Same Old Same Old Same Old: Threading the 2013 World Series

[G-Fafif]

Hello, I am a time traveler who has just arrived from stops in Octobers 1946, 1967 and 2004. Anything new? Your incipient World Series appears to be just like the ones I came from.

[MFS62]

Yes. Since 2004, we have learned that we don't like the Cardinals and the fans of our cross town team don't like the Red Sox. That makes us like the Red Sox.

Later

[A Boy Named Seo]

John Titor, is that you??

[Gwreck]

History tells us that it is unlikely that the Cardinals will win. One league has not won four consecutive World Series since 1979-1982 (NL); before that 1947-1953 (AL).

[G-Fafif]

One point in the Cardinals' favor, I've decided (though they need lots of points to gain my favor): Bill DeWitt really sweats the things an owner should sweat, as Paul Lukas found out over the past offseason.

Uni Watch: How big a role did you personally have in the development of this new alternate uniform design? Bill DeWitt III: A big one. I led the whole effort. UW: What sorts of things did you consider along the way that ended up on the cutting room floor, so to speak? BD: Going back a bit, when we redesigned our logos in 1998, at that time we�d been using a circular primary logo with a cartoon bird. I always thought it was crazy that we had a cartoon bird for our primary logo and a different kind of bird on our uniform. That led to a redesign of the bird, which we then used on our uniforms and for a new logo and for some other things. It was a good refresh of our brand at that time. In the 14 years since then, there have always been little things about that 1998 redesign that bugged me, but none of them bugged me enough to go through the effort of changing them. Along the way, though, I gathered ideas of things I�d like to see. I love that [placket] piping on old retro jerseys, I love the old �St. Louis� script we had back in �32, I love off-white cream jerseys that teams like the Giants, Phillies, and Indians have used. And I thought, rather than messing with perfection by altering our home and road jerseys, let�s have an alternate jersey that incorporates some of these older, archival elements that go well together. So what didn�t we do? At one point there was some thought about doing a black bat, instead of yellow, because that�s what we used to have. We considered doing the really thick piping on the shoulders, we could have done belt piping, those types of things. But you don�t want to overload the Christmas tree. UW: In the announcements and press releases and so on about the new uniform, there were these quotes from you, and I could almost feel the tension between your desire to be thought of as one of the old-school franchises that don�t dabble in alternate uniforms, like the Yankees and Dodgers and Tigers, while also wanting to do something new. Was that a difficult internal conflict for you? BD: There�s no question about it. You nailed it. We proudly consider ourselves to be among those elite few who don�t change just for change. So that tension was clearly there. For part of me, it was almost like my wedding day � like, �Are we really unveiling a third jersey today?� UW: I�m sure your wife will be happy to hear that comparison. BD: I should be okay as long as she doesn�t read Uni Watch. But to get back to your point, yes, there�s some tension there. But the announcement �Cardinals Do Third Jersey� � that�s not the whole story. Once people see the jersey, they�ll see that this is still in keeping with who we are and what we�re about. UW: I�ll tell you one aspect of the design that disappoints me: Although the overall design is very retro, the birds on the bat are the exact same birds, in the exact same poses, as the ones on your home and road jerseys. Since the inspiration for the jersey comes from the early 1930s, why not go back to the version of the birds on the bat that was used in that era? BD: You�re referring to the tails-up birds, as we call them. And it�s funny you say that, because we gave that a little thought. But remember, this isn�t a throwback � it�s a modern uniform, and it�s part of our portfolio of modern uniforms. The guys are gonna be wearing it every Saturday. So for that reason, I thought the birds had to be modern. Also, we have this enhanced stitching technology that allows for better detailing of the birds themselves, and we think the modern birds showcase that better than the tails-up birds. And then finally, those older birds are much smaller, and that causes problems with the proportion of the birds compared to the script and the bat. So you�d either have to enlarge the birds, in order to fit the modern size of our bat and script, or you�d have to shrink the bat and script. So it�s a good thought, but it has a bit of a Pandora�s Box element to it.

Try to picture certain other club owners in the National League a) giving such matters any thought; being able to articulate it; or c) not just leaving the whole thing to the discretion of the crooked equipment manager for a generation.

[Zvon]

Now that's my kind of club president. He knows his teams history and takes it serious.

[batmagadanleadoff]

In the last 10 or so months, I've only read Uni Watch about two, maybe three times tops. But that Cards piece was one of my reads. I remember thinking to myself: that's the kind of team uni history knowledge every team bigwig should be required to have?

[batmagadanleadoff]

Gwreck wrote: History tells us that it is unlikely that the Cardinals will win. One league has not won four consecutive World Series since 1979-1982 (NL); before that 1947-1953 (AL).

