouth works best when it’s kept shut!” Miguel Montero, backup catcher whom
the Cubs now wish to make a former Cub, is learning the hard way.
Baseball’s worst kept secrets include Jake Arrieta being not exactly the quickest pitcher to the plate, with or without men on
base, and the Cubs not necessarily put an excess of emphasis on pitchers holding runners ahead of emphasising other
pitching necessities.
The Nationals took complete advantage of Arrieta’s side of the coin Tuesday, performing their own version of a bull run at his
and the Cubs’ expense, en route a team record for thefts in one game (seven, in the first four innings) and, while they were
at it, a 6-1 win on a day Max Scherzer didn’t exactly have his A++ game.
Then Montero, who started the game behind the plate, unburdened himself after the game:
When you really look at it, the pitcher doesn’t give me any time. It’s just like:
‘Yeah, OK, Miggy can’t throw nobody out.’ Yeah, but my pitchers don’t hold
anybody on. It’s tough, because it doesn’t matter how much work I put in. If
I don’t get a chance to throw, that’s the reason why they were running left and
right today, because they know he was slow to the plate. Simple as that. It’s a
shame that it’s my fault because I didn’t throw anybody out.
The Cubs rewarded Montero’s schpritz with a designation for assignment. They replaced him by calling up 23-year-old
Victor (Beta) Caratini from Triple-A Iowa.
Montero might have had more credibility in his postgame complaints if a) he’d aired them out in the Cub clubhouse before
zinging Arrieta to the press; and, b) if he hadn’t been 1-for-32 in throwing out would-be stealers while Willson Contreras,
the Cubs’ number one catcher, who has the same pitching staff to handle, is 16-for-47 (34 percent, six points above the
National League average), and also happens to be Jon Lester’s personal catcher.
We’re not trying to say Contreras is the perfect cop, but a grand theft arrest record differential like that should be enough
to compel the number two man to think twice before shooting from the lip. Did I mention Montero is tied for the slowest
“pop” time (2.12 seconds, .02 below the league average)—the time between a catcher receiving a pitch and an infielder
receiving his throw from the plate—in the Show?
Unfortunately, Montero didn’t think even once, about his commentary or about the timing thereof. It’s not the first time
he’s had trouble with the latter.
On the same day the Cubs led Chicago in a Woodstock-sized World Series triumph celebration to Grant Park last November,
Montero went aboard ESPN’s The Waddle and Silvy Show to complain about his postseason playing time. “It was a different
emotion,” he said about his own celebration, “because I didn’t get a chance to play. I was a little disappointed, to be
honest, because I felt like I did a good job in the regular season but was left out a little bit. It made me feel a little like
not important or maybe not as good to be in this lineup.”
That came from the man who had two of the most important plate appearances in Cub history last postseason and cashed
them in with profit to spare.
It was Montero who destroyed Dodger manager Dave Roberts’ gutsy move to have reliever Joe Blanton load the pads in
Game One of the 2016 National League Championship Series, sending a hanging two-strike slider into the right field
bleachers for only the third-ever postseason pinch-hit grand slam. And it was Montero whose tenth-inning RBI single—
hitting again with ducks on the pond—ended up the insurance run in Game Seven of the World Series.
Not to mention that Montero, a mid-game insertion for now-retired David Ross, was the man who steadied Aroldis Chapman,
after Chapman surrendered Rajai Davis’s eighth-inning Game Seven bomb that got close enough to ruining the Cubs’
season. Montero simply called for more breaking pitches in the ninth when Chapman was clearly out of gas, and Chapman
pitched it without a scratch.
With his celebration day commentary—however valid his complaint might have been in one regard (several commentators
concurred that manager Joe Maddon sometimes has communication problems)—Montero damn near wiped that work out
of the memory banks. Throwing Arrieta overboard Tuesday pushed the eraser down more firmly.
Anthony Rizzo, who hasn’t been having the kind of season people expected but who turned into a sniper when inserted
into the leadoff slot this month, didn’t take Montero’s attempted burial of Arrieta lightly. On the theory that one bad turn
deserves another, Rizzo went aboard another ESPN radio show, hosted in Chicago by David Kaplan, and let Montero
have it.
“I had no idea about [Montero's Arrieta remarks] until I got back to the hotel and saw all this stuff,” Rizzo fumed. “I got
a couple text messages from a couple of my friends just kinda asking, ‘What the hell is this guy doing?’
“Listen, we win as a team, we lose as a team. If you start pointing fingers, I think that just labels you as a selfish player.
I disagree. We have another catcher that throws out everyone who steals and he has Jon Lester who doesn’t pick over.
It’s no secret. I think going to the media with things like that, I don’t think it’s very professional.”
No, I didn’t miss the irony in Rizzo calling out a teammate publicly for calling out another teammate publicly, but Rizzo
remains acknowledged and secured as one of the Cubs’ clubhouse leaders while Montero had already eroded most of
his clubhouse cred last November. The Cubs have a lot more pressing issues to resolve if they’d like to have a postseason
encore in October.
Cubs president Theo Epstein minced no words after Montero was designated for assignment, either. “When something
goes wrong on the field we expect our players to take the blame, step up and proactively assume the blame for it, even
if it’s not their fault,” Epstein said.
“That’s the way to be a good teammate. He completely agreed when it was pointed out to him and he apologized. After
thinking about it some more, I just came to the conclusion that now more than ever we need to be a team. This was an
example of being a bad teammate publicly and that we’d be better off moving on and not standing for it.”
Montero was a two-time All-Star with a reputation for mentoring younger players in Arizona. The Cubs thought they were
getting that, and for a time they got the mentor (including for Contreras himself); back issues and other maladies wore
Montero down to top backup status.
And he wasn’t inclined to just sit back and accept it as the aging Ross became a team and media celebrity being exactly
what Montero should have been—a man at peace with himself, accepting of his lot, making the most of what he had,
continuing to teach and mentor younger players with far more baseball life ahead than that left to him.
Even sadder was that Montero showed genuine class as he departed, tweeting, “To the city of Chicago—Dear fans, today
I say goodbye to the greatest fans. I want to thank you for the support. It was an awesome ride. Winning the World
Series was simply fantastic. Thank you to my teammates—good luck to everyone of you. Thank you also to each staff
member, it was an honor to play for the Chicago Cubs organization. Chicago will always be in my heart.”
The question becomes whether Montero’s most poorly timed public complaints will take him out of Chicago’s. Even with
the single most important grand slam and eventual insurance run in team history on his resume.
-
@DCPatriot
I just wrote about the brouhaha:
As always, excellent article, @EasyAce
-
As always, excellent article, @EasyAce
@Polly Ticks
As always, thank you!
-
@DCPatriot
I just wrote about the brouhaha:
Thanks for the insight! Mrs Liberty and I were trying to figure out what happened when we heard about it last night. Miggy was one of our favorite Dbacks, and we were frustrated when they traded him off to the Cubs. Our pitching immediately suffered for it and we slumped the rest of the season. It came as no surprise, though, it was his mouth that did him in, after last year.
Maybe now we can get him back, if we can still afford him. Since then, we got a couple of pretty good catchers.
-
Maybe now we can get him back, if we can still afford him. Since then, we got a couple of pretty good catchers.
He's not in the best of bargaining positions. You might be able to get him at a discount. Like a K-mart catcher.
-
He's not in the best of bargaining positions. You might be able to get him at a discount. Like a K-mart catcher.
He'd better be hitting as well as he used to if he hopes to replace Mathis, Ianetta or Hermann. Mathis is under the Mendoza Line, but all three seem to get timely hits.
-
@DCPatriot
I just wrote about the brouhaha:
The Cubs rewarded Montero’s schpritz with a designation for assignment. They replaced him by calling up 23-year-old
Victor (Beta) Caratini from Triple-A Iowa.
Montero might have had more credibility in his postgame complaints if a) he’d aired them out in the Cub clubhouse before
zinging Arrieta to the press; and, b) if he hadn’t been 1-for-32 in throwing out would-be stealers while Willson Contreras,
the Cubs’ number one catcher, who has the same pitching staff to handle, is 16-for-47 (34 percent, six points above the
National League average), and also happens to be Jon Lester’s personal catcher.
We’re not trying to say Contreras is the perfect cop, but a grand theft arrest record differential like that should be enough
to compel the number two man to think twice before shooting from the lip. Did I mention Montero is tied for the slowest
“pop” time (2.12 seconds, .02 below the league average)—the time between a catcher receiving a pitch and an infielder
receiving his throw from the plate—in the Show?
Unfortunately, Montero didn’t think even once, about his commentary or about the timing thereof. It’s not the first time
he’s had trouble with the latter.
On the same day the Cubs led Chicago in a Woodstock-sized World Series triumph celebration to Grant Park last November,
Montero went aboard ESPN’s The Waddle and Silvy Show to complain about his postseason playing time. “It was a different
emotion,” he said about his own celebration, “because I didn’t get a chance to play. I was a little disappointed, to be
honest, because I felt like I did a good job in the regular season but was left out a little bit. It made me feel a little like
not important or maybe not as good to be in this lineup.”
That came from the man who had two of the most important plate appearances in Cub history last postseason and cashed
them in with profit to spare.
It was Montero who destroyed Dodger manager Dave Roberts’ gutsy move to have reliever Joe Blanton load the pads in
Game One of the 2016 National League Championship Series, sending a hanging two-strike slider into the right field
bleachers for only the third-ever postseason pinch-hit grand slam. And it was Montero whose tenth-inning RBI single—
hitting again with ducks on the pond—ended up the insurance run in Game Seven of the World Series.
Not to mention that Montero, a mid-game insertion for now-retired David Ross, was the man who steadied Aroldis Chapman,
after Chapman surrendered Rajai Davis’s eighth-inning Game Seven bomb that got close enough to ruining the Cubs’
season. Montero simply called for more breaking pitches in the ninth when Chapman was clearly out of gas, and Chapman
pitched it without a scratch.
With his celebration day commentary—however valid his complaint might have been in one regard (several commentators
concurred that manager Joe Maddon sometimes has communication problems)—Montero damn near wiped that work out
of the memory banks. Throwing Arrieta overboard Tuesday pushed the eraser down more firmly.
Anthony Rizzo, who hasn’t been having the kind of season people expected but who turned into a sniper when inserted
into the leadoff slot this month, didn’t take Montero’s attempted burial of Arrieta lightly. On the theory that one bad turn
deserves another, Rizzo went aboard another ESPN radio show, hosted in Chicago by David Kaplan, and let Montero
have it.
“I had no idea about [Montero's Arrieta remarks] until I got back to the hotel and saw all this stuff,” Rizzo fumed. “I got
a couple text messages from a couple of my friends just kinda asking, ‘What the hell is this guy doing?’
“Listen, we win as a team, we lose as a team. If you start pointing fingers, I think that just labels you as a selfish player.
I disagree. We have another catcher that throws out everyone who steals and he has Jon Lester who doesn’t pick over.
It’s no secret. I think going to the media with things like that, I don’t think it’s very professional.”
No, I didn’t miss the irony in Rizzo calling out a teammate publicly for calling out another teammate publicly, but Rizzo
remains acknowledged and secured as one of the Cubs’ clubhouse leaders while Montero had already eroded most of
his clubhouse cred last November. The Cubs have a lot more pressing issues to resolve if they’d like to have a postseason
encore in October.
Cubs president Theo Epstein minced no words after Montero was designated for assignment, either. “When something
goes wrong on the field we expect our players to take the blame, step up and proactively assume the blame for it, even
if it’s not their fault,” Epstein said.
“That’s the way to be a good teammate. He completely agreed when it was pointed out to him and he apologized. After
thinking about it some more, I just came to the conclusion that now more than ever we need to be a team. This was an
example of being a bad teammate publicly and that we’d be better off moving on and not standing for it.”
Montero was a two-time All-Star with a reputation for mentoring younger players in Arizona. The Cubs thought they were
getting that, and for a time they got the mentor (including for Contreras himself); back issues and other maladies wore
Montero down to top backup status.
And he wasn’t inclined to just sit back and accept it as the aging Ross became a team and media celebrity being exactly
what Montero should have been—a man at peace with himself, accepting of his lot, making the most of what he had,
continuing to teach and mentor younger players with far more baseball life ahead than that left to him.
Even sadder was that Montero showed genuine class as he departed, tweeting, “To the city of Chicago—Dear fans, today
I say goodbye to the greatest fans. I want to thank you for the support. It was an awesome ride. Winning the World
Series was simply fantastic. Thank you to my teammates—good luck to everyone of you. Thank you also to each staff
member, it was an honor to play for the Chicago Cubs organization. Chicago will always be in my heart.”
The question becomes whether Montero’s most poorly timed public complaints will take him out of Chicago’s. Even with
the single most important grand slam and eventual insurance run in team history on his resume.
Come on, man! Who are you? You can PM me. The secret will be just between the two of us. :laugh:
:beer:
If only you liked President Trump.....we could be FRiends!! :beer:
-
Come on, man! Who are you? You can PM me. The secret will be just between the two of us. :laugh:
:beer:
OK, you forced me into it. I'm really . . .
EasyAce! ;)
If only you liked President Trump.....we could be FRiends!! :beer:
Some of my best friends are people. You couldn't have one friend who thinks Donaldus Minimus isn't God, Jr.?
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/80/Jim_Beam_Bourbon_PL.JPG)
-
OK, you forced me into it. I'm really . . .
EasyAce! ;)
Some of my best friends are people. You couldn't have one friend who thinks Donaldus Minimus isn't God, Jr.?
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/80/Jim_Beam_Bourbon_PL.JPG)
I can say with a straight face I consider DCP a good friend, the kind I could enjoy JB with, and I'm out somewhere in the middle of the Trump Spectrum. We've known each other too long to let something like that keep us down.
-
I can say with a straight face I consider DCP a good friend, the kind I could enjoy JB with, and I'm out somewhere in the middle of the Trump Spectrum. We've known each other too long to let something like that keep us down.
:beer:
If there were never a Donald Trump, I'm sure we'd all get along just fine.
But where's the fun in that?
-
:beer:
If there were never a Donald Trump, I'm sure we'd all get along just fine.
But where's the fun in that?
I have complete confidence we could all find something to fight about. Like Baseball! "So, was the DH rule the worst ever, or would you say it's the Deemed No-Pitch walk? Discuss."
-
I like DC too. So much so I would give him CPR compressions and Mouth-to-Mouth if'n he has another Heart Attack with the hooker we were with at the time.....again
Glenlivet for me though DCP...tha JB is out of my league....
-
:beer:
If there were never a Donald Trump, I'm sure we'd all get along just fine.
But where's the fun in that?
If there were never a Donaldus Minimus, I'm sure . . . there'd be some other head of the nation's largest organised
crime family* to divide and conquer us. ;)
(* Hint---it's headquarters are in Washington . . . )
-
"So, was the DH rule the worst ever, or would you say it's the Deemed No-Pitch walk? Discuss."
DH. Thumbs down. I predict the no-pitch walk won't wreak a sixteenth of the mischief the DH has wreaked.
(Which reminds me: while Madison Bumgarner is on rehab assignment, he's been taking extra batting practise . . . the
way the Giants are going this year every extra stick helps!)
-
My vote is for DH as well.
Not a fan of either rule, but DH is the worst one of the two.
(...I am a beer guy, myself, should we all cross paths).
-
I like DC too. So much so I would give him CPR compressions and Mouth-to-Mouth if'n he has another Heart Attack with the hooker we were with at the time.....again
Glenlivet for me though DCP...tha JB is out of my league....
Same here. Love of baseball transcends all politics. Mind if I add my compliment of beverage?
(http://images.abcfws.com/get/w/274/h/548/526105.image?notfound=notavailable)(http://www.staples-3p.com/s7/is/image/Staples/s0998000_sc7?$splssku$)
-
I have complete confidence we could all find something to fight about. Like Baseball! "So, was the DH rule the worst ever, or would you say it's the Deemed No-Pitch walk? Discuss."
I started a poll for your question here:
http://www.gopbriefingroom.com/index.php/topic,269548.0.html
-
DH. Thumbs down. I predict the no-pitch walk won't wreak a sixteenth of the mischief the DH has wreaked.
(Which reminds me: while Madison Bumgarner is on rehab assignment, he's been taking extra batting practise . . . the
way the Giants are going this year every extra stick helps!)
EA....
Rumor has it that MLB is toying with some bizarre overtime rule to allow a designated runner at second to start all extra innings.
To me , that is the beginning of the end.
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DH. Thumbs down. I predict the no-pitch walk won't wreak a sixteenth of the mischief the DH has wreaked.
(Which reminds me: while Madison Bumgarner is on rehab assignment, he's been taking extra batting practise . . . the
way the Giants are going this year every extra stick helps!)
The Giants have really broken hearts this year. Dead last is never the place for a team of that caliber. My Nephew is a big fan.
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EA....
Rumor has it that MLB is toying with some bizarre overtime rule to allow a designated runner at second to start all extra innings.
To me , that is the beginning of the end.
A head start??? Damn, even the strike didn't phase me like that would.
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A head start??? Damn, even the strike didn't phase me like that would.
I quit watching Pro baseball for a LONG time over that strike (this years Astros team has changed that a little) but will be gone again when they start that crap!
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The Giants have really broken hearts this year. Dead last is never the place for a team of that caliber. My Nephew is a big fan.
Any chance they might want to send their catcher to Astros? :seeya:
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Ahh baseball...7 guys standing around watching two guys play catch. :tongue2:
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I like DC too. So much so I would give him CPR compressions and Mouth-to-Mouth if'n he has another Heart Attack with the hooker we were with at the time.....again
Glenlivet for me though DCP...tha JB is out of my league....
"You're welcome at my fire anytime", buddy (from The Man From Snowy River) :beer:
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Ahh baseball...7 guys standing around watching two guys play catch. :tongue2:
LOL!
"Baseball is like going to Church [Sunday]. Many attend, but few understand."
Boz wrote that once...but I can't recall if he was quoting another great.
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EA....
Rumor has it that MLB is toying with some bizarre overtime rule to allow a designated runner at second to start all extra innings.
To me , that is the beginning of the end.
The smart word is that baseball government thought about it . . . but let it go. Unlike government government,
once in awhile baseball government gets the a-ha! about prospective mischief before it can become mischief.
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Ahh baseball...7 guys standing around watching two guys play catch. :tongue2:
I'd rather watch that than a crowd of guys in masks trying to smother each other alive
while some poor sap in the middle of that mob tries to live long enough to throw something
that isn't even shaped like a ball.
But then I admit it's easier to watch the NFL---all you have to do is look at the daily police
blotter. :tongue2:
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I'd rather watch that than a crowd of guys in masks trying to smother each other alive
while some poor sap in the middle of that mob tries to live long enough to throw something
that isn't even shaped like a ball.
But then I admit it's easier to watch the NFL---all you have to do is look at the daily police
blotter. :tongue2:
And an NBA game...where the last 5 minutes of any game is the only time worth watching.
Or an NHL game...a game of 150 turnovers. Hockey, is soccer on skates.
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And an NBA game...where the last 5 minutes of any game is the only time worth watching.
Or an NHL game...a game of 150 turnovers. Hockey, is soccer on skates.
I hate Basketball. It's Professional Wrestling.
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I hate Basketball. It's Professional Wrestling.
Same here. As a kid, I really liked it, as it blended athletism, defense, and skill. Nowadays, it is a bunch of thugs being paid ungodly money for playground banter.
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Ahh baseball...7 guys standing around watching two guys play catch. :tongue2:
A soccer fan joins the discussion. :smokin: lol
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A soccer fan joins the discussion. :smokin: lol
Never trust a sport that won't allow you to grab your balls.
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Never trust a sport that won't allow you to grab your balls.
QFT!
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I'd pick the Astros to win the whole thing this year. One really has to like their chances. Of course, a few other clubs are up there as well now, namely the Dodgers and Rockies.
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DH. Thumbs down. I predict the no-pitch walk won't wreak a sixteenth of the mischief the DH has wreaked.
(Which reminds me: while Madison Bumgarner is on rehab assignment, he's been taking extra batting practise . . . the
way the Giants are going this year every extra stick helps!)
The DH is an abomination.
And Madison Baumgarner can't come back fast enough, no matter where the Giants end up in the standings. He's just flat out fun to watch. Besides, it's an odd year so nobody expects much out of the Giants anyway.
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LOL!
"Baseball is like going to Church [Sunday]. Many attend, but few understand."
Boz wrote that once...but I can't recall if he was quoting another great.
I like that one!
I also like this one:
(http://throughthefencebaseball.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/45463_548442588529717_455925493_n.jpg)
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I'd pick the Astros to win the whole thing this year. One really has to like their chances. Of course, a few other clubs are up there as well now, namely the Dodgers and Rockies.
Uh.....you misspelled Nationals @TomSea :laugh:
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I like that one!
I also like this one:
(http://throughthefencebaseball.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/45463_548442588529717_455925493_n.jpg)
If the GD Muslims would adopt the game of baseball, all jihad would cease to exist.
So long as the pitcher's name isn't Koufax, huh?
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I'd pick the Astros to win the whole thing this year. One really has to like their chances. Of course, a few other clubs are up there as well now, namely the Dodgers and Rockies.
Dude.....you jinxed it for us.
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The DH is an abomination.
And Madison Baumgarner can't come back fast enough, no matter where the Giants end up in the standings. He's just flat out fun to watch. Besides, it's an odd year so nobody expects much out of the Giants anyway.
They didn't get far in even-numbered last year (rousted in the NLDS), so we can put the odd-even thing
to bed. ;)
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Hockey, is soccer on skates.
You mean it's improving? The last I looked, hockey was tag-team street brawling on skates.
Or, as TV Guide once put it to introduce the hockey portion of their fall sports preview,
"Good news for fight fans---the NHL is back."
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You mean it's improving? The last I looked, hockey was tag-team street brawling on skates.
Or, as TV Guide once put it to introduce the hockey portion of their fall sports preview,
"Good news for fight fans---the NHL is back."
Stanley Cup Hockey is different than seasonal games.
It's like Elizabeth McGovern morphing into Salma Hayek. :laugh:
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The NATS' gave up the lead in the 9th inning at home...again. And lost, evening up the series at 2 apiece.
Come on, man.
"BLAKE" Treinen? Who the hells has a Closer named "Blake"? Plus, his stolid persona is betrayed by his deer-in the headlight eyes.
Like his entire face had been Novocained and he couldn't flex. Like Jim Palmer's face. Like Mika's, on New Year's Eve at Mar-a-lgo.
He looked like he was ready to cry.
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Stanley Cup Hockey is different than seasonal games.
It's like Elizabeth McGovern morphing into Salma Hayek. :laugh:
I thought it was more like Phyllis Diller morphing into Rowdy Roddy Piper :laugh:
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The NATS' gave up the lead in the 9th inning at home...again. And lost, evening up the series at 2 apiece.
Come on, man.
"BLAKE" Treinen? Who the hells has a Closer named "Blake"? Plus, his stolid persona is betrayed by his deer-in the headlight eyes.
Like his entire face had been Novocained and he couldn't flex. Like Jim Palmer's face. Like Mika's, on New Year's Eve at Mar-a-lgo.
He looked like he was ready to cry.
Worse---Trea Turner out indefinitely with a wrist fracture after he was hit by a pitch in the seventh. (He hung in until
the pain got bad enough for him to come out for the ninth.)
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They didn't get far in even-numbered last year (rousted in the NLDS), so we can put the odd-even thing
to bed. ;)
Maybe it was the exception that proves the rule? Guess we'll have to wait until next year to find out ...
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Maybe it was the exception that proves the rule? Guess we'll have to wait until next year to find out ...
Next year and what may prove to be a major overhaul.
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Worse---Trea Turner out indefinitely with a wrist fracture after he was hit by a pitch in the seventh. (He hung in until
the pain got bad enough for him to come out for the ninth.)
it wasn't a 'purpose' pitch or a retaliatory plunk for Rizzo and Candalario earlier, was it?
The series cost the CUBS dearly in terms of healthy starters.
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it wasn't a 'purpose' pitch or a retaliatory plunk for Rizzo and Candalario earlier, was it?
The series cost the CUBS dearly in terms of healthy starters.
I watched a clip of the plate appearance. Unlike other such incidents (Hunter Strickland-Bryce Harper, anyone?) where
you have a pretty damn good idea about the intent, it was difficult to know whether the pitch to Turner was a purpose
pitch. And I can't remember anyone ever before thinking Cub pitcher Pedro Strop any kind of headhunter, and he didn't
look as though he were aiming at Turner the way Strickland did Harper. My call: Strop and catcher Willson Contreras
simply set for an inside corner pitch and the pitch didn't work as they wanted. You notice Strop didn't make any movement
at the mound to suggest he'd just nailed his intended prey. And Contreras kind of bent over as if genuinely upset that
the pitch hit Turner. And Turner didn't behave like he thought he'd been specifically targeted.
The only reason I could have thought of for the Nats being P.O.ed at the Cubs going into this series was when
Jake Arrieta beat his gums with satisfaction over Strickland nailing Harper, apparently. I wrote about that,
too:
Basebrawl’s jake with Arrieta
http://throneberryfields.com/2017/06/01/basebrawls-jake-with-arrieta/
One of the most thoughtfully articulate baseball players of his time stands athwart sense, yelling “Super!” about
brawl games such as that instigated by Hunter Strickland against Bryce Harper on Memorial Day. It’s enough to
provoke lustful thoughts about the Kardashians, to whom exhibitionism equals articulation.
Schpritzing about who does and does not have the right to flip a bat upon a monster mash may be one thing, but
Jake Arrieta, Cubs pitcher, thinks the Strickland-Harper rumble was “awesome.”
“I don’t think anybody is right or wrong,” Arrieta told Chicago’s CBS affiliate, known colloquially as 670 The Score (http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/05/30/cubs-jake-arrieta-wants-catcher-to-let-him-brawl-bryce-harper-awesome/),
the day after Strickland-Harper. “I thought it was awesome. Every once in a while, it’s refreshing to see two teams
emotionally charged getting after it. And when something like that happens versus continuing to chirp and talk
about it, why don’t you go out there and see somebody? That’s exactly what happened in the game yesterday.”
Apparently, Arrieta thinks it’s jake that Strickland, who hadn’t faced Harper since the 2014 National League division
series, but who’d been “chirping” back and forth with Harper since, threw one into Harper’s hip on the first pitch
Monday afternoon, over a pair of long home runs Harper hit off Strickland in that series.
Somehow, the “refreshment” of two teams being or remaining emotionally charged over events two years and
seven months in the past is an absurdity that doesn’t register. With Arrieta, and with a lot of people (http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/448135/bryce-harper-suspension-hunter-strickland-actions-bush-league).
Harper connected off Strickland in Games One and Four of that division series—which, by the way, the Giants
went on to win, en route a third World Series ring in five seasons. It’s thought the Game Four blast got under
Strickland’s skin particularly, since Harper had the audacity to pause long enough gazing at the ball before
taking his round trip.
Except that there was a method to Harper’s apparent madness. Before the ball landed in McCovey’s Cove
behind AT&T Park, it flew right down the right field line. Harper and everyone else in the park that night,
from the dugouts to the top of the upper deck, couldn’t be certain the ball would pass the foul pole on the
fair side until it did just that.
Any pitcher with the common sense God bestowed upon a gnat would have seen the trajectory and understood
in an instant that this wasn’t a case of trying to show anyone up. Indeed, the split second Harper connected,
Strickland jerked around in a split second of his own to watch and wonder.
And any observer with the same common sense, who watched Monday’s game closely, could have seen Strickland’s
intended target—facing Harper with two out, nobody on, the Nationals up 2-0, Harper freshly checked in at the
plate, and Giants catcher Buster Posey set up for a pitch on the inside corner but no further—wasn’t Posey’s mitt
but Harper’s anatomy. (Posey may even have called for a curve ball, not the fastball Strickland threw.)
The ball ricocheted off Harper’s hip and floated up the third base line several feet. Harper charged the mound,
throwing his helmet away and sailing right up to Strickland to swap punches. Posey stood behind the plate, possibly
thinking to himself, You’re on your own, bro, I didn’t call for that pitch, and wouldn’t it be easier not to throw
home run pitches than to steam about them for almost three years?
To Strickland, apparently, that was a clown question, bro.
It took almost seven full seconds before any Giant or Nat reached the combatants. En route, two Giants, pitcher
Jeff Samardzija and first baseman Michael Morse, collided. It cost Morse a seven-day trip to the concussion list.
Arrieta likes that it took that long before either team joined the fun. “If two guys want to go see each other, let
them be in the middle, let them throw some punches, then break it up,” he told The Score. “I don’t like to see
any sucker punches. I do think in the heat of battle if you’re getting hit on the hip with 98, then you should be
able to go out and see somebody. I think the umpires handled it well. They let them exchange for a moment,
then they tried to break it up.”
He even admired Posey’s conduct, though not necessarily for the reason anyone else does: “If it’s my catcher,
I want him to wait and give me an opportunity to do a little damage. I don’t want it broken up right away. If it
happens, I’ll let you know. I’ll be ready. You know, I like my chances toe-to-toe with just about anybody.”
With no known report quoting him otherwise, is it fair to assume that, his call for a “moment” between initial
combatants before everyone else joins up, Arrieta thinks nothing of the prospect of teammates being injured
in such scrums, as Strickland surely didn’t? What does he think Morse’s concussion is? Collateral damage?
It’s reasonable to think Arrieta wouldn’t have liked his chances if, as happened in the 2015 National League
wild card game he dominated, he was not just hit on the hip by a pitch but perhaps piledriven by a rampaging
Pirate in the middle of the melee. Sports Illustrated‘s Jon Tayler asks a question provoked by just that: “What
if Arrieta’s newly resurgent career had been affected because of a pointless hit-by-pitch? Will it take something
like that to make all the performative posturing passé?”
Arrieta might not have liked his chances with baseball government, either, if the following season his primary
order of business in his next outing against the Pirates was to drill, say, Andrew McCutchen. Harper after his
appeal was suspended for 27 innings (three games); Strickland, at this writing, awaits the net result of his
appeal. If it fails, he’d be suspended six innings (three games, in relief pitching terms). If it succeeds, he’d be
suspended, what? Four innings? (Four games.) Three innings? (Three games.)
Some would say that’s not justice no matter how you parse it. Others would lament that that’s one of the
problems with baseball government—you hope for Solomon, but you wind up with Inspector Clouseau.
(p.s. Strickland's appeal was ultimately denied. And he served his six-inning suspension.)
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I watched a clip of the plate appearance. Unlike other such incidents (Hunter Strickland-Bryce Harper, anyone?) where
you have a pretty damn good idea about the intent, it was difficult to know whether the pitch to Turner was a purpose
pitch. The catcher was set up for a pitch to the inside corner, it's not like Strickland crossing up Buster Posey who'd
set up a little off the middle of the plate away from Harper and went right inside and to his ass. And I can't
remember anyone ever before thinking Cub pitcher Pedro Strop any kind of headhunter. My call: Strop and catcher
Willson Contreras simply set for an inside corner pitch and the pitch didn't work as they wanted. You notice Strop
didn't make any movement at the mound to suggest he'd just nailed his intended prey. And Contreras kind of
bent over as if genuinely upset that the pitch hit Turner.
Thanks for checking it out.
Seeing as how Turner humiliated their defense holding runners...together with the CUBS' hitters getting plunked the whole series...Cantelario after going yard this afternoon...it begged the question. :laugh:
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The NATS' gave up the lead in the 9th inning at home...again. And lost, evening up the series at 2 apiece.
Come on, man.
"BLAKE" Treinen? Who the hells has a Closer named "Blake"? Plus, his stolid persona is betrayed by his deer-in the headlight eyes.
Like his entire face had been Novocained and he couldn't flex. Like Jim Palmer's face. Like Mika's, on New Year's Eve at Mar-a-lgo.
He looked like he was ready to cry.
:silly:
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It was a lot of fun to watch Carlos Correa jack to out last night.
Even with our key starting pitchers being out, we seem to be holding our own.
They've brought up a few minor leaguers, I think to showcase, looking to trade for one more arm, I believe.
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It was a lot of fun to watch Carlos Correa jack to out last night.
Even with our key starting pitchers being out, we seem to be holding our own.
They've brought up a few minor leaguers, I think to showcase, looking to trade for one more arm, I believe.
And one of those showcased I wish had not been!
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And one of those showcased I wish had not been!
:laugh:
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It was a lot of fun to watch Carlos Correa jack to out last night.
Even with our key starting pitchers being out, we seem to be holding our own.
They've brought up a few minor leaguers, I think to showcase, looking to trade for one more arm, I believe.
I've got nothing but a gut feeling...seasoned with over 60+ years of playing/coaching/studying the Game, but...
IMHO, the Astros are exactly where the Nationals were in 2012.
They caught the damned car and they still don't know what to do with it.
Seriously though, we all know TWO undeniable truths about playoff baseball....
1) LUCK plays a large part in who wins a best of seven series.
2) Great Pitching will ALWAYS stop Great Hitting.
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I've got nothing but a gut feeling...seasoned with over 60+ years of playing/coaching/studying the Game, but...
IMHO, the Astros are exactly where the Nationals were in 2012.
They caught the damned car and they still don't know what to do with it.
Seriously though, we all know TWO undeniable truths about playoff baseball....
1) LUCK plays a large part in who wins a best of seven series.
2) Great Pitching will ALWAYS stop Great Hitting.
I fully agree with everything you said but the Astros manager negates the "don't know what to do with it" part IMHO!
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I fully agree with everything you said but the Astros manager negates the "don't know what to do with it" part IMHO!
:laugh:
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I fully agree with everything you said but the Astros manager negates the "don't know what to do with it" part IMHO!
@Bigun
@DCPatriot
I have to admit, when the Astros hired A.J. Hinch, I thought "Oh,no. We've hired another one of those guys on the cheap, who hasn't proven themselves".
I was dead wrong.
I think the GM, Ludnow, the ex- Cardinal guy, has had a lot to do with where they are new, also.
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I fully agree with everything you said but the Astros manager negates the "don't know what to do with it" part IMHO!
@Bigun
@DCPatriot
Funny that comment came from a fan of the team that was sooooooo smart, they hired Dusty Baker.
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@Bigun
@DCPatriot
Funny that comment came from a fan of the team that was sooooooo smart, they hired Dusty Baker.
OK! I'm confused? Please explain your meaning.
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OK! I'm confused? Please explain your meaning.
@DCPatriot
@Bigun
Maybe we should ask what Kerry Wood and Mark Prior what they think of ol' toothpickin' Crusty
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@DCPatriot
@Bigun
Maybe we she ask what Kerry Wood and Mark Prior what they think of ol' toothpickin' Crusty
...and it ain't even August, yet! :laugh:
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OK! I'm confused? Please explain your meaning.
Dusty has a reputation of causing dead arms, by ignoring pitch counts. Physical and emotional abuse on a large scale in the Millennial generation.
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Dusty has a reputation of causing dead arms, by ignoring pitch counts. Physical and emotional abuse on a large scale in the Millennial generation.
OK! But still don't know how that relates to anything I said previously. :thud:
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This just in: Joe West was hit by a pitch---thrown down from the stands. In the head.
Naturally, he wasn't hurt.
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This just in: Joe West was hit by a pitch---thrown down from the stands. In the head.
Naturally, he wasn't hurt.
Now if had been C.B. Bucknor......
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Now if had been C.B. Bucknor......
With his cement head? He, too, wouldn't have been hurt. ;)
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A soccer fan joins the discussion. :smokin: lol
@Wingnut @catfish1957
Most definitely NOT a soccer fan!!!! Soccer: proof that the rest of the world really IS that F'd up!
Nope, I'm more of a lacrosse and hockey fan (and coach and official)...especially lacrosse. But I do like watching my son play football too!
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@Wingnut @catfish1957
Most definitely NOT a soccer fan!!!! Soccer: proof that the rest of the world really IS that F'd up!
Nope, I'm more of a lacrosse and hockey fan (and coach and official)...especially lacrosse. But I do like watching my son play football too!
Wish rugby would become more of a conventional sport. Now those are some badasses.
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@Wingnut @catfish1957
Most definitely NOT a soccer fan!!!! Soccer: proof that the rest of the world really IS that F'd up!
Nope, I'm more of a lacrosse and hockey fan (and coach and official)...especially lacrosse. But I do like watching my son play football too!
888high58888
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@Wingnut @catfish1957
Ok didn't mean to hijack yalls baseball thread. You fellas have fun..and try to stay awake watching it!
:whistle: :tongue2:
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@Wingnut @catfish1957
Ok didn't mean to hijack yalls baseball thread. You fellas have fun..and try to stay awake watching it!
:whistle: :tongue2:
@Axeslinger
Italy, Germany, Spain winning the World Cup? One doesn't like the European countries defeating those from the rest of the World and in clearly, the most popular sport in the world? Alrighty, I don't have to use expletives to make a point. Or talk about soccer in a baseball thread.
:tongue2:
And we can always watch the NFL I guess.
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Moooooooooose
Just heard some people are saying this out there.
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MLB umpire Angel Hernandez sues for racial discrimination
MLB umpire Angel Hernandez has filed a lawsuit against the league and commissioner Rob Manfred alleging the league discriminates against minority umpires, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Hernandez’s suit claims that MLB is biased against minority umps when it comes to high-profile positions. There has only been one minority crew chief in league history and only one minority umpire has worked the World Series since 2011. Every one of the 23 umpires promoted to crew chief since 2000 has been white.
“The selection of these less qualified, white individuals over Hernandez was motivated by racial, national origin and/or ethnic considerations,” the suit reads, according to the Enquirer.
https://www.si.com/mlb/2017/07/03/umpire-angel-hernandez-racial-discrimination-lawsuit (https://www.si.com/mlb/2017/07/03/umpire-angel-hernandez-racial-discrimination-lawsuit)
I think his lack of promotion is more likely tied to the fact that he is a pitiful excuse for an umpire. "Positive reviews". Pffft. Let's ask the players what they think about that.
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I think his lack of promotion is more likely tied to the fact that he is a pitiful excuse for an umpire. "Positive reviews". Pffft. Let's ask the players what they think about that.
I looked up his actual rating. He's not an incompetent umpire (there are plenty worse!), but in the immortal
words of old-time New York mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia, when Hernandez makes a mistake it's a beaut. He's
not one of the best umpires in baseball but he's not exactly the absolute bottom of the barrel. (Country Joe
West makes him look like Antonin Scalia, if you think of umpires as baseball's equivalent of judges.)
Hernandez's flaw is that he's confrontational. He's one of those men who can't bear to hear he might be
wrong and he flaunts the confrontations when they happen.
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I looked up his actual rating. He's not an incompetent umpire (there are plenty worse!), but in the immortal
words of old-time New York mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia, when Hernandez makes a mistake it's a beaut. He's
not one of the best umpires in baseball but he's not exactly the absolute bottom of the barrel. (Country Joe
West makes him look like Antonin Scalia, if you think of umpires as baseball's equivalent of judges.)
Hernandez's flaw is that he's confrontational. He's one of those men who can't bear to hear he might be
wrong and he flaunts the confrontations when they happen.
He's not Joe West -- or CB Bucknor -- but yeah, he has his issues.
As far as the worst umpire ever, my vote would have to go to Sam Holbrook and his HORRIBLE INFIELD FLY RULE call!! (Still not over it ... obviously.)
[attachment deleted by admin]
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Can Buckner be far behind?
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Can Buckner be far behind?
Hate to be non-PC but in Buckner's Bucknor's case I don't know if discrimination laws apply to the mentally impaired.
Slightly corrected so no one confuse an idiot umpire with any first basemen with croquet wicket legs.
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Hate to be non-PC but in Buckner's case I don't know if discrimination laws apply to the mentally impaired.
:shrug:
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Hate to be non-PC but in Buckner's case I don't know if discrimination laws apply to the mentally impaired.
Different specifics, I think. ;)
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And the Astros are 58/27 with four games to go before the All Star break!
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And the Astros are 58/27 with four games to go before the All Star break!
Any recipes for grilled Blue Jay?
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Oilers/Texans/Rockets/Stros if your a professional sports franchise in the Houston Market, Choking is in your Contract. It might be Texas wide - Spurs/Mavericks/Rangers and those sucky Cowboys.
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Oilers/Texans/Rockets/Stros if your a professional sports franchise in the Houston Market, Choking is in your Contract. It might be Texas wide - Spurs/Mavericks/Rangers and those sucky Cowboys.
Huh? And just who are your teams for pray tell.........
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Still suffering from that Rocket laydown by Harden a month ago. But if I had to pick right now it'd be the one with the Best cheerleaders.
He Looks so happy here:
(https://thespeechatimeforchoosing.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/bush-41-with-cheerleaders.jpg)
You may now resume your regularly scheduled programming, didn't mean to jack this.
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This ridiculous MLB play proves you should always keep your eye on the ball (https://sports.yahoo.com/ridiculous-mlb-play-proves-always-keep-eye-ball-010935336.html)
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This ridiculous MLB play proves you should always keep your eye on the ball (https://sports.yahoo.com/ridiculous-mlb-play-proves-always-keep-eye-ball-010935336.html)
If you are baseball long enough you will see everything eventually. Never seen that one before.
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Still suffering from that Rocket laydown by Harden a month ago. But if I had to pick right now it'd be the one with the Best cheerleaders.
He Looks so happy here:
(https://thespeechatimeforchoosing.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/bush-41-with-cheerleaders.jpg)
You may now resume your regularly scheduled programming, didn't mean to jack this.
Great socks!
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Any recipes for grilled Blue Jay?
Don't the Astros have 5 guys (going into last night) that were hitting .300?
Phenomenal.
Last 2 years they lead in home runs and strike outs.
This year, they are more patient, going deeper in counts, and getting to the opposing teams bullpen.
That, and the fact that this team, as far as position players go, is the deepest I've seen.
We may have had better pitching staffs in the past, but our everyday line up pretty darn deep.
I think those 2 things have put them where they are now.
McCullers didn't look like his normal self last night.
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Non-rain delay at Braves-Nationals game leaves fans upset, players confused
A so-called rain delay despite no precipitation falling from the sky for nearly two hours at Nationals Park Thursday left Braves and Nats fans upset to why the game didn't start on time at 7:05 p.m. ET. Even when it did start raining, it was a slight drizzle that still would have been playable.
<snip>
Nationals fans, who saw Wednesday's game against the Mets postponed because of rain, voiced their displeasure along with other baseball fans for the Nationals decision to wait until 10:10 p.m. ET to start the game.
http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/news/non-rain-delay-braves-nationals-game-fans-upset-players-confused/1qnftl0ux9vfg1xl0z45dgcjy4 (http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/news/non-rain-delay-braves-nationals-game-fans-upset-players-confused/1qnftl0ux9vfg1xl0z45dgcjy4)
Pretty pathetic.
**nononono*
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I'm glad my Hometown Astros are doing phenomenal in MLB right now, but if I remember correctly the last couple of years they had a shot at the title and chocked, like the Rockets this Year and the Texans (and Cowboys) last year. I gave up after the 1994–95 Strike. I got to see Scott and Ryan pitch in the Astrodome and that's something I will never forget.
Obviously, I'm one of those 'Bandwagon' Fans.
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I'm glad my Hometown Astros are doing phenomenal in MLB right now, but if I remember correctly the last couple of years they had a shot at the title and chocked, like the Rockets this Year and the Texans (and Cowboys) last year. I gave up after the 1994–95 Strike. I got to see Scott and Ryan pitch in the Astrodome and that's something I will never forget.
Obviously, I'm one of those 'Bandwagon' Fans.
Been a diehard Astros fan for 52 years, and I understand trepidation on expectations. In 1998 we led the Majors in wins and ran into a buzz saw (Kevin Brown) in the NLDS. Was sick. You are right, the expectations are high, and as far as a collective batting lineup, no other team in Astros history has been this formidable. Add a 1-2 punch of Kuechel and McCullers, and we have to be one of the favorites.
Biggest concerns now are that we do need to add a bad ass #3 starter, (hopefully through trade), as 3 starters are all you really need in the playoffs.
We also need to see some more consistency from the pen. Earlier in the year they were pretty rock solid but in the. last months we have had way too many blown saves for a championship caliber team.
