Frayed Knot

Well tonight at least they've got the first three innings completed in (slightly) under an hour ... so there's that.

I was just thinking of Hondo in the last few days. - in part because I wondered whether or not he was still around (I had yet to look it up) - also because, if still around, whether the Nats would acknowledge him during this WS (nice job by them for doing so) - and finally because he's mentioned in Ron Darling's latest book which I've just about finished up (let's just say that big Frank doesn't come off all that well in it)

They should care because the model they've chosen -- increased money in the short term in exchange for interminably long games and ceding full time-slot control to the networks -- isn't sustainable. Depressed ratings lead either more immediately to 'make-goods' where MLB rebates the network -- either directly or through reduced rates in future transactions -- and then down the road when the next contract comes up for negotiation. And that's before you even get into whether you're essentially pre-alienating future fans which in turn could lead to reduced revenue.

=bmfc1 post_id=25212 time=1572091522 user_id=73]... eliminating just one 30-second ad per break saves 18 minutes

TEAMMANAGERCONTRACT THRUHIRED ANGELS [CROSSOUT]Brad Ausmus[/CROSSOUT]Joe Maddon2022Oct '19Hired 10/16/19 on a Three-Year Deal ASTROS AJ Hinch 2018 Sep ‘14 Signed a Four year extension in Sept ‘18 ATHLETICS Bob Melvin 2021 Jun ‘11 Two year extension on 10/18 BLUE JAYS Charlie Montoyo 2021 + 2022 Option Oct ‘18 BRAVES Brian Snitker 2020 + Option for 2021 May ‘16 Extension for 2020/2021 on Oct ‘18 BREWERS Craig Counsel 2020 May ‘15 CARDINALS Mike Schildt 2020 7/14/18 Hired as interim, signed extension thru 2020 on 8/28/18 CUBS [CROSSOUT]Joe Maddon[/CROSSOUT]David Ross2022Oct '19Three Year Deall DBACKS Torey Luvello 2019 Nov ‘16 DODGERS Dave Roberts 2022 Nov ‘15 Extension thru 2022 on Dec ‘18 GIANTS [CROSSOUT]Bruce Bochy[/CROSSOUT] 2019 Oct ‘06 Retired - Sep '19 INDIANS Terry Francona 2020 Oct ‘12 MARINERS Scott Servais 2019 + ?? Oct ‘15 Signed multi-year extension in July 2018 MARLINS Don Mattingly 2021 + 2022 Option Nov ‘15 Extension thru 2021/22 in Sep ‘19 METS [CROSSOUT]Mickey Callaway[/CROSSOUT] 2020 + Option for 2021 Oct ‘17 Fired 10/3/19 NATIONALS Dave Martinez 2020 + Option for 2021 Oct ‘17 ORIOLES Brandon Hyde ???? Dec ‘18 PADRES Jayce Tingler???Oct '19Interim Rod Barajas not retained PHILLIES [CROSSOUT]Gabe Kapler[/CROSSOUT]Joe Girardi 2022Oct ‘19Three Year Deal PIRATES [CROSSOUT]Clint Hurdle[/CROSSOUT] 2021 Nov ‘10 Fired - Sep '19 RANGERS Chris Woodward 2021 + 2022 Option Sep ‘18 RAYS Kevin Cash 2019 Dec ‘14 RED SOX Alex Cora 2020 + Option for 2021 Nov ‘17 REDS David Bell 2021 + 2022 Option Oct ‘18 ROCKIES Bud Black 2022 Nov ‘16 Signed Extension thru 2022 - Feb ‘19 ROYALS [CROSSOUT]Ned Yost[/CROSSOUT] 2019 May ‘10 Retired at end of 2019 TIGERS Ron Gardenhire 2020 Oct ‘17 TWINS Rocco Baldelli ??? Oct ‘18 WHITE SOX Rick Renteria 2019 Oct ‘16 YANKEES Aaron Boone 2020 Dec ‘17

Assuming that this game actually ends at some time in the near future (questionable at this point), this series is either going to be essentially over or really just beginning. So it would be nice if they could get around to the 9th inning prior to sunrise.

=kcmets post_id=25196 time=1572047277 user_id=53] Is Martino Tracky? Google no help on that front...

Buzz Aldrin looks purdy damn good for a guy just shy of 90 (Jan 20)

Say goodnight Gracie! btw, 3 hours and not yet thru 6-1/2 innings.

Hmmmm, somebody gave this a 5*/'Masterpiece' rating, and I'm pretty sure it wasn't any of the three people who responded to this thread. Interesting. Anyway, I came looking for this thread because this movie is taking another lap around theaters near me, this time in a 'New Re-Cut' version. And while it was mentioned above that this was a typically long QT movie (2:41) particularly for what is essentially a comedy, I noticed that this new version clocks in Five Minutes Longer. Oh good, just what it needed.

Posada had his only real injury season during Girardi's first year as skipper, but after that still averaged over 400 PAs per year even at ages 37, 38, 39 - so he wasn't exactly being benched. Mainly he didn't like that Girardi started to slot him lower and lower in the lineup including, at least once, 9th at which point Posada refused to play for a couple days. Reportedly things were never real warm and fuzzy between those two when they played either, but Posada was a 24th round draft pick and a converted IF'er trying to learn to catch (some claimed he never did) so it was more than just Girardi's presence that kept him from establishing himself until age 26 or so.

