Look... We Need to Talk
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 10:44 AM EDT
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Mornin', y'all.
Wasn't that just an awful game last night? I didn't watch it; rather, I did something I haven't done in just about forever: I actually sat and listened to the entire game on the radio. Now, lest you think I was doing this as some sort of exercise in getting back to the roots of the sport, let me dispel that notion posthaste. I did it because I am currently recovering from a rather nasty bout of the consumption (my mother suggests it may, in fact, simply be a touch of the flu, but I disagree, and the staff here at the sanitarium has been most supportive), and was unable to do anything but lie in bed last night. Rather than turn on the television, I simply shut off all the lights in the house and tuned the radio to whatever station it is the Cardinals are on now. (I also watched the last few episodes of Cowboy Bebop on my laptop as well, but that sort of destroys the picture I'm trying to create here, so just ignore it.)
Funny thing is, I've often complained about the awful media coverage we regularly receive in this town, but I was shocked to hear just how truly pitiful KTRS really is. Not once did they manage to come back from break before at least one pitch was thrown. Mike Shannon seems to have gotten exponentially more senile since I last really listened to a ballgame. Worst of all, though, were the promos I was forced to listen to between innings. When Frank O. Pinion's show sounds like the most intelligent program being advertised, you begin to realise just how low humanity can truly sink. It is, to be completely honest with you, appalling. (And if you happen to be a Frank O. Pinion fan, um, well, never mind. I can't think of a nice, or even decent, way of ending that sentence. Sorry.)
Phew. Sorry, everyone. Just had to get that off my chest.
Anyhow, a while back, just after the season began, I took one Wednesday and just opened up the floor to everyone, and we had a nice conversation. It was a bit of work for me to keep up with, but I thought it was also a lot of fun. Well, seeing as how I have a couple free hours this morning, I still feel like hell, and don't have anything at all nice to say about last night's game, why don't we try that again?
Ask whatever you like, baseball related or not, and I'll do my best to at least make something up if I don't have an actual answer. I've got until about 11:30 or so, plenty of time to generate some conversation. (Or cowversation, for one of our more notable posters.) We can talk about the draft, my love for Ski soda in the glass bottles, or how much I miss my old neighbour who used to raise chickens and always brought me the best eggs man has ever known. (Unwashed, too, so they didn't have to be refrigerated.)
Daniel Barenboim on the stereo, soothing my troubled soul with Beethoven's "Pathetique". Let's have a chat, shall we?
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I truly believe
that you are only the second person I’ve ever met (and I use that term loosely here) that has a jones for SKI soda.
Oh, but have you ever had it in glass?
There’s a little company over in Illinois that bottles it in glass and sweetens it only with natural sugar, rather than the corn syrup so common in most soft drinks. It’s wonderful.
And yes, I am, in fact, a beverage geek, in addition to all the other different types of geek that I am. It really is rather painful being me.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions
Beverage Geek
Much like you, I am a geek in many ways, including an interest in beverages, specifically flavored iced teas. I buy all sorts of flavored tea bags and brew them up a gallon at a time, nicely sugared. Current favorites are Twining’s Black Currant, Republic of Tea’s Blackberry Sage, and probably Lipton’s Black Pearl. (NOTE: Don’t make French Vanilla as iced tea.) Plus I’ve tried a bunch of the bottled/canned teas, but they get to be a little expensive and often too dependant on sugar, not on actual flavor.
Today’s flavor is Lipton’s Spiced Chai. Very good.
Don't argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. - anon.
The thing with tea
is you could easily create your own flavors. Now THAT would be geeky.
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
I'm too lazy to do that
It’s too easy to go to a local store that has over 60 feet of shelf space just for different brands of tea. A lot of repeats and much of it is in Polish or Russian, so I’m kind of going by the pictures or guessing, but I can find nearly any fruit on the planet, plus some really weird stuff. Best value: Hyson has 100 packs of Black Currant (super tasty, just out of the Top 5)there for $5, compared to 20 packs of fancy for the same or more. That’s not even talking about those obsessive stores like Teavana, where you can drop a paycheck trying to fulfill some unrealistic tea brewing fantasy.
Don't argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. - anon.
Sort of like me and Linux.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions
mmm tea
mind namedropping this local store? always looking for a new tea place!
right now I’m brewing loose leaf tea i buy by the lb at a store on main street st charles
I got a gift of Teavana one time and I about had a heart attack when I was told the cost
I'm in northern suburbs Chicago
So it might not help you, if you’re talking about St. Charles. But I think it’s called the Garden Fresh Market at the corner of Il-60 & US-45 in Mundelein, IL.
Don't argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. - anon.
That one in St. Charles
is quite good. I don’t recall the name, but they always have excellent merchandise.
They also used to have the most lovely young bohemian lass working there. Sigh…
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions
You need to try
Tazo’s Sweet Wild Orange. Wicked strong, but delicious.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions
I have
never heard of Ski soda, therefore, I have never lived.
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
Shame.
And in the St. Louis are, you can usually only get the plastic bottle, HFCS stuff. There’s a gas station up in Baden that sells the glass stuff, but the neighborhood isn’t the greatest.
And no, you have indeed never lived.
Ski in glass is like the Michelob Golden of soda. Devotees will do a lot to get their hands on it.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions
What's the name of the gas station?
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
Don't remember at the moment.
Remind me again sometime, and I’ll find out. I rarely get up that way anymore, but I still have a friend who lives up that way.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions
I had a couple of dorm-mates in college that drank Ski by the case.
Baseball's only fun if you're playing it, watching it, or thinking about it.
I don't have a problem! You're the one with the problem!
Leave me alone. (j/k)
Don't argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. - anon.
Breese, IL
I grew up in the town next to Breese. I used to make a trip home from college just to fill up all my empty bottles. Now being in Chicago, trips aren’t nearly as frequent so I just stock up on cans.
The two dudes I was talking about above,
one was from Breese, and the other was from Damiansville. I went to McKendree College with them.
Baseball's only fun if you're playing it, watching it, or thinking about it.
holy shit!
dear baron,
hi my name is nic from carbondale, illinois. i’ve been a huge fan of your writings since i first started visiting veb, but this is crazy. i grew up in breese, illinois with my house facing the south side of the excel bottling plant. i worked at the “ski factory” for a couple summers mixing up 40 lb bags of cane sugar with the secret recipe, would sling cases on the weekend and make deliveries to the bars of clinton county. i am still a complete addict and my mother is sure to have a refill for my habit upon every visit here or me there. i also happened to grow up the neighbor of Wallys woner and founder himself, thee Wally Knue. One of the greatest humans ever who also happens to have the best burger joint on the planet. *fun fact- wally knue is in the bowling hall of fame for bowling multiple 300 games!
I also love the music plugs you and a few others will drop from time to time. i currently play for the carbondale based band, SHITHAWK. you might enjoy checking us out at myspace.com/paintthetownbrown we’ll hopefully be playing some shows in stl soon. would love to meet some of the posters here.
holy shithawk! as i wrote this COLBY just hit a walk-off bomb. thanks to you and him for making my night perfect. to the bars!
nicholas schurman
Why don't we get glausy eyed and put back some franklin's....
by punksoulbrutha on Jul 1, 2009 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions
make it three
I grew up a couple towns over from the bottling plant…. There is no comparison to bottled ski.
From the Excel plant?
I’m so jealous!
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions
yup -
I grew up on bottled ski and is still one of the things I look forward to upon going home to visit. Neither fountain nor can nor two-liter bottle can quench a thirst like a glass bottle ski. It is also a little less carbonated, which makes it easier to drink.
Sweet.
I usually make the trek over about once every two months and get a couple cases. (And by a couple I mean about seven.)
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions
Mad River Red Tea
Back when my sister was stationed down by Dayton at Wright Patterson AFB, I used to find a bottled tea called Mad River Red Tea. It tasted like someone took the best parts of cinammon applesauce and turned it into tea. My brother and I would drive down from Chicago to visit her and her family occassionally, then scour a dozen stores looking for bottles of the stuff. You couldn’t find the stuff anywhere west of the IN/OH border. Plus the company that bought them up doesn’t make it anymore – inglorious bastards!
Don't argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. - anon.
Ouch. That sucks.
Speaking of odd regionals, you ever had the original double cola?
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions
Don't think so
I haven’t done a lot with sodas, although I do have a few local favorites. Sprecher’s makes an awesome cream soda and I like the key lime offering by Stewarts (more of an occassional treat, not an everyday drink). I would dig having a beverage mart around here that does non-alcoholic options. Try out some of the specialty drinks from around the country. History Channel had an episode where they went to a place like that where they had everything imaginable.
I’m glad I don’t drink alcohol (mostly because I couldn’t afford my alcoholism), but I could totally get into microbrews.
Don't argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. - anon.
it is an expensive hobby
microbrews that is. Gets more expensive once you start to appreciate belgian beers….
Oh, the peach lambic! Wonder of wonders!
Is it just me, or do I sound a bit like Rip Taylor this morning?
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions
belgian
sour brown
lambics (i prefer the dry brands to the sweet – try cantillon….
wits
doubles
triples
anything (almost) monastical….
Not a fan of the wits.
Not sure why, but the few I’ve tried haven’t really done it for me. But for the most part, you simply can’t beat the belgians when it comes to beer.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions
try
allegash wit – an american version of the belgian style – one of my favorites. Another good one is boulevard’s double wit or the one offered by Jolly Pumpkin brewery – though it is delicious it isn’t necessarily the one to jump into the wit barrel with.
by cdb on Jul 1, 2009 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions
The Stewart's key lime is AMAZING.
Sadly, it’s almost impossible to find any more.
Cheerwine from the Carolinas is pretty great; it’s cherry, but an older style of cherry that doesn’t often show up in sodas these days. Reminds you a little of Dr. Slice, though not quite as brilliant as that.
Oh, and if you’re a tea drinker, the greatest tea in the world right now is, of all places, at Ruby Tuesday. They have fruit teas, but rather than a syrup, it’s about a half pound of actual fruit pulverized in to every glass. The blackberry may literally be the best thing I’ve ever tasted. Weird.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions
Blues City Deli
over in Benton Park has a nice glass bottle soda selection and a heck of an italian beef sandi.
"I usually don’t read other peoples sigs." -Cuttah
Really?
I’m not familiar. I shall put it on the visit list.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions
They also have the most fantastic chips in the world:
Kitchen Cooked chips from Farmington, IL.
(I was the deli’s first non-family employee and convinced them to get them delivered weekly via UPS. It’s the farthest south they deliver.)
"I usually don’t read other peoples sigs." -Cuttah
That's really cool.
I’ll definitely stop by.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions
Fruit on the bottom teas - nice!
