Thursday, November 27, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Lou's consolation prize: Manager of the Year
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Lazerbaseball
Saturday, November 08, 2008
rumours
(the) Harlem (Stands) is (/are) burning.
The fact that I gotta work the next day means I will not be driving to Ohio - for many reasons I’m pulling for the upset for KC over Columbus. The MLS playoffs are sorta like the Stanley Cup playoffs (or how MLB playoffs have become) , where anyone in a given series can win it. The first leg of the KC Columbus series was 0-0, so whoever wins the second leg advances to play the Fire.
This series showed the Fire to be the superior team to New England. The first leg, a 0-0 slugfest last Thursday in Boston, was thrilling. I missed the first half due to coaching my soccer team, but the second half was tingling. From what I saw, playing on the road to a team that had eliminated the Fire something like five out of the last six years (think NHL early 80’s when it seemed the Hawks played the North Stars every year in the playoffs), the Fire were the better team. Now wait - New England had two of their best players injured - Taylor Twellman and Steve Ralston- so the Fire had an easier goof it. Last year it was a a spectacular bycicle kick goal by Twellman to eliminate the Fire. But this year the Fire have outplayed the Revolution every time they met. The Fire won 3-0 and 4-0 this year @ home, and after the battle last week, I had every confidence in the team to advance.
So this weeks game was a really exciting thing to look forward to - and we were not disappointed. The game was great. Some soccer games suck, and I can lose interest quickly. Since this was a deciding game, there was a lot of interest in it- but it went far beyond that. Both teams are very good, in top fitness, and have been playing to-gether for seven months now. In other words, there were many beautiful passes, intricate passes, wonderful movement of the ball, on both sides - it was the beautiful game. But was obvious that one team was more beautiful - the Fire. Blanco was on his game, and the running, shouting, passing Blanco we all love was all apparent all over the field. Funny -a small back heel pass from him - even if it goes nowhere - sets the crowd alight. His lot loose @ the end of the firt half, and his parried shot was put in by Chris Rolphe. I felt @ that point that it mite be enough - but two more goals allowed Section 8 to start taunting.
And what a nite for Section 8. Fire playoff games - like playoff games in any sport - are a killer. From the first season of the fire in ‘98, the mood @ a playoff game is totally different that a regular season game. In the old days, when the fire would get maybe 5000 for a midweek playoff game, up to 20% of the crowd was crowded in Section 8, and they were always @ their loudest. Not only was Section 8 r evved up for those games, the sparse crowds w ere always dominated by Section 8. Last nites game drew 17,000 plus - a very nice crowd for an ESPN2 mandated Thurday nite game - and they were all loud. The knots in the stomachs mite have been lifted by Rolphes goal - but the shouting never stopped. And the surprise that Section 8 had promised for the game?? Turned out to be flares again - the endless battle betwixt Section 8 and security continues.
*The regular season winner is actually celebrated in MLS. They win something called The Supporters Shield - an acknowledgement of the many leagues in the world, like Englands Premiership, La Liga of Spain……… um, I guess every Euro league is set up like this - where there are no playoffs and the league is set up like a pennant race = the most points @ the end of the season wins the league. But the bigger deal w/ winning the Supporters Shield is that the team is qualified to the next season Champions League (along w/ the Open cup winner, and the two finlists in MLS Cup). The Fire may already have won a place in next years competition - since Columbus is already qualified, they do not have to win against the Fire to qualify for next years competiton. So even if the Fire lose this week, the tiebreakers for qualification could earn the Fire their first Champions league spot. I’d love that. Events will play out. But the exciting thought that next year the fire will actually be traveling to Belize to play Belize United (or whoever) is, embarrassingly, exciting to me.
Friday, October 03, 2008
Sox and Cubs
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Pathetic!
Horrible, Horrible!!! To continue last years futile playoff attempts, the Cub were lifeless again last night against L.A.D. Aside from Derosa's wind aided HR, they showed no life. Dempster had his worst outing of the year with 7 walks, Marshall looked ok, and Marquis continued his early outing fade.
