tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post469195290144079244..comments2023-06-17T08:53:42.643-04:00Comments on ShysterBall: And That HappenedCraig Calcaterrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190345915954808542noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-84750329421430895022008-06-25T18:24:00.000-04:002008-06-25T18:24:00.000-04:00Craig,I should started by saying I agree with you....Craig,<BR/><BR/>I should started by saying I agree with you. It has been smoke and mirrors watching it. And it all could come crashing down tomorrow. I've seen all your comments about the Cards and know you have a decent amount of respect for them. <BR/><BR/>For a blogger (joke) that is, since all the experts (baseball writers/analysts/commentators - really a joke) seem to write them off year after year, and give them no respect at all. <BR/><BR/>These so-called experts always seem to forget that last year they were the defending champs and in the race until mid-September, when the Cubs took a 4-game series from them. <BR/><BR/>The other way around and its a whole new playoff picture.<BR/><BR/>Here's my advice to Cardinals and all the teams in baseball who aren't the Yankees and Red Sox.<BR/><BR/>"Always listen to experts. They'll tell you what can't be done, and why. Then do it."<BR/><BR/>--from the notebooks of Lazarus LongAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-28758320281784614872008-06-25T16:35:00.000-04:002008-06-25T16:35:00.000-04:00No lack of love here, Ron. Just the realization t...No lack of love here, Ron. Just the realization that the Cards are continuing to win (a) without the best hitter in baseball; (b) without their best pitcher from those World Series teams; and (c) in a Central division that is way more competitive now than it was in 2004 or 2006.<BR/><BR/>And don't get me wrong, I'm not devaluing their wins or anything. My definition of "smoke and mirrors" is not "fraud" or "phony" or something. Rather, it's just the term I apply to a team getting by on unexpected performances, pluck and luck, and that in my mind is what the Pujols and Carpenter-free Cards are doing.Craig Calcaterrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00190345915954808542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-88810623222246300542008-06-25T16:25:00.000-04:002008-06-25T16:25:00.000-04:00In fact, you have to go back to '97 to find the la...In fact, you have to go back to '97 to find the last team that can claim 2 appearances, and that's the Marlins. <BR/><BR/>A little love, please.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-3087263466578904222008-06-25T15:17:00.000-04:002008-06-25T15:17:00.000-04:00Does anyone realize that the Cardinals have been i...Does anyone realize that the Cardinals have been in 2 of the last 4 World Series. No other National League team can say that. <BR/><BR/>I'm not sure why they don't get more respect. Or has Fox finally convinced everone in the world that the National League consists of the Cubs and Dodgers only?Ron Rollinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16852012772573977515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-35123108657042896162008-06-25T13:54:00.000-04:002008-06-25T13:54:00.000-04:00Watching Dmitri Young try to field a grounder in w...Watching Dmitri Young try to field a grounder in widescreen Hi-Def is more brutal than the opening scene of "Saving Private Ryan." That might be why blogging about the Nationals could accurately be described as masochism, and, as such, not attractive to those wishing to keep their sanity.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-62734538926968808272008-06-25T12:22:00.000-04:002008-06-25T12:22:00.000-04:00I'm an Indians fan and the Indians do nothing for ...I'm an Indians fan and the Indians do nothing for me.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07874178198319782983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-24931323234360605102008-06-25T12:08:00.000-04:002008-06-25T12:08:00.000-04:00APBA Guy-The beloved A's continued their tour of N...APBA Guy-<BR/><BR/>The beloved A's continued their tour of NL Division leaders, this time playing the Phils. Fortunately the game was in the friendly expanse of the Mausoleum, where the sheer expanse of ground intimidated the band-box familiar Phillies.<BR/><BR/>Despite the unconscionable placement of K Suzuki at leadoff, from which spot A's management had successfully lowered his April BA by 130 points, the team managed to rally from Moyers' hypnosis and win due in large part to Mr. E Brown's 3 run HR in the 8th.