I hate getting boring tea spruced up with flavored syrup. Either get the flavored tea for a subtle touch or go full bore with the actual fruit. I’ll have to give Ruby Tuesday another chance, past experiences there weren’t the best.
Don't argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. - anon.
me too.
As far as RT. However, they’ve completely remade their menu, and I would go for the tea alone. Since the redo, I’ve had nothing but fantastic experiences there. Probably the only chain restaurant (sit-down division), that I really like any more. (National chains, that is.)
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions
Red Robin
Just had a solid experience there, including some tasty mixed (non-alcoholic) drinks. A Freckled Lemonade, using sliced strawberries, and a mango green tea. The special drinks were bottomless (usually shelling out $3-4 per glass), as were the excellent french fries. Pretty decent burgers, with fried sweet onion strips on the burger.
Don't argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. - anon.
See, every time I've ever gone to Red Robin,
I walk out thinking I could have gotten that same meal elsewhere for half the price. (Same feeling I get walking out of Outback Steakhouse, also, come to think of it.)
On the other hand, Red Robin may have the best clam chowder I’ve ever tasted outside of Maine.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Red Robin's
freckled lemonade is the bomb! But , yeah, that’s a pricey burger.
I'm from south carolina
and cheerwine is all over the place. I remember double cola also bet it was years back.
You can still get Double in glass
in Tennessee; pretty sure they bottle it right around there. Shame it’s so hard to find; it has a nice cinammon and cloves flavour that really stands out against the modern colas. Sort of like what vintage RC tastes like, which I actually have a recipe for somewhere. (FYI, making your own soda is a giant pain in the ass.)
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Speaking of cloves,
I bought some clove chewing gum at a Walgreens a few weeks ago.
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
adn speaking of cloves again
be warned, the selling of clove cigarettes is soon to be illegal.
They say that it's never too late, but you don't get any younger...
Mmm,
I used to love smoking clove cigarettes.
What the hell is up with making them illegal?
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
the law was targeted at the horrible Marlboro additives
but was written to make all cigarette additives but menthol illegal
They say that it's never too late, but you don't get any younger...
Are you serious?
Oh, god! All my goth girlfriends from high school will be devastated!
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions
yes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Smoking_Prevention_and_Tobacco_Control_Act
They say that it's never too late, but you don't get any younger...
For those of us that smoke
Do any else here smoke organic tobacco? I smoke American Spirit’s Organic blend. It is a smooth tasting cigarette that doesn’t smoke like other cigarette’s what so ever. I have rolled my cigarettes for a long time now. I can’t even smoke a regular cigarette anymore.
Stat Whore
by FlimtotheFlam on Jul 1, 2009 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions
I prefer Bali Shag over American Spirit
but I really don’t smoke much anymore
4B - beer baseball bands blog
DeRosa>MB
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 1, 2009 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions
I do like Bali Shag also
That was my smoke of choice for a long time. Most people think I am crazy when I roll it up a cigarette. You just don’t see people do it much anymore especially younger people. They will kick someone ass’s to if you are not used to them.
But for me I normally don’t even finish a cigarette. It takes me at least two times to finish it. Plus, When you got to roll your on you just smoke way less. The taste for me is like night and day. The taste of fresh cured tobacco.
I have even contemplated growing my own but it just takes to long to cure it.
Stat Whore
by FlimtotheFlam on Jul 1, 2009 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions
same bottling plant as ski
they bottle ski at that place too I think – you can get it in 22 oz glass bottles there.
by cdb on Jul 1, 2009 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions
next time you are in breese
hit Wally’s for me. I still think they are the best hamburgers I have ever had. Just a double patty on a bun with ketsup. This patties fried to a little crispy on the edges…. oh man…..
Those are good burgers, though I'm not much of a burger person.
If they’re good enough to win me over, they’re good enough for anyone.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions
Wally's is outstanding
but they are currently taking on heavy competition from dairy king… developing situation…
no comparison
wally’s has the best burgers but i still go across the street to pick up a XL strawberry ski w/ real strawberries
Went to college in the town next to Greensburg
where they used to bottle in glass. It was a Thursday night tradition to head over there to a little greasy spoon and have a “Slaw Burger, Fries, and a Bottle of Ski” (yes this is the place that gave the Kentucky Headhunters that combination after a gig). Good times.
That's a lovely story.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions
New logo coming
Found out ski has a new website and they’re changing the cans.
also here’s a link to my old high school teacher’s webpage devoted to ski. he has a ridiculous collection of old ski stuff and he’s halarious. he was a chemistry teacher and once let me and a friend do one of our projects on the differences in sugar content found in cans, bottles, and from the fountain. we didnt really get anywhere with it but we drank a lot of ski and got to hang out in the lab during study hall
FLAGGED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You’re making that up about the new logo. You have to be making it up because that’s blasphemous.
I have a very, umm...photographic brain. A lot like Ansel Adams but in color and with a lot more, uh.....insertion and pubic hair.
fortunately
they can’t change the logo on the returnable glass bottles….. can they?
by cdb on Jul 1, 2009 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions
i wish
i suggest voting for the old school lady skiing cause the other ones remind me of mountain dew and of course Ski >> mountain dew
did you mean
ski>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> mountain dew? If not, I question the legitimacy of your claim to be from aviston.
by cdb on Jul 1, 2009 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions
of course
i was going for the mathematical symbol of ‘much greater than’. i suppose if i could get an infinity symbol i could propose some sort of limit to show the inequality between them.
i remember someone once telling me ski is like 2 mountain dews in one can
So, we really traded Chris Perez for 0-10 and a DL stint?
Yay.
Still shocking how much we’ve been in the race this season; if we make the playoffs, forget about the MVP, give Albert the National Medal of Honor.
no
just speculating, but tweaks aren’t good.
I too have been fighting some dreadful illness
so I was in and out of last night’s game. I vaguely remember DeRosa hitting in front of Albert, then I think I passed out for a while. When I woke back up, I was baffled as to why DeRosa was no longer in the lineup.
I immediately thought “Jesus Tony, you’re pulling the guy we just traded for and giving PT to Thurston? WTF?” I guess it appears that DeRosa tweaked something in his wrist, so I suppose that’s somehow a better explanation for why DeRo was taken out of the lineup.
Man, you know it’s been a frustrating season when you’re finding a silver lining in an injured wrist (as opposed to Tony being Tony).
But, the downside to that
is that Thirsty Joe was in the line-up from the start! in LF!!!
by ArkansasTravs on Jul 1, 2009 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions
Derosa not DL'd; just day-to-day.
Plus, Hoffpauir up and Mortenson back down.
"Baseball has been good to me since I quit trying to play it." - Whitey Herzog
by Bring Back Tommy Herr! on Jul 1, 2009 6:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Radio
Also it seems like they are way more station breaks and cardinals related promos that Shannon and Rooney are forced to do. It doesn’t allow them to get into a rhythm. Is this just me?
Maybe that's it. I don't know.
Whatever the problem is, the radio broadcasts are virtually unlistenable these days, and it badly hurts me to say that. Some of my best memories are of the Cardinals on the radio at Clearwater Lake as a child, with Jack Buck telling me all I needed to know about the world. Sadly, I think those days are dead and gone.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions
Me too
I mostly listen to games on XM because I’m in California and still working, but it just doesn’t take me back that much anymore. I miss KMOX. Shannon and Rooney are fine, but the broadcast overall just doesn’t have the same feel. Not much storytelling or interaction.
yeah. i remember listening
to the games growing up in the 80’s on the radio, and loved it.
i deliver pizza currently so i listen to most of the games in the car, and sometimes it gets really frustrating when they aren’t describing what’s happening in the game.
i also really really don’t like rooney’s “it’s a GONER!!” calls
Heh.
Living in Chicago, I don’t ever listen to the Cards radio broadcast, but that’ “It’s a GONER!!!” sure rings a bell from when I used to hear him on the radio doing White Sox games.
I have a very, umm...photographic brain. A lot like Ansel Adams but in color and with a lot more, uh.....insertion and pubic hair.
station breaks haven't changed
They have been at the top and bottom of every hour since broadcasting began. It used to be strictly enforced by the FCC that every station had to give a legal station ID (call letters immediately followed by the city – no “in” no “from” no nothing between KTRS and St. Louis) between two minutes before and after the top and bottom of the hour. In the 80s the FCC cut the requirement to top of the hour only, but baseball networks still tend to do it… at least STL, KC, and Milwaukee do (what can I say.. I love Uecker).
As far as the promos… they go way back too.. always been a part of radio (legendary Burma Shave days). As far as frequency increases, I’m not sure. But I can say that that’s another 99.99 for Cardinals Care from American Equity Mortgage.
Baseball Fever.... Catch it!
G'morning Baron!
Apparently Glaus is now BACK IN THE PICTURE!
How do we all feel about this info? Are we about to be teased like Tantalus or sated like, um, like me this morning when I woke up really thirsty?
I'm going Tantalus.
The only possible good I see from Glaus this season is if the Cards manage to flip him to an AL club as a DH. I’m sorry, but when a guy can’t throw 90 ft. after five months of rehab, I just tend to be a bit skeptical of playing him at third base.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions
You know,
it’s like trading for an impact player, only we don’t have to give anyone up!
Baseball's only fun if you're playing it, watching it, or thinking about it.
no love?
Because chicks dig the intentional base on balls.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 1, 2009 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions
It really is!
VivaElBirdos...Scoring less, but more frequently since approximately 1903.
by redbirdnation8206 on Jul 1, 2009 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Whew, thanks.
I was feeling awfully lonely dwindling out there in the wind.
Baseball's only fun if you're playing it, watching it, or thinking about it.
Irony in Tantalus
Are you all referring to the unreachable “low hanging fruit”?
born Dodger blue, now dyed Cardinals red
Less than hopeful
Out of sight since opening day, third baseman Troy Glaus is headed to the team’s minor-league facility in Jupiter, Fla., to begin working out under the supervision of the team’s training staff and, according to club officials, could be within two weeks of going on a rehab assignment.
Why doesn’t this fill me with the warm glow of hope? Is it the reference to Glaus working out “under the supervision of the team’s training staff” or that, “according to club officials,” Glaus could be within two weeks of going on a rehab assignment? These references have boded ill in the past and I’m going to reserve judgment until Glaus is back at third base every day, firing balls across the infield to Albert Pujols in a way that does not instill the fear that Pujols will be maimed if he continues to field throws from said third baseman.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
i agree
but the prudence previous shown makes me optimistic they aren’t just throwing out a late july return without good reason to believe it could be true
Hal McRae
When does he come under fire for this piss poor offensive showing the last couple of months? How did all of the outfielders just suddenly forget how to hit? It seems like many of the players have a bad approach. Shouldn’t Hal get the blame? Something needs to be done to get this offense rolling. I wouldn’t be opposed to a change at hitting coach. Let’s call Big Mac.
