- 05:27 AM
- 07/25/08
| Location: | Canada |
|---|---|
| Member since: | February 21, 2002 |
| Last visit: | July 24, 2008 |
grum@work has posted 75 links and 3655 comments to SportsFilter and 6 threads and 381 comments to the Locker Room and has written 1 column.
First of all, a trivia question.
What are the 11 different ways for a baseball player to reach 1st base safely?
Answer at bottom of page.
I'm the saddest fan of them all:
Toronto Maple Leafs
Buffalo Bills (but not so much since the Holy Trinity retired...Kelly, Thomas, Reed)
It could be worse...I could be a Boston or Chicago baseball fan.
The most memorable sporting event was a hockey game back in the late 80's (not sure exactly when). A friend of the family got me really nice Leaf tickets during the Xmas holidays. They were playing the Bruins, so I took my friend Joe who was a big Boston fan.
After two periods, the Leafs were getting killed, 5-1.
My friend was really laying on the taunting thick, and I was contemplating how I could kill him on the way home.
Then, to start the 3rd period, Wendel Clark scored a quick goal. Hey, at least they'll make it respectable, is what I figured.
And then another goal is scored.
And another.
Well, lo and behold, the Leafs tie it up and send the game into overtime (the last goal was scored with an extra attacker, by Wendel again).
Then, with about a minute left in the overtime, Wendel Clark blows one past the goalie and the place EXPLODES with noise. I must have gone hoarse from the shouting.
The stunned/saddened look on Joe's face the entire ride home was like icing on the cake.
...
Trivia Answer:
1. Hit
2. Base on balls
3. Hit by pitch
4. Catcher interference
5. Dropped third strike
6. Error
7. Fielder's choice
8. Hitting a baserunner with the batted ball
9. A ball, pitched to the batter or thrown by the pitcher from his position on the pitcher's plate to a base to catch a runner, goes into a stand, or player's bench, or over or through a field fence or backstop, or is touched by a spectator. (Obscure rule 7.05(h))
10. The third strike becomes lodged in the umpires equipment (not touched by the catcher). (Obscure rule 7.05(i))
11. Pinch Runner
Robot Bob Sheppard?
There is a suggestion by some that Bob Sheppard voice (announcer at Yankee Stadium) be converted into a text-to-speech program so that he may always be the announcer at new Yankee Stadium.
One gentleman has compiled a result of what it might sound like.
posted on Jul 19, 2008 - Go to the detail view for this result
First Class?
Excellent baseball writer Joe Posnanski proposes a question:
"If you could start over, who would make up your Hall of Fame first class?"
posted on Jun 30, 2008 - Go to the detail view for this result
Four-time World Champion admits to using steroids.
posted on Jun 26, 2008 - Go to the detail view for this result
It's been 10 years?!
That's right, 10 years since Kerry Wood tied the major league record for strikeouts in a 9-inning game.
You can watch the video highlights of the 20 strikeouts here.
posted on May 6, 2008 - Go to the detail view for this result
So it finally comes to an end. Julio Franco has retired.
The oldest man to hit a major league home run has finally retired from professional baseball. His announcement came after a Mexican minor league game. At the age of 49, he's finally hung up the spikes.
(crazy Julio Franco trivia inside)
posted on May 4, 2008 - Go to the detail view for this result
Not tonight, honey, I have a game tomorrow. The notion of pre-game abstinence from sex to enhance athletic performance is a longstanding one. But is that notion as fictional as Rocky Balboa? Sean Cupp thinks so. Chris Byrd is the guinea pig. Tom Fornelli resents his high school coach.
posted to Culture at 9:35 PM CDT
Serena won't play Indian Wells; WTA's new rule won't change it Serena and Venus Williams' ongoing boycott of the Pacific Life Open at Indian Wells, Calif., could jeopardize their participation at other tournaments under recently adopted rules for mandatory events set to kick in next year. (edit) The Williams sisters have steadfastly declined to participate at the Pacific Life Open since 2001. That year, Venus defaulted to Serena minutes before their semifinal started. Spectators subsequently jeered Serena in the final. The sisters and their father, Richard, have said they believe the crowd's actions were racially motivated.
posted to Tennis at 10:36 AM CDT
That's the best reason I've heard yet for the Williams sisters to play Indian Wells.
Actually, part of me wants them to play at Indian Wells, both of them make the finals, and then both drop out 10 minutes before the match because of "injury".