You sure about that?

[Gwreck]

You tell me. Did I forget something?

I hope it's understood that this is more of a "that's interesting" observation and not a "this is a well-founded statistical argument" observation.

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

Sounds like he's added the role of vice president of tradition and fan experience to his own duries!

[MFS62]

metsguyinmichigan wrote: Sounds like he's added the role of vice president of tradition and fan experience to his own duries!

Hey, didn't Fred do that when he built the Rotunda honoring the Brooklyn Dodgers?
SM = 96

Later

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

Thomas Boswell on why this will be a classic World Series. I agree with most of these except that I prefer pitching duels to an "action series."

[G-Fafif]

Boswell's column is great stuff for convincing people who are going to watch the World Series that they're making a wise choice. Can't imagine it (or others in the genre) would sway people who don't already care.

Due respect to Boswell, I find these sorts of pieces a depressing reminder that baseball's grip on the national imagination ain't what it used to be. You don't see similar columns urging you to check out the ol' Super Bowl.

[Edgy MD]

Well, it'd take a helluva column to get me to watch the Super Bowl these days. Gyah!

I imagine they ain't missing my money.

[stevejrogers]

Edgy MD wrote: Well, it'd take a helluva column to get me to watch the Super Bowl these days. Gyah! I imagine they ain't missing my money.

True, but you do get a deluge of social media users proudly proclaiming that they won't be watching, or just for commercials/movie trailers.

[G-Fafif]

I imagine Fox would be fine with people tuning in just for the commercials tonight.

[ashie62]

Without the Mets I could care less about the WS...

[metirish]

Sox up 5-0 but Cardinals have bases loaded in the 4th with one out.

[metirish]

and nothing comes of that situation..

[Guest d'Kong76]

Seems the Sawx have some magic in 'em tonight, except
BIGPURPLE Papi getting robbed of a grand slam by Beltr�n.
Now a 1-2-3 double play! 5-sniffle after three.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Would've been 8-0. Bruised his ribs hitting the wall, and he'll head to the hospital.

Countless Boston Twitterers who are good at making false equivalencies but have never swung a bat in anger while nursing a bone bruise are having a field day at 'Los's expense.

[metirish]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Would've been 8-0. Bruised his ribs hitting the wall, and he'll head to the hospital. Countless Boston Twitterers who are good at making false equivalencies but have never swung a bat in anger while nursing a bone bruise are having a field day at 'Los's expense.

ugh, makes it hard to buy into the whole B Strong thing, B assholes alright.

[Zvon]

Good game if you don't really care who wins. Big hits, great catches, controversal calls, WOW! another great catch right there by Robinson.

This board has been down to me most of the evening. Or just not here. Or not here for me. Or...u get it.
Very slow loading too. Anyone else having problems?

[metirish]

Yeah, loading problems seem to persist.

[Zvon]

Great catch by Beltraan and he did hit that wall hard but if he didn't have to be taken off the field on a stretcher I don't understand why he's outta the game. If he has a broken rib I'll understand. Anything short of that and I'm a tad disappointed in Mr. Beltraan. Great catch though.

[Guest d'Kong76]

The hosting company of the board has been having issues
since early afternoon.

[Zvon]

Kong76 wrote: The hosting company of the board has been having issues since early afternoon.

Yeah, loading problems seem to persist.

Bummer. I was ready to jump on the Beltraan bandwagon if he took his post season rep/success into the actual World Series. I'm still ready and wish him well, but this is a wussy start. GO BOSTON!

OE: Sometimes I get an error message when I try to switch pages. I took a screen shot and if anyone needs to see it just lemme know. Says SQL ERROR and more stuff.

[Frayed Knot]

BoSox look to be on their way to their 9th consecutive WS game win following their sweeps in 2004 & 2007.
And with the exception of a three-inning span in game 2 of 2007 when they were briefly behind the Rockies 1-0 (a Todd Helton ground-out knocked in Matt Holliday in the 1st inning) you have to go back to a certain HR by Ray Knight to find the last time they even trailed a WS game.

[dinosaur jesus]

Not to mock a Marine or anything, but that "God Bless America" was cheesy in a way you don't hear a lot anymore.

[metirish]

Frayed Knot wrote: BoSox look to be on their way to their 9th consecutive WS game win following their sweeps in 2004 & 2007. And with the exception of a three-inning span in game 2 of 2007 when they were briefly behind the Rockies 1-0 (a Todd Helton ground-out knocked in Matt Holliday in the 1st inning) you have to go back to a certain HR by Ray Knight to find the last time they even trailed a WS game.

damn, good info