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The Serious
Oct. 31st, 2019 12:38 pmNever really expected to see Washington win the Serious. Most of the summer, I was all "Oh yeah! I'll finally getta see Cubs v. Yankees!". Then I was "'kay. Cardinals v. Yankees, then". Eventually, "Well, I can cheer for the Yankees at least".
As it turned out, it was still one of the better Seriouses I've seen. I'm happy enough to see Washington win, although one has to feel sorry for that Grienke fellow, to have put in such a monster performance, and still have lost. As someone remarked, he probably should get some sort of fielder's award. It was like they had an extra shortstop right on the mound.
As it turned out, it was still one of the better Seriouses I've seen. I'm happy enough to see Washington win, although one has to feel sorry for that Grienke fellow, to have put in such a monster performance, and still have lost. As someone remarked, he probably should get some sort of fielder's award. It was like they had an extra shortstop right on the mound.
Not the best of weekends for the Pirates. They scored 15 runs over the three games even, which you'd ordinarily expect they'd win at least one, and maybe all three, except that the Cubs scored 47 runs. 47... Beer Factory Employees did their part as well, and now the Cubs are two games out of first.
And the Cubs sweep the EVIL New. York. Mets!
I can just hear Harry Carey dramatically intoning that. He relished calling them that, and gave it all he had :D
(Beer Factory Employees did their bit today too!)
*****
And, I shoulda posted last night (but stuff was happening - more on that in a day or two), but against the lead-off batter in the top of the second, the Mets pulled off literally the worst error I have ever seen. It should have been an easy out (I could have caught it - literally), but there was confusion between the third baseman and the left fielder as to who would take it, and consequently they just stood a few feet apart, staring at one another as the ball dropped onto the grass between them. I've probably seen flubs just as bad, although none come to mind, but never anything worse. It looked like playing baseball with the neighborhood kids in third grade.
I can just hear Harry Carey dramatically intoning that. He relished calling them that, and gave it all he had :D
(Beer Factory Employees did their bit today too!)
*****
And, I shoulda posted last night (but stuff was happening - more on that in a day or two), but against the lead-off batter in the top of the second, the Mets pulled off literally the worst error I have ever seen. It should have been an easy out (I could have caught it - literally), but there was confusion between the third baseman and the left fielder as to who would take it, and consequently they just stood a few feet apart, staring at one another as the ball dropped onto the grass between them. I've probably seen flubs just as bad, although none come to mind, but never anything worse. It looked like playing baseball with the neighborhood kids in third grade.
Went to see the South Bend Cubs (A-division farm team for Chicago) last night with mom. I hadn't realized that NL A-division uses a designated hitter, which undoubtedly puts the team in Ol' Mayor Pete's crosshairs.
There's something inherently comforting about watching baseball, especially on a warm summer night, while Bats and Nightjars fly overhead looking for prey in the lights. Baseball, I suspect, occupies the same position in American experience that soccer does for the rest of the world. It's something that everyone has played at some point, and you know in consequence how it feels to be out there doing that. It's relatable. It's safe, and comfortable.
SB Cubs won with a walkoff homer 3-2, and we got home in time to see the Chicago Cubs finish a remarkable 12-11 victory over the Giants.
Got a nice Yu Darvish bobblehead as a door prize at the game. He used to pitch for these guys, and was pitching in Chicago last night.
*****
The last time I actually attended a baseball game was so many years ago... I was part of the onfield entertainment (freelance mascot - an Otter, with Rapid Rabbit's crew) for the Erie Seawolves game when they had Mascot Day. I wore a good-quality Japanese sports jersey, and everyone assumed I was some mascot from Japan. To this day, I have no idea what team the jersey was for. IIRC, I was given an impromptu introduction as the mascot for "the Otters, all the way from Japan!", since the MC knew that nobody would know any better than him anyway.
*****
Cubs now lead the NL Central by a game. Sadly, St.Louis is beginning a four game homestand against the lowly Colorado Wreckage. :P
There's something inherently comforting about watching baseball, especially on a warm summer night, while Bats and Nightjars fly overhead looking for prey in the lights. Baseball, I suspect, occupies the same position in American experience that soccer does for the rest of the world. It's something that everyone has played at some point, and you know in consequence how it feels to be out there doing that. It's relatable. It's safe, and comfortable.
