That was a good game at old Dodger Stadium today. A tight pitchers duel for 6 innings, then the Dodgers amazingly breaking it open in the 7th, featuring a home run by Matt Kemp (I just saw a picture of it on Yahoo sports, where he's referred to as Jeff Kemp. They writer must have heard of Jeff Kent before and figured it was close enough.Maybe he only watches sportscenter, where west coast teams don't exist.But I digress).
Lots of Cubs fans there. I wonder what they do when the Cubs aren't in town (or winning-I've been to other Cubs games here with barely a whisper from their fans).
With the Cubs up 3-2, you'd have thought they were in the World Series, with the fist bumping, and finger pointing in the nearest Dodger fans face.(not that the Dodger fans were so wonderful-one guy held up a Cubs hat in one hand, while giving it 'the finger' in the other hand for about 5 minutes, until he was escorted from the stadium-He was quite proud of his achievements.) When Jeff ,I mean Matt Kemp hit the homer in the 7th, the wind went out of their sails, except for the guy behind me that had to throw his beer in disgust. (The smell of beer on a hot day is one of my least favorite odors). Zambrano must have thought it a good idea though, as he knocked over 2 gator ade jugs in the dugout and tore his shirt off as he left the game.
A fine day at the park, though I'll take my usual seat in the shade on the next day game.
Maybe things are changing ----east is moving west and west is moving east.
Ive almost been perturbed how sedate Fenway has been this year, for the most part just more or less polite people with some rhythmic chants and cheers thrown in with conversation with whoever you are next,,,
Only a handful of drunks (havent seen atruly obnoxious one yet) and I dont think Ive heard one "You Suck!" blistering through the air yet--like in the old days.
The price of winning overcomes all the old demons I guess....and makes you a little mellower..
Cubs fans gotta be tasting it this year---I can remember that taste like blood and wanting to win sooo much , just for once, on every single pitch, that all decorum got thrown to the wind...Its exciting to get uplifted and to have hope for once but at the same time it brings out all the collective angst, frustrations, failures and demons every time something goes wrong that have to be exorcised on the road to 'the promised land'
I hope they make it---- I'd love to see the Cubs win it this year--Its a transformative experience and those cubbie fans deserve it...Mr Beerthrower shouldnt have to go through life so frustrated--or any of the other faithful---
other than that-----Glad you got a good game...watch out for that sun--It mustve been brutal today in LA--
That was a good game at old Dodger Stadium today. A tight pitchers duel for 6 innings, then the Dodgers amazingly breaking it open in the 7th, featuring a home run by Matt Kemp (I just saw a picture of it on Yahoo sports, where he's referred to as Jeff Kemp. They writer must have heard of Jeff Kent before and figured it was close enough.Maybe he only watches sportscenter, where west coast teams don't exist.But I digress).
Lots of Cubs fans there. I wonder what they do when the Cubs aren't in town (or winning-I've been to other Cubs games here with barely a whisper from their fans).
With the Cubs up 3-2, you'd have thought they were in the World Series, with the fist bumping, and finger pointing in the nearest Dodger fans face.(not that the Dodger fans were so wonderful-one guy held up a Cubs hat in one hand, while giving it 'the finger' in the other hand for about 5 minutes, until he was escorted from the stadium-He was quite proud of his achievements.) When Jeff ,I mean Matt Kemp hit the homer in the 7th, the wind went out of their sails, except for the guy behind me that had to throw his beer in disgust. (The smell of beer on a hot day is one of my least favorite odors). Zambrano must have thought it a good idea though, as he knocked over 2 gator ade jugs in the dugout and tore his shirt off as he left the game.
A fine day at the park, though I'll take my usual seat in the shade on the next day game.
FOX showed the gatorade cooler throwing several times...
Damn howz come no one everr hands me tickets at work?
O yeah--I work alone--that must be it...
anyway--that sounds like aperfect way to spend a June saturday in LA----Enjoy!
BTW---
A friend showed meTHIS LINK to register for All Star game tickets.
MLB is selling them via a lottery system.
Even if you can not possibly go, its worth it to register.
