queens

It's over, isn't it?

Olympics have a long time to go this summer still, but I mourn none the less - my new favourite, Chinese diver Guo Jingjing's Olympic career is over after winning another Gold medal. and for me, it was only just starting.

Never heard of her before this week - I didn't pay as much attention to the Athen's Olympics - but when I got 'wind' of her, I had to watch her compete. She's a superdiver and superfamous in China with several golds already. i came on board as she went for a last in her last olympic competition. She won.

But what really got me going was this little bow she did after every dive. NBC didn't cover it each time she did it, but it really got me going. Again - this is a deeply competant athelete, in the biggest games of her life, and has trained for years and years to win. This quest for athletic glory is what I should be concentrating.

Yeah yeah yeah. And I am a man. Love to watch her compete, root for her, all that. And all I can concetrate how wonderfully submissive that bow is. A great dive, hundreds of millions of people watching, and her, in that tite bathing suit, dripping wet, and that little bow. um. It's - as far as I know - totally unique in diving.

As far as I know, it's totally unique.

Four Homers

Written by Lazers

I did a bit of research to follow-up on the “4 consecutive homers” stat and found the following (note: teams have hit 4 consecutive homers only 6 times in MLB history):


JD Drew was involved in 2 of the 6 times (‘07 Red Sox and ‘06 Dodgers).
The ‘61 Braves did it but still lost the game.
For 2 of the 6, the same pitcher gave up all 4 homers (‘07 Red Sox off of the Yankees’ Chase Wright; ‘63 Indians off of the Angels Paul Foytack).
The most prolific quartet was from the ‘64 Twins- those players hit 138 homers that season (Tony Oliva, Bob Allison, Jimmie Hall and Harmon Killebrew).
The least prolific quartet was from the ‘63 Indians- those players hit only 35 homers that season (Woodie Held, Pedro Ramos, Tito Francona and Larry Brown).
Pedro Ramos of the ’63 Indians was a pitcher. He hit 3 homers that entire season.
The ’06 Dodgers hit the homers in the bottom of the 9th inning to tie the game against the Padres. After allowing 1 run in the 10th, the Dodgers scored 2 in their half of the inning to win the game.
The ’64 Twins hit their homers to lead off the 11th inning.

The full slate:
’61 Braves vs Reds (Eddie Mathews, Hank Aaron, Joe Adcock and Frank Thomas).
’63 Indians vs Angels (Woodie Held, Pedro Ramos, Tito Francona and Larry Brown).
’64 Twins vs A’s (Tony Oliva, Bob Allison, Jimmie Hall and Harmon Killebrew).
’06 Dodgers vs Padres (Jeff Kent, JD Drew, Russell Martin and Marlon Anderson).
’07 Red Sox vs Yankees (Manny Ramirez, JD Drew, Mike Lowell and Jason Varitek).
’08 White Sox vs Royals (Jim Thome, Paul Konerko, Alexei Ramirez and Juan Uribe).

Major League Records

Luckily, I was able to drag myself out of the house -wow- that early to actually do something I was planning. And then it turned out kooler than I thought. Plus, they will be recording the events of my day in the history books. And I just showed up.

It was to the Sox game, and the impportant thing is is that they won. With no Minnesota game, the lead went up to a full game (and some percentage points - they mite come in handy late in the season). Extra nice because of all the terror about the pitching staff after Jose Contrearas' season ending injury, they topped two shutouts and a no hitter into the seventh with another great start - this time Lance Broadway with a strong five and a third, allowing two runs in the first that better defense would have taken care of.

And finally, extra extra nice because there were not one but two seperate major league records happening in front of my eyes. Carlos Quentin extended his record of consecutive games being hit by pitch to six straight games. He's been hit by pitch twenty times so far - nice way to buck up the on base percentage. He's been so good all year it's nice to hear the MVP chatter about him. If the Sox win the division, his steady play will probabley be the major factor in that.

