Baseball Cave

[shaitan]

I can.............

Am I the only Yankees fan on this board?! Oh well, I shall overcome. Better days are ahead of us, or so I want to believe. I just hope, that Yanks stop pissing away talented minor leaguers in half-assed deals and rebuild the team instead (Brandon Weeden doesn't count - he wasn't much of a pitcher and he sucks as a football player. Even Cowgirls had to get rid of him eventually).
I have a very conflicting feeling about you though - can't leave a fellow Giants sufferer to fend for himself against evil Cowgirls and Jets fans, but then I have to endure all that sh!t talk from you as well as other resident Suxs fans. Gotta do something about that. Also, I'll need to split my stock of paper bags and leave some to cover my Yankees face after a game like yesterday.

 

[Out of Order]

Am I the only Yankees fan on this board?! Oh well, I shall overcome. Better days are ahead of us, or so I want to believe. I just hope, that Yanks stop pissing away talented minor leaguers in half-assed deals and rebuild the team instead (Brandon Weeden doesn't count - he wasn't much of a pitcher and he sucks as a football player. Even Cowgirls had to get rid of him eventually).
I have a very conflicting feeling about you though - can't leave a fellow Giants sufferer to fend for himself against evil Cowgirls and Jets fans, but then I have to endure all that sh!t talk from you as well as other resident Suxs fans. Gotta do something about that. Also, I'll need to split my stock of paper bags and leave some to cover my Yankees face after a game like yesterday.

I'm a bit of an odd duck I guess. Was born in Worcester and my Grandparents lived in Framingham while we lived in NJ. Grandpa used to take me and my brother to Fenway during summer breaks from school. Hence, I'm a Sox fan. My Dad used to take us to Yankee and Mets games, but not until I was firmly entrenched as a Sox fan. Actually liked the Mets better than the Yanks back then, I've got a story about the 69 team I'll have to share at some point. Anyway, my Father used to take us to Giants games as well. Hence, a Giants fan. Never had been to a Pats game until I moved up here and only a handful of Jets games as well.

 

[shaitan]

I'm a bit of an odd duck I guess. Was born in Worcester and my Grandparents lived in Framingham while we lived in NJ. Grandpa used to take me and my brother to Fenway during summer breaks from school. Hence, I'm a Sox fan. My Dad used to take us to Yankee and Mets games, but not until I was firmly entrenched as a Sox fan. Actually liked the Mets better than the Yanks back then, I've got a story about the 69 team I'll have to share at some point. Anyway, my Father used to take us to Giants games as well. Hence, a Giants fan. Never had been to a Pats game until I moved up here and only a handful of Jets games as well.

The most common combination here is Jets/Mets or Giants/Yankees, but I've seen a fair share of confused fans. One of my coworkers is a Yankees/Cowboys fan, but other than that, he's a very nice fellow.

 

[DiO'Bolic]

Am I the only Yankees fan on this board?! Oh well, I shall overcome. Better days are ahead of us, or so I want to believe. I just hope, that Yanks stop pissing away talented minor leaguers in half-assed deals and rebuild the team instead (Brandon Weeden doesn't count - he wasn't much of a pitcher and he sucks as a football player. Even Cowgirls had to get rid of him eventually).
I have a very conflicting feeling about you though - can't leave a fellow Giants sufferer to fend for himself against evil Cowgirls and Jets fans, but then I have to endure all that sh!t talk from you as well as other resident Suxs fans. Gotta do something about that. Also, I'll need to split my stock of paper bags and leave some to cover my Yankees face after a game like yesterday.

I’m a Phillies fan (was even a bat boy as a kid during some of their practice sessions). But after them I root for any team in a game that my uncle played for (Dodgers, Athletics, Indians, Twins and Yankees). Does that count?

And what’s up with Jets fans other than we’re inherent masochists?

 

[shaitan]

I’m a Phillies fan (was even a bat boy as a kid during some of their practice sessions). But after them I root for any team in a game that my uncle played for (Dodgers, Athletics, Indians, Twins and Yankees). Does that count?

And what’s up with Jets fans other than we’re inherent masochists?

Well, just that.

