all things baseball. if you swing that way
- Thread starter hoochmonkey9
- Start date
number6horse
okyoutwopixiesoutyougo
I think they'll both be respectable this year. The Brewers still have the Grienke/Gallardo/Markum trio in the rotation plus a good closer. Ricky Weeks, Ryan Braun etc., will keep things interesting as always. The Cards seem to show no signs of faltering despite losing LaRussa and Pujols. But, it's early.... baseball is full of surprises.
number6horse
okyoutwopixiesoutyougo
The 10 Most Expensive Beers In Baseball
I went to the Cards vs. Cubs game at Wrigley Field Tuesday night. My ticket was free, so I offered to buy the first round of beers for myself and two friends. It was $22.50 for two Beck's and a Red Stripe. The Beck's were both 16 oz. and I believe the Red Stripe was too. Kinda crazy but when the owners pay out huge salaries, the fans have to pony up too. Or stay home to watch it on TV and drink a case of beer for that kind of money.
But I think what will finally discourage me from going to Wrigley is all the "upgrades" that the new regime is adding. The worst, in my opinion, is the electronic scoreboard in right field that shows commercials between innings. I don't mind those things at Sox Park or Miller Field or any newer ballpark. And I get it that they produce much-needed revenue. But soon, Wrigley Field won't be what it used to be. And I may be a big crybaby for whining about it, but there it is.
I went to the Cards vs. Cubs game at Wrigley Field Tuesday night. My ticket was free, so I offered to buy the first round of beers for myself and two friends. It was $22.50 for two Beck's and a Red Stripe. The Beck's were both 16 oz. and I believe the Red Stripe was too. Kinda crazy but when the owners pay out huge salaries, the fans have to pony up too. Or stay home to watch it on TV and drink a case of beer for that kind of money.
But I think what will finally discourage me from going to Wrigley is all the "upgrades" that the new regime is adding. The worst, in my opinion, is the electronic scoreboard in right field that shows commercials between innings. I don't mind those things at Sox Park or Miller Field or any newer ballpark. And I get it that they produce much-needed revenue. But soon, Wrigley Field won't be what it used to be. And I may be a big crybaby for whining about it, but there it is.
mjp
Founding member
Shit, that's cheap beer. We went to see Cirque du Soleil Iris a few months ago, and a beer (one), a bottled water and a small fistful of popcorn was $22.50.
Great show though. If your baseball team sucks and you're looking for something to do, you might want to check it out.
Great show though. If your baseball team sucks and you're looking for something to do, you might want to check it out.
number6horse
okyoutwopixiesoutyougo
gbsupbowl - Yeah, the article mentioned similar circumstances in St. Louis. I suppose there is some kind of justification in their minds, though I would treat the beer price as a loss-leader, secondary to the naming rights. (Please note that I received my MBA degree from Phoenix University's Night School Program "...Now with Netscape Navigator !"
mjp - Sounds like Cirque du Soleil is worse than your average movie theatre. To me, the television promotions for their shows kind of discouraged me from wanting to see them live. Somehow, everything looked too "Vegas" or something. But I'm guessing that, like most theatrical productions, it really pops live and in-person. What about the music - live or pre-recorded ?
mjp - Sounds like Cirque du Soleil is worse than your average movie theatre. To me, the television promotions for their shows kind of discouraged me from wanting to see them live. Somehow, everything looked too "Vegas" or something. But I'm guessing that, like most theatrical productions, it really pops live and in-person. What about the music - live or pre-recorded ?
mjp
Founding member
Another strong contender for post of the year.
Cirque du Soleil is weird. I'm sure if I was judging it by a TV ad or seeing a clip somewhere I would never go, because it does look cheesy, doesn't it. It certainly doesn't look like my kind of entertainment.
But I kind of got hooked into them before I had a chance to form any misconceptions. When they first came to America they used to set up a tent in the parking lot at the Santa Monica pier. I lived in Venice and we would ride our bikes past the tent and one day we just stopped, locked up the bikes and bought tickets. And I have to say, those fuckers are pretty amazing.
In the years since I've seen every show that's come through Los Angeles or Long Beach (and a few in Las Vegas) and never been disappointed. Even though every show is a variation on the same general group of acrobatic stunts and over the top theatrics, they're all different enough to keep me coming back. All I can tell you is you've never seen anything quite like it, so it's worth a shot. Even if it looks like cheese from the outside, they will get to you somehow.