Also even though our road record is bizarrely great, I do really value home field during the playoffs. If you look at the standings, the Dodgers are only a 1/2 game back. I really prefer any game 5 (ALDS) or 7 (ALCS and WS) to be at home.
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@EasyAce et al:
Can somebody provide a link or simply explain the rule for "close plays" at 1st base, when the batter overruns the base and called SAFE, and as he comes to a stop.
Doesn't he ALWAYS have to turn AWAY from the playing field and instead face toward foul territory....or else be tagged "OUT" before he returns to 1st base?
Thank you in advance! :patriot:
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@EasyAce et al:
Can somebody provide a link or simply explain the rule for "close plays" at 1st base, when the batter overruns the base and called SAFE, and as he comes to a stop.
Doesn't he ALWAYS have to turn AWAY from the playing field and instead face toward foul territory....or else be tagged "OUT" before he returns to 1st base?
Thank you in advance! :patriot:
You must turn into foul territory when you overrun first, If you do anything else you are subject to being tagged out before you get back to the bag.
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You must turn into foul territory when you overrun first, If you do anything else you are subject to being tagged out before you get back to the bag.
Last two weeks, highlights on MLB.com showed THREE instances where the runner came to a complete stop and did a "FACE LEFT"...without making a discernable move toward 2nd base, and the man simply walked back to 1st base 'unmolested' ^-^
What precipitated my post was that two of my examples...the FACE LEFT was conducted while he was standing in the field of play....not foul territory.
Thus, the 'confusion'. @Bigun :patriot:
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"Last two weeks, highlights on MLB.com showed THREE instances where the runner came to a complete stop and did a "FACE LEFT"...without making a discernable move toward 2nd base, and the man simply walked back to 1st base 'unmolested"
Noticed an example lately too. Am afraid this is getting like "in the vicinity" calls at second.
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Sometimes baseball is more than just baseball. :laugh:
Elderly woman flashes stunned crowd at Dodger Stadium (https://www.yahoo.com/news/elderly-woman-flashes-stunned-crowd-dodger-stadium-042541170--spt.html)
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Noticed an example lately too. Am afraid this is getting like "in the vicinity" calls at second.
One of them was, IMO, flagrant. I think it was a MET during the NATS series, and the METS runner thought the catch at 1st was botched for a second....and he actually pivoted toward 2nd base and suddenly jumped up in the air and stopped.
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One of them was, IMO, flagrant. I think it was a MET during the NATS series, and the METS runner thought the catch at 1st was botched for a second....and he actually pivoted toward 2nd base and suddenly jumped up in the air and stopped.
Did he ever come down?
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Did he ever come down?
:laugh:
I still say that if Zimmerman or whoever was covering 1st on the play tagged him while he was walking back to 1st, the ump would have called him "out". it was that bad.
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Last two weeks, highlights on MLB.com showed THREE instances where the runner came to a complete stop and did a "FACE LEFT"...without making a discernable move toward 2nd base, and the man simply walked back to 1st base 'unmolested' ^-^
What precipitated my post was that two of my examples...the FACE LEFT was conducted while he was standing in the field of play....not foul territory.
Thus, the 'confusion'. @Bigun :patriot:
I often suspect it's something akin to the "neighbourhood play" at second base, where a fielder doesn't actually touch
the pad when taking the throw or turning to complete a double play, and the umps call the runner out regardless of
whether the fielder actually touched the base after catching/before throwing on.
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I often suspect it's something akin to the "neighbourhood play" at second base, where a fielder doesn't actually touch
the pad when taking the throw or turning to complete a double play, and the umps call the runner out regardless of
whether the fielder actually touched the base after catching/before throwing on.
If you watch a rerun of EVERY sprint to 1st base, virtually 99.9% of runners will do an about-face RIGHT when they come to a stop.
It's instilled through Little League, American Legion and traveling league teams.
You're essentially given a courtesy to overrun 1st base. Don't be an a##hole and face 2nd base.
...because the FIRST step is tantamount to drawing down, and I'll tag you out! :laugh:
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I often suspect it's something akin to the "neighbourhood play" at second base, where a fielder doesn't actually touch
the pad when taking the throw or turning to complete a double play, and the umps call the runner out regardless of
whether the fielder actually touched the base after catching/before throwing on.
The only positive thing I can find about the Challenge Rules. That crap's being stopped.
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First inning, All-Star Game---Max Scherzer struck out Aaron Judge with one on and fighting back
to 2-2 from 0-2. Well, somebody's been getting that kid out, he's only hitting .329 . . . ;)
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First inning, All-Star Game---Max Scherzer struck out Aaron Judge with one on and fighting back
to 2-2 from 0-2. Well, somebody's been getting that kid out, he's only hitting .329 . . . ;)
Struck out Springer on 4 pitches. That is a VERY rare thing.
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As if we needed one, here's yet another reason why America seems just a little less like
America without Vin Scully calling a ball game somewhere . . . as he accepts the Icon
Award at the 25th ESPYs . . . (Among his listeners at the ceremony: Hall of Famer Pedro
Martinez . . . )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aboc-Akh0w4
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As if we needed one, here's yet another reason why America seems just a little less like
America without Vin Scully calling a ball game somewhere . . . as he accepts the Icon
Award at the 25th ESPYs . . . (Among his listeners at the ceremony: Hall of Famer Pedro
Martinez . . . )
It's a well-deserved retirement, but it is sad to see him go.
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Well, now that we wasted another three-day All-Star break, it's time to PLAY BALL!
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Well, now that we wasted another three-day All-Star break, it's time to PLAY BALL!
The break is barely over and the Cubs just pulled off a blockbuster deal---they got pitcher Jose Quintana
from the White Sox for a package of four prospects including outfielder Eloy Jimenez.
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The break is barely over and the Cubs just pulled off a blockbuster deal---they got pitcher Jose Quintana
from the White Sox for a package of four prospects including outfielder Eloy Jimenez.
Sending your #1 and #2 prospect out for a 4.5 era P, when you are 5 games out?
Price tag seemed a tad steep and risky.
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Sending your #1 and #2 prospect out for a 4.5 era P, when you are 5 games out?
Price tag seemed a tad steep and risky.
Quintana looked like a) a change-of-scenery candidate coming b) from a club in complete rebuild
mode. Plus, he's 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA in seven starts since the beginning of June. Whatever his
early season issues it looks like he's resolved them for the most part.
The Cubs are staying in it to win it---and Quintana has three more seasons of club control
in the bargain, while the Cubs didn't have to give up any major league talent to get him. Sometimes
you take risks, and sometimes you have to see it as the other guys taking the risk when you consider
that top prospects don't always pan out no matter how glittering they look in the minors.
Keep in mind, too, that the Cubs' regular outfielders are still young themselves and it's possible that
Jimenez would have been blocked by them longer than he should be blocked from major league
play. Dylan Cease, the minor league pitcher who goes to the White Sox in the deal, has a good
looking performance jacket for the most part so far, given that he hasn't pitched higher than
Class A in his career yet, but his WHIP is up from last year, he has only a 2/1 K/BB ratio, and
it looks like he needs more upper-level experience before he'll be major league ready in about
two years.
The Cubs are hardly the first team to roll the dice and decide being five games out was no reason
to wave the white flag just yet. In 1956, the Brooklyn Dodgers were five games out in late May when
they decided to bring in another pitcher, in this case a veteran on whom the Cleveland Indians soured
after acquiring him from the Giants. They gave him about three weeks to get himself back in pitching
shape . . . and he ended up making the last Brooklyn pennant possible. You might have heard of him
---Sal Maglie, who went 13-5 with a 2.69 ERA for the Dodgers but ended up the hard-luck loser while
Don Larsen pitched his perfect game in that World Series.
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Slow down: The Yankees are leading a change in baseball by abandoning a principle of pitching
Tom Verducci
Sports Illustrated
July 19, 2017
By having its pitchers throw fewer fastballs and rely more on breaking pitches, New York is trying something that might seem radical but could become the future of the sport.
More (https://www.si.com/mlb/2017/07/19/new-york-yankees-fastball-rate)
@EasyAce
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Slow down: The Yankees are leading a change in baseball by abandoning a principle of pitching
Tom Verducci
Sports Illustrated
July 19, 2017
More (https://www.si.com/mlb/2017/07/19/new-york-yankees-fastball-rate)
@EasyAce
@Machiavelli
I've been saying for years that it was past time to quit judging pitchers by the radar gun alone and start
judging them by their abilities to think while they're on the mound. And there have been pitchers in the
past who were known for off-the-chart fastballs but had other things going for them that were often
superior to those fastballs. Without the most voluptuous curve ball of his time, Sandy Koufax doesn't
pitch his way into being a peak value Hall of Famer, and he was no slouch when it came to pitching
with his brain. Warren Spahn was a thinking pitcher who developed a screwball when he suspected his
fastball and his standard curve were beginning to betray him, and probably bought himself an extra
decade with it. Juan Marichal used about fourteen different windups and an array of breaking pitches
to keep hitters off balance. Whitey Ford was a near-classic junkballer whose brains got him into
Cooperstown. Bert Blyleven lived long on a curve ball described most politely as monstrous. Jim
Bunning was a classic attack tank on the mound but his real money pitch was a slider.
The flip side to leaning so heavily on breaking pitches: they take more of a physical toll on pitchers
than people realise because of the way they're thrown. (Koufax's elbow arthritis couldn't have been
helped by that straight overhand curve ball he threw, the same curve that helped wreck Dodger
predecessor Carl Erskine's shoulder when his early manager Burt Shotton told him, foolishly, that
the way to get over an arm or shoulder injury was to pitch through it.) And a lot of pitchers who
lived on breaking balls ended up with shortened careers because a) they didn't know (and their
handlers weren't smart enough to know) how to strengthen their arms and shoulders to throw
those pitchers; or, b) they didn't know how to use their fastballs to set those murderous breaking
balls up. Classic examples:
* Steve Stone: Came along slowly but surely in the 1970s, then decided to go for broke and use
that murderous curve ball he had as much as possible despite already having a history of shoulder
trouble. Threw over 55 percent curve balls in 1980. Won himself a Cy Young Award and almost
won the Orioles a pennant. Gone a year and a half later; his arm basically told him where to
shove it and how far.
* Mike Boddicker: Another Oriole lost. Slop tosser whose pitches were bigger than his body. Brief
revival with the Red Sox, then brief journeyman and gone.
* Randy Jones: Another slop tosser. Went from 20+ game loser to back-to-back 20-game winner
and Cy Young Award winner. Injured a nerve in his arm as he ended that Cy Young season.
Never even close to the same again. Gone before he had ten seasons on his resume. Has the
dubious distinction of being the only Cy Young Award winner ever to end up retiring with a losing
record.
* Sammy Ellis: Had a to-die-for fastball and effective off-speed stuff. Came into his own
down the 1964 stretch when the Reds, observing the Phillies' fold, thought they might yet
win one more for cancer-stricken manager Fred Hutchinson. 1965, age 24: Wins 22 games
(he and Jim Maloney will be the Reds' last 20-game winners until . . . Johnny Cueto), makes
the National League All-Star team, and pitches more than twice the innings he threw in
1964. 1966: Arm and shoulder dying prematurely, his ERA triples, he loses 19 games, he
throws out what's left of his fastball and his curve, develops an array of junk that can't
help. Finished by 1970, though he later became a respected coach. (And, the man who
converted Dave Righetti into a shutdown relief pitcher.) Those who were there swear the
beginning of Ellis's end might have been back-to-back starts in 1965 in which he pitched
back-to-back complete games of 11 and 14 innings with three days' rest between them.
thrown in all 1964
On the other hand, there was Robin Roberts. Lived on a fastball and (after Roy Campanella
showed him that he was throwing one he didn't know he had*, thinking it was another
fastball that happened to break a little) a slider. The workhorse of the Phillies staff in the
first half of the 1950s as their pitching collapsed around him and they found no viable
successors, Roberts ended up with a dead arm after owning the league for six years. He
reinvented himself as a junkballer and added about ten years to his career, but all those
years throwing all those pitches (for six straight seasons Roberts threw 300+ innings)
somehow strengthened his arm and shoulder to the point where throwing breaking balls
and junk balls wouldn't injure him.
(* Campanella told Roger Kahn the story for The Boys of Summer: at an All-Star
game for which Roberts got the start and Campanella would start behind the plate,
the two hooked up before the game to discuss pitching to the AL hitters and Campanella
wanted to go over signs: "I'll give you a sign for a slider." Roberts replied, "I don't have
a slider, Roy." "Wait a minute," Campanella retorted, "don't get cute with me. I hit
against you, buddy, and you throw it to me, and if you're going to throw it I'd
better expect it." "Roy, that's my fastball!" Roberts protested. "Robin, they're all
fast," Campanella came back, "but you throw one that comes up straight and another
that goes this way and that." Campanella had spotted that Roberts tended to use
a wrist break he wasn't aware of when he threw some of what he only thought were
fastballs.)
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@Machiavelli
I've been saying for years that it was past time to quit judging pitchers by the radar gun alone and start
judging them by their abilities to think while they're on the mound.
Maybe one of the greatest pitchers in my lifetime without overpowering stuff was Great Maddux.
There was a reason they called him the professor.
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Maybe one of the greatest pitchers in my lifetime without overpowering stuff was Great Maddux.
There was a reason they called him the professor.
Exactly. Maddux and his longtime rotation mate Tom Glavine are classic examples of where you
can go pitching with your brains first, using as many mental weapons as physical ones, out-
thinking hitters or letting hitters out-think themselves.
A predecessor of theirs on the Braves won a World Series MVP with just that approach: Lew
Burdette. Burdette lived on control, not power; he also lived on the psych-out---he was so
naturally fidgety on the mound that a lot of hitters got the idea that he was throwing
spitters. Burdette's real money pitch was a slider that dipped enough to be mistaken for
a sinkerball, but the pitch had enough movement on it that hitters thought he was loading
up. Burdette wasn't a power pitcher; he lived on his breaking balls.
Burdette apparently learned a certain trick from Burleigh Grimes, when Grimes was a coach
in the Yankee system and Burdette was a Yankee prospect: Grimes wouldn't teach him
the spitter, but he noticed the movement on Burdette's slider and Burdette's fidgety
mound habits and told the kid he could put the two together and make the hitters think
he was throwing a loaded pitch. Burdette rode that advice to eventual success.
Burdette also tried to stop one of the most notorious trades in baseball history: by early
1964, he'd ended up with the Cubs after the Cardinals granted his wish for a trade. He wasn't
there three weeks when he began hearing that the Cubs had eyes for another Cardinals
pitcher, Ernie Broglio, and were willing to deal talented but so-far-inconsistent outfielder
Lou Brock. Burdette tried to impress the Cubs' brass that Broglio was no longer the pitcher
the Cubs thought he was: he had developed an elbow issue and was taking cortisone shots
for it and, having seen Brock for himself up close, knew the Cubs would make a big mistake
if they gave up on Brock. The Cubs saw the league-leading 21-game winner of 1961 and the
18-game winner of 1963 for the Cardinals and nothing else, and the deal was made. Broglio
would be gone after winning exactly eight more games in the following two seasons (like
too many pitchers of his time, Broglio was loath to talk about just how badly his elbow
was bothering him, for fear of losing his job, and it shortened his career anyway);
you know where Brock ended up, only beginning with his helping to mean the pennant
for the Cardinals in 1964.
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Slow down: The Yankees are leading a change in baseball by abandoning a principle of pitching
Tom Verducci
Sports Illustrated
July 19, 2017
More (https://www.si.com/mlb/2017/07/19/new-york-yankees-fastball-rate)
@EasyAce
Pitching is an art rather than an exact science. Having a great fastball helps to be sure but that alone will not get you very far. Keeping hitters guessing 100% of the time is far more important than how fast you can bring it.
"The name of the game is control, control, control!"
Denny McClain, The Art of Pitching
https://www.amazon.com/Art-Pitching-Denny-McLain/dp/0914303104
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Pitching is an art rather than an exact science. Having a great fastball helps to be sure but that alone will not get you very far. Keeping hitters guessing 100% of the time is far more important than how fast you can bring it.
"The name of the game is control, control, control!"
Denny McClain, The Art of Pitching
https://www.amazon.com/Art-Pitching-Denny-McLain/dp/0914303104
Denny McLain got religion a little too late to save his career. Four straight seasons, throwing 235+
innings. Lived on a fastball that had more hops than a vat of beer. Threw 661 innings in 1968-69.
Forget the suspension he was hit with in 1970, his shoulder was busy resigning its commission while
his body was taking on excess. 20-game loser in Washington in 1971; gone with a dead arm
and shoulder after the following season, and those who were there said he looked twice his age.
He was 28.
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Denny McLain got religion a little too late to save his career. Four straight seasons, throwing 235+
innings. Lived on a fastball that had more hops than a vat of beer. Threw 661 innings in 1968-69.
Forget the suspension he was hit with in 1970, his shoulder was busy resigning its commission while
his body was taking on excess. 20-game loser in Washington in 1971; gone with a dead arm
and shoulder after the following season, and those who were there said he looked twice his age.
He was 28.
The list of names who have done that is long indeed.
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The list of names who have done that is long indeed.
In the age of pitch counts and 5 man rotations, he'll probably be remembered as the last 30 game winner in MLB history.
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In the age of pitch counts and 5 man rotations, he'll probably be remembered as the last 30 game winner in MLB history.
It was probably what happened to people like Sandy Koufax, Denny McLain, and others that caused the sea change leading
to the five man rotation. That and the continuing over-emphasis on pure power pitchers instead of developing pitchers
who throw with their heads equal to their arms. It's almost enough to make you wonder how pitchers like Catfish Hunter
(his fastball wasn't overpowering, but he had terrific breaking stuff and a willingness to out-think a hitter in the strike zone),
Steve Carlton (fast enough but he really made his living with his slider and his brains, and to those who thought his
conditioning regimen was something between freakish and signs of mental blocks, be reminded he pitched nineteen
quality seasons including the twelve that cemented his Hall of Fame case), Bert Blyleven, Greg Maddux, and
Tom Glavine snuck into the big leagues at all.
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Clayton Kershaw exits early with lower back tightness, expected to go on DL (http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/20139972/dodgers-clayton-kershaw-leaves-start-two-innings-lower-back-tightness)
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Clayton Kershaw exits early with lower back tightness, expected to go on DL (http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/20139972/dodgers-clayton-kershaw-leaves-start-two-innings-lower-back-tightness)
@Machiavelli
And Stephen Strasburg left his Sunday start in the second inning with forearm tightness.
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Clayton Kershaw exits early with lower back tightness, expected to go on DL (http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/20139972/dodgers-clayton-kershaw-leaves-start-two-innings-lower-back-tightness)
I saw Kershaw pitch a 7 inning 1-0 gem last week against the White Sox. His curve is wicked.
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It was probably what happened to people like Sandy Koufax, Denny McLain, and others that caused the sea change leading
to the five man rotation. That and the continuing over-emphasis on pure power pitchers instead of developing pitchers
who throw with their heads equal to their arms. It's almost enough to make you wonder how pitchers like Catfish Hunter
(his fastball wasn't overpowering, but he had terrific breaking stuff and a willingness to out-think a hitter in the strike zone),
Steve Carlton (fast enough but he really made his living with his slider and his brains, and to those who thought his
conditioning regimen was something between freakish and signs of mental blocks, be reminded he pitched nineteen
quality seasons including the twelve that cemented his Hall of Fame case), Bert Blyleven, Greg Maddux, and
Tom Glavine snuck into the big leagues at all.
Koufax exited before his elbow blew out from arthritis. He hurt in originally sliding into second base in 1964. After that he was no longer so overpowering and doctors told him in 1966 he'd do permanent damage to his arm if he continued pitching.
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Clayton Kershaw exits early with lower back tightness, expected to go on DL (http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/20139972/dodgers-clayton-kershaw-leaves-start-two-innings-lower-back-tightness)
Boo. I was looking forward to watching him pitch yesterday.
8888crybaby
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Koufax exited before his elbow blew out from arthritis. He hurt in originally sliding into second base in 1964. After that he was no longer so overpowering and doctors told him in 1966 he'd do permanent damage to his arm if he continued pitching.
Some suspect the baserunning play merely exposed something building in the elbow well enough before. (Some think
his straight-overhand delivery, especially throwing his curve ball, may have been a root cause.) He was also
told by the Dodgers' team doctor Robert Kerlan to retire before the 1965 season, in fact. It was Koufax's own decision
to call it a career after the 1966 season; he told no one except a San Diego Union reporter to whom he was close
in spring training, Phil Collier, and Collier agreed to keep his mouth shut about it until the season ended. (Collier's
colleagues in the press were staggered that he kept the secret that long.)
As for "no longer so overpowering?"
* He went out in 1965 and won 26 games, struck out 382 batters (a major league record until Nolan Ryan broke it---by one),
won the pennant clincher on two days' rest, then won two World Series games including Game Seven on two days' rest. (This
was the Series in which he refused to start Game One because it fell on Yom Kippur.) Not to mention a fourth no-hitter,
which proved practise makes perfect: his perfect game, his fourth no-no in four seasons.
* He also pitched better than his 2.04 ERA---his fielding-independent pitching rate was 1.93, with an 0.86 WHIP.
* He led the majors in strikeouts per nine (10.9) and with a 5.38 strikeout to walk ratio.
* He won his second of three Cy Young Awards won in a time when the award went to one pitcher across the board
instead of one in each league.
* In 1966, he won 27 games, struck out 317 hitters, had a 1.76 ERA, and his 2.07 fielding-independent pitching led
the majors for the sixth straight season. He was forced to win the pennant clincher on the final day of the season,
on two days' rest yet again, when Don Drysdale got clobbered in the first half of a doubleheader against the Phillies
and forced manager Alston to change his intended plan and---instead of holding Koufax until Game One of the World
Series---pitch Koufax in the nightcap to clinch.
* He had only one 1966 World Series start and was pitching up to par until three errors in the fifth inning undid him
and the Dodgers; the Orioles went on to sweep before Koufax could get another crack at them. (He was tapped to
start Game Five if there was one.) He retired with a lifetime 0.76 World Series ERA.
* He won his third one-across-the-board Cy Young Award.
It seems to me that Sandy Koufax---with an arthritic elbow for which he was medicated heavily enough to be a little
high on the mound and possibly prone to line drives back through the box (he cited the possibility of being injured
by one under that insane medical regimen at his retirement announcement)---was overpowering enough and then
some in his final two seasons. It's not that you'd recommend it to anyone else, but for two seasons with a condition
that could have crippled him for life and under meds some of which could have killed him (yes, you can look it up),
Koufax went from off the charts to the tenth dimension. And retired not at the top of the heap but beyond it.
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Boo. I was looking forward to watching him pitch yesterday.
8888crybaby
Astros have survived a lengthy outage of Keuchel an McCullers. The Dodgers won't have any problems with NLW.
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Astros have survived a lengthy outage of Keuchel an McCullers. The Dodgers won't have any problems with NLW.
Colin McCue looked pretty good on his 1st start of the year, for 4 and 2/3, then the wheels came off.
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Astros have survived a lengthy outage of Keuchel an McCullers. The Dodgers won't have any problems with NLW.
They had to survive last year without Kershaw for a spell over his back, too.
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Astros have survived a lengthy outage of Keuchel an McCullers. The Dodgers won't have any problems with NLW.
No, not the way the Dbacks and Colorado have been playing. **nononono*
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No, not the way the Dbacks and Colorado have been playing. **nononono*
We haven't played the Rockies yet, but we swept the Dbacks a couple of weekends ago at our house and I'm hoping we can pull off something similar at their house starting tonight.
:0001:
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Colin McCue looked pretty good on his 1st start of the year, for 4 and 2/3, then the wheels came off.
I have a question about one of the Astros current bull pen hands. Is there something in Chris Devenski's contract that says he has to throw a gopher ball every single time he enters a game?
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We haven't played the Rockies yet, but we swept the Dbacks a couple of weekends ago at our house and I'm hoping we can pull off something similar at their house starting tonight.
:0001:
Grienke's pitching tonight, but the way the rest of team's (not) hitting, anything's possible.
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I have a question about one of the Astros current bull pen hands. Is there something in Chris Devenski's contract that says he has to throw a gopher ball every single time he enters a game?
Devinski has had a helluva year. Don't know what's up with this mid season slump.
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Devinski has had a helluva year. Don't know what's up with this mid season slump.
Yeah. His overall numbers are still good but he has thrown 1st pitch gophers the last few times he's appeared. Getting just a tad too predictable is my guess.
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I have a question about one of the Astros current bull pen hands. Is there something in Chris Devenski's contract that says he has to throw a gopher ball every single time he enters a game?
My best guess is that he may be overworked right now.
He was doing great prior to the all-star break.
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My best guess is that he may be overworked right now.
He was doing great prior to the all-star break.
Can't buy that! He's only pitched 5.2 innings since the break and his ERA is way up mostly due to giving up 3 HR in those 5.2 innings of work.
http://houston.astros.mlb.com/stats/sortable.jsp?c_id=hou#playerType=ALL&elem=%5Bobject+Object%5D&tab_level=child&click_text=Sortable+Player+pitching&game_type='R'&season=2017&season_type=ANY&league_code='MLB'§ionType=sp&statType=pitching&page=1&ts=1501006109568&timeframe=posas&split=posas&last_x_days=
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Can't buy that! He's only pitched 5.2 innings since the break and his ERA is way up mostly due to giving up 3 HR in those 5.2 innings of work.
http://houston.astros.mlb.com/stats/sortable.jsp?c_id=hou#playerType=ALL&elem=%5Bobject+Object%5D&tab_level=child&click_text=Sortable+Player+pitching&game_type='R'&season=2017&season_type=ANY&league_code='MLB'§ionType=sp&statType=pitching&page=1&ts=1501006109568&timeframe=posas&split=posas&last_x_days=
That averages out to about an inning a game since the break.
That is quite a bit, but not extravagant.
Still, we don't even ask starters to go 9 innings in 9 games, and they rest for 4 in between.
I don't know.
He is off, that's true enough.
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Can't buy that! He's only pitched 5.2 innings since the break and his ERA is way up mostly due to giving up 3 HR in those 5.2 innings of work.
http://houston.astros.mlb.com/stats/sortable.jsp?c_id=hou#playerType=ALL&elem=%5Bobject+Object%5D&tab_level=child&click_text=Sortable+Player+pitching&game_type='R'&season=2017&season_type=ANY&league_code='MLB'§ionType=sp&statType=pitching&page=1&ts=1501006109568&timeframe=posas&split=posas&last_x_days=
Wow, I must have misread that.
I thought you had put down that he worked 9 innings since the break.
Now it says 5.2.
Did you edit, or am I having a reading issue?
Let hope his gets back on track, either way...
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Can't buy that! He's only pitched 5.2 innings since the break and his ERA is way up mostly due to giving up 3 HR in those 5.2 innings of work.
@Bigun
How have they handled him in terms of warming him up before bringing him in? Have they let him throw
for long periods before bringing him in; or, have they warmed him up, sat him down, warmed him up again,
then brought him in? Depending on how much they let him warm up and how they interrupt him before
warming him up again, he could well be gassed by the time he gets into a game now. People forget,
and I've argued it before---when a relief pitcher is throwing in the pen, he's throwing pitches, not
just soft tossing. Depending on how the warmups are treated, he could have thrown the equivalent
of three innings' worth of pitches before he even got into the game.
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@Bigun
How have they handled him in terms of warming him up before bringing him in? Have they let him throw
for long periods before bringing him in; or, have they warmed him up, sat him down, warmed him up again,
then brought him in? Depending on how much they let him warm up and how they interrupt him before
warming him up again, he could well be gassed by the time he gets into a game now. People forget,
and I've argued it before---when a relief pitcher is throwing in the pen, he's throwing pitches, not
just soft tossing. Depending on how the warmups are treated, he could have thrown the equivalent
of three innings' worth of pitches before he even got into the game.
I'm not discounting any possibility but having watched all those games myself, I'm sticking with my original suspicion. He's getting just a tad too predictable as to what he will do WHEN he comes in and probably just as much the catcher's fault as his own. Every one of those homers he has given up have been off of the first pitch he threw when he came in. He has been otherwise pretty much unhittable having given up only one hit beyond the three gophers.
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Wow, I must have misread that.
I thought you had put down that he worked 9 innings since the break.
Now it says 5.2.
Did you edit, or am I having a reading issue?
Let hope his gets back on track, either way...
Your Eyes are fine LOL! I got on the wrong line and later saw the error and edited my post.
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Your Eyes are fine LOL! I got on the wrong line and later saw the error and edited my post.
Nice Astros 5-0 win last night over the Phillies, and it ended early enough for me to watch it all.
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I'm going to the Astros - Phillies game tonight, hoping against hope that Aaron Nola can slow down the seemingly unstoppable train that is the 'Stros. What an amazing group of hitters.
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I'm going to the Astros - Phillies game tonight, hoping against hope that Aaron Nola can slow down the seemingly unstoppable train that is the 'Stros. What an amazing group of hitters.
Color me jealous. I'm not a zealous fan of either of those teams, but I LOVE going to the ballpark.
Have fun!!
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Color me jealous. I'm not a zealous fan of either of those teams, but I LOVE going to the ballpark.
Have fun!!
@Polly Ticks
Come to Vegas, I'll take you to Cashman Field to watch the Las Vegas 51s (Mets' AAA farm) play.
Great little ballpark!
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Dodgers-Twins game delayed nearly 20 minutes after double switch goes wrong (https://sports.yahoo.com/dodgerstwins-game-delayed-20-minutes-double-switch-goes-wrong-171829096.html)
I was channel switching last night and caught part of this delay. I wondered what the hell was going on.
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Nice Astros 5-0 win last night over the Phillies, and it ended early enough for me to watch it all.
888high58888
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Color me jealous. I'm not a zealous fan of either of those teams, but I LOVE going to the ballpark.
Have fun!!
Didn't sweep us this time, huh @Polly Ticks? Okluvyabye.
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@Polly Ticks
Come to Vegas, I'll take you to Cashman Field to watch the Las Vegas 51s (Mets' AAA farm) play.
Great little ballpark!
@EasyAce
If I ever make it back out that way, I just may take you up on that offer.
:beer:
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Didn't sweep us this time, huh @Polly Ticks? Okluvyabye.
@Cyber Liberty
LOL, nope, not this time.
But hey, we're 4 and 2 against the Dbacks this year, so that's not too shabby!
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@Cyber Liberty
LOL, nope, not this time.
But hey, we're 4 and 2 against the Dbacks this year, so that's not too shabby!
Damned straight. Worthy opponents. I wouldn't have it any other way, darlin'.
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@EasyAce
If I ever make it back out that way, I just may take you up on that offer.
:beer:
@Polly Ticks
:beer:
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Police brutality in Texas . . . Miami Marlins 22, Texas Rangers 10 your final . . .
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Color me jealous. I'm not a zealous fan of either of those teams, but I LOVE going to the ballpark.
Have fun!!
Had lots of phun last night. Perfect weather, Nola twirled six shutout frames with ten punchouts, and the Fightins erupted for three homers and nine runs. A 9-0 buttkicking of the best team in baseball!
The Phils left seven men in scoring position before plating their first run; four balls were sent to the warning track so I knew they had their hitting shoes on. Then came the deluge, with Joseph, Franco and Rupp (two homers!) supplying the power.
Felt like old times! This was my thirteenth Phils game of the year, and only the second victory.
Next up is your Bravos, @Polly Ticks .
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Next up is your Bravos, @Polly Ticks .
Yes, indeed.
And I can't express how happy it makes me to have the boys back in the Eastern time zone!
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Yes, indeed.
And I can't express how happy it makes me to have the boys back in the Eastern time zone!
IMO, the Atlanta Braves are the TRUE surprise team in the NL....other than those scary Astros, and ridiculous Dodgers. :beer:
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Yes, indeed.
And I can't express how happy it makes me to have the boys back in the Eastern time zone!
During the season I try to catch as much as I can of every game. It's the soundtrack of summer.
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IMO, the Atlanta Braves are the TRUE surprise team in the NL....other than those scary Astros, and ridiculous Dodgers. :beer:
It has been much more fun to watch them this year than it was the past couple of years, that's for certain!
:beer:
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During the season I try to catch as much as I can of every game. It's the soundtrack of summer.
Same here. But those West Coast games sure do make for a short night of sleep!
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Retired baseball player who was a fugitive for 5 years caught. Looks like his main crime was not paying child support.
http://mlb.nbcsports.com/2017/07/27/danny-tartabull-dumbest-fugitive-alive/
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In the NATIONALS half of the 3rd inning, they made history, as they hit FOUR HRS back-to-back!
Goodwin, Difo, Harper and Zimmerman. BEFORE the Brewers created an out!
On top of that, after Murphy made an out, Rendon went yard for #5 in the inning, making it 8-0
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Same here. But those West Coast games sure do make for a short night of sleep!
Meanwhile, I hate dragging my butt out of bed at the crack of noon, and discover the day game is already half over....
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Meanwhile, I hate dragging my butt out of bed at the crack of noon, and discover the day game is already half over....
22222frying pan
[Oops. Sorry about that. I'm crabby in the mornings.]
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Dodgers' Magic Johnson guarantees World Series victory (http://www.latimes.com/sports/mlb/la-sp-dodgers-magic-johnson-20170728-story.html)
Post season series’ are a crapshoot, Magic.
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Dodgers' Magic Johnson guarantees World Series victory (http://www.latimes.com/sports/mlb/la-sp-dodgers-magic-johnson-20170728-story.html)
Post season series’ are a crapshoot, Magic.
He figures it worked for Joe Namath regarding Super Bowl III . . . ;)
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A look into Albert Pujols’ terrible 2017 - Pujols isn’t getting any younger and his hitting isn’t getting any better (https://www.halosheaven.com/2017/7/26/16034744/a-look-into-albert-pujols-terrible-2017)
Career stats (https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pujolal01.shtml)
ISO - Isolated Power (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isolated_Power)
Author cites several sabermetrics stats that I'm unfamiliar with.
@EasyAce
Is it time for Pujols to hang up his spikes for good?
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A look into Albert Pujols’ terrible 2017 - Pujols isn’t getting any younger and his hitting isn’t getting any better (https://www.halosheaven.com/2017/7/26/16034744/a-look-into-albert-pujols-terrible-2017)
Career stats (https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pujolal01.shtml)
ISO - Isolated Power (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isolated_Power)
Author cites several sabermetrics stats that I'm unfamiliar with.
@EasyAce
Is it time for Pujols to hang up his spikes for good?
@Machiavelli
It probably is. He hasn't been anywhere near the player he once was since that heel issue
that dogged him in his first couple of Angels seasons. He may be one of those men who's
good to have in your clubhouse even when he isn't playing well, but if I were him I'd call
it a career after this season and wait for the call telling me I've been elected to the Hall
of Fame.
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Dodgers' Magic Johnson guarantees World Series victory (http://www.latimes.com/sports/mlb/la-sp-dodgers-magic-johnson-20170728-story.html)
Post season series’ are a crapshoot, Magic.
Still. Winning 38 out of 44 games is pretty damn impressive.
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The future of the Philadelphia Phillies is starting to reveal itself. Three wins in a row now, two by mashing the baseball and the last one by grinding out a walk-off victory, make me optimistic about the shape of things to come.
The outfield may at last be set - Altherr, Herrera and Williams. It just may have it all - power, athleticism, speed and defense - and Odubel Herrera showed what he means to this team last night when he tied the game in spectacular fashion and helped spur the winning rally in extras.
The veterans are departing now, and the new breed have their jobs assigned. Franco's still a work in progress, but a classic power stroke like he has is not something to give up on. Freddy's a Gold Glove shortstop. First base and second will work themselves out; significantly, here the competition is no longer between young and old. May the best men win.
@Polly Ticks, I'm sure you're disappointed to see your Bravos drop two, but that double play started by Freddie Freeman was something to see. Freddie's been one of the better stories to come out of baseball this year, with his unselfish move to third to keep Adams in the lineup. Who knows, maybe he'll make you forget Chipper Jones!
-
The future of the Philadelphia Phillies is starting to reveal itself. Three wins in a row now, two by mashing the baseball and the last one by grinding out a walk-off victory, make me optimistic about the shape of things to come.
The outfield may at last be set - Altherr, Herrera and Williams. It just may have it all - power, athleticism, speed and defense - and Odubel Herrera showed what he means to this team last night when he tied the game in spectacular fashion and helped spur the winning rally in extras.
The veterans are departing now, and the new breed have their jobs assigned. Franco's still a work in progress, but a classic power stroke like he has is not something to give up on. Freddy's a Gold Glove shortstop. First base and second will work themselves out; significantly, here the competition is no longer between young and old. May the best men win.
@Polly Ticks, I'm sure you're disappointed to see your Bravos drop two, but that double play started by Freddie Freeman was something to see. Freddie's been one of the better stories to come out of baseball this year, with his unselfish move to third to keep Adams in the lineup. Who knows, maybe he'll make you forget Chipper Jones!
@Jazzhead
I absolutely adore Freddie, but there will never be another Chipper! And speaking of amazing plays on the left side of the infield -- that play from Galvis in the 1st yesterday was spectacular.
We've lost a couple of squeakers in a row to your guys, but they've been some fun games to watch. Mostly.
:laugh:
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This just in . . .
Dodgers acquire right-hander Yu Darvish from Rangers (http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/20211395/los-angeles-dodgers-acquire-right-hander-yu-darvish-texas-rangers)
. . . just a few hours after . . .
Yankees reach deal for A's starter Sonny Gray (http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/20210730/new-york-yankees-trade-sonny-gray-oakland-athletics)
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Leave us not forget . . .
Cubs issue World Series ring to Steve Bartman (http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-world-series-steve-bartman-20170731-story.html)
I hate to beat a dead horse to death but a) there was no guarantee Moises Alou would have caught that
foul; and, b) nobody told Alex Gonzalez to let that double play ball bounce off his chest. So there!
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Astros Aoki and minor leaguer Teoscar Rodriguez traded to Toronto for Francisco Liariano.
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This just in . . .
Dodgers acquire right-hander Yu Darvish from Rangers (http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/20211395/los-angeles-dodgers-acquire-right-hander-yu-darvish-texas-rangers)
. . [/b][/url]
They also acquired Tony Cingrani from the Reds. He's the son of a good friend of my wife. I remember when he was born, watched him growing up, playing the kid leagues and high school ball around here. Good kid. Went to Rice on a full ride baseball scholarship then was drafted by the Reds.
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Astros Aoki and minor leaguer Teoscar Rodriguez traded to Toronto for Francisco Liariano.
Really let loose a blockbuster didn't we? /s
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Astros Aoki and minor leaguer Teoscar Rodriguez traded to Toronto for Francisco Liariano.
I don't get this one at all. Teoscar has been in the bigs for 12 years already and has a mediocre record at best. **nononono*
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I don't get this one at all. Teoscar has been in the bigs for 12 years already and has a mediocre record at best. **nononono*
Addition by subtraction?
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Addition by subtraction?
New math! **nononono*
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New math! **nononono*
heheheheheheheheheh
(Think about it: Liriano is still serviceable if the Astros hold to their plan to put him in the bullpen.
He'll help them there. The Astros got him for pretty cheap, extremely spare parts.)
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heheheheheheheheheh
(Think about it: Liriano is still serviceable if the Astros hold to their plan to put him in the bullpen.
He'll help them there. The Astros got him for pretty cheap, extremely spare parts.)
Yeah I suppose and after digging a litte deeper, his entire career has been spent with teams not known for their run production.
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Yeah I suppose and after digging a litte deeper, his entire career has been spent with teams not known for their run production.
Liriano's lifetime ERA: 4.15. Lifetime fielding-independent pitching: 3.75. He's pitched in some hard luck in his career
and he can be a solid pitcher, but I think he's been compromised by a) the Tommy John surgery that caused him to
miss all 2007; and, b) shoulder issues in his later seasons with the Twins. (That hit in the back of his head he took last
year didn't help, either.)
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Liriano's lifetime ERA: 4.15. Lifetime fielding-independent pitching: 3.75. He's pitched in some hard luck in his career
and he can be a solid pitcher, but I think he's been compromised by a) the Tommy John surgery that caused him to
miss all 2007; and, b) shoulder issues in his later seasons with the Twins. (That hit in the back of his head he took last
year didn't help, either.)
You must have the encyclopedia of baseball on your computer! :beer:
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You must have the encyclopedia of baseball on your computer! :beer:
I have three: Baseball-Reference, FanGraphs, and Retrosheet.
Plus Total Baseball in a big fat Manhattan phone book-thick hardcover. ;)
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You must have the encyclopedia of baseball on your computer! :beer:
@Bigun The stats are there for all of us to read (https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/), but @EasyAce can actually interpret them and put them into perspective. ^-^
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I have three: Baseball-Reference, FanGraphs, and Retrosheet.
Plus Total Baseball in a big fat Manhattan phone book-thick hardcover. ;)
WOW! 888high58888
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@Bigun The stats are there for all of us to read (https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/), but @EasyAce can actually interpret them and put them into perspective. ^-^
Yeah that's the site I use but it doesn't have the encyclopedia stuff Ace is reporting.
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Pete Rose having serious allegations made against him but the allegations are from the '70s; they should give it a rest. The accuser should have said something long ago. This is 40 years later now.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/court-document-alleges-rose-committed-statutory-rape-in-70s/ar-AApazt3?OCID=ansmsnnews11
http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/20208447/woman-accuses-pete-rose-statutory-rape
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Pete Rose having serious allegations made against him but the allegations are from the '70s; they should give it a rest. The accuser should have said something long ago. This is 40 years later now.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/court-document-alleges-rose-committed-statutory-rape-in-70s/ar-AApazt3?OCID=ansmsnnews11
http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/20208447/woman-accuses-pete-rose-statutory-rape
They were brought forth because Rose has sued John Dowd---who originally investigated him for baseball government---for defamation,
over an interview Dowd gave in 2015 in which he claimed Rose had sexual relations with underage girls during spring training back in
the year. I'll wait until whatever the final disposition of the case might prove to be---Rose says he believed the girl to be of legal age
at the time, the woman says she was just shy of her sixteenth birthday---but I'll say also that there are usually reasons why such girls
end up staying quiet about such things for so long. Unless I'm very wrong, there's no statute of limitations on statutory rape.
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They were brought forth because Rose has sued John Dowd---who originally investigated him for baseball government---for defamation,
over an interview Dowd gave in 2015 in which he claimed Rose had sexual relations with underage girls during spring training back in
the year. I'll wait until whatever the final disposition of the case might prove to be---Rose says he believed the girl to be of legal age
at the time, the woman says she was just shy of her sixteenth birthday---but I'll say also that there are usually reasons why such girls
end up staying quiet about such things for so long. Unless I'm very wrong, there's no statute of limitations on statutory rape.
Lets be real here. Most likely she was a Baseball Annie. Half the Reds probably put the pine tar to her. It was the 70's
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Lets be real here. Most likely she was a Baseball Annie.
Does that give a (presumably? allegedly?) grown man the right to take advantage of her? Especially
if she was just a teenager?
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Does that give a (presumably? allegedly?) grown man the right to take advantage of her? Especially
if she was just a teenager?
Ah yeah. That is exactly what I'm saying. Groupies were groupies. Don't mater if it is baseball or rockstars. I never checked an ID when a willing partner was waving me around 3rd base and sending me to home plate.
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Ah yeah. That is exactly what I'm saying. Groupies were groupies. Don't mater if it is baseball or rockstars. I never checked an ID when a willing partner was waving me around 3rd base and sending me to home plate.
A sign of our times. In a college today you need an ID and a signed permission release that's been notarized.
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heheheheheheheheheh
(Think about it: Liriano is still serviceable if the Astros hold to their plan to put him in the bullpen.
He'll help them there. The Astros got him for pretty cheap, extremely spare parts.)
I would agree. with the rise of Jake Marisnick's batting average, and the way Derek Fisher has been playing since being called up, Aoki and Teoscar became expendable.
So far, I hear the Liriano will be coming out of the bullpen.
While the Astros bullpen is better than it was last year, it still needed help. A lot of people said we needed another starter, but we have what amounts to 7 on the roster now.