And then there were the four straight homers. I've seen three straight before - who hasn't, if they've gone to as many games as I have? The first homer was waited for - the Sox were leading only 3-2 (although it did seem that the team had it all in hand -nice confidence) and needed to put the gam away. it's nice to see Thome hitting the ball so well the second half of the season. And then Konerko hit the next - again, swell to see him produce anything. He had three hits. After ramariez's shot, people started to call for a fourth. And then after Uribe's fourth and final 'in a row' shot, i was really hoping for a fifth strait homer. At this point, I thought that the record was five in a row - and I wanted a second straight record set in the game I was @. I didn't realise that four was it and I already had it.

nice to relax @ a game in two regards. First, the Sox won early in the day -it was a 1.05pm game. There was to be no wondering all day what they and Minnesota were doing - it was all done. And accomplished. Pennant Race it is.

The second was that this was the first game in several years that I went to by my self. I used to go to maybe 10 Sox games a year by myself and just vegg out watching the game. I used to do so many things by myself - very very many so much so that I thought that my solitudeinal actions seemed one of the indicators of my wandering mind. But I'm different now/ and I'm glad that ...... well, solitude is great many times. You don't have to talk to anyone, sit near anyone, do anything, just stare @ the field and root....

I needed it. To the Sox game Monday nite - $8.50 tix !! - and then maybe to anther day game next Wednesday.

The reigning expert

Kop me up to loving the olympics. every four years. Yes, a lot of it marketing, but then again - am I not a sports fan and enjoy the competition? I am, I find.

So, there I was , snickering @ myself constantly for watching sports I would never in the nirmal run of play. Women's water polo?? There i was watching -and being into -the USA -China match. But, oh, it gets worse. The Argentines -v- England in womens field hockey? Thrilling. And when the USA mens gym team were down to the final event, this expert knew thatthe USA had clinched bronze because I realised that the Germans would never be able to get enough oints on their final routine.

Some expert I am, huh?. But I find that every Olympics, I suddenly become super interested.

I blame the marketing. It's done well.

What, me, notice??

Admits to being a bit of a sexist.

Admits to checking out the derrieres of the women's beach volleyball players.

Admits that they are fantastic.

Admits to being lucky to be alive.

volleyball, beach, womens

Black Sox Faction

Professor Grif

Kenny finally got his guy. He's been persuing Grif for years and finally added him to the Sox. I do not note this as a major trade. The Sox basically picked him up for free. Although nick Masset was a good pitcher and the bullpen will be thinned out because of his loss, he wasn't a team changer. And Danny Richar is last years experiment to try and develop a replacement for Juan Uribe - already done w/ the superior basball player Alexie Ramirez.

To me, Grif is replacing Konerko. Konerko has show no signs of beaking out of his - well, two year -slump, and that dead area needed to be addressed. Paulie was on his way to duplicating his great erformnce of a few years back when he hit 18 hr and had 65 rbi over an entire eason. Make no bones about it, that was where he is headed. I was sick of his and Thomes slow starts - but Thome has come out of his slump nicely.

I feel good about Swisher on first instead of Konerko. When Paul was on the DL earlier, the Sox went 13-7. So, the Sox are basically replacing one slow righty power hitter with another slow lefty power hitter. The difference is, Grif is having a decent year. Konerko is having a disaster of a yar.

Not a bad trade. W/ the starting pitching above all now beginning to be the main focus of concer, the additionof Grif was a suprise. But, I'll welcome him here. And though were not expecting 56 hr's from him - it'll be better than 18 with 65 rbi.

Black Sox Faction

The King of the South Side

say, um, what's the score?

History beckons again

Been progressively obsessively engrossed in Sox history. Took a giat 1000p encloypedia of Sox history, and have been becoming blitzedout with the 1951 - 1967 Sox, when they were one of the best teams in the majors after being such a sucky franchise from 1921 -1950. And man, that 30y period after the Black Sox scandel were terrible.

Funny how great those teams were. Appracio, Fox, Minoso, Pierce, Peters, Klu we all know about. 1959, the pennant winners. 1964, one game out. And the 1967 team that took it into the last weekend. We know about those teams and players and all that 88 years of frustration or whatever others call it.