If you win, resale value is huge -- StubHub and other ticket outlets are selling tickets for up to $25,000
(if any of you win ticks --I'll take my 10% commision )
Thanks for the idea... I DID register... and indeed, if I get tickets, I'm going right to Stubhub to sell them... for a premium, of course.
Dont forget to register for your All Star tickets--
I was reading this morning:
THIS LINK sounds pretty much near the perfect job....
I spent a few weekends after opening day this year bopping around to 10 American cities, where I ate my way through 12 major league ballparks. My mission: to hoover down a shameful number of hot dogs and to sample the increasingly ambitious and occasionally delicious world of ballpark cuisine beyond peanuts and Cracker Jack....
Having a job to eat at ballparks...... ...
If I ever go for a career change thats gonna be near the top of the list....
greetings lads... I sure wish we could get our pitching situation straightened out... for once... in 36 years...
the stRangers have lost only two series since April... both to the Rays... once there, once here
and Coco charging the mound??? what an idiot... well, at least IMO... NO ONE should ever charge the mound if they get hit in the leg or butt...
but Garza and Navarro (sp) the Rays battery yesterday got into a heated argument with each other on the mound and then after the inning started fighting in the dugout and on up the tunnel!!! (as they were getting beat, a lead that the bullpen didn't give up)
While I can think of no other team in MLB that needs pitching more than the stRangers they showed some guts and character the other day...
Sidney Ponson, who won't be confused with Kazmir or Sabathia, although he was 4-1 with a 3.88 ERA... out of the blue last week he was DA'd for comments detrimental to the team and management...
...and while I know he's no angel, Milton Bradley has been a really nice fit here... no problems, a good "room" guy for all of the youngsters here... is this the Twilight Zone?
There's already scuttlebut that he's prime for moving... oh well...
On (another) bright side, have you guys looked at the offensive leaders in the AL? You'll see the stRangers 1-4 hitters in the top 5 of almost every category...
...but good pitching beats good hitting in the long run doesn't it...
latest news from "As the stRangers Turn": rumor has it that Ponson and Michael Young got into a fight in the locker room after his last start (the day before he was effectively realeased)... I wonder if that has anything to do with the hairline fracture in MY's left ring finger that's kept him out of parts of the last three games?
Tikes-- sounds like the Rangers have afew things to work on..
I did hear yesterday that The stRangers lead the league in batting (good!)
but are last in pitching and defense (eh---not so good!...).
Its gotta be frustrating down there ---but at least hitting makes for some exciting baseball-----as long as they can keep from hitting each other.
I hope there is nothing wrong with MY--that'd be a loss---for the whole league---
I dont know that much about Ponson but despite having lots of "potential' --he keeps moving around every year..I suppose there is a reason for that.....
and Coco charging the mound??? what an idiot... well, at least IMO... NO ONE should ever charge the mound if they get hit in the leg or butt...
Agreed it was stupid move (wouldve been way better off taking his base and stealing second)...but it wasnt just getting hit in the butt....its a few years worth oif stuff that came to a head over the last two series and unfortunately it will probably go on later this year as the Rays scrape and claw toward the top. There is some blood and history between these two teams....
It was stupid--I hope nothing really stupid happens like a serious injury.
JD Drew is being the JD Drew everyone hoped for now that Papi is out, of course being in front of Manny in the order has to make hitting just a little easier....
heck... even we could probably hit in front of Manny with the pitches we'd see...
we're getting to see something similar down here with Hamilton and Bradley batting back to back... which probably also accounts for Kinsler and Young a little bit although Michael has been doing it for a while... (I said similar as I'd not want to compare them to Manny/Papi YET!)
we're getting to see something similar down here with Hamilton and Bradley batting back to back... which probably also accounts for Kinsler and Young a little bit although Michael has been doing it for a while...
It certainly helps if the lineup is solid all the way through--nobody has to be 'stars' but even solid players will elevate each others performance....or so it seems
I remember the years here when it was Nomar and a cast of thousands--or Mo Vaughan and the same. Nothing ever clicked there were just too many holes for anything meaningful to come about on a consistant basis.
