I miss the Astros.
Okay fine, I'll defer to the group in letting Wench start the annual thread. Even though the season had already started and all we heard was crickets. Even though there is nothing to F up because there is no mojo associated with the previous threads. SF won last year. Any of you Giants fans? Didn't think so.
Just can't let a woman have one thing. Except your balls.
Isn't that technically two? Or is snags pulling a Lance Armstrong?
Takes two of his to make one of yours. Or so I've heard.
Do whatever you want to, ladies. My Ball are here for your pleasure.
The Bravos might go undefeated.
Only 161 more to go. I think it's doable.
I like the positve attitude!
Braves and Cards in the NLCS. You heard it here first.
Haha, nice try dick. The Braves front office along with the BKG's have already fucked us.They Cubs don't even have enough bathrooms, how the hell they gonna win anything?
The Cubs are going to wi ahh hell, nevermind, it's the Cubs for crying out loud.
Okay, my .02 on the Braves. I think what's the most disturbing is the way they just went in and purged 3/4 or 83.2% of the guys we thought were the future of the franchise. Two years ago, I was as pumped as anyone with core of players it looked like they would build around and here it is a short time later and they've basically said, "Screw it, we're starting over." And the worst part is there's literally nothing on this team to get excited about. No reason to even think they might at least be somewhat competitive. They may pull an A's and do some good things with a bunch of no names but I don't think anyone realistically believes that.
So, there's got to be a long term plan in place. A method to the madness. You don't ship off your team and throw up the white flag on the season before it even starts without a master plan. One thing I have heard several of the "experts" say is for the first time in a long time, the farm system at the top is suddenly loaded. And it's clear that they have now freed up a shit ton of money to basically start over with. I don't follow it all that much but it's probable that with guys like Heyward and Kimbrel and Santana etc. they were about to get into some long term $$$ commitments and as much as I wanted to see them do well, let's face it...Heyward has been close to a bust given his physical tools and potential. Gattis is older and he's an AL designated hitter at best. Sucks as a catcher and really no place on the field for him with the Braves. Often injured as well. Kimbrel is a big time head scratcher but I don't know what kind of money he was going to command in the future while they're trying to rebuild.
I pulled up the roster and contracts and yes, it's abundantly clear that what you see this year won't be what's on the field this time next year. Callaspo has a 1 year deal. As does Gomes. Chris Johnson has 1 more year along with pitchers Jim Johnson and A.J. By-a-vowel znski. They're paying Shelby Miller $535K and really, the only new guy they gave any commitment to was Nick Markakis, who has a 4 year deal. Other than Markakis, only Freeman, Simmons and Tehran are locked up long term. So, what it looks like to me is they're going to see what handful of players kick ass in Triple A and can come up and help next year, send 64.5% or 4/7ths of the guys they have now packing and finish it off with 5-6 young badass free agents. They'll certainly have the money to get it done.
So, there's got to be a long term plan in place. A method to the madness. You don't ship off your team and throw up the white flag on the season before it even starts without a master plan.
So, there's got to be a long term plan in place. A method to the madness. You don't ship off your team and throw up the white flag on the season before it even starts without a master plan.
The best sporting event of the year is the last game of the World Series because it means baseball season is finally done.
I figured the Bravos was unloading big time dollars to make sure that they have a kick ass team to debut in the new stadium?
1-1
Okay, my .02 on the Braves. I think what's the most disturbing is the way they just went in and purged 3/4 or 83.2% of the guys we thought were the future of the franchise. Two years ago, I was as pumped as anyone with core of players it looked like they would build around and here it is a short time later and they've basically said, "Screw it, we're starting over." And the worst part is there's literally nothing on this team to get excited about. No reason to even think they might at least be somewhat competitive. They may pull an A's and do some good things with a bunch of no names but I don't think anyone realistically believes that.
So, there's got to be a long term plan in place. A method to the madness. You don't ship off your team and throw up the white flag on the season before it even starts without a master plan. One thing I have heard several of the "experts" say is for the first time in a long time, the farm system at the top is suddenly loaded. And it's clear that they have now freed up a shit ton of money to basically start over with. I don't follow it all that much but it's probable that with guys like Heyward and Kimbrel and Santana etc. they were about to get into some long term $$$ commitments and as much as I wanted to see them do well, let's face it...Heyward has been close to a bust given his physical tools and potential. Gattis is older and he's an AL designated hitter at best. Sucks as a catcher and really no place on the field for him with the Braves. Often injured as well. Kimbrel is a big time head scratcher but I don't know what kind of money he was going to command in the future while they're trying to rebuild.
I pulled up the roster and contracts and yes, it's abundantly clear that what you see this year won't be what's on the field this time next year. Callaspo has a 1 year deal. As does Gomes. Chris Johnson has 1 more year along with pitchers Jim Johnson and A.J. By-a-vowel znski. They're paying Shelby Miller $535K and really, the only new guy they gave any commitment to was Nick Markakis, who has a 4 year deal. Other than Markakis, only Freeman, Simmons and Tehran are locked up long term. So, what it looks like to me is they're going to see what handful of players kick ass in Triple A and can come up and help next year, send 64.5% or 4/7ths of the guys they have now packing and finish it off with 5-6 young badass free agents. They'll certainly have the money to get it done.
The official line on Kimbrell seems to be that
1) Very few relievers have long careers. Mariano is the exception. Flameouts after four or five seasons are more common and given his unusual mechanics, he was near the end of his arc. Truth? No way to tell.
2) Given the expectations for this team, a strong closer wasn't a priority. If you're planning to win 90 games, you'll need somebody to close a bunch of them. If you're gunning for break even? Whoever closes is less important.
3) He was a hard core bama fan, so fuck him anyway. Go the fuck out to San Diego where they don't give a shit about trailers, Levi Garrett or cousin raping.
Also? Given the moves the Braves front office has made over the last few years I don't trust them to get this right anyway.
Short-arm Chopugla? Either Upton? Letting McCann go and keeping the White Bear? I really liked Heyward but he never blossomed, he just budded year after year.
It was basically "everybody strike out and let's see if Freeman can hit another homer" every single game.
I was pretty pissed about the talent purge, too, but in retrospect? What talent did they really purge? Heyward and that bama boy. The Jay Hey Kid batted mid-200s, averaged more than 100 K's a year, never had more than 82 RBI, and had dropped from 27 to 14 to 11 HRs over the last three seasons.
Heyward was 25th in runs scored, not in the top 50 in homers, 29th in average. As much as I wanted to like him he was a lower level player and somebody that could be easily replaced by putting two people on the field that can half-ass hit and field. Like somebody in Uggla's place or either of the other outfield slots.
I think Simmons is a quality player at short.
If we're going to dump, let's dump. But to sign a 32 year old player coming off of his worst season to a 44 million dollar contract and claim building for the future? Get the fuck out of my face with that shit. If they hadn't given a shitty Upton an insane contract that NOBODY else would have ever given him, they would not have had to give away the hottest closer in baseball just to get rid of the shitty outfielder.
The front office has fucked this club, and they continue to fuck with 40 million dollar contracts to bums.
Yeah, the length of the contract and the commitment to $10+ a year screams a whole lot of WTF. But, the fact that he's 32 is what screams it the most. 4-5 years ago...absolutely. The guy was/is solid. If you check his stats, he doesn't miss games. In his prime, he was always a 20/80 .280 guy. But in the last 3-4 years, production has declined. And you want to pay him...or anybody $10 million at age 36? Yeah...WTF.
Otherwise, the more I look at the big picture, I see the opportunity to get back to damn good real fast. The key is very simply, does the new GM have the eye for talent to make the right moves? This guy didn't make the Upton deal. He didn't bring in Chopper's brother. And while we're talking about it.....
I can't be a hippo-krit. When they signed Uggla, I wasn't just on that bandwagon, I was driving that bad boy. When they signed the Uptons...yeah...it wasn't a matter of World Series. It was how many?
I thought Uggs was a good sign. Didn't work out. BJ Upton was NEVER worth what they paid him. EVER.
If they aren't going to mercy cut Freeman, then there is just one more major move to make at the end of this season. Fredi Gonzalez has to go. His teams haven't hit worth a shit.
