15-1

Was that the NYY farm team in a publicity stunt?

I have to agree - XM is the greatest invention since sliced bread for those of us that travel alot. I especially got used to it when traveling those long distances before and after basketball games. I never thought I would pay for radio, but it has been worth it, especially since they have some of the major college conferences in football and basketball, as well as the MLB. Now, I guess I'm not necessarily advocating XM over Sirius, because Sirius has NFL and NBA, I believe, so it's all what you like. But it's great having all those stations and not have to worry about losing them when travelling from one area to another.

I'm a new subscriber, but I'm really looking forward to the NCAA hoops coverage on my way home from college games at 11:30 pm.

Well, I nearly always watch my Pats on TV and I don't care to listen to out-of-town games. And I almost never listen to the NBA games. So the baseball package is perfect, I can listen to out-of-town games if I like the matchup.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jurassic Referee
JR, For the record, I'm a Braves fan. While I don't mind the long suffering Cubs, I merely report the facts on them unemotionally.

I heard that the Royals, with the worst record in baseball, actually swept a series this week. Wow. Who's bad enough to get swept by KC? :confused:

I think it has something to do with that "new math" - in other words: when is 48 million greater than 180 million? (Answer below.)

I was just glad to see San Diego pitching found a way to hold D. Lee down to just 3 hits, instead of the 5 he got at LA. Walk him twice instead of letting him hit. I also saw an interesting stat the other day; there have only been 4 major league players to lead in all three Triple Crown categories by June 1st since 1963. D. Lee is one of them. Now, I've been a Cub fan long enough to know it won't last. I would rather see his streak in Sept and Oct., rather than May and June.

(Answer: payroll)

Maybe not a full-time player, but he may start the All-Star Game!! Actually, I think there's about as much chance of that happening as there is of Nomar starting -- even though each of them currently leads his respective position in votes.

Since 1908?

I used to be a Cubs fan when I was a kid but then my parents found out and punished me so now I pull for the Cards.

Ouch.

No, it hasn't been THAT long. But, keep it up, and next time I see you I'm goin' to whack you with my cane!

This is the perfect example of why the world is going to he!! in a handbasket. If more people acted like the Cubs, the world would be a better place. After all, my parents were just like the Cubs - they didn't beat anybody.

What color is that cane? ;)
mick

I used to have one of them white, folding things that I take on the court with me, (when I don't bring my dog, of course), but in this part of the country, all they sell around here is orange!

(Which actually works out well when we're wondering around the streets at night...)

Sometimes I wonder what people on the streets at night are wondering. ???

Mr. Grammar Guy, you forgot the color enhancement.

Geez, give me a break, I'm just a poor, lowly, (obviously uneducated) Cub fan.

I wish I knew how to do the color thing or even how to add the icons.?????

Picture provided by one of M&M Guy's partners:
http://www.ncaauofficials.com/images/referee_blind.gif

What do you mean? I didn't even get around to pointing out the error. <font color = green>Somebody beat me to it. </font>

Wait - a Cub fan is going to teach a Cardinal fan something??? I will cherish this day forever... :D

Ok, anyway, I'm not entirely sure how to do the icons, but the color thing is based on HTML code, so I'm sure the icons are too. If you click on "Quote", you can see the extra stuff typed in to <FONT COLOR=RED>change the color,</FONT> and then change it back.

As far as adding pics and icons, I think it's just adding the page link to the site that has the pic, but that's still a little over my head yet. These new-fangled computer boxes can be sooooo intimidating at times.

Hey, that's not me.

My arms are longer, I think...

:D

These new-fangled computer boxes can be sooooo intimidating at times. [/B][/QUOTE]We don't expect too much from Cubbies' fans:
http://www.stopstart.btinternet.co.uk/nc/Crayon.gif

We don't expect too much from Cubbies' fans:
http://www.stopstart.btinternet.co.uk/nc/Crayon.gif [/B][/QUOTE]

I hope they like those jokes on the moon, Alice, cause that's where you're goin'! Bang...zoom!

JR - I figured I'd use a quote from your era.