Im looking forward to seeing Hamilton when you guys are this way in August
and --Congrats to Jr. --I still think the young Jr. was the most exciting ballplayer that i ever saw---I cant imagine where he would be stats wise if he hadnt been injured for the greater part of his Cincinnati years.
One thing I cant believe --there looked like there were 5000 people in the stands in Florida for his 600th--the whole city of Miami should be fined for that----
and --Congrats to Jr. --I still think the young Jr. was the most exciting ballplayer that i ever saw---I cant imagine where he would be stats wise if he hadnt been injured for the greater part of his Cincinnati years.
One thing I cant believe --there looked like there were 5000 people in the stands in Florida for his 600th--the whole city of Miami should be fined for that----
I dont know exactly how many games Jr missed --but i would bet it would be 5-600 games of prime years...He'd be darn close to Bonds if not surpassing him if he had stayed healthy...
Its all part of the game--
Ted Williams hit .406, took off 4 years to become fighter pilot in WWII then came back and won the triple crown--Its tough to say what some players career totals might have been, career numbers arent always the greatest guage of assessing how good players were
I think Jr's biggest mistake was leaving Seattle. He'd own the city by now, and maybe, just maybe, his career path wouldn't have been derailed, like it has in Cincinatti. Has he done anything in Cincy between dl stints ?
It's not always about the money, and there's a lot to be said for sticking with the team you grew with. Tony Gwynn comes to mind.
Thats one thing I miss about the free agent era--being able to watch the entire arc of someones career---players like Cal Ripken--or around here the obvious guys like Yastremski, Rice and Dwight Evans , and now Varitek---but even the non big names like Tim Wakefield who has been around for 13 or 14 years now bring something enjoyable to watch--but also some grounding for the players (i would think)...Its too much of a rarity these days.
In JR's defense, I remember hearing when he signed with the Reds that a big part of it was that he did grow up with the Reds and was "going home' (if you remember Sr. was part of those big Red Machine teams, and Jr. hung out with the old Reds of the Bench/Rose/Morgan/Perez Era as a child)--so it wasnt all just money..
...anyway---we get the Reds this weekend--We'll see what Francona can do to patch together a lineup --just about everyone is either limping, DL'ed or suspended, but at least I'll get to see Jr. and the Reds.....
....maybe while Im at it I'll start a mainboard thread
"Is Interleague play a sin?"
I think Leviticus says pretty clearly it is an abomination (intermingling with people of different customs and all that..) but there may be other interpretations
I think I'm starting to be ok with interleague play, in spite of the issues with the designated hitter...Bob Brenley always makes references to the "162 game schedule" and how things balance out in the end...When you think about it, ten interleague baseball games is about equal to one NFL game...If a division or a wild card title is lost over those handful of interleague games, or scheduling with too tough of an interleague foe, then maybe the team didn't deserve the title, anyway...However, I am totally agin' the all-star winner determing home-field advantage in the World Series...
I am totally agin' the all-star winner determing home-field advantage in the World Series...
Well since that has been advantageous to my guys--Im totally for it :) , I'd hate to see it lead to a Ray Fosse/Pete Rose type collison that injures someone....Its not that big of a deal
I find myself not nearly as against interleague play as I once was, it is sort of an annual ritual around here to fume about it, so I thought I'd bring it up--- mostly its just selfishness this year on my part because the Red Sox are shorthanded right now, and Manny with a tweaked hamstring probably cant play outfield and wont be able to DH either. Ellsbury is hurting, Crisp is due to be suspended, that'll leave Moe, Larry and J D Drew in the outfield unless someone plays hurt. With a DH at least Manny could hit.....
I'd still like to see them work out a system that is some how balanced, we've already discussed it to infinity so I wont beat a deadhorse about it
By BEN WALKER, AP Baseball Writer 1 hour, 39 minutes ago
NEW YORK (AP)—Instant replay might be coming to Major League Baseball in an instant.
Moving faster than expected and coming after a rash of blown calls, baseball wants to put replay into effect by August for home run disputes in hopes of fine-tuning the system by the playoffs.