There must be desperation on the field today. It is must win tonight. Let's hope Big Z can respond. The Dodgers did what they came here to do- steal a game. Pitching is vital, but the Cub can never seem to hit in the playoffs. What's also obvious is that Marquis cannot be middle relief- he takes forever to warm up.
Its do or die tonight, coming back from 0-2 is virtually impossible. Lets hope Zambrano has his head screwed on straight.
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Black Sox Faction
SOX WIN !! SOX WIN !!
And so the team continues. As near run as a near run thing can be, the Sox's 1-0 win allows us to watch playoff baseball on the Southside for the first time since 2005. It's been too long. One of the most famous of all Sox weekends in the teams 108 year history now leads into one of the most famous of all Sox postseasons (this being only the ninth postseason, so....)
And what a fucking game. I knew that the Sox had a good chance to win - even better than 50% because of the run they invented themselves up,because Minny wasn't the greatest of teams this year, and because game 163 was @ Comiskey. But it was also one of those churling games where every pitch had to be watched because one couldn't know where the pitch would finish.
The whole day yesterday was exciting. So exciting. The previous two days had Sox fans going nuts, and school was such an experience. Everyone instinctively got out their Sox gear, and both teachers and kids were Soxed up. Although there are cub fans @ the school of course (these teachers, mannnnn...), it's overwhelmingly a Sox school. People were shouting and smiling all day, acknowledging each other in the gear (I was best dressed, of course - I mean, I'd gotten my shirt in 1990, and to me historu is deeply important). And the call for the Sox fans to wear black @ Comiskey worked @ the game, and it also worked on me. I had that really really really old "Real Men Wear Black" - it should now be called "Real Men Wear Faded Black" - so I rocked that. I also had a black button up shirt whenever there was a chance I'd see the principal. And, I'd like to say, I was a little embarrassed. .
One of my favourite Bulls stories of all time was watching the terrible loss in Game 7 to the Knicks in '94. There was the usual 25-30 20-23 years olds crowded into my crib (The Lunt House, y'all) that Sunday, and I was the only one with Bulls shit on (Almost certainly it was my.....uh....."Real Men wear Red" shirt......). The Redhead, halfway through the game, turned to me, then looked all about the upstairs room where we were all hanging, and said "Oh Virgil, yr the only one here with spirit!" So, of course, I had to blackup my outfit and show my spirit. Lemming after Sox management, but.... It was great to rebreak out that shirt - for me, I felt it may be too provocative around cub fans so in the last few years I really de-emphesied the shirt. But it was perfect for this nite
Gallo had emailed me to come over so, I made the drive up to Evanston. The HD was on, grilled burgers (only salt and pepper -usually when I patty up beef myself @ home i throw in hundreds of spices -but I'll despice my recipe next time) delicious, a few calls to the bullpen for some matt Jenke relief, and both Yankee and White Sox fans in alighment. I was a bit late - I got there in the bottom of the first - and I was worried that POSSIBLY, knowing the history of these two teams the last 10 years or so -that it would be 0-5 after one. But this was to be a different nite*.
One run, five hits, but baseball hero's all around. Danks, of course. Luckily, it was a John Danks @ his very best - and every pitch of his seemed to land just on the corner of the plate. Every pitch. And when I say that he had his best game of the year - he had pitched no hitters into the seventh twice - it's saying a lot. he's had a real solid and promising year. There were the scares from last year when he was shut down near the end to save his arm. This year a few starts were delayed a few days, and he was pitching on only three days rest - a first for him in Chicago. But good as Buerlhe and Floyd have both been this weekend/season - Danks was there with them. His final record in the regular season was 12-8, but this is the type of game - a low scoring close game - he has lost several times this year. He deserved it. Nice regular season, but beautiful game 163. Six pitches one inning? Nine another ? Holy shit. Get ready for a start -v- Tampa.