 

[shaitan]

I’m a Phillies fan (was even a bat boy as a kid during some of their practice sessions). But after them I root for any team in a game that my uncle played for (Dodgers, Athletics, Indians, Twins and Yankees). Does that count?

And what’s up with Jets fans other than we’re inherent masochists?

Have you read "Ball Four" by any chance? Any interesting baseball anecdotes from his playing days?

 

[swiftdog2.0]

Am I the only Yankees fan on this board?! Oh well, I shall overcome. Better days are ahead of us, or so I want to believe. I just hope, that Yanks stop pissing away talented minor leaguers in half-assed deals and rebuild the team instead (Brandon Weeden doesn't count - he wasn't much of a pitcher and he sucks as a football player. Even Cowgirls had to get rid of him eventually).
I have a very conflicting feeling about you though - can't leave a fellow Giants sufferer to fend for himself against evil Cowgirls and Jets fans, but then I have to endure all that sh!t talk from you as well as other resident Suxs fans. Gotta do something about that. Also, I'll need to split my stock of paper bags and leave some to cover my Yankees face after a game like yesterday.

The Evil Empire actually did a fairly good job of restocking their farm system with the Miller and Chapman trades. They got quality prospects back in return. Additionally, I expect Chapman to be back there as a free agent next year. Getting ARod and Texiera (both players I am so glad did not ultimately end up in Boston) off the team will help as well. It will allow them to get younger and be more competitive. Although, they are stuck with that stinker of a deal they gave to Ellsbury. You know, the guy who's arm is weaker than a wet paper towel holding a bowling ball? He's not the player he was in Boston. He's always been injury prone and never could throw. All reasons why Boston would not go more than 4 years in their offers to him. Unfortunately for NY (but good for the rest of the AL), he's slowed down and doesn't hit that well anymore.

One should never feel bad for the Yankees. They have the financial resources to correct almost any problem. The Red Sox do as well but even they can't outspend the Empire.

 

[Out of Order]

You want the Sox to give Papelbon another go, swift?

 

[swiftdog2.0]

You want the Sox to give Papelbon another go, swift?

I'm conflicted. When he was younger Pap was the best closer in the game at times. Age has not been kind to him. He might do OK in a set up role. Something we desperately need with Koji out. Not sure if he's a good fit personality wise with the younger guys we have now. Also, you'd have to wonder what it would do to Kimbrel. His saves can be frightening enough as it is. If Pap going there causes him to doubt his role God help us.

 

[Out of Order]

I'm conflicted. When he was younger Pap was the best closer in the game at times. Age has not been kind to him. He might do OK in a set up role. Something we desperately need with Koji out. Not sure if he's a good fit personality wise with the younger guys we have now. Also, you'd have to wonder what it would do to Kimbrel. His saves can be frightening enough as it is. If Pap going there causes him to doubt his role God help us.

Pretty much the way I feel. Would be pretty cool to see the fans' reaction, but you wonder what the guy has left in the tank. Kimbrel has been scary though hasn't he? Certainly came back fast from that knee he had. At least they are still in it. Love September ball when your team is there.

 

[DiO'Bolic]

Have you read "Ball Four" by any chance? Any interesting baseball anecdotes from his playing days?

Haven't read it.

Yeah, a couple from his playing days that he told me. I'll relate the warning track and Ted Williams ones when I have a little more time. And funnyman Bob Uecker, when he played for the Phillies, gave me a nickname that I absolutely hated, which lasted for several years. There also is one I'm not permitted to relate, but if you look at the controversy that surrounds his playing years, you can figure it out. That's all I'm saying. They can't change the history books this late in the game, I figure.

 

[shaitan]

The Evil Empire actually did a fairly good job of restocking their farm system with the Miller and Chapman trades. They got quality prospects back in return. Additionally, I expect Chapman to be back there as a free agent next year. Getting ARod and Texiera (both players I am so glad did not ultimately end up in Boston) off the team will help as well. It will allow them to get younger and be more competitive. Although, they are stuck with that stinker of a deal they gave to Ellsbury. You know, the guy who's arm is weaker than a wet paper towel holding a bowling ball? He's not the player he was in Boston. He's always been injury prone and never could throw. All reasons why Boston would not go more than 4 years in their offers to him. Unfortunately for NY (but good for the rest of the AL), he's slowed down and doesn't hit that well anymore.

