Frayed Knot

Pulling for Milwaukee big time here. I'n into an 'Anyone but the Cards' mode

On the one hand MLB along with TBS/FOX can't be happy that NYC and Philly are out of the mix. On the other they got three five-game series in the first round and all three ended in one-run games.

Gwreck wrote: I'm so glad that NYC never picked up on the towel-waving idiocy. In fairness, the Mets handed them out at Game 7 of the NLCS in 2006. Which shows two things: a) that the ownership was typically imitative and clueless and that even given the invitation, the fans never adopted such a small townish ploy

I'm so glad that NYC never picked up on the towel-waving idiocy.

Caught a few minutes of ESPN this morning where I found Bobby V insisting that not only was CC going to invoke the opt-out clause but that he would do so with the intention of going elsewhere. He then kind of wimped out by not saying where he was headed or what made him think so but he definitely had that Bobby 'I know things you dont' smirk when he was saying it.

Car-Go getting the knack of scoring walk-off post-season runs. He also scored from 2nd on a single for the Twins a couple years ago in their game #163 play-in against Detroit.

Brews threatening to take the lead in the 6th ... but now Roenicke calls for a no-out bunt with Rickie Weeks and they were lucky not to get doubled-up. I bet at least 95% of the peeps in the stands have Brewer attire on. They're not as color coordinated as Cardinals folks and the stuff being worn is of varying types and from various eras so it's not like they've gone all school uniform on us, but I don't think I've ever seen so few people without some sort of team clothing.

I guess we have to add Cashman to the GM part of this speculation thread. He's not signed beyond this year and you have to wonder how he feels about returning, especially after the pre-season debacle where he publicly stated that Raphael Soriano wasn't worth the money plus the draft pick it would take to get him only to have his superiors go over his head and do just that weeks later. Last time he re-upped, back when George was still around, he reportedly got assurances about "full autonomy" but that agreement apparently doesn't extend to George's kids or to the Trost/Levine contingent. He was willing to let ARod walk as well before the Steiny boys over-ruled him with creative salary & marketing gimmicks. Bet the Cubbies are ready to hand plenty of cash to their new GM as well as grant him a long leash to spread cash among new players.

Now THAT was funny!

Vic Sage wrote: ... but Carton is the single worst human being on radio. Not as long as Sid Rosenberg is still alive he isn't.

Now that my real rooting interest in AL playoffs is gone my main hope is for a good series, but I guess I'll be leaning towards Detroit as a reward for this past week.

- I don't even know who Shelli Sonstein is - I'm with Vic on Carton. Boomer I could take or leave. - I'll flick to Mike & Mike on occasion but usually only for short spans. The two personalities are unobjectionable enough but after too many stints of, we interrupt this football talk for some football talk, I click it off. The most descriptive thing I think you can say about the show is that it has both all the strengths and weaknesses of being part of the ESPN orb. - That Francesa/Hirsch thing is so classic because the only option his ego allows him to consider it the one where if he hasn't heard of the player he must not exist. The only surprising part is that he didn't try to blame his lack of Hirsh knowledge on someone else.

Ahhhhh, the 2011 baseball season just became much more enjoyable!!

Even the grown-up Jeffrey's Maier's arms aren't long enough to make that one a HR. IOW, it was a medium pop to RF.

Anyone else but Posada running there and that's their 4th P.O.S. hit in the last 6 batters.

And his little-ball tendencies aren't going to get any better now that both Ordonez & Young are out of the game. Those are big chunks out of the lineup.

Infield roller, soft liner, infield single, walk C'mon man, make them earn it!!

metirish wrote: Wow , look ,Jay Z is at the game, shocked TBS hadn't shown him all night. Both him and Spike Lee have gotten a face shot or two. Shocking that they're both there, huh?

Jeez, if you're gonna fuck up the game, at least make them get a REAL hit while you're doing it!!