The defense. Griffs catch and throw were rite on target, and A. G Pierzinski (sic)'s catch could have easily been hacked out of him. Images of Tori Hunter knocking the ball out of a Sox catchers mitt - nightmares for Sox fans - did not happen. But then again, that's one of the reasons A.G. is on the team. Griff got it right on. And yes - the runner should have gone. Although it was not very deep - i'm from the school of going for it, especially in a game 163 that was 0-0.
And the ninth had two nice plays. Supermaligned players Swisher and Anderson both made mighty plays in the final frame - Andersons wildly spectacular. Both players have had well, down Sox careers, and to have them come up big when they had to was great to experience. And then there were double plays and ordinary plays. To often the Sox would make some bonehead play to fuck their chances. No mistakes for the twins to take advantage of. And kinda funny as well - Anderson was brought in to run for Griff, and he usually takes over defensively for the older player-while Griff had already made the great outthrow home. I think that Griff might have made that catch - but glad Ozzie had taken him out. Same for Swisher - he has become a lateinning defensive replacement for Konerko, and although Konerko probably could have made the play, Swisher actually did get it done. Defensive replacements, in a one run game, can come to bite you back if the other team actually scores and your team now needs runs again - but it worked out. Both players have been starters for the Sox @ some point in their careers - it was good to see them fully play their part in winning the division.
More than anything, the fact that @ the very least the teams season continues till next week carries its own reward. I love the fact that I will have three more games minimum to watch the team, listen to the radio, read the newspapers, wear black.... But that other feeling - the feeling of winning it all. I gotta say that that 2005 feeling is really really compulsive, and I got such a bad jones for it this year. I've said before that this year has been one of my absolute favourite Sox years, and the chance that they could brazen their way to another title has me fixed big time. Invested? Buffet of Omaha invested. Friday afternoon, in the Great state of Florida.
.......................................
*=and, news that Neice.1 had babysat the little Galla's over the weekend. She's really mature and has lots of experience - if you are reading and would like a babysitter on the northside - I'll hook you up. And, it was the first week -second day - of homework for guerra.1. It was nice to see the id get it done and then - work finished - go nicewilde w/ little sister. SO important to get that "get it done, then go pay" idea in to kids.
Let's Get It On!
Congrats to NW Indiana's team for making the playoffs tonight. What we now have is historic. Both city teams in the going for their respective pennants at the same time. Though the routes look different- all you have to do is get in and its a new ballgame. The Cub cakewalked in while the Sox fought and won a dogfight.
Will the dream of a Northside vs. Southside be realized? It all starts tomorrow and every pitch counts. Tonights Sox game was simply a preview of why playoff baseball is the greatest sport around-nothing can compare.
What would a Cubs vs Sox series offer? Finality!!!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Black Sox Faction
Sure, Kittle was one of the sparks of the 1983 team, Bere was 14-2 in 1993, and Iguchi was a key to the 2005 team: but shit, all that is eclipsed by that half of a second of a half of a second after Lex Ramirez swung the Sox into game 163 yesterday. He knew it, I knew it, we all knew it - even Minny knew it: that giantic swing wrought a giantic homer and kept the Sox on the road to another World Championship.
I will straight away amidt that this season has beenone of my favourite seasons of all time. We didn't think the team in 2000 or 2005 had a chance entering the season. But this year we expected even less: I scoffed @ GM Wiliams assesment of the Detroit trade that netted them Cabrera and Willis over the winter "It puts detroit in a better position to compete with us". What? And in the end he was right: Detroit couldn't compete for the one game the Sox needed them to win.
The season has been so exciting. Yes, the team has had it's downtimes - what team other than the Angels have not had them this year? Sometimes it was the starters, the relievers, the fielders, or the batters. Yes, injuries -in the form of both of the teams All Stars - have disrupted this team more than the other surviving teams, (but not as bad as, say, Cleveland. But the continued scrapping of the team - time after time they were left for dead before and during - and even the day after the end of the regular season- that to have them playing now is just a treat.
Funny. The addction to this team started early. There probably has not been another season of heavy transistor radio listening for me than this year. I have compulsively have watched and suffered this team the whole year, and they are JUST ABOUT THERE.