Andrew McKirahan Suspended 80 Games for PEDs: Latest Details and Reaction
Atlanta Braves reliever Andrew McKirahan has been suspended 80 games by Major League Baseball for a violation of the league's performance-enhancing drug policy, the latest in what's becoming a rash of pitchers testing positive for PEDs.
I'm a Braves fan. Who is Andrew Mcrickecracken?
He was the gluten that was holding this patchwork team together. Sorry about the rest of your season.
Look, when they shipped Melvin BJ Suckton and his career .189 average off, I knew the season was toast. You don't overcome that kind of loss.
You're 8-4, 1.5 out of first.
If you played on the north side of Chicago, and you had success like that, you'd get a statue built of your manager outside the friendly confines.
You're 8-4, 1.5 out of first.
If you played on the north side of Chicago, and you had success like that, you'd get a statue built of your manager outside the friendly confines.
7-6.....Seven and six! Christ on a crutch we are awful.
The season has, like....a lot of games in it.
Two birds in hand are better...no
I'm still thinking a Cubs/Braves NLCS.
Unless you are Buzz. Then there's room for three or four.
Navy grad Harris knocking on big league door
Cards righty attempting to become second graduate of Naval Academy to reach Majors
JUPITER, Fla. -- As he sailed aboard the USS Ponce in the Persian Gulf, conducted drug stings in South America, and then served on diplomatic assignment in Russia, Mitch Harris refused to let the uncertainty interrupt the dream.
His required service in the United States Navy had already put that dream on hold, leaving Harris a professional baseball player without a mound from which to throw. The Cardinals had drafted and signed the 6-foot-4 right-hander out of the U.S. Naval Academy in 2008, but they were unable to get him into their system.
That's because Harris had an obligation he needed to meet.
With his enrollment at the Naval Academy had come a service commitment of five years. Multiple times, Harris petitioned to have his service time delayed in order to pursue a Major League career. Other professional athletes had appealed successfully under similar circumstances, but Harris was repeatedly denied such a waiver.
So as he followed through with his service and watched what should have been the prime years of his baseball career go by, Harris could only hold on to the hope that he hadn't missed his window. Which is why now, nearly seven years after the Cardinals used a 13th-round pick on a college senior they knew might never throw a pitch for the organization, Harris occasionally allows himself to think about what could soon be.
Following four years, eight months and eight days as an active officer, and another two trying to rediscover himself in the Minors, Lieutenant Mitchell Andrew Harris finds himself on the cusp of becoming the first graduate of the Naval Academy in 94 years -- and only the second ever -- to appear in a Major League Baseball game.
"That's hard to put in words," Harris said of such possibility. "The excitement. The pride of knowing that we did it the right way. The hard work. The time. The pain. The stress of wondering if it was ever going to happen. And then the fulfillment of knowing I reached my dream. It's hard to put into words exactly how I'm going to feel."
Finding Footing
The restart to Harris' professional baseball career began on Feb. 1, 2013, the day after the Navy officially released him from active duty. It was a few months before the five-year mark and came as a surprise to Harris, who was simply hoping to resume playing baseball that summer.
The Cardinals welcomed him back to the organization, with neither the club nor the pitcher knowing exactly what to expect. Though Harris had stayed in good physical shape while serving -- often, literally, on sea -- he hadn't been able to stay in prime baseball condition. Harris estimated that the first pitch he threw in front of a Cardinals coach that February registered 80 mph on the radar gun.
He had lost 12-14 mph on that pitch since his senior season.
"I was terrified," Harris said. "I was thinking, 'I wonder if everyone else is thinking what I'm thinking, which is, 'This guy doesn't belong here. Why is he here?' I knew it was in there. I knew my body felt great. It was, 'Can I stretch this out to get it back to where I know it can be and progress more than where I was?' I knew I could get stronger. But yeah, I was really worried."
Slowly, however, the velocity began to tick north.
The Cardinals estimated that Harris' fastball velocity was around 86-87 mph at the time they invited him to dress for the Cardinals' Grapefruit League game several weeks later on March 24. Manager Mike Matheny made it a point of pitching Harris against the Mets that afternoon, and Harris' service to the country was acknowledged as he entered the game to "Anchors Aweigh." He was introduced to the crowd as a Lieutenant.
"[We wanted] just to give him a chance to be here not knowing if that might be his only day in the sun," Matheny recalled. "Little did we know that he was going to improve to the level that he has and be one of the best in our organization."
Harris remembers exactly how things went that day -- he allowed four of the five batters he faced to reach and served up two home runs.
"It was kind of an eye-opener," Harris said. "One, I knew I wasn't ready. I didn't feel ready. But it was a motivation thing for me. I knew I could pitch there, but I knew I wasn't there yet. For me, that was a big influence over the next year and a half, to remind myself, 'However you feel or wherever you think you might be, you've got a lot of work to do.'"
Climbing the Ranks
Harris made only 20 official appearances in that 2013 season, with much of his time otherwise spent in extended spring camp. He actually did quite well, allowing three earned runs, 22 hits and 15 walks with 29 strikeouts over 33 1/3 innings with short-season Class A State College. But he didn't always feel right.
The questions nagged at him: How hard am I throwing? Is it hard enough to fool hitters? Can I get better movement on my pitches? Will my arm respond to the workload? And still: Do I really belong?
He was relearning skills that had once been so natural and playing catchup at an age where players are no longer considered prospects.
The turning point came late last May, after Harris graduated from Class A Advanced Palm Beach to Double-A Springfield. Harris estimated that it was a week into his new Double-A assignment that he threw a bullpen session in front of pitching coach Randy Niemann.
On the mound that afternoon, something clicked.
"That was the moment I really felt like, 'OK, now I can focus on pitching, not feeling good,'" Harris said. "I thought, 'I can actually worry about getting guys out and doing what I need to do on the mound as opposed to me just seeing if I can feel good and get the ball over the plate.'"
Some of those adjustments were mechanical. More were mental. Harris went on to pitch 33 games for Springfield and posted a 3.92 ERA, 1.168 WHIP and 34 strikeouts in 43 2/3 innings. He then earned an invite to the prospect-heavy Arizona Fall League, where he made 11 more appearances, struck out 12, allowed 13 hits and gave up six earned runs.
Though he was five-to-six years older than most players in the league, Harris left feeling like he had finally caught up.
"I hadn't felt complete," Harris said. "I hadn't really felt like I was at the place I needed to be. I wanted to see, 'Where am I? How close am I to being back to where I want to be?' I learned a lot of things. I learned that I'm getting back to where I want to be. I learned that I can compete at that level."
Zeroing In
These days, Harris doesn't take the mound to a military tune, nor is he introduced with his military title. He's just Mitch Harris, No. 73, one of 17 pitchers left in Cardinals camp fighting for a big league job.
It's unlikely that Harris will break camp with the Major League club given the plethora of pitching options the Cardinals have. But he'll almost certainly start in Triple-A, putting him one level away from that dream that, not all that long ago, was literally a half-a-world away.
He's allowed just one hit in five Grapefruit League appearances and is showcasing a cutter and split-finger fastball these days, along with a developing breaking ball. Though the radar gun at Roger Dean Stadium has been unreliable, Harris guesses that his fastball is back in the low-90s -- maybe a tick or two higher even, at times.
"It says a lot about his determination and his work, but also I think it says a lot about just seeing the potential that was there," Matheny said. "We've seen it. He's learning how to pitch. He's using his secondary pitches very well. And he has made himself a legitimate candidate to help us out at some time."
In other words, Harris is standing out again -- just as he did two years ago, but so much more self-assured this time. And as he looks back on the journey, Harris insists he wouldn't have changed a thing.
"Absolutely not," Harris said. "I think it makes me who I am. No one in this complex, or probably any complex, can say they did what I did. I wouldn't take that back for anything."
Its been a while since I have been just a little bit excited about the MLB, only because the two teams I followed somewhat haven't been very good in a long time. As a kid, the Cubs and Mets were always on if playing as I sit over at my grandmothers house during the summer months. The days of Sanberg, Grace, Dawson for the Cubs and Carter, Strawberry, Gooden for the Mets are like ancient history. I know its early on in the season and there are 432 games to go, but it seems like both teams are off to a decent start. The Cubs have lots of young talent and the Mets are pretty hot. Maybe these cats can keep it up so this summer won't be as long waiting on football to start.Nice story. But, if your grandmother had made you get off your lazy ass and get a summer job instead of laying around and watching the Mets, you might have actually amounted to something in life. So, I wouldn't necessarily look on those days as fond memories.