:p

[QUOTE]Originally posted by M&M Guy

Quote:

Originally posted by Jurassic Referee Quote: Originally posted by M&M Guy I hope they like those jokes on the moon, Alice, cause that's where you're goin'! Bang...zoom! JR - I figured I'd use a quote from your era. :p

http://www.fiftiesweb.com/honeymooner-pic-884.jpg
I have wondered about Ralph Kramden's anger management and abuse issues.
mick

M&M guy's house:

http://www.jokes123.com/hotjokes/hot...r_computer.jpg

NL East
 

Does anybody follow this division? It's pretty remarkable. Two months, almost 60 games into the season, and the whole division is separated by a game and a half. And every team is over .500! GO NATS!!!

Washington 31 26 .544 -
Atlanta 30 26 .536 .5
Philadelphia 30 27 .526 1
NY Mets 30 27 .526 1
Florida 28 26 .519 1.5

What's amazing is that last week Florida was in first and now they are in last.

In an NL east note: Smoltz throws 4+ innings of perfect baseball today and ends up with the loss when Erstad runs over his catcher.

Re: NL East
 

Caught the tail end of a local sports cast (DC area) and there was something about this being the first time since 1933(?) that a Washington baseball club was in 1st. place this early in the season -- or something to that effect.

Re: Re: NL East
 

I'm guessing it's the first time they've lead the league this late in the season.

Hey, anybody seen the Red Sox/Cubs score?

:D

I heard there was a boatload of people coming in from New England ready to pay up to $2,500 a ticket. Hope it was worth it...

First time that they've played each other since 1918.

How'd that one turn out anyway?

It was close: 14-6. And the only reason it was that close because the Red Sox hit 2 out in the top of the 9th.

Hey, I probably could've done the plate that game! :D

I knew the Cubsters won today. I watched the game on tv. I was wondering how the one in 1918 turned out.

I'm not sure; I must've been napping that day.

So rocky,

Just how good are those Nationals? Tough visit to RFK, huh?

Ask the Angels. Snapped the Nationals' winning streak last night 11 -1 .

They're still on top of the NL East, though.

I definately want Boston to make the playoffs, but if they don't, at least the Nats could be some small consolation.

:eek:

Boston 42 30 .583
Baltimore 42 31 .575 .5
NY Yankees 37 36 .507 5.5
Toronto 37 37 .500 6
Tampa Bay 26 48 .351 17

Yanks drop 3 of 4 to Sweet Lou at home?!?!

baseball is not for taking naps! baseball is an awesome sport if u knew how to play it! and why r we talking about baseball on a basketball page? just wondering....

Did you wake up "cranky" from your nap? We always have an annual baseball thread on this basketball site. The title told you it was "off-topic".

yes i do wake up cranky but not when i write these

Ashley,
To paraphrase Samuel Johnson (I think). It is better to be quiet and thought a fool than to open ones mouth and remove all doubt.

So, JR - are they going to let you out of Shady Hills Rest Home long enough to go down to Tampa today to help George shake things up?

Wood will be back for my Cubbies tomorrow; in fact my family's had tickets for this game for a while, so I'll get to see it in person. Hopefully he'll do as well as Prior did on his return.

Now, I've got to get back to my hunting.

Here, goat...here goatie...here goatie...

Hell, you got a better chance of finding a virgin in Chicago as finding a goat. The goat is usually better looking too. Sacrifice a coach instead. Hell, sacrifice a couple of 'em- just on general principles.

Wood comes off IL tomorrow,eh? And goes back on around Friday? That's the usual <i>modus operandi</i>, isn't it? :D

Yup, I watched Prior. He was awesome. He'll be awesome for another start and a half too until he hurts his poor widdle arm again. Know what? They should turn him into a closer.

1908.

PS: Note that I never mentioned the Yankees. At my age those little veins inside the head blow out awful easily.

<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008_ZNxmk311YYUS' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_1_4.gif' alt='Crying 2' border=0></a>

I asked this in the Summer Tournament thread, but it's likely that one will get yanked before long, so I'll ask again here. What happened in MLB 100 years ago today, June 29, 1905? (Hint: It was not recognized as significant until more than 80 years later.)