<BR/><BR/>As Craig points out, Brown has been responsible for more than a few big hits for the A's. He's also been responsible for allowing the opposition extra bases and extra runs with his "play" in the outfield. But with Travis Buck maintaining an MLB BA south of Mendoza in two trips to the show in 2008, some combination of Cust/Brown in the outfield will have to be endured. Last year, Buck had an OPS over .850 with an OBP nearly .400. Perfect for leadoff.<BR/><BR/>Everyone the A's have tried at leadoff has been destroyed by the experience: Suzuki, Barton, Hannahan, Ellis, and back to Suzuki. And to make the torture worse, the team runs "flashback" commercials of the all time greats. There's nothing like watching K Suzuki, perfect in the 7hole, flailing away at leadoff only to be tortured by images of Rickey Henderson a few seconds later, with Bay Area native Joe Morgan intoning cheerfully "Rickey was the greatest lead-off hitter of all time." So he was.<BR/><BR/>Still, the A's play the right way, there's lots of "try" and "want-to" as the rodeo cowboys say, in the way the A's play. Despite their shortcomings they are entertaining to watch.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-9498070231790216112008-06-25T10:57:00.000-04:002008-06-25T10:57:00.000-04:00Did anybody know who Justin Christian is before la...Did anybody know who Justin Christian is before last nite?<BR/><BR/>Is Ramon Vazquez not one of the seasons biggest surprises? ( ok, it's still June and he'll return to norms or whatever the statheads call it ) Nonetheless, credit where credit is due. After 160+ AB his BA is well over .300 and his OPS well over .900.<BR/><BR/>I saw Arroyo's performance. His line is indicative of how he pitched. He got RAWKED. <BR/><BR/>Is there a market for Eckstein? It appears he's not gonna play a lot under Gaston. Dodgers? How's Furcal?Eric Tomshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00632341548970196518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-42965729693033926102008-06-25T10:49:00.000-04:002008-06-25T10:49:00.000-04:00Doug Davis throws a 7 inning gem but Bob Melvin, t...Doug Davis throws a 7 inning gem but Bob Melvin, the idiot, leaves him out there to start the 8th. To compound his idiocy, Melvin then brings in Chad Qualls who sucks with men on base. Ballgame, Red Sox. This team tears my heart out on a daily basis.Drehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12308565071470315778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-68251422285372055982008-06-25T08:41:00.000-04:002008-06-25T08:41:00.000-04:00This googling game has the potential to occupy far...This googling game has the potential to occupy far too much of my time.<BR/><BR/>Barry Bonds Evil Steroid User: 107,000<BR/>Overrated Jeter: 105,000<BR/>Psychopath Hillary Clinton: 83,000<BR/>Woeful Shysterball: 112<BR/><BR/>The last appears to be mainly due to Craig's description of the Giants organization.Pete Ridgeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07833599375915749408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-5041907925483399692008-06-25T07:49:00.000-04:002008-06-25T07:49:00.000-04:00Good story on Hamilton. While I disagree with his...Good story on Hamilton. While I disagree with his rationale on his decision to boot his agent, he's still a guy worth rooting for. He's come all the way back and seemingly has a grasp of his place in the game and the debt he's trying to repay. (just repaying the debt to his agent, ba-dum-cha. Don't forget to tip your waitresses.)<BR/><BR/>Root for Hamilton. I wouldn't let the biz of the game influence anything.Jason @ IIATMShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11675184282951841175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-42990048074661141492008-06-25T07:34:00.000-04:002008-06-25T07:34:00.000-04:00Being a StL fan has been a strange trip for a few ...Being a StL fan has been a strange trip for a few years now. I couldn't even enjoy their 2006 run because there's NO WAY they could POSSIBLY win, so why get worked up? Now they're four games above their Pythagorean projection halfway through the season, and I wish they'd get on with the losing already so I can spend my time in more productive ways...mahnu.uternahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17514929434206638486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-32908436436203026392008-06-25T07:11:00.000-04:002008-06-25T07:11:00.000-04:00The Cubs used a lot of pitchers, for one, since Ma...The Cubs used a lot of pitchers, for one, since Marshall was okay but ultimately ineffective (threw a lot of pitches) and threatened to take the lead a couple times late (including loading the bases with none out before George Sherrill remembered what baseball was and struck out the next 3 guys) so pinch hitters had to be used...but I think there was only one double switch when Edmonds came out for Marmol (I think)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com