One should never feel bad for the Yankees. They have the financial resources to correct almost any problem. The Red Sox do as well but even they can't outspend the Empire.

Tex looked good on paper at first until he started breaking down. A-Roid's extension deal I could never understand. Miller/Chapman deals - finally someone is thinking with their head and understands the importance of developing talent.

 

[swiftdog2.0]

Pretty much the way I feel. Would be pretty cool to see the fans' reaction, but you wonder what the guy has left in the tank. Kimbrel has been scary though hasn't he? Certainly came back fast from that knee he had. At least they are still in it. Love September ball when your team is there.

Kimbrel has been responsible for a spike in my blood pressure for sure! He's in love with that breaking ball and will keep going to it even when guys lay off it or he can't get it over for strikes. On the flip side, last night's save was easy piezy. Frustrating. Good if you like late inning drama I guess!

 

[GNTLGNT]

Haven't read it.

Yeah, a couple from his playing days that he told me. I'll relate the warning track and Ted Williams ones when I have a little more time. And funnyman Bob Uecker, when he played for the Phillies, gave me a nickname that I absolutely hated, which lasted for several years. There also is one I'm not permitted to relate, but if you look at the controversy that surrounds his playing years, you can figure it out. That's all I'm saying. They can't change the history books this late in the game, I figure.

....'splain please....you like famous err summpin'?...

 

[AnnaMarie]

VIDEO: Josh Donaldson's Tom Ford Cologne Commercial | Blue Jay Hunter

For anyone who doesn't know what that video is about. First, this happened.

Video: Josh Donaldson got mad – HardballTalk

Then reports asked Gibbons what happened. (I'm pretty sure his first response was that it wasn't anyone's business. Lol.)

Donaldson, on the other hand, said that Gibby wanted to get a good wiff of his cologne.

 

[Bardo]

Going to see my cubbies tonight taking on the Padres!!

 

[DiO'Bolic]

....'splain please....you like famous err summpin'?...

Sorry, didn’t see this post until today.

Me famous... No way! On occasion, when my uncle would take me to a Phillies practice (he was a scout and spring training coach at the time) and they would let me be a bat boy. Uecker played for them at the time. I was a skinny kid. He called me ‘spaghetti muscles’ and the nickname stuck. I hated it.

Re the Warning Track. History books list Yankee Stadium as having the first warning track, but that is because it had a running track in it for track and field events. The story my uncle (baseball nickname was ‘Wall Crusher’) told me was he was lying in a hospital bed after injuring himself crashing into the wall chasing a fly ball. In the ward were a couple other Athletics outfielders, in for the same reason. The owner, Connie Mack, came the hospital to visit his players. Mack often had financial difficulties and was known as the biggest skinflint in baseball. He and my uncle got to talking and my uncle mused that if there was some way to alter the players they were getting so close to the wall, maybe there wouldn’t be so many high-priced players in the hospital ward and out of commission. Mack got to thinking about it and decided the cheapest way to do something like this was to instruct his groundskeepers to cut out a section of grass next to the wall, which he did.

My uncle and Ted Williams were good friends during their careers. But he always considered Williams to be his arch-enemy on the field. He said one of the reasons Williams got so many hits, and extra bases, was because when he hit the ball he put something special on his line drives. You never knew which way the ball would go when it took that bounce. One game, with Williams’ first two at-bats he hit line drives to my uncle. They both bounced weird and Ted got extra bases out of them. The third time Williams came up to bat he motioned to my uncle and gave him a great big smile. My uncle knew the ball was coming his way again. Sure enough it did. But this time my uncle was bound and determined not to allow Ted to get extra bases. My uncle didn’t even attempt to field the grounder. He just threw his body into the ball to stop it so Williams would only get a single out of it.

 

[GNTLGNT]

Sorry, didn’t see this post until today.

Me famous... No way! On occasion, when my uncle would take me to a Phillies practice (he was a scout and spring training coach at the time) and they would let me be a bat boy. Uecker played for them at the time. I was a skinny kid. He called me ‘spaghetti muscles’ and the nickname stuck. I hated it.