MLB and the umpires’ union need to reach agreement before replay can be tried, and the sides have started talking. Previously, it was thought replay would get its first look in the Arizona Fall League and then the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
“The game needs it and I think it does need it soon,” Chicago Cubs pitcher Jon Lieber said Friday before a game at Toronto. “With technology the way it is today, there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be a part of the game.”
Jimmie Lee Solomon, MLB’s executive vice president for baseball operations, is pushing for replay by Aug. 1; Rob Manfred, MLB’s executive vice president of labor relations, suggested Aug. 15. (continued)
also from that article:
"Commissioner Bud Selig will ultimately decide when MLB wants to put replay in place. A staunch opponent in the past, a spate of missed boundary calls— fair or foul, over the fence or not—last month left Selig leaning toward its limited use."
I found this an interesting stat about one of my favorite players. After hitting a game winning home run in Houston last night, I read that Jeter leads the world in interleague hits with 259.
Not exactly up there in impact with home runs, or rbi, but I was taken aback a bit with the realization that these interleague games have been around long enough to compile that many hits. That's a season and a half of hits for many good players.
My other current favorite players are spread out a little, starting with Torii Hunter, who I can't wait to see at Dodger Stadium in 2 weeks. I'll be getting down to Anaheim for a few games before the season's over, but this will be my first look at the Angels this year-who are doing quite well by the way.
I thought about instant replay a little bit, and the only way I could see it implemented is if they used it strictly to enforce ground rules...I guess it does make sense that an umpire cannot always get a good view of a ball landing 200 feet away from him---especially in these goofy designed stadiums where the ball bounces back on the field and he has to decide if it landed to the left or the right of a yellow line...But during the action, the ump would still have to make the call---if a guy thinks he hit a homer and trots around the bases and the outfielder thinks it's in play and they throw him out at third base then you could really have a fiasco on your hands...So the question then becomes, who makes the call for instant replay, the umps or one of the managers?...Do they penalize the manager who called for the replay if the ump got it right?...I am totally against instant replay for any on the field calls regarding out or safe calls, balls and strikes, interference, fair/foul calls,dropped third strikes, balks, runners tagging up or pitchers doctoring the ball...
Also, it was brought up here during last year's playoffs, about the home crowd not being shown on the big scoreboard screen replays of a controversial call that went against the home team...I believe there is an agreement between MLB. and the umpires union to not show replays of close calls on the big screens---to avert tumultuous crowds, I guess...
Im still unsure exactly what I think about, in one sense human error by umpires is part of the game, and it adds just that little extra uncertainty to things...which although maddening at times..is the way life and baseball work
On the other hand if they could do it unobtrusively ...say by having a 5th umpire watching replays in the press box and sending signals to the field umps it may be OK under certain restrictions.
Im with Simon in that it should be only used for certain predetermined plays-
--but I have a feeling if they do start using it, that it will open the floodgates and eventually (10-20-30 years) it will be used for everything...
I thought about instant replay a little bit, and the only way I could see it implemented is if they used it strictly to enforce ground rules...I guess it does make sense that an umpire cannot always get a good view of a ball landing 200 feet away from him---especially in these goofy designed stadiums where the ball bounces back on the field and he has to decide if it landed to the left or the right of a yellow line...But during the action, the ump would still have to make the call---if a guy thinks he hit a homer and trots around the bases and the outfielder thinks it's in play and they throw him out at third base then you could really have a fiasco on your hands...So the question then becomes, who makes the call for instant replay, the umps or one of the managers?...Do they penalize the manager who called for the replay if the ump got it right?...I am totally against instant replay for any on the field calls regarding out or safe calls, balls and strikes, interference, fair/foul calls,dropped third strikes, balks, runners tagging up or pitchers doctoring the ball...
Also, it was brought up here during last year's playoffs, about the home crowd not being shown on the big scoreboard screen replays of a controversial call that went against the home team...I believe there is an agreement between MLB. and the umpires union to not show replays of close calls on the big screens---to avert tumultuous crowds, I guess...
Clearly, umps have been missing calls regarding home runs this season. This should help.
In terms of anything else, I'd have to agree with the "purists" for the most part... BUT...