The music is all performed live. I figured at some point they would go to recorded music since they have a thousand shows running at any given moment, but they haven't. I don't think they could anyway, because if the performers miss a queue or fall or otherwise fuck up something, the musicians have to adapt to that and stretch out the section. Danny Elfman did the music for Iris (which was a strike against the show to me), but it still sounded like Cirque music to me. Iris may be the best Cirque show I've ever seen, and we avoided it for a long time because the theme (old Hollywood) looked corny. "What can they do around that? Bah." But I got a deal on some front row seats, so we went and it was, dare I say, incredible.
The least enjoyable Cirque show we've seen was the one I looked forward to the most; Love, the Beatles-themed show in Las Vegas. I wouldn't recommend that one to anyone, at least not as their fist taste of Cirque. But then again, I know a guy who has seen it three times and intends to see it again. So what do I know.
number6horse
okyoutwopixiesoutyougo
Every single team in the NL East is above .500 and every single team in the AL East is at or above .500
The solution is obvious.
Move Wrigley Field from Clark/Addison to 49th/Park Ave.
Do I have to think of everything ?
The solution is obvious.
Move Wrigley Field from Clark/Addison to 49th/Park Ave.
Do I have to think of everything ?
number6horse
okyoutwopixiesoutyougo
It's almost 3:00 in the morining and I still can't do better than "Dickey Beats Wang".
( Call me Jim Palmer
)
( Call me Jim Palmer
)
I was at Turner Field Friday night to watch the Braves retire the number 29 in honor of John Smoltz. I was fortunate enough to live about 30 miles outside of town growing up; my dad took me to a lot of games started by Maddux, Glavine, and Smoltz. It will be a bittersweet moment when Chipper's number is retired, the final chapter from one of baseball's all-time greatest line ups.
mjp
Founding member
I remember John Smoltz from the 1991 world series when and old man, Jack Morris, kicked his ass and shut out the Braves in game 7. Great series. For Minnesota fans.
Then, of course, things returned to their natural progression and Minnesota teams resumed their losing ways. '87 and '91 were fun flukes to witness though.
Then, of course, things returned to their natural progression and Minnesota teams resumed their losing ways. '87 and '91 were fun flukes to witness though.
In most postseason games, Smoltz was the one doing the ass kicking. But as I grow older I have learned to appreciate seeing a cunning old man edge out a young stud in sports. A lot of sports writers consider the 91 series to be one of the best ever, being on the losing side of it makes it hard to agree with.
It is a sin that the rotation we had in the 90s only brought the Braves one world series title. Still, that is one more championship than any other Atlanta team holds.
It is a sin that the rotation we had in the 90s only brought the Braves one world series title. Still, that is one more championship than any other Atlanta team holds.
number6horse
okyoutwopixiesoutyougo
That WAS a badass trio on the Atlanta pitching staff, as good or better than Palmer/McNally/Cuellar of the early 1970's Orioles.
Found this on great pitching trios of MLB history:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/296956-the-five-great-pitching-trios
mjp - That 1987 World Series was a little weird in a couple of ways. I remember a controversial call at first base, where Kent Hrbek somehow blocked the Cardinals' baserunner from touching the bag ? It looked like interference but the ump let it go or missed it altogether. And don't get me started with those giant exhaust fans in the dome that blew out during the Twins at-bats but magically changed direction during the St. Louis at-bats !
Found this on great pitching trios of MLB history:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/296956-the-five-great-pitching-trios
mjp - That 1987 World Series was a little weird in a couple of ways. I remember a controversial call at first base, where Kent Hrbek somehow blocked the Cardinals' baserunner from touching the bag ? It looked like interference but the ump let it go or missed it altogether. And don't get me started with those giant exhaust fans in the dome that blew out during the Twins at-bats but magically changed direction during the St. Louis at-bats !
Kent Hrbek preventing a runner from touching first? He very well may have done this to a Card during the 87 series, but I remember him throwing Ron Gant away from the base during the 91 series. They even commemorated the act with a bobblehead last year: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kent-Hrbek-...4?pt=US_Baseball_Fan_Shop&hash=item27c7e278fa
Are you an Orioles fan? I don't pay much attention to the AL, but I saw they were off to a brilliant start this year. I like the organization, hopefully they can keep it up.
