yes...if they can manage to KEEP them! that, to me, seems to be a great share of the problem. they get a good start...and then move on. i'm not a royals fan, but my brother is. so i pay some attention to what's going on out there in KC. i do, however, agree with your assessment if they build on what they've got right now. a lot of potential there.


one

are you going to get to go to any of the games? betenoire and i are going to playoffs this coming week(end)...depending on who actually gets home field advantage. and, with the luck of the baseball gods, to the series, game 4 or 5. our tickets arrived this week. EXCITING!!!

and if penny makes the roster, i will be seriously blown away. he has NOT been at all impressive as far as i'm concerned.

http://i55.tinypic.com/156z8l3.jpg

Just in case there were any doubts about where my loyalties lay.

*pokes Nick

i'm said grandchild, and my granfather, ned garver, played with the tigers in the mid 50's...52-56. his career was 1948-61. but those were his years with the tigers. he was a pitcher.

oh right...use my own picture against me! just for that, no obama burger for you on game day! hahahahahaha!!

Yeah, well. My Uncle Howie was one of the plumbers who worked on the Sky Dome. Beat that!

I'd like to see you try to stop me from going to Five Guys!

how could i possibly compete with uncle howie installing urinals at the sky dome? :|




like i'd ever REALLY think that i can ACTUALLY stop you from doing anything. i haven't been able to so far...why start now? *snort*

did they clinch tonight? i watched the tigers game, naturally. but i never heard anything final about Tx.

Well we lost to AZ - they clinched the west. Actually, I am happy for them- hell of a turn around for them this season. And the Giants August play really blew things up.

Our offense is just inconsistent and we leave too many on. Been happening all year. So many of our wins have been all pitching- games with a 1 or 2 lead. So many lost due to no run support- and I hate that all of our starters have win stats that really do not reflect their true pitching. Has to be so frustrating for both Cain and Lincecum. Pisses me off as they would be right up there with Verlander and Kershaw in the win category. But I also like both of those guys and it will be interesting which one gets the Cy Young for the NL. Thinking it will be Verlander.

I think the Braves will preval.

But I am jazzed about the play offs nonetheless.

Oh, realized that the Steelers will be on SNF- kewl, they are my team from way back, but I don't get their games unless they play Oakland or on MNF or SNF. Not as much of a pro football fan as I am with baseball. I like college ball more. But right now until the first week of November, baseball is the main event for me.

Damn, you and your partner have to come out next season for the SF opener vs. the Pirates!!! Really- take a vacation you two and come play in SF!! I'll set you up in my driveway in my RV- see, a private room with bath and everything!!!

houston cleaned house, keppinger to the giants ... i would have much rather had bourn or pence. really like bourn.

and speaking of houston, isn't it crazy how berkman went to the yankees ... couldn't do nothing. but then to the cardinals and boom! and crawford going to boston. his bat just hasn't been the same.

Do you mean there was trading? I thought the trading deadline was the end of August?

I did know this was the worst season in Houstons history and they were not AT ALL PLEASED loosing over 100 games (try being a pirate fan)......I'll have to read the sports page. Thanks for the heads up.

no trading now. during trades.

[QUOTE=Kobi;423715]

NY, Detroit, and Texas

Phillies, Brewers, and Arizona

WTG teams! I'll second that!!!

Wild cards still pending. BoSox benefited from both the Rays and Angels losing tonight. Magic number is 4 with 6 remaining. Rays are 2.5 behind and close out the season against the Yanks. Angels are 3.5 behind.

Braves are still ahead with 5 left. Magic number is 3. Cards are 3 behind and Giants 5 behind.

Will be an exciting sports weekend. Need another tv if I expect to keep up with baseball AND football.

For Sure....I remember, but now I know why, I used to see my dad sitting in front of the T.V, with a transistor radio and he'd tell you in the morning as he was in a great mood and cooking huge breakfast's...talk to me now...no talking all afternoon........And he wasn't kidding:|

In the words of Atlast......YEAH BABY!

OH, ok.....got cha.

i don't communicate well ... via internet or in person lol. i've known this for years! but oh well, i'm butch.

i should have put more info in post. i'll do better, sorry bout that.

enjoy the games today, everyone.