Something about Moonlight Graham's only MLB game. He was forgotten until the movie "Field of Dreams."

Moonlight Graham's only ML game.

80 yrs later Kevin Costner's boring movie gave him an additional 5 minutes of fame.

What!? Boring movie? If the action isn't up to Jackie Chan and Steven Segal standards, then it's boring? Haven't you thrown away that bong and gone to your AA meeting yet? (Oops, I hate it when I keep mixing up my threads...) :D

I thought it was a pretty good movie, but predictable in the way it does the heartstring tugging. But still a good movie to watch with your son (or dad). I guess I didn't know Moonlight Graham was an actual person; I thought he was just a character added to the story, just like Kevin Costner's dad. It's amazing how much you can learn listening to announcers, like the ones doing the ESPN game last night. ;)

I thought it was a pretty good movie, but predictable in the way it does the heartstring tugging.

[/B][/QUOTE]The last good "heartstring tugging" movie was Bambi. I defy anybody to look me in the eye and tell me they didn't tear up when Bambi's mother died.

Whoops! Forgot ET. The part where ET's light when out and little whatsisname thought he was toast. That was a good 'un too.

Sadly, I lost my bong the last time the cops chased us out of the park a few years after Moonlight Graham's ML appearance. Too bad, it was a nice one. As for AA, I quit that when they told me that I couldn't put a shot of whisley into my coffe at the meeting. I mean really, who doesn't like Irish coffee??

Anywho...what bothered me the most about that damn movie is that suddenly everyone thought they were so clever when they said "Build it and they will come". :rolleyes:

Bambi's mother is dead????!!!

Geeze, I didn't even know she was sick...

Bambi? That movie's so old; wasn't it in black and white? Didn't Charlie Chaplin have a cameo in it?

As far as heartstring tugging, don't forget to add The Wizard of Oz. After all, "There's no place like home." (Especially after a tough camp.)

But let's keep this off-topic thread on-topic. Woodie looked great yesterday. But the family and I got a chance to sit in once-in-a-lifetime (for me) seats at Wrigley - 3rd row behind home plate. It was awesome. Sunny, warm day, cool breeze off Lake Michigan, full stands, bottom of the ninth heroics, etc. But, I don't care how much you watch the game on TV, or even see it live from the upper deck, the seats we had really showed the perspective and speed of major league pitching. Hitting a jump shot with hand in your face is nothing compared to hitting a baseball.

(1) I read a book by somebody(forgotten who) that talked about all the behind-the-scene stuff that happened during the making of the "Wizard of Oz". The biggest problems, by far, that they had during filming was with the Munchkins. Apparently the l'il fellers were half-pissed most of the time, and all they wanted to do all day was drink and try to boink the Wicked Witch of the West. True story. Of course, I must say Chuck was not amongst the bad ones though- he was a model of proper deportment throughout all the filming.

(2) Shoulda gone to Wrigley today. Milwaukee is currently kicking the snot outa them. And btw......Woods just went back on the DL. :D

(1) I read a book by somebody(forgotten who) that talked about all the behind-the-scene stuff that happened during the making of the "Wizard of Oz". The biggest problems, by far, that they had during filming was with the Munchkins. Apparently the l'il fellers were half-pissed most of the time, and all they wanted to do all day was drink and try to boink the Wicked Witch of the West. True story. Of course, I must say Chuck was not amongst the bad ones though- he was a model of proper deportment throughout all the filming.

(2) Shoulda gone to Wrigley today. Milwaukee is currently kicking the snot outa them. And btw......Woods just went back on the DL. :D [/B][/QUOTE]

(1) Good to hear Chuck was above board. Especially since I've heard it's difficult for him to be above much of anything...

(2) :eek: Hopefully it's just the 3-day DL this time. Sigh...

MICK
 

It's OK to gloat. We won't think any the less of you.

Enjoy.

About what?
 

DETROIT — On the same day the Detroit Tigers named Kirk Gibson hitting coach, Magglio Ordonez homered in his return to the lineup.