Keuchel, McHugh, McCullers, Fiers, Morton, Peacock, and Martes.
(Sounds like a law firm).
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Really let loose a blockbuster didn't we? /s
may not be earth shattering, that's for sure, but it think it was a good trade.
-
Pete Rose having serious allegations made against him but the allegations are from the '70s; they should give it a rest. The accuser should have said something long ago. This is 40 years later now.
I don't disagree, but this is sure bad timing from the Phillies' standpoint - in less than two weeks the Phils are going to honor Pete by awarding him a plaque on their Wall of Fame. The game should be close to a sell-out - Rose was a key piece of our very first World Championship team. Still, the Phils are a very image-conscious team and this has got to be embarrassing.
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A sign of our times. In a college today you need an ID and a signed permission release that's been notarized.
Pretty soon A third party, non-participatory witness to the act would be prudent.
-
Pretty soon A third party, non-participatory witness to the act would be prudent.
Whatchoo mean, "pretty soon," Willis?
-
Whatchoo mean, "pretty soon," Willis?
Well hell, Where does one sign up for that job!
-
Well hell, Where does one sign up for that job!
WTF would you want "non-participant" status? Sign away, bubba.
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WTF would you want "non-participant" status? Sign away, bubba.
heheheheheh.
-
heheheheheh.
@Wingnut Golden business opportunity:
http://www.ksla.com/story/36018805/police-man-secretly-recorded-roommates-having-sex?clienttype=generic&utm_content=buffer95d8e&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
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@Wingnut Golden business opportunity:
http://www.ksla.com/story/36018805/police-man-secretly-recorded-roommates-having-sex?clienttype=generic&utm_content=buffer95d8e&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Evidently he has a few bugs to work out of his business plan before he is the Elon Musk of this type of venture.
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Pretty soon A third party, non-participatory witness to the act would be prudent.
Our dog Baxter is usually in the room.
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Win gives red-hot Dodgers best 50-game run since 1912 Giants
The Los Angeles Dodgers got their 43rd win in their past 50 games Saturday against the New York Mets, giving them the best 50-game run by a big league team since the 1912 New York Giants compiled the same mark...
Much good a huge winning season did for 1954 Indians and the 2001 Mariners. I guess we could go back to the 1906 Cubs, but that's ancient history. :laugh:
Los Angeles has won all but one of its last 13 games, upping the top record in the majors to an astounding 78-32. That puts the Dodgers at 46 games above .500 for the first time since they were 98-51 on Sept. 15, 1962...
Of course, the 1962 Dodgers ended up blowing a 4 game lead with 7 games to go. They tied with Giants who defeated them in a 3 game playoff for the pennant.
Full article (http://Los Angeles has won all but one of its last 13 games, upping the top record in the majors to an astounding 78-32. That puts the Dodgers at 46 games above .500 for the first time since they were 98-51 on Sept. 15, 1962.)
@EasyAce
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Of course, the 1962 Dodgers ended up blowing a 4 game lead with 7 games to go. They tied with Giants who defeated them in a 3 game playoff for the pennant.
@EasyAce
The key in the Dodgers' loss of that 1962 pennant: Sandy Koufax. He missed almost two months
with that circulation problem in his left index finger, and when he came back in September he
was completely out of synch. He had three starts in September and lost twice with one no-decision;
neither Don Drysdale (losing two of three in September) nor Johnny Podres (likewise) were enough
to pick up the slack from the still-ailing Koufax. He took the ball to open the three-game playoff and
was probably lucky to surrender only three runs, two on home runs by Willie Mays and Jim
Davenport, but the Dodgers were shut out by Billy Pierce; they won the second game at the last
minute after Drysdale didn't pitch particularly well and three relievers barely held fort; they
lost the third game when the Giants scored four in the ninth off Stan Williams, the fourth
run scoring on an infield error with Ron Perranoski pitching to Jose Pagan and Pierce retired
the Dodgers in order for the save. An uninjured Koufax might have made the difference that
year.
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The key in the Dodgers' loss of that 1962 pennant: Sandy Koufax. He missed almost two months
with that circulation problem in his left index finger, and when he came back in September he
was completely out of synch. He had three starts in September and lost twice with one no-decision;
neither Don Drysdale (losing two of three in September) nor Johnny Podres (likewise) were enough
to pick up the slack from the still-ailing Koufax. He took the ball to open the three-game playoff and
was probably lucky to surrender only three runs, two on home runs by Willie Mays and Jim
Davenport, but the Dodgers were shut out by Billy Pierce; they won the second game at the last
minute after Drysdale didn't pitch particularly well and three relievers barely held fort; they
lost the third game when the Giants scored four in the ninth off Stan Williams, the fourth
run scoring on an infield error with Ron Perranoski pitching to Jose Pagan and Pierce retired
the Dodgers in order for the save. An uninjured Koufax might have made the difference that
year.
I absolutely agree about Koufax. In fact, when Alston and Dark met after the game, Dark reputedly said to Alston, "I'm sorry about Koufax. That was the difference."
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I absolutely agree about Koufax. In fact, when Alston and Dark met after the game, Dark reputedly said to Alston, "I'm sorry about Koufax. That was the difference."
There was a secondary factor, and its name was Don Drysdale.
In 1962, on 10 August, when the stretch drive really cranks over, Drysdale was 21-4 with a 2.82 ERA.
The rest of the way he was 4-5, though his ERA held and he finished with a 2.83. Note the kicker: He
lost more down the stretch than he won over the first hundred games of the season, and he also
surrendered a basketful of unearned runs. In fact, if the unearned runs he surrendered were charged
to his record his ERA would have gone over 4.00.
Here's how Drysdale fared against the Giants---the team the Dodgers needed most to beat in 1962---
down the stretch:
11 August---He faced Billy Pierce in Candlestick Park, surrendered five runs in six innings, three of
which came by way of Willie McCovey pinch hitting and hitting a three-run homer. The Dodgers
lost the game.
6 September---He faced Billy O'Dell. He gave up five runs in seven and a third and came out of
the game with a one-run deficit. The Dodgers tied it up to get Drysdale off the hook but they
ended up losing.
The second playoff game---Drysdale against Jack Sanford. He got hit for five runs again
and came out in the sixth. They rallied to win the game to force a third game. But think that
if Drysdale had won the prior two starts against the Giants there may not have been a playoff
in the first place. That might not have augered any better for the World Series, since Koufax
still wouldn't be 100 percent, but the Dodgers might have banked a pennant anyway.
As a matter of fact, Don Drysdale had twelve chances in his career to beat the one team the
Dodgers most needed to beat to stay in the race or nail the pennant and he never
beat them. He was 0-6 with six no-decisions and a 5.33 ERA in those games, and he almost
never pitched well enough to win the games he lost or came away with no-decision.
Against all contenders in seven key pennant races between 1959 and 1966, Drysdale's
record is 6-13 with a 4.17 ERA.
In 1962, Drysdale won the Cy Young Award. Arguably, the award should have gone to
Cincinnati's Bob Purkey, but a) in the years when the award went to one pitcher across the
board (and for a long time after), a pitcher in a pennant race was more likely to win the
award unless someone else did something completely earthshattering (like Steve Carlton
winning 27 games for a dead last team on which he accounted for a full third of their wins);
and, b) Purkey's repertoire included a knuckleball, and in those years there was still a
kind of bias against knuckleballs whether it was the pitcher's number one pitch or part
of his repertoire. With Koufax's injury erasing him from the picture after he was almost
clearly running away with the possible award, Purkey was the best pitcher in baseball in
1962 (he edged out Jack Sanford and Whitey Ford that season overall), but the Reds being
out of the race and Purkey's butterfly pitch worked against him.
-
There was a secondary factor, and its name was Don Drysdale.
In 1962, on 10 August, when the stretch drive really cranks over, Drysdale was 21-4 with a 2.82 ERA.
The rest of the way he was 4-5...
Yes I do remember that.
In 1962, Drysdale won the Cy Young Award. Arguably, the award should have gone to
Cincinnati's Bob Purkey...
The Dodgers first game in Dodger Stadium was on April 10, 1962 against Cincinnati. I played hooky to watch the game. The Dodgers lost 6-3. Podres was their starting pitcher and loser. He threw the first pitch in the new ball park. It was a ball. The Cincinnati starting pitcher and winner was Purkey, with a save by Brosnan.
-
Yes I do remember that.
The Dodgers first game in Dodger Stadium was on April 10, 1962 against Cincinnati. I played hooky to watch the game. The Dodgers lost 6-3. Podres was their starting pitcher and loser. He threw the first pitch in the new ball park. It was a ball. The Cincinnati starting pitcher and winner was Purkey, with a save by Brosnan.
@Machiavelli
I wrote about Bob Purkey a few years ago, when R.A. Dickey looked like a runaway for the National League's
Cy Young Award (which he won), making him the first knuckleballer ever to win the award. This is what I
wrote about Purkey in that piece, which examined how knuckleball pitchers fared in Cy Young Award voting
over the years until Dickey looked like the 2012 winner:
Bob Purkey—The knuckleballers didn’t even show up in the top four or five in Cy voting until 1962, when
Purkey finished third in the vote (Hall of Famer Don Drysdale won the award) after going 23-5 and leading the
National League with an .815 winning percentage. Bear in mind: from 1956 through 1966 (when Sandy Koufax
won his staggering second consecutive and third overall), the Cy Young Award was given to one pitcher across
the board.
Think about that: In 1962, Cy Young Award voters thought Bob Purkey—whose preponderant pitch was a pitch
many still think either a gimmick or an illegitimate pitch—was the third-best pitcher in baseball, and some future
sabermetricians (Bill James among them) would come to argue that Purkey might have been slightly more worthy
of the 1962 Cy than Drysdale actually was. (It kind of makes you wonder, too, what might have been if Wilhelm,
arguably a better pitcher than Purkey, hadn’t been sent back to the bullpen after 1959.)
A lot of the possible factor: Drysdale’s team went to the wire for the pennant, tying the Giants at season’s end—
they lost in a three-game playoff to the Giants—while Purkey’s Reds finished third, six games out, and Cy Young
voters in those years were usually inclined to think about pennant winners in hand with individual performances.
The actual or perceived prejudice against the knuckleball may even have been the reason why, following his 1952-
53 military service, it took Purkey four seasons to establish himself as a useful regular pitcher.
He was a very late bloomer, as it turned out. The Pirates signed him in 1948 (Purkey was a hometown signing),
keeping him in the minors until he was drafted for military service (in the same seasons in which the Army kept
Willie Mays), then used him mostly in relief from 1954-57, before trading him to the Reds after the 1957 season
(for a no-name, Don Gross). In Cincinnati, Purkey became a rotation mainstay and a three-time All-Star, and was
one of the keys to the Reds’ 1961 pennant. He hadn’t made the majors until he was 27 (two years younger than
Wilhelm on arrival), he wasn’t thought of as a regular pitcher until he was 28, and his 1962 would be his career
year and his last good year.
Purkey retired in 1966, after he had a quiet swan song with his first club, the Pirates. (The Reds traded him to
the Cardinals after the 1964 season; he pitched usefully if unspectacularly for the Cardinals until they sold him
to the Pirates coming out of spring training 1966.) He became a television sportscaster for a time in Pittsburgh,
then launched a successful insurance business, before dying of complications from Alzheimer’s disease at 78 in
2008.
(http://throneberryfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/bobpurkey3.jpg)
In case anyone else wonders about other knuckleballers since the Cy Young Award was created:
* Hoyt Wilhelm---Never got a Cy Young Award vote.
* Al Worthington (who developed the butterfly late in his career)---Likewise.
* Phil Niekro---Finished second to Tom Seaver in 1969; finished sixth in 1978-79; finished fifth in 1982.
* Wilbur Wood---Finished third in 1971 (the year the White Sox made a starter out of him); finished second in
1972; finished fifth in 1973 (the year he won 22 and lost 20).
* Joe Niekro---Finished second in 1979; finished fourth in 1980.
* Charlie Hough---Never finished in the top ten Cy Young voting.
* Tom Candiotti---Likewise . . . though he did get to play a Hall of Fame knuckleballer: it was Candiotti
playing Hoyt Wilhelm in Billy Crystal's film about the Maris-Mantle home run chase of 1961, 61*.
* Tim Wakefield---Finished third in 1995, his first year in Boston and the first year he began to use his knuckle-
ball as an out pitch. (He'd formerly used it as a kind of set-up changeup.)
-
Mets radio broadcaster rips 'network stooge' for delaying start of 'Sunday Night Baseball' (http://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/08/espn-new-york-mets-sunday-night-baseball-rips-network-stooge-howie-rose-rant-audio)
-
Is this a great country or what? Quick: Name one other player who's playing for the team to which he can't be traded
according to his contract's no-trade clause . . .
Pablo Sandoval’s no-trade clause prevents him from being traded to … the Giants? (http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/08/08/pablo-sandovals-no-trade-clause-prevents-him-from-being-traded-to-the-giants/)
-
Astros have hit a very rough patch lately and Liriano ain't helping!
-
Where o where have the Astrs bats gone? Where o where can they be?
-
Where o where have the Astrs bats gone? Where o where can they be?
They seemed to come alive in the eighth tonight . . .
-
They seemed to come alive in the eighth tonight . . .
And Altuve, of all people, strikes out with two on in the ninth! **nononono*
-
And Altuve, of all people, strikes out with two on in the ninth! **nononono*
Well, he's only human. ;)
-
Anyone see the cat at the Cardinals game?
-
Anyone see the cat at the Cardinals game?
There was a video posted here. Kitty clawed the snot out of a grounds crewman tho tried to run off the field with him like a football.
-
Power Rankings: Red Sox, Cardinals soar toward the top (http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/page/powerrankings_2017week19/ranking-mlb-teams-week-19-season)
What the Hell are power rankings? :shrug:
-
Power Rankings: Red Sox, Cardinals soar toward the top (http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/page/powerrankings_2017week19/ranking-mlb-teams-week-19-season)
What the Hell are power rankings? :shrug:
@Machiavelli
In ESPN.com's case, it's ranking each team according to how they performed in the previous week
measured against their season-long performance to date.
-
Don't look now, but the Angels just snuck into the lead for the second American League wild
card slot after sweeping the Mariners and knocking a lot of wind out of the Mariners' sails.
-
How the Los Angeles Dodgers Built a Juggernaut (https://www.cheatsheet.com/sports/how-the-los-angeles-dodgers-built-a-juggernaut.html/?a=viewall)
-
Cuban born (1941) Paul Casanova has passed. He played for the Senators and then, Braves.
(https://i.pinimg.com/736x/4a/3f/27/4a3f27c83aae1f4c9edbc785dd31eb19--texas-rangers-baseball-players.jpg)
http://babalublog.com/2017/08/14/we-remember-paul-casanova-1941-2017/
Casanova set career highs in games played (141), plate appearances (551), and RBIs (53) in 1967. One particularly memorable game started on the evening of June 12. In Washington, the Senators and the Chicago White Sox played a 22-inning marathon. Casanova caught the whole thing, receiving 268 pitches.
As he recalled in 2012, “The reason the game went so long was because of my defense” – he wiped out a number of runners. He went 1-for-9, missing a chance to end it in the 20th inning when he hit into a third-to-home-to-first double play with the bases loaded – but his one hit was the game-winner at 2:44 A.M.”
http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/a96308de
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Hyde: Is Stanton the legit HR king if he hits 62? Even he wonders | Commentary
Dave Hyde
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
August 16, 2017
If I’m Giancarlo Stanton, I’d feel conflicted about the Steroid Era, too. I’d think Roger Maris’ 61 home runs in a season is the legitimate record, too.
“Considering some things, I do,’’ he said Wednesday.
If I’m Stanton, I’d note the only three players to hit more than 61 home runs – Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa – had more performance-enhancing drugs in them than an East German swim team.
“But at the same time it doesn’t matter,’’ Stanton said. “The record is the record. But, personally, I do [think 61 is the record]...
If PED users like Bonds, McGwire and Sosa need an asterisk by their name, he said, so does Babe Ruth since he only faced white pitchers...
More (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-marlins/fl-sp-hyde-marlins-stanton-20170816-story.html)
Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giancarlo_Stanton)
Career stats (https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/stantmi03.shtml)
@EasyAce
-
If PED users like Bonds, McGwire and Sosa need an asterisk by their name, he said, so does Babe Ruth since he only faced white pitchers...
I've heard that before, and I think it's a crap argument. How many pitchers did Dimaggio face that were named "Alouicius?" None? Then he gets an asterisk by any record he may have set.
-
I've heard that before, and I think it's a crap argument. How many pitchers did Dimaggio face that were named "Alouicius?" None? Then he gets an asterisk by any record he may have set.
No need for an asterisk next to Babe Ruth's name, but it is true that---through absolutely no fault of his own
---Ruth didn't face a complete offering of baseball talent pool in his time and place. He also didn't play night
baseball, which really would have had an impact on his statistics. I've seen assorted calculations that
say if he'd played in the night ball era his batting average would have been somewhere around .303 lifetime
(and that would only have put him in the company of, oh, Willie Mays), whereby someone like Ralph Kiner
(to whom Branch Rickey insanely compared Ruth in his bids to keep Kiner's salaries suppressed, when
Rickey ran the Pirates) would have seen his batting average jump to about .312 if he'd played in the
strictly day-ball era. Those calculations debated whether Ruth would have hit 714 lifetime home runs
in the night ball era, though he might have gotten within the neighbourhood.
Sometimes forgotten factor involving Babe Ruth: All those triples he hit. He was mostly a dead pull hitter
but when he went the other way, especially in Yankee Stadium, he could pick up a lot of extra triples
no matter how much of a leadfoot he was on the bases because of that left center field you usually
needed to call a cab to reach from the plate. He had the same benefit when the Yankees played in the
Polo Grounds during his first three Yankee seasons.
Branch Rickey's nastiest lie about Ralph Kiner: that the Pirates built a short-porch specifically for Kiner
whereas the Yankees didn't for Babe Ruth. It simply wasn't true. The Yankees built Yankee Stadium
especially to accommodate Ruth's primary power, and why would they not? If you have a left-
handed hitter with that kind of thump and you're building a new park, and he's your number one
box office draw before Lou Gehrig arrives to match him, are you really going to build
a park that would kill him? Or build one that's great for him? The Pirates actually brought in the fence
not for Kiner but for Hank Greenberg, whom they acquired before bringing up Kiner. Greenberg in
fact became Kiner's mentor, teaching him how to modify and control his powerful swing and how
to play the outfield two batters ahead. The new short porch was first nicknamed Greenberg Gardens;
when Greenberg retired and Kiner became the power hitting draw for the Pirates the nickname
was changed to Kiner's Korner.
-
No need for an asterisk next to Babe Ruth's name, but it is true that---through absolutely no fault of his own
---Ruth didn't face a complete offering of baseball talent pool in his time and place. He also didn't play night
baseball, which really would have had an impact on his statistics. I've seen assorted calculations that
say if he'd played in the night ball era his batting average would have been somewhere around .303 lifetime
(and that would only have put him in the company of, oh, Willie Mays), whereby someone like Ralph Kiner
(to whom Branch Rickey insanely compared Ruth in his bids to keep Kiner's salaries suppressed, when
Rickey ran the Pirates) would have seen his batting average jump to about .312 if he'd played in the
strictly day-ball era. Those calculations debated whether Ruth would have hit 714 lifetime home runs
in the night ball era, though he might have gotten within the neighbourhood.
Precisely. Because the game has always been changing the rules here and there, one can make the case that it's impossible to compare any players at all who came from different eras. We have the "limp ball" era, the high mound era, the pre-DH era...the list goes on.
-
Don't look now, but the Angels just snuck into the lead for the second American League wild
card slot after sweeping the Mariners and knocking a lot of wind out of the Mariners' sails.
The Rangers have played well since getting rid of Darvish, it's like he was a cloud hanging over them all year.
I like their chances of getting the second wild card, since of all the teams battling for it, they are the only ones with a positive run differential for the season.
-
Precisely. Because the game has always been changing the rules here and there, one can make the case that it's impossible to compare any players at all who came from different eras. We have the "limp ball" era, the high mound era, the pre-DH era...the list goes on.
The forgotten factoid about the era of actual or alleged performance-enhancing substances: power
numbers might have spiked anyway . . . because of a large volume of yummy new ballparks coming
into use that favoured hitting rather remarkably. (Which makes men like Greg Maddux and Tom
Glavine even more great, considering they weren't power pitchers and had to make their Hall of
Fame cases pitching with finesse and brains against both the big boppers and ballparks
that usually killed pitchers.)
-
The forgotten factoid about the era of actual or alleged performance-enhancing substances: power
numbers might have spiked anyway . . . because of a large volume of yummy new ballparks coming
into use that favoured hitting rather remarkably. (Which makes men like Greg Maddux and Tom
Glavine even more great, considering they weren't power pitchers and had to make their Hall of
Fame cases pitching with finesse and brains against both the big boppers and ballparks
that usually killed pitchers.)
A friend of mine showed me Barry Bonds' stats, and he made a good case when comparing pre-juice Bonds to the later numbers he could have broken Aaron's record without the juice.
-
A friend of mine showed me Barry Bonds' stats, and he made a good case when comparing pre-juice Bonds to the later numbers he could have broken Aaron's record without the juice.
I think that Bonds' pre-juice stats were good enough to get him into the HOF in the first year of his eligibility.
-
I think that Bonds' pre-juice stats were good enough to get him into the HOF in the first year of his eligibility.
Exactly.
Some time back, I did a little research on the players who did use actual or alleged performance-enhancing
substances, and I noticed something: the majority of those players, whether they played in the Show or
never got out of the minor leagues, showed no noticeable spikes in their batting statistics while they were
thought to have been juicing---and, if anything, a considerable volume of those players showed drops
in their batting stats while on the juice. Two major leaguers I can think of who never showed Bonds-
like jumps in their statistics and also showed noticeable dips in their stats during their juicing periods
were Jose Canseco (who likes to think he's the Johnny Appleseed of actual or alleged PEDs) and Jason Giambi
(who fessed up on his own).
-
I've heard that before, and I think it's a crap argument. How many pitchers did Dimaggio face that were named "Alouicius?" None? Then he gets an asterisk by any record he may have set.
The one thing that put a crimp in Joe DiMaggio's style---he was a stubborn power hitter who believed to his
soul that hitting the opposite way wasn't "legitimate" hitting, and thus Yankee Stadium arrested his power
numbers. There was once a rumour that DiMaggio might be traded for Ted Williams, and such a trade
would have benefitted both players: DiMaggio would have produced fatter power stats hitting in Fenway
Park as his home park, and Williams would have gone from off-the-charts to Ruthian territory in his
power numbers hitting in Yankee Stadium. They were both off-the-chart hitters no matter where
they played, but that trade if consummated would have put a shot of rocket fuel into both men's
slugging stats.
-
The 25 Highest-Paid MLB Players in 2017 (https://www.cheatsheet.com/sports/the-highest-paid-mlb-players-in-2017.html/?a=viewall)
-
MLB to implement code of conduct for fans at ballparks in 2018
Scott Lauber
ESPN
August 23, 2017
Effective next season, Major League Baseball intends to implement a universal code of conduct for fans who attend games.
More (http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/20419845/mlb-implement-code-conduct-fans-ballparks-2018)
Things I would like to see:
- No more towel twirling. It interferes with play and it's stupid.
- No more interviews with game participants while the game is in progress. Leave it to before or after the game. These during game interviews disrupt the game.
@EasyAce
-
MLB to implement code of conduct for fans at ballparks in 2018
Scott Lauber
ESPN
August 23, 2017
More (http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/20419845/mlb-implement-code-conduct-fans-ballparks-2018)
Things I would like to see:
- No more towel twirling. It interferes with play and it's stupid.
- No more interviews with game participants while the game is in progress. Leave it to before or after the game. These during game interviews disrupt the game.
@EasyAce
@Machiavelli
Ban the Wave!!!
-
This one's gotta hurt---Bad enough: Rich Hill (Dodgers) loses a perfect game on
a ninth-inning error. Worse: He loses the no-hitter in the bottom of the tenth when
Josh Harrison leading off hits one out for the 1-0 Pirates win.
-
MLB to implement code of conduct for fans at ballparks in 2018
Scott Lauber
ESPN
August 23, 2017
More (http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/20419845/mlb-implement-code-conduct-fans-ballparks-2018)
Things I would like to see:
- No more towel twirling. It interferes with play and it's stupid.
- No more interviews with game participants while the game is in progress. Leave it to before or after the game. These during game interviews disrupt the game.
@EasyAce
Ban people who insist on shrilly whistling the "let's go" chant in between pitches.
-
This one's gotta hurt---Bad enough: Rich Hill (Dodgers) loses a perfect game on
a ninth-inning error. Worse: He loses the no-hitter in the bottom of the tenth when
Josh Harrison leading off hits one out for the 1-0 Pirates win.
Heart-breaking.
-
Heart-breaking.
@Polly Ticks
In 1965, Jim Maloney of the Reds took a no-hitter against the Mets into the eleventh inning,
including eighteen strikeouts, before Mets outfielder Johnny Lewis led off the bottom of the eleventh
and hit one out for the 1-0 Mets win. But later the same season Maloney became the first pitcher
to consummate an extra-innings no-hitter, beating the Cubs 1-0.
-
@Polly Ticks
In 1965, Jim Maloney of the Reds took a no-hitter against the Mets into the eleventh inning,
including eighteen strikeouts, before Mets outfielder Johnny Lewis led off the bottom of the eleventh
and hit one out for the 1-0 Mets win. But later the same season Maloney became the first pitcher
to consummate an extra-innings no-hitter, beating the Cubs 1-0.
I love a happy ending!!
-
I love a happy ending!!
@Polly Ticks
If only Maloney could have had one to his pitching career. He was one of the National League's
hardest throwers---Sandy Koufax himself thought Maloney had the deadliest fastball in the league
that didn't belong to a fellow named Koufax---and should have been a big winner, but for a few
problems:
* He pitched in near constant shoulder pain.
* The 1963-69 Reds weren't very good teams, despite the 1964 edition making an eleventh-hour
play for the pennant as the Phillies collapsed down the final stretch.
* He was dogged by unfair speculation that he declined a key start against the Phillies on the
final weekend, the one that could have ended in a three way tie, when Dick Sisler went with
John Tsitouris instead of Maloney inexplicably despite Maloney going 12-3 down the stretch---
Sisler claimed Maloney was "still exhausted" from an eleven-inning no-decision start against
the Pirates. (Tsitouris and the Reds got bombed 10-0 by the Phillies but it was too late to
stop the Cardinals from snatching the pennant on the final day, beating the Mets after the
Mets beat them twice to open the weekend.)
* He had a terrible 1965 spring training and missed enough of it in 1966 during a contract
holdout that inspired the Reds to plant a bunch of negative stories implying questions about
his fortitude.
* The Reds' training staff was uncertain how to handle and moderate a pitcher as muscular
as Maloney was, and he may never have really loosened himself properly enough to avoid
injury.
* After 1966, his last truly good season (2.68 ERA; 200+ strikeouts), the chronic shoulder
and arm miseries plus numerous cortisone shots began taking their toll, but to that would
be added mental strain as he battled constantly against accusations that he was dogging
it, with several teammates questioning how sore his shoulder and arm really were.
* He was virtually finished after he never really recovered from a severed Achilles tendon
on, of all things, a baserunning play.
* The Reds traded him to the Angels after leaving him off their 1970 postseason roster.
After his retirement in 1972, following stops in the Giants and Cardinals organisations,
Maloney---who'd been a hard drinker later in his playing days---lapsed into full-blown
alcoholism, costing him his marriage and three children. He later remarried happily,
sobered up, and made a second career as his native Fresno, CA's Alcoholism and Drug
Abuse Council, retiring in 2012.
(http://www.nonohitters.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/169_jimmaloney-233x300.jpg)
-
Anybody see this crazy game between the Yankees and Tigers today?
Benches clear 3 times, 8 ejections as Tigers top Yankees 10-6
http://www.myrecordjournal.com/sports/nationalsports/10773491-154/benches-clear-3-times-8-ejections-as-tigers-top-yankees.html
-
Anybody see this crazy game between the Yankees and Tigers today?
Benches clear 3 times, 8 ejections as Tigers top Yankees 10-6
http://www.myrecordjournal.com/sports/nationalsports/10773491-154/benches-clear-3-times-8-ejections-as-tigers-top-yankees.html
@Cripplecreek
I did, and it was a disgrace. Plate umpire Carlos Torres should have thrown Michael Fulmer the hell out
of the game after Fulmer hit Gary Sanchez in the fifth after Sanchez took him over the fence in
the fourth. That should have and probably would have been the end of it.
It would have kept all that crap from happening
-
@Cripplecreek
I did, and it was a disgrace. Plate umpire Carlos Torres should have thrown Michael Fulmer the hell out
of the game after Fulmer hit Gary Sanchez in the fifth after Sanchez took him over the fence in
the fourth. That should have and probably would have been the end of it.
It would have kept all that crap from happening
Exactly!
-
Rhys Hoskins just hit his tenth homer, in the first 55 at bats of his career. After going hitless in his first dozen.
It's never been done before. It's getting like Philly pauses when this guy approaches the dish.
-
My wife just scored an amazing piece of memorabilia. I'm afraid to say what it is until I get it in my hands.
-
Cleveland just completed a 3-game shutout sweep of the Royals, outscoring them 20-0 in the 3 games.
-
Diamondbacks just did back to back to back.
-
@EasyAce Almost finished with "The Umpire Strikes Back"
I lol'd so many times.
-
So much for the Rangers.
-
@EasyAce Almost finished with "The Umpire Strikes Back"
I lol'd so many times.
@Wingnut
Wing, I'd have been shocked only if you didn't lol twice that much! ;)
Wait till you get to Strike Two
-
@Wingnut
Wing, I'd have been shocked only if you didn't lol twice that much! ;)
Wait till you get to Strike Two
Strike Two and the Fall of the Roman Umpire are in the Mail.
Can't believe he killed himself. :sad:
-
Pujols carrying Halos out of contention: Albert Pujols is putting this team and this sorry offense onto his back and carrying it right out of being a playoff contender. (https://www.halosheaven.com/2017/8/28/16212344/mondolinks-pujols-carrying-halos-out-of-contention)
-
Pujols carrying Halos out of contention: Albert Pujols is putting this team and this sorry offense onto his back and carrying it right out of being a playoff contender. (https://www.halosheaven.com/2017/8/28/16212344/mondolinks-pujols-carrying-halos-out-of-contention)
The Twins have a very favorable schedule. Right now I think they are the favorites to get the 2nd WC.
-
Pujols carrying Halos out of contention: Albert Pujols is putting this team and this sorry offense onto his back and carrying it right out of being a playoff contender. (https://www.halosheaven.com/2017/8/28/16212344/mondolinks-pujols-carrying-halos-out-of-contention)
The Angels have to get a strong month of September out of Mike Trout. He's historically tended to finish the year slowly, and indeed has been slumping the last couple of days. Hopefully, the time off due to his thumb injury can help keep him strong and productive through the end of the year.
-
The Angels have to get a strong month of September out of Mike Trout. He's historically tended to finish the year slowly, and indeed has been slumping the last couple of days. Hopefully, the time off due to his thumb injury can help keep him strong and productive through the end of the year.
Unless he still has grip issues related to the thumb injury and is playing through it.
-
Will the Royals ever score another run?
37 innings and counting.
-
Will the Royals ever score another run?
37 innings and counting.
That equals a streak the Marlins suffered in 2013, and is five short of the streak suffered by the
1985 Astros.
-
That equals a streak the Marlins suffered in 2013, and is five short of the streak suffered by the
1985 Astros.
Now 42. Royals have mustered only 1 hit and are an inning away from being shutout for a 4th straight game.
-
So much for the Rangers.
Disappointed in their decision not to swap series with the astros and have them play in Arlington the week.
-
Disappointed in their decision not to swap series with the astros and have them play in Arlington the week.
Meanwhile, the Astros' ownership group said they'll kick in $4 million to Harvey relief efforts.
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The Royals now scoreless in 43 consecutive innings, tying AL record. They are 10th team in MLB history to be shut out 4 consecutive games.
-
Meanwhile, the Astros' ownership group said they'll kick in $4 million to Harvey relief efforts.
Oriole's, Nationals, Cardinals, and Rangers have all stepped up so far, not to mention the Rays.
Think Rangers should have swapped series.
They claimed it was unfair to their fans that bought tickets to their late September home series.
I guess playing in Tampa is fair to the Astros fans?
Change the name to the Arlington Rangers.
Texas shouldn't be on their uniform.
Yep, I said it!
-
?
Change the name to the Arlington Rangers.
Texas shouldn't be on their uniform.
Yep, I said it!
I agree.
Rangers.... Way to kick a team / city while they are down. We won't forget.
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I know nothing about posting here, but I do want to mention to dwfgator that the D-Backs will play the Royals the final three games of regular season. The Royals was a really good team, but their decline does please me in so many ways. Rockies will be playing the Dodgers for the final three games of the regular season.
Which means.... [drum roll, please] --- D-Backs just may get the Wild Card!!! Wheeee!
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I know nothing about posting here, but I do want to mention to dwfgator that the D-Backs will play the Royals the final three games of regular season. The Royals was a really good team, but their decline does please me in so many ways. Rockies will be playing the Dodgers for the final three games of the regular season.
Which means.... [drum roll, please] --- D-Backs just may get the Wild Card!!! Wheeee!
@Slip18
Yeah, it's gonna be tough for the Rockies to make it.
-
(http://i.imgur.com/NVh6m7B.gif)
^-^
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I agree.
Rangers.... Way to kick a team / city while they are down. We won't forget.
Rangers really pissed me off on this one. So they don't want to extend the road trip????? What do they think they're doing now by having these next three games in Tampa? They could have shortened the current road trip and extended their upcoming homestand. It made no sense.
Meanwhile, kudos to the Dallas Cowboys for allowing the Texans to use their facilities. Their game has been moved from Houston to Arlington.
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Rangers really pissed me off on this one. So they don't want to extend the road trip????? What do they think they're doing now by having these next three games in Tampa? They could have shortened the current road trip and extended their upcoming homestand. It made no sense.
@dfwgator
With that kind of thinking, they'd make a great political party. ;)
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@dfwgator
With that kind of thinking, they'd make a great political party. ;)
Rangers just lost a lot of fans here. They are getting HAMMERED on their Facebook page.
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@Slip18
Yeah, it's gonna be tough for the Rockies to make it.
I dunno. The Dbacks are up against LA next few games.
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Rangers just lost a lot of fans here. They are getting HAMMERED on their Facebook page.
That'll teach them!
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Royals scoreless through 2. So the streak is now at 45 innings.
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The Royals Score!!!!
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The Royals Score!!!!
:thud: The end of an era!
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:thud: The end of an era!
Break up the Royals?
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On the off chance someone saw this the other night...
My (blind) father is very curious about the play between the Yankees and Mariners where Joe Girardi got thrown out of the game. The announcers and the stories I've seen written say that Girardi was asking why the umps weren't following the rulebook, but I didn't see the play itself. Was there actually a problem with the baserunning?
Are the umps out of control this season?
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The umps need glasses! Or the new Statcast pitchers' "real" pitches at home plate. What a joke when it is obvious that a ball is called a strike when it is three feet outside the zone. They have to call it a HBP if it is three feet inside the zone because the batter gets hit!
What a game last night between the Dodgers and D-Backs! The last two innings had me shaking. In the 8th, The Beard gave up a run. Then in the 9th, Rodney threw a HBP! It made my curly hair curl even more!!!
Go D-Backs!!!
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The umps need glasses! Or the new Statcast pitchers' "real" pitches at home plate. What a joke when it is obvious that a ball is called a strike when it is three feet outside the zone. They have to call it a HBP if it is three feet inside the zone because the batter gets hit!
What a game last night between the Dodgers and D-Backs! The last two innings had me shaking. In the 8th, The Beard gave up a run. Then in the 9th, Rodney threw a HBP! It made my curly hair curl even more!!!
Go D-Backs!!!
Yeah, but nobody got a hit after the HBP. There's that. It's a pity Colorado beat Detroit too. The chase for Wild Card continues...
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Are the umps out of control this season?
@Suppressed
Here are some of my commentaries about the umps this season . . .
Basebrawl Comerica: The umps got some splainin' to do (http://throneberryfields.com/2017/08/25/basebrawl-comerica-the-umps-got-some-splainin-to-do/)
Methinks thou didst protest not enough (http://throneberryfields.com/2017/08/23/methinks-thou-didst-protest-not-enough/)
Laugh, clowns, laugh (http://throneberryfields.com/2017/08/09/laugh-clowns-laugh/)
Hey, Porter! (http://throneberryfields.com/2017/06/14/hey-porter/)
Steve Palermo, RIP: Courage, diligence, wit, grace (http://throneberryfields.com/2017/05/15/steve-palermo-rip-courage-diligence-wit-grace/)
Bucknor's strike four (http://throneberryfields.com/2017/04/19/bucknors-strike-four-or-immune-umps-versus-vulnerable-players-continued/)
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@Suppressed
Here are some of my commentaries about the umps this season . . .
Basebrawl Comerica: The umps got some splainin' to do (http://throneberryfields.com/2017/08/25/basebrawl-comerica-the-umps-got-some-splainin-to-do/)
Methinks thou didst protest not enough (http://throneberryfields.com/2017/08/23/methinks-thou-didst-protest-not-enough/)
Laugh, clowns, laugh (http://throneberryfields.com/2017/08/09/laugh-clowns-laugh/)
Hey, Porter! (http://throneberryfields.com/2017/06/14/hey-porter/)
Steve Palermo, RIP: Courage, diligence, wit, grace (http://throneberryfields.com/2017/05/15/steve-palermo-rip-courage-diligence-wit-grace/)
Bucknor's strike four (http://throneberryfields.com/2017/04/19/bucknors-strike-four-or-immune-umps-versus-vulnerable-players-continued/)
Thank you. My dad will enjoy these (there's something so American about the bonding of a son reading baseball articles to his blind dad...they are moments I treasure).
-
Yow!
http://i.imgur.com/IgSlSmA.mp4
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Yeah, but nobody got a hit after the HBP. There's that. It's a pity Colorado beat Detroit too. The chase for Wild Card continues...
-
@Suppressed
Here are some of my commentaries about the umps this season . . .
Basebrawl Comerica: The umps got some splainin' to do (http://throneberryfields.com/2017/08/25/basebrawl-comerica-the-umps-got-some-splainin-to-do/)
Methinks thou didst protest not enough (http://throneberryfields.com/2017/08/23/methinks-thou-didst-protest-not-enough/)
Laugh, clowns, laugh (http://throneberryfields.com/2017/08/09/laugh-clowns-laugh/)
Hey, Porter! (http://throneberryfields.com/2017/06/14/hey-porter/)
Steve Palermo, RIP: Courage, diligence, wit, grace (http://throneberryfields.com/2017/05/15/steve-palermo-rip-courage-diligence-wit-grace/)
Bucknor's strike four (http://throneberryfields.com/2017/04/19/bucknors-strike-four-or-immune-umps-versus-vulnerable-players-continued/)
No discussion of incompetent Umpires could ever be complete without a piece about Bucknor. That he is still calling keeps me in everlasting amazement. Your article about "the fourth strike" was very similar to an at-bat I saw years ago at a Diamondbacks game (don't remember who the incompetent Ump was that time). Ball four sailed by, and as the batter was starting to head for First, the Umpire called out "Ball three!" Eventually he was struck out, and immediately afterwards the broadcast guys did a replay showing 1-2-3-4 balls.
Nevertheless, the batter was out.
-
I am a "newbie" on TBR, so please forgive me if I mess up! Just trying to find my way, ya know what I mean?
Tonight we have Robbie Ra6 pitching for the D-BACKS Backs. He was hit hard in the head about a month ago by a line drive. He pitched about five innings about a week ago. Stellar performance! Without "luck," Robbie will keep the Dodgers at Bay. Dodgers will finally sink below .700!
Other teams are watching!
Rockies are on a spiral slide to the losing side, IMHO!
-
I am a "newbie" on TBR, so please forgive me if I mess up! Just trying to find my way, ya know what I mean?
Tonight we have Robbie Ra6 pitching for the D-BACKS Backs. He was hit hard in the head about a month ago by a line drive. He pitched about five innings about a week ago. Stellar performance! Without "luck," Robbie will keep the Dodgers at Bay. Dodgers will finally sink below .700!
Other teams are watching!
Rockies are on a spiral slide to the losing side, IMHO!
Glad that you decided to join in here. I remember you from another place that I shall not mention. Your other half is a veteran here so he can help you if you need it.
-
I was on the other site as a "teacher" for Word for the Day. Hope that titillates you, in the archaic form of the word! LOL!
I am a shoemaker's kid who has no shoes. I must learn to make my own shoes!
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Yow!
http://i.imgur.com/IgSlSmA.mp4
I think that was a ball.
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I do not wish injury to anyone, but that was just "real gud!"
-
Yow!
http://i.imgur.com/IgSlSmA.mp4
I could read his lips. He said "Shucks" a couple of times.
-
Awesome, yep, I would think so! LOL!
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I posted "awe." Yet, my post reads "awesome.". I have some studying to do.
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Have a great day all you baseball fans! It is so nice to have a little place to come in the morning!
Thanks for putting up with me. I will get better at this.
Please all of you stay safe! See you tomorrow morning, the Good Lord willing and all that stuff.
Where is the danged Smiley Face???
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Have a great day all you baseball fans! It is so nice to have a little place to come in the morning!
Thanks for putting up with me. I will get better at this.
Please all of you stay safe! See you tomorrow morning, the Good Lord willing and all that stuff.
Where is the danged Smiley Face???
Here's one. 888blushing8888
Here's one who looks like Fred. ***cool cat***
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Yankees need Aaron Judge to be better -- and luckier
Andrew Marchand
http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/97060/yankees-need-aaron-judge-to-get-better-and-a-little-luckier (http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/97060/yankees-need-aaron-judge-to-get-better-and-a-little-luckier)
NEW YORK -- It was 2007 and the New York Yankees were struggling, so they turned to a young minor leaguer for help. Joba Chamberlain was a setup man, but he saved the season. In 24 incredible relief innings, he struck out 34 batters and allowed just one earned run.
By the end of the Summer of Joba, the Yankees were in the playoffs, and one of their owners, Hank Steinbrenner, was predicting Chamberlain would be the next Roger Clemens.
So here stands 6-foot-7 Aaron Judge, in the midst of his very own summer. Is he still the next face of baseball?
When Judge was benched this week, Yankees manager Joe Girardi called it a "mental day," which is a nice modern euphemism. Judge has gone from the American League MVP in the first half to the guy the Yankees would rather substitute Jacoby Ellsbury for on some days.
If Judge is going to rebound, the club needs him to be not just better, but luckier.
continued at link.....
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
This is yet another example of ESPN sportswriters getting erections over the possible return of the Bronx Bombers in October.
We all know baseball at the major league level is a process of continuous adjustments between hitters and the pitchers they face.
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@DCPatriot
ESPN has annoyed me for a while, and it gets worse as they have gotten more political.
According to ESPN, if it didn't happen in Boston or New York, it didn't happen.
I guess that could be due to their location, but c'mon, man!
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@DCPatriot
ESPN has annoyed me for a while, and it gets worse as they have gotten more political.
According to ESPN, if it didn't happen in Boston or New York, it didn't happen.
I guess that could be due to their location, but c'mon, man!
:beer:
Absolutely correct!
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I was on the other site as a "teacher" for Word for the Day. Hope that titillates you, in the archaic form of the word! LOL!
I am a shoemaker's kid who has no shoes. I must learn to make my own shoes!
@Slip18
888high58888 :beer:
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This is yet another example of ESPN sportswriters getting erections over the possible return of the Bronx Bombers in October.
We all know baseball at the major league level is a process of continuous adjustments between hitters and the pitchers they face.
@DCPatriot
I'm not so sure it's the possibility of the Yankees in October as it is Judge making such a big splash in the first
half, and appearing likeable to boot, and then dropping off as dramatically as he did since the All-Star Game.