Nice story. But, if your grandmother had made you get off your lazy ass and get a summer job instead of laying around and watching the Mets, you might have actually amounted to something in life. So, I wouldn't necessarily look on those days as fond memories.
Unknowingly, you were setting yourself up to become the bum that you are today. I mean, seriously. No offense intended but I know you can't be working all of the days that I see you posting stuff on here. You are wasting valuable work time. Get back to work. It's ridiculous.
I admit I laughed and I know you were just being sar-cat-stick. Because everyone knows that any kid who ever sat over at the grandparent's house in the summer, was only sitting on their ass because that's where you shelled peas, cracked pecans and shucked corn.
I've shelled butter beans till my thumbs was so soe I couldn't hitch-hike.
I admit I laughed and I know you were just being sar-cat-stick. Because everyone knows that any kid who ever sat over at the grandparent's house in the summer, was only sitting on their ass because that's where you shelled peas, cracked pecans and shucked corn.
Nice story. But, if your grandmother had made you get off your lazy ass and get a summer job instead of laying around and watching the Mets, you might have actually amounted to something in life. So, I wouldn't necessarily look on those days as fond memories.
Unknowingly, you were setting yourself up to become the bum that you are today. I mean, seriously. No offense intended but I know you can't be working all of the days that I see you posting stuff on here. You are wasting valuable work time. Get back to work. It's ridiculous.
I admit I laughed and I know you were just being sar-cat-stick. Because everyone knows that any kid who ever sat over at the grandparent's house in the summer, was only sitting on their ass because that's where you shelled peas, cracked pecans and shucked corn.
I admit I laughed and I know you were just being sar-cat-stick. Because everyone knows that any kid who ever sat over at the grandparent's house in the summer, was only sitting on their ass because that's where you shelled peas, cracked pecans and shucked corn.
My grandmother made you "look" your peas and pick out any that had the slightest discernible flaw. And Lord help you if she found one in your bowl later.Yummy, yes. But as a kid, I was pretty picky about vegetables. Now, I don't think that there is one that I don't like. I guess because I haven't had to pick them in so long.
I was just thinking last week about helping with the vegetables every summer, and how good fresh tomatoes taste, and how yummy homemade creamed corn is. I got downright nostalgic. Great memories.
You fuckers need to find a new thread. This thread is supposed to be about how the Rangers are going to play the winner of the Braves/Cubs NLCS in the World Series.
You fuckers need to find a new thread. This thread is supposed to be about how the Rangers are going to play the winner of the Braves/Cubs NLCS in the World Series.
Shucking corn is much more interesting than the Braves right now...losers of 4 straight.
Quick summary, go Cubs.
This man knows.
Get pumped all you want, Cubby fans. I saw where Steve Bartman just got playoff tickets. Great seats. Right on the railing down the left field line.
He's bringing his glove.
So, the Cubs have promoted two guys in the week or so? Was watching some highlights from each team and they were saying the Russell kid is still fitting in at 2nd base. Not real sure why the Cubs would have moved him to 2nd if he has been doing so well at shortstop. Although, I didnt realize the Cubs were sucking so bad at 2nd base, so I guess they didn't have anything to lose. I'm still trying to learn all the new faces. This isn't my grandmammy's Cubs team.
Get pumped all you want, Cubby fans. I saw where Steve Bartman just got playoff tickets. Great seats. Right on the railing down the left field line.
He's bringing his glove.
Here's the real Steve Bartman
(http://www.korkedbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Steve-Bartman-Cardinal-Fan.jpg)
I will say this too about teams past, the 1995 Braves corp group of pitchers were badazz. I mean, dayum, I think other teams were giving out bonuses to their hitters if they could at least get on base. Out of the main 4, Smoltz was my favorite.
Aaaaaannnd...the Braves drop another. Let's see. 3 game series where they've scored maybe 5 runs combined. Frick, the shittiness is kicking in early. Yep, could be 105 losses.
Here's the real Steve Bartman
(http://www.korkedbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Steve-Bartman-Cardinal-Fan.jpg)
Is that what you're going to wear if I ever get you up to St Louis for a game?
2017 Astros World Series ring replica giveaway cancelled
By Matt Snyder | Baseball Writer
March 25, 2015 1:37 pm ET
As noted by my esteemed colleague Mike Axisa on Tuesday, the Fresno Grizzlies were all set to offer up these as a giveaway Aug. 15 (via Benjamin Hill):
The Grizzlies are the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros -- who Sports Illustrated boldly predicted would win the 2017 World Series last summer. The Astros apparently weren't too fired up about the attention from the promotion, because this thing has been shut down. From the Grizzlies press release:
“We met internally and have decided to replace the 2017 Houston Astros World Championship Ring with a more Fresno-centric giveaway, which more aligns with our marketing plans for 2015 and beyond,†stated Derek Franks, Grizzlies General Manager. “We do not want a Fresno Grizzlies giveaway to be perceived as a jinx for our Major League affiliate.â€
“We appreciate that our affiliate is as optimistic as our fans are about the future of the Astros,†said Astros President Reid Ryan. “The Grizzlies will see some of the Astros top talent coming through Chukchansi Park, and we wish their whole team the best of luck in the upcoming 2015 season.â€
As I noted above, I don't believe this is a coincidence. The Astros have dealt with plenty of mockery from outside the organization for the 2017 crowning and there's no reason for a minor-league affiliate to push it. The guess is the powers-that-be saw the story get legs Tuesday and told the Grizzlies this wasn't an acceptable giveaway.
Or they really do believe in things like jinxes, which is a whole different issue altogether.
Wink of the CBS Eye: Big League Stew
First the state! Then the World!
Not sure how I missed this:
Braves finally get off the schnide....whatever a schnide is....with an 8-4 win over the Nationals. In other news, albeit not brand new news, Adam Wainright is gone for the season with a torn thingy behind the ankle. Now that is a seriously big blow to the Cards. AW is as badass as they come.
And Baltimore got crazy hot in hanging 18 on my BoSox the other day. Yeah, I said "my BoSox". They've been my adopted bandwagon AL team for years, just to have somebody to pull for against the Yankmee's. Anyway, the Orioles have to wait to see if the bats are still smoking because the city of Baltimore is smoking after numerous concerned citizens decided to show their support in peaceful protest of the Freddie Gray death by burning, stealing, looting and attacking police officers, 15 of which were injured tonight.
Speaking of Baltimore rioting, not everyone is happy to have a family member joining in the peaceful protests. Mama gone beat dat ass.I'll bet discussing corporal punishment with her would be interesting.
https://youtu.be/VRlmCf1Kj2o
I'll bet discussing corporal punishment with her would be interesting.
Hate the Yankees passionately. Always have. Adopted the Red Sox years ago for that reason. Became a full-fledged completely immersed Sox fan on April 25, 2004. Went to Yankees Stadium to see them play. I was struck by just how much like us they were. Pedro pitched a beautiful game. Manny stroked a two-run homer and Boston swept the Yanks.
I was harassed on the way in by Yankee fans. Saw constant harassment and abuse during the game. And even after it was over and the Yanks had been swept at home, they started chanting "1918, 1918..." They were just like Bama fans. Same elitist attitude. And we were like Boston. When they won the '04 Series? That's when I knew we could win it all too. And would. Should have in '04.
I'm still a Braves fan out of respect for my grandmother, but given the choice of watching Boston or Atlanta? I'm choosing the Sox.
Try wearing a Cardinals hat (who have no rivalry with any team in the AL save for KC) to Fenway when the Redbirds are playing there, and get back to me about how much like Auburn they are. I've had nicer people throw urine bombs at me at Tiger Stadium.
I'll bet discussing corporal punishment with her would be interesting.
Did I mention that the Astros are in first place in their division, 4 games ahead of the next closest team?
And on a 5 game winning streak?
I know, it ain't gonna last and I probably jinxed it, but damn if it still ain't fun to type.
Whee.
Well, the rangers reacquired Josh Hamilton so we should drugs and alcohol back in the dugout.