This will evolve, depending on the experience with the system... AND let's not forget the problems now facing the NBA regarding the integrity of the referrees. I suspect that IR will eventually be used in every way or for every type of call for which it becomes feasible.
I made the huge mistake of reading some Yankee and Red Sox message boards over the weekend. Based on what I read, I could only conclude that Sox fans are as insufferable as they always accuse Yankee fans of being. Of course, people that spend time posting on message boards aren't always 'normal' (unlike all of us who post on this message board).
Sports fandom fascinates me. You'd think the fans accomplished something themselves the way they chide everyone else.Maybe it's one way of dealing with failures in their own lives that make them transfer the success of others as their own. (hey I WATCHED them play, and I ROOT for them, so I won).
The fights that break out(to say nothing of the deaths)due to rooting for a team nauseate me.
Big deal-the team you like just won a game. I really don't give a crap.
I know, I know. I'm missing the bigger picture, the identification, the community. I know all about it. I grew up as impassioned a fan as you will find. Somewhere along the line I put it in perspective , and I know I'll be sorry I wrote this after the responses come in, but I really got sick reading those message boards, and wondering what's wrong with those people?
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I missed the LLWS. The boy had baseball practice 4-7. Playing in a USSSA tournament this coming weekend. The new season has just started. Can ya'll believe we are in September of the ML baseball s
mstar1
Dont scare me like that Bolsh--the way you posted I wasnt sure if it was a done deal--I had to go check....Im on the fence whether to go for Halliday or not---I'd love to have him but I'd hate to give
hiway29
I love those fan trades where players you don't care about, plus a 'prospect', are offered up for a major player. Yeah, the Jays will jump at that deal.
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hiway29
That was a good game at old Dodger Stadium today. A tight pitchers duel for 6 innings, then the Dodgers amazingly breaking it open in the 7th, featuring a home run by Matt Kemp (I just saw a picture of it on Yahoo sports, where he's referred to as Jeff Kemp. They writer must have heard of Jeff Kent before and figured it was close enough.Maybe he only watches sportscenter, where west coast teams don't exist.But I digress).
Lots of Cubs fans there. I wonder what they do when the Cubs aren't in town (or winning-I've been to other Cubs games here with barely a whisper from their fans).
With the Cubs up 3-2, you'd have thought they were in the World Series, with the fist bumping, and finger pointing in the nearest Dodger fans face.(not that the Dodger fans were so wonderful-one guy held up a Cubs hat in one hand, while giving it 'the finger' in the other hand for about 5 minutes, until he was escorted from the stadium-He was quite proud of his achievements.) When Jeff ,I mean Matt Kemp hit the homer in the 7th, the wind went out of their sails, except for the guy behind me that had to throw his beer in disgust. (The smell of beer on a hot day is one of my least favorite odors). Zambrano must have thought it a good idea though, as he knocked over 2 gator ade jugs in the dugout and tore his shirt off as he left the game.
A fine day at the park, though I'll take my usual seat in the shade on the next day game.
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mstar1
good review!
Maybe things are changing ----east is moving west and west is moving east.
Ive almost been perturbed how sedate Fenway has been this year, for the most part just more or less polite people with some rhythmic chants and cheers thrown in with conversation with whoever you are next,,,
Only a handful of drunks (havent seen atruly obnoxious one yet) and I dont think Ive heard one "You Suck!" blistering through the air yet--like in the old days.
The price of winning overcomes all the old demons I guess....and makes you a little mellower..
Cubs fans gotta be tasting it this year---I can remember that taste like blood and wanting to win sooo much , just for once, on every single pitch, that all decorum got thrown to the wind...Its exciting to get uplifted and to have hope for once but at the same time it brings out all the collective angst, frustrations, failures and demons every time something goes wrong that have to be exorcised on the road to 'the promised land'
I hope they make it---- I'd love to see the Cubs win it this year--Its a transformative experience and those cubbie fans deserve it...Mr Beerthrower shouldnt have to go through life so frustrated--or any of the other faithful---
other than that-----Glad you got a good game...watch out for that sun--It mustve been brutal today in LA--
Whats up with Nomar? anything?