So-one game. AS Hawk would say it, "Thrill me one time". And can they do it? Like I wrote yesterday, anyone can win in a baseball game. The reason they play 162 games, instead of 16 or or 30 or 82 or whatever is because any team can win on a given day. Either team could win to-nite, and it would not be an upset. However, there are numbers and feelings that point well towards the Sox.
And the Twins mite win. They are good, and 88 wins are decent. John Danks will be on 3 days rest for the first time in his MLB career, and he is 1-1 in 4 starts w/ a huge ERA this year.
But man, that instant happiness in that half second of a half second right after Lex's swing. I just gotta see that again to-night. Or, as this game is on cable, i gotta listen for it.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Black Sox Faction
So, as it is, although the pennant races of 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1964, 1967, and - remember - 2003 and 2005 (to name some off the top of my head) have been close - but there never has been a race this close. Sundays game, unprecedented in Sox history, now gives way to another game (today -v- Detroit) that is unprecedented in Sox history - and a win allows them to play -yes- yet another game that is unprecedented in Sox history- a divisional playoff/in game -v-Minnesota on Tuesday.
Good news, Sunday. They had to win -with Minny also winning - and they did. Althlugh i had made mark burhle the third pitcher onthe staff this year behind Floyd and Danks, there is no question he came up with one of his most clutch performances in one of the biggest Sox games in the teams history. One run in seven innings after only three days rest. The offense also did what it had to do. One of the worst things about the weekend was in Saturday nites game. When the minny lose was posted on the scoreboard @ Comiskey, the huge crowd reacted like it was one of those good october games in '05. Thunderous, and ongoing. Until whatever Sox batter in the box @ that moment immediately grounded into a double play. Great. But they got the runs, and they got the makeup game they need.
SO, Yesterday Cleveland @ Comisky, today Detroit. Although anyone on a given day can win, the Sox really have to be favoured. Tthe Sox have it all to play for, while Detroit is 4 -13 in their last 17, 2-6 @ Comiskey, and finishing off a miserable season.
But of course, anyone can win on a given day. Hopefully, however, this is a Gavin Day.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Black sox Faction
But it doesn't seem that this team wants to win. With four losses in a row when they should be taking it to the other teams is disturbing not just to any chance of winning in the postseason. The distemper and disassociation in the team with the Cabrera and Swisher. the Cabrera deal seems to have been boiling over inthis critiacl time for the team. But swisher - he seemed like such a gung ho guy. To have him down is bad. Although they have their 'fate' in their hands - Sox win out (four total against three teams in four days), they'll play Anaheim.
But they have to win. Last nite, following the Twins loss juxtaposed to the Sox loss, I was encouraged from my own longstanding theory that if enough time in a game/ games off the season happens, maybe just maybe the miracle - and yes, it seems it will take a milagro - can occur. But, as Churchill paraphrased about Dunkirk, "victories are not made from evacuations".
Two to two in thesixt at Minnesota. But it's the Sox that gotta win.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Manchester and Madrid in chicago
Another factor juicing up the crowd was the amount of Hispanic fans @ the game. Since C. Blano was signed last year, the amount of Latins - and specfiacally Mexicans - exploded. They always went before, but he is a huge draw. To Mexicans, in fact, he is a huge draw on the road. Mexico games in the past have always had an element of chaos if the game is tight. The most brawls ever - matching anything old Comisky could match - have been @ Mexico national teams -v- whatever soccer games.
So, it was a large loud boisterous crowd that took in the game. Being televised by ESPN, the whole nite had a festive celebratory air (excepting, of course, the late news from Minnesota). And that the Fire won a well played game topped it all. Both sides [l;ayed offense well, and there were great goals (3-1 fire), great passes and tough defense. Great win for the Fire.