Well, the rangers reacquired Josh Hamilton so we should drugs and alcohol back in the dugout.
Weren't they playing better when they had those things there before?
Okay then.
Let me be clear about something.
fudge Dan Uggla. Well, let's give a big F.U. to the fine Braves pitching staff that blew a 10-2 lead to lose 13-12 to the Craptionals. But a 3 run homer by Uggla in the 9th to win it? That pathetic little shoot had 5 RBI's on the night. Know how many he had all of last year when the Braves were paying $189,884,934.00 per game of his salary?
10
Know what he hit in 3+ years with the Braves after collecting $12,337,995,002.00 kwazillion and increasing the National Debt by 14%? .136 with 2 HR's and 13 RBI's. The Braves are teh suck. Even getting 12 runs and 18 hits....they lose. But fudge that Ewok bastard. You're a multi-bwaskwillionaire for taking 3 years OFF!!!!! You're a big part of the reason this franchise had to wholesale everyone and start over.
Go gloat in some other universe. I'm busy wallowing in self-pity and you're disturbing my severe state of depression.
I'm more like the kid who fully expected a box of cotton granny panties for her birthday and instead got a pink pony pulling a trailer full of Godiva chocolates and hundred dollar bills.
Color me shocked.
You use your mouth purtyer than a $20 whore. Wait...you aren't you a $20 whore, are you?
She's at least a $50 one.
I wouldn't even accept your phone call for $50.
I wouldn't even accept your phone call for $50.
Do you take credit cards?
Gawt dam Braves just gave up 13 runs for the second night in a row. Has that ever happened?
They are really gonna have to shore up their pitching before the NLCS begins.
Gonna have to change my caller id to Nathan FillionYou might be on to something.
Did I mention that the Astros are in first place in their division, 4 games ahead of the next closest team?
And on a5SIX game winning streak?
I know, it ain't gonna last and I probably jinxed it, but damn if it still ain't fun to type.
Whee.
You just text me the number, expiration, billing zip and security code and I'll let you know.
Wait. You got fifteen kids. You ain't got no damn credick.
Cardinals gotz the best record. They be playin da Cubs right now. Pretty good game.
5-4 after one inning with both teams batting around.
Braves finally beat the Phillies after 5 tries. 9-0 win. Most significant was Shelby Miller, picked up from the Cards, threw a 3 hit, complete game shutout. Threw 99 pitches total. Rare to see complete games, much less one in under 100 pitches. Braves will struggle all year but there's a few bright spots and Miller has easily been the most consistent starter.
I think the Cubs need to add another pitcher to the staff they have now.
I still think they are a year or two out from really contending.
I've heard a lot of people say that. I like what they have done with all these young guys. Its a solid team that bats well and plays well together. I've seen some untimely errors though that maybe is a result of all the youth on the team. At least they are fun to watch again.
I have been officially bitch slapped by the BKG. and the Suckasstros are back. Drop three AT HOME to the f'ing Rangers. :king:
I have been officially bitch slapped by the BKG. and the Suckasstros are back. Drop three AT HOME to the f'ing Rangers.
:king:
*snicker*
(http://lubbockonline.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/superphoto/12221226.jpg)
Why is there an anteater on your field???
That's not an anteater. That's ALF.
If you guys didn't watch the Braves, you missed a damn good one. They pounded out two hits and cruised to a 5-1 loss against the Reds.
If you guys didn't watch the Braves, you missed a damn good one. They pounded out two hits and cruised to a 5-1 loss against the Reds.
The Cards one upped them! They struck out 18 (yes, 18 times) in an AL park, meaning we used a DH. And got one hit. That's all we got? ONE GOD DAMN HIT?
Had this been played in a NL park, he might have struck out 21.
You can't say goddamn on the air!
Does anyone know when the pitchers and catchers report?
Cubs on a 5 game win streak with a 12th inning win against the Pirates. They have reached the 20 game mark.
The Pirate right fielder stumbling around like he had epilepsy on a routine fly ball was pretty funny.
Thank you, Cards.
Mets 1-0 top of the 8th with both starting pitchers still in.
Cards scratch out a run to tie against the Mets closer. First blown save and Harvey misses another win after that performance. It's why the Cards are the Cards.
Cards bats have been in the shitter for the past week. Need a live chicken for bats.
Cards bats were not shootty last night. They opened a can of whoop ass on the Mets.
Look like the Nats and the Giants are the hot teams right. The Astros and Cardinals have the best records. The Braves, however, control their own destiny sitting at 18-20.
It is your destiny to bite my a$$. The Braves will rise. Whoooaaa Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh (Or however that chop chant thingy goes)
Look like the Nats and the Giants are the hot teams right. The Astrosand Cardinalshave the best records. The Braves, however, control their own destiny sitting at 18-20.
The important part of that post needed to be emphasized...
The important part of that post needed to be emphasized...
Looks like the Astros got another against the A's. I really like the looks of Minute Maid Park.
(http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/04/78/3c/91/kfc-kentucky-fried-chicken.jpg)
Braves whip some Ray ass....okay...by a run. But we're only 1 game under .500. So, there's that.Pffft
Not really a Royals fan or anything, but damn these guys are good.
Mats Syndergaard pitches a scoreless 7 innings with 3 hits with one of those being a big time homer.I could give a shit about baseball, but I'm pretty sure that would have to be some kind of unique feat, statistically speaking
What? Nothing about the Braves blockbuster trade!
What? Nothing about the Braves blockbuster trade!
There is no "I" in Urbe.He was quoted as saying, "Baseaballas been vedry, vedry goode to mea."
http://m.braves.mlb.com/news/article/126624892/braves-trade-alberto-callaspo-to-dodgers (http://m.braves.mlb.com/news/article/126624892/braves-trade-alberto-callaspo-to-dodgers)
I am failing to understand the raging hard on for one of the most undesireable franchises in pro sports. Even most New Yorkers wish the Mets didn't exist.
I am failing to understand the raging hard on for one of the most undesireable franchises in pro sports. Even most New Yorkers wish the Mets didn't exist.
I am failing to understand the raging hard on for one of the most undesireable teams in college sports. Even most Alabamians wish Auburn didn't exist.
I am failing to understand the raging hard on for one of the most undesireable franchises in pro sports. Even most New Yorkers wish the Mets didn't exist.
You sound like a bammer.
Its like a race card, but for college football. I hope you are in no way drawing parallels between your beloved Mets and Auburn. The appropriate comparison in that situation would be the Red Sox if at all.
I mean, you're giving play by play and dishing out smack talk on behalf of the Mets. Dude....
Slow your roll GH, I know your mad cause the Braves suck but its gonna be ok. Besides, I thought smack talk was the norm here.
:poke:
In all seriousness though, I can see the parallels with the Sox/Yankees but to me Mets/Yankees seem to be a closer relation. Not talking about the fan base personality really, more the proximity and the rivalry.
I got more emotionally vested in the Hawks the last two seasons than I have in the Braves in a long time.:haha:
Cubs lost a close one today in extra innings.
Blue Jays on a 9 game win streak.
Its his new hobby folks. He hopes to be editing for Clay Travis articles next year.
Oh yeah? Well, go lick some donkey balls. I'm better than Clay Travis.
By the way, Mets Mets METS!
St. Louis Cardinals Investigated by F.B.I. for Hacking Astros
WASHINGTON — The F.B.I. and Justice Department prosecutors are investigating whether front-office officials for the St. Louis Cardinals, one of the most successful teams in baseball over the past two decades, hacked into internal networks of a rival team to steal closely guarded information about player personnel.
Investigators have uncovered evidence that Cardinals officials broke into a network of the Houston Astros that housed special databases the team had built, according to law enforcement officials. Internal discussions about trades, proprietary statistics and scouting reports were compromised, the officials said.
The officials did not say which employees were the focus of the investigation or whether the team’s highest-ranking officials were aware of the hacking or authorized it. The investigation is being led by the F.B.I.’s Houston field office and has progressed to the point that subpoenas have been served on the Cardinals and Major League Baseball for electronic correspondence.
The attack represents the first known case of corporate espionage in which a professional sports team has hacked the network of another team. Illegal intrusions into companies’ networks have become commonplace, but it is generally conducted by hackers operating in foreign countries, like Russia and China, who steal large tranches of data or trade secrets for military equipment and electronics.