I agree with you re: McRae.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions
Nice
And I agree with you re: Thurston. I’d much rather see Barden on the roster. Plays good defense and at least has occassional pop. Or might as well see what Craig can do at this point.
+1 on Craig
We know what Thurston brings to the table. Ditto Barden and Tyler Greene. What can it hurt?
And nice write-up re: McRae RB. He’s gotta go. Someone needs to be accountable for this prolonged funk (which, is probably not even a funk anymore).
I know there’s this school of thought that the hitting coach doesn’t really “do” anything, but the team’s approach at the plate is horrendous. April was our only winning month to date. We were taking pitches, taking walks, and anecdotally at least just taking generally better at bats. I absolutely hate the current approach where pretty much everyone just goes up there hacking.
And for the love of god, just leave the lineup alone for a change. Leave Ludwick in the 4 hole after a good game last night. I don’t really dig Lud’s approach (he swings at the 1st pitch quite often), but he had some success last night and has been hitting the ball hard of late. Let’s see if he can build on this momentum tonight. Of course, I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Ludwick ride the bench this game…that’s sort of just been the M.O. this season.
Agreed on all points.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions
Last year to this year?
Is it the coach or the players? I don’t know. Ankiel and Ludwick seem to have forgotten how to hit and Glaus is out. If Glaus were in the lineup, we probably have a much better offense. However, the club is seeing hardly any pitches at all per plate appearance. I’m of two minds on the subject.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
Hard to tell
but it just seems so obvious that we should be taking a pitch or two.
To hear TLR et al. describe the approach, they seem to advocate “Swing at the first good strike you see” which, as they’ll be happy to tell you, is often the very first pitch of the AB.
Even taking some pitches, without any different outcome (e.g., more walks, more runs, etc.) would make sense to me. Get the starters’ pitch counts up there a bit, make ‘em struggle and at least stay on the freakin’ mound more than 7-8 pitches/inning and maybe we get into the bullpens.
Even if the approach doesn’t yield results vs. the starters (which I’d be hard-pressed to believe would be the case), it would likely have a positive effect in that we’d see more pitches from (presumably) inferior bullpen arms.
I don't give hitting coaches
Too much credit, and on the flip side, I don’t fault them much.
I just really don’t think they matter much, to the team. I can see them helping or hurting individual players, but if an entire team is slumping, I think it is mental at this point.
Say you were standing with one foot in the oven and one foot in an ice bucket. According to the percentage people, you should be perfectly comfortable." - Manager Bobby Bragan
Perhaps.
But if it’s mental, then perhaps the solution would be to get a fresh set of eyes and a new mindset into the club? The placebo effect, if you will.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions
Let's just give 'em
sugar pills, tell ‘em they’re greenies.
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
yeah. that's helped the cubs.
I have a very, umm...photographic brain. A lot like Ansel Adams but in color and with a lot more, uh.....insertion and pubic hair.
hey
don’t compare us to the cubs ;)
4B - beer baseball bands blog
DeRosa>MB
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 1, 2009 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Maybe it is mental, but that Cliff Lee game seemed like a very poor gameplan
As best I could tell, it was — everyone swing at the first pitch.
Take out the Cliff Lee part, and you hit the nail on the head.
the gameplan seems to always be bad with this squad.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions
anybody have insight into the workings of hitting coaches?
if i were running a team, the hitting coach’s primary job would be to scout the opposing pitcher and give a 20-30 minute presentation with video on the opposing pitcher: these are his go-to pitches, this is what their movement is like, this is when he likes to use his slider, this is how he goes after LHB, this is how he responds when there’s a runner on first, he’s good/not good at holding runners, he does/doesn’t get wild when he’s tired, etc., etc.
Does the hitting coach do this? someone else? are individual players responsible?
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
I think a lot of that is done by the hitting coach
but ultimately (I think) the players are expected to do video work. Seeing is always better (much better) than simply being told.
I have a very, umm...photographic brain. A lot like Ansel Adams but in color and with a lot more, uh.....insertion and pubic hair.
"How did all of the outfielders just suddenly forget how to hit?"
And you think this is McRae’s fault? Especially considering they all hit amazingly last year?
I have a very, umm...photographic brain. A lot like Ansel Adams but in color and with a lot more, uh.....insertion and pubic hair.
the other thing is
maybe Tony’s BE AGGRESSIVE approach is interfering with McRae?
4B - beer baseball bands blog
DeRosa>MB
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 1, 2009 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm not buying it.
Not only are these guys adults but their professionals who hit the way they hit. I’m not sure there are a lot of guys on the roster right now (Colby?) outside of Pujols who you would consider to be patient hitters over their careers. Duncan’s really the only one.
Molina? Nope
Pujols? Whatever he wants to do is fine with me
Skip? Not really.
Tyler? Not at all
Khalil? No way, Jose
Ankiel? Not even in your dreams
Ludwick? Nope.
I think if you look at the guys on the roster, there aren’t a lot of “patient” guys there. That simply doesn’t change. And I don’t like looking to April either. Things were going well in April. When things are going well, players don’t press and they are more relaxed. Then, if things go south (which they often do in baseball at some point), patience becomes harder to come by and pressure becomes greater on each player to produce.
I have a very, umm...photographic brain. A lot like Ansel Adams but in color and with a lot more, uh.....insertion and pubic hair.
I'm worried.....
I see this season ending much like last year, with the team falling off in the final 4-6 weeks, and ending up in 3rd or 4th place. As good as we were in April, this team just doesn’t seem to have “it” right now. And injuries are rearing their ugly head again with Raz and possibly DeRosa.
The thing is, is that I really don’t know what to do to improve the team at this point. We don’t have much in the minors that is going to come up and be an impact bat/arm. While we lose some FA’s this offseason, we’re still going to return the core of our players. Not sure how much money we project to have to spend this offseason, but it has been awhile since we signed a quality player via FA.
Say you were standing with one foot in the oven and one foot in an ice bucket. According to the percentage people, you should be perfectly comfortable." - Manager Bobby Bragan
The Core
I’d put forth the notion that our “core” is the problem this season. One of its members hasn’t played a game. And the OF has been horrendous. I think that is the problem. The only way that I see for us to make the playoffs is for Glaus to come back at full health and to play like Glaus. Watching Scott Rolen post-shoulder injury makes me less than hopeful on that point. The other ingredient would be for Ryan Ludwick to find his lost swing.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
But.....
Watching Scott Rolen post-shoulder injury makes me less than hopeful on that point.
In looking at our competition, this statement (which I tend to agree with) gives me hope that the cubs aren’t going to get much help at all from Ramirez when he returns. And, frankly, their fans (and it sounds more and more like Lou and the players) are really putting a TON of faith in Ramirez to be the savior of that offense.
The problem is, the Brewers all of a sudden have decided not to lose. That’s definitely an issue.
I have a very, umm...photographic brain. A lot like Ansel Adams but in color and with a lot more, uh.....insertion and pubic hair.
i am equally pessimistic about ramirez and glaus's production when they both return.
cubs fans are so desperate now, they HAVE to believe aramis will help them. not many voices of reason are saying “he’s not likely to produce this month or even this season after he comes back.” we should realize that about glaus. i think we’re a bit more realistic about glaus’s prospects.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
I don't think Lou has faith that anything
will make them play less crappy at this point.
last night's game was
truly an abomination to the game of baseball but such is what you see when a team that is on a roll meets a team that is snakebitten by a pit of vipers.
Perhaps the greatest thing ever put on television, anywhere.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
But what would a hammer do without nails?
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
Checkerboard, babe. Checkerboard.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions
I've said it before, and I'll say it again.
Pretty much every second of television I watch is either baseball or subtitled. (and if they would subtitle NPB games, I could do both.)
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions
Very true.
It’s odd, but I prefer the female voices on there in Japanese- particularly Ed, who is specifically written for the rhythm of Japanese and doesn’t work nearly as well in English (witness the repetition in ep. 20 Pierrot le Fou), but I prefer the English voices for both Spike and Jet. More distinctive, more expressive.
The woman who does Faye in Japanese absolutely nails the attitude, though.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Also, it seems as the dubs are getting better.
Go back to DBZ or earlier and they’re awful, but things like Death Note are fantastic, Code Geass is really good, though still not as good as the Japanese version, etc.
Seems like the companies are figuring out how to do it better, and there’s more money in it now as anime in general seems to be gaining popularity stateside.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah
Newer anime is getting better with dubs. Frankly, I don’t know how anyone watches stuff like DBZ without subtitles.
Well, to be fair,
DBZ was funny as hell in English. OVAR NINE THOUSAND?!! may be one of the all-time great lines in the history of entertainment. But yeah, some of the old ones are just brutal.
Actually the very first one I can think of that I actually preferred the dub of was Trigun, mostly because of Johnny Yong Bosch as Vash and whoever did Wolfwood. Both just knocked it out of the park. (The only rough scene in Trigun was when Vash shoots Knives as children. The English version is a little off, because the syllables dictate he Knives has to say the same thing way too many times.)
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions
That is a huge problem for dubs
The best ones (like Cowboy Bebop and such) are rewritten well enough to fit mouth movements AND to make the lines of dialogue mean the same (or close to the same) thing AND not make it sound stupid.
If you guys are into anime
I recommend checking out Hajime No Ippo. It is a boxing anime and my favorite anime hands down. I know their is dubs out there but I prefer the subs.
Here is the intro the movie
Stat Whore
by FlimtotheFlam on Jul 1, 2009 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions
maybe Ein can figure our lineups
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
But, to be fair,
the Giants were coming in with Lincecum, Johson, and Cain.
How the hell would you NOT expect a sweep?
because they've got Zito...
going on Thursday. ‘Cept it’s agains Welley, so I think tonight is our best chance to avoid the sweep.
"Don't do anything till I get back!" - Jesus to the Cubs
mlbtraderumors.com...
had a post yesterday stating that Mark DeRosa is currently listed as a Type B FA. If he is, do you think the Cards should offer him arbitration?
Abso-Lutely.
He accepts, you’ve got one of the best utility players in MLB on a one-year deal. He doesn’t, draft pick city. Win win.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions
Does this change...
your view of the trade? Considering the glut of RH relievers and the relative absense of high-end talent in the low minors, I would have traded Perez for a supplemental 1st – getting DeRosa is just added gravy.
No.