I wonder if the writer isn't onto something when he mentioned Judge having a shoulder issue. It may be time
for an MRI at minimum to keep him from doing more damage to it. He looks to have a solid career ahead
of him but if his shoulder is causing him trouble, the time to have it addressed and repaired is now.
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@DCPatriot
I'm not so sure it's the possibility of the Yankees in October as it is Judge making such a big splash in the first
half, and appearing likeable to boot, and then dropping off as dramatically as he did since the All-Star Game.
I wonder if the writer isn't onto something when he mentioned Judge having a shoulder issue. It may be time
for an MRI at minimum to keep him from doing more damage to it. He looks to have a solid career ahead
of him but if his shoulder is causing him trouble, the time to have it addressed and repaired is now.
I watched very carefully at some of his recent strikeouts, and there's nary a wince of discomfort that's apparent to the eye.
One would think that if it was mechanical flaw, they would have discovered and corrected it by now.
IMO, it's simply no different than every other MLB star. They find a hole in your swing and there you will remain until you make adjustment(s).
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I watched very carefully at some of his recent strikeouts, and there's nary a wince of discomfort that's apparent to the eye.
One would think that if it was mechanical flaw, they would have discovered and corrected it by now.
IMO, it's simply no different than every other MLB star. They find a hole in your swing and there you will remain until you make adjustment(s).
It's what Mark Grace used to say a lot: If they can find a pitch you can't hit, then you can count on a steady diet of that pitch until you can. I imagine the same is true from the other side.
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I watched very carefully at some of his recent strikeouts, and there's nary a wince of discomfort that's apparent to the eye.
From what I've read of Judge, he's better than he should be at hiding discomfort. He didn't have the perfect swing by any
means, but he's also known already for keeping a game face when he plays even is something isn't right in his body.
And lo! there comes a report from NJ.com (likely by way of the Bergen Record) that Judge's shoulder is, indeed,
ailing him, and the Yankees and Judge are pondering whether to go to the cortisone shot, despite Judge insisting
it's a mechanical and not a physical issue.
We know how well players judge their own health. Just ask Noah Syndergaard across town. He was such a good judge
of his health that he shenked a scheduled MRI, made his next start and got murdered when he couldn't
throw anything but meatballs, then went for the MRI (probably because someone on the Mets finally got religion
enough to tell him it was either that or he'd be taken to the woodshed) . . . and blew the rest of the season with a
torn lat he'd probably incurred several days earlier (he had to be scratched from a start over discomfort the day
before the original MRI he shenked was scheduled.
One would think that if it was mechanical flaw, they would have discovered and corrected it by now.
IMO, it's simply no different than every other MLB star. They find a hole in your swing and there you will remain until you make adjustment(s).
Every rookie learns the hard way about making adjustments. But a lot of coaching staffs these days seem late to
the party when it comes to discovering flaws in a hitter's or a pitcher's mechanics. Come to think of it, it was
always thus---it took six years before anyone figured out the real reason Sandy Koufax wasn't pitching
all the way up to his talent before spring 1961: the deep pull-back in his windup that kept him, with his particular
release point, from seeing a sizeable chunk of the strike zone. And you and me both know how often we discover
pitchers tipping their pitches and how long it took either themselves or a coach to figure that out.
I saw a clip of Judge swinging in a recent game. It looked to me like he was dropping his front shoulder more
than normal, taking a little leverage off his swing. When you're doing that at the time time pitchers are
beginning to figure you out a bit, that's a mechanical adjustment. If he was dropping it because of discomfort,
that's double indemnity right there. The Yankees can't afford to be imprudent with his physical condition.
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I can finally announce: Mrs. Liberty received her autographed baseball from Sandy Koufax.
@Slip18
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I can finally announce: Mrs. Liberty received her autographed baseball from Sandy Koufax.
@Slip18
Very tough piece of memoribilia to get. Don't forget to secure the PSA/ COA paperwork. And don't lose it!!!
I understand Koufax avoids autographs like the plague.
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Very tough piece of memoribilia to get. Don't forget to secure the PSA/ COA paperwork. And don't lose it!!!
I understand Koufax avoids autographs like the plague.
We have it!
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I understand Koufax avoids autographs like the plague.
@catfish1957
It depends on the autograph.
Koufax does two memorabilia shows a year. Beyond that, he won't sign if he smells it's going to
someone who plans to flip it for a profit. To my knowledge, he doesn't mind signing for genuine
fans, but unless it's one of the two shows a year he does he refuses to sign for anyone he
suspects is a professional autograph trader. (For about a decade---during his rift with the Dodgers
during the News Corp ownership---Koufax's only income was the two memorabilia shows a year;
he gets paid a handsome chunk to appear at them. He also earns about half his living now as a
paid consultant to the Dodgers, returning in earnest to the organisation after the Kasten-Johnson
group bought the team from Frank McCourt.)
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@catfish1957
It depends on the autograph.
Koufax does two memorabilia shows a year. Beyond that, he won't sign if he smells it's going to
someone who plans to flip it for a profit. To my knowledge, he doesn't mind signing for genuine
fans, but unless it's one of the two shows a year he does he refuses to sign for anyone he
suspects is a professional autograph trader. (For about a decade---during his rift with the Dodgers
during the News Corp ownership---Koufax's only income was the two memorabilia shows a year;
he gets paid a handsome chunk to appear at them. He also earns about half his living now as a
paid consultant to the Dodgers, returning in earnest to the organisation after the Kasten-Johnson
group bought the team from Frank McCourt.)
OK, I have more information. I have the cert here, and the ball.
There is a serial number on a sticker on the ball. Z17939. There is also a hologram sticker, number B105580
On the cert:
Submission number: 156516
Date: Monday, May 22, 2017
Subject: Sandy Koufax
Field: Baseball
Description: Signed Baseball
Manufacturer: Rawlings (Haiti)
Type: Official National League
Era: 1989-90
Model: RO-N
Stitching: Red
President: William D. White
Number of Signatures: 1
Location: SS
Writing Implement: Ballpoint Pen
Color: Blue
What do you think?
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OK, I have more information. I have the cert here, and the ball.
There is a serial number on a sticker on the ball. Z17939. There is also a hologram sticker, number B105580
On the cert:
Submission number: 156516
Date: Monday, May 22, 2017
Subject: Sandy Koufax
Field: Baseball
Description: Signed Baseball
Manufacturer: Rawlings (Haiti)
Type: Official National League
Era: 1989-90
Model: RO-N
Stitching: Red
President: William D. White
Number of Signatures: 1
Location: SS
Writing Implement: Ballpoint Pen
Color: Blue
What do you think?
@Cyber Liberty
A Koufax-signed ball from when Bill White was president of the National League? Cherish it!
You even think about selling it and I'll clobber you myself! ;)
I've read that Koufax has a small collection of vintage National League balls he signs
partly for memorabilia shows and mostly to give to friends or special acquaintances.
I know of two such classics:
1) When Jane Leavy was working on her biography of Koufax (it's the best one you'll
ever read), Koufax gave her access and struck a friendship with her even though he didn't
cooperate actively in the writing of the book. (He lovingly came to refer to her as "his
C.P.A.---certified pain in the ass.") During that time, Leavy made Koufax aware of
then-U.S. poet laureate Robert Pinsky's poem "Night Game," which was largely about
Whitey Ford, his youthful idol, but also punch-lined it with Koufax and his refusal
to pitch Game One of the 1965 World Series because it fell on Yom Kippur. Koufax
was impressed with the poem, and Leavy told him Pinsky had once asked Ford for
an autograph after seeing Ford pitch at Fort Monmouth, when Ford was in the Army,
and Ford had refused without an explanation, which kind of disillusioned Pinsky
a bit.
"Do you think he'd like a ball?" Koufax asked Leavy. Told yes, Koufax sent Pinsky
an autographed ball and attached a note to the ball that said, "Whitey's really a
good guy."
As it happened, Leavy had become friendly with Ford, too (she was also researching
her remarkable bio of Mickey Mantle), and mentioned "Night Game" to him, as well,
including things Pinsky told Leavy personally about Koufax. Ford in turn was
impressed: "He said nice things about Sandy? That's wonderful." It prompted Ford
to send Pinsky an autograph and an explanation for the ancient snub---soldiers
weren't permitted to sign autographs, and Ford was in no position to explain himself
to the kid at the time.
2) Nearing the 50th anniversary of his 1965 perfect game against the Cubs, Koufax
received an envelope from the son of Bob Hendley, the Cub pitcher who almost had
a no-hitter of his own on the backside of the perfecto. (The only Dodger run of the
game scored on a walk, a sacrifice, a stolen base, and a throwing error; the game's
lone hit was Lou Johnson's double in another inning, and he was stranded.) The
envelope contained an old clipping of the game. Koufax returned the favour by
autographing the clip for Hendley fils and including a small handwritten note
saying, "Say hello to your father for me."
On THE anniversary, Bob Hendley was stunned to receive a package: a 1965
National League baseball, which Koufax inscribed, WHAT A GAME!, and
he included a small handwritten note: "We had a moment, a night, a career. I hope
life has been kind to you. Sandy." To this day, whenever anyone asks Hendley how
he feels about having come up on the wrong side of Koufax's perfect game, especially
since he was so close to his own no-hitter, Hendley invariably replies, "It's no disgrace
to be beaten by class."
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@Cyber Liberty
A Koufax-signed ball from when Bill White was president of the National League? Cherish it!
You even think about selling it and I'll clobber you myself! ;)
Not a chance in Hell. Mrs. Liberty, posting on this thread (@Slip18) has been chasing a Sandy Koufax autograph for the better part of a half century. No way that ball leaves our hands.
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I'm so happy to see you here, @Slip18 ! We need more female baseball fans in the mix.
:beer:
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Not a chance in Hell. Mrs. Liberty, posting on this thread (@Slip18) has been chasing a Sandy Koufax autograph for the better part of a half century. No way that ball leaves our hands.
(http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/55df68d4bd86ef14008b66fe-3456-2592/5124796418_f7eec88f3f_o.jpg)
And welcome aboard Mrs. Cyber Liberty, a.k.a. @Slip18 !
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The ball is more scuffed up than all the other balls in our collection. I wonder where it's been? I don't know where to find the history. The website that gives authentication just says it's authentic. I guess I knew that. :shrug:
And @Slip18 thanks you so much for the toast, @EasyAce! It means a lot to us.
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The ball is more scuffed up than all the other balls in our collection. I wonder where it's been? I don't know where to find the history. The website that gives authentication just says it's authentic. I guess I knew that. :shrug:
It probably passed through a few hands before it landed in yours. It wouldn't be the first time and it
won't be the last. Which may tell you something about why Koufax only does the two memorabilia
shows a year and otherwise repels professional autograph hunters.
And @Slip18 thanks you so much for the toast, @EasyAce! It means a lot to us.
@Cyber Liberty
No thanks necessary! You're a class act, Cyber, even when you and me disagree on a few things, you do
it with class, wit, and grace. I therefore conclude that if she married you and you married her, it could
only be a union of class, wit, and grace. Much needed around here.
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No thanks necessary! You're a class act, Cyber, even when you and me disagree on a few things, you do
it with class, wit, and grace. I therefore conclude that if she married you and you married her, it could
only be a union of class, wit, and grace. Much needed around here.
:beer:
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@EasyAce @DCPatriot And here I thought I was just being a wise-guy and a bit of an A-hole... :tongue2:
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@EasyAce @DCPatriot And here I thought I was just being a wise-guy and a bit of an A-hole... :tongue2:
:laugh:
@Cyber Liberty :beer:
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@EasyAce @DCPatriot And here I thought I was just being a wise-guy and a bit of an A-hole... :tongue2:
I honestly doubt that you know how to be either. I'll be happy to give you lessons if you like.
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I honestly doubt that you know how to be either. I'll be happy to give you lessons if you like.
HAH!! You're not qualified, either, @Bigun ^-^
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HAH!! You're not qualified, either, @Bigun ^-^
@DCPatriot
That's what you think! ****slapping
-
I hope I do this correctly!
Thank you, Polly Ticks @Polly Ticks for your warm welcome.
I have been a baseball fan since I can remember. So there are a few of us out there.
One of my fondest memories of my mom was when she was holding my six-year old brother on her lap watching (or listening) to Vin Scully! What a voice! He retired last year, and Cyber and I listened to his commentary on the D-Backs vs. Dodgers game.
My mom knew every stat of every player on every team. She was that good! In fact, later in life, she was the oldest working lifeguard in the United States! I actually put waterproof makeup on her that day when she was being filmed.
And to EasyAce @EasyAce thank you for the kind words about Cyber and myself. We are still so in love after 16 years of marriage. I honestly don't know what I would do without him! I am so proud of him!
Trust me on this, "The Ball," as we now call it is going nowhere but here until my nephew inherits it, along with the rest of the sports memorabilia. I have been collecting certain things for ages.
Another "favorite" piece I have is a Life Magazine dated March 5, 1971. On the front is Joe Frazier and Mohammed Ali. I was in that magazine (my name was not properly mentioned on the front cover) as a Snow Bunny in my Aspen year of skiing.
I wish I could show all of my newly found friends all of the cool stuff we have, but, alas, I do not know how to post images. How about the back cover of Baseball Magazine with Lou Gehrig and Greenberg that has a tag "Army" on it? WWII vintage.
At the ending of a Little Leàgue season for two of my nephews, I purchased 40 raffle tickets for some prizes at the end of their awards ceremony. I gave each of them ten tickets, and I kept 20. I won the first prize which was a Mark McGwire "shrine." There are so many things in the shrine. Then there's Sammy Sosa, etc al., of that year that brought the crowd back to baseball.
DcPatriot @DCPatriot , I have been watching Judge's stats. Just as Mark Grace has said so many times, that August fade can hit so hard for a young player. They put so much gusto into the game in the early part of the season, then they just get a bit worn out in August. We shall see!
I do think Puig of the Dodgers is injured from last night's game, but Puig will not admit it. They are getting pretty low on that outfield bench right now. We have a chance to sweep the mighty Dodgers! Just wheeee! It is on today early for the getaway game to Colorado.
And, lastly, Cyber @Cyber Liberty, thank you for turning me on to The Briefing Room! You knew I would like it!😘
I hope I have not missed anyone who has been so nice to me.
Just thank all of you! I have a very busy day today. See you tomorrow!
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@Slip18
You are doing just fine and we are very happy that you decided to join us here!
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I hope I do this correctly!
Thank you, Polly Ticks @Polly Ticks for your warm welcome.
@Slip18
@Polly Ticks is one of our most intelligent members and a nice lady in the bargain. She's also extremely tolerant,
the proof of which is she has kind words for my baseball essays. ;)
I have been a baseball fan since I can remember. So there are a few of us out there.
One of my fondest memories of my mom was when she was holding my six-year old brother on her lap watching (or listening) to Vin Scully! What a voice! He retired last year, and Cyber and I listened to his commentary on the D-Backs vs. Dodgers game.
One of mine is this: In 2000, when I lived in southern California, I took then-seven year old son to
Dodger Stadium for the first time. (He was an Angels fan but he also had a huge thing for then-
Dodger Shawn Green.) When we got to the park, I was struck first by two things:
a) Everything I'd ever heard about Dodger Stadium itself was true---that ballpark is a masterpiece.
(I always loved the story I heard about Walter O'Malley handing his architect the blueprints he'd
acquired of Candlestick Park, the Giants' old ballpark, and telling the man, "Study these and
learn what not to do.")
b) Wherever you were in the park, there were a boatload of fans carrying small portable
television sets---with the picture turned off and the sound turned on, so they could listen to Vin
Scully calling the game. It struck me: Scully had so much credibility that even in the
stadium the fans wouldn't believe what they saw on the field until or unless they heard
it from Scully!
My mom knew every stat of every player on every team. She was that good! In fact, later in life, she was the oldest working lifeguard in the United States! I actually put waterproof makeup on her that day when she was being filmed.
Your mother must have been a remarkable lady. The only thing my mother knew about baseball
was she could barely tolerate it (and she was the daughter of die-hard New York Giants fans
until they left New York, after which they---like their eldest grandson ;)---became Met fans
from the day they were born, not to mention being the wife of a guy who became a Brooklyn
Dodgers fan and never stopped rooting for the Dodgers even after they went to Los Angeles)
and, when she did go to a game now and then, she hated The Wave even more.
And to EasyAce @EasyAce thank you for the kind words about Cyber and myself. We are still so in love after 16 years of marriage. I honestly don't know what I would do without him! I am so proud of him!
@Cyber Liberty -- You owe your wife a fancy dinner and an exclusive hotel for that!
Trust me on this, "The Ball," as we now call it is going nowhere but here until my nephew inherits it, along with the rest of the sports memorabilia. I have been collecting certain things for ages.
Smart lady!
Another "favorite" piece I have is a Life Magazine dated March 5, 1971. On the front is Joe Frazier and Mohammed Ali. I was in that magazine (my name was not properly mentioned on the front cover) as a Snow Bunny in my Aspen year of skiing.
I remember that issue! It's a pleasure to meet one of the Snow Bunnies.
I recently read a remarkable book about Ali, Blood Brothers, about his close relationship with Malcolm
X until Malcolm defected from the original Nation of Islam---including the revelation of the real reason Ali
denounced Malcolm after winning the first Liston fight and why Ali stayed in the Nation of Islam for another
decade---he feared for his own life after knowing what happened to Malcolm barely a year after Malcolm's
defection.
I wish I could show all of my newly found friends all of the cool stuff we have, but, alas, I do not know how to post images. How about the back cover of Baseball Magazine with Lou Gehrig and Greenberg that has a tag "Army" on it? WWII vintage.
If you find a place to host photographs of that stuff, you can post it here by copying the image link and then
putting it between when you write a message here.
At the ending of a Little Leàgue season for two of my nephews, I purchased 40 raffle tickets for some prizes at the end of their awards ceremony. I gave each of them ten tickets, and I kept 20. I won the first prize which was a Mark McGwire "shrine." There are so many things in the shrine. Then there's Sammy Sosa, etc al., of that year that brought the crowd back to baseball.
At a later Dodger Stadium game my son got to see Sosa blast two homers, both of which landed in
between the bleacher sections at the rearmost spot.
DcPatriot @DCPatriot , I have been watching Judge's stats. Just as Mark Grace has said so many times, that August fade can hit so hard for a young player. They put so much gusto into the game in the early part of the season, then they just get a bit worn out in August. We shall see!
Some players fade in August, some manage to stay consistent, some actually do better in August (and
September) than earlier in the season. Since the Sandy Koufax ball kicked this whole thing off in the
first place, I can tell you that Koufax lifetime was a better pitcher in August and September than he
was in April or May, and that June he had his highest monthly lifetime ERA but the lowest
batting average against him (.193). The batting average against him down the stretch, in August
and September/October, was .208. About the once-notorious Koufax home-road splits, usually
hooked on Dodger Stadium, you should know that lifetime---consider, too, that Koufax pre-
Dodger Stadium worked in home parks that were either neutral for lefthanded pitchers (Ebbets
Field) or brutal for them (the ridiculous field shoehorned into the Los Angeles Coliseum, with the
supershort left field line and the "Chinese Screen" high left field wall)---the batting average
against him was .198 at home and .212 on the road.
I do think Puig of the Dodgers is injured from last night's game, but Puig will not admit it. They are getting pretty low on that outfield bench right now. We have a chance to sweep the mighty Dodgers! Just wheeee! It is on today early for the getaway game to Colorado.
You'd need a shotgun to get Puig to admit he's hurting. Come to think of it, the last thing
a player likes is to admit he's in pain. Fools. ;)
And, lastly, Cyber @Cyber Liberty, thank you for turning me on to The Briefing Room! You knew I would like it!😘
Once in awhile we men know something, after all . . . ;)
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Now the truth can be told. You all know I married up! ^-^
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Now the truth can be told. You all know I married up! ^-^
And that spring training shows. Steady hitter. An occasional foul ball. An occasional line drive out.
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Cyber, @Cyber Liberty you just helped me with resetting up my Lenovo which has not been used in about three years! The Baby Kindle just kept throwing my texts into outer space, then the aliens gobbled them up for lunch. Thank you!
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Cyber, @Cyber Liberty you just helped me with resetting up my Lenovo which has not been used in about three years! The Baby Kindle just kept throwing my texts into outer space, then the aliens gobbled them up for lunch. Thank you!
Somebody tod me he was fairly handy! Can't quite recollect who.
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@Bigun I am getting a little better, but I keep losing things I have posted. I have bunches of stories to tell today aside from us beating the Dodgers!
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@DCPatriot I talked to a new friend about our little discussion on Judge's performance. This person is a friend of Judge. Judge said he is fine and raring to go!
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@Polly Ticks Yes, I am a baseball fan and collector of baseball and Ali memorabilia. It is so nice to meet you, too! I have a few stories to tell from today, but I have to keep paragraphs short because I am on a computer that I have not used in years! The Baby Kindle just wasn't cutting it. I lost way too many posts today because of it. Cyber @Cyber Liberty figured it out!
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@EasyAce I am going to try text my story about today a paragraph or two at a time!
Let me try this @DCPatriot I talked to a new friend of mine who knows and works with Judge. The Judge is just dandy! He foresees no problems at all the rest of the season. Good news, eh?
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Am I missing anyone? I do not know how @Bigun can actually post and cut and paste at the same time. Now that is beyond me. I am going to start at the beginning. I know it is late for all of you, but it is not late for me. I will start at the beginning:
Yesterday I got a phone call from my go-to guy at MLB. He wanted to make sure I received my new ball and did I like it, et cetera. So I called him back today in Florida after he had called again.
I somehow got a flat tire yesterday, so that was keeping me off a phone.
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@Bigun I am getting a little better, but I keep losing things I have posted. I have bunches of stories to tell today aside from us beating the Dodgers!
@Slip18
One tack here a stich there and pretty soon you have a brand new pair of shoes!
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@DCPatriot I talked to a new friend about our little discussion on Judge's performance. This person is a friend of Judge. Judge said he is fine and raring to go!
IOW, he's human after all? :laugh:
I think of Bryce Harper's season-long slump, where it was impossible for him to hit the breaking ball over the out-half.
Thought..."here we go again!" But, he's worked it out. (Hope he comes back in time for the post-season)
Ever since this 71 year-old played Little League in Buffalo, NY...I had a penchant to root for the underdog. And the Yank-Me's are solely responsible.
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@Slip18
One tack here a stich there and pretty soon you have a brand new pair of shoes!
Alright!!!!
Verlander coming to Houston.
Giving up Daz Cameon, Franklin Perez, and Jake Rogers. Tigers reported are kicking in $8M annually of JV's salary.
Maybe this will wake up this team.
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@Slip18
@Polly Ticks is one of our most intelligent members and a nice lady in the bargain. She's also extremely tolerant, the proof of which is she has kind words for my baseball essays. ;)
Awww, thanks for that, @EasyAce -- You're tops in my books, too!
034
(And keep those baseball essays coming. I love those.)
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@Polly Ticks Yes, I am a baseball fan and collector of baseball and Ali memorabilia. It is so nice to meet you, too! I have a few stories to tell from today, but I have to keep paragraphs short because I am on a computer that I have not used in years! The Baby Kindle just wasn't cutting it. I lost way too many posts today because of it. Cyber @Cyber Liberty figured it out!
@Slip18
It looks to me like you're doing just fine. ^-^
I don't have much in the way of memorabilia, myself, probably mostly because I have quite a bit in the way of children and they have a way of needing things like clothes, shoes, food, sports program fees/equipment, etc. I do love watching the games, though. I rarely miss a Braves game, and if they've got an off day I'll pretty much watch any other game that happens to be on.
I'm glad @Cyber Liberty got you all hooked up. We'll look forward to seeing more of you, and more of those stories, in the days to come!
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I think of Bryce Harper's season-long slump, where it was impossible for him to hit the breaking ball over the out-half.
Thought..."here we go again!" But, he's worked it out. (Hope he comes back in time for the post-season)
He did work it out, didn't he. The really good ones do that. My boy Freddie Freeman finally has gotten out of constantly hitting into the shift this year, and it's paying off for him.
I hope Bryce is able to make it back for the post-season, too. The article in the Washington Post a couple of days ago didn't sound very promising, but you never know. Nobody expected Sean Rodriguez to be back this year, either.
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Alright!!!!
Verlander coming to Houston.
Giving up Daz Cameon, Franklin Perez, and Jake Rogers. Tigers reported are kicking in $8M annually of JV's salary.
Maybe this will wake up this team.
We'll see. Verlander isn't that great IMHO but he can probably probably be of some help.
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Alright!!!!
Verlander coming to Houston.
Giving up Daz Cameon, Franklin Perez, and Jake Rogers. Tigers reported are kicking in $8M annually of JV's salary.
Maybe this will wake up this team.
He's put up good numbers in his last 11 starts.
This is going to be fun to watch.
I have tickets for Sunday. For a while there, it looked like that was going to be played in Tampa, as well.
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DAMN! I am so JINXING myself here, but has anybody been watching the Baltimore Orioles' run at the Wildcard in the AL?
Last night, a 1-0 Walk-off.....in the 13th inning vs. Toronto.
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DAMN! I am so JINXING myself here, but has anybody been watching the Baltimore Orioles' run at the Wildcard in the AL?
Last night, a 1-0 Walk-off.....in the 13th inning vs. Toronto.
@DCPatriot
That wraps an August in which they went 17-12 including winning their last seven out of eight.
And we all thought they should have been selling, not buying, at the non-waiver trade deadline.
But who'd have thought Tim Beckham would tie Cal Ripken's franchise record for shortstops
with (count 'em!) fifty hits in August and out-hit everyone else in baseball for the month
at .394 for the month? Or Manny Machado shaking off his first half disasters by putting up a
.345/.374/.599 slash since the All-Star break? Who foresaw the kind of breakout Jonathan
Schoop would have this season---he's already sent 30 into the seats and driven home 101?
The bad news---Even if they reach this year's postseason, the Orioles might still have some
splainin' to do: they're going to have a small pile of free agents-to-be next season including
Machado. Their farm system is good but still needing a small stockpile. They really rolled
the dice buying twice at the non-waiver deadline and standing pat otherwise, unless they
have a trick or two up their sleeves come the offseason. But right now it's fun to watch
them again.
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Dbacks got fun to watch again. We've been struggling a bit since before All Stars, but they're 9-1 in the last 10 with a W8 streak going. We're playing the Rockies now, and we're pulling away from them in the Wild Card race.
BTW @EasyAce , Mrs Liberty is getting more stuff. There's a 5-signature baseball on the way, with Micky Mantle and Billy Martin among them. Our Game Room is becoming an embarrassment of goodies. She wants to tell you about it but she's been offline a few days. Apparently her guy is moving his warehouse, so he's clearing stuff out. She's sending him a slew of Football cards because they aren't our thing.
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@DCPatriot
That wraps an August in which they went 17-12 including winning their last seven out of eight.
And we all thought they should have been selling, not buying, at the non-waiver trade deadline.
But who'd have thought Tim Beckham would tie Cal Ripken's franchise record for shortstops
with (count 'em!) fifty hits in August and out-hit everyone else in baseball for the month
at .394 for the month? Or Manny Machado shaking off his first half disasters by putting up a
.345/.374/.599 slash since the All-Star break? Who foresaw the kind of breakout Jonathan
Schoop would have this season---he's already sent 30 into the seats and driven home 101?
The bad news---Even if they reach this year's postseason, the Orioles might still have some
splainin' to do: they're going to have a small pile of free agents-to-be next season including
Machado. Their farm system is good but still needing a small stockpile. They really rolled
the dice buying twice at the non-waiver deadline and standing pat otherwise, unless they
have a trick or two up their sleeves come the offseason. But right now it's fun to watch
them again.
At the risk of speaking sacrilege , I'm of the 'school' that great pitching will be great hitting anytime. ESPECIALLY in a 5-7 game series.
The Orioles have a disastrous pitching rotation. Jimenez is like Gump's box of chocolates. You have NO idea what you're going to get every five days with that SOB. And Tillman is another disaster this season. Gausman is suddenly human too.
It's why I'm favoring the NATS in the postseason. With Scherzer, Strasburg, Gio Gonzales and Tanner Roark, you might never see Edwin Jackson, except in relief.
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At the risk of speaking sacrilege , I'm of the 'school' that great pitching will be great hitting anytime. ESPECIALLY in a 5-7 game series.
The Orioles have a disastrous pitching rotation. Jimenez is like Gump's box of chocolates. You have NO idea what you're going to get every five days with that SOB. And Tillman is another disaster this season. Gausman is suddenly human too.
That's one thing they need to address bad.
The only problem with great pitching beating great hitting is that there's a flip side to the coin: great hitting
will beat great pitching, too. Assuming the Orioles make it to the postseason, they'd better hope they have
the hitting to beat some of the pitching that's liable to come at them from Boston and Cleveland and
maybe even Houston, whose pitching isn't looking as good as it once did but can still surprise you.
It's why I'm favoring the NATS in the postseason. With Scherzer, Strasburg, Gio Gonzales and Tanner Roark, you might never see Edwin Jackson, except in relief.
The real key for the Nats, other than how well that rotation pitches: whether their bullpen, which has gone
from horror to lights out since the All-Star Game (1.88 ERA between their top five bulls since the Game),
reverts to the horror film it was earlier in the season. If that bullpen falls apart come postseason time,
it'll be yet another shoulda-coulda-woulda-if for the Nats, who've had a few too many the past few years.
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That's one thing they need to address bad.
The only problem with great pitching beating great hitting is that there's a flip side to the coin: great hitting
will beat great pitching, too. Assuming the Orioles make it to the postseason, they'd better hope they have
the hitting to beat some of the pitching that's liable to come at them from Boston and Cleveland and
maybe even Houston, whose pitching isn't looking as good as it once did but can still surprise you.
The real key for the Nats, other than how well that rotation pitches: whether their bullpen, which has gone
from horror to lights out since the All-Star Game (1.88 ERA between their top five bulls since the Game),
reverts to the horror film it was earlier in the season. If that bullpen falls apart come postseason time,
it'll be yet another shoulda-coulda-woulda-if for the Nats, who've had a few too many the past few years.
Love talkin' baseball with ya, @EasyAce :beer:
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Love talkin' baseball with ya, @EasyAce :beer:
@DCPatriot
:beer:
And why not? Baseball is the thinking person's sport, and you're clearly a thinking person.
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@EasyAce and every baseball fan/fanatic in this section.
Easy, I loved Tommy LaSorda! Don't you be talking bad about him! He wasn't the best, but he got the crowds to Dodgers' Stadium even when they were ar the Collosium, and that was a piece of crud.
I think I found a way to get images in on my cell phone. @Cyber Liberty showed me, but I had been doing that for years. It is only set up on this device. But I can show you an image of the Sandy Koufax ball! It is not in its case, I just got that yesterday.
So are you ready, and will this work?
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@Cyber Liberty Just trying another way!
[attachment deleted by admin]
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@EasyAce After purchasing all my new stuff for us, my go-to guy asked me if I wanted to donate $ to Rizzo's plaque. Heck, yes! It is for cancer. I think right now so much money is going to the hurricane relief, thank goodness!
I hope this goes through to everyone on this thread. I am using my Baby Kindle because all of the cat/kittens delete everything from my Lenovo. Just walking over the keyboard, Mommy. Arrrggghhh!
@Polly Ticks @ Bigun @ DCPatriot @ Cyber Liberty
So again I purchased more memorabilia from my go-to guy at MLB/Fanatics. Warehouse cleaning time in Florida. Got another ball with five signatures -- one is Mickey Mantle, another is Billie Martin, you know, the manager who was fired from the Yankees about a thousand times!
Got a signed Sandy Koufax card with all of his HOF stuff written on it.
Foot a signed catcher's mitt of Posey's from the Giants. Always like him, still do.
Then I got a Mike Trout signed ball. That one was 90% off, or so I was told. They are expensive!
I hope this post goes through. This is about my tenth post. Between the cats and my computer illetracy, I am surprised anything gets through!
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@Cyber Liberty Sheesh! I forgot to hit the "post" button. I feel like an IDIOT!
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@DCPatriot Talked to my friend at MLB. Judge is just fine. My friend knows him personally.
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(http://www.gopbriefingroom.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=245945.0;attach=3673;image)
(http://www.gopbriefingroom.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=245945.0;attach=3673;image)
@Slip18
You can ....and should resize your pics when you see they're too large...especially for somebody on a cell phone screen.
If you hit "quote"....as if you were going to reply to me, you'll see the code with a space after the 1st bracketed "img".
You can use any number you wish, but usually something between 300 and 600 are more than sufficient.
Hope you don't think I'm being a jerk here. :beer:
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@DCPatriot Talked to my friend at MLB. Judge is just fine. My friend knows him personally.
Damn!
Oh well....thanks for the news.
(just kidding...GO O's!!!)
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We're lucky just getting pics on here..lol. I just showed her how to find "mentions."
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@Cyber Liberty @Polly Ticks @Bigun @EasyAce @VCRepublic
Did I do this?
[attachment deleted by admin]
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@DCPatriot Oh, my gosh, you are not a jerk! I will practice minimizing the images. I feel like a dunce!
I hope everyone forgives me for messing up this area. Honestly!
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@DCPatriot Those images came from my Baby Kindle as opposed to the Droid. I just took the baseball image.
Perhaps, just perhaps, I can send them to myself on one of four devices that I have with no idea of how to use, then minimize the images, then send them to myself, then send them here. That way I am not taking up OMG so much space!
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@Slip18
Not necessary at all. When you post them here just resize them inside the first set of brackets. Like this. [img width=500]
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@DCPatriot I just took a photo of your post telling me how to minimize. Thank you!
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@Bigun Huh?
I think I will hire a techie to show me how to do all of these things!!!
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@Bigun Huh?
I think I will hire a techie to show me how to do all of these things!!!
Nah! It's easy and you will catch on in no time!
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@Slip18
Not necessary at all. When you post them here just resize them inside the first set of brackets. Like this. [img width=500]
That doesn't work when you directly upload the pics via "Attachments." Meanwhile we all get to see the Sandy Koufax ball.
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That doesn't work when you directly upload the pics via "Attachments." Meanwhile we all get to see the Sandy Koufax ball.
Ok. Didn't realize she wasn't posting them from a host site.
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@EasyAce and every baseball fan/fanatic in this section.
Easy, I loved Tommy LaSorda! Don't you be talking bad about him! He wasn't the best, but he got the crowds to Dodgers' Stadium even when they were ar the Collosium, and that was a piece of crud.
@Slip18
I, uh, hate to break this to you, but Tommy Lasorda had nothing to do with the crowds at the
hideous old Los Angeles Coliseum. Walter Alston was the Dodgers' manager and won the pennant
in 1959, their second year in that big old tub, while Lasorda was still pitching in the Dodgers'
minor league system, becoming a scout starting in 1961, the Dodgers' last year in the Coliseum.
And what I've written about his inability to manage his bullpens a) stands, and b) was first shown
me when I read Whitey Herzog's You're Missin' a Great Game, which confirmed what I'd
formerly only suspected.
By the way, the Koufax ball looks great!
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@EasyAce My family moved to Orange County, California, in 1962. I was 12 years old. My memories are incorrect, obviously! I should have looked done more research than what I remembeed. Totally my fault.
But tell me something if you are able, why did Sandy stay with the Dodgers if they were so hard on their pitchers.? I do know he retired at the top of his game by looking at his stats.
Truly not arguing, just curious.
@Cyber Liberty I think I am in love with my Koufax ball! LOL!
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@EasyAce Oh, my typing and grammar will get better. I am trying to just get something posted. I may actually have to go into my office in order to post. That means I may have to buy a new chair because our cat Fred pretty much shredded the one and only desk chair that was just perfect for me. Not expensive as @Cyber Liberty Cyber's chair, but he took the annoying arms off of mine!
Enjoy your game!
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@Bigun @ Polly Ticks @DCPatriot What teams are your teams? I do follow them all in the stats.
I am just hoping the D-Backs finally get to the World Series again. The last time we won the World Series was the year Cyber and I got married! @Cyber Liberty
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@EasyAce I was going to ask you this question, too:. I have a great price for a signed Vin Scully 8x10 signed glossy. I grew up with The Voice. Should I get it? @Cyber Liberty
Cyber says it is okay with him if I don't go over my budget too far, and I have, but then maybe I can trade that for the dumb football cards. Now I think I am talking to myself. It is just that I have never known anyone in my life who has all of this fabulous memorabilia on sale for such decent prices. His warehouse is moving!
Next season I have a person from the D-Backs front office looking for season tickets behind home plate for Cyber and me. I do not want those tickets to own us, so he is looking for Sunday day games only. Now, that would be fun, doncha think?
I just love baseball! The D-Backs struggle, then sometimes come back, then struggle. This year we just may make it to the World Series! I do not think I have ever missed a game. I could be incorrect, but that is a pretty close statement. Oh, the year we did win the World Series, I was in a wedding in Tennessee, then I had a seminar in San Diego, but Cyber called the games for me telephonically!
Ya gotta love that guy!
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I'm a crank! Just ask @DCPatriot!
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I'm a crank! Just ask @DCPatriot!
:laugh:
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@DCPatriot Ummm, not with me!
I asked him which team was your favorite team. He looked puzzled. He said in a very calm voice, "The Nationals." DUH!
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@DCPatriot Ummm, not with me!
I asked him which team was your favorite team. He looked puzzled. He said in a very calm voice, "The Nationals." DUH!
I follow both the NATS and the O's.
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@Bigun @ Polly Ticks @DCPatriot What teams are your teams? I do follow them all in the stats.
I am just hoping the D-Backs finally get to the World Series again. The last time we won the World Series was the year Cyber and I got married! @Cyber Liberty
@Slip18
I'm a Braves girl!
(https://i.makeagif.com/media/11-29-2014/loaRAX.gif)
... and I think your Koufax ball is pretty darn cool, too.
:laugh:
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@Bigun @ Polly Ticks @DCPatriot What teams are your teams? I do follow them all in the stats.
I am just hoping the D-Backs finally get to the World Series again. The last time we won the World Series was the year Cyber and I got married! @Cyber Liberty
@Slip18
Houston Astros baby! Going all the way in 2017!
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@DCPatriot @Polly Ticks @Bigun @EasyAce @Cyber Liberty
I have never felt so welcomed to a site (only two) in my whole life! I thank you all so very much. Cyber told me I would find some area in TBR that I would like. You may be sorry! LOL!
Polly, I have so much new stuff coming because of the warehouse sale from a new friend. Cyber did tell me he would resize them for me for a "price." LOL!
Are the Braves still owned by Ted Turner, the manic depressive dude who married Jane Fondle? The word "dude" goes back to my surfer days. It has no racial overtones. Sometimes I get nervous about using my natural dumb nouns...
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@Bigun Let's all go for the prize! Go Astros! Go Braves! Go Nationals!
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Sometimes I get nervous about using my natural dumb nouns... @Slip18
Fire away. Unintentional use is a slip of the tongue. Intentional use is a tongue of the Slip. Leave it up to the reader to figure out which is which. And if they complain, give them one of these: :tongue2:
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@bigheadfred Thank you, Fred! Are you sure you are not our cat who shredded my favorite office chair? Huh?
I am still a bit afraid to go to other threads. I feel so comfortable in here! Everyone is so nice to me even when I mess up! They are a great group -- and -- I love baseball! It's a two-fer!
Smooches! MissSippy! Now, that was funny! "I was born on a river in a Little ole tent. Just like the river, I've been runnnin' ever since. It's been a long time comin'..." But then I met Cyber! @Cyber Liberty
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Reporter gets a foul ball. Continues his report.
by OctopussSevenTwo
http://i.imgur.com/jD5Ss4C.mp4
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@Suppressed Are you that reporter, Suppressed? Are you okay? Where are you?
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Well, if it is you, @Suppressed nice catch! Zowie!!!
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@EasyAce My family moved to Orange County, California, in 1962. I was 12 years old. My memories are incorrect, obviously! I should have looked done more research than what I remembeed. Totally my fault.
But tell me something if you are able, why did Sandy stay with the Dodgers if they were so hard on their pitchers.? I do know he retired at the top of his game by looking at his stats.
@Slip18
Koufax's job in the 1980s was as a roving pitching instructor in the Dodger organisation;
indeed, he eventually gave that up later in the decade when he and Lasorda disagreed
over an expense report. Koufax wasn't on Lasorda's major league coaching staff and
probably had no input into how Lasorda managed his bullpens. For a long enough time
after that, Koufax worked as a kind of free-lance coach, available if asked, by several
organisations including the Dodgers.
Koufax retiring at the top of his game? He was somewhere beyond the sixth dimension
when he retired. And to this day he's the youngest man ever elected to the Hall of
Fame as a player.
Lasorda wasn't the only manager Herzog skewered for mis-handling his bullpens. Pete
Rose made the same mistake with his Cincinnati bullpens before you-know-what put
him out of that managing job: warming a pitcher up several times and not using him
one day, warming the same guy up the next and not using him, warming the same
guy up on day three, bringing him in, wondering why he'd get killed on the mound,
then harrumphing, "Whatsamatta with him, he ain't pitched in three days?" It never
crossed their minds---and they weren't the only culprits, either (hello, Billy Martin,
master destroyer of pitching staffs)---that when you have a guy warming up in the
pen he's throwing pitches, maybe even the equivalent of a five-inning quality
start, before you bring him in if you bring him in.
Herzog had a rule: if he warmed you up and didn't bring you in in the same inning
or the next inning, you had the rest of the day off. He got some excellent miles out
of a lot of relief pitchers by being smart with them.
I last wrote about that issue and those men in February:
Shorten games? Eliminate the eight relief warmups. (No, I’m not as crazy as you think . . . ) (http://throneberryfields.com/2017/02/09/shorten-games-eliminate-the-eight-relief-warmups-no-im-not-as-crazy-as-you-think/)
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@EasyAce Thank you ever so much for the enlightenment of what was going on in those times. I so love "historical" baseball! And, you, indeed know of what you speak?
I have a question about the Dodgers right now with their recent losses. Joc Pederson was sent to the minors around August 18, right at about the same time as their slump began. Then the Puig injury that I mentioned. I, personally, can't stand Puig, but I do not want any player to get injured in any way.
So Joc and Puig. Do you have any thoughts as to those two players and the recent losses? We play the Dodgers for three games tomorrow. I am so happy for the D-Backs! But is there no longer any competition with the Dodgers? We all love a great game, win or lose!
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"...Speak!". Danged Baby Kindle.
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@Suppressed Are you that reporter, Suppressed? Are you okay? Where are you?
Not I! :-)
@Slip18
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@EasyAce That last post of mine was to you. A question mark instead of an exclamation point. DUH!
Our new manager Lovullo expects 21 outs from each starting pitcher. I like him. He expects the starter to do the job they are paid to do. I think only one time has one of our pitchers finished a full game, but that is expected of them! We have two or three fabulous 8yh and 9th inning pitchers. I think they are the reason for us doing so well.
Our closer is a 40-year-old pitcher named Fernando Rodney. He is so good! He plays off of the 8th inning pitchers whom we call the Beard aka Archie Bradley (I actually had to attend a game to get his T-shirt with the Beard. LOL!) They work so well together that now even if it is not a "save" situation, Lovullo puts them in the game. Winning situation!
Again, thank you so much! When I get my signed Mickey Mantle ball, Sandy Koufax HOF card, and Trout signed ball (or was it a card?), then the Buster Posey signed catcher's mitt (who doesn't just adore Posey?), I will ask @Cyber Liberty to post them here.
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@Suppressed But, but, but... You were so cute!
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ARGGGGRRR!
This is complete bullshit! :shrug:
Let me put on my tinfoil hat.....there we go! How in God's creation does a team playing .700 ball suddenly 'tank' in September?
IMO, the Dodgers are in essence 'throwing' games so that they don't get too complacent in the Postseason. They want to be highly motivated to prove something in the NLDS.
PS: I'm glad....and hope....the CUBBIES weren't doing the same damned thing. Since April. :whistle:
GO NATS!
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ARGGGGRRR!
This is complete bullshit! :shrug:
Let me put on my tinfoil hat.....there we go! How in God's creation does a team playing .700 ball suddenly 'tank' in September?