Major League Baseball “has been aware of and has fully cooperated with the federal investigation into the illegal breach of the Astros’ baseball operations database,†a spokesman for baseball’s commissioner, Rob Manfred, said in a written statement.
The Cardinals officials under investigation have not been put on leave, suspended or fired. The commissioner’s office is likely to wait until the conclusion of the government’s investigation to determine whether to take disciplinary action against the officials or the team.
The case is a rare mark of ignominy for the Cardinals, one of the sport’s most revered and popular organizations. The team has the best record in baseball this season (42-21), regularly commands outsize television ratings and has reached the National League Championship Series nine times since 2000. The Cardinals, who last won the World Series in 2011, have 11 titles over all, second only to the Yankees.
Their owner, Bill DeWitt, is a highly regarded executive who last year was in charge of the search committee for a new commissioner to replace the retiring Bud Selig.
Law enforcement officials believe the hacking was executed by vengeful front-office employees for the Cardinals hoping to wreak havoc on the work of Jeff Luhnow, the Astros’ general manager who had been a successful and polarizing executive with the Cardinals until 2011.
From 1994 to 2012, the Astros and the Cardinals were division rivals, in the National League. For a part of that time, Mr. Luhnow was a Cardinals executive, primarily handling scouting and player development. One of many innovative thinkers drawn to the sport by the “Moneyball†phenomenon, he was credited with building baseball’s best minor league system, as well as drafting several players who would become linchpins of the Cardinals’ 2011 World Series-winning team.
The Astros hired Mr. Luhnow as general manager in December 2011, and he quickly began applying his unconventional approach to running a baseball team. In an exploration of the team’s radical transformation, Bloomberg Business called it “a project unlike anything baseball has seen before.â€
Under Mr. Luhnow, the Astros have accomplished a striking turnaround; they are in first place in the American League West division. But in 2013, before their revival at the major league level, their internal deliberations about statistics and players were compromised, law enforcement officials said.
The intrusion did not appear to be sophisticated, the law enforcement officials said. When Mr. Luhnow was with the Cardinals, the organization built a computer network, called Redbird, to house all of their baseball operations information — including scouting reports and player personnel information. After leaving to join the Astros, and bringing some front-office personnel with him from the Cardinals, Houston created a similar program known as Ground Control.
Ground Control contained the Astros’ “collective baseball knowledge,†according to a Bloomberg Business article published last year. The program took a series of variables and “weights them according to the values determined by the team’s statisticians, physicist, doctors, scouts and coaches,†the article said.
Investigators believe Cardinals officials, concerned that Mr. Luhnow had taken their idea and proprietary baseball information to the Astros, examined a master list of passwords used by Mr. Luhnow and the other officials who had joined the Astros when they worked for the Cardinals. The Cardinals officials are believed to have used those passwords to gain access to the Astros’ network, law enforcement officials said.
Last year, some of the information was posted anonymously online, according to an article on Deadspin. Among the details that were exposed were trade discussions that the Astros had with other teams. Mr. Luhnow was asked at the time whether the breach would affect how he dealt with other teams. “Today I used a pencil and paper in all my conversations,†he said.
Believing that the Astros’ network had been compromised by a rogue hacker, Major League Baseball notified the F.B.I., and the authorities in Houston opened an investigation. Agents soon found that the Astros’ network had been entered from a computer at a home that some Cardinals officials had lived in. The agents then turned their attention to the team’s front office.
St. Louis Saints
More surprised someone WANTED to hack the Astros....why??
News/views: Cardinals investigated for hacking
44
News/views • Pirates
BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC
News: The Cardinals are being investigated by the FBI and the Justice Department for hacking into the Astros’ baseball database, per the New York Times.
Views: It’s a sensational story on the surface, no question. It’s got all the fodder of Patriots-sized headlines, public outrage, Today show, Oprah, the whole deal.
But sorry, upon digging past that surface, there just isn’t much there.
I know this won’t be a popular view, because we all love to hate the Cardinals, but this comes across as little more than a bunch of stats geeks hating Jeff Luhnow, their old boss in St. Louis and now the GM in Houston, and wanting to find a way to stick it to him.
Now, that’s egregious in its own right and deserves to be punished accordingly, especially if it can be proven that anyone over the geeks’ heads had any clue about this. It’s petty, malicious and, hey, it’s illegal, too. Throw the full weight of the law and Major League Baseball at all concerned. And let Rob Manfred, in his first big challenge, lead that charge rather than follow.
But the broader perception from this story will be, if it already isn’t, that the Cardinals were hacking for the purposes of cheating or toward some competitive advantage. Which, of course, along with their perennial success, would put them in a class with Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and the cheating Patriots. And I just don’t see that here.
If you’re going to hack into someone’s system for a competitive edge, why the Astros, who aren’t even in the same league, much less the same division, anymore?
Why not hack into the systems in Pittsburgh or Chicago or Milwaukee?
Look, these geeks can be a stomach-turning lot, and by that I’m referring to the ones employed by teams. They’re arrogant, insufferable and, as I found out first-hand when writing some critical things about the Pirates’ processes a few years back, they can be vindictive, too.
But even the investigators interviewed by the Times seem to acknowledge that the only apparent motive in this hacking was this hatred of Luhnow. That’s apparently how the secrets got out last year. And to repeat, if that’s the case, punish accordingly.
Labeling the Cardinals as some broad-scoped cheaters over this … eh, I’ll wait for more.
... we all love to hate the Cardinals...
Read all I needed to. fudgeing bammers of MLB.
Cardinals have the best record in the MLB by far, so haters gonna hate. Personally I don't have anything against the Cards, except they could help the Cubs out by losing about 10 games in a row. Nothing much.
Latest On Investigation Into Astros Computer Breach
By Jeff Todd [June 16, 2015 at 11:09pm CDT]
11:09pm: Apart from whatever criminal charges could arise, the league’s punishment of the Cardinals (if any) will depend upon “how high knowledge of [the] breach reached,†according to Passan (links to Twitter).
If the investigation reveals only a single “rogue employee,†there may not be any significant repercussions for the organization, says Passan. But severe penalties could result if top officials are shown to have acted improperly. The timeline of league action will be slowed by the fact that the FBI investigation remains private, Passan adds.
10:50pm: The FBI investigation into the breach of the Astros’ computer systems is in its final stages, according to the Houston Chronicle’s David Barron and Evan Drellich. A source tells the Chronicle that “the suspects [have] been narrowed to a group of four to five individuals within the Cardinals organization.â€
Per the report, in addition to the 2013 breach discussed in the New York Times piece that broke the story of the investigation, impermissible access to the system also occurred in March of last year. That would seem to coincide with a report from Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports indicating that the computer which gained entry to the Astros’ systems had been traced to a house in Jupiter, Florida — the Spring Training home of the Cardinals — which was occupied by multiple St. Louis employees. (Notably, also, the information released publicly appears to line up with the timing reported by the Chronicle.)
The Cardinals have conducted internal interviews with their personnel regarding the matter, Drellich adds on Twitter, and Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post Dispatch notes that many members of the front office have hired attorneys. St. Louis released a statement earlier today indicating that the club “has fully cooperated with the investigation and will continue to do so.†Per Goold’s report, that included turning over computers to the FBI back in Feburary.
As things stand, it remains unreported precisely which Cardinals personnel are suspected of involvement with the actual computer breach — let alone what involvement organizational higher-ups may have had in the infraction, the public disclosure of information, and/or events subsequent. Needless to say, regardless of who is ultimately deemed to have committed the breaches, those questions will remain a source of intense interest going forward.
the computer which gained entry to the Astros’ systems had been traced to a house in Jupiter, Florida
I should also add:
Where was GF during this time?
So you like the Mets and the Cubs?? Holy shit dude. We gotta go fishing and talk this shit out. There's a better way I promise.
I should also add:
Where was GF during this time?
Hey GH, just thought I'd let you know the Mets and Cubs will be on ESPN tomorrow night. Glad to be of help.
Is the winner gonna duke it out with the Caveliers for most putrid franchise in sports the last 60 years?
But seriously, sounds like its gonna be an epic tennis matchup....its the Australian open right?
Not hard to do when you've got all their super-secret info after hacking their account.
You want me to tell them to focus their efforts on the Braves?