As I wrote at the time, I think the possibility of the draft pick somewhat mitigates the cost, but there’s still the chance the draft pick turns into absolutely nothing. I don’t hate the deal, by any means, but I still think the Cards gave up too much.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions
Not only that...
but as mentioned in the main thread yesterday he has a reasonable shot at being a type A. Maybe it’s actually an outside shot…
"Don't do anything till I get back!" - Jesus to the Cubs
I'd prefer him be a Type B
I’m afraid if he becomes a Type A, then the risk is greater. A Type B costs the signing team nothing in compensation while a Type A costs the team a 1st round pick….big, huge difference. Therefore, I’d be more willing to offer arbitration to him if he’s a Type B than if he’s a Type A. That is if you aren’t 100% positive you want him back. If you do, then offer him arbitration no matter what.
I have a very, umm...photographic brain. A lot like Ansel Adams but in color and with a lot more, uh.....insertion and pubic hair.
I think I prefer he...
decline, but I’m okay with him coming back at what should be <$8M for 2010.
"Don't do anything till I get back!" - Jesus to the Cubs
Right
and I think we’d have a better shot of him declining if he were a Type B since there are no obstacles to another team signing him. If he’s a Type A, he has to wonder if a team out there is going to give him roughly the same money and give up a 1st round draft pick for a 36 year old utility player. In this case, I think he’d be more apt to accept arbitration.
I have a very, umm...photographic brain. A lot like Ansel Adams but in color and with a lot more, uh.....insertion and pubic hair.
I would like
to title that picture of Carpenter gesturing out at his offense, “Ecce Bozos”
Any objections?
by mattyp on Jul 1, 2009 11:02 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
None from me.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions
Can I choose C)
both of the above?
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions
Sub-post:
Express concern about signing Miller. Express pleasant surprise at signing Mateo. Gnash teeth over De Rosa “tweak”.
Go Cards! Etc.
by arch support on Jul 1, 2009 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions
What Cardinal minor leaguer...
would you buy stock in after the first half of 2009? And you’re selling…
Ooh, fun.
Buy: Eduardo Sanchez
Sell: Hmm. give me a moment.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions
Sell
I’ll go with Allen Craig. Not because I think he’s been awful, but only because I see absolutely no way he’s in the plans for the future.
And I’m going with the buy thing as players I didn’t like before but do now. Henley and Descalso are two huge risers, but I was already on both bandwagons, so…
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions
SP value
How would you rank the rookie starting pitchers that have appeared for StL so far this season? I’ve not been very impressed with any of them.
My first memory of Cardinals baseball is seeing Darrell Porter jump into Bruce Sutter's arms on October 20, 1982!
I like Boggs and Mortensen.
Hawksworth just makes me sad; I saw him a couple times coming up, and he was just wicked. P.J. Walters has crazy movement, but I’m just not sure what kind of pitcher the kid’s going to be. Meh.
But I do like Mort a lot. Tough debut, yes, but if not for the throwing error, he might have actually gotten out of it with one or even no runs scoring. Great movement.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions
I'd like to see some of these guys (i.e. Mort, Hawksworth) get to start
It has to be hard to come up and do something that you’ve never really done and come in in the middle of the game. Much easier for them to prepare to start as they have in the minors and actually start. It is not really a criticism because I understand the necessity, but I don’t feel like we have really seen what they can do until they get a few starts each.
I agree.
I was especially disappointed to see Mort pitching in relief. He’s never pitched out of the ‘pen in his life, as far as I know, and now he’s supposed to do it in the big leagues? Just seems that for all the talk we hear of putting guys in a position to succeed, we see guys in some really odd situations on a pretty regular basis
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions
None have been jaw-dropping that's for sure.
But I’ve liked what I’ve seen from Mitchell Boggs. He goes after hitters and doesn’t seen apprehensive or scared like some rookie pitchers we’ve seen lately. He’s getting pounded in AAA though.. head scratcher.
PJ Walters looked good at times… most against guys named Alfonso Soriano. He’s a guy I think could benefit from Dave Duncan’s School of Pitch to Contact.
THE SKIP IS LEGIT!!
Jon Jay
Poor 1st half. I think he’ll get it going.
Does Deryk Hooker count? I imagine his stock would be low after a drug suspension caused him to miss the 1st half.
THE SKIP IS LEGIT!!
Independence Day is coming up
It’s my favorite holiday of the year. Barbecue, swimming, baseball, blowing shit up (maybe I should change that “swimming” to “bathing in the pool” to keep the alliteration). It reminds me of my carefree summers as a child. I can’t wait!
RB, what’s your favorite holiday and why?
"If on-base percentage is so important, then why don't they put it up on the scoreboard?" - Jeff Francouer
Christmas.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions
Awesome read
I wish I had dropped by VEB that day
"If on-base percentage is so important, then why don't they put it up on the scoreboard?" - Jeff Francouer
by jd is legend on Jul 1, 2009 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions
Gracias.
I was rather pleased with the way it turned out.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions
I also love Halloween.
Really, from about mid-October through New Year, I am one of the happiest people you’ll ever meet.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions
Well, maybe not happy, exactly...
But I’m certainly something during the holidays, and whatever it is, it’s very very different.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions
I like Halloween too
I like how the holiday has morphed from what it was in my younger days to what it has become as an adult. Namely, dressing up in order to get free candy vs. dressing up to get stupid drunk.
"If on-base percentage is so important, then why don't they put it up on the scoreboard?" - Jeff Francouer
by jd is legend on Jul 1, 2009 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions
Halloween
it’s every girls excuse to dress up like a hooker from fantasy land. And that’s not a bad thing…..not at all.
I have a very, umm...photographic brain. A lot like Ansel Adams but in color and with a lot more, uh.....insertion and pubic hair.
I'm the same.
Starting with October you get.
1) Awesome weather
2) Your college’s Homecoming Game
3) BASEBALL PLAYOFFS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4) Halloween
5) NFL getting into full swing
6) Thanksgiving (which means almost a week off from work…..plus the FOOD!!!!)
7) First snowfall
8) Christmas
9) No work for teachers for 2 weeks!!!
10) New Years
11) NFL Playoffs
12) Finally, it’s all capped off with my birthday.
I have a very, umm...photographic brain. A lot like Ansel Adams but in color and with a lot more, uh.....insertion and pubic hair.
Thanksgiving
is my Christmas.
You can make it about so many different, and equally wonderful, things. It’s about food and harvest, friends and family, drinking booze, and being thankful for all of our blessings. I also love that it’s on a Thursday every year, and for most of us (okay, me) means a four-day weekend. I appreciate consistency from my major Holidays.
It’s the bee’s knee’s.
God I wish that expression would come back.
And good lord, I don’t remember the last time I saw you around here. Where you been?
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions
Changing poopy diapers...
planting gardens, coaching T-Ball, working to save a job, planning world domination.
The usual.
Nice.
It’s weird, every once in awhile a name pops up of someone I haven’t seen since the collapse of ’07 or something.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions
My cat hates The 4th.
It’s the fireworks. He peed on me once, but it was my fault. We were on the back porch and there were some neighbors shooting off fireworks that were going over our house. The cat was freaked out, but being that asshole that I am, wouldn’t let him go back inside. Instead, I thought, “I’ll just hold him and that will make him a little less uneasy about the fireworks.”
Yeah, that ended up with me having warm cat piss run down my leg………
I need to think these ideas out before I act upon them sometimes…….
I have a very, umm...photographic brain. A lot like Ansel Adams but in color and with a lot more, uh.....insertion and pubic hair.
Awesome story
If you would have tried that with my cat, you would have ended up with gaping wounds in your leg instead of cat pee on it. Cat pee is better.
Unfortunately, I'm not a quick learner.
One day, probably about a year after the 4th of July Incident, I was getting ready to take a shower and the cat was hanging out in the bathroom minding his own business. While the water was running, I (inexplicably) thought it would be a fantastic idea to hold him over the tub like he was going in. He squirmed a bit and then……yup, you guessed it……peed on me.
One of these days I’ll learn. I swear.
The funny thing is afterwards, he looks kind of embarrassed by it, but also has a look on his face that’s like “hey, asshole, cut that shit out and I won’t pee on you.” Makes sense, right?
I have a very, umm...photographic brain. A lot like Ansel Adams but in color and with a lot more, uh.....insertion and pubic hair.
You are seriously
lucky that cat doesn’t fuck you up. We have a cat who would bite and claw at such behavior.
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
there is a distinct difference between a light scratch and a claw from a cat
who is afraid for its life (shoving a cat into a bathtub/a carrier/etc. can induce such a response). those leave some deep scars.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
Yeah. He's a pretty good cat.
He puts up with a lot of crap. I don’t torture him or anything, it’s mostly me just being in his business 24/7. I’m annoying…..and weird. But, don’t get me wrong, when he’s had enough, he’ll bite the crap out of me. I usually have it coming so it’s no big deal. But, we’re good buddies. I’ve had him for almost 13 years.
I have a very, umm...photographic brain. A lot like Ansel Adams but in color and with a lot more, uh.....insertion and pubic hair.
Looks that way so far.
If he does, he’s a top fifteen prospect next year. (Bold prediction time)
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions
Out of curiosity..
what happens to a 2nd baseman who can’t stick at 2nd base?
……um…..I’m about to answer my question as I just started wondering what time the cubbies play today…..
I have a very, umm...photographic brain. A lot like Ansel Adams but in color and with a lot more, uh.....insertion and pubic hair.
Just finished my
second round of All-Star Game voting. How many times did you vote, RB?
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
I went early and did the full 25.
Mostly, I will freely admit, to qualify for the giveaway thing. I honestly have the hardest time caring about the AS Game. It’s weird, but the ASG may be the one and only thing in baseball that I don’t much care about.
Although I am wicked stoked that I got press credentials for it.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions
I work for the RFT.
As frightening as it may be, I am a genuine member of the press.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions
I love the ASG
Probably because it’s right around the same time as Independence Day, at the height of summer (my favorite season)
"If on-base percentage is so important, then why don't they put it up on the scoreboard?" - Jeff Francouer
by jd is legend on Jul 1, 2009 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions
I usually
don’t care about the ASG. Maybe I care this year b/c it’s in St. Louis. Of course, that also makes me groan a bit since the area around the stadium is less than stellar.
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
Ski in a glass bottle, and a fried chicken dinner
Have you every tried that combo?
It is wonderfull. When I go back to my hometown of Centralia, I goto a place called Big O’s and order Fried Chicken with a bottle of ski… Since it takes so long to cook fried chicken, it never fails that I always end up drinking two bottles by the time my meal is over.
Its the best…
Trust me,
I’ve probably had every combination with fried chicken you can imagine. My favourite to date is Hodak’s with a tiger blood snow cone.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions
RB, did you know
that Coca Cola is making an original Coca-Cola in a glass bottle sweetened with sugar now?
Baseball's only fun if you're playing it, watching it, or thinking about it.
They always have
Just not in the U.S.
You can actually buy cases of Mexican coke (with sugar) at Costco.
I keep hearing that,
but I have yet to see it at the Costco in South St. Louis county.