SB Cubs won with a walkoff homer 3-2, and we got home in time to see the Chicago Cubs finish a remarkable 12-11 victory over the Giants.
Got a nice Yu Darvish bobblehead as a door prize at the game. He used to pitch for these guys, and was pitching in Chicago last night.
*****
The last time I actually attended a baseball game was so many years ago... I was part of the onfield entertainment (freelance mascot - an Otter, with Rapid Rabbit's crew) for the Erie Seawolves game when they had Mascot Day. I wore a good-quality Japanese sports jersey, and everyone assumed I was some mascot from Japan. To this day, I have no idea what team the jersey was for. IIRC, I was given an impromptu introduction as the mascot for "the Otters, all the way from Japan!", since the MC knew that nobody would know any better than him anyway.
*****
Cubs now lead the NL Central by a game. Sadly, St.Louis is beginning a four game homestand against the lowly Colorado Wreckage. :P
Sports Thoughts
Jul. 7th, 2019 09:15 pmSo, Yankees are carrying on like bosses. Cubs are barely ahead (one-half game) of the Beer Factory Employees, despite having a 4/6 run. The Reds, meanwhile, are only 4.5 games back at the tail-end of the division! Every other division's lead from first to second is larger than that. This is probably some kind of record.
*****
Our guys scored 26 goals altogether. Half of those were against Thailand.
*****
FIFA wants to add eight more teams for next time, but honestly... Thailand, Korea, South Africa, and Jamaica really weren't good enough to be there this time, and Cameroon should probably be barred from international play for a few years.
Four groups of five teams each would have been more sensible, I think.
*****
If Alex Morgan wanted to grab her crotch and hump the air like the men do, I don't think anyone would object. These are professional athletes - they're not the sort of people you invite to nice parties, or expect them to behave themselves if you do. The tea-drinking thing was taunting, though. That was offensive.
There's an old, vastly underappreciated social SF movie called "Rollerball" that comes to mind.
*****
Lyon is, IIRC, a 60k stadium (60G if Fox is counting), but I don't think it was over 3/4 full. I suspect that for the men's championship, even if it were Andorra v. Vanuatu, you'd still have a sellout.
*****
Our guys scored 26 goals altogether. Half of those were against Thailand.
*****
FIFA wants to add eight more teams for next time, but honestly... Thailand, Korea, South Africa, and Jamaica really weren't good enough to be there this time, and Cameroon should probably be barred from international play for a few years.
Four groups of five teams each would have been more sensible, I think.
*****
If Alex Morgan wanted to grab her crotch and hump the air like the men do, I don't think anyone would object. These are professional athletes - they're not the sort of people you invite to nice parties, or expect them to behave themselves if you do. The tea-drinking thing was taunting, though. That was offensive.
There's an old, vastly underappreciated social SF movie called "Rollerball" that comes to mind.
*****
Lyon is, IIRC, a 60k stadium (60G if Fox is counting), but I don't think it was over 3/4 full. I suspect that for the men's championship, even if it were Andorra v. Vanuatu, you'd still have a sellout.
Cubs are still holding off the Brewers by one game. And the Reds, the worst in the Central Division, are only 5.5 games behind, which is remarkable. The only other second-place team in any division that's closer than that is the Rangers from the AL West, who are 4.5 behind. The entire NL Central are all just pretty much evenly-matched.
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Yankees v. Red Sox in London, it seems. It's nice that they've sent two worthwhile teams. Normally, American sports exhibitions abroad end up being the two worst teams in the league, I think on the principal that; 1., foreigners won't know the difference; and 2., you can use the fact that the team played in London, Rome, etc to sell otherwise-unwanted tickets at home. This doesn't seem to be that. MLB seems serious about getting the UK interested in baseball.
*****
Yankees v. Red Sox in London, it seems. It's nice that they've sent two worthwhile teams. Normally, American sports exhibitions abroad end up being the two worst teams in the league, I think on the principal that; 1., foreigners won't know the difference; and 2., you can use the fact that the team played in London, Rome, etc to sell otherwise-unwanted tickets at home. This doesn't seem to be that. MLB seems serious about getting the UK interested in baseball.