Especial note towards Tiburon. Went w/ GF and Tiburon (husband of Kahla). He is an irrepressible joyous man, totally in love w/ life. I can remember a Soldiers Field game w/ the Fire 3-4 y.a. The fire had a player who shared Tiburons actual name. There occurred a stoppage on the field for an injury - and the player who shared tiburon's name was on the sideline ready for the play to resume so he could throw it in. I mean 20, 000 people there, and Tiberon riuns down the aisle to the field, calles out the player, and they have a conversation. during the game. We all had a giant laugh as we were watching this transpire, and when he rereached our row we quizzed him on what happened. Not much - they just had a little minute chat. during the game. So, last nite, we three sitting in the nice seats, laden w/ popcorn and snax. When Tiberon got the popcorn, he actually naturally offered some to the little kids sitting in front of us. Not exactly sure how the Dad of the three felt, but the kids ate heartily.
Black Sox Faction
A long while ago I was attempting to plan just which Sox game would be the clo\\incher. Iw as there in 1983 and 1993 when the Sox clinche the old AL west. 2000 and 2005 were clinched in Minnesota -too far fopr me to visit. But this years tight race had me planning to attend one of those last wkd games -v- Cleveland. For the past two weeks -until Tuesdays loss to Minnesota made it impossible - I was planning to go to to-nights game. I knew I couldn't go Saturday nite - a date w/ My Bloody Valentine, who I haven't seen since what -1991?? There was also Sunday, but I was rather hoping that the division would be sewn up by then.
So, this weeks games highlighted some of the sox's woes this season in turn. Tuesdays 9-3 loss was all about the terrible start by Vasquez. Although the Sox starters -well, the top three, with about a half a good year from vasquez- hasn't been bad, but they did have that two week period in August (or so) when they threatened w/ collapse. Blessedly, it was the young guys - Floyd and Danks - who kept it all to-gether the whole year and allowed the staff as a whole to recover.
Wednesdays loss highlighted the poor hitting. The 3-2 loss had the Sox - except for Grff's hitting - missing opportunities w/ men on base. Although the team also had its hitting scares earlier in the season (and the loss of AL MVP favourite- as of 1 September - and the Sox's OTHER All Star really drove these worries through the last two months of the season), they have't duplicated last years flod.
And then last night. Going into this series, I would have been very happy w/ one win out of three. I pointed to the ace, Gavin Floyd's start, as the probable victory. Although it wasn't his absolute best star, he left the game w/ the lead....... So, last years bugaboo, the relivers, have been shakey -although not as shakey as last year burnouts - but this game's loss could be blamed on them. And, to make it worse, it was Linebrink and Jenks - who have been steady all year , despite Linebrinks recent stay on the DL- who gave up the lead. Not good.
So, the Sox have work to do. Both Minnesota (Royals) and the Sox (Cleveland)are @ home. K.C. has been terrible -v- Minny, but they are also 11-2 inntheir last 13 games. Cleveland made a nice run to bring themmselves to respectability, but they have lost their last three.
As it stand, both teams are tied in the loss colum, so Da Sox have the season intheir own hands. Depending on what Minnesota does, the Sox have to sweep Cleveland (though it's not necessary) and hope KC sweeps Minnesota. If that happens, the Sox do not have to make up that hurricane delayed Detroit game from two weeks ago. However, I sense that on Monday, the Sox will be playing Detroit in the makeup game. What else? There is also the heavy possiblility of a one game playoff -v- Minnesota (Sox 7-2 -v- Minnn. @ Comiskey).
So what am I gonna do?? My plans for this nite changed when a Friday clinching game was rendered impossible by Wednesdays loss. Sunday became the goal - it could be the day - but it could also be Monday (I'll have to work) or Tuesday (I'll have to work). My plans for this nite? On about Wednesday, that #2 St. Rita - #18 Providence game suddenly became very attractive - until I realised that I'd have to travel to the other side of the fucking world to get to it.