Those teams had the bad luck of bucking their heads against the Yankee's (or Cleveland, but mainly the Yanks) in that period - no World Series wins for them. But those teams were also amongst the best in baseball during that period. There is no culture or worship of losing other frachises use to sell their teams, but these teams of the middle period* of Sox competitiveness are still worshipped by Sox fans. Among the older Sox fans (like my Dad), these are the greatest teams ever ( 'till 2005. Impossible to argue). I'm getting old enough and cranky as well - enough to start arguing "Mike Squires" -v- Jim Spencer" as the best fielding first baseman of all time.

But the progression of the team, the duels w/ NY and Cleveland through the 1950's and Red Sox and Twins in the late 1960's, and all the other pre Harry Carey years are fascinating. Names and stories are familier, but they have to be put into a proper context.

And yes, I still get very angry whenever I see "Eight Men Out".

..............................................

*= 1900- 1920, 1951- 1967, and 1990 -2008

2008 Fire

The Cubs Crew.

In Wrigley Field for the Cubs -v- Reds game on Tuesday nite. Jackson and Rocky and I were to meet in front of the Mac D.'s on Clark, but they'd already entered to reserve the seats. I was gonna see GF @ her werke, but time got the best of me and I had to go straight to 22d near the Chinatown El stop and El'd it to Wrigley. Again, I do so like riding the El from time to time.

Those fucks flew the coop - I was 5m late -so I decided to walk a little around wrigleyvilles alleys and discovered a funny thing - so many people rent out their garages for visiting fans that every alley has 6-7 very open garages. Smart $ makers w/ such a little effort.

Easil found the boys -we were in left field, near the curve in the wall. Pretty good game - the Cubs were obviously superior and had the upper hand the whole game. There were some great defensive plays on both sides. Aramis Ramirez in particular made several spectacular plays. I'd brought my radio -which - the Sox are so good this year and I have fallen into the obsession mode. So- yes I was watching the game in front of me, but on my transistor was the game that really mattered.

Oh - and up on the scoreboard. As I saw the Twins take a 5-2 lead on Boston @ Fenway (FINALLY the Twins were going on the road -and to Boston - the thinking went that the Sox mite pick up some games while playing K.C.). So -@ a certain point -the Sox were down 4-1 and the Twins leading byt ghat 5-2 score late. But it all worked out, @ least for this nite.

AH - but there was more than baseball this nite:

"He's working where??"

"Hey - I know the story of the first night they were to-gether"

"WHAT??"

"5000 hits!?!?!"

"So- compare this old girlf with this old girlf w/ this old girlfriend -which was the best?"

"Listen, listen -I got that story - listen"

etc etc etc...

The crowd around us was fine. Cub fans have a reputation as meatheads, but these ones were pretty mellow. We were heckling Adam Dunn, the Reds left fielder. I have the loudest voice of anyone that nite, but I didn't put in too much effort. I jabbled out a few warped Monty Pythonish bizarros, but it was mainly for my edification. Even I didn't get what I was yelling out.

Though the nite threatened rain -angry skies foto's by Rocky -whenever he flixx' them y'll see - it held off. I worked this day @ school, so I came in nice pants and tie to the game- and it was hot. Not opressively hot, but off the shirt. Was I mocked more for my shirtlessness or my Sox hat?

Dunno.

Rocky drop of Jaxx @ the Capital Ship, then me near 22d, and then we drove down to my crib so Rocky could crash over. But before we crashed...

Black Sox Faction

Many mite, but I have no real problem with the Sox only getting two All Stars this year despite being surprisingly having a top record. The team with the best record in baseball - Tampa - also has only two. And the Cubs? Seven. A bit of over kill, despite their best in the NL record.

Like I notioned above - I don't have a major problem with it. Every year there are many great choices to make the team. The fan vote and the rule that every team has to be repp'd severely tie in a roster set @ 32. It happens every year and makes for tough decisions and much arguments.

So- Carlos Quientin, near the AL lead in HR's and RBI's, deserves spot. He has slowed from his lightning start when he really carried the team early on - but he's consistently on base and driving in runs. Joe Crede? OK, that's kool. No way ever did I expect or even thnk to hope it. He also keyed the Sox beginning with a giant start to the season before slowing down, but remains playing well. 16 errors are uncharacteristic.