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Rocky
FOX showed the gatorade cooler throwing several times...
Thanks for the idea... I DID register... and indeed, if I get tickets, I'm going right to Stubhub to sell them... for a premium, of course.
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mstar1
Dont forget to register for your All Star tickets--
I was reading this morning:
THIS LINK sounds pretty much near the perfect job....
Having a job to eat at ballparks......
...
If I ever go for a career change thats gonna be near the top of the list....
..............
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Tom Strange
greetings lads... I sure wish we could get our pitching situation straightened out... for once... in 36 years...
the stRangers have lost only two series since April... both to the Rays... once there, once here
and Coco charging the mound??? what an idiot... well, at least IMO... NO ONE should ever charge the mound if they get hit in the leg or butt...
but Garza and Navarro (sp) the Rays battery yesterday got into a heated argument with each other on the mound and then after the inning started fighting in the dugout and on up the tunnel!!! (as they were getting beat, a lead that the bullpen didn't give up)
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Tom Strange
oh yeah... I almost forgot...
While I can think of no other team in MLB that needs pitching more than the stRangers they showed some guts and character the other day...
Sidney Ponson, who won't be confused with Kazmir or Sabathia, although he was 4-1 with a 3.88 ERA... out of the blue last week he was DA'd for comments detrimental to the team and management...
...and while I know he's no angel, Milton Bradley has been a really nice fit here... no problems, a good "room" guy for all of the youngsters here... is this the Twilight Zone?
There's already scuttlebut that he's prime for moving... oh well...
On (another) bright side, have you guys looked at the offensive leaders in the AL? You'll see the stRangers 1-4 hitters in the top 5 of almost every category...
...but good pitching beats good hitting in the long run doesn't it...
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Tom Strange
latest news from "As the stRangers Turn": rumor has it that Ponson and Michael Young got into a fight in the locker room after his last start (the day before he was effectively realeased)... I wonder if that has anything to do with the hairline fracture in MY's left ring finger that's kept him out of parts of the last three games?
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mstar1
Tikes-- sounds like the Rangers have afew things to work on..
I did hear yesterday that The stRangers lead the league in batting (good!)
but are last in pitching and defense (eh---not so good!...).
Its gotta be frustrating down there ---but at least hitting makes for some exciting baseball-----as long as they can keep from hitting each other.
I hope there is nothing wrong with MY--that'd be a loss---for the whole league---
I dont know that much about Ponson but despite having lots of "potential' --he keeps moving around every year..I suppose there is a reason for that.....
Agreed it was stupid move (wouldve been way better off taking his base and stealing second)...but it wasnt just getting hit in the butt....its a few years worth oif stuff that came to a head over the last two series and unfortunately it will probably go on later this year as the Rays scrape and claw toward the top. There is some blood and history between these two teams....It was stupid--I hope nothing really stupid happens like a serious injury.
JD Drew is being the JD Drew everyone hoped for now that Papi is out, of course being in front of Manny in the order has to make hitting just a little easier....
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Tom Strange
heck... even we could probably hit in front of Manny with the pitches we'd see...
we're getting to see something similar down here with Hamilton and Bradley batting back to back... which probably also accounts for Kinsler and Young a little bit although Michael has been doing it for a while... (I said similar as I'd not want to compare them to Manny/Papi YET!)
oh... and a tip of the cap to Junior!
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mstar1
It certainly helps if the lineup is solid all the way through--nobody has to be 'stars' but even solid players will elevate each others performance....or so it seems
I remember the years here when it was Nomar and a cast of thousands--or Mo Vaughan and the same. Nothing ever clicked there were just too many holes for anything meaningful to come about on a consistant basis.
Im looking forward to seeing Hamilton when you guys are this way in August
and --Congrats to Jr. --I still think the young Jr. was the most exciting ballplayer that i ever saw---I cant imagine where he would be stats wise if he hadnt been injured for the greater part of his Cincinnati years.
One thing I cant believe --there looked like there were 5000 people in the stands in Florida for his 600th--the whole city of Miami should be fined for that----
.....
