$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Apr 20, 2008 9:43:55 GMT -5
LOL @ Ryan Spilborghs. He did the old "diving catch, drop the ball, pick up with your bare hand, and hold it up and pretend you made the catch" thing. Thing is, everyone was alert to his trickery but the umps, from the guys in the Astros pen to all the fans. Text from mlb.com printed below - if you click the link you will be able to see the play. HOUSTON -- Rockies outfielder Ryan Spilborghs is a delightful sort that fans love for his hustle, his production and an offbeat personality that comes across as host of "Rockies All-Access" on FSN Rocky Mountain.
But deep down, he's wanted to be hated. He achieved that during the Rockies' 3-2 victory over the Astros on Saturday night at Minute Maid Park.
Spilborghs dove for Geoff Blum's seventh-inning leadoff line drive. Television replays indicated the ball became dislodged from his glove, but Spilborghs grabbed the ball with his bare hand and held it aloft. Second-base umpire Mark Wegner ruled it a catch.
After the game, Spilborghs' bearded face broke into a wide grin as he described the play -- without a definitive answer. But there was no mistaking his delight during his next at-bat, when he was booed loudly. At one point, fans broke into a "cheater" chant.
"That was probably my favorite at-bat I've ever done," Spilborghs said. "I've never been booed like that before. I don't expect to ever get booed like that again. Maybe a year from now [when the Rockies return to Minute Maid], they'll still boo."
Spilborghs didn't exactly come clean.
"He hit the ball really well," he said. "I ran after it, caught it in the air. Then I just showed him the ball ... that I caught.
"You're trying to show the ball. You're trying to prove that you caught the ball. You do everything instinctively to prove that you caught it. It's part of our instinct, you know?"
Asked about the replay, Spilborghs laughed and said, "Camera angle. ... Bad camera angle."
The sleight-of-hand helped the Rockies win their fourth straight and assure themselves of the victory in the series with the Astros and a winning record on a nine-game road trip that ends Sunday afternoon.
Let's say others didn't have the same appreciation for Spilborghs' center-field acting job. Astros manager Cecil Cooper, who would have had the potential tying run at second with no outs, gave a thumbs down to Spilborghs and the umpiring crew. After the umpires met and didn't change the call, Cooper argued and earned his first ejection as the Astros' manager.
"Big part of the ballgame and they blew it," Cooper said. "It's simple. If they want to censor me or fine me, whatever, then they have to fine me, but I'm going to tell you just the way it is. I thought he blew it. I thought they all blew it.
"I said, 'All four of you guys got together and you didn't get it right. See you later.'"
Wegner said he made the best call he could.
"The best I can tell you is from angle I had I never saw the ball hit the ground," Wegner said. "'Coop' asked me to get help, and none of us could see the ball hit the ground, and the fielder came up with the ball like he caught it.
Blum said it goes along with the Astros losing three straight and seven of their last 11.
"It was a hit," he said. "I saw the ball go in his glove, I also saw the ball bounce and I also saw him raise the ball with his bare hand which is not the glove where the ball went in.
"It's just another bad call. That's the beauty of baseball. It relies on human beings making calls and sometimes they make the wrong call, but that's how things are going right now."
Winning pitcher Aaron Cook, the beneficiary of the play, delighted in Spilborghs' reaction to his villain status. "He loves the attention," Cook said.
Cook didn't bother to look at the replay.
"The umpire called him out," he said. "So that's good enough for me."mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080419&content_id=2557453&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
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Post by Furious D on Apr 21, 2008 12:23:35 GMT -5
The Sports Xchange reports that Diamondbacks CF Eric Byrnes made a proclamation after his 14-game hitting streak ended Sunday: "I'm declaring 2008 the year of the mustache," Byrnes said. Byrnes stopped shaving his upper lip the day his hitting streak started April 4 in Colorado, although he said it was gone "two minutes" after his streak was stopped in an 0-for-4 day in a 9-4 loss to San Diego. But he said he will begin to grow a mustache after every game in which he gets a hit this season.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Apr 22, 2008 7:58:20 GMT -5
So there is this kid at the Arizona Diamondbacks games that is parked right behind the plate in one of those open boxes on the field behind a net, and he is off the hook. This kid, when the foe team is on the hill, does these silly dances to distract the opposing hurler when the guy is in the stretch.
He does like 5 different kind of dances, from a hop, to a silly Weeble Wobble thing. He looks about 12 years old or so. He does this almost every pitch. I wanted to go to bed last night, but ended up staying up 20 minutes later than I wanted cause this kid was so damn distracting.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Apr 22, 2008 23:14:18 GMT -5
Kid wasnt there tonight. I was savagely dissapointed.