Oh Sweet Macele...I find especially in this thread, my mind is going as if I am a color analyst for baseball's radio broadcast and I get to typing while thinking and almost always, half of my post is missing. I have to go back and edit the post so it makes sense. No need to appologize. Now, I'll be able to understand when I read your posts, you were typing your thoughts. We have a thread stalker who loves that about us, lives baseball vicariously through the thread:goodluck:. Thanks for sharing and don't stop posting.

some things I was thinking about
 

Pirates vs the Reds. It was a good game last night. Right down to the last pitch.

In the top of the 9th inning, our catcher Ryan Doumit took an extremly direct foul tipped ball off of his face mask. You could hear that ball his face mask. Instant replay showed the ball hit Ryan's face mask in slow motion. It took the face mask up onto his protective helmet and really whipped his head backwards. Twice, when it happened and during the replay the fans in the ball back let out a collective *whoa*. Ryan remained squatted . The unpire called time and respecfully the batter walked towards the on deck circle and the umpire meandered. The camera zoomed in and got an excellent shot of Ryans eyes rolling around, while he remained squatted. He had dropped his mitted hand to his side for balance. When the umpire saw that on replay he walked over to Doumit and
leaned over and said something. Ryan Nodded, and picked his glove up and pounded it with his fist. But still stayed squatted. The batter went into the dug out and got a drink and the umpire walked over to home dug out and got a towel to dry off his face mask and just waste time. 5 min.
passed (total). Finally Ryan stood up and walked slowly to the mound to talk to the pitcher. Game resumed. I loved the respect extended to him by the umpire. But We are not in any position for any kind of play offs, Ryan has had several concussions over the years from foul tips. I couldn't help but wonder why he wasn't removed.

In the bottom of the same inning, the 9th, with bases loaded, the go ahead run and winning runs on base, Joel Hannaran threw a 98 mile an hour fastball that hit Red's 3rd base baseman Todd Frazier on his left wrist,
right where the wrist bends. Frazier went right to the ground, then rolled over. Hannaran and Doumit came to see if he was ok, lots of concern, it hit hard and loud...the umpire initally signally foul tip. Frazier did get up
and it took awhile, but he finally started to move the wrist. Another 5 min delay. He reventually ran down to first base and the tying run scored.
The next batter grounded out.

Neither team was playing for play offs and I certainly wondered about this playing at all costs attitude. Both Doumit and Frazier, in my opinion, should have been removed (it was 9th inning) for precautionary reasons and player safety. There is life after baseball.

OK... I thought we would begin to have more baseball fans posting at this time of the season!!! WELCOME ALL!!

This is going to be fun times here as the play-off contenders are all resolved. I'm sadly awaiting the "no way" mathematical elimination of my beloved Giants, but with you all, I know I am going to enjoy the play-offs and the WS. And learn about your favorite teams and players in more depth. Fan info is the best info!!

Keppinger has not done much for us overall since he was traded to us. Beltran has been great.

I agree- Bourn or Pence would have been much better. But, I know players due have slumps and bumps. But Keppinger doesn't look all that dedicated out there- in defense as well.

Geez, SF is banged up.

Yes they did :) I am so proud of them for last year and this year... :)

pittsburgh has a lot of potential. jose tabata, neil walker, alex presley (played for ole miss, so he's got southern skill lol) ... great young talent. i really like charlie morton. maybe a few surprise trades in the off season and they are contenders.

atlast, they are banged up ... key reason for not being at the top.

keppinger started off doing ok for the giants. as of late, nothing. all he is pretty much gonna give you is average. he has done that like he can.

for some, changing teams, they never miss a beat. then others a struggle. he did much better at houston. but of course, he needs more time at sf.

i meant to say keppinger HASN'T done that. i need to preview lol.

...on trades and team changes...
 

or...in the case of doug fister, who came over to detroit from seattle late in the season, he CAUGHT ON FIRE!!! he's been fantastic since coming to us, and he's been a key addition that has, i believe, helped ensure our success.

I don't know if I have it in me to watch the rest of the SF v AZ game! Talk about pitiful! I feel terrible for Surkamp- but he has to learn how to pitch in the big leagues under these kinds of situations. No one else really to start.

I thought Belt's sloppy outfielding and then the umpire-Fontenot collision was bad enough. But all of the walks turned into runs and Moto doesn't look like he has his stuff either. And now our bullpen will be worked to hell when it didn't have to.