And then never return to Indian Wells again.
posted at 8:46 AM CDT on July 20
Sports announcers already know it, and now Elan Fuld has proven it: clutch hitters really do exist. For the science-lovers, it's nice to see proof...
posted to Baseball at 11:12 PM CDT
Derek Jeter has had 495 postseason AB -- or about 75-80% of a typical 162 game season for him -- and has hit .309/.377/.469, not much different than his .316/.387/.459 lifetime regular season averages.
Actually, it's WORSE than his regular season numbers (since he is likely to get a hit or get on base).
Jeter is a (minimal) post-season choker!
Not that Tim McCarver, FOX or NYY fans would ever want to hear that...
posted at 2:07 PM CDT on July 9
The Voting Results Are In The fan and player voting has been completed and the All Star rosters have been announced. There is still the Final Vote where fans have the opportunity to choose one final All Star. As usual the results do not come without controversy, with numerous experts weighing in. The team by team breakdown of the All Star rosters can be found here.
posted to Baseball at 5:41 PM CDT
Varitek was voted in by the players, his peers.
It doesn't make it any better.
Varitek getting chosen to go to the All-Stars game (or, as Lee Sinins calls it "the Some-Stars game") is the worst selection (by fans, players or managers) since Carlos Garcia in 1994 (1st half OPS .639, career .681 OPS).
What makes it even worse is that there was a MUCH better choice (both statistically, historically and emotionally) than Varitek.
posted at 10:38 AM CDT on July 8
Mainly, though I think it sucks that Francona didn't pick Maddon to be on his staff. What's that about?
Probably some ill-will still exists between the two teams after the Coco Crisp inspired brouhahas.
posted at 10:40 AM CDT on July 8
I have to agree. Dioner Navarro does in fact deserve to get the nod over Varitek.
Oh, you were talking about Posada, weren't you? Well, Navarro used to be on the Yankees roster if that helps but he does deserve to be an All-Star this year.
Navarro is on the roster. He was a manager's pick.
If you are going to use 3 catchers, one of them might as well be Posada.
My choices would have been Mauer, Navarro, Posada, with Jorge getting into the game in the 9th inning (to possibly catch Rivera).
I am not a fan of giving every team a representative.
Agreed. It's supposed to give people from every market a reason to watch the game, but I really doubt the K.C. fans are overjoyed that [looks at the rosters] Soria is getting to play.
And those at bats against the best pitches in the NL by someone who can't hit a BP fastball currently. Good job, players.
I have this horrible fear that Varitek will go yard in his first plate appearance, and the brain-dead section of the Red Sox Nation will go crazy with "I told you he deserved it!" crap.
It would be super-duper-classy of "the captain" to bow out of the All-Star game, and Francona picks Posada as a replacement. Sort of like those Christmas time cease-fires during World War I, where bitter enemies can still show some respect for each other.
posted at 12:44 PM CDT on July 8
I'm really turning into for two moments:
1) Josh Hamilton's first at-bat. I'm hoping the crowd gives him a nice ovation.
2) The hope that Mariano Rivera will be the last pitcher of the night and he gets the save for an AL win. I really want Tampa Bay to have home-field advantage in the World Series. ;)
posted at 12:45 PM CDT on July 8
I think your Royals example may be a touch off base. Soria has a 1.62 ERA, 44 k's aganst 17 walks, and has converted 23 saves in 25 opportunities. I think he deserves it, and I think quite a few Royals fans who are only casual baseball fans overall would watch.
Good point. I picked the Royals rep on reflex because (for the last few years) they usually send the biggest example of "filling the need for every team to be represented". Soria has the numbers to go to the show.
Then again, almost every team has at least one reliever that is having a good year, and you need a lot of relievers/pitchers for the Some-Stars game, so "filling the need" almost always falls on the relief pitcher.
"I wanted to correct them," Hamilton says. "It's 'Josh smoked crack.' If you're going to rag on somebody, then get it right."
Heh. Sounds like he's (finally) got a good head on his shoulders.
posted at 3:42 PM CDT on July 8
Nadal-Federer epic the most thrilling of all the Wimbledon finals I came here to see what the buzz was and was shocked to see Nadal/Federer hadn't been posted already. I only saw part of the match and sadly missed most of the last set, but it seemed pretty epic to me, especially during the 4th set tiebreaker.
posted to Tennis at 1:45 PM CDT
Nadal just kept Federer from tying Borg for consecutive wins at Wimbledon and consecutive championships. That has gotta hurt.
Actually, he was already tied with Borg for consecutive championships at Wimbledon (5). He was on the verge of setting the new (open) record of 6 consecutive.