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Post by jwmcc on Apr 29, 2008 11:59:09 GMT -5
On this day 25 years ago, the Chicago Cubs lost a tough one to the Dodgers at Wrigley Field 4-3, with Lee Smith giving up the winning run on a wild pitch. The few supporters at the ballpark let the team have it as they dropped to 5-14. Manager Lee Elia had a response to all the negativity, and his rant lives on courtesy of Youtube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uv23pqH9iG0
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Post by 9 on Apr 29, 2008 12:02:12 GMT -5
"85% of the fucking world's working. The other 15% come out here." I fucking LOVE this rant! LOL
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Apr 30, 2008 19:43:57 GMT -5
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Post by baldvinny on May 5, 2008 7:26:27 GMT -5
CLEVELAND (AP)—Kansas City Royals left-hander John Bale, already on the disabled list due to a tight shoulder, broke his pitching hand punching a door at the team’s hotel Friday night.
A club spokesman said Bale informed team officials he had pain in his hand after arriving at Progressive Field for Saturday night’s game against Cleveland. X-rays were taken during the game, revealing the fracture on the side of his hand.
Bale returned to Kansas City Sunday morning. He will be examined by team doctors, possibly as early as Monday.
Ironically, Bale was making progress with his shoulder problem and it was hoped he would come off the DL in the next few days. He threw a simulated game Friday and was due to throw live batting practice early in the week. Following Friday’s throwing session, manager Trey Hillman was optimistic Bale was close to being activated.
The 33-year-old Bale began the season in the rotation. He was 0-3 with a 7.63 earned run average, allowing 13 earned runs and 25 hits in 15 1-3 innings. The Royals planned to move Bale to the bullpen when he returned.
The Royals signed Bale following the 2006 season. He spent the 2004-2006 seasons pitching in Japan. Bale has also pitched for Toronto, Baltimore and Cincinnati. He is 3-6 with a 4.84 ERA in 56 career appearances.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on May 5, 2008 7:34:37 GMT -5
What a dope. Never ceases to amaze me how many pitchers go that road.
Here's my contribution - off my daily baseball desk calendar.
"Dodgers pitcher Tommy Lasorda, in his first major league start, ties a record by throwing 3 wild pitches in the 1st inning of a 4-3 victory over the Cardinals, 1955."
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Post by Chris on May 5, 2008 11:15:27 GMT -5
Sometimes I wonder if the Joe Torre hire was an attempt to turn back the clock and hand the reigns over to another old lovable Italian character.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on May 5, 2008 17:48:32 GMT -5
LOL @ Jacque Jones getting released by the Tigers. Nice stint in Detroit, dillhole!
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on May 6, 2008 20:18:30 GMT -5
White Sox react to blow-up doll controversy General manager Williams apologizes on behalf of team
CHICAGO -- The White Sox great blow-up doll saga, which was designed as a harmless attempt by the team to help hitters get out of a team-wide slump prior to Sunday's contest in Toronto, has now taken on a controversial life of its own from north of the border to New York and back to Chicago.
A debate raged on as to whether this behavior was somewhat protected by the sanctity of the clubhouse. Meanwhile, White Sox general manager Ken Williams expressed his disappointment Tuesday evening over the judgment used by his team during this stunt involving the two dolls and strategically-placed bats, with a couple of signs sitting around them, urging on the White Sox.
"It is a little bit of a disappointment because we have proactively tried to, and just did so this Spring Training, organizationally, we brought in some people to discuss a better work environment, whether it's gender issues or racial issues," Williams said. "And we had some very healthy discussions.
"So, from that respect it is very disappointing, and I don't view this as a "boys being boys" type issue. This is, you know, boys being a little bit careless, a little bit irresponsible on this front.
"[White Sox manager] Ozzie [Guillen] and I had lunch and discussed a number of subjects today," Williams added. "Certainly, that was one of them, and that was addressed and assured that it was not going to happen again."
With the first question of Williams' impromptu press conference, he was informed as to how Major League Baseball was investigating the situation. A White Sox spokesman indicated that there was no investigation, per se, but that the organization had been in contact with the league offices throughout the day.
"I haven't heard that yet, but I guess I will assure Major League Baseball that the doll was not violated in any way shape or form," said Williams, offering up a tongue-in-cheek response. "I've gotten assurances of that.
"There a number of issues at play where we all have to be cognizant," added Williams, returning to a more serious tone. "I think the images we put out there, whether it be the MTV age or video age what not, especially in regard to dealing with women, there are enough negative issues out there rather than to throw another one into the mix.
"We all have to be a little bit more sensitive and cognizant of how we have evolved as people and as a society. We have to make sure we are sensitive to some of these things that come about."