IMO, the Dodgers are in essence 'throwing' games so that they don't get too complacent in the Postseason. They want to be highly motivated to prove something in the NLDS.
PS: I'm glad....and hope....the CUBBIES weren't doing the same damned thing. Since April. :whistle:
GO NATS!
It could be they're terrified of the Dbacks (@Slip18's theory) or it's just September fade. Or it could be because Puig's playing hurt. Or Joc Peterson got sent to the Minors in August for some odd reason. He was hitting well.
I'm not looking a gift horse in the mouth. BTW, We're pulling away from the Rockies for Wild Card. 6 and 1/2 games now. Kewl.
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It could be they're terrified of the Dbacks (@Slip18's theory) or it's just September fade. Or it could be because Puig's playing hurt. Or Joc Peterson got sent to the Minors in August for some odd reason. He was hitting well.
I'm not looking a gift horse in the mouth. BTW, We're pulling away from the Rockies for Wild Card. 6 and 1/2 games now. Kewl.
From what I see, and my little bit of speculation in this, we can now see some teams pulling away from the pack. The Dodgers can't pull away because of their earlier playing, but IMHO, D-back's, Nationals and Astros will be in the playoffs. And if Cincin keeps up the winnings (11 games straight as of today), man, alive, they are going to be hard to beat. @DCPatriot
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From what I see, and my little bit of speculation in this, we can now see some teams pulling away from the pack. The Dodgers can't pull away because of their earlier playing, but IMHO, D-back's, Nationals and Astros will be in the playoffs. And if Cincin keeps up the winnings (11 games straight as of today), man, alive, they are going to be hard to beat. @DCPatriot
@Slip18
AL playoff teams will be Astros, Indians, Red Sox, and Yankees NL will be Dodgers, Nats, Cubs, and D'backs.
The only one of the bunch I worry about possibly beating the Astros is the Indians.
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@Slip18
AL playoff teams will be Astros, Indians, Red Sox, and Yankees NL will be Dodgers, Nats, Cubs, and D'backs.
The only one of the bunch I worry about possibly beating the Astros is the Indians.
Don't count the Orioles out just yet, Earl! ^-^
Only 1.5 games back in the WC race.
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Don't count the Orioles out just yet, Earl! ^-^
Only 1.5 games back in the WC race.
Anythings possible but right now I'm goin with the Yanks .
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Anythings possible but right now I'm goin with the Yanks .
You and ESPN.com :laugh:
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You and ESPN.com :laugh:
I wouldn't know as I despise ESPN and refuse to give them a hit for any reason.
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@Slip18
AL playoff teams will be Astros, Indians, Red Sox, and Yankees NL will be Dodgers, Nats, Cubs, and D'backs.
The only one of the bunch I worry about possibly beating the Astros is the Indians.
@Bigun @DCPatriot Would I be correct in assuming (I know what that makes me) that after this week's games, we will know what teams will be in the Wild Card? Only three teams have been eliminated!!!
I had to thank my brother and his daughter (my niece) for the great job the Pads did with the Dodgers. They are both season ticket holders for the Pads. And I give the Pads so much credit. They did play their hearts out against the Dodgers.
I was a Pads' fan back when Mo Vaughn was playing and Maddox was THE pitcher. They did go to playoffs in 1998 or was it 1999? I can look it up.
What a sport! I cannot think of another sport that could keep my interest for such a long period of time.
I need to get a housekeeper, cook, gardener, and you name it during this time of year!!!
@Polly Ticks It is wonderful, isn't it, Polly?
I made a Stoopid error. What else is new under the sun? Cincin did not have 11 straight wins; it was Cleveland. And now they have yet another win under their belt.
I get a little excited this to!Email of year. So sorry!
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Anythings possible but right now I'm goin with the Yanks .
Brings back fond/not so fond memories of the D-Backs in 2001. It would be fun this time around, I think. Last time we played the Yankees in post season was when the beautiful Towers were gone. Still gives me the shivers. May the Good Lord watch over us!
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@Bigun @DCPatriot Would I be correct in assuming (I know what that makes me) that after this week's games, we will know what teams will be in the Wild Card? Only three teams have been eliminated!!!
Astros won!
Robbie Ray, D-Backs' pitcher just pitched 7-2/3 innings to the Dodgers. Score 9-0 D-Backs!
As I mentioned before, what has happened to the Dodgers? Looks as if we are going to win -- and if we were here, Robbie would have had a standing ovation -- but, what happened to the OMG towards the end of the game? Glad we are winning, but this is a slaughter
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Don't count the Orioles out just yet, Earl! ^-^
Only 1.5 games back in the WC race.
J.D. Martinez has hit four home runs off of four different pitchers from the Dodgers just about three minutes ago. Top of the 9th 13-0?! Okay, I am excited! J.D. has more homes than the Dodgers have had hits! @DCPatriot @Bigun @Polly Ticks @EasyAce
We were worried because our best home run hitter is now back in Phoenix getting an MRI. The word was "Who is going to replace Goldy?"
First player in history for a player to hit four homers in four consecutive at bats in Dodgers Stadium in it's history! I do believe on his first at bat, he did not hit a homer. But four? 40th game with the D-Backs since traded from Detroit Tigers.
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Boston Red Sox Used Apple Watches to Steal Signs Against Yankees
For decades, spying on another team has been as much a part of baseball’s gamesmanship as brushback pitches and hard slides. The Boston Red Sox have apparently added a modern — and illicit — twist: They used an Apple Watch to gain an advantage against the Yankees and other teams.
Investigators for Major League Baseball have determined that the Red Sox, who are in first place in the American League East and very likely headed to the playoffs, executed a scheme to illicitly steal hand signals from opponents’ catchers in games against the second-place Yankees and other teams, according to several people briefed on the matter.
The baseball inquiry began about two weeks ago, after the Yankees’ general manager, Brian Cashman, filed a detailed complaint with the commissioner’s office that included video the Yankees shot of the Red Sox dugout during a three-game series between the two teams in Boston last month.
The Yankees, who had long been suspicious of the Red Sox’ stealing catchers’ signs in Fenway Park, contended the video showed a member of the Red Sox training staff looking at his Apple Watch in the dugout. The trainer then relayed a message to other players in the dugout, who, in turn, would signal teammates on the field about the type of pitch that was about to be thrown, according to the people familiar with the case.
More (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/05/sports/baseball/boston-red-sox-stealing-signs-yankees.html)
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I would love to see an entire dugout wear "Apple Watches" and pretend they're all giving signals like typical 3rd base coaches.
Imagine, after every pitch, the catcher looks toward his dugout and sees that.
Just STHU, and pitch!! :laugh:
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Boston Red Sox Used Apple Watches to Steal Signs Against Yankees
More (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/05/sports/baseball/boston-red-sox-stealing-signs-yankees.html)
I saw this on TV this morning, and I have some doubt about the accusation. What's the Bluetooth range on an Apple watch? The distances involved see a bit long for Bluetooth devices.
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http://www.espn.com/mlb/standings/_/view/wild-card (http://www.espn.com/mlb/standings/_/view/wild-card)
Baltimore Orioles have picked up another GAME in the WC Standings....just ONE GAME BACK!
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http://www.espn.com/mlb/standings/_/view/wild-card (http://www.espn.com/mlb/standings/_/view/wild-card)
Baltimore Orioles have picked up another GAME in the WC Standings....just ONE GAME BACK!
WC looks exciting in the AL. Three teams in contention, now. Orioles, Twins and the Angels, right?
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WC looks exciting in the AL. Three teams in contention, now. Orioles, Twins and the Angels, right?
Yeah....and I'm too lazy to look up which team has the 'easiest' remaining schedule. :laugh:
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Polly, I have so much new stuff coming because of the warehouse sale from a new friend. Cyber did tell me he would resize them for me for a "price." LOL!
@Slip18
LOL -- your husband sounds a lot like mine. (And that's a good thing.)
Are the Braves still owned by Ted Turner, the manic depressive dude who married Jane Fondle?
Nope, Ted is completely out of the picture. The Bravos are actually owned by Liberty Media now. Liberty bought them a few years ago from Time Warner, who got them in the merger with TBS.
Ted is the reason why I'm such a big Braves fan, though. "America's Team" stole my heart during the TBS years, and has kept it ever since!
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I would love to see an entire dugout wear "Apple Watches" and pretend they're all giving signals like typical 3rd base coaches.
Imagine, after every pitch, the catcher looks toward his dugout and sees that.
Just STHU, and pitch!! :laugh:
LOL -- that would be worth watching. Pardon the pun.
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Yeah....and I'm too lazy to look up which team has the 'easiest' remaining schedule. :laugh:
Well, it's AL...
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(To paraphrase the great sage Yogi Berra):
I got two words for you, Verlander
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(To paraphrase the great sage Yogi Berra):
I got two words for you, Verlander
Personally, I've got a big problem with Playoff-bound teams being able to sign profoundly effective pitchers at the trading deadline.
I hate ###king Hessians.
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@Slip18
LOL -- your husband sounds a lot like mine. (And that's a good thing.)
I've heard he's a rather remarkable chap.
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Boston Red Sox Used Apple Watches to Steal Signs Against Yankees
More (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/05/sports/baseball/boston-red-sox-stealing-signs-yankees.html)
@Machiavelli
Applegate (http://www.gopbriefingroom.com/index.php/topic,279944.0.html)
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Just looking at the standings, we know the Dodgers have had a stellar year but 1-9 in their last 10?
https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/teams/page/LAD/los-angeles-dodgers
https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/standings
Cleveland has won 13 in a row, Arizona 12 wins in a row.
I thought I heard it mentioned how the Dodgers did very well during a 50 game stretch.
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I've heard he's a rather remarkable chap.
@Cyber Liberty
He is, yes, but I didn't realize you knew my husband!
****drummer
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@Cyber Liberty
He is, yes, but I didn't realize you knew my husband!
****drummer
LOL. I just know Mr. Slippy....
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@Cyber Liberty
He is, yes, but I didn't realize you knew my husband!
****drummer
@Polly Ticks
I don't know your husband, either, but he must be a remarkable man if you granted him
the honour of becoming your husband.
(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/9e/8b/6e/9e8b6e92e6993cd98c0df273933a19a2.jpg)
(Sorry, but they have no guitar emojis here, the philistines! ;) )
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LOL. I just know Mr. Slippy....
Pretty well, from what i understand.
^-^
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Pretty well, from what i understand.
^-^
:laugh:
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@Polly Ticks
I don't know your husband, either, but he must be a remarkable man if you granted him
the honour of becoming your husband.
(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/9e/8b/6e/9e8b6e92e6993cd98c0df273933a19a2.jpg)
(Sorry, but they have no guitar emojis here, the philistines! ;) )
@EasyAce
Ours is a mixed marriage -- he loves college basketball and I love baseball -- but he's a keeper!
Here you go:
(http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/music-instruments/classic-guitar-smiley-emoticon.gif) (http://www.sherv.net/)
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@EasyAce
Ours is a mixed marriage -- he loves college basketball and I love baseball -- but he's a keeper!
@Polly Ticks
It could have been worse---he could have loved PRO football . . . or even going to the fights where
hockey games break out! ;)
Here you go:
(http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/music-instruments/classic-guitar-smiley-emoticon.gif) (http://www.sherv.net/)
mmmmmmmmmmmm thank you!
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@Polly Ticks
It could have been worse---he could have loved PRO football . . . or even going to the fights where
hockey games break out! ;)
You make an excellent point. Besides, he's from Kentucky. I think he is required to be a college basketball fan or he gets kicked out of the state.
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You make an excellent point. Besides, he's from Kentucky. I think he is required to be a college basketball fan or he gets kicked out of the state.
I lived in Louisville for a year. Forget kicking you out of the state, they send you to Leavenworth! ;)
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@Polly Ticks
@EasyAce
Hey lookie at what just appeared at the bottom of the "more" page in the emoji list!
***guitar man****
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I lived in Louisville for a year. Forget kicking you out of the state, they send you to Leavenworth! ;)
@EasyAce
He's been to Luther Luckett and Kentucky State Reformatory a few of times (prison ministry -- not an inmate!), but never to Leavenworth so far. :laugh:
We might have been neighbors. Where in the 'ville did you live?
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@Polly Ticks
@EasyAce
Hey lookie at what just appeared at the bottom of the "more" page in the emoji list!
***guitar man****
LOL -- nice!!
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Boston Red Sox Used Apple Watches to Steal Signs Against Yankees
More (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/05/sports/baseball/boston-red-sox-stealing-signs-yankees.html)
@Machiavelli I just read the whole article. Now I am going to watch the video. I know things such as this were happening with a player at second base, but this article is unbelievable!
Thank you for posting this.
I was just perusing the sports section while I was waiting for our game against the Dodgers starting at 7:10 p.m.
I don't know what to say or think! Going to watch the video.
Thank you so much! You can never have too much knowledge.
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Personally, I've got a big problem with Playoff-bound teams being able to sign profoundly effective pitchers at the trading deadline.
I hate ###king Hessians.
:silly:
I ain't buying it. You be thrilled if the Nats or O's did something similar.
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I would love to see an entire dugout wear "Apple Watches" and pretend they're all giving signals like typical 3rd base coaches.
Imagine, after every pitch, the catcher looks toward his dDCPugout and sees that.
Just STHU, and pitch!! :laugh:
@Machiavelli @DCPatriot After watching how it is done, I am actually in total awe as to why this did not happen earlier.
I bought @Cyber Liberty a "fake" Apple watch. Even The fakes are unbelievable! Mind you, being a luddite myself, it would not be helpful, but just OMG!
Six minutes before game time, and I am waiting for FedEx to deliver the Mickey Mantle ball. I do not think the D-Backs do this sort of thing other than a man on second sending pitch signals to the batter. Just I hope they do not do this sort of thing. It actually hurts. 8888crybaby
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Yeah....and I'm too lazy to look up which team has the 'easiest' remaining schedule. :laugh:
Actually, I do believe after this game with the Dodgers, we have a pretty easy schedule. Next is the Pads. But you never know, the Pads beat the Dodgers just recently, too!
We already have two men on base. Joc Pederson just caught a nice ball. Forgot who was batting third in the lineup. One out. Men on first and second.
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I've heard he's a rather remarkable chap.
@Polly Ticks @Cyber Liberty Huh? I am waiting for the signed Mickey Mantle ball, three Yogi Berra signed balls, a Sandy Koufax signed with extra enscription card, a signed Trout ball and a signed Posey mitt. Is there anything I have missed?
What were you saying about being cheap? Did I forget to tell you? Oops! 888high58888
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@Polly Ticks @Cyber Liberty Huh? I am waiting for the signed Mickey Mantle ball, three Yogi Berra signed balls, a Sandy Koufax signed with extra enscription card, a signed Trout ball and a signed Posey mitt. Is there anything I have missed?
What were you saying about being cheap? Did I forget to tell you? Oops! 888high58888
LOVE it!!
888high58888
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LOVE it!!
888high58888
@Polly Ticks Me, too! I am just so excited! Still waiting for FedEx. Arrrggghhh!
@Cyber Liberty Cyber told me (not promised) that he would post the images because, again, I am a luddite. But it is getting easier in here with everyone's help, and, of course, Cyber's help, too!
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Personally, I've got a big problem with Playoff-bound teams being able to sign profoundly effective pitchers at the trading deadline.
I hate ###king Hessians.
@DCPatriot
Kintzler?
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@DCPatriot
Kintzler?
@DCPatriot
It isn't exactly a mercenary situation.
He's here through 2019.
Timing is fortuitous, of course.
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@DCPatriot
Kintzler?
@catfish1957 @DCPatriot Who is Kintzler, and for which franchise does he play now and prior to now?
D-Backs swept the Dodgers AGAIN! :thumbsup3:
@Polly Ticks FedEx has had my Mickey Mantle signed ball in Phoenix (about 12 miles northwest of us) since Sunday! 8detect8
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:silly:
I ain't buying it. You be thrilled if the Nats or O's did something similar.
LOL!
I said/meant "profoundly effective". IOW....starters. (Or a closer like Zach Britton) :bolt:
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@catfish1957 @DCPatriot Who is Kintzler, and for which franchise does he play now and prior to now?
D-Backs swept the Dodgers AGAIN! :thumbsup3:
@Polly Ticks FedEx has had my Mickey Mantle signed ball in Phoenix (about 12 miles northwest of us) since Sunday! 8detect8
Twins closer. who came over to Nats at trade deadline. Someone did mention he is signed through 2019 though.
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Twins closer. who came over to Nats at trade deadline. Someone did mention he is signed through 2019 though.
@catfish1957 Thanks! So many teams that are so close to Wild Card this year. Going to check him out! :th_10444: :hands:
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@catfish1957 Thanks! So many teams that are so close to Wild Card this year. Going to check him out! :th_10444: :hands:
@catfish1957 I could not find Kintzler with the Twins. Perhaps MLB is a bit messed up with all the hurricanes.
I will check the Nationals.
@Polly Ticks I told Cyber I would slooooow down my spending for "our" sports memorabilia. However, prior to him telling me to slow down, I had another baseball coming at me. And this one is a homer! A signed multiple signature ball with a bunch of Hall of Famers!
Tomorrow I should be getting all of my Yogi Berra stuff. Last night I received four things.
Poor Cyber [sigh] going to have to make him work by taking photos and putting them in here as images! My part is the most difficult, though. I have to decide which objects d' art to purchase! LOL!
Why the heck is there not a single emojin (sp) with a baseball? Huh?
I did tell Cyber @cyberliberty that we may have helped out my go-to man because he was in the path of Irma, but my friend told me he was fine. Thank goodness! That whole thing is so scary!
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@DCPatriot
Kintzler?
Found Kinzler at the Nationals where you told me he was now. Not only am I a luddite, but apparently, I can't read, either. 8888crybaby
Kintzler appears to be a very good closer! Should be a good addition to the Nationals, if the Nationals are in the position to need a closer.
I will be watching him. Thanks! :finger:
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This is complete bullshit!
If I didn't know any better, I would think the LA Dodgers are scared to death of playing the winner of the Wildcard Game in the NLDS, and are thus ceding the best record to the NATIONALS.
A complete 'collapse'? Come on, man!
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This is complete bullshit!
If I didn't know any better, I would think the LA Dodgers are scared to death of playing the winner of the Wildcard Game in the NLDS, and are thus ceding the best record to the NATIONALS.
A complete 'collapse'? Come on, man!
Say what, @DCPatriot? Why have we lost two games to the Pads? I am watching these games and watching stats and all of that stuff, and I can't figure this out at all.
Even in the American League, the Astros lost twice yesterday!!! I am at a loss. :huh?:
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Say what, @DCPatriot? Why have we lost two games to the Pads? I am watching these games and watching stats and all of that stuff, and I can't figure this out at all.
Even in the American League, the Astros lost twice yesterday!!! I am at a loss. :huh?:
The team with the best league record meets the winner of the Wildcard Game.
The CUBS, therefore, will meet the NATIONALS, and the Dodgers will play the Diamondbacks....a team they want NO PART OF!
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The CUBS, therefore, will meet the NATIONALS, and the Dodgers will play the Diamondbacks....a team they want NO PART OF!
Not necessarily. The Nationals just clinched the NL East and are only four and a half behind the
Dodgers for the league's best record. If the Dodgers continue to fade and the Nationals stay
primed, it could be the Nats against the Snakes in a division series on the assumption the
Snakes win a wild card game.
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Not necessarily. The Nationals just clinched the NL East and are only four and a half behind the
Dodgers for the league's best record. If the Dodgers continue to fade and the Nationals stay
primed, it could be the Nats against the Snakes in a division series on the assumption the
Snakes win a wild card game.
The Snakes will win the wildcard spot.
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The Snakes will win the wildcard spot.
Always remember Berra's Law: It ain't over until it's over. And, Andujar's Law: In baseball,
there's just one word---you never know. Right now I wouldn't bet against the Diamondbacks,
but even in five days who knows what might happen?
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Always remember Berra's Law: It ain't over until it's over. And, Andujar's Law: In baseball,
there's just one word---you never know. Right now I wouldn't bet against the Diamondbacks,
but even in five days who knows what might happen?
@Slip18 has a baseball on the way, signed by Yogi: "It ain't over until it's over."
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@Slip18 has a baseball on the way, signed by Yogi: "It ain't over until it's over."
Awesome!
Congratulations, @Slip18 , on another nice piece for your collection!
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Awesome!
Congratulations, @Slip18 , on another nice piece for your collection!
It's supposed to be here Tuesday. I will get a picture and post it, it's bound to be cool.
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@Slip18 has a baseball on the way, signed by Yogi: "It ain't over until it's over."
@Slip18
@Cyber Liberty
@Polly Ticks
A favourite Yogi story: when he got to meet President Obama, he also got to sign a photograph of Jackie
Robinson stealing home on him on a hugely close play in the '55 World Series---so close that Robinson may
actually have been out---and Berra had a phenomenal you-know-what-fit over it with the umpire.
Yogi signed the photo: "Dear Mr. President---He was out! Sincerely, Yogi Berra."
Once, Berra had to be on the road while his wedding anniversary transpired, and he sent his wife,
Carmen, an anniversary card which he signed, "Love, Yogi Berra."
"I was actually kind of glad he thought to sign his last name," Mrs. Berra cracked, "because I
wouldn't have wanted to confuse him with all the other Yogis I know."
I wrote sadly enough about both halves of that remarkable couple when each passed away; when
Carmen Berra died first, I knew Yogi wasn't long for our world:
Carmen Berra, RIP: "I figured he had a future" (http://throneberryfields.com/2014/03/08/carmen-berra-rip-i-figured-he-probably-had-a-future/)
Yogi Berra, RIP: It's gotten late early out here (http://throneberryfields.com/2015/09/23/yogi-berra-rip-its-gotten-late-early-out-here/)
Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe may have been the Yankee glamour couple, but Yogi and Carmen
were the greatest Yankee love story.
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This just in you all:
Cincinnati manager Bryan Price ran out to argue with two umpires after
Scooter Gennett was ejected for slamming his helmet after being called
out on strikes to end the top of the seventh against the Mets. Price
paused the argument when Citi Field sang "God Bless America." When
the song ended, Price resumed the argument! Priceless! (The Reds
had tied the game at five in the seventh and would go on to win, 10-5.)
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This just in you all:
Cincinnati manager Bryan Price ran out to argue with two umpires after
Scooter Gennett was ejected for slamming his helmet after being called
out on strikes to end the top of the seventh against the Mets. Price
paused the argument when Citi Field sang "God Bless America." When
the song ended, Price resumed the argument! Priceless! (The Reds
had tied the game at five in the seventh and would go on to win, 10-5.)
@EasyAce
Now that is the best thing I have heard in sports today! Stopping an argument when "God Bless America" is being sung
I still stand up at home, put my right hand to my heart and sing with gusto to that song. My cats come running! I may be way off tune! :cheerlead:
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Awesome!
Congratulations, @Slip18 , on another nice piece for your collection!
@Polly Ticks @Cyber Liberty
Ummmm, three signed balls by Yogi and a signed mitt.
I agree. Yogi and Carmen were THE couple of the Yankees.
Marilyn was misguided. But her beauty... Any man (In these days, any woman) would have fallen in love with that beauty. Unfortunately, Marilyn had gastrointestinal problems. Not many people know that. It was embarrassing for her.
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Say what, @DCPatriot? Why have we lost two games to the Pads? I am watching these games and watching stats and all of that stuff, and I can't figure this out at all.
Even in the American League, the Astros lost twice yesterday!!! I am at a loss. :huh?:
By Jove, I think you are correct. I never figured the Dodgers' fear of the D-Backs into the equation. If everything stays the same with everyone else, and the Dodgers lose four games, D-Backs will play the Nationals!
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By Jove, I think you are correct. I never figured the Dodgers' fear of the D-Backs into the equation. If everything stays the same with everyone else, and the Dodgers lose four games, D-Backs will play the Nationals!
The 'FIX' is in!
Dirty rotten SOBs...... :shrug:
http://www.espn.com/espn/now?nowId=1-20663817 (http://www.espn.com/espn/now?nowId=1-20663817)
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This just in you all:
Cincinnati manager Bryan Price ran out to argue with two umpires after
Scooter Gennett was ejected for slamming his helmet after being called
out on strikes to end the top of the seventh against the Mets. Price
paused the argument when Citi Field sang "God Bless America." When
the song ended, Price resumed the argument! Priceless! (The Reds
had tied the game at five in the seventh and would go on to win, 10-5.)
That's quite a contrast with the latest stories from the NFL about the various idiots who refuse to stand for the national anthem, isn't it.
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Eight facts about the Dodgers’ astonishing 10-game losing streak
Eric Stephen
SB Nation
September 10, 2017
The team with the best record in baseball owns the longest MLB losing streak of 2017.
The Los Angeles Dodgers lost another game on Sunday, falling 8-1 to the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium, continuing a perplexing free fall for the National League West leaders.
The Dodgers have now lost 10 straight games, the longest streak in MLB in 2017. Here are some relevant facts and records about the club’s recent, elongated skid.
More (https://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2017/9/10/16285142/dodgers-losing-streak-facts-best-mlb-record)
(https://i.imgur.com/phXWEKy.jpg)
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Good news! @Slip18 got another one of her baseballs today, and it's a good one! Autographed by 13 HOF Pitchers, including Sandy Koufax, Catfish Hunter and Don Drysdale.
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Good news! @Slip18 got another one of her baseballs today, and it's a good one! Autographed by 13 HOF Pitchers, including Sandy Koufax, Catfish Hunter and Don Drysdale.
Awesome! 888high58888
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Awesome! 888high58888
@Cyber Liberty @Bigun @Polly Ticks @EasyAce @DCPatriot @Machiavelli Hope I am not forgetting anyone!
I have always loved "collecting" things. Knowing something has touched someone's ✋ has a special meaning for me. It is not for everyone. Some people need something new. I prefer older things. Not makeup or toothbrush, mind you, but things that you can feel.
That is why it is so difficult for me to see an American flag destroyed. I am just that way.
I do have some very old books, too. I believe my oldest is a Civil War book published in 1898 or earlier. The statues that have been destroyed or will be destroyed breaks my 💓.
Just me. Cyber puts up with my A.B. Normal personality! :facepalm:
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I have always loved "collecting" things. Knowing something has touched someone's ✋ has a special meaning for me. It is not for everyone. Some people need something new. I prefer older things. Not makeup or toothbrush, mind you, but things that you can feel.
@Slip18
With you, it's memorabilia and old books; with me, it's some old books, a few antiques (particularly a couple of antique appliances),
music, and old-time radio shows and books about that broadcast era, plus some memorabilia. Among others, I have two memoirs
and a collection of letters by Fred Allen; a photograph of Goodman and Jane Ace (Easy Aces) preparing for their live broadcast
(at the bridge table into which Ace cleverly built a CBS broadcast microphone, the better to facilitate themselves and their small
cast just talking in normal conversation), framed on a wall behind the music equipment portion of my home office; a framed
newspaper ad promoting the syndication of Easy Aces; all three of Goodman Ace's collections of essays from his later years
writing humour and criticism for the old Saturday Review; a collection of essays by the old New York Herald-Tribune
radio critic John Crosby; Flywheel, Shyster, and Flywheel, a collection of the complete scripts for the Marx Brothers' short-
lived radio show of the same name; and, Curt Smith's Voices of the Game, a splendid study of the great baseball announcers.
-
@Slip18
With you, it's memorabilia and old books; with me, it's some old books, a few antiques (particularly a couple of antique appliances),
music, and old-time radio shows and books about that broadcast era, plus some memorabilia. Among others, I have two memoirs
and a collection of letters by Fred Allen; a photograph of Goodman and Jane Ace (Easy Aces) preparing for their live broadcast
(at the bridge table into which Ace cleverly built a CBS broadcast microphone, the better to facilitate themselves and their small
cast just talking in normal conversation), framed on a wall behind the music equipment portion of my home office; a framed
newspaper ad promoting the syndication of Easy Aces; all three of Goodman Ace's collections of essays from his later years
writing humour and criticism for the old Saturday Review; a collection of essays by the old New York Herald-Tribune
radio critic John Crosby; Flywheel, Shyster, and Flywheel, a collection of the complete scripts for the Marx Brothers' short-
lived radio show of the same name; and, Curt Smith's Voices of the Game, a splendid study of the great baseball announcers.
All I can say is "WOW!" I totally understand just the feelings it gives you being surrounded by your treasures, and treasures they are. You can touch them. You can feel them. And you can hear them!
I am so happy for you, EasyAce. And now we know how you got your screen name! Is your real name "Tarzan"? Just joking, of course. My screen name came from some books. Slip F-18 was where the Busted Flush was moored in Ft. Lauderdale. It was still there 18 years ago, but after Irma, who knows?
It is really a pleasure hearing from you in such a personal way!
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All I can say is "WOW!" I totally understand just the feelings it gives you being surrounded by your treasures, and treasures they are. You can touch them. You can feel them. And you can hear them!
@Slip18
And, in the case of this completely-restored antique treasure, I can touch, feel, hear, and taste what it
produces for me regularly (I'm also something of a self-taught gourmet cook) . . .
(http://www.mylespaul.com/media/dsc00384.81721/full?d=1492885099) (http://www.mylespaul.com/media/dsc00386.81720/full?d=1492885098)
I am so happy for you, EasyAce. And now we know how you got your screen name!
OK, who's the squealer? ;)
Is your real name "Tarzan"?
I could tell you. But then I'd have to kill you. ;)
My screen name came from some books. Slip F-18 was where the Busted Flush was moored in Ft. Lauderdale. It was still there 18 years ago, but after Irma, who knows?
My Friend Irma (http://otrrlibrary.org/OTRRLib/Library%20Files/M%20Series/My%20Friend%20Irma/)
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@Slip18
Here's a treat for you, and yes you can download it for your own collection!
Lindsey Nelson, Bob Murphy, and Ralph Kiner call the very first regular season game of the New York Mets, 11 April 1962, against the St. Louis Cardinals in Sportsman's Park (https://archive.org/download/baseball_otr/Baseball-620411-MetsAtCardinals-VeryFirstMetsGame.mp3)
And . . .
New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox, 2 October 1949, with the American League pennant on the line . . . and Mel Allen behind the mike. (https://archive.org/download/baseball_otr/Baseball-491002-RedSoxAtYankeesForPennant.mp3)
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MLB to start 2018 season in March with full slate of games
ESPN
September 12, 2017
Major League Baseball unveiled its 2018 schedule, with a full slate of games scheduled to take place on Opening Day on March 29 -- the earliest starting date in the sport's history, excluding international openers.
It will be the first time since the 1968 season -- the last year before the American and National Leagues split into divisions -- that every team will play on Opening Day.
More (http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/20682948/major-league-baseball-start-2018-season-march-full-slate-games)
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This is cool. I'm holding a baseball signed by Dan Larson (WSPG 10-8-56) and Yogi Berra.
We have another one, "It ain't over till it's over" Yogi Berra.
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@Slip18
Here's a treat for you, and yes you can download it for your own collection!
Lindsey Nelson, Bob Murphy, and Ralph Kiner call the very first regular season game of the New York Mets, 11 April 1962, against the St. Louis Cardinals in Sportsman's Park (https://archive.org/download/baseball_otr/Baseball-620411-MetsAtCardinals-VeryFirstMetsGame.mp3)
And . . .
New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox, 2 October 1949, with the American League pennant on the line . . . and Mel Allen behind the mike. (https://archive.org/download/baseball_otr/Baseball-491002-RedSoxAtYankeesForPennant.mp3)
@EasyAce
I thank you with all my heart for those! I don't know about @cyberliberty, though because I have no idea of how to copy anything. Nil. Zip. Nada!
I got lost on another thread. They were very nice to me, too!
Oh, and I love your tile, too! That is awesome!
Got all my just too cool balls. Now nothing else is coming. :hard crying:
But that is okay. I get to look at these and touch them and put them into their little mahogany cases. I cannot find a case for the two mitts, though. I am sure if I left them hanging, the kitties and cats would eat the strings! @Freya
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Indians win their 21st straight, setting a new AL Record.
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Indians win their 21st straight, setting a new AL Record.
Wow! That is the one team that, as an Astros fan, scares me the most, going into the post season.
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Wow! That is the one team that, as an Astros fan, scares me the most, going into the post season.
Both of us! 888high58888
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Both of us! 888high58888
They gotta cool off at some point.
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The Indians have done it!!!! 22 Wins in a row, a new MLB Record.
I don't consider the Giants 26 game streak valid, since they had a tie in the middle of it.
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The Indians have done it!!!! 22 Wins in a row, a new MLB Record.
I don't consider the Giants 26 game streak valid, since they had a tie in the middle of it.
How many years ago did the Giants have that tie game? Were they in New York then?
We have an evening off of ⚾. Towards the end of the season, I am as tired as the players! My eyeballs are killing me! :yawn1:
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How many years ago did the Giants have that tie game? Were they in New York then?
@Slip18
1916. Their last year in NY was 1957.
The Giants had been planning a move to Minnesota but Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley wanted to move his team to Los Angeles. The National League would not allow the Dodgers to move alone. It would not be logistically feasible for only one team to move to the West Coast. O'Malley was able to talk Giants owner Horace Stoneham into moving his team to San Francisco. The NL then authorized the move. This also allowed the Dodgers and Giants to retain their longtime rivalry.
-
@Slip18
1916. Their last year in NY was 1957.
The Giants had been planning a move to Minnesota but Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley wanted to move his team to Los Angeles. The National League would not allow the Dodgers to move alone. It would not be logistically feasible for only one team to move to the West Coast. O'Malley was able to talk Giants owner Horace Stoneham into moving his team to San Francisco. The NL then authorized the move. This also allowed the Dodgers and Giants to retain their longtime rivalry.
@Machiavelli
@Slip18
Until O'Malley approached Stoneham with the proposal to move to California, Stoneham was planning to move
the Giants to Minneapolis---they had the major league territorial rights there because of their Millers farm
team. Stoneham needed a new ballpark even more than O'Malley did, but he lacked O'Malley's finances to
build a park on his own. And since Minneapolis had already built Metropolitan Stadium, in which the Millers
played, with an eye toward luring a major league team, Stoneham's ballpark problem was solvable in
a blink.
One of the great mysteries of the time, in my opinion, is this:
New York's planning and building czar (for city and state alike), Robert Moses, was hell bent for leather to
build a multipurpose stadium in Flushing, in Queens, adjacent to La Guardia Airport and the World's Fair
grounds. He was likewise hell bent on making sure nobody in New York could build and operate a
sports facility on his own, privately, so long as he, Moses, had anything to say about it, and New York's
mouselike politicians weren't inclined to challenge him. (For @Slip18 and anyone else who doesn't know:
the facility Moses wanted to build is what eventually became Shea Stadium.)
That said, and knowing that Walter O'Malley was equally hell bent on not playing in Queens (he once
said, famously, "If we play in Queens, we won't be the Brooklyn Dodgers anymore"), the big question
becomes why on earth did Moses not even think of offering the Giants the chance to play in
that ballpark? The Giants didn't have the Dodgers' borough identification; they weren't the Manhattan
Giants or the Harlem Giants. Horace Stoneham wouldn't have had reason to say, "If we play in Queens,
we're not the New York Giants anymore."
Had Moses offered the Giants the Flushing multipurpose stadium, it might have changed everything,
even if Moses concurrently did everything in his power to stop O'Malley from building his own new
ballpark in Brooklyn. If the Giants accepted any offer to play in the new Flushing park, they could
have held on and gritted it out in the Polo Grounds (as the Mets eventually did, playing their first
two seasons in the rambling wreck) until Shea Stadium was ready to open in 1964. It might have
forced Moses' hand regarding the Dodger situation---not to mention exposing him as a hypocrite,
never mind that one of New York's worst kept secret in those years was Moses' hypocrisy.
You wonder whether Moses knew all that and played his hand accordingly. But let the record
remind you that one Giants' stockholder voted against the team leaving New York: Joan Payson,
by way of her proxy voted by her chief financial officer M. Donald Grant.
After the Giants and the Dodgers left, New York's then-mayor Robert Wagner proposed forming
a group that might entice a National League team to move to New York. A couple of years earlier,
the original Pacific Coast League, considered the equal in performance of a major league, had
its hopes of being sanctioned as an actual major league shot down.
The leader of the New York group was a corporate lawyer named William Shea. Shea's first move
was to approach the Cincinnati Reds, whose owner Powell Crosley (he who also made a small
fortune making radios and large appliances) was tempted to make the move but ultimately said no,
partly because then-National League president Ford Frick spoke loud enough about league
stability after the moves of the Braves, the Philadelphia Athletics, the St. Louis Browns, the
Dodgers, and the Giants.
Shea's next move was to bring former Cardinals/Dodgers/Pirates president Branch Rickey and
Mrs. Payson aboard as two of the prospective owners in a third major league, the Continental
League. The new league proposed to play in New York, Houston, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Denver,
Dallas, Toronto, and Buffalo. Rickey was named the president of the new league; the franchise
owners included Mrs. Payson in New York, future Big Red Machine builder Bob Howsam in
Denver, and future Los Angeles Rams owner Jack Kent Cooke in Toronto.
Shea also went to Sen. Estes Kefauver and convinced him to open hearings into baseball's
anti-trust exemption. (These were the hearings where Casey Stengel absolutely flummoxed
the senators, and Mickey Mantle followed him and answered his first question with, "My views
are just about the same as Casey's.") The prospect of losing its anti-trust exemption shook
baseball even more than the Continental League, but combined they did exactly what Shea
hoped for: they brought major league baseball back to New York when baseball agreed
to expand both leagues. The National League got franchises in New York and Houston; Mrs.
Payson, of course, was awarded the New York franchise---the Mets.
The kicker: The American League planned to expand to Los Angeles and Minneapolis, but
the Washington Senators threw a monkey wrench into the plan by moving to Minneapolis
to become the Twins. The AL had to agree to put a new franchise in Washington, which
played as the Senators until 1971 before becoming the Texas Rangers.
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@Slip18
1916. Their last year in NY was 1957.
The Giants had been planning a move to Minnesota but Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley wanted to move his team to Los Angeles. The National League would not allow the Dodgers to move alone. It would not be logistically feasible for only one team to move to the West Coast. O'Malley was able to talk Giants owner Horace Stoneham into moving his team to San Francisco. The NL then authorized the move. This also allowed the Dodgers and Giants to retain their longtime rivalry.
@Machiavelli @EasyAce
You two are way over my head! Just wow!
I do have a question because I and, of course, @Cyber Liberty , have a chance to get some really, really cool stuff. I have not been told any prices yet, but if you could possibly guide this collector who is not selling anything on what to buy. I have gone over budget already, but I think I can squeeze more $ if you think some of these things will be too fine to pass on.
Here is the list: Cy Young, Stan Musial, Honus Wagner, Johnny Bench, Nolan Ryan, Mike Schmidt, Gibson, Tony Gwynn, Henderson, and Roger Hornsby. There are a few home plates, too, that I can get at a great price. Everything is signed and authenticated.
My first choice would be, of course, Cy Young. Second would be Tony Gwynn because I really loved that guy. And wouldn't a signed home plate (who signs those?) would be just too cool on the Sports Room door in our home.
"Come on into Home Plate!" LOL!
My nephew has a vote in for Stan the Man. I do not know who he is!
Could anyone give me an idea?
Thanks in advance!
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@Machiavelli @EasyAce
You two are way over my head! Just wow!
@Slip18
@EasyAce is the only real expert here, and we are fortunate to have him. Me? I'm just a trivia freak.
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@Machiavelli @EasyAce
"Come on into Home Plate!" LOL!
My nephew has a vote in for Stan the Man. I do not know who he is!
Could anyone give me an idea?
Thanks in advance!
@Slip18
Hint:
(http://baseballhall.org/sites/default/files/Musial%20Stan%20Plaque_NBL.png)
In the 1970s/early 1980s was a relief pitcher named Don Stanhouse, who was such a flake
that, when he was with the Orioles, fellow pitcher Mike Flanagan nicknamed him "Stan the
Man Unusual," in tribute to his dicey ways on the mound and flakiness off it . . .
(http://www.trbimg.com/img-55b120ef/turbine/bs-sp-daffy-dozen-don-stanhouse-0724-20150723)
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My nephew has a vote in for Stan the Man. I do not know who he is!
Could anyone give me an idea?
@Slip18
Stan the Man Musial was unbelievably great.
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@Slip18
@EasyAce is the only real expert here, and we are fortunate to have him. Me? I'm just a trivia freak.
@Machiavelli @EasyAce
Sorry, you know a heck of a lot more in your little finger than I do in my whole body! So there!
I just love to collect! It is so special to feel a ball that someone touched 50-75 years ago! I am in awe of the talent.
Thank you for all of the info up there about the Giants. My nephew and I text constantly during the season. He is a Giants fan. I was a Cubbies, Dodgers, Pads and now D-Backs fan. I do have respect for almost all players, especially the ones who give kids a chance in life to "belong" to something as clean as baseball. I know about the things that are being said now, but that will pass.
So just why the heck is my Mark McGwire with the Pads? Can't keep up.
I have an enormous collection of signed and unsigned cards. I do not know how to put them in order. So I am going to just alphabetize everyone. About 2000 have not even been opened. They are from 1990 and 1991.
I just need help! :wtf!:
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@EasyAce @Machiavelli
Thank you! That makes three! Stan the Man it is! I do have to find out what it is, i.e., ball, glove, jersey, bat. I honestly don't know.
My friend is sending a surprise present to me/us. He was in that Florida hurricane. Sheesh! What a mess!
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@Machiavelli @EasyAce
You two are way over my head! Just wow!
I do have a question because I and, of course, @Cyber Liberty , have a chance to get some really, really cool stuff. I have not been told any prices yet, but if you could possibly guide this collector who is not selling anything on what to buy. I have gone over budget already, but I think I can squeeze more $ if you think some of these things will be too fine to pass on.
Here is the list: Cy Young, Stan Musial, Honus Wagner, Johnny Bench, Nolan Ryan, Mike Schmidt, Gibson, Tony Gwynn, Henderson, and Roger Hornsby. There are a few home plates, too, that I can get at a great price. Everything is signed and authenticated.
My first choice would be, of course, Cy Young. Second would be Tony Gwynn because I really loved that guy. And wouldn't a signed home plate (who signs those?) would be just too cool on the Sports Room door in our home.
"Come on into Home Plate!" LOL!
My nephew has a vote in for Stan the Man. I do not know who he is!
Could anyone give me an idea?
Thanks in advance!
Hi, @Slip18 !! It's good to see you back -- I've missed you.
:seeya:
I'm going to vote for "All of the above"!
:laugh:
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Hi, @Slip18 !! It's good to see you back -- I've missed you.
:seeya:
I'm going to vote for "All of the above"!
:laugh:
@Polly Ticks
LOL!
We get one night off of ⚾, and what are we doing? Watching the Cubbies/Brewers game! I am actually for both teams! The manager for the Brewers is an exD-Back, and I like Rizzo and the Cubbies. Cubbies need to win, too. But, but Craig Counsel is just so sweet!
I just got so busy. It happens sometimes. Missed you, too! 8888crybaby
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@Polly Ticks
LOL!
We get one night off of ⚾, and what are we doing? Watching the Cubbies/Brewers game! I am actually for both teams! The manager for the Brewers is an exD-Back, and I like Rizzo and the Cubbies. Cubbies need to win, too. But, but Craig Counsel is just so sweet!
I just got so busy. It happens sometimes. Missed you, too! 8888crybaby
I'm the same way ... when the Braves have an off-night, I watch whoever else is playing. There's not that much baseball left this year, so we have to fit in as much as we can before the long winter dry spell!
Busy-ness definitely happens. There's been quite of bit of that around my house too, lately. I'll just look forward to seeing you whenever you happen to pop in!
034
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In the 1970s/early 1980s was a relief pitcher named Don Stanhouse, who was such a flake
that, when he was with the Orioles, fellow pitcher Mike Flanagan nicknamed him "Stan the
Man Unusual," in tribute to his dicey ways on the mound and flakiness off it . . .