As for the match, I only caught the tail end of the 4th set and all of the 5th set, and I couldn't turn it off after I started watching. I was pulling for Federer (to set the record) and to make the miracle comeback, but Nadal winning is fine too. I thought it was cool that McEnroe declared it the best final ever, since it pretty much dethroned his match against Borg in 1980 as the best final ever at Wimbledon.
posted at 3:59 PM CDT on July 7
Jagr's Bummed. The New York Rangers decide to move on with Markus Naslund, leaving Jaromir Jagr behind. Jagr is reportedly on his way to Russia.
posted to Hockey at 2:15 PM CDT
If Jagr never returns to the NHL again, I hope everyone remembers that he was the "bridge" between the Gretzky/Lemieux era, and the Crosby/Ovechkin era.
Actually, that does a disservice to Jagr's career. If he had his prime in the 1980s, he probably would have challenged Gretzky's single-season point record.
When his time comes for HOF voting, it better damn well be unanimous.
posted at 8:36 AM CDT on July 6
Video: Diamondbacks Catcher Chris Snyder Fractures Left Testicle Although the injury report just says that Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Chris Snyder is on the 15-day DL with a groin injury, the team revealed that he suffered a "left testicular fracture" Monday when hit by a foul ball. "Suspended in the scrotum, a skin pouch below the penis, each testicle is surrounded by the tunica albuginea, a tough, fibrous covering that often takes the hit of trauma to the gland," according to UrologyHealth.Org. "Like the shell of an egg, it can be easily 'fractured' or shattered when confronted by a blunt or violent force." See the video.
posted to Baseball at 2:14 PM CDT
/watches video
*faints*
posted at 8:01 PM CDT on July 3
First Class?
Excellent baseball writer Joe Posnanski proposes a question:
"If you could start over, who would make up your Hall of Fame first class?"
posted to Baseball at 7:55 AM CDT
Based on the options in the poll given at the bottom of the article, I chose:
Ruth
Bonds
Williams
Gibson
Wagner
Josh Gibson is the pick I feel least comfortable with, but I've recently read too many accounts from too many people with too much expertise on the matter about how dominating a hitter Gibson was during his time. When people start making comments about how he was "as good as Ruth", and he's a catcher? You start to pay attention.
posted at 8:01 AM CDT on June 30
I actually think they got it right the first time.
If anyone didn't already look it up, here is the original "first class":
Ty Cobb
Babe Ruth
Honus Wagner
Christy Mathewson
Walter Johnson
posted at 9:57 AM CDT on June 30
Pete Rose
Stan Musial
Ty Cobb
Babe Ruth
Cy Young
How can you not have the top 3 hits leader and #1 pitcher in wins and the Bambino's season and home run totals held up for years, also he wasn't too bad of a pitcher
It's quite easy to pass up Pete Rose.
His record is simply a factor of longevity. He stopped being a useful 1B/OF around 1982, but still managed to play another 5 seasons (some of which he managed and put himself in games when better options were available). If he wasn't stumbling towards the hits record, he wouldn't have played the last 4 years of his career. Even when he was getting hits, they were mostly just slap singles. He hit double-digit home runs just ONCE in the last FIFTEEN seasons of his career.
He holds a record, but that doesn't make him even CLOSE to one of the best of all time.
I do think Bill Simmons' approach is one that simply has to be adopted eventually: have a tiered, pyramid/cone shaped Hall of Fame, where you walk up a sloping spiral like in the Guggenheim and the lowest levels contain the edge cases like Phil Rizzuto et al, while the higher you go the more "sure" you are until you reach the last room at the top, with plaques of guys like Ruth, Williams, etc.
The last couple of spirals would be an interesting debate. When guys like Musial, Schmidt, Berra and Morgan don't make it to the last ring, you'll definitely have controversy.
Over at Baseball Think Factory, they have something called the "Hall of Merit", where they have finished voting on all the players available for the Hall of Fame (on a year-by-year basis, so only players eligible in 1945 could be voted for in 1945, for example). Since they've finished the yearly voting (there is an interesting mix of HOM players who aren't in the HOF (like Rose and Jackson) and HOF players who aren't in the HOM (like Maranville)), they are starting to try and "tier" the players by position.
posted at 2:24 PM CDT on June 30
Best soccer/football goal celebrations, 1 and 2. YouTube warning There's some very entertaining clips involved. I hope y'all enjoy them.
posted to Soccer at 12:32 AM CDT
All of them are expressions of joy, but the one that made me laugh the most was the one at the very end of the second clip.
"Congratulations."
"Thank you."
"Well done."
"Thank you."
Of course, this clip would be near the top of the list for WORST football celebrations.
posted at 10:09 AM CDT on June 29
I'm pretty sure that I read somewhere that Bob Beamon had sex the night before his Olympic event.
That turned out okay.