Detroit rip the New York Yankees 10-2.

New York 39 39 .500
Detroit 37 39 .487

Lookin' for .500 :eek:
mick

Just trying to keep talking baseball here. A couple nights ago, my man Manny hit the 20th grand slam of his career. He's now in second place all time behind Lou Gehrig, who had 23. A lot was made of it on the overnight radio talk shows and I think it was mentioned on SportsCenter. I'm not trying to toot Manny's horn. I'm just curious if anybody really thinks that this is a real big deal.

I mean did anybody even know what the record was or who holds it? I didn't. Is there some particular skill required to amass 23 grand slams? Or is it just a matter of being a pure power hitter and getting enough ABs with the bases loaded?

Is this a big deal to anybody? It doesn't strike me as that big a deal, to be honest. But everybody talked about it so much, I thought I'd throw it out there.

Chuck,
Every grand slam is a big deal, from sandlot to MLB.
Approaching a record turbo-boosts the act.
Gehrig 1st, Manny (what-ever-his-name-is) 2nd? Yeah, Big Deal!!

Why?

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/imag...reamsmann2.JPG

"The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball." - James Earl Jones, American Rhetoric: Movie Speech, "Field of Dreams" (1989)


mick

Don't get me wrong - it's a great stat, and it certainly indicates that you've been around a while (with all the at bats needed to get one with bases loaded) and that you're a great HR hitter, but this is definately a team-oriented stat, not 100% individual achievement.

Man, one good game and you think it's a trend.

Keep that up and people will mistake you for a Cubs fan. ;)

Oh yea, by the way, speaking of trends - that's 4 straight starts for Prior without going on the DL - that sounds like a trend to me!

Hooolly cowwww, I've just spent waaaay to much time to get to this last page! 11 pages, is this a record or what? Who cares about the sCrUBS any who.

The record was last year's annual thread, iirw. 20+ pages. Beat the year-before-that's thread by a coupla pages. The BoSox actually winning something put a lot of the usual posters into terminal shock; they haven't recovered yet.

As for the Cubbies?

Bwahahahahahhaha..........

1908.

I thought that this kid was the Red Sox fan club mascot before last year. What will they whine about now??? ;)

16 hours later - right back at ya!

Just when you think it's safe to go outside......

Lah me!

Boston pounds the Yanks, 17-1. This exact score for the second time this summer! Sweet.

Thursday was a pretty good game (even with the Sox losing), last night wasn't pretty to watch (although I did enjoy the score!), I'm looking forward to this afternoon's game - Johnson @ Clement.

Yeah, but the real question is why the Red Sox were playing the Columbus Yankees. Who the heck did Torre have out there last night?

Well, we got 4 starters injured, most of the bullpen are rejects from other teams and the farm system is a complete joke. Other than that, no problem.......

Also not counting the fact that our jewel of a new defensive center fielder hasn't learned to catch routine fly balls yet either.....

Yup, we got problems. Major problems.

Know what? Tough to whine to you BoSox fans though. Your pitching staff has had major problems too this year and you're fighting your way through it.

Just for the record, my 15-year-old son was at the Mariners' game last night and got to witness the Palmiero hit, or hr or whatever it was. He called when he was on the way home and I asked who won, and he said, "The Not-Mariners". So then I asked about Palmiero, and he said, "Yup he got it. It was pretty cool." That's saying a lot for my son, who's usually like that kid in the Zits comic strip. So it must have been a neat thing to watch.

To clarify "the record," Rafael Palmiero plays for the Baltimore Orioles, and last night he got his 3,000th hit. To put it in perspective for those of you who aren't big on baseball, Palmiero is only the 26th player in the history of baseball to get that many hits iin the course of his career.

What makes it Palmiero's accomplishment even more amazing is that he is one of only four men to have 3,000 career hits and 500 career home runs. The other three? Just a few no-names - Eddie Murray, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron.

As to the conversation, cherish every word you get at that age - particularly if your son is like Jeremy!

Thanks for clarifying about Palmiero. I knew it was a big deal, just not which big deal it was.