Are you an Orioles fan? I don't pay much attention to the AL, but I saw they were off to a brilliant start this year. I like the organization, hopefully they can keep it up.
Don't forget Pat Dobson, he was the fourth 20-game winner on that staff in '71 (that was the only time he won 20).
mjp
Founding member
number6horse
okyoutwopixiesoutyougo
Pat Dobson later went on to become a pretty well-respected pitching coach for the O's (and some other teams I'm forgetting.) I remember reading a Baseball Weekly story on him in the early 90's praising his abilities as a scout also.
Jake - I'm a Cardinals fan but have fond memories of watching the Orioles on TV when I was a kid. Brooks Robinson fascinated me, the way he could anticipate where the ball would be hit. He would take a step or two - left or right - before the ball even reached home plate. Some of those O's World Series games were broadcast during the day and we had a very cool Principal who allowed us to watch the game at school - provided all classwork was caught up and no one was shooting spitwads at the teacher. Hooligans we were....
Jake - I'm a Cardinals fan but have fond memories of watching the Orioles on TV when I was a kid. Brooks Robinson fascinated me, the way he could anticipate where the ball would be hit. He would take a step or two - left or right - before the ball even reached home plate. Some of those O's World Series games were broadcast during the day and we had a very cool Principal who allowed us to watch the game at school - provided all classwork was caught up and no one was shooting spitwads at the teacher. Hooligans we were....
number6horse
okyoutwopixiesoutyougo
R. A. Dickey pitches tonight 0n ESPN against the Yankees. That crazy knuckleball of his has baffled some good-hitting teams this year - Cards and Nats among them. I'm interested to see what he does against the Yankees.
number6horse
okyoutwopixiesoutyougo
Well, he didn't get it done tonight - 5 ER on 5 H over 6 IP with 3 BB. The guy appears to have one quality I really admire in pitchers though, and it doesn't show up in the stats. He can maintain an absolute "poker face" throughout the course of the game. No histrionics on the mound and no dramatic body language, regardless of the situation. I wish pitchers were more like him and less like Jose Valverde of The Tigers.
I think a knuckleballer has to have a calm demeanor; if he lets things get to him he may grip the ball too hard, and if he grips the ball too hard, it may give rotation to the pitch. then the knuckleball isn't a knuckleball anymore, but a 78 mph fastball without movement. and we all know what happens to a 78 mph fastball with no movement? that's right, a souvenir for a fan in the upper deck.
a knuckleballer has to have a stoner/zen vibe, I always thought The Dude in The Big Lewbowski would have a good knuckleball, you know, if wearing a uniform and playing/working with a bunch of spoiled millionaires wasn't oppressive, man.
a knuckleballer has to have a stoner/zen vibe, I always thought The Dude in The Big Lewbowski would have a good knuckleball, you know, if wearing a uniform and playing/working with a bunch of spoiled millionaires wasn't oppressive, man.
Digney in Burnaby
donkeys live a long time
My knowledge of knuckleballs goes back to Jim Bouton's Ball Four. And ends about there (Tim Wakefield notwithstanding.) The documentary that is out now about R.A. Dickey and others looks interesting. Will see it if it makes it to a local theatre.
Sam had a one day mini camp today with ex major leaguers Scott Bullet, Kelly Gruber (it was his camp) and to my delight, Bill "Spaceman" Lee. My wife made me get a picture with him. I'm glad she did.
Did he spark one up right after that? Or did y'all go out for poutine with Mickey Rivers?
number6horse
okyoutwopixiesoutyougo
So the Cardinals return to Nationals Park tonight. The results were pretty sensational last time they played there (unless you're a certain Washington Nationals fan/writer from Nova Scotia). However this time around, they have a big ol' dumbass bullpen that likes to ruin things for the rest of the team. They're like five John Martins that swoop in and "edit" the works of other, more talented people. We shall see...
Anybody here ever read Roger Angell? He wrote some of the best baseball prose I've ever seen for New Yorker mag back in the day. He was born in 1920 and his last current stuff (that I read) came around 2004. I'm not sure if he's still living. He is a pleasure to read. Try his book The Summer Game. It reads as a book of short stories. You wont regret.