NOBODY out flaked this guy!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Fidrych
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMSDo3BX5Ds
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@Slip18
In the 1970s/early 1980s was a relief pitcher named Don Stanhouse, who was such a flake
that, when he was with the Orioles, fellow pitcher Mike Flanagan nicknamed him "Stan the
Man Unusual," in tribute to his dicey ways on the mound and flakiness off it . . .
Stanhouse's manager with the Orioles....Earl Weaver, referred to him as "Full Pack".
Seems he smoked an entire pack of cigarettes while Don Stanhouse would be doing his shtick between pitches/innings.
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NOBODY out flaked this guy!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Fidrych
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMSDo3BX5Ds
Don't you be talkin' mean about The Bird (Yes, I know he was a flake, but he was our flake)
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@Slip18
Stan the Man Musial was unbelievably great.
Weren't Stan Musial's hits evenly split between batting right handed and left handed?
That stands out to me, for some reason.
It's been a while since I've looked up the stays on him.
I guess I could Google it, but that would be cheating..
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Weren't Stan Musial's hits evenly split between batting right handed and left handed?
That stands out to me, for some reason.
It's been a while since I've looked up the stays on him.
I guess I could Google it, but that would be cheating..
Musial stats including salaries:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/musiast01.shtml
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Weren't Stan Musial's hits evenly split between batting right handed and left handed?
That stands out to me, for some reason.
It's been a while since I've looked up the stays on him.
I guess I could Google it, but that would be cheating..
He had the exact same number of hits home and away: 1815
Here are his career splits: https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=musiast01&year=Career&t=b
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He had the exact same number of hits home and away: 1815
Here are his career splits: https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=musiast01&year=Career&t=b
I had it wrong, but I knew there was something about the hits.
Since he was a left handed batter.....
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NOBODY out flaked this guy!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Fidrych
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMSDo3BX5Ds
@Bigun @Machiavelli @EasyAce @DCPatriot @Polly Ticks @GrouchoTex @Cyber Liberty
I have become a nerd, thanks to Easy And Mach! Been reading everything I can find on the "old timers." The kittens keep me awake, anyway! @Freya
So now I have found out why Yankkee Stadium iis nicknamed "Ruth's house!" Then found out about Hank Aaron. Then I am off to DiMaggio. Found out why the rookie Judge's anything are so expensive.
This is really a history of the United States. I feel like I knew nothing! But thanks to you and this thread, I am learning.
The reason I liked Mark McGwire so much (in case anyone cared) is because he had a son about the same age as my two nephews. That was at the time I watched about a thousand Little League games. Mark's son went to a Parochial school in Orange County, California, during this time. (the name of the County is a sweet fruit as opposed to a lemon. WTF?)
At one of the school's fund raising events Mark showed up unexpectedly. He was out on the baseball field just hitting balls to the kids. Some other moms and dads were watching. No one knew who he was! He was hitting homers for the young kids' pitches.
The following year is when I won the Mark McGwire "shrine" at the end of the Little League season. By then he was well known. I was offered $500 for it as I walked off the stand. Nope!
Then on the way to my nephews' homes they were fighting over who it belonged to. They really thought I was going to toss a coin and give it to one of them. To their utter surprise, neither of them got it!
But Mark swore he would never play for a California team because they did not pick him up as a player. He used to hang out in Seal Beach. That is the border beach town between L.A. County and Orange County, California.
So that he is no longer a player, but a coach, that is why I have seen him with the Dodgers and for two years with the Pads.
Now I am rambling. But I want to thank all of you for this most fascinating history lesson of the United States via baseball. Not finished studying. Probably going to take me for-e-ver! ⚾
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That's a great story about Mark McGwire, @Slip18 !
I used to watch quite a bit of Oakland A's back in the Bash Brothers era.
I liked McGwire, but Rickey Henderson was my favorite.
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That's a great story about Mark McGwire, @Slip18 !
I used to watch quite a bit of Oakland A's back in the Bash Brothers era.
I liked McGwire, but Rickey Henderson was my favorite.
@Polly Ticks
I will have to look up Rickey Henderson! I am sure he was fabulous!
Here is another story about Little League:
My sister had to go to work on Saturdays around the second inning. But she watched every inning she could. Around the fourth inning the coach told me that my nephew was going to be the catcher. He told me to put on his cup. WTF is a cup? I had no idea, and I had to ask his coach what that was.
He just stared at me. My nephew is laughing. My nephew showed me the cup. I still did not get it.
The coach put on his cup with me and a few people around so no one could see what was going on.
I did have a few words with my sis, like, "Perhaps you could have explained a few things to me in advance?"
There is absolutely nothing so hysterical about first grade Little League! The kids are looking for things on the ground instead of watching for the ball being hit. They are kicking dirt around. The slide into first base makes you wanna cry and laugh at the same time!
This Little League nephew is very successful in business now as is my other nephew who writes programs for video games.
Little League and the Pony Tail League are great for kids in so many ways!
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That's a great story about Mark McGwire, @Slip18 !
I used to watch quite a bit of Oakland A's back in the Bash Brothers era.
I liked McGwire, but Rickey Henderson was my favorite.
Polly, I found a Rickey Henderson signed baseball. It is not from my regular go-to person, but an auction house that is a great place to find things. I have been using this place for years.
Do you want to know where you can get it? Not expensive at all. The signatures, if they are not from an authentication place are authenticated from a third party. Not as good as some authentication places, but they are real signatures. I only saw one, and I marked it so I can find it.
You bid on these things. One time I bid $1 for something. The item went for over a thousand dollars. Of course, I did not bid after about ten dollars. LOL! But you can find deals out there! :finger:
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Athletics' Bruce Maxwell first MLB player to kneel during national anthem
9/24/17 12:43 AM MT
ESPN.com news services
Oakland Athletics rookie catcher Bruce Maxwell became the first Major League Baseball player to kneel during the national anthem when he did so before Saturday night's 1-0 home victory against the Texas Rangers.
Maxwell, 26, dropped to a knee and pressed his cap against his chest just outside Oakland's dugout during the anthem, adopting a protest started by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in response to police treatment of blacks.
Maxwell pressed his right hand against his heart while facing the flag, and teammates stood in a line next to him. Teammate Mark Canha, who is white, placed his hand on Maxwell's shoulder, and the two hugged after the anthem finished.
AP Photo, so link only: http://a4.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2017%2F0923%2Fr262756_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&w=1140&cquality=40
More: http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/20796662/oakland-athletics-catcher-bruce-maxwell-kneels-national-anthem
I noticed he didn't play yesterday, and isn't on today's roster. I can't believe Bob Melvin is going to tolerate this.
This shit needs to stop, and STOP RIGHT NOW.
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Diamondbacks have just clinched the top Wildcard slot in the National League. First payoff berth in six years. Tix for the game on sale tomorrow, in Phoenix. Magic Number for home field advantage is 1.
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Dbacks just clinched home field advantage. The Champagne Shower just started on the field, and it's going to continue into the locker room! This was a bases loaded, walk-off win.
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Polly, I found a Rickey Henderson signed baseball. It is not from my regular go-to person, but an auction house that is a great place to find things. I have been using this place for years.
Do you want to know where you can get it? Not expensive at all. The signatures, if they are not from an authentication place are authenticated from a third party. Not as good as some authentication places, but they are real signatures. I only saw one, and I marked it so I can find it.
You bid on these things. One time I bid $1 for something. The item went for over a thousand dollars. Of course, I did not bid after about ten dollars. LOL! But you can find deals out there! :finger:
Cool beans! Thanks for the offer, @Slip18 . As much as I would love to pursue it, I have 2 college-age kids right now and another one who is graduating from high school this year. My discretionary dollars are pretty well spoken for in the foreseeable future. I'll just have to live vicariously through your great finds! (And you'll have to get @Cyber Liberty to help you post some more pictures of some of your treasures!)
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Cool beans! Thanks for the offer, @Slip18 . As much as I would love to pursue it, I have 2 college-age kids right now and another one who is graduating from high school this year. My discretionary dollars are pretty well spoken for in the foreseeable future. I'll just have to live vicariously through your great finds! (And you'll have to get @Cyber Liberty to help you post some more pictures of some of your treasures!)
Totally understand! Price is going up already. Without kids here, how many balls can we afford? ⚾ ⚾ ⚾ LOL!
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Diamondbacks have just clinched the top Wildcard slot in the National League. First payoff berth in six years. Tix for the game on sale tomorrow, in Phoenix. Magic Number for home field advantage is 1.
After the champagne and fun in the locker room, our guys took a dip into the pool at Chase Park! Even Paul Goldschmidt got involved when the guys were yelling, "Goldy, Goldy, MVP, MVP!" What an exciting night! :finger:
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After the champagne and fun in the locker room, our guys took a dip into the pool at Chase Park! Even Paul Goldschmidt got involved when the guys were yelling, "Goldy, Goldy, MVP, MVP!" What an exciting night! :finger:
Congrats, and between Col, STL, and MIL........ all should be pretty easy picking.
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Congrats, and between Col, STL, and MIL........ all should be pretty easy picking.
If we had to play the Rockies in CO, that would be a rough and tough battle! That field is weird! The ball carries so far, too, because of the altitude.
But we get home field advantage! That means a lot. We may even get to have our roof opened because the weather is just beautiful now!
Summer is gone for another year! Your feet can burn even wearing shoes on cement *bouche*
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@catfish1957 @Cyber Liberty @Polly Ticks @DCPatriot
I have a bid on a couple of COA signed balls, but I have to run because I have some bids on some just bitchen hats. Two are from Bullock's Wilshire in Los Angeles. No longer there, but I worked across the street and had lunch there twice a week. They even had an Otis elevator operated by a real person. Great fun.
Anyway three of the baseball bids are for Don Sutton, George Bush before he was president when he owned the Rangers and a player from the Negroe League. That way when I text about the ball, I can text "Negroe," correct? His first name is Ray, HOF, and I forgot his last name because of my little rush for the hat!
I will bring his name back in here. That one will be a prize!
I think we are going to have to get that 48-ball wall hanger, my darlin' love o' mine! Heck, I am on a roll! Wheeee!
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@catfish1957 @Cyber Liberty @Polly Ticks @DCPatriot
I have a bid on a couple of COA signed balls, but I have to run because I have some bids on some just bitchen hats. Two are from Bullock's Wilshire in Los Angeles. No longer there, but I worked across the street and had lunch there twice a week. They even had an Otis elevator operated by a real person. Great fun.
Anyway three of the baseball bids are for Don Sutton, George Bush before he was president when he owned the Rangers and a player from the Negroe League. That way when I text about the ball, I can text "Negroe," correct? His first name is Ray, HOF, and I forgot his last name because of my little rush for the hat!
I will bring his name back in here. That one will be a prize!
I think we are going to have to get that 48-ball wall hanger, my darlin' love o' mine! Heck, I am on a roll! Wheeee!
Nice! Great fun, indeed!
:beer:
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Nice! Great fun, indeed!
:beer:
It is! But dangerous...
Got the hat(s)! I love hats. You have to wear them in the AZ heat.
The baseball player is Ray Dandridge. He is a HOFer inducted in 1987. His batting average was .357 (wow!), and he had been an All Star three times. Great athlete! Great addition to the collection!
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NOBODY out flaked this guy!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Fidrych
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMSDo3BX5Ds
@Bigun
I dunno, there've been some pretty good flakes in baseball history, including but not limited to . . .
Lefty Gomez
Casey Stengel---Name one manager other than him who ever tipped his cap to fans . . . letting
a bird fly out from the cap. Or rounded his players up in front of the dugout to mock the White
Sox's exploding scoreboard by having the players and himself prance around holding sparklers
after one of their mates hit one out in Chicago. Or greeted the paying customers at the old
Polo Grounds where his Mets played their first two seasons (I was there, waiting to get into
the old wreck with my grandpa), "Come an' see my amazin' Mets! I been in this game a
hundred years but I see new ways to lose I didn't know were invented yet.")
Warren Spahn and Lew Burdette---partners in crime on the 1950s Braves, whose gags included
sending limousines to bring to the ballpark enemy hitters against whom they were pitching
particularly well---Joe Garagiola was a frequent recipient.
Juan Marichal---known as an amiable practical joker in his clubhouse whose favourite gag was
handing teammates nicely carved bottles of perfume to give their wives or their girl friends . . .
who learned the hard way the bottles were loaded with stink bombs.
Mickey Mantle---very renowned as a great practical joker, including:
* The time he raffled a ham off in the Yankee clubhouse, only to tell the winner
there was no ham, but that's the hazard of a game of chance.
* The time he told rookies Joe Pepitone and Phil Linz it was time for them to hang with
the big guys and to take a cab to a Detroit hotspot and ask for Whitey Ford's table,
only to discover the place was in the city's worst slum area and had been closed
for months.
* The time he left Ford's deodorant tube full of stickum (Ford swore he used it to get
a better grip on his curve ball) in full enough view for Yogi Berra to borrow when
his own deodorant ran out . . . sending Berra screaming into the trainers' room
to get his arms shaved loose from his sides.
Jimmy Piersall---even after his successful treatements for mental illness remained a natural
flake---including the day he shuffled around the bases in reverse after hitting his 100th career
home run.
Bo Belinsky---the playboy of the baseball world from 1962-65, before he married a Playmate
of the Year.
Moe Drabowsky---made The Bird resemble a chick still in the egg, including the day he mimicked
A's manager Alvin Dark and called the A's bullpen ordering a reliever to start warming up . . .
. . . while A's starter Jim Nash had a no-hitter going! Did I mention Drabowsky once ordered
Chinese takeout---from Hong Kong, sent to the other guys' bullpen? Or, that he once ran
a string of high-powered fireworks up to the teepee of the old Braves mascot Chief Noc-A-Homa?
Or, that he---with fellow Baltimore relievers Pete Richert and Eddie Watt---put live goldfish
into the water cooler of the enemy bullpen? Or, that the three topped Whitey Ford's bullpen
restaurant (Ford liked to spread a checkered tablecloth over a table in the pen and fill it
with loaves of Italian bread and cold cuts) with wienie roasts?
Tug McGraw---once replied, when asked what he thought of Astroturf, "I don't know, I've never
smoked Astroturf." (Also predicted his 1969 Mets would go all the way after he saw Neil Armstrong
in a certain place: When those astronauts landed on the moon, I knew anything was possible
and we had a chance.) He also disclosed what he did with his signing bonus when the Mets
first found him: I spent half on booze and broads. The other half I wasted.
Graig Nettles---fabled for his smart@$$ one liners and periodic pranks. (Some boys want to play
baseball. Some want to join the circus. I feel lucky. When I came to the Yankees, I got to be both.)
Bill (Spaceman) Lee. Probably self explanatory.
Rick Dempsey---Orioles catcher who cooked up a routine during rain delays where he'd put on
his team jacket, fill it with water, walk out to the plate, do a perfect caricature of Babe Ruth hitting
one out and running the bases, until he dove headfirst sliding home on the tarp making the
jacket explode the water out of it.
Roger McDowell---relief pitcher once voted as the Met most likely to be committed in a poll,
whose gags included the classic hotfoot laid on first base coach Bill Robinson---timed to
explode up the back of Robinson's ankle the moment he got back to the coaching line,
on a game televised nationally against the Reds, all of whom were laughing their @$$es
off along with the Mets when Robinson got nailed.
Super Joe Charboneau---Indians Rookie of the Year who was so flaky the city fell in love
with him . . . then, the following year, a back injury basically finished him as a player.
Drinking a beer through his nose was probably one of his lesser stunts. He was
baseball's one man version of Animal House before his injury.
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EA....
One you left off from our team..... Doug Rader, ...The Red Rooster
I am sure you know of his exploits.
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EA....
One you left off from our team..... Doug Rader, ...The Red Rooster
I am sure you know of his exploits.
@catfish1957
I wasn't sure they could be repeated in polite company with ladies present. ;)
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@EasyAce
He [Tug McGraw] also disclosed what he did with his signing bonus when the Mets first found him: I spent half on booze and broads. The other half I wasted.
I use that line all the time. Now that I know it's Tug's I'll have to be sure to give him proper attribution.
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@EasyAce Somehow, some way, I have to save this whole danged thread! You are amazing!
@Polly Ticks @Cyber Liberty @Bigun @ Machiavelli @catfish1957 @DCPatriot and at everyone on the ⚾ thread
Cyber and I went on a one-night holiday. He got on the mobile hot spot via his Droid. I was busy, anyway, playing and losing on quarteroker machines. Those four of a kind keep you going for a little bit! But the put in three, win two, get you every time.
Anyway, while I was playing, my auctions on my balls (hahahaha!) ended. I missed out on a few, but bid high enough on two of them that I did win. Those two were Tony Gwynn signed COA ⚾ I got for a whopping $38 and a Don Sutton signed COA ⚾ I paid $40. Or it could be the reverse.
I did not win on the Dandridge, George W. Bush (before his presidency) ball and a few others. Some I did not put in a larger bid because there was no COA. Heck, I have a few of those to sell myself, not really, because I am careful about that little document.
But I am thrilled, yet again! I loved Tony Gwynn because I was a Pads fan in that era (before Cyber and the D-Backs), and Don Sutton because I grew up with him. Not personally, but ⚾ ly, so to speak.
And we are off to win the World Series! That is if everything goes correctly the way I see it. JD (just dinged) Martinez could fall, Peralta's train could fall off the rails, Goldy's hair could turn 🍊 (afraid to use that word), Ianetta could lose his vowels, A.J. Pollock (nicknamed Pollo) could get salmonella, Ketel Marte may run out of vodka, you get it. Did not even mention a pitcher! Anything could happen. But I think the D-Backs will win!
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@EasyAce Somehow, some way, I have to save this whole danged thread! You are amazing!
@Polly Ticks @Cyber Liberty @Bigun @ Machiavelli @catfish1957 @DCPatriot and at everyone on the ⚾ thread
Cyber and I went on a one-night holiday. He got on the mobile hot spot via his Droid. I was busy, anyway, playing and losing on quarteroker machines. Those four of a kind keep you going for a little bit! But the put in three, win two, get you every time.
Anyway, while I was playing, my auctions on my balls (hahahaha!) ended. I missed out on a few, but bid high enough on two of them that I did win. Those two were Tony Gwynn signed COA ⚾ I got for a whopping $38 and a Don Sutton signed COA ⚾ I paid $40. Or it could be the reverse.
I did not win on the Dandridge, George W. Bush (before his presidency) ball and a few others. Some I did not put in a larger bid because there was no COA. Heck, I have a few of those to sell myself, not really, because I am careful about that little document.
But I am thrilled, yet again! I loved Tony Gwynn because I was a Pads fan in that era (before Cyber and the D-Backs), and Don Sutton because I grew up with him. Not personally, but ⚾ ly, so to speak.
And we are off to win the World Series! That is if everything goes correctly the way I see it. JD (just dinged) Martinez could fall, Peralta's train could fall off the rails, Goldy's hair could turn 🍊 (afraid to use that word), Ianetta could lose his vowels, A.J. Pollock (nicknamed Pollo) could get salmonella, Ketel Marte may run out of vodka, you get it. Did not even mention a pitcher! Anything could happen. But I think the D-Backs will win!
Astros have scored about 60 runs in their last 4 games darling! Sounds like you and Cyber are having PHUNN! 888high58888
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Astros have scored about 60 runs in their last 4 games darling! Sounds like you and Cyber are having PHUNN! 888high58888
Awwww, Shitzu!!! Should be very phun in the sun, un, sun with minnows nipping
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Astros have scored about 60 runs in their last 4 games darling! Sounds like you and Cyber are having PHUNN! 888high58888
Wheeee! That's my baby!
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Awwww, Shitzu!!! Should be very phun in the sun, un, sun with minnows nipping
Dang it, I was not yet!
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Dang it, I was not yet!
I swear I don't drink. However, my brains get all twisted due to kittens' paws!!!
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I swear I don't drink. However, my brains get all twisted due to kittens' paws!!!
⚾ posters
I have a case of catpawitis. Yes, that's it!
@Freya
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@EasyAce
I use that line all the time. Now that I know it's Tug's I'll have to be sure to give him proper attribution.
@Cyber Liberty
Was that the line that won you the lovely @Slip18 ? ;)
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⚾ posters
I have a case of catpawitis. Yes, that's it!
@Freya
(http://www.mylespaul.com/media/puddytat.81518/full?d=1492885054)
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@Cyber Liberty
Was that the line that won you the lovely @Slip18 ? ;)
No...it was "Hey, wanna get plumb hitched?"
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No...it was "Hey, wanna get plumb hitched?"
:beer:
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:beer:
We knew we were in love from the moment we met, so we went for it right away. Took a bit of guff from the fams for our "haste," but we've been married for 16 years now, with no signs of troubles. We knew, so why wait? Life's short.
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We knew we were in love from the moment we met, so we went for it right away. Took a bit of guff from the fams for our "haste," but we've been married for 16 years now, with no signs of troubles. We knew, so why wait? Life's short.
(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSH15NfcsY0AkZA4InNXItl_IAfGbX-hABwHpQ2TsmzAzmhbZZh)
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We knew we were in love from the moment we met, so we went for it right away. Took a bit of guff from the fams for our "haste," but we've been married for 16 years now, with no signs of troubles. We knew, so why wait? Life's short.
I first laid eyes on my dear wife in mid November1967. We were married on March 2, 1968 and I have been a very happy man ever since!
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I first laid eyes on my dear wife in mid November1967. We were married on March 2, 1968 and I have been a very happy man ever since!
That was about the length of our courtship, too. Didn't see any point in delaying the inevitable or denying the obvious. We were both in our 40's, so we knew what we were doing.
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My wife moved to Texas with her Parents when she was 14, from the Chicago area.
when we were dating, she told me she liked baseball.
She then recited the 1969 regular line up of the 1969 Chicago Cubs, and how she still held a certain disdain for the amazin" Mets.
At that moment, I knew it was meant to be.
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My wife moved to Texas with her Parents when she was 14, from the Chicago area.
when we were dating, she told me she liked baseball.
She then recited the 1969 regular line up of the 1969 Chicago Cubs, and how she still held a certain disdain for the amazin" Mets.
At that moment, I knew it was meant to be.
@GrouchoTex
She should hold her greatest disdain for Leo Durocher, who mismanaged the Cubs into exhaustion for
the key part of the stretch drive in which the Mets could and did overtake them. You can get the full
real story in . . .
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51QFRNXJBYL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg)
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@GrouchoTex
She should hold her greatest disdain for Leo Durocher, who mismanaged the Cubs into exhaustion for
the key part of the stretch drive in which the Mets could and did overtake them. You can get the full
real story in . . .
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51QFRNXJBYL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg)
True, but when you are 10, going on 11 at the time...
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(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSH15NfcsY0AkZA4InNXItl_IAfGbX-hABwHpQ2TsmzAzmhbZZh)
@Cyber Liberty
It sure was a bull's eye! Never looked back!
Our home is the longest time I have lived in any home in my entire life! Too much fun! I have been decorating since I moved in! LOL! All but one original tree is gone. That would be the Mulberry. Messy, but gorgeous!
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Purple birdshit everywhere.
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Purple birdshit everywhere.
Lovely color, though.
***blushing***
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True, but when you are 10, going on 11 at the time...
@EasyAce @Cyber Liberty
I found four older books on baseball history. Have to brush up on my knowledge. Love collecting, but I should probably have a lot more knowledge on the actual players and teams.
I have seen so many"deals" on the Cincinnati Reds, but there is one player on the old team that I just can't get myself to win on any bids. My finger will not hit the "bid" button.
8888crybaby
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Jeter reportedly fires more Marlins execs, including VP who cost current MLB starter - And once again, Jeter did not do the firings himself (https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/jeter-reportedly-fires-more-marlins-execs-including-vp-who-cost-current-mlb-starter/)
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Jeter reportedly fires more Marlins execs, including VP who cost current MLB starter - And once again, Jeter did not do the firings himself (https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/jeter-reportedly-fires-more-marlins-execs-including-vp-who-cost-current-mlb-starter/)
This may come as a shock to some people, but more than half the time---in baseball, in business,
you name it---it isn't the team's or the business's owner (unless it's a very, very small sized
business) who does the firings. Derek Jeter himself probably learned that in his early Yankee
years, when George Steinbrenner came back from his second suspension.
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This may come as a shock to some people, but more than half the time---in baseball, in business,
you name it---it isn't the team's or the business's owner (unless it's a very, very small sized
business) who does the firings. Derek Jeter himself probably learned that in his early Yankee
years, when George Steinbrenner came back from his second suspension.
I imagine that's doubly so when an owner is as public (and popular) a figure as Jeter. I'd keep hands well away from that stuff if I were him.
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I imagine that's doubly so when an owner is as public (and popular) a figure as Jeter. I'd keep hands well away from that stuff if I were him.
You're probably right.
I can remember, when Bill Paley was alive and well, it was somewhat rare for him to do
any top-level firing at CBS, usually when he had Frank Stanton as his second in command,
but times were that even Stanton would hand the firing off to a subordinate. Until Paley
enforced the then-rule at CBS of mandatory retirement at 65 against Stanton himself,
I only ever knew Paley to fire a very few directly, including CBS News/Murrow's Boys
legend Howard K. Smith. The highest-profile CBS firings I can remember in the
Paley years otherwise were:
* Lou Cowan---the granddaddy of the quiz shows, the mastermind behind radio's Quiz
Kids and, for CBS television, The $64,000 Question. Made the fall guy when the
quiz show scandals broke out in 1959, even though it was NBC shows like Twenty-One
and Dotto that caused the biggest headaches. Cowan had nothing to do with
any quiz show rigging (on Question and its companion The $64,000 Challenge,
that was the brainchild of sponsor Revlon's chieftain Charles Revson) but CBS needed
a sacrificial lamb and Cowan---who'd been made head of network television when The
$64,000 Question hit big in 1956---was the designated lamb in 1960. Officially Cowan
"resigned," and he was never proven to have any involvement in quiz show rigging,
but the firing was eventually exposed in CBS: Reflections in a Bloodshot Eye.
Tragically, Cowan and his wife died in a fire at their Madison Avenue hotel apartment in
1976.
* Jim Aubrey---He parlayed his unlikely building of ABC into a late 1950s ratings
comer (it was Aubrey who green-lighted 77 Sunset Strip, which began ABC's
turnaround) into a job replacing Lou Cowan at CBS. Ran it like a banana republic
despot and operated on no credo other than grabbing the biggest audience no matter
with what. ("Broads, bosoms, and fun," a CBS executive called Aubrey's philosophy)
whether he undermined more quality shows in favour of tripe that got bigger
ratings somehow, or whether he undermined particular longtime favourite performers
like Jack Benny or tried strong-arming Lucille Ball. (Somehow, he was unable to
throttle one of the few truly quality shows he had on CBS, The Dick Van Dyke
Show, though he slaughtered the promising East Side, West Side by insisting
its locale be moved to Park Avenue and away from its inner-city setting.) Aubrey's
salacious private life did him in in 1965 (he was said to have abused a sponsor's
daughter during a large party thrown at Jackie Gleason's Inverrary, Florida digs),
though there were also rumours he was taking kickbacks from television producers,
including his luxury apartment paid for by Filmways and a limousine paid for by actor-
turned-producer Keefe Brasselle . . . from whom Aubrey bought three shows for
1964-65 that bombed. Stanton fired Aubrey on Paley's orders. Aubrey eventually
became the president of MGM and turned the company around somewhat, before
becoming an independent and then a lecturer before his death. Aubrey was even
a behind the scenes, free-lance consultant to Brandon Tartikoff while Tartikoff turned
NBC around in the 1980s. But by the time he died in 1994, Aubrey was all but
forgotten---even though he was the inspiration for the protagonist of Jacqueline
Susann's novel The Love Machine.
* Clive Davis---The president of Columbia Records, who'd kicked the label into the rock
and soul era in earnest starting in 1966-67, when he signed the likes of Janis Joplin,
Laura Nyro, Sly & the Family Stone, and Moby Grape to the label and began its climb
to the top of the contemporary music heap. Davis was canned in 1973 over expense
account padding, particularly accused of using big CBS money to stake his son to a
Bar Mitzvah attended by a phalanx of Columbia artists including Paul Simon, Art
Garfunkel, Carlos Santana, and Al Kooper. The designated executioner: Arthur H.
Taylor, then CBS president (Stanton's successor), who'd get his own head into the
guillotine three years later---with the blade dropped, in a rare enough instance, by
Paley himself. The issue a lot of analysts thought was the real reason Davis was
dumped---suspicions of payola, particularly involving distribution deals Columbia
made with the dying Stax, and a label deal Davis made with Gamble & Huff. (The
Philadelphia International soul label. And Kenny Gamble eventually did get bagged
in a payola case, later on . . .) Not that Davis didn't have extra innings: he eventually
turned Columbia Pictures' Bell Records into the far more successful Arista label.
Today---ironically, considering the company's ownership of the vast Columbia
Records legacy---Davis is the president of Sony Music Entertainment.
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This may come as a shock to some people, but more than half the time---in baseball, in business,
you name it---it isn't the team's or the business's owner (unless it's a very, very small sized
business) who does the firings. Derek Jeter himself probably learned that in his early Yankee
years, when George Steinbrenner came back from his second suspension.
@Machiavelli Just you texting the word "Steinbrenner" makes me laugh! What a character, good, bad and ugly. I think usually just ugly!
I love Derek Jeter! Bought eight of his cards years ago, one signed. He was so good for baseball!
I do have a little "dirt" (not sexual) about his wife, but he did marry the right girl, in my humble opinion!
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@EasyAce You are just too brilliant for me! So I stead of buying lots more ⚾, I have bids out for ⚾ books. There are about twelve of them. No one is bidding on them either! Just weird!
So there will be a day that I come in here and maybe give you some information about baseball that you may not have known. Not competing here, just feel a bit ignorant.
@Cyber Liberty @Polly Ticks @Bigun @GrouchoTex at who am I missing?
I have a bid out for "The Catch," Willie Mays, signed, COA. This is through a bidding site that I use. For some reason in the past two weeks, there has been ⚾ items for every team, but mostly the Reds.
The prices are amazing. Easy, there is one thing I do know, and that is pricing of baseball objects d'art. Did I misspelled that? Oh, well!
How about a signed COA bat from Chipper Jones? There are so many things.
This place had a "dry spell" for baseball trivia for a long time, so I just bought hats and really cool gloves and napkins. And now I am overwhelmed! Going to have to dig into my piggy bank! LOL!
Cyber is getting his favorite dinner tonight! Think that will help with my ⚾ budget???
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Cubs Indians rematch in the WS; I read one article as saying. Could happen. It's pretty easy to say Cleveland will probably be there, vs. the D-backs I will say.
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Cubs Indians rematch in the WS; I read one article as saying. Could happen. It's pretty easy to say Cleveland will probably be there, vs. the D-backs I will say.
We're hoping for a Dback trip to the World Series this year. We have to get past the Rockies first, and sometimes we have poor luck with them. Fortunately we have Home Field Wednesday. I'm not very happy we're starting Ray today, don't know what is up with that.
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Gonna be an Astros Dodgers series! Sorry but thats how it is!
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Gonna be an Astros Dodgers series! Sorry but thats how it is!
Earl, my FRiend, you misspelled "Nationals".
And, don't know if you've noticed but, the Red Sox have David Price as their own 'Andrew Miller'.
I'm rooting for the Astros, but I didn't like the defensive effort today on national television.
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Gonna be an Indians Dodgers series! Sorry but thats how it is!
Fixed it for you!
And all you other postseason entrants, you can just damn well wait one more year.
You, Cubs---you broke your bigtime drought big time last year.
You, Astros---you didn't look half as good in the second half as you did in the first,
and you haven't lived half as long, almost, without a World Series ring.
You, Dodgers---you who shot the lights out in the first half and turned into a house of cards
in the second, you with your six World Series rings in your franchise history, you think waiting
since 1988 is long enough? The Indians have waited twice that long.
You, Nationals---you who keep getting to the dance only to be unable to consummate the
card. I don't care if the nation's capital of organised crime's been waiting since Calvin Coolidge for
another World Series title, it'll mean a lot more if you hold out one more year, and, anyway,
even if you do get to the Series you're going to be breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the Indians.
You, Red Sox---you didn't just bust your actual or alleged curse in 2004 (and spectacularly,
while you were at it), you're one of the only two teams in this century to win three Series
in ten years or less. Surely you of all people know patience is a virtue. Besides, if you end
up playing the Indians for the pennant, remember this---David Price, you're no Andrew
Miller. (But you might have been the biggest ass in baseball for that stupidity you pulled
on Dennis Eckersley this year.)
You, Twins---how the hell did you sneak into the picture? Oh, yes, that impressive kid corps.
But they're still a little green behind the gills. And you're probably not going to push the
Yankees to one side come Tuesday's wild card game. Besides, you're the franchise who have
that one Washington World Series ring and a couple more in Minnesota since the Reagan
Administration. We don't have to tell you to wait your turn, the Yankees will probably do
that for us.
And you, Yankees, you with your forty pennants and 27 World Series rings, who died
and left you with that sense of entitlement? Besides, you might beat the Twins in the
wild card game but the Indians' bullpen is better than yours and you're liable not to get
out of the division series alive. Let Aaron (Here Come the) Judge hit all the home runs he
wants, he can't carry you all by his lonesome. (And neither can Luis Severino on the mound.)
If any team in baseball can wait 'till next year, it's you.
The whole damn lot of you can just hurry up and wait until next year or beyond. It's time
for the Indians to bust the curse of Frank Lane. (Yes, it's usually called the Curse of Rocky
Colavito, but Trader Lane was the damn fool who dealt Colavito to the Tigers for an aging
singles hitter because he didn't like Colavito being the clean-living type and because Colavito
called him out on his deceptions during contract talks.)
It's time for the Indians to exorcise the ghosts of Harvey Kuenn, Max Alvis (spinal meningitis
in 1964 turned a promising super third baseman into a merely average but useful one),
Sudden Sam McDowell (threw lamb chops past wolves until a) he decided he needed a
changeup, and b) let his insecurities drink him out of baseball), Tony Horton (his mental
collapse, possibly under self-imposed family pressures, put paid to a promising career for
the slugging first baseman), Ray Fosse (blasted by Pete Rose in an All-Star Game and never
became the great catcher he promised to be) Eckersley and Manning (they traded the wrong
guy when Manning turned up having an affair with Eckersley's first wife, and it wasn't Manning),
Super Joe Charboneau (his back put paid to his career the season after he was the Rookie
of the Year sensation), the 1987 Sports Illustrated cover, the 1995 Braves, the 1997
Marlins, Bartolo Colon, Cliff Lee, and Michael Martinez (the last out of last year's Series, with
the re-tying run on and two out in the tenth).
The rest of you lot can just hurry up and wait. Especially since, pending the outcome of
today's season finale against the White Sox, the Indians have all but forgotten how to lose.
Including that 22-game winning streak, the Tribe is 32-4 since 24 August. Oh, sure, they'll
have a few days off awaiting the wild card winner. They've earned the break. Want to know
how they did against the other AL division winners and the wild card boys this year?
Against the Astros: 5-1.
Against the Red Sox: 1-4. Note: the win is the one that started that insane in the brain
winning streak.
Against the Yankees: 4-2.
Against the Twins: 10-7.
Overall against the other postseason teams: 20-14.
This year, I'd like to see the Indians go all the way; the Red Sox may yet to prove a mere
hiccup or two if they square off in the League Championship Series. And wouldn't it
be poetic if the Indians knock off the Red Sox to get to the Series managed by the guy
who managed the Red Sox to their cursebuster?
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You haven't said much about the end game for NL...the side that still plays real Baseball, that requires Pitchers to at least TRY to swing a bat.
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You haven't said much about the end game for NL...the side that still plays real Baseball, that requires Pitchers to at least TRY to swing a bat.
I think it's pretty fair to say the Diamondbacks are going to win the wild card game barring
unforeseen calamity, even if the Rockies give them a battle. But I don't see them getting past
the National League Championship Series, not this time. I do see them in the races
again next year, though, this is as solid a team as it gets.
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Cubs Indians rematch in the WS; I read one article as saying. Could happen. It's pretty easy to say Cleveland will probably be there, vs. the D-backs I will say.
Why thank you! May we have outstanding seven games!
@Cyber Liberty
Go D-Backs! And as J.D. Martinez has said, "Thank you, God!"
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I think it's pretty fair to say the Diamondbacks are going to win the wild card game barring
unforeseen calamity, even if the Rockies give them a battle. But I don't see them getting past
the National League Championship Series, not this time. I do see them in the races
again next year, though, this is as solid a team as it gets.
That's a fair reckoning. My Dbacks have the best team they've had in years. A tribute to Torey Lovullo. I liked him from the start. First rule: "I want to see 21 outs per game from the starters, no burning out the bullpen as we have in years past." It kept the team alive through August-September fade that has killed us year after year.
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Cubs Indians rematch in the WS; I read one article as saying. Could happen. It's pretty easy to say Cleveland will probably be there, vs. the D-backs I will say.
I am hoping the lil' ol' team from Houston has a say as to whether the Indians go into the World Series or not.
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I am hoping the lil' ol' team from Houston has a say as to whether the Indians go into the World Series or not.
888high58888
Count on it! And right now they have THE best pitching staff in baseball!
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888high58888
Count on it! And right now they have THE best pitching staff in baseball!
@Bigun
Uh, no they don't. Here's a look at the pitching for all the postseason entrants,
with the best results in bold:
Astros---4.12 team ERA; 3.91 team fielding-independent pitching
Indians---3.30 team ERA; 3.33 team fielding-independent pitching
Red Sox---3.70 team ERA; 3.78 team fielding-independent pitching
Yankees---4.07 team ERA; 3.88 fielding-independent pitching
Twins---4.86 team ERA; 4.72 team fielding-independent pitching
Dodgers---3.58 team ERA; 3.67 team fielding-independent pitching
Cubs---3.95 team ERA; 4.20 team fielding-independent pitching
Nationals---4.15 team ERA; 3.99 team fielding-independent pitching
Diamondbacks---3.66 team ERA; 3.80 team fielding-independent pitching
Rockies---4.51 team ERA; 4.32 team fielding-independent pitching
Also: The Indians walked the fewest batters of any team in the majors this season. (406.)
They struck out the most batters of any team in the majors this season. (1,614.)
The Indians' staff also had the best strikeout-to-walk ratio in the game this year: 3.98. (The Astros
had the fifth best.)
Only the Yankees' and the Dodgers' staffs allowed fewer hits than the Indians this year. (Among the
postseason entrants, the Twins allowed the most hits.)
The Indians staff was equaled only by the Dodgers in the lowest walks and hits per inning pitched rate on the year: 1.16.
(The Astros were eighth.)
The Indians' staff also surrendered the fewest home runs on the year. (The Astros? The eleventh-fewest.)
And, the Indians' staff surrendered the fewest runs and the fewest earned runs on the year. (The
Astros were eleventh in earned runs surrendered and ninth in runs overall surrendered.)
Sorry, but the Astros don't have the best pitching staff in baseball this year.
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I am hoping the lil' ol' team from Houston has a say as to whether the Indians go into the World Series or not.
That would depend on whether the Red Sox knock them out in the division series; the Indians
begin against the winner of the wild card game between the Yankees and the Twins. And
the Indians have home field advantage in both the division series and the League Championship
Series. If the Dodgers don't make it to the World Series but the Indians or the Astros do, either
team would have World Series home field advantage.
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@Bigun
Uh, no they don't. Here's a look at the pitching for all the postseason entrants,
with the best results in bold:
Astros---4.12 team ERA; 3.91 team fielding-independent pitching
Indians---3.30 team ERA; 3.33 team fielding-independent pitching
Red Sox---3.70 team ERA; 3.78 team fielding-independent pitching
Yankees---4.07 team ERA; 3.88 fielding-independent pitching
Twins---4.86 team ERA; 4.72 team fielding-independent pitching
Dodgers---3.58 team ERA; 3.67 team fielding-independent pitching
Cubs---3.95 team ERA; 4.20 team fielding-independent pitching
Nationals---4.15 team ERA; 3.99 team fielding-independent pitching
Diamondbacks---3.66 team ERA; 3.80 team fielding-independent pitching
Rockies---4.51 team ERA; 4.32 team fielding-independent pitching
Also: The Indians walked the fewest batters of any team in the majors this season. (406.)
They struck out the most batters of any team in the majors this season. (1,614.)
The Indians' staff also had the best strikeout-to-walk ratio in the game this year: 3.98. (The Astros
had the fifth best.)
Only the Yankees' and the Dodgers' staffs allowed fewer hits than the Indians this year. (Among the
postseason entrants, the Twins allowed the most hits.)
The Indians staff was equaled only by the Dodgers in the lowest walks and hits per inning pitched rate on the year: 1.16.
(The Astros were eighth.)
The Indians' staff also surrendered the fewest home runs on the year. (The Astros? The eleventh-fewest.)
And, the Indians' staff surrendered the fewest runs and the fewest earned runs on the year. (The
Astros were eleventh in earned runs surrendered and ninth in runs overall surrendered.)
Sorry, but the Astros don't have the best pitching staff in baseball this year.
@EasyAce
You apparently overlooked the words "right now" in my post. I am well aware of the pitching woes we suffered through this season. :beer:
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That would depend on whether the Red Sox knock them out in the division series; the Indians
begin against the winner of the wild card game between the Yankees and the Twins. And
the Indians have home field advantage in both the division series and the League Championship
Series. If the Dodgers don't make it to the World Series but the Indians or the Astros do, either
team would have World Series home field advantage.
Yes, we will have to knock the Red Sox out, then the Indians, I am hoping that is the case.
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That would depend on whether the Red Sox knock them out in the division series; the Indians
begin against the winner of the wild card game between the Yankees and the Twins. And
the Indians have home field advantage in both the division series and the League Championship
Series. If the Dodgers don't make it to the World Series but the Indians or the Astros do, either
team would have World Series home field advantage.
I'm not thrilled about this Red Sox series start times. Game 1 is at Thursday 3:00 p.m. central, and Game 2 is at Friday 1:00 p.m. central.
I'll be at work.
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@Bigun
Uh, no they don't. Here's a look at the pitching for all the postseason entrants,
with the best results in bold:
Astros---4.12 team ERA; 3.91 team fielding-independent pitching
Indians---3.30 team ERA; 3.33 team fielding-independent pitching
Red Sox---3.70 team ERA; 3.78 team fielding-independent pitching
Yankees---4.07 team ERA; 3.88 fielding-independent pitching
Twins---4.86 team ERA; 4.72 team fielding-independent pitching
Dodgers---3.58 team ERA; 3.67 team fielding-independent pitching
Cubs---3.95 team ERA; 4.20 team fielding-independent pitching
Nationals---4.15 team ERA; 3.99 team fielding-independent pitching
Diamondbacks---3.66 team ERA; 3.80 team fielding-independent pitching
Rockies---4.51 team ERA; 4.32 team fielding-independent pitching
Also: The Indians walked the fewest batters of any team in the majors this season. (406.)
They struck out the most batters of any team in the majors this season. (1,614.)
The Indians' staff also had the best strikeout-to-walk ratio in the game this year: 3.98. (The Astros
had the fifth best.)
Only the Yankees' and the Dodgers' staffs allowed fewer hits than the Indians this year. (Among the
postseason entrants, the Twins allowed the most hits.)
The Indians staff was equaled only by the Dodgers in the lowest walks and hits per inning pitched rate on the year: 1.16.
(The Astros were eighth.)
The Indians' staff also surrendered the fewest home runs on the year. (The Astros? The eleventh-fewest.)
And, the Indians' staff surrendered the fewest runs and the fewest earned runs on the year. (The
Astros were eleventh in earned runs surrendered and ninth in runs overall surrendered.)
Sorry, but the Astros don't have the best pitching staff in baseball this year.
Whatever. Personally I'd take the tandem of Verlander, Kuechel, and Peacock (who is 12-3 if you didn't know) over any other big 3.
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This having 5 days off before the NLDS is total nonsense.
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This having 5 days off before the NLDS is total nonsense.
I know, right?! It's way too long to wait for some REAL baseball.
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I know, right?! It's way too long to wait for some REAL baseball.
It's not good for anybody 'seeing' the ball well....and it sure messes up the rotation.
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Whatever. Personally I'd take the tandem of Verlander, Kuechel, and Peacock (who is 12-3 if you didn't know) over any other big 3.