About the conversation, he's pretty quiet, although he does open up to me once in a while -- as long as the subject isn't too close to the heart, or isn't likely to land him in hot water.

Just toying with 'em.....

http://www.feebleminds-gifs.com/b4.gif

[Edited by Jurassic Referee on Jul 17th, 2005 at 08:59 PM]

Yea, right.

You were tryin' to figure out how many different words you could use for Rivera instead of "bum". You had to re-type three times because the sweat was makin' your keys slippery. But, as Cardinal fans are soooooo willing to point out to us: "What place y'all in?"

:D

But, as Cardinal fans are soooooo willing to point out to us: "What place y'all in?"

[/B][/QUOTE]Um, we'alls would be in first place........

And in other news tonight......

- the Cubbies win....the Cubbies win....the Cubbies win.....

The Cubs now close to 13 games behind the Cards.

It is expected that the Cubbies will catch up, win the NLCS and NL championships, followed by a World Series victory when...
http://www.sodamnfunny.com/Animation/Gif/pig2.gif

All is right in the AL east. Yankees in 1st. and Red Sox tied for 2nd.

Um, we'alls would be in first place........

And in other news tonight......

- the Cubbies win....the Cubbies win....the Cubbies win.....

The Cubs now close to 13 games behind the Cards.

It is expected that the Cubbies will catch up, win the NLCS and NL championships, followed by a World Series victory when...
http://www.sodamnfunny.com/Animation/Gif/pig2.gif
[/B][/QUOTE]

Hey, we aren't goin' for those useless division championships. (How did the Yankees' and Cardinals' championships turn out last year, by the way?) In fact, the wild card is the place to be, baby! I believe the last three World Series winners have been wild cards. So, that only puts the Cubbies 5 games out. With a full pitching staff, no less. Well, at least for now. And after watching that celebrated Yankee pitching staff last night, it's clear what George is planning: spend a few days in first to please the tough NY crowd, then go all out for that wild card race...

Hey, we aren't goin' for those useless division championships. (How did the Yankees' and Cardinals' championships turn out last year, by the way?) In fact, the wild card is the place to be, baby! I believe the last three World Series winners have been wild cards. So, that only puts the Cubbies 5 games out. With a full pitching staff, no less. Well, at least for now. And after watching that celebrated Yankee pitching staff last night, it's clear what George is planning: spend a few days in first to please the tough NY crowd, then go all out for that wild card race... [/B][/QUOTE]

When was the last time the Cubs were in first place -- for any reason.

Oh, yea?

You mean like 2003, when they won the Central? (But then lost to the wild-card Marlins - damn goat!) How about 1989? 1984? Ok, so some people on this board weren't even born then, so let's stick to this year. The Cubs are currently in first in team slugging %, total bases, and days starting pitchers have spent on the DL. (Ok, I'm not sure of that one; it just seems that way.) And, they were tied for first in the division as late as April 4th this year.

So, there!

:D

The Cubs are due?

If the Cubs were expectant mothers, they'd now be about 96 years past their due date.

The Cubs are due?

If the Cubs were expectant mothers, they'd now be about 96 years past their due date. [/B][/QUOTE]

But, oh man, can you just picture that baby?

(Oops, giving birth to something 96 years old? Never mind.)

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jurassic Referee
Um, we'alls would be in first place........ Um, not for long, eh?

And in other news tonight......

- the Cubbies win....the Cubbies win....the Cubbies win..... Yet again.

The Cubs now close to 13 games behind the Cards.That would be close to 12 now.

It is expected that the Cubbies will catch up, win the NLCS and NL championships, followed by a World Series victory when...
http://www.sodamnfunny.com/Animation/Gif/pig2.gif Damn, at least you're right about one thing.

http://www.smiling-faces.com/smilies/tombstone.gif

<b>Kerry Wood</b>

Sigh...

If this keeps up, the Cubbies may use as many different starting pitchers as the Yankees.