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
You can get it at the Sam's Club in Crestwood.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm anti-
Sam’s Club and Wal-Mart.
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
Me too.
Just saying, though.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Maybe I can find someone
to get it for me. It’s like ethics-laundering.
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
by spants on Jul 1, 2009 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
"Get it at any cost. Just don't tell me where you got it from."
Don't argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. - anon.
I went to Belize with the wife a year or so back...
…ditched the kids too. It was awesome and I caught an 85 pound nurse shark!
Anyway, down there you ONLY get soda that’s been sweetened by natural cane sugar. Remarkably good. I couldn’t drink soda for, like, an hour when I got back…note-an hour w/out soda is actually a long time for me!
VivaElBirdos...Scoring less, but more frequently since approximately 1903.
by redbirdnation8206 on Jul 1, 2009 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Sometimes,
I pick up a bottle of Mexican Coke at Straub’s. They also have Dublin Dr. Pepper, and it is a completely different soda than the rancid, syrupy nastiness that is made and served in the US.
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
Dublin Dr. Pepper is made in Dublin, TX
They say that it's never too late, but you don't get any younger...
Well,
whatever it is it is made with sugar and it is fucking fantastic.
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
Dublin Dr. Pepper?
Oh, now I’m intrigued. What’s the flavour difference specifically?
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions
natural sugar
not the syrupy goo as usual.
C'mon you Redbirds, lets prove em' wrong, again!
by yer dog first on Jul 1, 2009 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions
It just
doesn’t have the face-scrunching finish that Dr. Pepper usually has. Perhaps the vanilla is shining through. I’ve only had it once. I’d need to do a taste test to really describe it, but it is SO worth trying.
I got a friend of mine, a gal who despises Dr. P, to try it and she loved it.
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
Bite your tongue
I love Dr. Pepper
"If on-base percentage is so important, then why don't they put it up on the scoreboard?" - Jeff Francouer
by jd is legend on Jul 1, 2009 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions
I used to,
but when I was younger. Not so much anymore. Dublin Dr. Pepper is a revelation, though.
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
Sweet.
Thanks to both you and Val. I’ll certainly have to give it a try as soon as possible.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions
the main thing is that it's made from cane sugar
it’s an older factory that uses an older recipe. The bottles are extremely distinctive, and look like the older-type Dr. Pepper (like what you would see in that scene from Forrest Gump, for example)
They say that it's never too late, but you don't get any younger...
I must of had me about 15 Dr. Peppers
VivaElBirdos...Scoring less, but more frequently since approximately 1903.
by redbirdnation8206 on Jul 1, 2009 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions
You can also get it from Mexico,
where it’s still made with sugar. I haven’t tried the U.S. made one yet, but I’m hopeful this is the beginning of a trend back toward natural sweeteners, with Pepsi doing its throwback line and now Coke running to catch up.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions
General FYI
There is a store at the St. Louis Mills mall called “Soda Jerks” iirc that sells all kinds of old-fashioned, glass bottle sodas including Dublin Dr. Pepper. I know the mall is a little out of the way, but its definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area and looking for an awesome variety of good soda. In fact I think I’ll go there tomorrow (its by my work) and see if they have Ski in the bottle.
Really? I didn't know that.
The only thing I go to in the Mills any more is the Banana Republic outlet, at least since they closed down the Saks’ 5th Avenue.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Ski soda
is great when you have a hangover….especially in a bottle. I can score you some, Red, you just got to give me the sign.
So our new "lefty killer" is hurt
after starting out 0 for 10. Wonderful, just wonderful.
To make it worse (in my opinion, at least) some of the names floated as being on the PTBNL list scare me (Todd, for one, I’d hate to lose). RB, do you think the list really has that high quality players on it or are they all “two years away” as has also been reported?
Disclaimer: I was not opposed to getting DeRosa. The price may have been a bit higher than I had hoped, but I would never have guessed he’d start out 0 for 10.
Indians fans have a differnt view
They are saying…. we really traded DeRosa for a guy who can’t throw stikes or even cover first base???
eh, we faced some good pitching
and its not like any of the Cardinals’ hitters not named Pujols did much better. Though I’m starting to wonder if the bad offense is attributable to some highly contagious airborne virus (that Puols has a natural immunity to). That, or Busch III was built on old Indian burial grounds.
sure, but we won the World Series in the new stadium
and I was say that was one of the most fortunate runs any team has made in recent memory.
I mean… we won 83 regular season games in ’06…. and WON THE WORLD SERIES
All of St. Louis
was built on burial mounds.
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
I hope not, but the more I hear, I fear they are good names.
Considering how many teams were in on DeRosa, you have to expect the Cards overpaid for him fairly significantly. It gets ugly in a hurry when there’s a bunch of bidders.
I think at least one of Todd/ Samuel are on there, maybe both.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions
RB Radio
I saw on the Rundown that you did a radio spot with Erik at FRB.
Is there any chance of you taking Bob Ramsey’s place on 101.1 to save everyone’s ears from 2-6 in the STL metro area? I am willing to go Tonya Harding on his knee to make this happn.
Maybe you could Tanya his throat?
I shouldn’t say such things; it’s unbecoming, it is. No matter how awful the personalities, it’s never alright to wish harm on people.
Sadly, I don’t think anyone is going to offer me a radio gig anytime soon. But oh, if they would…
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions
Why not?
Are they not allowed to hire people who are knowledgable and not a complete jackass?
Also I am sad because I still cannot access the RunDown here at work for whatever reason. Any words of advice to get me through the day?
by Salti Cracker on Jul 1, 2009 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions
This morning,
I angrily ranted that Joe Thurston is a bad player, Hal McRae shouldn’t have a job, and I’m soooo tired of seeing Rick Ankiel play center field. So, you know, the usual.
I wonder why you can’t get it at work? I hope my bikini car wash post didn’t set off a filter or something.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Not sure
It has always worked up until 2 weeks ago. The female tennis player’s breast reduction post was awesome. I read that one at work.
Its good to see that I share two common causes with you.
by Salti Cracker on Jul 1, 2009 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Tee hee.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Sounds ... interesting
And I, too, share many of the same opinions about the Cards. Where does one find this Rundown? Is it on FRB?
by ArkansasTravs on Jul 1, 2009 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Nope.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 2, 2009 3:12 AM EDT up reply actions
Thanks!
Now that I see it, I remember that you write for the Riverfront Times. Thanks again.
by ArkansasTravs on Jul 2, 2009 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Maybe the
embedded YouTube video of McRae flipping his shit?
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
Nah.
I put that up months ago as part of a countdown of coaching meltdowns, so if it didn’t get him then, it shouldn’t have now.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions
FRB Radio
How do we access the radio show and will ou be appearing often on the show?
by Salti Cracker on Jul 1, 2009 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Just go to FR,
it’s about three or four posts down; after the jump, it starts automatically.
As for whether I’m on a lot, that’s up to erik. It’s his show.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Last one
Any talk of a VEB radio show?
I know the SB Nation Rams site has one. It seems only natural for VEB to have one as well. Have I mentioned how terrible STL radio is??
by Salti Cracker on Jul 1, 2009 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Don't know that it's ever come up.
I have considered doing one of my own, but I’m not sure.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions
You should
I would listen so you would have at least 2 listeners. That would give you more than KFNS.
by Salti Cracker on Jul 1, 2009 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Nice.
I shall take it under advisement.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions
TLR's last year?
I’m starting to think Don Tony will be departing after this season. Will it be his decision or FO’s?
Who’s in line to replace him? Wish list?
Proud sponsor of the Official 2009 StL Cardinal theme song: Reason to Believe
I think Tony will be back.
If only to torture us internets know it alls.
The list to replace him I think goes Jose Oquendo, Pop Warner, and then outside the org.
Maybe Hammer Maloney.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions
whoever made the last out coaches 3rd
Especially Thurston.
by Expatcardfan on Jul 1, 2009 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions
I'd love Maddon
Acta too.
Because chicks dig the intentional base on balls.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 1, 2009 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions
I love Oquendo
But they HAVE to go after Manny Acta. He’s stuck with a terrible team, terrible management, about 27 fans, and a team that can’t even order uniforms with the right name on it. I have to imagine if St. Louis came ‘o calling, he’d be interested.
VivaElBirdos...Scoring less, but more frequently since approximately 1903.
by redbirdnation8206 on Jul 1, 2009 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions
I, honestly, don't know a whole bunch about Acta
but what is it about him that has turned him into Ben Sheets, Joe Maddon, and Brandon Wood all of a sudden?
Nevermind…I just read wikipedia and it’s all become crystal clear.
I have a very, umm...photographic brain. A lot like Ansel Adams but in color and with a lot more, uh.....insertion and pubic hair.
I have said many times
I want Ted Simmons to at least be considered. I think he’s got the background to be a really great manager. If the Cardinals don’t want to consider him, I wish someone else would. Ted Simmons is my first choice.
She isn't crazy, she's just not impressed.
Anyone remember that Simpsons episode where Homer takes over Krusty's show
and then turns it into a talk show about the most horrible, inane things? To me, that is almost exactly what Frank O. Pinion’s show is. It really is paijnful.
They say that it's never too late, but you don't get any younger...
Remember it well
Sad to think that is a reality today
by Salti Cracker on Jul 1, 2009 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm not kidding about the Pujols off the bench strategy
Let’s just not bother with him batting until 2 men get on base. Then, we pinch hit him for whoever is at the plate. If its Carpenter early in the game with less than 2 outs, then Carp stays and stares at 3 pitches, and nobody leads off. Could somebody do the Monte Carlos on this to see how it works?
First, since I'm dumb,
what happenned to DeRosa, exactly? I missed that part of the game.
Second, RB, I think Tony is catching a lot of heat for things that are out of his control.
What lineup would you put out there versus a lefty? DeRosa, Ryan, Greene, and Thursty Joe would almost HAVE to be in it. There simply aren’t any alternatives. Duncan, Ank, Schu, should all sit. As for positioning, Ryan really sucks at 3b, and neither he nor Greene have any OF experience (even less than Thurston). Could Tony have put DeRo in LF and Joe at 3b? Sure. But DeRosa is a better 3b than Joe is, and you would expect 3b to get more chances in a game than LF. Plus, Joe would have Rasmus patrolling CF next to him, which would help him a ton there.
Baseball's only fun if you're playing it, watching it, or thinking about it.
I'd rather have Schu than Thursty.
Skip is an everyday player, and needs to be treated like one, I think.
by Expatcardfan on Jul 1, 2009 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions
You know what?
You may be right about Tony, right now. The thing is, even when presented with the fully healthy version of this team, he still made these bizarre, awful decisions, which has likely caused us all to view the current crises as a bit more his fault than they really should be.