HahnSolo wrote: This pitch tracker thing is awful. The graphic shows a different location from where the pitch actually went. The pitch-tracker is like watching your local TV weather dude; they just give those guys too many toys to play with. I like how Smoltz basically said to not even pay attention to that thing. And his TBS bosses must have loved that he referred to it as 'Fox-Trax' while doing so.

Number of hits by Yanqui batters through two innings = One Number of ball/strike calls Yanqui batters have agreed with = less than that

At this point I think a cottage industry NEEDS to spring up calling Francesa inquiring about players with odd names - fictional or otherwise - if for no other reason than just to see if big Mike can sniff out the real ones. 'Hey Mike - long time, first time -- do yo think the Yanks should sign Phil Phoenix this winter?'

GAME FIVE - John New (Ivan Nova) vs Doug Fister Inning One: Tigers (Kelly & Young) go long on back to back pitches in top 1 ... Yanx go in order in the bottom half 2-0

Apparently Reinsdorf hired RV in mid-season to be a sort of all-around org guy with the idea of him nosing around to see whether he'd be interested in getting back into baseball - but that's it as far as his post-career baseball life goes aside from doing some TV work in both the college & Little League WS. Reinsdorf does have a history of hiring first-time guys in both the ChiSox & Bulls (Ozzie, for instance, also Phil Jackson and several others) although usually the hires did have some experience as assistants or in lower-leagues (college, minors, CBL, etc.). I hadn't even heard anything about who they were interviewing. I suppose they had to interview some minority candidates as per the rules and stuff but, even so, you know somebody(s) is going to see this as another door opened immediately for the favored white boy. TEAM2011 MgrSTATUS2012 MgrRED SOXTerry Francona - since 2004Option not picked up???YANXJoe Girardi - since 2008Signed thru 2013Same ORIOLESBuck Showalter - since 2010Signed thru 2013SameRAYSJoe Maddon - Since 2006Signed thru 2012SameBLUE JAYSJohn Farrell - Hired Oct �10Signed thru 2013SameTIGERSJim Leyland - Since 2006Signed thru 2012SameWHITE SOXOzzie Guillen - since 2004Contract terminated via mutual consent=#BF0000]Robin Ventura - "multi-year deal"TWINSRon Gardenhire - Since 2002Signed thru 2013SameROYALSNed Yost - Since May �10Signed thru 2012SameINDIANSManny Acta - Since 2010Signed thru 2012 + 2013 optionSameRANGERSRon Washington - Since 2007SSigned thru 2012SameMARINERSEric Wedge - first seasonSigned thru 2013SameA�sBob Melvin - hired June �11Signed thru 2014SameANGELSMike Scioscia - since 2000Signed thru 2018SameMETSTerry Collins - first seasonOption picked up thru 2013SameBRAVESFredi Gonzalez - first seasonSigned thru 2013SameMARLINSJack McKeon - since 6/20/11Not re-hired for 2012=#BF0000]Ozzie Guillen - signed thru 2015NATIONALSDavey Johnson - took over 6/26/11Signed w/org but not as manager??? PHILLIESCharlie Manual - since 2005Signed thru 2013SameCUBSMike Quadde - first seasonSigned thru 2012 + �13 optionSame??BREWERSRon Roenicke - first seasonSigned thru 2012 + �13 optionSamePIRATESClint Hurdle - first seasonSigned thru 2013SameCARDINALSTony LaRussa - since 19962012 Mutual Option???REDSDisty Baker - since 2008Signed thru 2012SameASTROSBrad Mills - since 2010Signed thru 2012 w/option for �13SameDODGERSDon Mattingly - first seasonSigned thru 2013SameDIAMONDBACKSKirk Gibson - hired Aug �10Signed thru 2013 + �13 optionSameGIANTSBruce Bochy - since 2007Signed thru 2012SamePADRESBud Black - since 2007Signed thru 2013 + options for �14 & �15SameROCKIESJim Tracy - since May �09Signed thru 2013Same

metirish wrote: Robin Ventura hired as White Sox manager BAM !!!!! That one certainly came out of nowhere.