So now? Shit - w/ Danks pitching, even if it ain'tno clincher, it looks like it'll be anbother Comiskey nite for me.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
17 September, 1983
Hell - even the Sun Times got into the act. Fact is, both teams suddenly have their numbers on both front pages. Like baseball championships are so common in Chicago that the Trib and Suntimes can be flip about it. For eveyone who remember the feeling in the afternoon of that 17 September day a quarter centuury ago - beforte the Sox clinched, when we were bizzarely young and the absolute impossible had finally happened (imagine the feeling in 2005 , huh?) - Chicago had a baseball team going to the playoffs.
Yes,a bit more commom now - even a World Series win for Chicago - but for Sox fans, the feeling is still sorta the same.
Except that a division win no longer is a massive deal. Justa step towards that deal. But it will still be an insane week. Last two game s@ Yankee Stadium, then a bit (hopefully) of a breahter -v- K.C., and then the series of series in the Major Leagues this year - the showdown betwixt the Twinkies and the Paws Up.
Tever whatcomes in the postseason, the Sox obv. have an upperhand in the division. Tough schedule to close out the season, but the Twins are losing. No guarentee here - but I can see the Sox closing it out in Minnesota. Just like 2000 and 2005, if I remember corectly.
here's hoping the 2005 link proves truer.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
The Magic Number
Monday, September 15, 2008
Shouting and Screaming
It takes fucked weather to deliver the kind of platform in which my bellowing can take center stage. In addition to that Sox game, possibly my greatest bellowing game was a chicago Storm indoor socer game which was played during ablizzard. We got 20 tickets or so for free, so it was Good Kixx, my sister, mybe even Sandra, and 10 kids - we all had ours. We 15 people maybe made u 5% of the crowd that nite @ the UIC Pavilion. Ideal weather donditions for a russian assualt on nazi positions in rusia and for an alour assault by my voice.
As the Storm were winning that game, we started to get real loud. Well, maybe not we, but i did. I forget most of what I delivered that nite, but an alltime classic was the following = and remember, there was a porfessional indoor soccer game going on : "CLEVELAND. THE STORM HAVE WON THE GAME. YOU HAVE NO POSSIBILITY OF VICTORY. IT IS TIE FOR YOU TO NOW SURRENDER TO THE STORM BEFORE ANYMORE GOALS ARE SCORED ON YOU. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO....IS WALK AWAY".....and this went on for the whole end of the game. With 300 others inattendence. Adn every fucking sylobal (sic) heard by everyone.
With that major success in mind - but an upperdeck seat @ coniskey and w/ 8,000 in attendence (meaning lots of white noise to kut into my projection), I staretd to bellow. S usual, there were the first quizzical looks behind fro fans in front to see "What the fuck was racketing all that shit?" Always happens. Then the laughter. And then there were two other squads piping in and supporting each other. Of course I was the loudest, but similar yahoo's ahead and behind me all pitched in the whole game. The guys in back yelling "Cut yr hair, magglio!", I started to yell out "HIPPY!!!". It was great - we supported each other, and of course entertained the fans.
There were many great quotes b me, if I may write. And I remember none of them. Except, winning 7-0, i started inon the "DETROIT. THE GAME IS OVER. YOU HAVE LOST. OZZIE IS WAITING WITH THE INSTRUMNTS OF SURRENDER FOR YOU TO SIGN. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS WALK AWAY." Lots of laughter. And then, Detroit actually scored 7 runs to tie it in the eight. When the Sox came up to the plate, just having lost a 7 run lead,, I kept on: "DETROIT. THE GAME IS OVER. YOU HAVE LOST....... "
But it all ended well. Dwayne Wise, the grannie in the bottom of the 8th @ comisky. Dansing girls, where are you??
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Monday, September 08, 2008
byes
But boy, did people hate him. They just hated the dude. And I'm not talking about Ozzie and the rest of the boys - I'm talking about the people he worked with. Seems he was slightly less well- behaved than Barry Bonds and Albert Belle combined. In the week that followed his leaving the Sun Times, it was funny as hell reading the .......'tributes' that his co-workers wrote about his departure. Each one a rip job on him. Here is Roger Ebert's, and here is neil Steinberg. I know it's bad when there is human dissention, but shit read that stuff about him - how would you like to have to work in the desk next to that guy.