I'd take Verlander. Landing him made a huge difference. After that, that Astros rotation is a question mark going into
this postseason.
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@EasyAce
You apparently overlooked the words "right now" in my post. I am well aware of the pitching woes we suffered through this season. :beer:
No, I didn't overlook anything. I'd take the Indians' pitching staff right now over any of
the other postseason teams. And any team going 32-4 down the stretch is no team full of
pushovers.
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No, I didn't overlook anything. I'd take the Indians' pitching staff right now over any of
the other postseason teams. And any team going 32-4 down the stretch is no team full of
pushovers.
Going to be fun to watch the showdown between the Astros and Indians! Probably more so than the main event.
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The Astros scored 11+ runs in 4 straight games last week.
Last time that was done was 1913?
I think they are also hitting a stride.
Could be similar to the Royals, the previous 2 years.
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Going to be fun to watch the showdown between the Astros and Indians! Probably more so than the main event.
If that's going to be the ALCS, "fun" might be an understatement!
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@Bigun
Uh, no they don't. Here's a look at the pitching for all the postseason entrants,
with the best results in bold:
Astros---4.12 team ERA; 3.91 team fielding-independent pitching
Indians---3.30 team ERA; 3.33 team fielding-independent pitching
Red Sox---3.70 team ERA; 3.78 team fielding-independent pitching
Yankees---4.07 team ERA; 3.88 fielding-independent pitching
Twins---4.86 team ERA; 4.72 team fielding-independent pitching
Dodgers---3.58 team ERA; 3.67 team fielding-independent pitching
Cubs---3.95 team ERA; 4.20 team fielding-independent pitching
Nationals---4.15 team ERA; 3.99 team fielding-independent pitching
Diamondbacks---3.66 team ERA; 3.80 team fielding-independent pitching
Rockies---4.51 team ERA; 4.32 team fielding-independent pitching
Also: The Indians walked the fewest batters of any team in the majors this season. (406.)
They struck out the most batters of any team in the majors this season. (1,614.)
The Indians' staff also had the best strikeout-to-walk ratio in the game this year: 3.98. (The Astros
had the fifth best.)
Only the Yankees' and the Dodgers' staffs allowed fewer hits than the Indians this year. (Among the
postseason entrants, the Twins allowed the most hits.)
The Indians staff was equaled only by the Dodgers in the lowest walks and hits per inning pitched rate on the year: 1.16.
(The Astros were eighth.)
The Indians' staff also surrendered the fewest home runs on the year. (The Astros? The eleventh-fewest.)
And, the Indians' staff surrendered the fewest runs and the fewest earned runs on the year. (The
Astros were eleventh in earned runs surrendered and ninth in runs overall surrendered.)
Sorry, but the Astros don't have the best pitching staff in baseball this year.
Wheeee! Top of the 4th, 6-0 D-Backs. Goldy and Scalsie both got home!Era. Goldschmidt with two men on base, and Descalso with one man on base. The other run must snuck into home!
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Oops! Didn't hit "preview"! Homerun and something else... @EasyAce
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Game 1 against the Yankees. INDIANS VICTORIOUS.
Easy Peasy.
WTG, Trevor!!
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Game 1 against the Yankees. INDIANS VICTORIOUS.
Easy Peasy.
WTG, Trevor!!
Congratulations from another baseball woman! @Polly Ticks
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Congratulations from another baseball woman! @Polly Ticks
Since I was itty bitty and wanted to be the first girl to play for the Indians. ^-^
They're going to be tough for everyone to beat this year. They are MUCH better than they were last year, and look how far they got.......
Jay Bruce was absolutely AWESOME tonight! And that catch by Kipness........ WOW!
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@musiclady Hmmmm. Musiclady wanting to be the first lady to play for the Indians. What happened? What position would you have played? I am serious, really, and not trying to be mean or anything, but your name is soft.
I was born between two ruffian brothers. The thought never occurred to me. I loved watching games, still do! I also love collecting ⚾ memorabilia. That's what I was doing for the first eight innings of the game for two hours!
@Cyber Liberty is happy with the goods he watched me bid on tonight. Bidding could be a sport, too! Gets rough in there!
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Congratulations from another baseball woman! @Polly Ticks
:beer:
(https://img1.etsystatic.com/154/0/9003653/il_570xN.1200459387_7ava.jpg)
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@musiclady Hmmmm. Musiclady wanting to be the first lady to play for the Indians. What happened? What position would you have played? I am serious, really, and not trying to be mean or anything, but your name is soft.
I was born between two ruffian brothers. The thought never occurred to me. I loved watching games, still do! I also love collecting ⚾ memorabilia. That's what I was doing for the first eight innings of the game for two hours!
@Cyber Liberty is happy with the goods he watched me bid on tonight. Bidding could be a sport, too! Gets rough in there!
There were two things I had a passion for as a child........... music, and baseball. ^-^
It actually doesn't hurt a bit to have an aggressive, competitive personality, and coordination as a female musician...... especially as a conductor. ^-^ I actually had quite a few barriers to break down since almost all conductors back in the '60's were male, and my own advisor at college didn't think women could conduct well............ until this tomboy came around!
I stayed home with my kids and taught them how to throw correctly, to bat, and to throw a perfect spiral with a football, and to shoot baskets (I was a pioneer college basketball player on an inter-collegiate women's basketball team in the late '60's). My husband's an athlete, so he helped a bit. :dx1:
One of my nicknames at church was "center-fielder" because I did that as a kid at the men's softball practices, but as I aged and slowed, I preferred 1st base. Never lost my coordination or reflexes........ just my speed. ^-^
When I get time today, I'll scan and post the glossy photo I have of Terry Francona's dad, Tito, from the 1961 Indians team. You'll probably get a kick out of it. (Already posted the one I have of Jimmy Piersall when he died).
@Slip18
@Polly Ticks
@EasyAce
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Report: Derek Jeter trying to undo damage from controversial Marlins firings
New Marlins co-owner and CEO Derek Jeter is reportedly feeling regret over a series of firings that left two MLB Hall of Famers and two Marlins legends unemployed.
According to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports, Jeter is attempting to make amends, calling the dismissals of Andre Dawson, Tony Perez, Jack McKeon and Jeff Conine a misunderstanding in personal conversations with each individual.
More (https://sports.yahoo.com/report-derek-jeter-trying-undo-damage-controversial-marlins-firings-234606730.html)
@EasyAce
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Astros 4-1 top of the 5th, going into the bottom of the 5th.
Correa and Springer, both hit home runs.
Altuve intentionally walked, as I figure will happen more and more.
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Astros 4-1 top of the 5th, going into the bottom of the 5th.
Correa and Springer, both hit home runs.
Altuve intentionally walked, as I figure will happen more and more.
Maybe the worst post season plate umped game I have ever seen
Angel Hernandez at his best (worst)
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The Astros broke the game open in the sixth . . . 8-1 . . .
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Boston pitching not up to the job.
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ALTUVE UP BASES LOADED, 2 OUTS
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ALTUVE UP BASES LOADED, 2 OUTS
He won't get a pitch to hit.
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ALTUVE UP BASES LOADED, 2 OUTS
STRUCK OUT SWINGING 3-2 COUNT
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Indians Yankees tied 2-2 end of 1st, but Encarnacion's ankle injury is devastating.... **nononono*
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3-2 Indians after three . . . Jason Kipnis broke the tie with a line single with the bases
loaded . . . pinch hitter Michael Brantley struck out for the side . . .
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Astros up 2 games to none. Game 3 Sunday in Boston.
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3-2 Indians after three . . . Jason Kipnis broke the tie with a line single with the bases
loaded . . . pinch hitter Michael Brantley struck out for the side . . .
Kluber's out.
Didn't have his stuff tonight. Hopefully the Tribe can make up for it. LOTS of game left.
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Make it 8-3, Yankees in the fifth on Greg Bird's two-run bomb off Mike Clevenger . . .
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Francisco Lindor---two outs, GRAND SALAMI! 8-7, Yankees, bottom of the sixth . . .
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Francisco Lindor---two outs, GRAND SALAMI! 8-7, Yankees, bottom of the sixth . . .
FRANCISCO!!!!!!
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Francisco Lindor---two outs, GRAND SALAMI! 8-7, Yankees, bottom of the sixth . . .
Yikes! Thanks for the update.
NATS/CUBS...no score bottom of 2nd. Strasburg looking good. No...make that GREAT!
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FRANCISCO!!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2190W0FN0Kg
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2190W0FN0Kg
hehe................ not exactly a saint, but certainly a good ball player!
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hehe................ not exactly a saint, but certainly a good ball player!
Are you kidding? If that salami prods the Indians to win this game and give them two legs up
going to New York Sunday, Cleveland will nominate him for sainthood!
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Are you kidding? If that salami prods the Indians to win this game and give them two legs up
going to New York Sunday, Cleveland will nominate him for sainthood!
And it may just do that!
Actually, depending on the definition of the term, and the condition of Lindor's soul, he may already BE a saint! ^-^
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And a Jay Bruce HR ties it up!!
I LOVE this TEAM!!!! :cheerlead: :cheerlead: :cheerlead: :cheerlead: :cheerlead:
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. . . and they go to extra innings at the Prog, the Yankees and the Indians tied at eight . . .
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Meanwhile, at Nationals Park, Stephen Strasburg and Kyle Hendricks matching
zeroes through five . . . Strasburg working hitless, incidentally . . .
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. . . and they go to extra innings at the Prog, the Yankees and the Indians tied at eight . . .
Bottom of the 10th.
Git er done, Tribe!
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To the eleventh . . .
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THE INDIANS WIN IT!! YAN GOMES WALKS IT OFF WITH A BASE HIT SCORING AUSTIN JACKSON
IN THE BOTTOM OF THE THIRTEENTH! 9-8 YOUR FINAL!
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Great game! Congrats Indians! Hope you have to play 3 more just like this one!
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Great game! Congrats Indians! Hope you have to play 3 more just like this one!
Er, they only need to win one more. ;)
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I just got the smile off my face. :laugh:
What a GAME!!!!!!!!!
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Er, they only need to win one more. ;)
Yeah! That's what I heard. Don't mind if it takes them three to get it! :beer:
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Yeah! That's what I heard. Don't mind if it takes them three to get it! :beer:
Not a CHANCE, my friend!
This team believes it can do ANYTHING........................ and so do I!!
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Not a CHANCE, my friend!
This team believes it can do ANYTHING........................ and so do I!!
Belivin and doin is two separate things! :smokin:
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Belivin and doin is two separate things! :smokin:
Ahem..................... seems like ONE of our teams had a better overall W-L record than the other.....
Wonder which team that was?? 88888cool
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Ahem..................... seems like ONE of our teams had a better overall W-L record than the other.....
Wonder which team that was?? 88888cool
And ALL of that matters how much now??? 888high58888
Just havin a little PHUNN! No harm intended!
Going to be great watching this play out from here on!
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And ALL of that matters how much now??? 888high58888
Just havin a little PHUNN! No harm intended!
Going to be great watching this play out from here on!
Havin' fun myself! I'm happy for BOTH of us! 888high58888
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And ALL of that matters how much now??? 888high58888
Just havin a little PHUNN! No harm intended!
Going to be great watching this play out from here on!
Not for me. I quit. ###k a GNAT!!
Graphic prior to the 1st batter coming up to the plate, they go around the NATS' infield and say, "Anthony Rendon leads entire MLB in having ZERO errors in his last 59 games...". His error cost a run and that was followed up by Bryce 'sandlot' Harper who ignores the cut-off man, thinking he could throw out a runner at home...which put Rizzo on 2nd base who moments later, scored the CUBS' 2nd run.
HOW in the hell can you have Stephen Strasburg, surgically cutting up the CUBS lineup, while Kendricks' fastball was the same speed as Strasburg's change-up....and completely make the NATS look totally inept.
I HATE THEM!
Not watching them again, unless they advance to the next round.
And I am a baseball addict.
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There were two things I had a passion for as a child........... music, and baseball. ^-^
It actually doesn't hurt a bit to have an aggressive, competitive personality, and coordination as a female musician...... especially as a conductor. ^-^ I actually had quite a few barriers to break down since almost all conductors back in the '60's were male, and my own advisor at college didn't think women could conduct well............ until this tomboy came around!
I stayed home with my kids and taught them how to throw correctly, to bat, and to throw a perfect spiral with a football, and to shoot baskets (I was a pioneer college basketball player on an inter-collegiate women's basketball team in the late '60's). My husband's an athlete, so he helped a bit. :dx1:
One of my nicknames at church was "center-fielder" because I did that as a kid at the men's softball practices, but as I aged and slowed, I preferred 1st base. Never lost my coordination or reflexes........ just my speed. ^-^
When I get time today, I'll scan and post the glossy photo I have of Terry Francona's dad, Tito, from the 1961 Indians team. You'll probably get a kick out of it. (Already posted the one I have of Jimmy Piersall when he died).
@Slip18
@Polly Ticks
@EasyAce
@Polly Ticks
Thank you! That is just too cool!
I loved music, too, but could not carry a note🎵. So I became a court reporter, sort of a conductor in court.
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Not for me. I quit. ###k a GNAT!!
Graphic prior to the 1st batter coming up to the plate, they go around the NATS' infield and say, "Anthony Rendon leads entire MLB in having ZERO errors in his last 59 games...". His error cost a run and that was followed up by Bryce 'sandlot' Harper who ignores the cut-off man, thinking he could throw out a runner at home...which put Rizzo on 2nd base who moments later, scored the CUBS' 2nd run.
HOW in the hell can you have Stephen Strasburg, surgically cutting up the CUBS lineup, while Kendricks' fastball was the same speed as Strasburg's change-up....and completely make the NATS look totally inept.
I HATE THEM!
Not watching them again, unless they advance to the next round.
And I am a baseball addict.
I am a baseball addict, too! We lost with four runs in the first inning with Tawaneezy. pitching. He is rarely good in the first inning pitching, but with those Dodgers and the way Turner hits, well, we tried. If those four runs had not happened in the first inning, we could have had a chance, maybe...
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I loved music, too, but could not carry a note🎵. So I became a court reporter, sort of a conductor in court.
@Slip18
I love music, too.
I carry four Les Pauls and two Flying Vs. ;)
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Hey @Slip18 - here's the glossy of Tito Francona I was talking about from a game I went to in 1961 (sorry about the weirdness of the scan. The photo doesn't have dots in it!) You can see the resemblance with Terry, I think.
(https://i.imgur.com/MdrtBwY.jpg)
Everyone in my family was a baseball fan........ my two brothers and older sister are still fanatics, and watch every game and keep up with everything. My younger sister stopped watching the Indians because she got so emotionally involved that she didn't think it was healthy! ^-^
btw, music and sports are a great combo.......... even if you just listen!
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Hey @Slip18 - here's the glossy of Tito Francona I was talking about from a game I went to in 1961 (sorry about the weirdness of the scan. The photo doesn't have dots in it!) You can see the resemblance with Terry, I think.
Great image! Nice looking guy!
We have four different teams we root for in my family of 11! LOL!
Not a one is a Dodgers' fan.
We have one American League, the Angels. Then in the National League, we have D-Backs, Pads and the Giants. Great fun this time of year. :dancer: :dancer: :ODIO:
We really all root for each other in a very friendly way.
(https://i.imgur.com/MdrtBwY.jpg)
Everyone in my family was a baseball fan........ my two brothers and older sister are still fanatics, and watch every game and keep up with everything. My younger sister stopped watching the Indians because she got so emotionally involved that she didn't think it was healthy! ^-^
btw, music and sports are a great combo.......... even if you just listen!
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@musiclady
I do not know how I did that up there! LOL! Hope you laugh with me! Hehehehe!
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@musiclady
I love music, too. I have my music going all the time when I am working in the backyard. My outdoor kitties know I am there when music is being played!
@Freya
We have those four new gorgeous kittens! Right now I am getting them ready for adoption. They are such cuties. Momma, Tuffy, was nursing them last night around 11:00. I had turned on all of the backyard lights, plus the colorful soiree lights, and three timed fake candles in my opened shed. A neighbor told me he had seen owl.
Not in my backyard! They are so protected.
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@musiclady
I do not know how I did that up there! LOL! Hope you laugh with me! Hehehehe!
@Slip18
It was fun! 888high58888
Just saw the Yankee fans boo Girardi when he was introduced. **nononono*
One more reason to hate the Yankees!
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I just want to register a comment during this pitchers' duel between Cleveland and the Yankees.....
Carlos Carrasco looks like Lou Diamond Phillips. ^-^
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Astros win!
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Astros win!
ASTROS WIN ! ! !
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ASTROS WIN ! ! !
Congrats, Bigun!
(Now send some good vibes Cleveland's way. ^-^)
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Congrats, Bigun!
(Now send some good vibes Cleveland's way. ^-^)
Are you kidding? I'm a life long Yankees fan now! :whistle:
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Are you kidding? I'm a life long Yankees fan now! :whistle:
And I've hated the Yankees, since I was knee high to a grasshopper. :dx1:
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Yankees win! Cubs win! Life is good!
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Yankees win! Cubs win! Life is good!
Nah...........
The Indians had better pull it back together in Game 5. My hatred of the Yankees (and the announcers that worship them) has grown exponentially through this series. **nononono*
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The key to the Yankees/Indians game---Trevor Bauer isn't as good on short rest as he is
on regular rest, and for once the usually solid Indians defense hiccupped at the wrong times,
and the Yankees took advantage of both.
On to Cleveland for Game Five . . .
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The key to the Yankees/Indians game---Trevor Bauer isn't as good on short rest as he is
on regular rest, and for once the usually solid Indians defense hiccupped at the wrong times,
and the Yankees took advantage of both.
On to Cleveland for Game Five . . .
You can't commit that many errors and win a playoff game. You just can't.
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On the scoreboard unearned runs look just like earned runs.
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On the scoreboard unearned runs look just like earned runs.
On the scoreboard, but sure as hell not on the field.
Come Wednesday, except possibly for each team deciding possibly two starting pitchers each aren't
even a topic, it's going to be all hands on deck.
Advantage for the Indians: they didn't go to Andrew Miller today, so he'll be fresh for Game Five.
Advantage for the Yankees: they didn't go to Aroldis Chapman today, so he'll be fresh for Game Five.
What to watch for: Both teams are going to want to jump each other's Game Five starters early.
Sabathia is far more vulnerable in the second and third innings this year (ERA in those innings:
4.50); Kluber's only truly vulnerable inning this year was the third. (ERA: 5.90.)
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You can't commit that many errors and win a playoff game. You just can't.
CUBS had 4 errors yesterday. They won. :shrug:
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Are you kidding? I'm a life long Yankees fan now! :whistle:
@Bigun
Rooting for the Yankees, It is a strange position to be in, isn't it?
I was at least rooting for the Yankees to take it to game 5, which they did.
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@Bigun
Rooting for the Yankees, It is a strange position to be in, isn't it?
I was at least rooting for the Yankees to take it to game 5, which they did.
My guess is the only reason an Astros fan has become a Yankees fan is that he knows the Indians are a better team.
Am I right??? ^-^
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My guess is the only reason an Astros fan has become a Yankees fan is that he knows the Indians are a better team.
Am I right??? ^-^
Well, the Astros did better against the Yankees than they did the Indians this year, that's true.
My main issue is that I'd like to see either one who gets through, to be extended and taxed a bit more.
More of a "5 game series fan" than a Yankees fan.
Let's say the Astros win the ALCS, I'd like them to do it early and have whoever won the NLCS get stretched to a game 7, regardless of the teams.
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Well, the Astros did better against the Yankees than they did the Indians this year, that's true.
My main issue is that I'd like to see either one who gets through, to be extended and taxed a bit more.
More of a "5 game series fan" than a Yankees fan.
Let's say the Astros win the ALCS, I'd like them to do it early and have whoever won the NLCS get stretched to a game 7, regardless of the teams.
Completely understand that reasoning.
That's why I wanted the Indians to finish things up last night instead of tomorrow night......
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I'm just sad the Dbacks got swept out of Playoffs first round. Seems to me that happened the last time they made playoffs....
Oh well. TV's free for watching shows again. :shrug:
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Well, the Astros did better against the Yankees than they did the Indians this year, that's true.
My main issue is that I'd like to see either one who gets through, to be extended and taxed a bit more.
More of a "5 game series fan" than a Yankees fan.
Let's say the Astros win the ALCS, I'd like them to do it early and have whoever won the NLCS get stretched to a game 7, regardless of the teams.
I submit that days off when your team is winning playoff games is tantamount to a stick jammed in bicycle spokes.
And the same thing goes for "night games" this time of the year unless the host city enjoys tropical climates.
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I submit that days off when your team is winning playoff games is tantamount to a stick jammed in bicycle spokes.
And the same thing goes for "night games" this time of the year unless the host city enjoys tropical climates.
Yeah, I can see that, "stop the momentum", etc.
I think that can hold true for the position players, but I think 1-2 days extra rest for a taxed pitching staff is useful.
Mixed bag, I suppose...
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Yeah, I can see that, "stop the momentum", etc.
I think that can hold true for the position players, but I think 1-2 days extra rest for a taxed pitching staff is useful.
Mixed bag, I suppose...
@GrouchoTex
@DCPatriot
Ponder that the Dodgers had four days off before squaring off against the Diamondbacks, who only
got one day off before the wild card game, then two before the Dodgers.
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@GrouchoTex
@DCPatriot
Ponder that the Dodgers had four days off before squaring off against the Diamondbacks, who only
got one day off before the wild card game, then two before the Dodgers.
Ahhh....shuddup!
....while I'm trying to come up with a reason my NATS are sucking at the plate right now. :laugh:
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Ahhh....shuddup!
....while I'm trying to come up with a reason my NATS are sucking at the plate right now. :laugh:
:silly:
:beer:
Yeah, been there for too long in Houston, that's a given.
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Ahhh....shuddup!
....while I'm trying to come up with a reason my NATS are sucking at the plate right now. :laugh:
@DCPatriot
How does both the Nats' pitching staff and the Cubs' pitching staff showing a 2.08 ERA for
this division series strike you, then? ;)
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My guess is the only reason an Astros fan has become a Yankees fan is that he knows the Indians are a better team.
Am I right??? ^-^
@musiclady
Afraid not!
The Astros are the best team in baseball right now but having an easier path forward would be a GOOD thing for them.
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@DCPatriot
How does both the Nats' pitching staff and the Cubs' pitching staff showing a 2.08 ERA for
this division series strike you, then? ;)
That would tell me that my thoughts on the pitching staffs resting were correct.
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That would tell me that my thoughts on the pitching staffs resting were correct.
Clayton Kershaw said after the Dodger sweep that the break between today and the start
of the NLCS would be huge for the Dodger bullpen especially. I'm guessing Kershaw will
do some throwing during the break since if he starts Game One of the NLCS (very distinct
possibility) he'd be on eight days' rest. It wouldn't exactly hurt him---lifetime, he has a
1.71 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP on more than six days' rest---but I'd be surprised if he took
no chances and did a full bullpen session or its equivalent between today and Saturday.
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@DCPatriot
How does both the Nats' pitching staff and the Cubs' pitching staff showing a 2.08 ERA for
this division series strike you, then? ;)
I was sick to my stomach watching Kendricks baffle the NATS lineup in Game 1.
I've suffered too much between them and the CAPS. Always a bridesmaid..... sigh.
And then to see Sherzer's effort wasted. To see Turner not bunting for a basehit? To see Harper suck Fat Lady's ***??
And now I'm convinced the entire team is sick from the effects of mold from the hotel in which they're staying.
It's why Strasburg refused the ball for an elimination game, a decision that is Living in Infamy on local sports talk radio.
Is he indeed a French Poodle? Too hot/humid, he takes himself out. Too cold...I'm outta here. And the NATS historically protect him. And pamper him.
While Tanner Roark would pitch in hail storm if it would help the team win. And giving us a good six innings!
I'm glad today's game was rained out. Give them a chance to breathe better air. (Sure as hell hope they moved to another hotel)
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That would tell me that my thoughts on the pitching staffs resting were correct.
Joe Torre said that the reason was that it's too easy to blow a starter with lengthy rain delays, and they throw up to 45 minutes finding their 'stuff'.
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I saw this morning Strasburg declined a start. Crazy.
From the article:
This is an incredible development. The playoffs are a time to make history and receive glory. The postseason is when Curt Schilling pitched with blood pouring out of his ankle and when Willis Reed played through a torn muscle in the NBA Finals. Yet Strasburg is turning down the opportunity to pitch because he’s under the weather? That will not reflect well on him at all.
As for Baker, he now comes off looking much better. Many were in disbelief that he wouldn’t have had Strasburg pitch the game. Now it turns out he actually was dutifully covering for his pitcher.
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Joe Torre said that the reason was that it's too easy to blow a starter with lengthy rain delays, and they throw up to 45 minutes finding their 'stuff'.
Either that, or trying to pitch in damp weather conditions can wreak havoc on an arm.
When Herb Score was coming back from the season he lost due to that line drive into his face,
he was scheduled to pitch in Washington on a cold and wet night. He got through three innings
with a 2-1 lead, then felt something sore in his upper forearm. He pitched on and by the seventh
inning his elbow was killing him. He came out of the game, saw a specialist and learned he'd
blown a tendon in his elbow.
Score sat out a month until he thought the problem was solved (in that time, 1958, there was
no Tommy John surgery), then Bragan brought him in in relief to get him back on the stick,
again in Washington. Score struck out five of the first eight hitters he faced, then with two
out in the ninth he "felt like someone stabbed me in my left arm." He pitched on and off
the rest of the season and thought his arm and elbow felt fine come 1959 spring training---
but he learned the hard way that his mechanics were fouled up trying to compensate for
his elbow issue. He was never again the pitcher he was before the liner to the face, but
it wasn't the liner to the face that screwed up his career---it was a blown elbow that
began when he pitched in cold, damp, wet conditions.
Score told the story himself to Terry Pluto for The Curse of Rocky Colavito.
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Now the reports are out that Strasburg will, in fact, start.
Guess we will wait until game time....
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I saw this morning Strasburg declined a start. Crazy.
From the article:
This is an incredible development. The playoffs are a time to make history and receive glory. The postseason is when Curt Schilling pitched with blood pouring out of his ankle and when Willis Reed played through a torn muscle in the NBA Finals. Yet Strasburg is turning down the opportunity to pitch because he’s under the weather? That will not reflect well on him at all.
Actually, Strasburg felt ill Tuesday and caught a huge break with Tuesday's game being postponed.
The reporting out of Chicago is that Strasburg was first on the team bus to Wrigley Field and told Baker
he felt well enough to pitch after having Tuesday to rest up. And Baker moved accordingly. Because
the postponement should have reminded everyone that when you have the game you absolutely have
to win to stay alive coming, you don't really want Tanner Roark starting it for you if you can help it.
If Roark had started Game Four assuming it was played on Tuesday, it would have been all bullpen
hands on deck. And there's where Baker might have caught a small break---he hadn't used his two
best relief pitchers, Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson, in Game Three at all, and Baker could have
given the game to Madson at the first sign of serious trouble from Roark. Since Madson has starting
experience, he could have gone several innings before Baker would have had to think about maybe
a five- or six-out save out of Doolittle.
But the rain postponement came and Baker got lucky when Strasburg came to him this morning
telling him he could go. (If you've ever gone to Chicago in the middle of changing weather, you'd
know it's entirely possible to feel ill from the change when you first get there.)
And if you pitch Strasburg today and win, you go back to Gio Gonzalez for Game Five on his
regular rest. Gonzalez pitched well in Game Two; he was ruined by an unlikely error at third base
and a home run shortly afterward. But he's not even close to the guy you should be afraid to send
out for a Game Five if you get there. And, back to the Doolittle-Madson factor, if Strasburg gets
into trouble Baker has those pen options to play and hold fort.
Right now I can see Baker planning his immediate future and writing Max Scherzer's name in to start
Game One of a League Championship Series if the Nats get there. With possibly Roark in Game Two
and Strasburg in Game Three. Unless Scherzer's hamstring starts barking again. If it does, Baker's
going to have to channel his inner Flying Wallenda to think about his pitching matchups.
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So funny.... they just showed the CUBS bullpen out where Stephen Strasburg was long tossing in the outfield.
Couple of guys were donning medical masks over their noses/mouths.
Psychological warfare... :laugh:
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So funny.... they just showed the CUBS bullpen out where Stephen Strasburg was long tossing in the outfield.
Couple of guys were donning medical masks over their noses/mouths.
Psychological warfare... :laugh:
That is funny.
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5-0 Nats, top of the eighth---Michael Taylor: grand salami off Cubs closer Wade Davis in the top
of the eighth.
Stephen Strasburg---12 punchouts in seven innings.
Who needs the nose masks now? ;)
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5-0 Nats, top of the eighth---Michael Taylor: grand salami off Cubs closer Wade Davis in the top
of the eighth.
On to game five and it matters not a bit to me who wins it as long as it goes 27 innings.
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5-0 Nats, top of the eighth---Michael Taylor: grand salami off Cubs closer Wade Davis in the top
of the eighth.
Stephen Strasburg---12 punchouts in seven innings.
Who needs the nose masks now? ;)
Wow.
The grand slam explains why it was 1- zip the last time I checked and is magically 5-0 now!
Go Nats!
(Hmmmmm................... is that a "clean, but a shaky one?" :dx1:)
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Yankees Win !!!
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Well, I don't know who that was who showed up the last three games, but it sure wasn't the team I've been watching all summer. :shrug:
I am now officially an ASTROS fan. 888heartkitty
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Well, I don't know who that was who showed up the last three games, but it sure wasn't the team I've been watching all summer. :shrug:
I am now officially an ASTROS fan. 888heartkitty
Welcome aboard! 888high58888
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Welcome aboard! 888high58888
Thanks! And not a problem.
My hatred for the Yankees is inbred and goes WAAAAY back.
Besides which, I LIKE Texas! 888high58888
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Daniel Murphy---solo shot on the first pitch of the bottom of the second. Michael A. Taylor---grand salami
in his last time up in Game Four, three-run homer in his first time up in Game Five. 4-1, Nationals, bottom
of the first . . .
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One run in on an infield out, one in on a wild pitch, the Nats' lead cut to a run . . . 4-3, Nats,
middle of the third, and the Nats bullpen is stirring . . .
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A one-out single and a runner stranded in the bottom of the third, the Nats still lead
4-3 but Gio Gonzalez is coming out of the game, it looks like . . . Gonzalez didn't really
have the handle today . . . Kyle Hendricks may be coming out of the game for the Cubs,
too, depending on what the Cubs do in the top of the fourth . . .
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Three up, three down for the Cubs in the top of the fourth including Kyle Hendricks hitting
for himself . . . the Nats lead it, 4-3, going to the bottom . . .
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Ryan Zimmerman flies out to left with first and second and two out, the Nats still lead, 4-3 after
four, and it looks like the Nats are going to give the game to Max Scherzer out of the bullpen . . .
Scherzer getting a standing O as he comes in from the bullpen . . .
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Scherzer surrenders an infield hit, a line single, a two-run double on two outs . . .
then strike three to Javier Baez shoots past Nats catcher Matt Wieters . . .
he throws wild to first to complete the strikeout . . . Russell comes home to score
. . . 6-4, Cubs, top of the fifth . . .
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The Nats strand a leadoff walk in the bottom of the fifth, still 7-4, Cubs . . .
-
Abetted by Jayson Werth's stumbling, Russell doubles again in the top of the sixth, this time
sending home Zobrist, and it's 8-4, Cubs, going to the bottom of the sixth . . .
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Now the CUBS catcher gives the Nats a gift---passed ball on a walk to Ryan Zimmerman,
Jayson Werth scoring, Bryce Harper (double) to third, 8-5, Cubs, Nats still hitting in the
bottom of the sixth . . .
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Daniel Murphy whacks an RBI double, 8-6 Cubs, Nats still hitting in the bottom of the sixth . . .
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Make it 9-6, Cubs, when Kyle Schwarber scored on a would-be double play the Nats
couldn't consummate, Cubs still hitting in the top of the seventh . . .
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9-7, Cubs, after Bryce Harper hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the seventh . . .
score holding after Ryan Madson set the Cubs down one-two-three in the eighth . . .
Wade Davis trying to pitch a seven-out save for the Cubs . . . Nationals coming
up in the bottom of the eighth . . .
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I wonder if Willson Contreras, the Cubs catcher, is setting a record for most visits to
the mound in a game . . .
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It's turned from a comedy of errors into a dogfight . . . Michael A. Taylor singles home Daniel
Murphy, the Cubs hanging on with a 9-8 lead now . . . bottom of the eighth . . .
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I am cheering for you Washington, good series.
Lost an inning there, mind-blowing....
-
This may be the biggest out the Nats have given away tonight, on a night they were giving away outs
the way politicians give away promises---Jose Lobaton gets picked off first after he singles to make it
first and second and the tying run in scoring position, side retired, 9-8 Cubs going to the top of the
ninth . . .
In fairness, Lobaton's a backup catcher and didn't get to hit much in this set if at all. But he's still
a major leaguer. BIG mistake.
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Nats closer Sean Doolittle carved up the Cubs in order in the top of the ninth, two
swinging strikeouts and a line out. Might have been the quickest half-inning of the
game. 9-8 Cubs, the Nats are down to their final licks . . . and they've got big men
coming up . . . Trea Turner, Jayson Werth, and Bryce Harper . . .
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Down in order go the Nats in the ninth and the Cubs are headed for an NLCS
rematch with the Dodgers! 9-8 your final in Washington . . .
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Down in order go the Nats in the ninth and the Cubs are headed for an NLCS
rematch with the Dodgers! 9-8 your final in Washington . . .
@EasyAce
@Machiavelli
@Polly Ticks
@Cyber Liberty
@Bigun
I lost my sheet of paper with all of your names on it!
Sorry for the teams who did not make it; but happy for the teams who did! This is baseball, the game we love! D-Backs got wiped out 3-0 to the Dodgers!
So in the off season, I received a whole lot of great books to read. That is your fault Easy and Machiavelli!
Have either of you heard of "Sleeper Cars and Flannel Uniforms" by Elden Auker with Tom Keegan? That will be my first book, actually I already "read" another photo book! LOL!
So next year, hopefully, I will have a little more knowledge of this fabulous game that I have been watching since I can remember!
I thank you!
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@DCPatriot
@musiclady
@GrouchoTex
@Cyber Liberty
Still feel as I am missing someone!
I just opened another book.
It is called "The Pursuit of Perfection Ted Williams," by Jim Prime and Bill Nowlin.
Inside the book were two "bonuses." One is a DVD of said book, and the other is an unopened card that is made by Upper Deck. It has 20th Anniversary Hobby Preview, 1988 and 2008 on it. Never been opened, and probably never will be opened.
Books can be surprising when bought at auction!
Going to have a very interesting off season!
888high58888
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Have either of you heard of "Sleeper Cars and Flannel Uniforms" by Elden Auker with Tom Keegan? That will be my first book, actually I already "read" another photo book! LOL!
@Slip18
I have that book. Read it when it first came out. Wait till you come to the hilarious story of
how his maid misunderstood his final tribute to Tiger Stadium!
Some other books you should read:
Roger Angell, Five Seasons and Game Time
Harvey Araton, Driving Mr. Yogi
Allen Barra, Clearing the Bases and Yogi Berra: Eternal Yankee
Jim Bouton, Ball Four and "I Managed Good, But Boy, Did They Play Bad"
Thomas Boswell, How Life Imitates the World Series and The Heart of the Order
Jimmy Breslin, Can't Anybody Here Play This Game?
Jim Brosnan, The Long Season and Pennant Race
David Claerbaut, Durocher's Cubs: The Best Team That Didn't Win
Robert W. Creamer, Stengel: His Life and Times
G.H. Fleming, The Dizziest Season
A. Bartlett Giamatti, A Great and Glorious Game
Steven Goldman, Forging Genius: The Making of Casey Stengel
Peter Golenbock, Bums
David Halberstam, October 1964 and The Teammates
John Helyar, The Lords of the Realm
Bill James, Whatever Happened to the Hall of Fame and The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract
Mark Gauvreau Judge, Damn Senators
Roger Kahn, The Boys of Summer
William C. Kashatus, September Swoon
Brian Kenny, Ahead of the Curve
Ring Lardner, Lardner on Baseball
Jane Leavy, Sandy Koufax and The Last Boy
Jonathan Miller, The Bronx is Burning
Peter Morris, Catcher
Jim Murray, The Last of the Best
Jeff Pearlman, The Bad Guys Won!
Shirley Povich, All Those Mornings . . . at the Post
Joshua Prager, The Echoing Green: The Untold Story of Bobby Thomson, Ralph Branca, and the Shot Heard 'Round the World
John Rosengren, The Fight of Their Lives
Damon Runyon, Guys, Dolls, and Curveballs
Curt Smith, Voices of the Game
Red Smith, Red Smith on Baseball
Brad Snyder, Beyond the Shadow of the Senators
Michael Sokolove, Hustle: The Myth, Life, and Lies of Pete Rose and The Ticket Out: Darryl Strawberry and the Boys of Crenshaw
Mike Sowell, The Pitch That Killed
Glenn Stout, editor, Impossible Dreams: A Red Sox Collection and Top of the Heap: A Yankees Collection
Thomas Stanton, Terror in the City of Champions: Murder, Baseball, and the Secret Society that Shocked Depression-Era Detroit
Neil Sullivan, The Dodgers Move West
George F. Will, Bunts and A Nice Little Place on the North Side: Wrigley Field at 100
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Just, OMG!
I have another box of books coming. These books are in perfect condition, too!
Here is my list, minus the two from above. Do you think I will actually get smarter? LOL! I have kitties running over me while I am texting, but here goes:
"56 Joe DiMaggio and the Last Magic Number," by Kostya Kennedy.
"1951 When Giants Played the game," by Robert Keene.
"National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum 2002 Yearbook," no "by."
"Ozzie Smith, The Road to Cooperstown," by Ozzie Smith with Rob Rains (a few autographs in this one. Forward by Whitey Herzog.
"Take Me Out To The Ballpark," an illustrated tour of baseball parks, by Josh Leventhall. (Really cool book!)
"Baseball in America," photo book. Has the names of the photographers.
"Made to be Broken," by Allen St. John. This one also has a DVD.
There are more Hall of Fame books, but different years.
Then there is "The Sporting News" magazine. It is called "The Game We Love, The Sporting News and 125 years of Baseball." I love this: On the back is a beautiful B&W photo of Lou Gehrig dated 1931. What a smile!!!
More coming.
Cats are now clawing me for dinner!
Somehow I am going to copy your list!!!
Another book lover! LOL!
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They call them "Damn Yankees" for a reason, they frustrate people, the term, I don't know its origin, I could look it up, it's probably the Civil War but I think there was a broadway play made into the movie about baseball called "Damn Yankees".
Well, from what I was reading, the Yankees were the wild card team that had almost as much of a chance as the division winners...
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They call them "Damn Yankees" for a reason, they frustrate people, the term, I don't know its origin, I could look it up, it's probably the Civil War but I think there was a broadway play made into the movie about baseball called "Damn Yankees".
Damn Yankees the Broadway musical-turned-musical film has its origins in a 1954 novel by
Douglass Wallop, The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant; Wallop collaborated with George
Abbott in turning the book into Damn Yankees.
In the 2000s, Mark Gauvreau Judge---the grandson of Washington Senators first baseman Joe
Judge---wrote this book:
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41A4VnuzxlL.jpg)
It's a remarkable book about and around both Washington's culture of the time and the Senators'
lone World Series title in 1924.
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Damn Yankees the Broadway musical-turned-musical film has its origins in a 1954 novel by
Douglass Wallop, The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant; Wallop collaborated with George
Abbott in turning the book into Damn Yankees.
In the 2000s, Mark Gauvreau Judge---the grandson of Washington Senators first baseman Joe
Judge---wrote this book:
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41A4VnuzxlL.jpg)
It's a remarkable book about and around both Washington's culture of the time and the Senators'
lone World Series title in 1924.
Is he related to Aaron Judge, the left fielder (?) who beat Joe DiMaggio's record? Or am I getting this mixed up? I know that Aaron Judge is very hot now!
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Is he related to Aaron Judge, the left fielder (?) who beat Joe DiMaggio's record? Or am I getting this mixed up? I know that Aaron Judge is very hot now!
No known relation. He's the son of a pair of teachers who adopted him at birth; his father has no known
relation to Joe Judge, either.
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Thanks, Easy. I was so off on this one. Aaron Judge broke Mark McGwire's rookie season for home runs.
I knew he "broke" something.
Not a relative with a name like Judge and baseball? Now, that is interesting!
:huh?:
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Thanks, Easy. I was so off on this one. Aaron Judge broke Mark McGwire's rookie season for home runs.
I knew he "broke" something.
Not a relative with a name like Judge and baseball? Now, that is interesting!
:huh?:
Have you heard of the Elias Book of Baseball Records? It comes out every year. A little expensive for one year of records, but you can buy previous year's books.
I know someone broke DiMaggio's record for something this year, and it is driving me crazy. I should write these things down when I hear them!
Just got signed COA ⚾ from Dun Sutton and another one from my old favorite, Tony Gwynn. Tomorrow Catfish Hunter's will arrive.
@Cyber Liberty Cyber can tell you what he received. He has two more pieces arriving tomorrow, too. The one thing today is just awesome! But I am not giving it away.
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I know someone broke DiMaggio's record for something this year, and it is driving me crazy.
Aaron Judge broke Joe DiMaggio's Yankee team record for home runs by a rookie in a single season, as well as
Mark McGwire's major league record for the same thing.
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Aaron Judge broke Joe DiMaggio's Yankee team record for home runs by a rookie in a single season, as well as
Mark McGwire's major league record for the same thing.
Thank you! I owe you $20, the price for that publication!
:thumbsup:
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Thank you! I owe you $20, the price for that publication!
:thumbsup:
Nah, that one's on the house!
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Game 2 of this Astros Yankees series is at 3:30 PM EST tomorrow I believe. That really is not much time at all after this game. Imagine if it went into extra innings, highly unlikely now but those things do happen. We are talking about 16 hours until the next game.
-
Astros Win! Astros win! ASTROS WIN AGAIN!
ALCS Astros 1 Yankees 0
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Astros Win! Astros win! ASTROS WIN AGAIN!
ALCS Astros 2 Yankees 0
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Astros Win! Astros win! ASTROS WIN AGAIN!
ALCS Astros 2 Yankees 0
Great game from Verlander, and Altuve is amazing!
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Great game from Verlander, and Altuve is amazing!
MVP!
-
I just hope Justin Verlander wasn't burned out for this one---124 pitches.
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If the Astros win the series against NY; it's hard to see the NL being able to defeat them. But this has really been about pitching so we will see.
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I just hope Justin Verlander wasn't burned out for this one---124 pitches.
He'll be just fine. A few years ago there would have not been anyone keeping count and it didn't seem to make much of a difference.
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He'll be just fine. A few years ago there would have not been anyone keeping count and it didn't seem to make much of a difference.
Hence one reason why, to name just two, Mark Prior and Kerry Wood got burned to careers on
the disabled list. Come to think of it, back in 1967-69, one wishes someone had kept an
eye on Denny McLain's work load. Put aside all his other issues (not exactly simple), and the
real reason he ended up going from right-handed-Koufax-great to burned out was what that
three-season workload did to his shoulder. His shoulder, essentially, resigned its commission.
Maybe one such game won't do much damage to Verlander, but the Astros
would still be wise to keep an eye on him until they can pitch him on his regular rest again. And
since these Yankees aren't pushovers, the Astros will very likely be handing Verlander the ball
at least once more in this set.
-
Hence one reason why, to name just two, Mark Prior and Kerry Wood got burned to careers on
the disabled list. Maybe one such game won't do much damage to Verlander, but the Astros
would still be wise to keep an eye on him until they can pitch him on his regular rest again. And
since these Yankees aren't pushovers, the Astros will very likely be handing Verlander the ball
at least once more in this set.
Yep! He'll get the ball again next Wednesday or Thursday if it goes that far.
And the Yanks are in far worse shape IMHO.
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MVP!
Great performance.