But there are more deserving elements of the team not in the game - well, not yet.

Jermaine Dye has similar numbers to Carlos Quentin - but the consistency!! He has not had a bad week - and the last three weeks he has been giant. And here is that ambivilence: I feel glad that even one or the other -in this case Quentin - got in - there were many other contenders. And the added cavet is that Dye can be still voted in by fans on the internet. I'm busy with that as I write this.

But the real loss is in the pitching. Three potential Sox All sStas and they are all batters. Jenks and Gavin Floyd had the best shots - but there other stoppers and starters as deserving. Shit -the AL Staff is loaded. And the most consistent Sox pitcher all season - Danks - only won 6 despite the low ERA. Tere is just no room for every deserving player. It's nice we got two and lets vote for another.

Although the Cubs may be a bit over represented -some years it just goes this way. Although Fukedome's spot is a gift, the other six all were well deserving.

OREVUA

There isn't a good word for it in English.

We'll see you again.

The Black Sox Faction

To the suprise of no one

There was a feeling among Sox fans that they blew several games in Wrigley Field last weekend. The typical over reaction of the press - that's it for the Sox season - was, as usual, expected. But amongst the connected few, it was disappointing that the Sox didn't take five out of six this Crosstown Classic (last Sunday's loss the only one where they didn't seem in it). As tough as last weeks sweep was, it was good to see the team respond by winning five out of six and keep ahead of the division as Minnesota won 10 in a row and Detroit's on a 14-3 run. This division, seemingly taking the shape of last years NL Central, now has three legit playoff teams as well as Cleveland in the weeds.

But they are playing well. The hitting is, of course, the worrying spot. The road hitting has been terrible, and something needs to be done. And this season is especially the year of the Superior Home Squad. The Sox, who have played less @ home than any other team, get an extended run @ Comiskey Park ten game home stand. Here's hoping that this extended run will get them into the hitting mood which will carry over into the ir next road trip. Although pitching rules the post season, thye have to get there -as well as score runs to win then.

There is a lot of season to go. However, the pace that the Sox are on - 92 wins - seems incredible - for a team that hasn't even started playing well yet. Although we love our team and totally note that they are in first place - there is a massive bit of frustration about this team. Simply put- they are better than they have been playing this season- a lot better - and they need to kick it into gear.

Or else no post season.

Never Ending Season

Manchester Uited of England ended the Europan soccer season last month, rite? That PK ending to the Champions League Final -v- Chelsea? But wait, didn't they win the English Premier League over Chelsea a month and a half ago? So what the fuck was the soccer final from Europe on ABC Sunday afternoon? Yes, yet another game in the never ending season.

More than any othe team sort, soccer just doesn't end. Most baseball players chill from October till early Feb., when they report for spring training. Similarily, football, basketball, and hockey players - unless they go deep into the playoffs - get a nice amount of time off. Not European soccer players. Generally speaking, they get a off a little more than a month off before the next season starts. And this year it's even less - with the European championships going on, the sixteen teams 22 players had to train and play in the tournement all summer. They also have to do this in World Cup summers. It's no wonder Beckham moved to America - the MLS season is nowhere as long as his European season.

And - benefiting it's world wide stature - as the European season FINALLY CONCLUDES w/out a doubt - that MLS is just starting up. But first things first- Europe - and it was a great conclusion. Spain beat Germany on a goal by Liverpool's Torres in the 33d minute, finally winning a major tournament after 44 years of losing.

And - they deserved it. They were not beaten, and looked the whole tournament the best team (although, yes, I had a bit of a Netherlands kick for a bit.) I was kool with them winning it - with Ireland and Northern Ireland, and England out, I did not have a natural team to root for. However, like the World Cup, just watching the games naturally draws you in. This tournament featured a lot of things: tight games, late goals, the emeggence of announcer Andy Grey - but what struck me most was business -every game was on ESPN or ABC. The first time I ever watched this tournement live -1988 - every game was on free tv. I can't remember what station - I'm sure it was one of the Spanish ones - but as a student it was great to have so many games to watch. However, as ti e went on, less and less games got on tv. I remember watching '92 on free, but the great '96 tournement in England went to cable. I remember having to get a guy on the block tape on ESPN one of my favourite soccer games of ALL time - the german England semifinal that went to PK's. 2000 and 2004 were all on pay tv. I was able to watch some of the games, but it was kinda shitty having to pay for them. It was catch as catch can - the England-France game was watched @ English Matts, and another @ Good kixx's.