Look a little closer.
Ahhhh. You are correct. It was the French open. My bad.
For Buzz:
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71dC%2BODOiqL._SL1500_.jpg)
Well, the Braves keep me hanging around. Coming into the season, with the complete sell off and roster of no names and has beens, I was sure they'd be 20 games under .500 and just a notch below Sponge Bob reruns on the must watch list. A week ago, I thought they were finally headed that way, but now that they just took 2 out of 3 from the league leading Nationals, they're 5 or 6 games out and 38-41 in a wide open division.
Now 38-41 is not exactly kicking ass. I get it. But, this is a group of guys fighting like hell to make it. Blame management for putting them in this situation. They've obviously cleaned house and building for the future. And the fans will pay for it for a couple of years. But this team is sort of fun to watch. Different line up every night. Guys playing their ass off to impress. Not far from .500 and first. They don't kill the ball. They're pitching is far from dominant. But every night is a scrap.
I know I keep waiting for that 12 game losing streak to destroy the season.......but at the same time, it feels like if they make a trade or two and get a couple of hot bats.......
If the rain cooperates, I'm going over to see the Bravos tomorrow. Anyone in particular y'all want me to heckle?
If the rain cooperates, I'm going over to see the Bravos tomorrow. Anyone in particular y'all want me to heckle?
Is it too late to be heckle Markdoubleplaykis?
He took care of that himself. Good God, the Braves bullpen is horrid.
And that's one of the frustrating things about the sell-off. Their overall staff was one of the better ones in the majors last year. Hitting was down at the bottom. So they ship the only guys that could hit and trade for a bunch of shootty bullpen arms. BTW, Evan Gattis has 14 HR's and 50 RBI's right now for Houston.
On the road. The Braves take the first two from a team that had won 8 in a row. Now at .500 with a 42-42 record. Over half way. And by the way, although Nick Markdoubleplaykakis may not be what we thought we signed up for.....he's hitting right at .300 and is 5th in the National League in hits.After unloading in the offseason, a .500 record would be considered a win. Ive seen teams with much more talent and at the cap max with worse records.
The kid getting his second start, Maneul Banuelossapolopolis or whatever his name is, pitched damn good again. He looks good. The Cards are the class of baseball...period. Running away with it. But, I'm getting hooked on this rag tag bunch of Bravos.
On the road. The Braves take the first two from a team that had won 8 in a row. Now at .500 with a 42-42 record. Over half way. And by the way, although Nick Markdoubleplaykakis may not be what we thought we signed up for.....he's hitting right at .300 and is 5th in the National League in hits.
The kid getting his second start, Maneul Banuelossapolopolis or whatever his name is, pitched damn good again. He looks good. The Cards are the class of baseball...period. Running away with it. But, I'm getting hooked on this rag tag bunch of Bravos.
Hell. AJ and Gomes look young again. Whouda thunk it!
What happened with Bethancourt? He was the supposed to be the future at catcher. The Braves site says he's not on the active roster.
Can't hit. Sent back to AAA.
Brave are "looking" around at young catchers.
I hear Jake Taylor has a few good years left in him.
Can't hit. Sent back to AAA.
Brave are "looking" around at young catchers.
They should get in touch with Jared. I'm sure he knows a few good, young catchers.What do you expect? He is a pitchman, after all.......
So....the Mets aquire Uribe and Johnson from the Braves. Good I guess?
The Cubbies need to aquire another starting and closing pitcher.
This is trade deadline week.
David Price's name is floating around in the Cubs camp. That would be huge.
David Price's name is floating around in the Cubs camp. That would be huge.
Say, did you check out David Price on Sports Center?
No, didn't catch it. Why?
Not only was his fast ball working, he also had a bulge in his pants the size of Cleveland.
Damn, David Price has always been so hot.
Tell me about it. Nobody's uniform pants accentuate their ass cheeks more than David Price.
Preachin' to the choir, son. Getting David Price here in Chicago would be awesome. I wouldn't care if we didn't win the pennant as long as I got to see David Price every day in the locker room.
Hey, we're the Cubs. We never win. But, you know what would be a huge win? Signing David Price and getting his ass in the Wrigley Field showers every day.
I heard that. Keep floating his name out there. Maybe we could convince him to come and if he actually did.....holy damn....
Well done impression of simp. Well done.
He probably listens to Florida Georgia Line too.
UUUhh duh. Everybody's choice of MLB sucketh except for mine, of which I have none.....well maybe the Braves when they don't suck.
UUUhh duh. Everybody's choice of MLB sucketh except for mine, of which I have none.....well maybe the Braves when they don't suck.
I really could careless. Baseball is simply a small gap between the end of the NBA playoffs and start of CFB to me and nothing more. I couldn't tell you if the Braves are good or bad on most given days, only what I get from the Snags/Token updates on here. They sit still more in baseball now than they do in golf...zzzzzzz.....
I really could careless. Baseball is simply a small gap between the end of the NBA playoffs and start of CFB to me and nothing more. I couldn't tell you if the Braves are good or bad on most given days, only what I get from the Snags/Token updates on here. They sit still more in baseball now than they do in golf...zzzzzzz.....
Say, did you check out David Price on Sports Center?
No, didn't catch it. Why?
Not only was his fast ball working, he also had a bulge in his pants the size of Cleveland.
Damn, David Price has always been so hot.
Tell me about it. Nobody's uniform pants accentuate their ass cheeks more than David Price.
Preachin' to the choir, son. Getting David Price here in Chicago would be awesome. I wouldn't care if we didn't win the pennant as long as I got to see David Price every day in the locker room.
Hey, we're the Cubs. We never win. But, you know what would be a huge win? Signing David Price and getting his ass in the Wrigley Field showers every day.
I heard that. Keep floating his name out there. Maybe we could convince him to come and if he actually did.....holy damn....
Enough with the BIL shower stories.
As I was finally excited about watching Cubs baseball in July, they go and get swept. At home. By the Phillies.
:facepalm:
The Braves are going to be really good in a few years. If they could get a bat, they would contend for a WC this year.Did they break their last one? Maybe they could borrow one - that guy in the on-deck circle doesn't really need his. That new over-priced ballpark must be really setting them back if they can't buy another one.....
I used to love baseball. For years I watched a hundred games or more a season.
Braves fan. Red Sox fan. A's fan. Hated the Yankees, the Phils, the Mets, the Dodgers.
Starting about the time Sosa, McGwire and Bonds turned into cartoon figures my interest began to wane.
I still like to go to the park occasionally, but I can't make myself sit through a regular season game on TV any more. Rarely watch, haven't watched at all this season. Still know the game, but the players bounce around so much it's hard to know who they are from day to day. Who's on first? No seriously. Who the hell is that guy?
I used to love baseball. For years I watched a hundred games or more a season.
Braves fan. Red Sox fan. A's fan. Hated the Yankees, the Phils, the Mets, the Dodgers.
Starting about the time Sosa, McGwire and Bonds turned into cartoon figures my interest began to wane.
I still like to go to the park occasionally, but I can't make myself sit through a regular season game on TV any more. Rarely watch, haven't watched at all this season. Still know the game, but the players bounce around so much it's hard to know who they are from day to day. Who's on first? No seriously. Who the hell is that guy?
David Price's name is floating around in the Cubs camp. That would be huge.
Wait till we get Nomar!
Wait till we get Nomar!
(https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/11822438_10103145753835961_4206620474541366624_n.jpg?oh=fa1be2ab6d4d78e5c5f485de116f275b&oe=565389CA)
GH privately cries
So, the Braves gutted the team before the start of the season. Most everyone wrote them off and rightfully so. Surprisingly, they stayed fairly competitive and were about .500 at the All Star break. No one was running away with the division so the second half could have been fun to watch.
:facepalm:
Holy crap. Not only have they sucked monkey balls since the break, but management has continued the wholesale raping of the roster. Juan Uribe...gone....Chris Johnson....see ya'....Jim Johnson...Bye Bye....Louis Avilan....Hasta la vista....and now Alex Wood....rear view mirror.
I'm now officially in Token mode. I'll check back with them in 2016.
Watched the Steve Bartman story earlier tonight. I soooo want to punch every Cub fan in the forehead.
Hard!!!