As for me, I still can’t forget watching Ankiel play center over Rasmus for the first month of the season. (Then again, we did win more when Ankiel was in center… No! Don’t give him any ideas!)
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm fine with his lineups at the start of games
I mean, really, there’s a generation of Cards fans who don’t know anything else.
But when even in Busch Stadium surrounded by families with young children, I am tempted to let out a string of expletives at the bizarre double-switches? And many of them are “now playing at -, Joe Thurston”? That’s… getting old.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
completely OT:
My buddy and his wife (who are both from the Clayton/West County area) just had their first beautiful newborn last night, a healthy baby girl. He called this morning after finally getting some sleep after 36 hours of waiting on the kid.
VEB should do its own gamecasts.
I haven’t heard actual funny irony on the radio in years.
Decrease runs scored?
Maybe.
Decrease winning? Never seen that proven.
-SFTU
would that be legal?
Probably for something that is not for profit, it would be. But MLB can get pissy about that type of thing.
They say that it's never too late, but you don't get any younger...
Express written consent.
Even without profit. Sadly, that sort of thing is just never going to happen.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Cocaine isn't legal either.
You could be the scarface of internet radio.
Decrease runs scored?
Maybe.
Decrease winning? Never seen that proven.
-SFTU
Cocaine is a hell of a drug.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Nice.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions
We aren't rebroadcasting the game
we are broadcasting commentary about the game.
by Hardcore Legend on Jul 1, 2009 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions
only if we can have a sound-effect for "rec'd"
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
So...random question
I am planning curriculum for next fall, and I want to know people’s favorite and least favorite books they read in school…this will help me, as I don’t want to make kiddos read bad books!
Thanks!
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
I'm certified 5-9, but am curious about books for 5-12th graders.
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions
The Westing Game
I think that was it. Loved it. 6th grade, I think.
by Expatcardfan on Jul 1, 2009 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Make sure you do Rumblefish, S.E. Hinton.
Excellent for kids that age, and teaches forceful, vivid language like few other things do.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions
I was
going to suggest The Outsiders.
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
I like Outsiders as well,
but Rumblefish never seems to get its due, and the main character is even more powerful, I think. Similar books in a lot of ways, though.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions
The Outsiders is usually read in 7th grade, so that's covered
I’ve never heard of Rumblefish…I guess it really doesn’t get its due!
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Never read it.
We have it at the bookstore. I’ll pick it up sometime.
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
Do.
Like I said, it will remind you of Outsiders, but with an immediacy, and a linguistic energy, that is really unique. It’s really pretty remarkable.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions
a blog community about baseball
did not mention The Catcher in the Rye?
WTF!
this comment may contain pun.
Stupid Sexy Flanders!!!
by timmycardinals on Jul 1, 2009 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions
it did. it may be farther down.
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh, and you have to do the Great Gatsby.
It is, after all, the greatest piece of literature ever created by an American.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Is that the Scientology book?
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions
I stand corrected.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions
yea, I was never required to read it,
but it’s on my list for this summer!
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions
back in 2000 or so
some book authority put out a list of the 100 greatest American books of the century. everything from The Call of the Wild to Ulysses. you can make some arguments, but its hard to say its not a pretty solid reading list
by Expatcardfan on Jul 1, 2009 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Ulysses isn't
American.
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
It was just English.
Ulysses was actually #1, followed immediately by Gatsby and the Magnificent Ambersons, if I remember correctly.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Best 100 novels in English:
Is this the list? Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is third.
by santiagofish on Jul 1, 2009 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions
My mistake.
And yeah, I believe that’s the one.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Have you read
The Magnificent Ambersons? I started it once, but couldn’t get past the first dozen pages. Something about the prose just struck me as a less rewarding Henry James—but I might be remembering it completely wrong. It’s possible I put it down because I wanted to read Levon Helm’s autobiography instead, and just never picked it back up.
Have you seen the film The Magnificent Ambersons? I think you can only get it on vhs at this point.
by santiagofish on Jul 1, 2009 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Film- not too bad.
Book-awful. Your first impression was correct. Painfully dense. I got through it, but I would rather read through Finnegan’s Wake again than try to absorb that bastard.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions
if you've made it through finnegan even once, i tip my hat.
someday, before i die, i will read that.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
Three times,
along with four different annotation volumes.
I was obsessed with James Joyce for a couple of years.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions
three times? sounds like you were obsessed for a
decade. ulysses i can handle — finnegan is beyond me.
someday when i suddenly find a pile of money i’ll get a cabin out in the woods or at the seashore and read ten hours a day. maybe then.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
Thing is, I really love FW, even with the density of it.
The language is beautiful, even if you ignore the meaning totally.
On the other hand, I’ve now come to a point in my life where I can proudly say that “The Dead” is the best thing James Joyce ever read and not be embarassed.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 1:31 PM EDT up reply actions
that is a great story.
did you see the john huston film of it? i thought it was a good, if not totally faithful, adaptation.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
No, I never did.
One of those things; being such a Joyce fanatic for awhile, I felt at the time like it was impure, and later, just didn’t have a whole lot of motivation for it. I’m sure I’ll see it someday, but as of yet, I never have.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions
ebook link
http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/meta/titles.html#H
Has Portrait, Ulysses, Finnegan’s, and Dubliners.
I know a lot of people aren’t big on reading from a computer monitor, but hey, it’s free, legal, and easily accessible.
Question
As someone who loves Joyce, do you prefer FW over his earlier stuff—say, “The Dead” (the story not the anthology)? Or do you celebrate the man’s entire catalogue?
Huh.
Typed the response above this before I saw what you wrote. Spooky.
Like I said, when I was younger, I was obsessed with Joyce, and really enamoured of the difficult stuff. Now, I like it all, and probably prefer the early stuff in general, simply because it’s much more accessible. You can take pleasure in it without devoting a week’s study to obscure hebrew texts.
On the other hand, I’ll still read the last section of Ulysses about twice a week just because.
So I suppose the second option.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions
You said you were obsessed....
Have you done the Dublin walk?
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Sadly, no.
I’ve never had the chance. I hope to one day, though.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions
have you checked out "Being Geniuses Together"?
Robert McAlmond’s more-or-less memoirs of being one of the expatriate authors in Paris in the 1920’s, including maps of how close all of those guys lived to each other
No, I haven't.
It sounds wonderful, though. I may have to check that out.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions
i visited the martello tower. pretty cool.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
That is really cool.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions
i highly recommend
dublin as a city to visit. even for non-joyce purposes.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
Excellent answer!
If I were forced to read the same two paragraphs every day for the rest of my life, they would (probably—don’t hold me to this!) be the final two paragraphs of “The Dead.” I’ve never been more moved by prose.
Agreed.
Some of the most powerful writing ever set to paper there, and simple as well. Just remarkable.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions
penance for a past sin?
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Ha!
I think I’d just read The Bell Jar and wanted to see what the big deal was with FW—I didn’t get it.
I've read Alice Adams
but not Ambersons. Tarkington is a weird author because he was so divorced from modernism even as it was going on around him, but at the same time there’s something really interesting about that.
i never had to read that for a class
which is criminal, really. yet, I still had to read the Scarlett flippin Letter
by Expatcardfan on Jul 1, 2009 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Wow.
You got hosed.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions
don't worry, I eventually got to it
made it a personal goal to read at least 1 book a month outside of class in college
by Expatcardfan on Jul 1, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions
wow, that's pretty impressive!
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions
again, econ major
you go to courses about production possibility frontiers and statistical analyses and tell me you don’t feel like reading about ANYTHING ELSE ON THE PLANET EVER
lol...I believe you!
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Ah, I was gonna say
I’m an English major, and going into my fourth year I’ve never had any desire to read a full novel outside of class.
On with the (good) youth movement!
Sweet.
I used to do that sort of thing, but I find myself with less and less time for such pursuits these days. Sad, really.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions
william faulkner would like to have a word with you.
i think the sound and the fury or absalom, absalom wins that competition. and i do love gatsby.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
I cannot
stand Faulkner.
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
Really?
Huh. I love Faulkner.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions
All these are good
but come in second to Moby Dick.
“Oh! he ain’t Captain Bildad; no, and he ain’t Captain Peleg; HE’S AHAB, boy; and Ahab of old, thou knowest, was a crowned king!”
I think that Moby Dick is the most widely read,
widely misunderstood, and widely loathed book in history…
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions
The bible
might claim that honor. What I love most about Moby Dick is the power of the language. I think it’s unmatched.
i stand, humbly, corrected.
Much like the New York Best Seller’s list..
I ignore the bible when it comes to talking about literature.
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions
I love VEB.
Also, I just ran across this great quote from Flaubert’s Parrot:
“Me and my books, in the same apartment. Like a gherkin in its vinegar.”
!!!
nice quote!
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Both wonderful,
but Gatsby is better, I say.
Has there ever been a nerdier fight than this? Over the internet, and in relation to the greatest American novel? This is awesome.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Gatsby
is about as perfect as it gets.
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
OKAY OKAY...I'll read it right now!
Seriously…my hs made us read the stupidest books…a short list:
Rebecca
Fanny and Sue
The Time of the Butterflies
A Farewell to Manzanar
We couldn’t have read THE GREAT FREAKING GATSBY instead?
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh, my.
That’s, just, that’s, I mean, have you ever considered suing your school for child abuse?
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions
seriously...
I went to an all girl’s school, so we read almost solely female authors.
At least Frankenstein was in there. Mary Shelly is so cool…
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Any Sylvia Plath?
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Nope. But I read a lot in college.
They read “The Bell Jar” here.
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Nice.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Actually, now that I think about it...
I think I read more suicidal female authors in that class than one really should…
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions
I disagree.
There’s no such thing as too many suicidal female authors.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions
true...granted,
they are a dying breed..
nuyuck nuyuck….
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Wow.
Girl- check.
Literary-check.
Picked up the thread of a suicide joke- check.
I think I just might be in love.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions
lol
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions
I will rec this post all day
Gatsby’s like a perfectly turned short story that happens to be 50,000 words long.
Gatsby?!
It’s a nice little book, but it’s not even the gplcbaA in its decade, which also saw The Waste Land, The Sound and The Fury, and A Farewell to Arms.
Sorry. The greatest piece of literature ever created by an American is Huckleberry Finn.
This is weird
I really don’t think I had to read anything in 7th or 8th grade. Or, again, maybe I’ve just blacked out that part of my gangly adolescence
You probably read something.
The Outsiders
Hatchet
Mick Harte Was Here.
something sound familiar?
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Do Death of A Salesman,
and then talk about how the American Dream was invented during the great depression as a piece of propaganda. That’s my favorite lesson plan.
Decrease runs scored?
Maybe.
Decrease winning? Never seen that proven.