Ah - but now. All games on ESPN, except for two games even better - free TV!! I'm always deeply interested in the business side of soccer, and it's an obvious good thing that this tournement was open to many fans for free. ESPN is smart - although this is a major world tournement and costs lots to air in othr countries, they must have gotten a cheaper rate because most of the games were played in the American afternoon - not primetime in Europe. And to those who don't know, these games draw rabid attention from soccer lovers - I know lots. And this was one of the best tournements yet, it was a fun time.

Now - with the final final final finally over in Europe, we can rest - or can we? Well, if yr in Madrid, yes you can. But if yr in Chicago, no you cant. I went to the Fire game on Saturday nite, and the season in America is at the midway point. I was able to take my nephew.3 to his first soccer game. I'd wanted to take him to a game for a long time - this is the one of my three sissters who lives way out in the suburbs, not in the 'hood with us - and it finaly got done. I was hoping that neice.1 and nephew.2 - nephew.3's favourite- was going as well, but one was in Germany and the other was in chicago doing the great graduation-time-of-the-year-party-circut and so unavailable. So, it was just he and me.

I love taking the kids out always, and always try to take them out for pizza or the like, The push here is to get my Mom walking more out of the house, so I originally was gong to take the kid, his mom, and Mom out for some pizzza. Mom wasn't feeling i, so I just brough the pizza here. Good fixings.

Nephew.3 and I parked in the "south" area. Since parking is $15, I park in two places and walk the mile to the stadium. The best spot is on 65th and 'old' Harlem Avenue (the 'old' Harlem tag is to differentiate it from the huge road bridge called Harlem that snakes over rail yards next to my spot), but since we were going for some ice cream after, I decided to park @ the older and longer distance 80th and Harlem spot - rite near the Castles.

Great first half. After I heard there was dissention between Blanco and Wilman Conde, but the team was tite in the first half. They couldn't put it in, but it looked good for the second half. We had been standing in Section 8 so that he could get a tas of it, but we sat in the good seats for the second half - also so he could see a soccer game being played from its optimal angle. ANd boy the Fire sucked it up. More by more they let the game slip away, and I swear -although they have the better team abd were @ home, I kept waiting and waiting for the game to end. Those last 10m took forever and I really wanted them to end.

European season? Englands Everton is here on their preseason tour - 30 July. The season never ends.

Child's Play

In episode #1 of Put Up or Shut Up, the appears to be a clear cut winner. I guess this is what a south side beat down looks like. The Cubs vs. the Sox left one wondering why people don't know there are two MLB teams in town. The Sox only prayer is to squeeze out a single win next weekend. The Cubs now stand 7-1.

Here is my all city team;

1B- D. Lee - no contest vs. Swisher/Konerko/Thome combined

2B Derosa- very unheralded, versatile - though A.Ramirez is quite a talent

SS. Theriot- quiet .310 hitter who is very dependable with glove and bat.

3B. Rammy over Crede. How could Phil Rogers have picked Crede? Ramirez has almost 600rbi's in last 5 years.

C. Soto over slimfast Perzinski- the rook is just beginning to shine. He has better power numbers and clearly calls a better game.

Lf. Fonzie over Quinten - no contest, though Quinten is probably their best player right now. Though Fonzie's frustrating with all of his injuries and attitude, when he is on, he is offensively one of the best.

C. Both teams have platoons. i'll give this to the Sox out of pity, though reed is great with his effort and edmonds is finally coming around.

Rf. Draw- Dye has better power numbers and fukadome has better oba. Both are great in the field. But Fukadome is clearly on the rise while Dye can only go down from here.

P. Zambrano is better than any of their starters. In fact he has a higher batting average than their entire team.

Relief- Woody over Jenks. Wood with a league leading 17 saves may have found his niche.

