It is almost Christmas

Time for Santa Claus to look at his list to see what the Jays, Leafs and Raps are asking for.


Top 10 Asks

10) Leafs would like David Clarkson to stop taking stupid suspensions since they paid him $ 100 million dollars ! Seems like it.

9) Raptors looking for a bench, calling are carpenters, Raps need a bench.

8) The Argos jumped in and hoped they could be granted some new coaches for Defense and Special Teams, cause the other teams stole them.

7) The Jays are trying to get some cheap parts for replacing Arencibia, and Bonafacio, and maybe Lind.

6) Leafs would like a win, no, just a win before Christmas

5) Raptors want to stop owners crapping on hopeful trades for Kyle Lowry.

4) Argonauts would be hoping Zach Collarus is kept and them Ottawans do not take him

3) Jays to get lucky and find the Yanks and Orioles shave their budgets...hahaha

2) The Leafs are still asking for that win streak to vault them back into contention

And the number # 1 ask this Holiday Season if the Toronto TFC, and what do they want for Christmas ? Somebody get them some players that can actually play and a coach that does not want to leave after 2 weeks.

Well, Santa is no miracle worker, but he will see what he can do.....

Sox are red, sox ain't white, sox are champs, to the cards g'nite

In 6 games, the Red Sox ended a long struggle from last place, through mad bombers at the Marathon, through doubt, and scorn.


Then the season unfolded, with a new breed of Sox, their whiskers barely showing.




Sox showed themselves, and the city that they were Boston Proud, which became their season long battle hymn.



The beards of Boston, the rally monkey, the A's handle bar mustaches, these are all methods of team bonding , and Boston's beards were the NHL's version of playoff beards, just half the season, plus the pulling and tugging.



Ortiz and his Sox family, Dave O doing a Willie Stargell like post season impersonation led his group and like Stargell ages like fine wine.

Oh those Indians !

Who dat ? Who has climbed into the Wild Card ?


The Clevelands have caught up to the Rangers, who while not quite in free fall, are certainly making it easier on those below them. The Rays had a pitching gem pitched last night, an 8 and a third game tossed by Mr. Cobb.


The Tribe had 7 shutout innings from reclamation project Scott Kazmir over the Astros, who really want the calender to move faster.



The schedule for them Indians is way too favorable, give them a week and they may have passes the Rays.  This might set up an interesting AL playoff match up as follows.


If the A's can catch Boston and have the best record, they would play the Tribe. Setting up the Tigers and Sox, in a real pick'em series.  Tiger pitching I think would prevail. If Sox and Tribe win, it sets up Francona against his old team.

Watch the Tribe in the last 8-9 games, and just so I can say I said so, there is a chance of a 3 way chance of a tie in the AL Wild card, and NL Central, if the Cards falter. 

I see the Cards winning outright, and the Pirates hosting a one game playoff with the Reds, the other races are done, and they are setting up rotations and will rest veterans with the call ups.

After the Indians and Eric Bedard finish off the Astros, they get the sad sack White Sox, who are destined for the laundry, as there sox are dirty.

After a deuce with Chicago, they finish with the Twins, the 2nd worst record. 

Here come the Tribe.

September or Bust

For most teams, the season final few days represents a chance to show coaches and scouts that they belong.

A base hit beaten out, that extra stretch to get to first, or reach that fly ball. Some rookies get forgotten, some leave the fall with a chance, a chance to impress. They hope the tape shows they have some promise.

Their winter will be a long cold winter in wait.  Perhaps some team will tap them on the shoulder and whisper "winter ball".  That chance to fly to Arizona, South America, to extend their dreams awhile longer.

Some winters there is no call, and they train, the work themselves in hope to get a spring opportunity. Work hard a coach says, "I will coach, and they bust their butts from October to February, maybe the phone will ring for them. 

Some old players simply hope to get a gig in Winter Ball to show the scouts they have something left to give. Some power, some quickness, some skill. They learned to conquer the inside pitch, and can make the throw to the plate.  Some just want the season not to end.

The dreamers are many, and the ones who enjoy the free beer, the beaches, the sights, and the adulation of fervent fans in Puerto Rico, Cuba, Colombia and Mexico.



For the rest of us, it's just a bloody cold winter.