Watched the Steve Bartman story earlier tonight. I soooo want to punch every Cub fan in the forehead.
Hard!!!
Glad somebody has something to pay attention to the rest of the season. I said earlier I'm done with the Braves until 16'. I am.
PM me your address, and I'll get you a St Louis Cardinals Hat. You should be able to use it in most Octobers.
PM me your address, and I'll get you a St Louis Cardinals Hat. You should be able to use it in most Octobers.
I still have my phone set to give updates on my favorite teams. So I still know what's going on with Atlanta even though I don't watch or really even pay attention to the updates. Today though, I get an update saying the Braves traded for Michael Borne and Nick Swisher? I know those names. Why are we getting them? Exactly what in the hell are we doing? Are we in a pennant race and I don't know it? I thought we were dumping everyone?
seriously??? We traded Bourne 2 years ago because he couldn't hit. Swisher? He's been a Yankme's mainstay for several years if memory serves. What's the fucking plan?
seriously??? We traded Bourne 2 years ago because he couldn't hit. Swisher? He's been a Yankme's mainstay for several years if memory serves. What's the fudgeing plan?
So the Cubs and Blue Jays are the hot streaking teams since the trade deadline with both at 9-1 in the last 10 games. The NL Central are sporting some dang good teams. The Cardinals, Pirates and the Cubs. The Cubs have just as good of a record as most other division leader yet they are in 3rd place in their own division.
The Cubs scare me. They are going to be good for a long time.
Pirates are good too. Not sure about their longevity but they are pretty dang good right now. Maddon has put together a nice team in Chicago. Lots of young talent that could make some noise. Those two along with the Cardinals, looks to be setting up a real strong division for a long time to come.
Not sure how long the Pirates will contend, although they did extend Cutch a few years ago to a long term deal. They just don't strike me as being big spenders. Cubs will be good a long time. Cards will always contend, I'll be curious to see what they do this off season, they just signed a deal with Fox Sports that will give them an additional 30M a year in payroll money.
Who are the Braves playing tonight?
nobody is listening anyway.
In case you missed it, and judging by attendance, you did; the Cubs have managed to win a few games and threaten to climb out of the cellar.
In case you missed it, and judging by attendance, you did; the Cubs have managed to win a few games and threaten to climb out of the cellar.
In case you missed it, and judging by attendance, you did; the Cubs have managed to win a few games and threaten to climb out of the cellar.
Sooooo.....Jake Arrieta throws a no-hitter with 12Ks against the Dodgers tonight. NICE!
I told Buzz last night that I'm going to really hate playing the Cubs in the NLDS.
I told Buzz last night that I'm going to really hate playing theCubsPirates in the NLDS.
You ok Jarhead? At least the Cards didn't get swept at home.
Cardinals, Mets, Dodgers Cubs in the playoffs? I'm sorry but the American can't match that this year.
No lie, I had already sent Buzz the picture of the broom to use.
You jinxed it for me! :facepalm:
I think the Texas Rangers are too. Oh yea, GO Rangers.
I think the Texas Rangers are too. Oh yea, GO Rangers.
Bandwagon ass mother fucker
Cubs will win the NLDS in 4.
Or lose in Pittsburgh
Anyone see Cards outfielded Stepher Piscotty carted off last night?
Not sure if he will go to the DL or not, tests are negative.
Any if you didn't hear, Carlos Martinez shut down for the year, including post season. Molina injured, won't play during the regular season, status for post season unknown. We're the fucking sick bay commandos.
In good news, Adam Wainwright will be activated today, and will pitch out of the bullpen, expect to see him tomorrow night vs Pittsburgh.
Even then, Cards beat the Pirates.
BOOM!
You don't say much, but when you don't, you don't say much.
Predictions? I really don't like this matchup for the Cards. We don't have the bats to go toe to toe with the Cubs. Going with Cubs in 4.
Marty McFly may have been right. Just sayin...
Against Miami!?
See, I love watching good pitchers do their thing. Even though we have to face that bastard in the next round, I really enjoy watching someone dominate a game like that.
Marty McFly may have been right. Just sayin...
Goold: St. Louisan sees his 'Back to Future II' Cubs joke arrive as reality
CHICAGO • It took a St. Louisan to send the Chicago Cubs to the 2015 World Series.
While writing the script nearly three decades ago for the sequel to the beloved time-traveling vehicle, “Back to the Future,†University City native Bob Gale and co-creator Robert Zemeckis imagined a future that nearly is here. They needed a spark, something to send the plot hurtling forward — at 88 mph, of course — and Gale thought of a sign from above. Literally.
His hero, Michael J. Fox’s Marty McFly, had just arrived on Oct. 21, 2015, and the script called for a narrative epiphany, something to inspire McFly’s sports-betting scheme. McFly looked up to see a hologram sportscast announcing the result of the World Series. Chaos could ensue once McFly realized the most unexpected team had won, that “100 to 1 shot,†as another character says. Gale had already put an American League team in Miami, so the winner had to resonate.
Most of all, it had to be funny.
“It’s just more ridiculous that it’s the Cubs,†he said.
As the postseason Gale predicted approaches, there isn’t an American League team in Miami, but there is a contender in Chicago. A year after losing 89 games, the Cubs won their 87th game Saturday. With a 5-4 victory against the first-place Cardinals at Wrigley Field, the third-place Cubs moved five back in the division title race and maintained a healthy lead for one of the National League’s two wild-card berths. This year, as “Back to the Future†celebrates its 30th anniversary and fans ready for the arrival of the day McFly spent in 2015, the Cubs are far from a joke. They might be the future.
On Oct. 21, 2015 — the day Doc Brown’s DeLorean time-machine arrived in “Back to the Future II†— Game 4 of the National League championship series is scheduled. Coincidentally, that is the earliest that the Cubs can win their first pennant since 1945. Great Scott.
“Having the Cubs as the rival I grew up with, I was much more tuned into the Cubs than I would have been if I had grown up in Baltimore or something,†Gale said during an interview that was a bit of a prediction itself. It was conducted at the beginning of this season, in part to be prepared for a weekend series like this one between the Cardinals-Cubs that had postseason implications.
“I’ve always been a Cardinals fan. You can’t grow up in St. Louis without it. There’s something wrong with you if you say you’re from St. Louis and you’re not a Cardinals fan. Even the immigrants become Cardinals fans. The first Cardinal game I went to — I guess I was 7 or 8 — and it was against the Cubs. I got to see Ernie Banks play.â€
As the Cubs reached the All-Star break in the conversation for contention and then asserted themselves, there surfaced this notion that they were one season ahead of schedule. Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer had stripped the organization for parts and rebuilt it through several years of last-place finishes. The goal for 2015 was to welcome new manager Joe Maddon and start integrating the talent gathered from trades, international spending, and several years of high draft picks. The message the Cubs wanted to send was that this year was the last year of “Wait ’Til Next Year.â€
Actions said differently.
The Cubs spent $25 million to land Maddon as manager, $155 million to lure free-agent starter Jon Lester, and several millions more to outfit the roster with catcher Miguel Montero and starter Jason Hammel.
The talk of being a year early “might just have been a cover in case it didn’t work,†Cardinals reliever Carlos Villanueva said. He spent the last two years with the rebuilding Cubs. “The two years of rebuilding and people were on Theo. ‘We’re tired of waiting.’ They say, ‘Trust us, trust us. We’re sticking to a plan. Trust the plan.’ Well, now you see the results. Definitely they’re standing around this offseason and they’re like, ‘We made this investment, we’re going for it.’â€
With the infusion of young talent and the gelling of free agents, the Cubs have been one of the few teams that has improved internally throughout the course of the season.
Cardinals manager Mike Matheny remarked this weekend how the Cubs, even a year ago, “were a radically different team than what we saw in the first third of the season.†That, Cubs officials will explain, is part of a radical shift in culture as well. The Cubs have spent five months electrifying the North Side — at 1.21 gigawatts, no doubt — but only because of four years of planning. The Cubs invested in player development, homogenizing the lessons and expectations throughout the levels and also individualizing player reviews and goals. Including the planned renovations at Wrigley, the Cubs also improved travel conditions and other amenities for big-league players.