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: Cubs hiring David Ross, Hey man says Trying to remember the last time a guy managed a group which included a sizable number of players with whom he played. Ross played for the Cubs in 2015 & 16 making him a teammate of: Rizzo, Addison Russell, Heyward, Zobrist, Bryant, Schwarber, Lester, Javy Baez, Welington Castillo and Kyle Hendricks, 'mongst others. We don't know yet how many from that group will be back for the 2020 Cubs but there's going to be a significant part of the club. The one cautionary tale that comes to mind is Berra leading the '64 Yanx. The Phil Linz 'Harmonica Incident' was often cited as being the example of players not wanting to listen to the guy they had only recently goofed around with. Joe Girardi had previously played with several of the more veteran Yanx when he took over although there was a nine year gap between his playing days in the Bronx and his managing stint. It was said that some problems he had with Posada dated back to their playing days together. Robin Ventura & Paul Molitor were brought back to manage their "own" teams but only after all their contemporaries were gone [1998 to 2012 for Ventura; 1998 to 2015 for PM].

Best headline from the game: NATS DING COLE

=batmagadanleadoff post_id=25016 time=1571843025 user_id=68] Could you imagine an NFL wide receiver breaking out into his choreographed touchdown celebration 15 yards before he reaches the end zone?

Why do I get the feeling that a 'Wilderness Year' from G-FaFiF is defined as one where he can only remember the details from around 140 games that season?

How come none of the announcers bothered to point this out? Because Buck sucks a TON of dick, perhaps? I'm watching the highlights on MLB Tonight re-run and Reynolds was all over Springer. Biggest play of the game, probably cost a tie at least. Springer actually ran harder to 1st in his previous AB HR that wound up out by the choo-choo train than he did on the one that stayed in the park. There were all kinds of odd base-running/throwing in that 8th inning. - Preceding the Springer AB, PH'er Tucker (on 1st) snuck in to 2nd when CF'er Robles threw behind him on a routine fly out. Not sure what Robles was thinking there, especially with a two run lead. - Tucker, who doesn't look to be all that fast, then decides to tag up again on the Springer ball to RCF in case it's caught ... but the only upside to that is getting to 3rd w/2-outs which is barely an upside at all. The Nats, Robles again, then rushed the relay throw in back to the infield which went wide and had to be tracked down otherwise they might have had a shot at Tucker trying to score - Springer claims he couldn't have reached 3rd and didn't want to pass Tucker on the base paths which is ...umm, bullshit. If you start running up on him then just stop running. But he clearly wasn't looking at his runner while he was bunny-hopping his way to 1st. - Tim Kurkjian said he thought there was a "better than average" chance that GS can reach 3rd on that play which sounds about right to me. Not only was the ball in the air for a while but then there was an odd hop and the wild relay. But he didn't hit sprint mode until the ball dropped and he was nearly at 1st base so that blew any chance. - And then I think the following Fly to RF (assuming the old predetermined outcome thing) probably scores him if he's on 3rd and the game is tied although Eaton throws well.

The other thing that stupid asst GM (whoever he is) did was to re-publicize the backstory of Osuna, only now with a national audience now paying attention. I know I had forgotten about his previous troubles when he was with Toronto (we were so busy mocking Chapman the other day despite he maybe being the less violent of the two closers) and now a bunch of people who never knew about them now have Osumna's history spelled out. Nice job, Dickhead.

Bregman's MVP hopes are fortunate that the votes don't include post-season play because he's been a total non-factor in the Yanqui series plus Game 1 tonight: 3 for 18 coming into tonight (2 singles, 1 double) w/1 RBI and tonight he added nothing more than a couple of key strikeouts.

Inevitable? You don't mean to suggest that a political town has front-runners in it, do you? At least we know that George Will actually went to baseball games prior to three weeks ago. The others mentioned I'm not so sure. I remember years ago -- almost 25 at this point -- watching a political roundtable show and at one point the discussion took a side route into Cal Ripken's record-breaking game which had occurred just a few days earlier and, whattaya know, EVERYONE on the panel had finagled their way into Camden Yards for that game.

Should be on 3rd, cousin George!! If you're going to dance towards 1st base then you better be damn sure it's actually going out.

Well it's not like he went opposite field or anything ... oh wait, he did! Scherzer's not long for this game. At this pitch count you'd want to have at least 16 outs (5.1 IP) by now. Instead he's notched just 10 outs (3.1)

Game 1: Cole vs Scherzer First pitch is scheduled for 8:08 The first pitch for the remaining games is slated for 8:07, so adjust your lives accordingly.

Vic Sage wrote: And Bill Almon! and Ty Kelly! and Jason Kardtke! and Shawn Gilbert! and Shane Halter! and Jeff McNight! and Keith Miller... That's what the players use to get access to the clubhouse, right ... their specially assigned Jason Kardtke?

The college years are always tough to follow as you used to do. Too many distractions: some of those distractions have foam heads, others have tits. Oh yeah, and those book things too. I like how Keith & Ron both admit to having 'Wilderness Years' from the sport as a whole, in each case coming in the period following their respective retirements (1990 & 1995), something I suspect isn't at all unusual, and in some cases the break probably becomes permanent. When a game consumes you from the time you're six y/o until you're nearing 40 -- and in both K & R's case it's also tied in to their fathers and brother(s) -- the whole idea of following the sport from afar probably seems ludicrous.

Sure, but wait'll you see Bill Pecota!