-SFTU
That sounds good...
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions
The Scarlett Letter
stands out as the only book in HS that I absolutely couldn’t finish
by Expatcardfan on Jul 1, 2009 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions
THIS IS WHY I NEED YOU GUYS!
we read that this summer…
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions
It might be a bit overdone,
but Catcher in the Rye, The Old Man and the Sea, Slaughterhouse Five or whatever Vonnegut they will let you get away with.
Decrease runs scored?
Maybe.
Decrease winning? Never seen that proven.
-SFTU
The school I currently work in reads Slaughterhouse 5 senior year
Alas, again, I never read it.
That is one of those books “for boys”
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Looove Vonnegut,
but a tough sell at most schools. Agreed on both others.
Maybe Naked Lunch…? (insert winking emoticon here.)
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions
After I left my HS, and my brother was there
One teacher started an entire class about Vonnegut. The entire course was Vonnegut books. Not jealous at all, nor do I still hold resentment for that fact. I don’t. Really.
Obviously.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions
lol.
I wish we were given a bit more leeway regarding books, but parents really have the final say.
After reading Romeo and Juliet with freshmen this summer, I felt like I was going to get some slack for watching the new film…
i didn’t, praise science!
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions
please tell me you're not in Johnson County, KS
I’m pretty sure they’ve banned most of Shakespeare by this point
lol...
Maryland Heights…
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Harrison Bergeron
My only exposure to Vonnegut was the short story about making people equal in the eyes of the law. But I also see it as a loose description of what ADD feels like.
I really should write up a list of books and movies that are worth the time to explore. I’ll probably do that right after I send in my application for membership to the Procrastinators Society of America.
Don't argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. - anon.
lol...just send your resume to me.
I’m the queen of that society!
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions
'naked lunch' in high school would be a trip....
that will not fly though…
On the Road maybe…
Crime and Punishment is probably my favorite all time….
by cdb on Jul 1, 2009 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions
We did Desolation Row in high school,
and our teacher got his ass in quite a sling. The beat stuff in general just doesn’t fly with that age group, as far as the parents and staff go.
If I were ever planning to quit a job as an English teacher, though, I would teach a whole semester of graphic novels and William Burroughs. It would be glorious.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions
you sound like a great candidate for a college professorship!
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Strange, but I mentioned consumption in my main post,
and I was just about to type “fight tuberculosis, folks.”
One of the odder things that’s happened to me recently, I think.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions
A Confederacy Of Dunces
just because it can turn someone who hates reading into someone who absolutely loves it. The God of Small Things and 100 Years of Solitude, too, but those might be a little too advanced for all but the top grades you mentioned.
Is the Confederacy of Dunces intended to have the same appeal as Fahrenheit 451?
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions
CoD is on the list of things i got halfway through
and decided I couldn’t take it any longer. I know I’m in the minority here, but just opinion.
from school days, also loved (I’m trying to stick to course reading, and not things that will have those two members of the PTA outraged):
Tale of Two Cities
Animal Farm
The Sun Also Rises
by Expatcardfan on Jul 1, 2009 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions
I couldn't read CoD, either.
That was 10 years ago, so maybe I’d feel differently now.
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
i dunno, it was 5 years ago for me
(when I heard it was going to become a Will Ferrill movie). this is how cultured i am
by Expatcardfan on Jul 1, 2009 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions
I loved A Tale of Two Cities...
And I think I learned more about the French Revolution from that book than from my History Text!
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions
my basic American History course in college
our professor had us read books from/describing different periods in US History – Salem Possessed, Jubilee, The Flivver King, A Rumor of War, etc. Interesting idea, but our TA kept getting mad at us for only reading the good ones.
Sweet baby Jesus nobody should ever have to read Salem Possessed
by Expatcardfan on Jul 1, 2009 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions
you should have read the crucible instead.
It remains one of my favorites. That sounds like an awesome class!
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions
it was cool
even if it did take me, in all actuality, a few years to do the “real” reading for it. us Economics and Finance majors ain’t all that cut out for this book readin’ bidness.
by Expatcardfan on Jul 1, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions
lol...us English Education Majors...
ain’t much cut out for economics and finance…
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions
If you ever want to sell someone on just plain ole' reading for entertainment.
Go with Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. One of the best casual reads I have ever found.
Baseball's only fun if you're playing it, watching it, or thinking about it.
yea, i've heard that
thanks for the recommendations, all!
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions
hmmmm..ok
well I can defninitely +1 you on The Sun Also Rises — Hemingway’s first full-length novel and incidentally his best imo, though it does have some mature themes better suited for the older grades. I actually really enjoyed the other ones you listed too and would recommend Orwell’s 1984 as well.
I read Animal Farm in 8th grade
Which is a perfect example of a book being read by students who are too young to get it…to me it was a stupid book about farm animals…
I have to read that one again, too.
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions
I think Animal Farm
is one that’s almost always given to kids a bit too young for it. It feels like Charlotte’s Web, I think, is why this happens, even though it’s obviously a remarkably subtle work of satire that flies well over the heads of most kids who read it.
Watership Down is yet another in this vein.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm a huge Orwell fan
and I’ve always thought Animal Farm is frankly pretty dreadful.
Because chicks dig the intentional base on balls.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 1, 2009 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Eh.
Obviously not his best work, but it has its charms, I think.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Though somewhat obtusely
I think “Keep the aspidistra flying” (which isn’t critically acclaimed or especially a commonly quoted favourite of his) is probably my favourite… That and 1984 obv.
Because chicks dig the intentional base on balls.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 1, 2009 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Also the inspiration for the Scotland Yard Gospel Choirs's best song, "Aspiditra."
Note: I have no idea if the two are related, but I didn’t make any song recommendations, and how often does the word Aspiditra come up?
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions
i did an oral book report on Animal Farm in 10th grade
knowing that I’d have to read it for class in 12th, I figured I’d get a head start on it. It also happened to be the day the principal decided to sit in on our 10th grade English class to see what was going on. Obviously, I didn’t know how much it was based on the Russian revolution or whatever (Russian history wasn’t a great concern of mine when I was 15), but he did leave after my presentation saying “thank you, Mr. B, for attempting to provoke a political uprising in Mrs. R’s classroom today. I think I’ll be moving on now”
by Expatcardfan on Jul 1, 2009 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions
you know what?
It sounds like you learned something…which is the goal…uprising or not.
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions
i think it helped that it was short
if you’re doing coursework, i think its important that you don’t present something intimidatingly long. like, you pass out copies of The Grapes of Wrath and hear the moans from the class over the sheer bulk of it, and the war is 50% decided from the first battle
yea. I thought my life was over
when i was handed my first copy of Paradise Lost…
And after I read it…it was close…
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions
i think i managed to black that out
either that, or we only had to read the first stanza or whatever that was. my 12th grade literature teacher wasn’t a total sadist, but close
i read it my frosh year at Mizzou
I think i would like it a lot more now. It would be good for people, but only during certain periods in their lives.
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions
we had to read
Crime and Punishment.
Brutal.
by longhornscardinals on Jul 1, 2009 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions
eh, I don't really think so
its definitely not a classic “school” book, but its just so much better than a lot of the stale recycled classics schools use and it is one of the few books I’ve read that actually makes me laugh out loud. Its way more patently absurdist than Fahrenheit 451 and doesn’t really have the same political/social undercurrents (but then again, Bradbury I think has disavowed a lot of those themes that have been ascribed to the work by literary critics)
I wish "Citizen Soldiers" had been available when I was in HS.
I don’t remember enjoying any of the books I read. Grapes if Wrath was an eye opener, but man was it slow. It’s good to understand history, though. Kids raised in the 90s have no idea what like would be like in a depression.
If you're going to do Steinbeck, do Cannery Row.
By far his most focused and melancholy. A potent combination.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions
well...sadly...many do....
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions
i think Grapes of Wrath was also on the things i didn't finish in HS
I wasn’t too motivated with the books in 11th grade, for whatever reason
by Expatcardfan on Jul 1, 2009 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions
The Jungle? You trying to get me fired!!
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Why would you get fired for that?
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
a lot of kids are hypersensitive with anything involving animal rights
it probably wouldn’t get me fired…but I probably wouldn’t read it with kid under the junior level
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions
That book
is about worker rights.
Sinclair said that he aimed for Americans’ heads and instead hit them in the stomachs.
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
hmmm...I'll have to look at it again.
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions
From Wiki
“not because the public cared anything about the workers, but simply because the public did not want to eat tubercular beef”3. Sinclair’s account of workers’ falling into rendering tanks and being ground, along with animal parts, into “Durham’s Pure Leaf Lard”, gripped public attention.
wow…
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions
I put that on my list below
It’s a very important book from a historical standpoint. It also happens to be good. I doubt you’d get fired for that because they used to have it in English classes at my school, but took it out because they brought in a new teacher who simply hated it and threw a shit fit.
VivaElBirdos...Scoring less, but more frequently since approximately 1903.
by redbirdnation8206 on Jul 1, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions
ugh...i had to do a huge report on the jungle in the 11th grade
i hated that book
A separate Peace is a fantastic read for boys just starting high school…i loved that book
"Albert hits good pitches hard and bad pitches even harder. And when he gets in the batter's box, if you pray, then you start praying. And if you don't pray, you think about starting."--Brian Bannister
I got my B.A. in English, Creative Writing, and was aspiring to become a High School English Teacher
before my wisdom came through—sorry, had to go there.
Anyways, I am a Papa Hemingway fanatic and planned on teaching an entire course about him and his works. I planned to teach a novel a week, since his novels are very easy to read, laid out over 10 weeks. (Sun Also Rises, Green Hills of Africa, For Whom the Bell Tolls, Old Man and the Sea, etc. etc.) I then would move into a Short Story Segment of the course covering most of his works (all Nick Adams series, Snows of Kilimanjaro, etc.). In the meantime, we would be reading one of his sponsored Biographies and study the context of his life (his marriages, times at war, and children, etc.) Together, each student would come away with a fundamental understanding of how Papa wrote, a good grasp of historical context, and tons of interpretative abilities as I personally feel he is incomparable to the ability to saturate text with simple, depictive imagery that if you knew anything about his personal life, is some of the strongest symbolism there is.
Fun Fact: did you know that Ernest Hemingway was the first American Injured in WWI? he volunteered for the Italian Ambulance Service and was shot in the, uh……….hint: Forrest Gump.
Stupid Sexy Flanders!!!
by timmycardinals on Jul 1, 2009 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions
You sound like you have a great course planned!
And I thought it was pretty wise to go into the teaching profession. Great benefits, an amazing retirement program, autonomy, building relationships with kids, and weekends, holidays, and about 2 months without being required to be someplace. Also, it is a great career for someone who wants a family. So, all in all, it isn’t for everyone, but it is a great fit for some!