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Seems appropriate to begin with this: Turns out Mary Tyler Moore had one hell of a great eephus pitch!
(She was also a lefthander.) Watch her hit the corner with this one, before a 2002 Twins game . . .
Watch a smiling Mary Tyler Moore throw a very cheery first pitch for the Twins in 2002 (http://m.mlb.com/cutfour/2017/01/25/214380620/watch-mary-tyler-moore-toss-out-a-first-pitch-for-the-twins-in-2002)
I bet she could have snuck that one past Ted Williams . . . !
I LOVE it!!!!!
wtg, Mary!! Now that's MY kind of woman. 888high58888
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Daniel Webb, former White Sox pitcher killed in ATV accident:
http://www.newschannel5.com/news/former-mlb-pitcher-daniel-webb-killed-in-atv-crash-in-tennessee
Rest In Peace.
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Daniel Webb, former White Sox pitcher killed in ATV accident:
http://www.newschannel5.com/news/former-mlb-pitcher-daniel-webb-killed-in-atv-crash-in-tennessee
Rest In Peace.
OMG! He was only 28!
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I LOVE it!!!!!
wtg, Mary!! Now that's MY kind of woman. 888high58888
Mary also had diabetes since childhood. She almost lost both feet years before this outstanding pitch. She was a fine woman!
Nice one, Easy! @EasyAce
Just got another load of books, old ones! I have only opened one box of three. Three of the books that I want to read at the same time are:
Lee Allen, "100 Years of Baseball";
William B. Mead, "Even The Browns"; and
Louis Kaufman, Barbara Fitgerald and Tom Sewell, "Moe Berg, Athlete, Scholar...Spy."
There were more in this box, one is "Sparky" by Sparky Anderson with Dan Ewald.
Here is a teaser on the back jacket of the 100 Years book: What outfielder made the first unassisted triple play? Hehehe!
Do you know?
:tongue2:
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OMG! He was only 28!
@TomSea
How very sad. May he rest in peace.
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Louis Kaufman, Barbara Fitgerald and Tom Sewell, "Moe Berg, Athlete, Scholar...Spy."
@Slip18
Better:
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51Hzo%2BMEU8L.jpg)
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@Slip18
Better:
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51Hzo%2BMEU8L.jpg)
Hoping that will be in another box! Fascinating story in the 30s era. A catcher for the Indians. Too interesting!
Just perusing through it, Berg was on a U.S. team to Japan with Ruth, Gehrig, "Lefty" Lopez, et.al., for a game in Japan! Berg and Ruth became great friends aboard the --italics here "Empress" / end italics -- with Connie Mack.
Who would have thunk? I really want to read the end first as I am wont to do, but I won't. LOL!
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I think your Duke Snider ball is in there somewhere with those books....
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I think your Duke Snider ball is in there somewhere with those books....
I needed a page marker for my book, so I used my seam ripper and cut off a little piece of the ball. That's okay, isn't it? I did not want to mess up the book!
:mauslaff:
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http://deadspin.com/john-lackey-should-be-in-jail-1819503434 (http://deadspin.com/john-lackey-should-be-in-jail-1819503434)
John Lackey Should Be In Jail
John Ley
(http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--03e5t2VE--/c_scale,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800/yhgzoozh9wpwpns0dttq.jpg)
Before John Lackey gave up a walk-off three-run homer to Justin Turner in Game 2 of the NLCS, he treated viewers of the game to a special version of baseball hell.
Before getting his shit wrecked by Turner, Lackey threw six pitches to Chris Taylor. Due to Lackey’s seemingly compulsive inability to throw the ball to the plate in a timely manner, it took him five whole minutes to throw six pitches. Here is video of the entire sequence, sped up 500x normal speed out of respect for your time:
video at link
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I needed a page marker for my book, so I used my seam ripper and cut off a little piece of the ball. That's okay, isn't it? I did not want to mess up the book!
:mauslaff:
:rolling:
@Slip18 I'm just kind of happy to hear that someone else still has/uses a seam ripper.
(http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/jobs/sewing-smiley-emoticon.gif) (http://www.sherv.net/)
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Due to Lackey’s seemingly compulsive inability to throw the ball to the plate in a timely manner, it took him five whole minutes to throw six pitches. Here is video of the entire sequence, sped up 500x normal speed out of respect for your time:
Ugh. Watched it live, have no desire to re-watch ...even at 500x normal speed!
*****rollingeyes*****
Crazy.
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@EasyAce
@Slip18
I posted this a few months ago on another thread. I've modified it here:
Baseball books I've read and enjoyed:
The Long Season -- Jim Brosnan
The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant (source of the musical, Damn Yankees!) -- Douglass Wallop
Veeck -- As in Wreck -- Bill Veeck, with Ed Linn*
Fear Strikes Out -- Jimmy Piersall
The Fireside Book of Baseball -- Charles Einstein, Ed. **
The Second Fireside Book of Baseball -- Charles Einstein, Ed. **
Baseball is a Funny Game -- Joe Garagiola
Unfortunately I've not read the Henry Wiggen tetralogy (The Southpaw, Bang the Drum Slowly, A Ticket for a Seamstitch, It Looked Like For Ever) by Mark Harris.
Years ago I started to read Ball Four but got disgusted with Jim Bouton's moral posturing.
Books that I thought sucked big time:
Pull Up a Chair: The Vin Scully Story -- Curt Smith
*Ed Linn is FReeper Hildy (http://www.freerepublic.com/~hildy/)'s late father. (1) (https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2000/02/16/writer-ed-linn-dies-at-77/0655c8cd-fc7d-4764-8a61-fa4f36cbf925/), (2) (http://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/15/sports/ed-linn-77-chronicler-of-baseball.html)
** Einstein also edited The Third Fireside Book of Baseball which I have not read.
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@EasyAce
@Slip18
I posted this a few months ago on another thread. I've modified it here:
Baseball books I've read and enjoyed:
The Long Season -- Jim Brosnan
The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant (source of the musical, Damn Yankees!) -- Douglass Wallop
Veeck -- As in Wreck -- Bill Veeck, with Ed Linn*
Fear Strikes Out -- Jimmy Piersall
The Fireside Book of Baseball -- Charles Einstein, Ed. **
The Second Fireside Book of Baseball -- Charles Einstein, Ed. **
Baseball is a Funny Game -- Joe Garagiola
Unfortunately I've not read the Henry Wiggen tetralogy (The Southpaw, Bang the Drum Slowly, A Ticket for a Seamstitch, It Looked Like For Ever) by Mark Harris.
Years ago I started to read Ball Four but got disgusted with Jim Bouton's moral posturing.
Books that I thought sucked big time:
Pull Up a Chair: The Vin Scully Story -- Curt Smith
*Ed Linn is FReeper Hildy (http://www.freerepublic.com/~hildy/)'s late father. (1) (https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2000/02/16/writer-ed-linn-dies-at-77/0655c8cd-fc7d-4764-8a61-fa4f36cbf925/), (2) (http://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/15/sports/ed-linn-77-chronicler-of-baseball.html)
** Einstein also edited The Third Fireside Book of Baseball which I have not read.
@EasyAce
I know I just got a book by Jim Bouton, but I can't put my fingers on it.
Got some hysterical books, too. These are old and barely used books that I got in an auction for $1, perhaps three times, plus postage and handling. I love books!
I was going to ask you, Machiavelli, if after the World Series is over and everything gets dull because who is watching football, I could post a few very short stories from "Tales From The Dugout" by Mike Shannon. It was printed in 1997, and is copyrighted with all rights reserved.
The stories are short and hysterical. I don't even know if I can text them without permission. How long does a copyright continue?
There are short stories that are true according to the writer on some such players as Catfish Hunter, Mickie Mantle, Roger Marris, Tim Belcher, Don Drysdale, Bob Feller, Sandy Koufax, Willie Mays and a whole lot more. Of course, Yogi Berra is in this book, too.
I have read about three. Funny stuff.
Would you like me to post some stories, if it is legal, after the World Series?
I, honestly, will miss my new found friends in here if we quit posting until spring training!
What do you think?
And I would bet ya that Easy has heard all of the stories and can add to them!
:boring:
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@Machiavelli
Jim Bouton, "I'm Glad You Didn't Take It Personally." I recognized that name. I did not even look through it.
@Cyber Liberty Cyber told me to check the books to see if there was cash inside because some people put cash in their books! Nope, only a scrawled piece of pink paper in three books. LOL!
8888crybaby
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I was going to ask you, Machiavelli, if after the World Series is over and everything gets dull because who is watching football, I could post a few very short stories from "Tales From The Dugout" by Mike Shannon. It was printed in 1997, and is copyrighted with all rights reserved.
@Slip18 I don't have a problem with it if @mystery-ak doesn't.
Remember, if the stories are indeed copyrighted, you'll have to post a short excerpt and then link them. You can only post them in their entirety if they are in the Public Domain.
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@Slip18 I don't have a problem with it if @mystery-ak doesn't.
Remember, if the stories are indeed copyrighted, you'll have to post a short excerpt and then link them. You can only post them in their entirety if they are in the Public Domain.
I would not post them in their entirety. They are like one-and-a-half to two pages in length. I would most definitely give Mike Shannon his due credits in every story.
And I will ask Mystery-AK if it is okay.
I just do not want to be pushy in here. I am a newbie! And I know it.
Then perhaps someone else could have a story of their own. I know @EasyAce has a lot of them! What a writer!
Just wanted to throw this around. It may just flop, who knows?
Thanks, Machiavelli!
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@Slip18 I don't have a problem with it if @mystery-ak doesn't.
Remember, if the stories are indeed copyrighted, you'll have to post a short excerpt and then link them. You can only post them in their entirety if they are in the Public Domain.
It'll be difficult to link these, they'll have to be transcribed from books. I don't know the policy about that.
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It'll be difficult to link these, they'll have to be transcribed from books. I don't know the policy about that.
@Cyber Liberty
@Slip18
@mystery-ak
If that's the case, you'd have to obtain written permission from the copyright holders.
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@Machiavelli
Jim Bouton, "I'm Glad You Didn't Take It Personally." I recognized that name. I did not even look through it.
@Slip18
I wrote this a few years ago, on the 40th anniversary of that book's publication:
---------------------------------------------
Jim Bouton's Forgotten Postscript (21 July 2011)
Which is worse? A baseball commissioner trying to suppress a from-the-inside book written by an
active player? An opposing team burning a copy of the book?
When Jim Bouton’s Ball Four reached the magazine-excerpt stage and, then, full publication, in
1970, the former Yankee fastball standout, reduced by arm miseries to knuckleballing, marginal
Seattle Pilots and Houston Astros middle reliever/spot starter, had both happen. But if you wonder
whether Bouton shriveled into a shell and disappeared as a result, you don’t remember much of
his post-playing life. Not to mention the book he published a year later.
Nothing against Ball Four, an engaging and disturbing (in a nice way) book even today. But there
ought to be a fortieth anniversary salute to, and republication of, I’m Glad You Didn’t Take It
Personally, his chronicle of Ball Four‘s and its protagonist’s immediate aftermath. To those whose
discovery of Ball Four occurred years, if not decades after the fact, I’m Glad You Didn’t Take It
Personally may help amplify the context of both the former book itself and the controversy it
created.
Ball Four may be tame at last, considering much that has transpired around baseball, its players,
and its insiders since. But in its time, the book unnerved and outraged the actual or alleged
keepers of baseball’s image and legacy. If you were there, merely discussing the book was itself
as exaggerated as the reactions it provoked even among those who loved or at least tolerated it.
Among those who despised the book, of course, there could be no discussion, there could only
be perverse games of can you top this outrage with yours.
If you want to get the idea in edited form, you could do worse than accept Bouton’s invitation,
opening I’m Glad You Didn’t Take It Personally‘s dedication, to revisit one of the signature exercises
in Ball Four opprobrium: I feel sorry for Jim Bouton. He is a social leper. He didn’t catch it, he
developed it. His collaborator on the book, Leonard Shecter, is a social leper. People like this,
embittered people, sit dow in their time of deepest rejection and write. They write, oh hell, everybody
stinks, everybody but me, and it makes them feel much better.
That came from a column by once-legendary sportswriter Dick Young, in the New York Daily News.
Young was accused often enough in his own heyday of writing oh hell, everybody stinks, everybody
but me, and thus making himself feel much better. But those remarks may have exposed his never
really having read Ball Four above and beyond extracts or excerpts. It wasn’t impossible that the real
contention for Young, once an iconoclastic reporter himself, was that Bouton had done from the inside
what Young might have believed was a “legitimate” sportswriter’s job.
Bouton bumped into Young the day after that column appeared, in the Shea Stadium visitors’
clubhouse, while the Astros prepared for a game against the New York Mets. “Hi, Jim,” Young
hailed Bouton, apparently cheerfully. “Hi, Dick,” Bouton replied. “I didn’t know you were talking
to social lepers these days.” The usually pugnacious Young, Bouton observed, managed a “tight
little smile” through his “drawn, nervous look,” and replied, “Well, I’m glad you didn’t take it
personally.”
Bouton believed (and wrote) then, and probably still believes today, that Young and other
sportswriters’ overreaction to Ball Four helped make it a best-seller in the first place. He may
not have been wrong, then or now. (Is I’m Glad You Didn’t Take It Personally the only book
ever written primarily about the reception afforded its author’s previous and first book?)
During one rough outing against the Cincinnati Reds, Bouton heard such catcalls as, “Shakespeare,
you no-good rat fink. Put that in your bleeping book.” At the time, he didn’t attribute that specific
remark to a specific player. But in Ball Four’s ten-year anniversary edition (Ball Four Plus Ball Five,
1980), he credited Pete Rose with hollering, “Bleep you Shakespeare!” (We’ve learned long since
about Pete Rose’s veracity, not to mention the cleanliness of his baseball life.)
The uproar among critics in the sporting press seemed to get half the credit for making Ball Four
a best-seller. Commissioner Bowie Kuhn probably got the other half. He actually and foolishly tried
to suppress Ball Four. That earned its own chapter in I’m Glad You Didn’t Take It Personally. Kuhn
tried to strong-arm Bouton into signing a formal statement saying he hadn’t said or written any
of the book, that it was all the doing of his editor, Leonard Shecter. (Shecter’s name had been a
contentious one ever since he was one of the original Chipmunks, sportswriters who fleshed out
heroes with heavies in cheerfully irreverent tone, while seeking the men behind the games.)
Never mind that Kuhn had only read the Look excerpts. After a little wrangling with Marvin Miller,
the players association’s executive director, Kuhn went on television merely to say everyone’s
entitled to make a mistake, without daring to suggest his real problem may have been Bouton
refusing to admit that Ball Four was one such mistake. But even Kuhn merely tried to marginalise
Ball Four. Not even Bouton’s staunchest allies, and he had more than many might remember,
accused Kuhn of trying to burn it.
The San Diego Padres thought of that. Before the Astros and the Padres squared off for a game,
the Astros were surprised to see a burned copy of Ball Four, left in a special binder, at the edge
of their dugout. Dick Young called Jim Bouton a social leper for writing Ball Four, but nobody called
the Padres brownshirts or accused them of sneaking Joseph Goebbels into the manager’s seat.
And Kuhn, to the best of anyone’s knowledge, never saw fit (assuming he actually knew of the
incident) to investigate it.
Ball Four‘s greatest controversy, ahead of even the sexual escapades it actually or allegedly exposed,
proved to be Bouton’s comments about Mickey Mantle, his Yankee teammate. Bouton summed it up
neatly in the followup:
What I said about Mantle was that I enjoyed his boyish charm, his country sense of
humour, the warmth he exhibited to his teammates. I also said I didn’t like it when
I saw him brush aside young autograph-seekers and be nasty to newspapermen.
And I suggested that he might have had an even more spectacular career if he slept
more and loosened up with the boys at the bar less. You’d think I had desecrated
the flag, knocked motherhood, and attacked Spiro T. Agnew with an unabridged
dictionary.
. . . I didn’t set out to destroy heroes. Anyway, it all depends on what your idea of a
hero is. Why can’t Mickey Mantle be a hero who has a bit too much to drink from time
to time and cries into his glass that he will soon be dead, like his father and his uncle?
Why do our heroes have to be so perfect and unflawed? In other parts of the world
heroes can be drinkers or even wenchers and this only adds to their heroism.
Bouton was vindicated sadly enough when Mantle, undergoing alcohol rehab at long enough last
before battling liver cancer, spoke publicly and poignantly about his failures and the fears that
fueled them. (This is a role model: Don’t be like me.) It made Mantle a hero all over again, for
the most part, the golden god of America’s youth now confessing his clay feet. For having written
of Mantle’s flaws and foibles contemporarily, in an era when sportswriting still hadn’t escaped
hagiography entirely and perceptions included only superstars being “entitled,” mind you, to
write such from-the-inside tales (Bouton, in Ball Four Plus Ball Five: “If Mickey Mantle had
written Ball Four, nobody would have blinked”), Bouton became a social leper.
Best-seller though it was, the years since have convinced me that nobody reading I’m Glad You
Didn’t Take it Personally remembered the near-final word Bouton had about Mantle:
In many ways, he’s had a difficult time of it. He was a moody guy and I
suppose he was in pain a lot. I guess he was scared a lot, too, about people
taking him and being dishonest with him. He had a lot of financial disasters
and seemed to have a knack for trusting the wrong people (and mistrusting
people he would have been better off trusting). But I’m not sure it’s necessary
to make excuses for him. On reflection, I suppose what I’ll probably remember
most about him is his sense of humour—even about [Ball Four]. The only
thing he ever said when asked what he thought of Jim Bouton’s epic was,
“Jim who?”
Not quite. In due course, by way of a message left on Bouton’s answering machine, the dying
Mantle—answering a condolence Bouton left after the death of one of Mantle’s sons—said he never
got the Yankees to keep Bouton from Old-Timer’s Days, or threatened not to attend them himself
if Bouton was attending, something Bouton had suspected for a long enough time.
Touchingly, too, Bouton admitted how moved he was to get a positive review from Roger Angell,
baseball’s Homer, in The New Yorker. “You have to read his too-infrequent pieces on baseball to
realise the depth of his love for the game of baseball,” Bouton wrote in I’m Glad You Didn’t Take It
Personally. “Angell knows the game, understands it, recognises the nuances, even likes the people
in it, most of them anyway. And there I was, the Great Destroyer of the game. If I really was, Angell
would have hated me.”
“What he has given us . . . is a rare view of a highly complex public profession seen from the innermost
side,” Angell had written, “along with an ironic and courageous mind. And, very likely, the funniest
book of the year.”
By the time I’m Glad You Didn’t Take It Personally was published, Bouton’s pitching career had ended on
an Astros’ farm team. After a few years with WABC, where his iconoclasm was either loved or hated,
Bouton tried a brief baseball comeback, climaxing with a surprising September 1978 callup to the Atlanta
Braves, where he made a surprising start or three. (In one, the junkballing Bouton dueled impressively
with the human torch named J.R. Richard.) He then retired to a life of earnings from his co-invention of
Big League Chew, motivational speaking, a little semipro pitching, occasional writing (three subsequent
epilogues to Ball Four; a novel, with Eliot Asinof; a chronicle of his participation in a bid to save a vintage,
wooden-grandstand ballpark in New England), a little championship ballroom dancing (with his second
wife as his partner), and the creation and oversight (Mrs. Bouton was its commissioner at one point) of
the Vintage Base Ball Federation, a league playing by 19th century rules.
In the wake of his daughter Laurie’s death in a grisly road accident, and a surprise Father’s Day missive
on the matter from his oldest son in The New York Times (http://www.jimbouton.com/pdfs/NYT06_21_98.pdf), Bouton’s relationship to the Yankees was
restored. Both Bouton and Yogi Berra (boycotting the team since his arbitrary managerial firing by George
Steinbrenner) were reconciled (Michael Bouton had called for Berra’s in hand with his father’s) to the club
for Old-Timer’s Day 1998 (http://www.jimbouton.com/pdfs/newsday7_26_98.pdf); both have since made Old-Timer’s Days a semi-habit. Bouton today is a
comfortable if much-bruised 72.
It took me decades to read I’m Glad You Didn’t Take It Personally. A few years ago, I found my copy, in
paperback, in a used book store in southern California. (To my surprise, when I took it home and opened
it, the inside front cover bore Bouton’s autograph.) I hope he doesn’t take it personally.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
This year, Jim Bouton went public with the diagnosis he received that he has cerebral amyloid angiopathy, a
neurological condition linked to dementia, which may have begun with a small stroke he suffered in 2012---
on the anniversary of his daughter's death. It has robbed Bouton of some of his cognitive faculties; he had to
re-learn to read, write, speak, and understand; his wife---whose own career included working with brain-
damaged children---reminds him daily.
The blessing is there’s no physical pain. The awful blow is the very thing which enabled him to write
Ball Four[ is mangled — something he prides himself on, and he’s not going to get back to that level
again.---Paula Kurman, Ph.D., Bouton's wife. (They met circa 1977-78, when Bouton's first marriage
collapsed and Bouton was making his comeback in the Braves' system.)
I wrote about Bouton's new struggle this past July. I was delighted to get this note from his one-time
Yankee teammate, pitcher Fritz Peterson: Jim took me in in spring training in 1966 and believed
I had a shot at making the Yankees that year. He was right and helped me immensely! If anyone
can come back from something, Jim can.
I hope to God Peterson is right.
-
@EasyAce
@Slip18
A recent article about Jim Bouton:
Jim Bouton, Author and Former Pitcher, Struggles With Brain Disease (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/01/sports/baseball/jim-bouton-brain-disease.html)
-
@EasyAce
@Slip18
A recent article about Jim Bouton:
Jim Bouton, Author and Former Pitcher, Struggles With Brain Disease (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/01/sports/baseball/jim-bouton-brain-disease.html)
That's what I wrote about in July:
From gripping a knuckleball to brain disease gripping Jim Bouton (http://throneberryfields.com/2017/07/01/from-gripping-a-knuckleball-to-brain-disease-gripping-jim-bouton/)
I say again, I hope to God Fritz Peterson is right.
-
@Cyber Liberty
@Slip18
@mystery-ak
If that's the case, you'd have to obtain written permission from the copyright holders.
@Cyber Liberty
@mystery-ak
I have sent an email to Spitball.com for permission. I have not heard back yet. I just emailed him this morning, so we will see.
And, Cyber, you know I have been tested at typing 130 wpm with no errors years ago. I definitely will have to use my computer and not the Baby Kindle nor the Lenovo. I have to have a regular keyboard!
It has not been used in eons! Might need a little of your "magic." LOL!
-
@Cyber Liberty
@Slip18
@mystery-ak
If that's the case, you'd have to obtain written permission from the copyright holders.
-
@Machiavelli
You are so amazing! I missed out on so much of what was going on inside of baseball. Thank you ever so much for explaining "Ball Four" to me/us. I don't think I would have understood what was going on when I start to read "...Personally."
Now I can't wait to read that book, too! My head is spinning. It is like Christmas to me here right now with all of these book treasures. I really did not spend more than $3 plus shipping and handling.
Some of these books have autographs. I wonder who sold them at auction. Had to be someone who did not give a diddly squat about baseball.
I am a little afraid to tell you and @EasyAce about all the other books!
I really do thank you!
-
That's what I wrote about in July:
From gripping a knuckleball to brain disease gripping Jim Bouton (http://throneberryfields.com/2017/07/01/from-gripping-a-knuckleball-to-brain-disease-gripping-jim-bouton/)
I say again, I hope to God Fritz Peterson is right.
@Machiavelli
What a wonderful woman! Bouton must have been one heck of a man to find her! She makes me happy.
Off to read your article, Machiavelli. It is difficult with kitten paws everywhere!
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That's what I wrote about in July:
From gripping a knuckleball to brain disease gripping Jim Bouton (http://throneberryfields.com/2017/07/01/from-gripping-a-knuckleball-to-brain-disease-gripping-jim-bouton/)
I say again, I hope to God Fritz Peterson is right.
Such love!
I hope to God Fritz Peterson is right, also!
@Machiavelli
I think I got who texted which article mixed up. Both are such great articles!
-
@Machiavelli
@EasyAce
I looked up Fritz Peterson. Looks great!
I hope Ben Affleck and Matt Damon do not make the movie that Fritz Peterson said they might make. Not being judgmental, I hope. [gulp]
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@Cyber Liberty
@Slip18
@mystery-ak
If that's the case, you'd have to obtain written permission from the copyright holders.
I haven't obtained anything as of today. How sad. Such great short stories!
@EasyAce
@Polly Ticks
@Bigun
@musiclady
@Cyber Liberty
And "at" everyone that does not immediately come to my sorrowful brain!
Is anyone going to start a World Series thread? This is the first time since 1970 that two teams that have had over 100 wins each during the regular season are going to the World Series! That, in and of itself, is so amazing!
⚾ ⚾
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I haven't obtained anything as of today. How sad. Such great short stories!
@EasyAce
@Polly Ticks
@Bigun
@musiclady
@Cyber Liberty
And "at" everyone that does not immediately come to my sorrowful brain!
Is anyone going to start a World Series thread? This is the first time since 1970 that two teams that have had over 100 wins each during the regular season are going to the World Series! That, in and of itself, is so amazing!
⚾ ⚾
@Slip18
You'll have to give us the book report version!
:laugh:
-
Go Dodger Blue; win it for Vinny and Tommy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfAvHXKGfh8
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@Slip18
You'll have to give us the book report version!
:laugh:
Never thought of that! I could paraphrase all the individual stories into two or three paragraphs. I still would give the author credit. I did not write them.
Would that be okay, @Machiavelli?
@mystery-ak
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Go Dodger Blue; win it for Vinny and Tommy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfAvHXKGfh8
It certainly will be a great series, for sure!
I did love the Dodgers at one point in my life! I would just love to see some excellent ⚾!
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@Machiavelli
I still have not finished trying to get permission from Mike Shannon. I can email the publisher, too. I have not done that yet.
I am going to do my best to get permission. I know what it is like to have someone "steal" my own proprietary work on transcripts as a court reporter. I signed all paid originals and copies in blue ink. If someone had a copy of a transcript that was not signed in blue ink, my judge would make them pay for it right then and there, or it got thrown out.
I do understand!
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Never thought of that! I could paraphrase all the individual stories into two or three paragraphs. I still would give the author credit. I did not write them.
Would that be okay, @Machiavelli?
@mystery-ak
That's fine
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Thank you! I am still going to try to get some sort of permission. I would never, ever do any harm to your magnificent website!
It would be fun for the baseball fans (me, too!) to have a little more "baseball" after the World Series. These short stories are just too fun!
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Good game 1.
I would have liked a different outcome, but it was a nice pitching duel.
Kershaw only made one costly mistake, Kuechel made a couple.
Only one error that didn't hurt the Dodgers.
And, it was all over before 10:00 pm Central, which is rare.
Looking forward to tonight.
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Good game 1.
I would have liked a different outcome, but it was a nice pitching duel.
Kershaw only made one costly mistake, Kuechel made a couple.
Only one error that didn't hurt the Dodgers.
And, it was all over before 10:00 pm Central, which is rare.
Looking forward to tonight.
Sure hope Springer will learn a little bat control tonight. His Swinging Banshee routine really sucked last night.
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Good game 1.
I would have liked a different outcome, but it was a nice pitching duel.
Kershaw only made one costly mistake, Kuechel made a couple.
Only one error that didn't hurt the Dodgers.
And, it was all over before 10:00 pm Central, which is rare.
Looking forward to tonight.
I have no team in this "fight." It is so nice to see two excellent teams duke it out. Everyone has to be proud of their teams! I am certainly proud enough myself for them!
Game 2 tonight!
We should all thank @EasyAce for putting the thread out for us.
Did you see the thread, Groucho? If you wish, I will put the "at" sign for you so you can join in the fun!
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Sure hope Springer will learn a little bat control tonight. His Swinging Banshee routine really sucked last night.
I don't know about you, but I probably would not be at my best (I am guessing here) on my first time at the World Series!
Kershaw was amazing, though! I have not seen pitching like that in eons!
Tonight could very well be different. I am still predicting only a run by one team ahead of each other. Turner's home run with a person on base ruined (LOL!) my little prediction.
Good luck to both teams! I am just watching history in the making!
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I have no team in this "fight." It is so nice to see two excellent teams duke it out. Everyone has to be proud of their teams! I am certainly proud enough myself for them!
Game 2 tonight!
We should all thank @EasyAce for putting the thread out for us.
Did you see the thread, Groucho? If you wish, I will put the "at" sign for you so you can join in the fun!
@Slip18
It was a great game, wasn't it?!
And @EasyAce is a treasure. I had to drop out of the thread early last night to help my kiddo study for a test, and will be late to the party tonight because I have tennis, but I will tune in as soon as I can and definitely be watching for/reading the recap.
-
Good game 1.
I would have liked a different outcome, but it was a nice pitching duel.
Kershaw only made one costly mistake, Kuechel made a couple.
Only one error that didn't hurt the Dodgers.
And, it was all over before 10:00 pm Central, which is rare.
Looking forward to tonight.
The Astros are unstoppable at home but they're still gonna need to pick up a game or two in LA. Fingers crossed.
-
The Astros are unstoppable at home but they're still gonna need to pick up a game or two in LA. Fingers crossed.
They're not exactly unstoppable at home, no matter how lopsidedly they played
there against a Yankee team that failed to make adjustments to Minute Maid Park.
The Astros had a higher winning percentage on the road than at home this year:
593 at home, which is good enough; but .654 on the road. They must win at
Dodger Stadium tonight if they want to win this Series. Their odds for Game Two
are far better with Justin Verlander starting---but if the Astro hitters don't start
hitting in earnest, since they don't have nine Jose Altuves in the lineup, the Astros
could be in big trouble.
But you never know---especially if the Dodgers stick to their program, lay off Verlander's
breaking balls, and wear him down into throwing them fastballs. If the Dodgers find a
way to peck Verlander out of the game early and get fast and loose in the Astro bullpen,
the Dodgers have a chance of going to Houston ahead 2-0 in the Series.
-
They're not exactly unstoppable at home, no matter how lopsidedly they played
there against a Yankee team that failed to make adjustments to Minute Maid Park.
The Astros had a higher winning percentage on the road than at home this year:
593 at home, which is good enough; but .654 on the road. They must win at
Dodger Stadium tonight if they want to win this Series. Their odds for Game Two
are far better with Justin Verlander starting---but if the Astro hitters don't start
hitting in earnest, since they don't have nine Jose Altuves in the lineup, the Astros
could be in big trouble.
But you never know---especially if the Dodgers stick to their program, lay off Verlander's
breaking balls, and wear him down into throwing them fastballs. If the Dodgers find a
way to peck Verlander out of the game early and get fast and loose in the Astro bullpen,
the Dodgers have a chance of going to Houston ahead 2-0 in the Series.
Good preview, Miss Slippy and I will be watching for that....
-
They're not exactly unstoppable at home, no matter how lopsidedly they played
there against a Yankee team that failed to make adjustments to Minute Maid Park.
The Astros had a higher winning percentage on the road than at home this year:
593 at home, which is good enough; but .654 on the road. They must win at
Dodger Stadium tonight if they want to win this Series. Their odds for Game Two
are far better with Justin Verlander starting---but if the Astro hitters don't start
hitting in earnest, since they don't have nine Jose Altuves in the lineup, the Astros
could be in big trouble.
But you never know---especially if the Dodgers stick to their program, lay off Verlander's
breaking balls, and wear him down into throwing them fastballs. If the Dodgers find a
way to peck Verlander out of the game early and get fast and loose in the Astro bullpen,
the Dodgers have a chance of going to Houston ahead 2-0 in the Series.
I should've qualified my 'unstoppable' statement with 'postseason'. Astros are something like .730 at home this year.
-
@Slip18
It was a great game, wasn't it?!
And @EasyAce is a treasure. I had to drop out of the thread early last night to help my kiddo study for a test, and will be late to the party tonight because I have tennis, but I will tune in as soon as I can and definitely be watching for/reading the recap.
Yayyyyy! I fed my ten cars early! But they hop and bop on me all night. Two are kittens. Someone help me. Oh, @Freya
-
Yayyyyy! I fed my ten cars early!
What do you feed them----regular, hi-test?
-
What do you feed them----regular, hi-test?
They're "cats," and we are afraid of what the swarm will do next...but we love them.
-
They're "cats," and we are afraid of what the swarm will do next...but we love them.
@EasyAce
If'n we don't feed them their canned food in the evening, they just may take a chunk out of us!
They only have kibble all day long. But that evening feeding is hysterical! Ten cats, eight cans. And, of course, some only like certain food. Okay, tuna here, salmon here, chicken over here, oh, and you like beef! Picky little critters! They have us trained!
@Freya
Are you ready for this???
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@EasyAce
And, of course, some only like certain food. Okay, tuna here, salmon here, chicken over here, oh, and you like beef! Picky little critters! They have us trained!
Sounds like my kids!!
:laugh:
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What a game! Such an emotional rollercoaster for all the fans, but especially for us Astros fans who needed one in the win column. Looking forward to 3 games at home.
How's this for a prediction? Houston in 5.
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What a game! Such an emotional rollercoaster for all the fans, but especially for us Astros fans who needed one in the win column. Looking forward to 3 games at home.
How's this for a prediction? Houston in 5.
Here's hoping your prediction becomes reality. I've had a soft spot for Houston since 2010!
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Here's hoping your prediction becomes reality. I've had a soft spot for Houston since 2010!
I have a soft spot for the Astros because they don't spell their name D-O-D-G-E-R-S. :nometalk:
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I have a soft spot for the Astros because they don't spell their name D-O-D-G-E-R-S. :nometalk:
****drummer
-
Steve Garvey apparently wasn't impressed with the playing in game 2. :facepalm: (https://sports.yahoo.com/steve-garvey-blames-dodgers-loss-game-2-millennial-baseball-074225129.html)
@EasyAce
-
Steve Garvey apparently wasn't impressed with the playing in game 2. :facepalm: (https://sports.yahoo.com/steve-garvey-blames-dodgers-loss-game-2-millennial-baseball-074225129.html)
@EasyAce
@Machiavelli
I'm not impressed with Steve Garvey's analysis:
* "Too many" strikeouts? Would he rather see guys hit into double plays? That's happened a few times
in the Series so far, too. It happened to Garvey a lot, too---he averaged grounding into seventeen
double plays per 162 games lifetime and once led the league by grounding into 25 in 1979.
* Not enough bunts? Other than a few plays showing bunt as decoys here and there, do you really
pay some of these guys to bunt? You weren't paid to bunt, Buster---you averaged two
sacrifice bunts per 162 games lifetime. When you dropped seven down in 1977, they probably sent
you to the doctor for a checkup. Must have been running a fever.
* Garvey complains about efficiency---but did he notice the Dodgers scored six runs on five hits? What's
he looking for, a 1-0 shutout? A 15-1 blowout?
Speaking of efficiency, I should take seriously a guy who was once described as a Clockwork Baseball
Player who had a program for getting his hits and stuck to the program no matter whether the situations
when he batted called for doing something outside his little program. You know, something that
might actually help his team?
-
Steve Garvey apparently wasn't impressed with the playing in game 2. :facepalm: (https://sports.yahoo.com/steve-garvey-blames-dodgers-loss-game-2-millennial-baseball-074225129.html)
@EasyAce
I agree with the writer about bunts and Hit 'n' Runs. Those are crimes of opportunity, and there just haven't been that many these last two games.
-
I have no team in this "fight." It is so nice to see two excellent teams duke it out. Everyone has to be proud of their teams! I am certainly proud enough myself for them!
Game 2 tonight!
We should all thank @EasyAce for putting the thread out for us.
Did you see the thread, Groucho? If you wish, I will put the "at" sign for you so you can join in the fun!
I'm going to miss game 3 unfortunately.
But, I am going out for a good cause.
Asleep at the wheel is playing at the Redneck Country Club, and they are raising money to restore old Texas dance halls.
I'll have my phone on MLB at bat, and they do have TV's there, that I am sure will be on the game.
I sure was nice to see Springer, Altuve, Correa, and Gonzales play in game 2 like they have for most of the regular season.
-
I agree with the writer about bunts and Hit 'n' Runs. Those are crimes of opportunity, and there just haven't been that many these last two games.
@Cyber Liberty
I was surprised a little bit that the Dodgers didn't think more about a running game. With Brian
McCann and/or Evan Gattis behind the plate the Astros are vulnerable to a running game. Dallas
Keuchel and Justin Verlander have good moves to first base but they're just slow enough to the
plate and McCann and Gattis have weak arms and terrible caught-stealing percentages. I didn't
notice that Lance McCullers, Jr. and Charlie Morton were that much quicker to the plate, though
each of them seems to have a decent ability to hold runners, but McCann and Gattis could be
easy targets for Dodger baserunning.
You notice, too, that the Dodgers haven't started Yasmani Grandal yet---he's no asset if the Astros
want to run on him, while Austin Barnes has a good throwing arm, not top of the line but good
enough to take running thoughts away. But Grandal can hit. It won't shock me if Grandal is the
DH for the Dodgers on the Houston leg of the Series with Barnes still behind the plate.
-
Sounds like my kids!!
:laugh:
You, too?
There is one canned food that is a little more expensive, but nothing is too expensive for the @CyberLiberty cat, Fah-ray-ed! It actually looks good enough to eat. Salmon in white sauce with spinach! Honestly.
Another one likes her food with a little bit of cat milk.
Sometimes I feel like a short order cook for cats!
-
I'm going to miss game 3 unfortunately.
But, I am going out for a good cause.
Asleep at the wheel is playing at the Redneck Country Club, and they are raising money to restore old Texas dance halls.
I'll have my phone on MLB at bat, and they do have TV's there, that I am sure will be on the game.
I sure was nice to see Springer, Altuve, Correa, and Gonzales play in game 2 like they have for most of the regular season.
That was an unbelievable game, Groucho!
Have fun tomorrow night raising money to restore old Texas dance halls. Do a little line dancing for me, okay?
So much better to restore rather than tear down...
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@Machiavelli
@EasyAce
@Cyber Liberty
This is from Wikipedia re Steve Garvey's depature from the Dodgers to the Padres: It provoked some Girl Scouts to picket the Dodger Stadium ~ and ~ helped the Padres increase its season ticket sales by 6,000 seats.
His very first hit was off of Denny Lemaster of the Astros. I just found that little factoid, too.
I know Garvey was a great first baseman, but the Girl Scouts picketing? Made me laugh.
Excuse me. LOL!
-
To all my friends on the ⚾ thread:
Injured an elbow twice yesterday mailing packages at UPS. Have had surgery on this ulner nerve before. The pain is pretty much gone, but the numbness is still there. Can't post for a while!
But I will be reading and watching! Go Astros! Go Dodgers! LOL!
Slip
-
To all my friends on the ⚾ thread:
Injured an elbow twice yesterday mailing packages at UPS. Have had surgery on this ulner nerve before. The pain is pretty much gone, but the numbness is still there. Can't post for a while!
But I will be reading and watching! Go Astros! Go Dodgers! LOL!
Slip
Oh, dear!! I'm so sorry to hear that! Take care of yourself!
(And I will clap for you, since your elbow's temporarily out of commission. ^-^)
Oh, and btw.............. BUCKEYES BEAT PENN STATE - 39-38!!!
It is a GOOD day in OHIO!!
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To all my friends on the ⚾ thread:
Injured an elbow twice yesterday mailing packages at UPS. Have had surgery on this ulner nerve before. The pain is pretty much gone, but the numbness is still there. Can't post for a while!
But I will be reading and watching! Go Astros! Go Dodgers! LOL!
Slip
@Slip18 Feel better soon!
034
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@Slip18 Feel better soon!
034
I hope so. The poor dear is down hard. 8888crybaby
-
Speedy recovery @Slip18 !
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Yayyyyy! I fed my ten cars early! But they hop and bop on me all night. Two are kittens. Someone help me. Oh, @Freya
Oh @Slip18 I'm so sorry! I wish I could come over and play with them,
Speaking of cats and baseball, anyone see this kitty ?
Oh wait...it was a football game last night, but adorable!!!!!
http://theweek.com/speedreads/733637/adorably-athletic-cat-burst-onto-baltimore-ravens-field-midgame-tony-romos-playbyplay-perfect
Which begs the question- what are all these stray cats doing on pro ball fields?
-
I hope so. The poor dear is down hard. 8888crybaby
Oh I just saw this...been out of town for a few days.
Feel better @Slip18
I hope the story from my previous post cheers you.
-
And the biggest Human interest baseball story of the year is:
31-year-old Astros catcher who won his first World Series had a wild journey that included a rehab stint and working as a janitor and ski lift operator
http://www.businessinsider.com/evan-gattis-astros-world-series-janitor-journey-to-mlb-2017-11
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I hope so. The poor dear is down hard. 8888crybaby
@Cyber Liberty
@Slip18
How is the recovery coming along?
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Lost everything again on this Baby Kindle. Arggghhhh! Just finished reading a great short story from a book by Elden Auker with Tom Keegan. The book is called -- underscore. Sleeper Cars and Flannel Uniforms --/ underscore.
Now I am going to bring my baseball friends in here, again, Ladies' first. Then I will send that out then start my version of the Babe Ruth story. I am not even looking at the book, so I don't feel like I am stealing anything from anyone, just telling a story I read.
Here is my ping list:
@Polly Ticks
@musiclady
@flowers
@skeeter
@truth_seeker
@GrouchoTex
@catfish1957
@Bigun
@DCPatriot
@TomSea
@Machiavelli
@EasyAce
@Cyber Liberty
I do not want to lose this! Next post, please!
-
So picture yourselves as a team player for the Yankees during the Babe Ruth era.
While on the road with the team, all the players had to share a room. For three years they could not get any player to share a room with Babe because of his late night eating and drinking. He also had gastrointestinal problems that would keep you awake all night because of the noise and, umm, aroma. Got that?
So finally one year they found a rookie who was fine with Babe. He lasted almost three years! The managers and all of the staff were ecstatic, to say the least for those almost three years.
But towards the end of that third season, Babe was noticing things missing from his room. In those days (and I hope to this day) every item of anything was sacred to each player. No one borrowed anything without getting permission first. One off the quotes was, "I could leave a $1000 bill on the floor in the locker room. When I came back, it would be in the exact spot where I had left it.". That was how honest these players were.
So, Babe noticed certain things missing from his room. Babe decided to catch a thief (who wrote that book -- oops). Babe marked five $100 bills and left his expensive watch laying around the room. He suspected his fine roommate, but was not sure.
Babe gets home one night late after partying heartily, but noticed the money and watch were missing. His roommate was fast asleep. He checked his roommate's pockets. Sure enough, he found the missing money and the watch.
So his roommate that everyone loved so well for being able to even stay in a room with Babe was thrown out of baseball for-e-ver. I did steal that phrase from Sandlot. LOL!
A few years later and a lot of pleading by this young player got him back into The Game.
Ya wanna guess who that player was? Quite famous.
Hehehe! Cliff hanger.
I do not want to lose this! :facepalm:
I found a typo, but can't find it now...
Fond the error, but can't find it again on this small device. "Off" should be "of" in there somewhere. Oh, well!
-
@EasyAce
The answer to the player in the story will be on the Hot Stove thread if I can find it!
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@EasyAce
The answer to the player in the story will be on the Hot Stove thread if I can find it!
Would you ping me? I'm dying to find out who it is! :laugh:
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Would you ping me? I'm dying to find out who it is! :laugh:
I will, I promise, as soon as I can find it.
I believe @EasyAce started that thread.
I know Easy knows who it is. These books are just hysterical!
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@EasyAce
The answer to the player in the story will be on the Hot Stove thread if I can find it!
@Slip18
Please, it was Leo Durocher.
Who eventually graduated from stealing watches to stealing a pennant. ;)
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@Slip18
Please, it was Leo Durocher.
Who eventually graduated from stealing watches to stealing a pennant. ;)
Hehehe! I left out that part!
There are so many pieces to the puzzle of the old timers! Fascinating stuff!
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Hehehe! I left out that part!
There are so many pieces to the puzzle of the old timers! Fascinating stuff!
(http://www.joshuaprager.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/9780375713071_p0_v1_s260x420_258_420_35-184x300.jpg)