Sunday's incident and the ensuing negative reaction brought about talk concerning the newer age of instant media coverage, from the Internet to blogs, with a desire to be first with the more sensationalized information. It also put a focus on increased media access to the clubhouse from years past, with Paul Konerko pointing out Tuesday that "when the door's open, when the clubhouse's open to non-players ... everything is available. That goes for everything."
"Hindsight's always 20-20 in situations like this," Konerko said. "It is what it is. That's really all I can say about it. That's it. It probably wasn't our greatest idea, I guess."
"Nowadays, with everything so accessible, I guess there is a place where we do have to understand that there is some things that may offend some people," White Sox center fielder Nick Swisher added. "It is our home away from home, but we do have to understand some things cross the line. Like I said, if anybody was offended by it, then I sincerely apologize."
No player in particular was tied directly to this incident. While both Swisher and Williams offered apologies for the apparent mistake, they both also took umbrage at a critical column that ran Tuesday morning in a Chicago daily over the clubhouse presence of these blow-up dolls.
The column explained how the lewdness, even if it was unintentional, was inappropriate. The White Sox objected as to how nobody from the team was spoken to about the intention of the display.
"That's the one thing that disappoints me," Williams said. "I'm disappointed in our players for such an act. I'm a little disappointed that an article comes out and it's front-page news, criticizing the lack of leadership in this area, when nobody took the time to pick up the telephone and ask if there were any initiatives in place. We certainly again are proactive, and will continue to be proactive, regardless if something like this happened."
"It was totally meant in a fun way," Swisher added. "Some of the things that supposedly happened didn't really happen, which is even more funny, because everybody keeps blowing it up and blowing it up. No one meant any harm by it. It wasn't meant to offend anybody."
As for Guillen, he stressed how the focus should be on getting his group back in the win column, rather than Sunday's shenanigans. The White Sox manager also did not offer up a direct apology for the behavior.
"I don't know why," said Guillen when asked about an apology. "Every time you apologize to people, you should feel guilty about something or you made a mistake. I don't feel like we did. Maybe somebody else does, and I respect that. But in my opinion, I don't have to apologize to anybody.
"We've been covered by ladies for a long time, especially this ballclub, and I've never heard [any] comments about the ladies on not respecting them. We just did it for fun. Hopefully, I'm not going to say we learn from this lesson because I don't feel guilty. I don't think we did anything illegal."
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on May 7, 2008 15:06:50 GMT -5
LOL! LMAO!
Just got this text from our old friend Justin, who is apparently at todays Cub / Cincy afternoon tilt.
"Mr. Red was riding an ATV between innings and he fell off. And his head came off. Holy shit that's funny."
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Post by 9 on May 8, 2008 15:17:17 GMT -5
That is HYSTERICAL! Imagine having to explain that to your kid.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on May 10, 2008 14:41:54 GMT -5
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on May 13, 2008 22:28:07 GMT -5
God bless Mark Grace. I just flipped on some late-night west coast baseball, and he is talking about Iron Maiden. Talk then shifted into "great album covers" after Grace glommed over how cool the Maiden album covers were back in the day. He even mentioned, of all bands, MOLLY HATCHET, in regards to cool album covers.
THAT is not a topic of discussion I thought I was in for. Also, extra points for Grace mentioning the track "Flight of Icarus" in particular.
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Post by Chris on May 14, 2008 10:14:03 GMT -5
That guy is a wingnut. He makes for good interviews. After he hit his homerun in Yankee stadium , he walked into the D-Backs dugout and announced, "SOMEONE just went upper tank, boys!"
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on May 14, 2008 10:19:39 GMT -5
I'll say this about him. Never liked him much as a player. First time I heard him as an announcer I was like, "who is this blowhard?" before I even realized it was him. I thought he was unprofessional at the least, and annoying at the worst. But he has grown on me. I find him entertaining, and he always sounds like he is having a good time. Hell, he sounds drunk up in there.
Any of you guys hear the story about Palmiero banging his wife when they were teammates?
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Post by 9 on May 14, 2008 10:26:31 GMT -5
Did Palmiero wag his finger in the clubhouse and angrily reply, "I did NOT, and have NEVER, banged that woman?"
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Post by thecaptain15 on May 14, 2008 17:30:39 GMT -5
I have to admit that play by Manny in left today and high fiving the fan and then turning around to complete the double play was great........
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on May 14, 2008 22:36:42 GMT -5
Manny being Manny. Yeah, no doubt, that play was somethin to see.
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Post by Chris on May 15, 2008 11:29:02 GMT -5
Rex Hudler provides the same kind of offbeat commentary on occasion during the Angels broadcasts.
