Does that mean you don’t have to listen to the awkward symphonic fade-out music?!

You can tell them about So playing for the Cubs’ AAA team in the capitol of a rural, Midwestern state, and then his October call-up to the Cubs. (I find it hard to believe that the Japanese media didn’t pick up on So getting called up in September.)

Seemed like the perfect embodiment of how a player who maybe isn’t the most naturally talented hitter in the world can turn himself into a very respectable hitter through his approach at the plate…i.e. something most of the Cardinals could learn a lot from. Ran the count to 3-0, didn’t swing away at anything outside the zone. Then held off on a pitch inside that barely nicked the corner of the strike zone, if it did at all. But he wisely took it, because it would have jammed him for an easy out even if he made contact. Now 3-1, he swings and misses at a ball over the middle of the plate. Good pitch to swing at, even if he did miss. Now 3-2, and he puts a smooth, controlled swing on a pitch to deftly poke it into the opposite field for a base hit. Perfect plate approach—not swinging out of the zone, not swinging wildly to try to pull it, just making the pitcher throw strikes and then taking what the pitcher gives him when it is in the zone. Seems like ABs like that were few and far between towards the end of the season for the Cardinals.

That is exactly how I want our batters facing off against pitchers next year, and I hope that patience is something McGwire can instill.

I mean, Holliday is clearly better, so he is going to command a bigger offer than that. On the other hand, if Bay goes back to Boston, then it eliminates a possible Holliday suitor with deep pockets.

Then there’s the whole issue of how far I think we should go to try to retain Holliday, and I really have no idea.

I’m glad people ask about So Taguchi. Did you tell them about the restaurant?

Whatever is sensational/controversial enough to get some hits, I suppose.

Instead of endless Pristiq commercials with that ridiculous Stepford wind-up doll.

I posted a fanshot re: my opinion on the Rick Ankiel analysis last night here. I did think Bernie showed a lack of compassion, but enjoyed Derrick Goold’s comments, as usual.

It’s also a great place to catch a game. My one baseball experience there was seeing the Yakult Swallows playing the Hanshin Tigers (a pretty big local derby in Tokyo), which was, well, unusual, but a lot of fun.

May 16 – June 30 of this year, what were the memorable Cardinals moments? Which, uh, you remember?

Not just events, though those are good. What was trending up? What was trending down? What were you looking forward to, what were you worried about? I already have the B_G MAC game down.

fridays are my day offs. i got up like 30 minutes ago. i have blueberry muffins literally minutes away. i love fridays

my ’09 nl central champs hoodie and #28 jersey tee are currently out for delvery. looks like i get them today!

So I am getting ready to make a chili for a chili cook off. What do you guys think of this recipe.

- 3 lbs of Top Chuck
- 2 lbs of Pork Country Ribs
- 8 slices of bacon
- Medium Onion
- 4 Jalapeno’s
- 6 cloves of Garlic
- can of Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce
- 1 cup of tomato purree
- juice of one lime
- 12 oz of Dark Belgium Beer (not Porter or Stout)
- Chicken Stock 6 cups or so
- 1/4 cup of chili powder (make your own or use Spice Island)
- 1TB of cumin
- 2tsp of corriander
- 1 tsp Mexican oregano
- 1/2 tsp of cayenne
- can of black beans washed
- can of corn washed
- Dutch Oven

   1. Cut up the 8 slices of bacon into thin slices. Cook over medium low heat to render off fat. Remove bacon once done cooking and remove grease.
   2. Heat Dutch oven up to medium high to wear the bacon grease starts to smoke. Add 2 TB’s of grease back in the pan.
   3. Cut up chuck roast and country ribs into 1 inch cubes. Make sure the cubes are very dry by drying them off with a paper towel.
   4. Season cubes with salt and pepper
   5. Once the Dutch is warmed up. Cook the cubes of meat into batches. Making sure to get good sears on all sides. Don’t overcrowd the pan so you are not just steaming the meat. (Might take 4 or 5 batches to get all the meat done). Add bacon grease as needed.
   6. Once all the meat is cooked. Dice up one medium onion and cook over medium heat.
   7. After the onion starts to soften up after a few minutes of cooking. Add the garlic and Jalapeno diced. Cook for one or two minutes.
   8. Combine the dry ingredients. chili powder, cumin, corriander, oregano, cayenne pepper with a few TB of water to make a paste. Cook over medium low heat with onions, garlic, and jalapeno’s. This is so the spices bloom. Cook for at least 5 minutes or so.
   9. Diced up half the can of Chipotle peppers. Add to sauce in pan, cook for another 5 minutes.
  10. Add meat back into the Dutch oven. Poor the 12 oz of beer into the pan. Than add the chicken stock and lime juice also into the dutch oven also.
  11. Put in the Dutch Oven in the oven at 250 degrees for 1 hour
  12. After 1 hour add the can of black beans, cook another 30 minutes
  13. Add can of corn, cook another 30 minutes.
  14. Chili is done and can be served after 5 minutes.
  15. Optional – Add homina paste or crushed up tortilla chips to thicken the chili.

All we can do is take a thoughtful, long-range approach to the team,

…okay, good so far…

and our intent is to win the World Series.

AHAHAHAHA they’ve fallen victim to one of the classic blunders!

well, carry on. nothing new to see.

It’s almost like the umpires got together before the playoffs and decided to miss enough calls to make the case for a limited replay system. Last night, they blew two calls in pivotal moments. The line drive that Howard caught on the hop which was ruled a catch and the double play throw that didn’t beat Utley to the bag. Both of these calls, had they been correctly made, could have led to a very different result for the inning. I don’t see how Selig can maintain his stance in the face of what is obvious. Or, at least obvious to me. A limited replay system would give umpires less sway on the outcome of innings and games by ensuring that more calls are correctly made. This will allow players to have an even greater impact on the outcome of games.

I am playing RBI Baseball

win fielding bible awards per Leach.

I knew I remembered another Brendan Ryan assessment, but couldn’t find it.

http://www.vivaelbirdos.com/2009/6/27/927353/breakthrough

It’s not tagged with Boog at all. Instead it’s tagged with Ryan Theriot and Keith Foulke. Thanks, SBN.

any thread that says “fat zombie panther”. and bonus: is not talking about Berkman.

I would much rather sign him that paying through the roof to get Holliday, and diminishing all flexibility and messing with Pujols’ contract situation.

they’re so incredibly malleable. when the mcgwire news first broke it was almost universal outrage about how he’s a disgrace and an embarrassment to baseball and i’m not a cardinals fan anymore boo hoo. and now bernie writes an article basically saying that people are overreacting and that if he helps the cards hit, then who cares. and now it’s pretty much universal that people are being way too hard on mac and need to LEAVE BRITNEY ALONE because he’s just a good guy who made a mistake. fucking sheep

Heading to bed – I’ve got a tuss (a tired puss).

http://www.vivaelbirdos.com/2009/5/20/881092/2009-draft-preview-8#15943344

jd:

Why not pick up Derosa?
Let him play 3B until Wallace is ready (next year or whenever) then move him wherever the hole in the lineup. It’s flawless!
(Shit, it would probably take Wallace to get him)

Perfect combo

the Throw Moar Sinkers line

with bonus timeline on Adam Wainwright

I think one of them was a close call or a scoring thing, too. could’ve gotten double-digits.