October baseball is an exclusive club, full of high expectations, crowded parks, cool nights, and cameras in faces. The images broadcast around the world.  Nothing wrong with that, any players dream to play deep into October.

Scouts and coaches will break down the film and decide if certain players need winter ball to develop skills.

And some will settle for 3 months of training, somewhere in the sun where they can prepare for next spring. Life will renew itself, as it always does.

And others will lay on the beach wishing it was them, and just dream.

They're at the final turn...

Time to celebrate.

In Boston, they made the post season after finishing last...last.

In Dodgertown...they won the NL West, and celebrated in the Zona outfield pool.

Soon the Tigers will be next, and Atheltics and Braves.

The Cards, Reds and Pirates I think will all make it, but the Nationals still have a shot.



Teams still to decide are the Rays, the Rangers, and the hopefuls, the Orioles, Yankees, Indians and the Royals. The Indians have the easiest schedule down the stretch, but are still chasing the Rays and Rangers.  I think one of the Rays or Rangers will falter, but no idea which. The Tribe I think will  be the recipient of good fortune and playing non contenders.

As the NFL begins, it means that the regular season is ending.  It may go down to the final week, I think the National League Central will depend on the Reds staying relevant. The Reds are really working to keep the Nats at bay, and to try and beat out the other Wild Card holder to get the 1 game at home.  Frankly, I think the Pirates will win the wild card if they don't win the division.

And it all comes down to key hits, and starting pitching, doesn't it ?


Too early to pick favorites, but Tigers, Red Sox and Dodgers are all top of my list, with the Cards in the mix with the pedigree of post season mojo.

2 weeks left, much can happen, but 6 AL Wild Card contenders, I'd bet that the herd will culled down to 3-4 after next week, if that.

A Ranger and Rays win streak will eliminate the Yanks, Royals and O's, as mentioned I think the Tribe will battle to the end.

Tight Races

Races are close, so tight its like a big pile up.

Cards keep fighting with the Pirates and Red Sox and the Rays war on into September.  30 days and roughly 25 games, praying for good weather.
Hoping in tight races that the other guy gets rained out, and gets double headers.

Twins have dealt off some usable pieces, but as you can see, they keep the faith. They enter the month on a youth movement. Other than Mauer, you are hard pressed to recognize their players.
However, like the photo, its fun to watch the young players. They are tight. Okay, nuff said.

Jays are largely doing the same thing.  Edwin and Reyes play on, but they have kids in many spots, but oh I like the Twins.

 

After watching the races today, we see the races tighten more, The Cards win, the Rays as well and so another day off the schedule.

So much fun in September.

As Septmber rolls in

As September appears on the horizon, a few teams continue to scramble for able bodies, and teams ready to call up players for extended try outs, the game reaches it's final push.

Old vets push for one more month, young players try and make their mark. That is the Babe at the far left end of the Red Sox dugout step.

Baseball is ready for celebrations in September, emotional wins against immense odds. Teams win all year long yet September wins, walk offs seem bigger. Teams celebrate each and every win.

Them Pirates , will they hang on, they added Morneau, who will give them a vet in the dugout, someone who has been through tough Septembers, they have a young stud in McCutcheon and a pitching to finish.

Check back in a few days.

Nice segway

We live in a rat race world, edging to get ahead, to reach home faster, get to our seat faster, log into our computer faster. Once and awhile, we get to relax and not worry about pace, about getting there first.  We get reminded that slowing down can work.  It is rare, and does not always work, but walking from the train, or bus or subway to the ballpark is a nice experience.


These 4 are used to racing, to get the crowd involved, to hit the red tape at the finish ahead of the 3 others, and we applaud.  Try sitting back, take another sip and enjoy the moment.  Try scoring the game, and don't worry if you get lost, try a seventh inning stretch, to not freak out the next time mustard spills on your shirt.

When you do, you are going to find it an different trip, a different experience, and you avoid the trip and fall, avoid disappointments, you missed being the first in the row but you made a friend.

Okay, sounds a little sappy, "make a new friend" but the game itself is trying to speed up, and yet instant reply is nature's way of saying, slow the hell down.



Get some perspective to the game, and you cannot get perspective racing from the office or the job to your seat and get your food and drink to return to your seat, baseball does not really allow for that.