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Rocky
I can... it goes like this... "Barry WHO?"
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mstar1
I dont know exactly how many games Jr missed --but i would bet it would be 5-600 games of prime years...He'd be darn close to Bonds if not surpassing him if he had stayed healthy...
Its all part of the game--
Ted Williams hit .406, took off 4 years to become fighter pilot in WWII then came back and won the triple crown--Its tough to say what some players career totals might have been, career numbers arent always the greatest guage of assessing how good players were
Still 600 is pretty darn good--Congrats again JR
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hiway29
I think Jr's biggest mistake was leaving Seattle. He'd own the city by now, and maybe, just maybe, his career path wouldn't have been derailed, like it has in Cincinatti. Has he done anything in Cincy between dl stints ?
It's not always about the money, and there's a lot to be said for sticking with the team you grew with. Tony Gwynn comes to mind.
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mstar1
Thats one thing I miss about the free agent era--being able to watch the entire arc of someones career---players like Cal Ripken--or around here the obvious guys like Yastremski, Rice and Dwight Evans , and now Varitek---but even the non big names like Tim Wakefield who has been around for 13 or 14 years now bring something enjoyable to watch--but also some grounding for the players (i would think)...Its too much of a rarity these days.
In JR's defense, I remember hearing when he signed with the Reds that a big part of it was that he did grow up with the Reds and was "going home' (if you remember Sr. was part of those big Red Machine teams, and Jr. hung out with the old Reds of the Bench/Rose/Morgan/Perez Era as a child)--so it wasnt all just money..
...anyway---we get the Reds this weekend--We'll see what Francona can do to patch together a lineup --just about everyone is either limping, DL'ed or suspended, but at least I'll get to see Jr. and the Reds.....
....maybe while Im at it I'll start a mainboard thread
"Is Interleague play a sin?"
I think Leviticus says pretty clearly it is an abomination (intermingling with people of different customs and all that..) but there may be other interpretations
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simonzelotes
I think I'm starting to be ok with interleague play, in spite of the issues with the designated hitter...Bob Brenley always makes references to the "162 game schedule" and how things balance out in the end...When you think about it, ten interleague baseball games is about equal to one NFL game...If a division or a wild card title is lost over those handful of interleague games, or scheduling with too tough of an interleague foe, then maybe the team didn't deserve the title, anyway...However, I am totally agin' the all-star winner determing home-field advantage in the World Series...
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mstar1
Well since that has been advantageous to my guys--Im totally for it :) , I'd hate to see it lead to a Ray Fosse/Pete Rose type collison that injures someone....Its not that big of a deal
I find myself not nearly as against interleague play as I once was, it is sort of an annual ritual around here to fume about it, so I thought I'd bring it up--- mostly its just selfishness this year on my part because the Red Sox are shorthanded right now, and Manny with a tweaked hamstring probably cant play outfield and wont be able to DH either. Ellsbury is hurting, Crisp is due to be suspended, that'll leave Moe, Larry and J D Drew in the outfield unless someone plays hurt. With a DH at least Manny could hit.....
I'd still like to see them work out a system that is some how balanced, we've already discussed it to infinity so I wont beat a deadhorse about it
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Rocky
On this day that Interleague Play resumes for the 2008 season, MLB is NOW "pushing to put instant replay in use by August"
MLB pushes to put instant replay in use by August
By BEN WALKER, AP Baseball Writer 1 hour, 39 minutes ago
NEW YORK (AP)—Instant replay might be coming to Major League Baseball in an instant.
Moving faster than expected and coming after a rash of blown calls, baseball wants to put replay into effect by August for home run disputes in hopes of fine-tuning the system by the playoffs.
MLB and the umpires’ union need to reach agreement before replay can be tried, and the sides have started talking. Previously, it was thought replay would get its first look in the Arizona Fall League and then the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
“The game needs it and I think it does need it soon,” Chicago Cubs pitcher Jon Lieber said Friday before a game at Toronto. “With technology the way it is today, there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be a part of the game.”