Plain ugly! Maybe the giants offense will be so embarrassed and pissed, they will just hit like hell. probably not. No way to go down at the end.

As usual, 2 runners left on in the top of the 1st with some of our "good" hitters up. I want to scream!!!

Think I'll walk the dog and see if I can stand watching when I get back....

Please, someone give me good news about the BoSox.....

I know and Keppie will probably get it going and do fine next season. Yes, they are beat up. Most of our last games have not had but one player that even played in the WS last season. Our guys have had a horrible year with injuries and very serious injuries.

I shouldn't get mad at 'em.....

And Andrew McCutchen- he has a very bright career ahead of him and I hope Pittsburgh hangs onto him. Gifted athlete with smarts!

doug fister! yes, love him. he made detroit so much stronger.

Thinking Bret Pill of SF is going to give us some good ball in the future!

grrrrrrrrr
 

Weird... the power went out during the SF v AZ game. There was a delay... but now it is the bottom of the 8th and its 15-2 AZ. What a mess!! But ATL didn't win and didn't clinch the wildcard birth tonight either. Cards won. This is so crazy!!

I just want the Giants to take the last game with AZ...PLEASE!!! After tonight, some face must be saved! But all of our rookies got some major league play and that is a good thing.

that's totally weird. last week when the tigers played in oakland, the lights went out at that game. took like 20 minutes to get them back on and revved up to play again.

You know, if by some magical spin of luck, the Giants got the wildcard bid, I am thinking along the lines you are about the BoSox- it would be due to losses of the other contenders really and not because we are playing good ball.

I feel for the guys because the injuries to key players has really been awful. Even Sabdoval is playing without being able to bat right-handed- he is still injured really. Plus, I love Bochy. But they won the WS last year and will finish third- not so bad given what has gone on. Besides, we die-hard SF fans will be right back in the stands next year rooting them on.

Tonight, SF was just horrible! But the D-Backs are so very hyped and motivated and I am looking foreward to their play-off games. Kirk Gibson is one hell of a motivating manager. He was a great Tigers player, too. Could be Manager of the Year easily. Lot of heart on that team. SF has not been playing good ball either.

Yes, the Rays are giving it their all. It is amazing how the last slots are still in play right at the last week! But that is what I love about the game- the scrapping to the end. But, tonight, SF looked a mess!

But it did my heart good to see clips of Biuster Posey last week playing catch. He certainly did so gingerly, and how well he will actually recover is not known. I hope the guy play again and at the level he did. Afterall, Mark DeRosa was counted out and he has been out there contributing big since he returned. Don'y know if he will retun next year- he may retire anyway. But, damn, he has been great.

Oh, boy! It is almost play-off time!

Wow, I thought, lucky me. I got to see the NY Yankees and Bo Sox on TV last night. I am not quite geared for televised baseball yet, and I can understan why some people find it boring (like the way I view golf) so I was reading the paper while I was watching the game....before I knew it, it was 8-0, yankees. I wondered if I had fallen asleep for a little while. Lester was replaced and I didn't see that. The play by play announcer said if the Red sox were not able to recover, their record would be 5 and 17 in September. (As bad as the
SuckO's, who beat the Reds again). It took until the 7th inning for the Bo Sox to get anything on the board. Hopefully today will be better. You need every game now too. And I guess the numbers ran out on the Giants....Sorry Atlast. I know how that feels.

AND YES WE WILL... US DIE HARDS WILL LIVE FOR SPRING TRAINING!!

:goodluck: Bo Sox, 1.5, you're hanging on by a string.

Not that I will ever be a fan, but....

What the hell is happening to the Red Sox? The Rays are now just a half a game from catching them in the Wild Card? Wow.

terry francona flip flops his batting line up so much, just crazy. by now he should have pretty much a set line up ... a few adjustments when players are hot or cold. but he has done it all season and still doing it. maybe that's his style and i just never noticed lol. drives me crazy.

boston's pitching is horrible. even if they do hang on to the wildcard, probable first round, done.

francona just doesn't know what to do. for a while there, middle of the season, good things. can't put the total blame on the coach, but he has the players to get it done. pitching, nahhh ... just ain't gonna get it done.