It is the game within a game.   Try and figure out if the strategy will work, second guess the managers, did the hitter out smart the pitcher.

While the season seems to go on forever, there is a reason for that, you are supposed to regard the whole picture, the ups and downs.



To give the team a chance, and the fan as well.

Let the game come to you and sit back and enjoy the experience.

Him and Me

 

Who is on first tonight D ?, I dunno A, my boy Robbie is playing the 2 bag D, what ?  Oh Robbie will never have what we have A,...You know it D... We have the game, he has JayZ and what ? 

Hey D, why aren't you out there man ?   Bad calf man, got the bad calf, can't seem to stay healthy. Boss says I am going back to the DL, I mean again. Sucks right ?  You know it D, this rehab business is whack.

Is today the day A ?  Do you get to suit it up ?   Boss says I am penciled in against the White Sox,  Quintana, a lefty. Yeah man a lefty in Chicago, with the wind blowing out. Jeter drools...wish it was me, but I got a bad calf.  I know..snickers..bad calf..I rehabbed for over a month in the weirdest places. Trenton, New Jersey, I swear it's the most disgusting spot, there's no action man.

Well D, I have to start stretching ..... have to be ready for my return tonight, Boss says I am penciled in to the line up.  I wish I was man, but I got the bad calf.

 

The grand old game is set to welcome back the biggest fraud since..okay Ryan Braun.

An announcement is expected today. Rodriguez will then file an appeal that will allow him to play against the White Sox tonight at U.S. Cellular Field. USA Today, citing "two people with direct knowledge of the situation" as sources, said that a total of 10 players will be disciplined for ties to the now-defunct Biogenesis anti-aging clinic.

This is where it gets murky, the Yankees would dearly love to have him suspended immediately but are playing the "good supportive team" card, but quietly there are fingers crossed.

Meanwhile the hero of the pin stripes Derek Jeter is set to go on the DL for the 3rd time this year. I think Jeter likes to come off the DL, hit a home run in his first at bat, then injure his calf in the home run trot.  He is destined for monument park in Yankee Stadium, the Hall of Fame and his day at Cooperstown, and Arod is headed for a grand jury and scorn, and ridicule.

Tonight, on the south side of Chicago, around 8:10 pm, I would tune in to watch.  I plan to see if the moment after the Star Spangled Banner , 3 guys in black suits and handcuffs stop The Rod from taking his first at bat.

   Paul Konerko gave an interview to say he read the book "The Bronx Zoo" years back, so now he gets to re live that experience.

Tonight....8:10 pm....US Cellular Field ... can only hope I get the White Sox feed, and listen to Hawk Harrelson call the first at bat.  Must see theatre.

Highlight reels

Time for some fun. Highlight catches, memorable moments.


                       Whether it was Willie Mays, or Jimmy Edmonds, or Brooks Robinson, or Ichiro, fans get brought from their seats for outstanding plays.

I appreciate the long ball, and wanted to acknowledge some memorable home run hitters, kicking off my list is Reggie Reggie, as an Oakland A. 

His All Star game dinger of the light standard off Dock Ellis is my personal favourite, due to the event, and the drama.

                                                                                         Dick Allen, and don't call me Ritchie. Another long swatter, is another of my faves, as his raw power matched his rage against racism in America. I thought every home run was his effort to prove his worthiness as a proud black athlete.

                                                                                               No homer reel would be finished without Fisk in 75' vs the Reds.  Maybe the best World Series ever, and this Game 6 moment is sheer Hollywood script material. 

                                                                                 A swing and a drive..left field..way back and gone...touch em all Joe, you'll never hit another home run that in your life.. Nuff said.

                                                                                           Whether he was on drugs or not, it was a memorable moment when he hit his no. 62.  McGwire was his own higlight reel.

                                                                                       Delgado one night smacked 3 home runs, and I was there.  He was the reason we never thought we were out of a game.

And last but not least, this guy was one guy I watched growing up, and saw play on Saturday Baseball Game of the Week, with Gowdy & Kubek.

  It is the swing of Henry Aaron , and we do not need to break it down, but having watched Aaron's 715th home run off Al Downing.

Summer dog days are here, so maybe some odd and weird baseball stories are coming.

Enjoy