Coach- Not even close- Lou does whatever he has to to win. Ozzie is biding his time until he gets the Florida gig.

GM. Hendry without question over the no show Williams. Williams is all talk while Hendry is all action.

Black Sox Faction

It'll be like his the rest of the season. Thousands of hits and runs @ home, then one run on four hits on the road. Luckily they have been able to keep their head above water on the road so far while running up the third best home record in baseball. That, and the fact they have played eight less home games than road games give the team hope. The current stretch of home games the team is in will allow them to build more of a cushion @ the top.

But the team is looking like it will rely on pitching. The batting will only be apparent @ home - but can this team make any sort of a serious run? Now, come the playoffs, the teams pitching -possibly the best in baseball, both starting and relieving - bode great for the team. But can they cactually make it to the playoffs. Their current standing in the division bespeaks more of the horrid starts of Detroit and Cleveland than the supremeacy of the Sox - but part of their standng is also that they are good.

It's early still -38% of the seaon done. However, they will have to hit away from Comiskey and not when it's over 85 degrees F. Or they learn to steal some bases. But for a wait for the three run HR team, here's hoping that that is not too much to ask.

Black Sox Faction

The plot against Thome and Konerko

I will amidt it. I was wanting to kill both of these players last week. I was gonna post to get rid of the both of them to-gether. But winning has a way of changing things. That and the fact that their long slumps may finally be ending.

Despite the batters best attempts to turn the clock back to last season, the Sox have survived ruff spots and the early part of the season - if building a five and a half game lead can be called 'surviving'. Built on strong pitching in both the starting rotation and relief corps, the Sox have taken advantage of horrible starts by both Cleveland and Detroit and look ready to compete the whole year.

Last years collapse - keyed, I think, by Kenny Williams "trades for the future" that took the emphesis off of a 90 win team rady to compete for the division to a team looking forward to 2008. Well -it worked - the 2007 team was a joke, and this team is in it for this year. Williams off season moves this winter (Swisher, Canbrera, relievers)were for THIS season, and it's has payed off. The two starters acquired in 2007 (Danks and Floyd) have been outstanding this year. So, on almost all fronts, the White Sox are playing well and treating 2007 as an abberation. They may not win 90 games like they have two of the last three seasons - but looks like it'll be close.

And what may keep them from this? Injuries and relief pitching had huge roles in last year disaster. But for me, it was the stinking batters that keyed last years collapse. What didn't hurt them in September of 2005 has killed them since then. Although they won 90 games in 2006, there was something missing. And last year - despite the emphesise on the relievers -it was the batters that clued the fans into the fact that the team was garbage.

This year -even with four starters batting around .210 (or less) for the first two months of the season - they manageged to keep winning. And it is now - with the Sox (road warriors so far) in the midst of a streak of 26 of 32 games in chicago - that the hitting is finally solving itself -for this week. Do not think that they will be scoring 10 runs and 15 hits every game - those days of one run on four hits will make their return.

The key is to make these games appear as little as possible. I still have trouble with the lineup of the team - it still a 'wait for the 3 run Hr' type lineup. But the additions of Swisher, Cabrera (now that both have finally started hitting) and Carlos Quientin- added to the return of Crede - have added hope to the lineup. The fact that the Sox have the largest lead of any team in baseball despite the horrible batting slump the team has endured so far give even more hope that '07 was abberation.

My Favourite basketball player ever

Ronnie Fields

Simply the Best!

Carlos Zambrano is easily the best pitcher in the major leagues. With his 2.33 ERA he can pitch with anyone. He has matured and no longer allows mistakes ruin his focus. He takes a 8-1 record into this summer.

But what clearly separates him from the rest of the league is his hitting. Following tonight's 3-4 night, he carries a .366 average. In the real league, where you don't have some fat-ass hitting for the pitcher, everyone has to know how to play ball!
Big Z is the best hitting pitcher of his generation. He hits home runs and even a stand up triple tonight.

The best is yet to come with Zambrano-he is only 26 years old. With the Cubs rejuvenated bats, he should be on his way to a 20 win season.