Re the Warning Track. History books list Yankee Stadium as having the first warning track, but that is because it had a running track in it for track and field events. The story my uncle (baseball nickname was ‘Wall Crusher’) told me was he was lying in a hospital bed after injuring himself crashing into the wall chasing a fly ball. In the ward were a couple other Athletics outfielders, in for the same reason. The owner, Connie Mack, came the hospital to visit his players. Mack often had financial difficulties and was known as the biggest skinflint in baseball. He and my uncle got to talking and my uncle mused that if there was some way to alter the players they were getting so close to the wall, maybe there wouldn’t be so many high-priced players in the hospital ward and out of commission. Mack got to thinking about it and decided the cheapest way to do something like this was to instruct his groundskeepers to cut out a section of grass next to the wall, which he did.

My uncle and Ted Williams were good friends during their careers. But he always considered Williams to be his arch-enemy on the field. He said one of the reasons Williams got so many hits, and extra bases, was because when he hit the ball he put something special on his line drives. You never knew which way the ball would go when it took that bounce. One game, with Williams’ first two at-bats he hit line drives to my uncle. They both bounced weird and Ted got extra bases out of them. The third time Williams came up to bat he motioned to my uncle and gave him a great big smile. My uncle knew the ball was coming his way again. Sure enough it did. But this time my uncle was bound and determined not to allow Ted to get extra bases. My uncle didn’t even attempt to field the grounder. He just threw his body into the ball to stop it so Williams would only get a single out of it.

....wow!...great memories and I appreciate you sharing....

 

[swiftdog2.0]

Sorry, didn’t see this post until today.

Me famous... No way! On occasion, when my uncle would take me to a Phillies practice (he was a scout and spring training coach at the time) and they would let me be a bat boy. Uecker played for them at the time. I was a skinny kid. He called me ‘spaghetti muscles’ and the nickname stuck. I hated it.

Re the Warning Track. History books list Yankee Stadium as having the first warning track, but that is because it had a running track in it for track and field events. The story my uncle (baseball nickname was ‘Wall Crusher’) told me was he was lying in a hospital bed after injuring himself crashing into the wall chasing a fly ball. In the ward were a couple other Athletics outfielders, in for the same reason. The owner, Connie Mack, came the hospital to visit his players. Mack often had financial difficulties and was known as the biggest skinflint in baseball. He and my uncle got to talking and my uncle mused that if there was some way to alter the players they were getting so close to the wall, maybe there wouldn’t be so many high-priced players in the hospital ward and out of commission. Mack got to thinking about it and decided the cheapest way to do something like this was to instruct his groundskeepers to cut out a section of grass next to the wall, which he did.

My uncle and Ted Williams were good friends during their careers. But he always considered Williams to be his arch-enemy on the field. He said one of the reasons Williams got so many hits, and extra bases, was because when he hit the ball he put something special on his line drives. You never knew which way the ball would go when it took that bounce. One game, with Williams’ first two at-bats he hit line drives to my uncle. They both bounced weird and Ted got extra bases out of them. The third time Williams came up to bat he motioned to my uncle and gave him a great big smile. My uncle knew the ball was coming his way again. Sure enough it did. But this time my uncle was bound and determined not to allow Ted to get extra bases. My uncle didn’t even attempt to field the grounder. He just threw his body into the ball to stop it so Williams would only get a single out of it.

Right on about the warning track! Had a collision with a fence that resulted in a gash in my chin needing 15 stitches and a broken front tooth in a field with no warning track. Crashed into the pole and the fence had no padding on the top. Drove myself to the hospital and the ER nurse took one look at my blood covered shirt and sent me right into triage!

 

[swiftdog2.0]

Sox are tied for first with the "Blah" Jays!

Roadtrip has gone much better than I anticipated. I'll take the 7-2 but they could easily be 8 - 1 on the trip. Bullpen is still giving me heartburn but we are now 17 games over .500. Making a nice push here. Just need to get some distance between us and the Jays.

I'm anticipating the Cubs winning the NL. AL is up in the air. I'm hoping the Sox take it but it's too tough to call. Cleveland and Texas are both good. If the Sox starting pitching holds up they can out score any team in the league.

A Cubs / Red Sox WS would be cool!