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Post by Chris on May 20, 2008 23:10:26 GMT -5
At least today wasn't as bad as this day in 1945:
1945 - One-armed OF Pete Gray of the Browns enjoyed an incredible day against the Yankees. Gray made 3 outstanding catches, collected 4 hits with 2 RBI, and scored the game winning run during a Browns doubleheader sweep of the Yankees.
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Post by Chris on May 20, 2008 23:28:56 GMT -5
150,000 pennies for your thoughts By Hal McCoy | Wednesday, May 14, 2008, 03:20 PM
You’ve heard of Three Coins in a Fountain, right? How about 150,000 pennies in a locker?
That’s what Josh Fogg found in his locker when he came to work in the Cincinnati Reds clubhouse Wednesday. There were 60 boxes of pennies, $25 worth to a box, stacked in his locker — top to bottom like cereal boxes in Kroger’s.
Fogg immediately looked at Ken Griffey Jr. and said, “That’s good, Griff. That’s funny. Kick me while I’m down.”
Griffey had told Fogg he was going to pay off the $1,500 he owed him in pennies, but Fogg didn’t believe it.
“I’m a man of my word,” said Griffey. “And when you owe a man $1,500, you pay him. And I’d like to thank the lovely people at National City Bank for helping me with this joke. There isn’t a whole lot you can do with pennies. Just think, each box weighs 16 pounds, so the man has 60 bowling balls in his locker.”
Fogg was mystified and mesmerized and finally said, “I’m going to take them out to the bullpen and count them. I have a lot of time on my hands out there. I’m sure these were delivered by Brinks truck and Griffey had his paycheck in there, too.”
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on May 21, 2008 7:01:28 GMT -5
Holy old news, Cho!
That story is a week old.
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Post by 9 on May 21, 2008 7:10:04 GMT -5
True, but Fogg's not done counting yet.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on May 28, 2008 17:41:30 GMT -5
Ozzie Guillen is not Orlando Cabrera's babysittersports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Ozzie-Guillen-is-not-Orlando-Cabrera-s-babysitte?urn=mlb,84769 Looks like these are fun times in the White Sox clubhouse. Despite a two-game lead in the dreary AL Central, the Pale Hose can only watch as a public feud develops between their manager and their shortstop and a disagreement between a reliever and a strength coach almost turns into a dugout fistfight in front of the media.
And that was all just before Tuesday's 8-2 loss to Cleveland.
According to reports, shortstop Orlando Cabrera is upset with manager Ozzie Guillen (both pictured right) over a perceived lack of support. The argument, Cabrera says, is rooted in the fact that Guillen publicly frowned upon two calls that Cabrera made to the official scorer earlier in the season after fielding errors were assigned to him.
Says Cabrera:
"If it happens again, I will call again. I don't have to do it with other teams because they always had my back. They don't want to do it here, I can take care of my own business. If you have a problem with what I did, come to me and say something. Don't go to the media to send a message, because he didn't send any message."
Says Guillen:
'I'm not paid to be their baby sitter. It's like having 25 guys in a cage. You can only do so much. They're grown men and if something is going to happen, then I'll put my nose in it. If not, then my coaches and staff have to handle it the best they can because I'm not that good to have my eyes everywhere. That's the way we do stuff here.''
As Guillen was saying this to the media, reliever Octavio Dotel and strength coach Allen Thomas got into a heated verbal altercation and had to be separated by two other coaches.
Yes, good times all around with the silver and black.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on May 29, 2008 22:51:26 GMT -5
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jun 3, 2008 10:31:02 GMT -5
Basball Terminology That Sounds a Little (or a Lot) Kinky
Golden sombrero. Charging the mound. Scoring position. Small ball. Yellow hammer. Around the horn. Banjo hitter. Merkle’s boner. Daisy cutter. Dinger. Frozen rope. Fungo. Humpback liner. Keystone sack. Left-handed specialist. Nubber. Pearod. Punch and Judy hitter. Soft hands. Squibber. Tablesetter. Two-bagger. Three-bagger. Toolsie. Worm burner. Top Great Baseball Nicknames That Should Be for Your Mother-in-Law
Scrap Iron Smokey The Little General Biscuit Pants Black & Decker Moose Mr. Marlin Three-finger Bulldog The Old Perfessor Yogi Godzilla Eagle-Eye Meal Ticket Old Stubbleface The Bus Sarge The Human Rain Delay Rhyno Knobby The Sphinx T-Rex Rusty Nails Gator Squatty Oogie
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Post by Furious D on Jun 3, 2008 10:47:09 GMT -5
LOL at 'Merkle’s boner'
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