Another Type of Sphere
May. 28th, 2019 10:04 amNot looking especially good in Old Hio right now. It's even on the front page of das Beeb, although that may be because I'm coming from the States. I'm astonished that no-one got killed, especially with it happening late at night like that.
Whilst following along on the NWS map last night, I saw a tornado warning box pop up entirely inside another warning box, which I've never seen before. Overlapping, especially as the line moves east, isn't that unusual, but this was entirely inside. I'm guessing it represented a refinement of the earlier warning box.
*****
Time to choose a new Chairman of the EC. Nigel Farage would do a great job, I'm sure!
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I'm pleased to see Modi winning by such a landslide in India. I normally consider the government of India largely irrelevant, but I'm pleased to see a nationalist win so convincingly. It helps me to believe that sanity may finally be returning to the world.
The BBC criticize him as "divisive", which seems to be one of the internationalist/multiculturalist dog-whistle words to describe a majoritarian populist. At 63% of the vote, he's certainly more unifying than any of the other candidates.
*****
Yankees are pounding along in first. Cubs are barely holding off the Beer Factory Employees.
Whilst following along on the NWS map last night, I saw a tornado warning box pop up entirely inside another warning box, which I've never seen before. Overlapping, especially as the line moves east, isn't that unusual, but this was entirely inside. I'm guessing it represented a refinement of the earlier warning box.
*****
Time to choose a new Chairman of the EC. Nigel Farage would do a great job, I'm sure!
*****
I'm pleased to see Modi winning by such a landslide in India. I normally consider the government of India largely irrelevant, but I'm pleased to see a nationalist win so convincingly. It helps me to believe that sanity may finally be returning to the world.
The BBC criticize him as "divisive", which seems to be one of the internationalist/multiculturalist dog-whistle words to describe a majoritarian populist. At 63% of the vote, he's certainly more unifying than any of the other candidates.
*****
Yankees are pounding along in first. Cubs are barely holding off the Beer Factory Employees.
Swipe All My Peanuts and Crack My Jacks!
May. 22nd, 2019 11:20 pmRizzo hit one of the biggest home runs I have ever seen in my life! The ball hit the top of the letter 'd' on the illuminated Budweiser sign over the right field board, breaking the sign (and, I'm sure, showering the people below with broken glass). If not for the sign, that was probably headed for the far side of Sheffield Ave. You'd have thought Hercules hit that ball.
Meanwhile, the White Sox pulled off a triple play, so a good day for Chicago teams.
*****
Cubs were looking a bit unsteady for a few games there, but no sign of that tonight. It is... different... seeing the Cubs as a powerhouse team. This is how their fans experienced them in the early part of the last century. That's just weird to reflect on.
Meanwhile, the White Sox pulled off a triple play, so a good day for Chicago teams.
*****
Cubs were looking a bit unsteady for a few games there, but no sign of that tonight. It is... different... seeing the Cubs as a powerhouse team. This is how their fans experienced them in the early part of the last century. That's just weird to reflect on.
Ye Olde Cubbes (and more)
May. 12th, 2019 10:34 pmCubs're at .632. Best in the National League, and they're on their way to play the Reds and then the lowly Nationals. I'm enjoying it while it lasts :)
Cubs were up 2-1 tonight, and the announcer was talking about how in their last 16 visits to Wrigley the Brewers had allowed more than three runs only one time, and right that instant - BOOM! Bryant knocked one out of the park to make it 4-1.
They surprised me by having a five minute or so presentation where they recognized all of the Venezuelan players, and then talked about how awful conditions are there, and how in the clubhouse before the game everyone was on their phone, trying to get any news at all of their families (phone and internet service is as ruined as the rest of the country), and how people are hearing news of their families digging through garbage for something to eat, despite the money that the players have in the bank. This was done with prepared graphics to show how awful the situation was as well, so was obviously planned. My MAGA hat is off to ESPN for behaving responsibly. That's very rare in the media anymore.
*****
Spanish GP. The disappointment was upon me. First off, Mercedes have an excellent team, and Hamilton was absolutely dominant today. I don't think Ferrari could have taken him, even if they hadn't screwed up their race management. And screw it up they did. That was absolutely awful. It looked like the 1980s all over again. Twice they delayed, for several laps, waving the faster teammate around the slower. They inexplicably made Vettel stay out on bad tires, losing 1.5 seconds a lap, while he was begging to come in and change. They had something wrong with either the left rear jack or gun when they finally let Vettel stop, and then, they still didn't have it fixed when LeClerc came in. They looked like a gang of clowns.