They invited a different attitude, too. Maddon has talked often this season about needing to believe they can win at Busch Stadium. Even the comments this weekend about the Cardinals hitting batters hint of Maddon sending messages to his players to consider their team an equal. One former player said several years ago the sense in the clubhouse was “we were just pushovers.â€
A subtle change happened within the system, where they felt it was important to reclaim the meaning of their numb.
“People would use the term Cubs in a derogatory way. That’s ‘just Cubs.’ They’ll screw it up,†Epstein told the Post-Dispatch at the start of this season. “That’s the Cubs. The lovable losers. That’s the Cubs. They never win. In our system, the word ‘Cub’ was being used as a compliment. If someone backed up a play or was in the right spot — that’s ‘Cub.’â€
He added that a contending team was like “letting our little secret out.â€
A secret that had been on the silver screen in 1989.
“I loved the first one,†Epstein said of 1985’s “Back to the Future.â€
Gale was born in University City, and his father still lives there, near where both of them went to high school. As a student, when he wasn’t writing comic books or running a comic book club, he took advantage of the Cardinals’ A-student ticket program and caught games. His dad taught him, “If it’s good baseball, you applaud, even if it cost your team.†The “Back to the Future†trilogy has moments that expose those St. Louis roots. The lion statues seen in the movie are a nod to University City. Posters in the first movie announcing an upcoming football game feature mascots from U. City schools when Gale was a kid. One of the movie’s sterner characters offers “a nickel’s worth of free advice.†That’s a line taken from a vice principal Gale had.
And in the early scenes of the first movie, Christopher Lloyd’s Doc Brown explains his motivation for inventing the flux capacitor and time travel: “I’ve always dreamed of seeing the future … seeing the progress of mankind. I’ll also be able to see who wins the next 25 World Series.â€
The Cubs’ winning a World Series was a punchline back then.
This year, the line around the Cubs’ office referred to their 107 years without a World Series as “the greatest journey in sports.†It’s a line made for a movie poster, or a marketing campaign. Either way, it strikes at how the World Series is more than a destination. Whether they do the uncanny and fulfill the McFly Prophecy this season, the Cubs see this as the end of revisiting the past. They seek what the film that saw this coming (with a wink) already has.
Longevity.
“I don’t think anybody in St. Louis is going to treat me like Bartman,†Gale said. “All the bookies in Las Vegas may call me up and ask if I’ve got any predictions for next year. It’s the dream of every filmmaker to make something everybody sees, everybody loves. There is all this buzz about the Academy Awards. The real award is if your movie lasts.â€
Screenwriter who put that into the script is a Cards fan. What are the odds.
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/goold-st-louisan-sees-his-back-to-future-ii-cubs/article_cdd9634d-abc8-5cbd-a322-26f979b203be.html
Listening to the Blue Jays/Rangers game on the MLB app. This game is pretty exciting. The Blue Jays fanbase is very loud. Donaldson hits a solo HR and crowd goes bananas.
Didn't Toronto have a crafty left-hander with an ugly brother?
Didn't Toronto have a crafty left-hander with an ugly brother?
Yep, and he's a master at twatting.
If your staff ace can't beat the other teams #4 guy, you don't deserve to advance.
Good series, guys. Best of luck in the NLCS.Dude, if Cubs can't beat beat the Cardinals they better win the whole thing. The Cards are the measuring stick. I am in firm belief that the NL are the MLB champs this yr regardless. Ima tell you though, it will be the most crazy spectacular NLCS if the Cubs play the Mets. CRAZY!
Now, I can concentrate on the Auburn football season.. (goes and slits wrist).
Dude, if Cubs can't beat beat the Cardinals they better win the whole thing.
it will be the most crazy spectacular NLCS if the Cubs play the Mets. CRAZY!
dallas hack you?
yes, just like the subway series that got historically low ratings.
dallas hack you?
yes, just like the subway series that got historically low ratings.
Ok, homeboi, don't get cute or I will cut you. Also, I'm guessing you'd rather see the Cubs play the Dodgers?
I'd like to see a Cubs/Royals series.
Maybe the Rangers will play the Cubs, so Buzz will do another avatar bet.
Anyone watch the Jays/Rangers last night?
I can't help but think the Jays, and their whole fan base, are classless almost as much as bammers.....and its very close.
The Texas fan base are walking around like zombies today. Texas Rangers baseball is kind of like the Buffalo Bills of football.
Always close but no cigar.
The Texas fan base are walking around like zombies today. Texas Rangers baseball is kind of like the Buffalo Bills of football.
Always close but no cigar.
They are replaying the entire game from last night right now. I will put it to you like this, if you watched the 7th inning alone, you would rethink putting bama on their own shelf of being a pussy ass fan base. Sure there was a bad call against the Jays but dayum, this shit made the 7th almost 30 mins long because of continual stoppage.
From my understanding the call was correct?
This Mets/Cubs series will be a goodn!
Unless it isn't
No shit. The Mets are owning the Cubs. The Mets have one badass pitching core.
Bout damn time. Its usually just a bad core.
Their recent success has consisted of a catcher who couldnt catch whose name makes me want Pizza, and a coke snorting outfielder who squandered his career whose name is a delicious fruit.
There hitting is good with a solid line up. The pitching, however, it freaking unreal. Harvey, deGrom, Thor followed with Colon and Matz.
They are the Seahawks. When contract time comes, they wont be able to afford all of those guys. Not with the current cap in place. So they better win while they have all those guys together.
Wait til next year.
Now, Buzz can worry about AuburnFootballBasketball like the rest of us.
Wait til next year.
Hey hey...this is a baseball thread. Not UGA Football fandom.
Excellent point.
Those Cardinals are such upstanding players. But Mike Matheny is too Jesus.
He spoke at my Church once
He's a fine, Christian man.
True. I'm thinking the one guy they will struggle to keep for next year is Harvey. They do catch a break with Thor and Matz. Both are newbies. Colon and deGrom I am not sure. I would be the Mets pay deGrom what he wants.
Hey simp...how is the world series going for you? Just checking in.
Not so good. First the Cubs get taken in four against the Mets,now the Mets are getting hammered by the Royals.This sucks.
Agreed
So, the Braves fire sale is just about complete. Top 3 defensive SS in the game, Andrelton Simmons, to the Angels. Freddie Freeman is really about all that remains of what Atlanta looked like 2 short years ago. I would have said never, ever, 3 months ago. Now, I fully expect Freeman to be shipped before training camp.
Problem is, all I see are exports. What imports are happening to start rebuilding? I hope somebody in that organization has some evil, sinister, master plan that will reveal itself soon. Right now, it looks like they're saying, "F it. Let's sell everything...lose 110 games this season while we think about it."
The new owner is hoping to move the team to Boca.
David Price agrees to 7-year, $217 million deal with Red Sox.
Damn, I better not hear one Red Sox fan say shit about the Yankees from now on.
First off, the Sox have long since joined the arms race. Second, $30 mil plus for a pitcher??? And third, a 7 year deal for ANY pitcher in baseball is lunacy. Some will last. Most won't.
Aaaannnnd....Shelby Miller. He gone!
Got some quality playas for him this time around though.
We've traded away the entire team for 164 good prospects. I'ma go ahead and set the over/under for losses in 2016 at 105.
I get it. It's obvious what they're trying to do and several teams have led the way in recent years, setting the model for rebuilding. While the Yankees and Red Sox and Dodgers of the world have been shelling out cash equal to or greater than the national debt for their rosters, teams like the Cubs and Mets, Rays and Royals have slowly built themselves from the ground up through selling off the over-priced free agents and sticking with their farm systems.
The scary thing is knowing whether or not you made the right choices or are you going to be the Florida Marlins. Seems like they try that every few years. It doesn't work. They say, Fuck it. Go buy some hired guns. Win it all and sell everyone off again.
They'll end up having to give Freeman away to get rid of the $40 mil Markakis contract. Because he's an old fucking man with no power.
Fuck Atlanta.
THIS IS NEXT YEAR!!!!!!!!
The Cubs make a blockbuster deal. The Braves traded a catcher, Bethancourt, to SD for a minor league pitcher who has had Tommy John surgery and was 2-10 last year.We are living in Bizarro world.
The Cubs are now attempting to buy Ballpark Village and sign Red Schoendienst.
The Cubs are now attempting to buy Ballpark Village and sign Red Schoendienst.