Jimmie Lee Solomon, MLB’s executive vice president for baseball operations, is pushing for replay by Aug. 1; Rob Manfred, MLB’s executive vice president of labor relations, suggested Aug. 15. (continued)
also from that article:
"Commissioner Bud Selig will ultimately decide when MLB wants to put replay in place. A staunch opponent in the past, a spate of missed boundary calls— fair or foul, over the fence or not—last month left Selig leaning toward its limited use."
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hiway29
I no like instant replay for baseball.
I found this an interesting stat about one of my favorite players. After hitting a game winning home run in Houston last night, I read that Jeter leads the world in interleague hits with 259.
Not exactly up there in impact with home runs, or rbi, but I was taken aback a bit with the realization that these interleague games have been around long enough to compile that many hits. That's a season and a half of hits for many good players.
My other current favorite players are spread out a little, starting with Torii Hunter, who I can't wait to see at Dodger Stadium in 2 weeks. I'll be getting down to Anaheim for a few games before the season's over, but this will be my first look at the Angels this year-who are doing quite well by the way.
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simonzelotes
I thought about instant replay a little bit, and the only way I could see it implemented is if they used it strictly to enforce ground rules...I guess it does make sense that an umpire cannot always get a good view of a ball landing 200 feet away from him---especially in these goofy designed stadiums where the ball bounces back on the field and he has to decide if it landed to the left or the right of a yellow line...But during the action, the ump would still have to make the call---if a guy thinks he hit a homer and trots around the bases and the outfielder thinks it's in play and they throw him out at third base then you could really have a fiasco on your hands...So the question then becomes, who makes the call for instant replay, the umps or one of the managers?...Do they penalize the manager who called for the replay if the ump got it right?...I am totally against instant replay for any on the field calls regarding out or safe calls, balls and strikes, interference, fair/foul calls,dropped third strikes, balks, runners tagging up or pitchers doctoring the ball...
Also, it was brought up here during last year's playoffs, about the home crowd not being shown on the big scoreboard screen replays of a controversial call that went against the home team...I believe there is an agreement between MLB. and the umpires union to not show replays of close calls on the big screens---to avert tumultuous crowds, I guess...
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mstar1
Im still unsure exactly what I think about, in one sense human error by umpires is part of the game, and it adds just that little extra uncertainty to things...which although maddening at times..is the way life and baseball work
On the other hand if they could do it unobtrusively ...say by having a 5th umpire watching replays in the press box and sending signals to the field umps it may be OK under certain restrictions.
Im with Simon in that it should be only used for certain predetermined plays-
--but I have a feeling if they do start using it, that it will open the floodgates and eventually (10-20-30 years) it will be used for everything...
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Rocky
Clearly, umps have been missing calls regarding home runs this season. This should help.
In terms of anything else, I'd have to agree with the "purists" for the most part... BUT...
This will evolve, depending on the experience with the system... AND let's not forget the problems now facing the NBA regarding the integrity of the referrees. I suspect that IR will eventually be used in every way or for every type of call for which it becomes feasible.
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hiway29
I made the huge mistake of reading some Yankee and Red Sox message boards over the weekend. Based on what I read, I could only conclude that Sox fans are as insufferable as they always accuse Yankee fans of being. Of course, people that spend time posting on message boards aren't always 'normal' (unlike all of us who post on this message board).
Sports fandom fascinates me. You'd think the fans accomplished something themselves the way they chide everyone else.Maybe it's one way of dealing with failures in their own lives that make them transfer the success of others as their own. (hey I WATCHED them play, and I ROOT for them, so I won).
The fights that break out(to say nothing of the deaths)due to rooting for a team nauseate me.
Big deal-the team you like just won a game. I really don't give a crap.
I know, I know. I'm missing the bigger picture, the identification, the community. I know all about it. I grew up as impassioned a fan as you will find. Somewhere along the line I put it in perspective , and I know I'll be sorry I wrote this after the responses come in, but I really got sick reading those message boards, and wondering what's wrong with those people?
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hiway29
Actually, I'm already sorry I posted it, but I won't delete it. Maybe I should find another interest.
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Rocky
Or perhaps just stop reading those other message boards? :blink:
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