*****
Finally the best sport of all! Politics! I saw my first electioneering stand Friday. A guy had a stand set up by the road selling Trump stuff. I had almost no cash at the time, but I'm sure he'll be there again. I think it's the same guy that was there most weekends in 2016.
Cubs were up 2-1 tonight, and the announcer was talking about how in their last 16 visits to Wrigley the Brewers had allowed more than three runs only one time, and right that instant - BOOM! Bryant knocked one out of the park to make it 4-1.
They surprised me by having a five minute or so presentation where they recognized all of the Venezuelan players, and then talked about how awful conditions are there, and how in the clubhouse before the game everyone was on their phone, trying to get any news at all of their families (phone and internet service is as ruined as the rest of the country), and how people are hearing news of their families digging through garbage for something to eat, despite the money that the players have in the bank. This was done with prepared graphics to show how awful the situation was as well, so was obviously planned. My MAGA hat is off to ESPN for behaving responsibly. That's very rare in the media anymore.
*****
Spanish GP. The disappointment was upon me. First off, Mercedes have an excellent team, and Hamilton was absolutely dominant today. I don't think Ferrari could have taken him, even if they hadn't screwed up their race management. And screw it up they did. That was absolutely awful. It looked like the 1980s all over again. Twice they delayed, for several laps, waving the faster teammate around the slower. They inexplicably made Vettel stay out on bad tires, losing 1.5 seconds a lap, while he was begging to come in and change. They had something wrong with either the left rear jack or gun when they finally let Vettel stop, and then, they still didn't have it fixed when LeClerc came in. They looked like a gang of clowns.
*****
Finally the best sport of all! Politics! I saw my first electioneering stand Friday. A guy had a stand set up by the road selling Trump stuff. I had almost no cash at the time, but I'm sure he'll be there again. I think it's the same guy that was there most weekends in 2016.
Alyssa Milano still exists. A long, long time ago, I think mid to late 80s, she had this exercise video (on VHS and Beta!) called "Teen Steam" that, for some reason, was heavily advertised on WGN during Cubs games. I'm not sure why I still remember the commercial, but I do. The last name stuck out for me because of its racing associations, and now I associate her with the Cubs.
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The White Sox have pitchers named Burr and Hamilton. They did the obvious (and entertaining) thing. I approve.
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Babe Ruth's last child has died. She made it to 102, which is maybe not entirely shocking considering her father. At the height of his career, he was seriously fat, and stuffed himself with hotdogs and beer from vendors during the game, and still carried his weight, even with team-mates like Ty Cobb and Lou Gehrig. One wonders what he'd have done with the sort of discipline that teams impose today. Possibly gotten fired after his first Spring Training, and never played.
*****
One of the Dodgers players is laid up because he hurt his back standing in the kitchen. That doesn't speak too well for modern training discipline.
*****
The White Sox have pitchers named Burr and Hamilton. They did the obvious (and entertaining) thing. I approve.
*****
Babe Ruth's last child has died. She made it to 102, which is maybe not entirely shocking considering her father. At the height of his career, he was seriously fat, and stuffed himself with hotdogs and beer from vendors during the game, and still carried his weight, even with team-mates like Ty Cobb and Lou Gehrig. One wonders what he'd have done with the sort of discipline that teams impose today. Possibly gotten fired after his first Spring Training, and never played.
*****
One of the Dodgers players is laid up because he hurt his back standing in the kitchen. That doesn't speak too well for modern training discipline.
Hey Chicago, Whattaya Say?
Oct. 6th, 2017 10:54 pmWhat a difference a year makes! Last year, as I watched the Cubs progress through the pennant games to the Serious, I fully expected them to collapse into flaming wreckage with every play, no matter how good things looked at the moment. A half century of experience sets certain expectations. No-one was still alive who'd seen their last championship. The last time they were even in the Serious, my mother was a little girl.
This year, I'm all "Crush 'em, Cubs! And kick that stinky-ass goat down the stairs while you're at it!" :D
This year, I'm all "Crush 'em, Cubs! And kick that stinky-ass goat down the stairs while you're at it!" :D