Oh oh, the Sox hated him too- his deep hatred of the team always showed in his articles. So -it's summer, and 20 out of every 21 columns are about the Cubs. The other one was his once every three weeks rip job on the Sox. I'd read them - the Sox articles, mainly, as the stunningly deep disparity in his coverage of the two teams generally shyed me away from his coloums the last few years - what Sox fan wants to read a rip job on the team by a Cubs fan?? Or rather, what would be the point?
Possibly the funniest Jay mentions are in books about the White Sox. In both Richard Roepers fantastic Sox and the City and Phil Rogers Say it's So, the writers gleefully track Jay's take on the 2005 team. Of course we have hindsite, but I'm pretty sure Jay was trying his best to get the Sox to lose even as Uribe's throw was crossing the infield to record the last out of the 2005 World Series. The constatnt tracking of "The Sox suck" and "The Sox will collapse" and "This is the biggest chock job or all time" and other jayisms is deeply funny.
As I said, I was interested in Jays take on most stuff. Buulls, hawks, bears, Cubs, etc etc etc... However, I had stopped taking him seriously for several years now. Should his hatred of the Sox actually affected his writing so much? I think not. His hatred for the team really ruined him in my eyes. Why bother reading Cubs fan diatribes on the Sox? Jay's was such.
But I must amidt I did want to read his take on the Bears last nite. What - Is aid I read him.....oh, I said I liked him.....well, wahtever.......good luck Jay.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
America's Team - Not Messiah's
Wherever Cubnation goes, they take over. Wrigleyville north in Milwaukee, Wrigleyville west in Arizona, Wrigleyville south in Florida, and Wrigleyville east in D.C. Most verbiage categorizes the growing popularity of Cubnation to WGN. The fact is GN has televised less than 20% of the Cub games for the last several years.
Cubnation exists, is a fact and is very intimidating to the "home" team. So it was D-Lee, who revealed that Messiah is said to have added to the myth that Cubs fans only come to Wrigley to drink beer and look at women. According to the Ring Lardner of Politics, Cubs fans don't really know anything about baseball. Messiah claims that real ball fans are at Comisky.
First and foremost, if this flap gets any traction, he sure to lose some votes. Second, a completely asinine thing to say as the Cubs are having a great season. Simple fan attendance extrapolation shows that when a team wins it draws more fans. Hardcore fans can only be counted to show up for loser, shitbag teams with nothing to offer ie. Reds, Pirates. Pre 2005 Sox attendance was horrible, when they started to win they doubled their fan base. Are these real fans or bandwagon types. When the Sox lose again, their attendance will drop.
Win or lose Cubs attendance is always high. They are all real fans, who spend real money to watch the Cubs and really hot women. Another contrary indicator is road game Cubnation. They aren't coming to Wrigley, yet they still come like no other team has ever seen. Perhaps Messiah should stick to preaching-though I GUARANTEE he'll be at Wrigley throwing out a ball at the World Series.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Logan Tom
She's very different than Giu Jingjing, but just as sexy. Tall, sleek, and that maddeningly tomboyish look about her, I instantly feel inlove w/ her. When the womens volleyball team started to play this year, I tried to catch all the games.
Logan is different now. Four years @ that age really change people. She's now longer haired - not a plus - but she's still that slim, slender, and sleek athlete I fell for four years ago.
And I wait to cheer for her in London.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
queens
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.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Four Homers
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
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.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
The reigning expert
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.
Monday, August 11, 2008
What, me, notice??
Friday, August 01, 2008
Black Sox Faction
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Friday, July 18, 2008
History beckons again
..............................................
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
The Cubs Crew.
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Black Sox Faction
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.
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Monday, June 30, 2008
The Black Sox Faction
Never Ending Season
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.
Monday, June 23, 2008
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.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Black Sox Faction
Monday, June 09, 2008
Black Sox Faction
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.
Friday, June 06, 2008
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
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.