So, how's that "first place" thing going? ;)

Being a Cubs fan makes me seasick. Win 7 in a row, lose 7 in a row. It would make me pull my hair out if I could spare any. As far as Wood's shoulder, at least I'll probably get a chance to see him at AAA Iowa for another rehab start for $10 a seat. By the way, I didn't really have anything interesting to add to this discussion, but I haven't posted in a while and had posted on the previous 3 threads and had to keep my streak alive. I'm almost as bad as the Cubs...don't post for months, post on every thread.

The Cubbies gonna be holding spring training in Iowa next year?

That oughta be about the time when Woods is ready to make his rehab start. :D

Hey, JR, by the way - there's this thing us Cub fans lovingly refer to as, "the ex-Cub factor". The curse not only affects the team, but also in a small way affects teams with ex-Cub players. And, the Cubs did get rid of "Flash" Gordon for a reason. ;)

Hey Junker, M&M,

What do you guys think about Mike Wilbon's proposal for turning Wood into a closer? Fewer innings, less stress on the arm. . .

I'm not sure if he was the first one to bring that up; I saw it mentioned in a couple of Chicago papers as well. But I've heard the GM, Jim Hendrey, pooh-pooh this idea, at least for now. He said Kerry is much more valuable as a starter, and when he's healthy, that's true. The key words: "when he's healthy". Also, as a closer, it's true there's fewer innings per game, but he might come into 3 or 4 games in that same stretch of time. Add in the warm-ups needed before each appearance, and I'm not sure it really would be less stress on the shoulder. Just different stress.

But, it's still an intriguing thought.

The Cubs ain't the only team that got rid of Flash for a reason so far in his career.

Funny guy. He's either untouchable or he can't get anybody out. There doesn't seem to be a middle ground with him sometimes. I still think that he's a handy guy to have around though. He can "hold" for you in the 8th or close for you in the 9th, if necessary.

Relief pitching seems to generally suck this year right throughout both leagues. Everybody seems to be having bullpen problems. I read somewhere that a prominent(un-named naturally) major league manager said that crappy relief pitching was the major consequence of the Balco steroid mess. According to him, the percentage of pitchers on 'roids in the past was much higher than position players, and that relief pitchers more than starters used them. The increased testing this year, supposedly, has really affected the bullpens more than anywhere else.

Thoughts?

Btw, I was a Steve Stone fan.

I'd heard this theory when the testing was first proposed, and honestly, I dismissed it out of hand. But I've heard more and more people saying that pitchers use the steroids, not to build strength, but to recover from the damage of the previous night's work. It does seem to make sense, and there do seem to be a lot of relievers whose performance has dropped significantly.

Has it affected pitching more than hitting? Hard to say, but my favorite stat of the testing-era is that home runs per game this season is at the lowest level since 1995, which is the first year of the big home run boom.

That's exactly what Nameless Manager said, Chuck.

From everything I've read, it makes perfect sense that pitchers especially could get caught up in steroid use. I think the average person might think you take steroids, and your muscles grow bigger. That's not the way they work - they actually help your muscles heal faster, so you can work out more often and get stronger, quicker. In the case of pitchers, just quickening the healing process after an outing of throwing breaking balls would be a great help. And certainly that's Gordon's specialty - the slider. But, he was that way with the Cubs as well; either untouchable or very touchable. (Huh?... :eek: ) So, can someone give Victor Conti's business card to Kerry Wood, please? ;)

Btw, I'm also a big Steve Stone fan. I've heard him on some of the regional Fox weekend games; does anyone know if he's working full-time somewhere? I hope he gets the chance at some point to be a GM somewhere; after all, if Bob Brenly can go from the broadcast booth to manager, surely Steve can get that same chance?

.500
 

Tigers:
2 of 3 from White Sox and 3 of 5 from Twins.
Cool!

Your big problem, mick, is the A's -- who are on fire and suddenly tied for the wild card. The Tigers are only 4 out of the wild card, which sounds good until you realize that there are 5 teams ahead of them. (Sounds like the NL East!) I think it's great, tho. Good for the fans to be hopeful, for a change.

Chuck,
If that's my *big problem*, then life is a cinch. :)

The Tigers seem to be doing better since Trammell kicked Gibson off as bench manager and made him the hitting coach.
mick