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions
And no, I didn't know that about EH...crazy!
(it’s the bottom, isn’t it…)
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh i agree about teaching
that’s why after 6 years working in the corporate field, and making good money while driving my blood pressure through the roof, I now work at the University of Missouri in Career Services. As the Ast. Director, my job is to come up with programming to help students become better job seekers, interviewers, employees, etc. Great job, pension plan, health benefits are fantastic, summer hours and i go home for lunch nearly every day to play with my son and kiss my wife (an RN who works three days a week). I envied your job for the longest time, but I think I found one that is comparable.
and yes, it was his bottom.
Stupid Sexy Flanders!!!
by timmycardinals on Jul 1, 2009 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions
nice! Good for you!
I wish i could go home for lunch, but I guess the shorter lunch is, the shorter the work day!
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Okay, high school literature pet peeve,
how is it that so many dystopian novels are taught in highschools? After one, maybe two, they just become redundant. I often find myself in conversations about which one was which anyway: “And then he did the drugs and there was the orgy and then the robo-dog chased him and the whole book is about how pot should be legal, and they abolished adjectives and all the animals die in the end.”
Decrease runs scored?
Maybe.
Decrease winning? Never seen that proven.
-SFTU
it's weird
pseudointellectual high schoolers just love dystopian novels more than anything else in the world. I say this having been one.
I think that's more a college thing
we’d be tarred and feathered for teaching something like that…
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Good question
I think that people see them as convenient allegories and don’t bother picking which are the best, they just grab one and throw it out there. In my mind the list of good ones begins and ends with Nineteen Eighty Four but that’s a matter of opinion that I’m sure someone would disagree with.
VivaElBirdos...Scoring less, but more frequently since approximately 1903.
by redbirdnation8206 on Jul 1, 2009 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions
accessible to teenagers
It’s much easier to draw metaphors to that part of the life cycle of breaking out and making your own identity (unless you’re, say, C___ Rasmus). The kids are talking about it anyway. Might as well draw the parallels and get them to write/discuss it.
Unfortunately good books get ruined when those parallels aren’t drawn. The simplest lesson plan of “so what’s having a step-parent like?” can save a kid who hates Hamlet.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
I'm not a fiction fan..
…and as such I find even reportedly great novels a bit of a chore to read. I’m that wacko who would rather read Stephen W. Sears, James McPherson, Joseph Ellis, or, for a lighter, less academic change-o-pace, David McCullough
In any case, I do remember reading a few things in school that were pretty good, those being Watership Down and Hamlet. Oddly enough, I’ve like just about all of the Shakespeare (or whoever actually wrote it…) that I’ve read. Watership Down is sort of like The Hobbit only about rabbits and not fantasy-ish. It can also be understood on several different levels, and is actually quite deep considering Adams wrote it for a younger audience.
Some of the other, and once again very few, novels that I like: The Jungle and Nineteen Eighty Four. I think that Nineteen Eighty Four should be required reading for everyone ever. With all of that said, I’m not very widely read on fiction so my list isn’t very good!
Now, if you want some info about some good history books…
VivaElBirdos...Scoring less, but more frequently since approximately 1903.
by redbirdnation8206 on Jul 1, 2009 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions
thanks, I actually prefer non-fiction to fiction as well...
I am surprised you said you liked Shakespeare in HS. When we were reading Romeo and Juliet this summer, the kids hated it. One said, “Shakespeare is so STUPID!” I simply responded, "I’m pretty sure he passed English 9 on the first try…
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions
I loved
Shakespeare in HS too. Though, due to an unfortunate switch in curriculum, I read Hamlet THREE TIMES in HS. I love Hamlet, but COME ON. We also read Othello, Romeo & Juliet, and Macbeth.
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
jesus! That's terrible!
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions
They
were all, obviously, in different classes. I managed to see three versions of Hamlet on film, too, including the Mel Gibson version and the superior Kenneth Branagh version.
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
The Kenneth Branagh version was outstanding
Charlton Heston’s performance was briliant and really breathed life into the “play within a play.”
I loved “To Be or Not To Be…” spoken into a mirror…THAT was a truly ingenious stroke. Hamlet literally faced his own doubts and feelings, as everything he said was sort of pushed back at him.
My wife thinks I’m nearly the world’s biggest nerd. I like Shakespeare, baseball statistics, and history. She watches Grey’s Anatomy. I win!
note-this is not a shot at Grey’s fans out there…okay it is a little bit.
VivaElBirdos...Scoring less, but more frequently since approximately 1903.
by redbirdnation8206 on Jul 1, 2009 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions
I've watched
20 minutes of Grey’s Anatomy. I can live without it, thanks.
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
Merchant of Venice?
That one was pretty good too. I like how that one is considered a comedy, even though the entire premise is based on cutting a pound of flesh out of a person and Shylock (who is subtly referred to as The Jew) becomes determined that said pound should be a man’s heart!
VivaElBirdos...Scoring less, but more frequently since approximately 1903.
by redbirdnation8206 on Jul 1, 2009 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions
I didn't like Romeo and Juliet
…at first. But my sophomore year we read Othello and Merchant of Veniceand liked them both. Then my senior year we read King Lear and, my favorite as cliche as this is, Hamlet. I went back that summer and did Romeo and Juliet over and it clicked for me. I prefer the tragedies to the comedies, even though MoV is technically a comedy. I think that when you get over the weird language barrier, you can really appreciate the storytelling and realize what clever wordsmithing is at work in those plays. It’s worth noting that some enormous segment of the English language can be traced directly to Shakespeare’s Folios.
Many, probably most, HS students simply don’t want to push themselves over said language barrier and make their minds up about whether they’ll like Shakespeare or not.
VivaElBirdos...Scoring less, but more frequently since approximately 1903.
by redbirdnation8206 on Jul 1, 2009 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Yea, I totally agree with your opinions...
Many of them cannot, and will not TRY to get over the barrier. Granted, when I was a freshman, I probably didn’t want to either. English class isn’t the most important thing in their lives…really?
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions
I didn't like
shaekespeare, partly due to the language – partly the play format. I hated reading
romeo: ….
juliet: …
romeo: …
juliet: …
don’t know why but I always ended up confused as to who was saying what.
by cdb on Jul 1, 2009 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions
DiCaprio did some pretty accessible work in that regard
But it made me dizzy.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
i think macbeth is one of the most accessible plays. if i were teaching 9th or 10th
graders, i’d go with that one. it’s short, lots of blood, good and memorable characters, etc. othello is pretty easy to swallow. hamlet should be more of an 11th or 12th grade play: long, dense. you really need exposure to several shakespeare plays before reading hamlet.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
Hamlet is an absolute beast
Totally worth it though. Sex, regicide, court intrigue, more sex, thinking, duels, lots of death…What’s not to love?
VivaElBirdos...Scoring less, but more frequently since approximately 1903.
by redbirdnation8206 on Jul 1, 2009 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions
criminal to forget Bradbury
Lots of short stories to choose from if they’re not into long stuff. Never crude, but often deliciously wicked. Plus he wrote from perspective of small midwestern towns, if you happen to live in the area.
IMO Fahrenheit 451 is over-exposed. Something like The Veldt is great for anyone who’s fantasized about feeding someone to lions.
Ursula K. LeGuin — can’t rec her enough. Cultivate mindfulness.
Read Shakespeare aloud!!! Shakespeare’s been ruined by book reports. The play’s the #)$*@# thing!
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
also Terry Pratchett
- insert footnote here.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
Emergence
It would probably be impossible to find (I had a hard time trying to find one copy, much less 15+), but it is an interesting read. Written by David Palmer, it’s a story about an 11-year-old girl that survives an armageddon-like event and travels around the country looking for survivors, plus information concerning her special circumstances (I don’t want to give away the story). She’s super smart, very capable despite her age, and a 7th degree black belt.
It can be a little odd to read, as it comes off as a diary written in Pittman shorthand and then translated to standard English. Lots of missing null words (like “the” & “a”) might make an English teacher develop a facial tic. But I’ve re-read that book probably 6 times and I think it would be perfect for 5th-9th graders, especially girls.
Don't argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. - anon.
SF Radio
I, too, listened to the game on the radio last night, but since I live in San Francisco, it was a total pleasure listening to Jon Miller describe what was happening on the field… or rather, it would have been a pleasure had what was happening on the field not involved the Cardinals defense apparently resembling a swiss-like cheese and 88% of our lineup unable to lay off the first pitch.
"When all's been said and done, I can say that all has been said and done."
-Steve "Lips" Kudlow, of Anvil
True about the team.
But listening to Miller without Joe Morgan is heaven. I listen to the SF feeds on satellite some nights just to hear a great play-by-play guy plying his trade. Dave Niehaus in Seattle is probably the best, with Miller right behind him.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Definitely agree
Miller is great—I found myself pacing around the room in a way that I never do when I watch a game on TV. The tension in his broadcast was making me feel like it was the playoffs when the Cards loaded the bases. Not many play-by-play guys can do that.
"When all's been said and done, I can say that all has been said and done."
-Steve "Lips" Kudlow, of Anvil
by redbird brain on Jul 1, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions
agree totally
radio is the perfect medium for Miller. He’s got the voice, the cadence, and the ability to paint a picture. It’s possible that he’s beyond palatable on tv, but as long as JM is his sidekick, we’ll never know.
Did you mean "would have been a pleasure if Joe Morgan had ran in
and smacked Jon Miller, then ran onto the field screaming and gotten arrested"?
Maybe Jon is better when he’s not doing ESPN. I dunno. I can’t stand him. “OMG LOOK AT JOSE REYES SMILING!!!!”
Ha!
Nice one. It’s actually as refreshing to listen to him on the radio as it is frustrating to listen to him constantly being derailed on ESPN.
"When all's been said and done, I can say that all has been said and done."
-Steve "Lips" Kudlow, of Anvil
by redbird brain on Jul 1, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Hey, did you guys think my fanpost on Hiatal Hernias was good and informative enough?
If so I might do more about other misunderstood medical conditions affecting ballplayers.
Any suggestions?
Decrease runs scored?
Maybe.
Decrease winning? Never seen that proven.
-SFTU
It was wonderful.
Do one on plantar fasciitis. That’s one that’s hugely misunderstood, I think.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions
isn't that what Glaus had in Toronto?
Because chicks dig the intentional base on balls.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 1, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions
I think so.
It’s also what Albert has contended with for the longest time.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Hip labrums
Specifically why everyone in baseball suddenly hurt their hips!
VivaElBirdos...Scoring less, but more frequently since approximately 1903.
by redbirdnation8206 on Jul 1, 2009 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions
dance dance revolution in the clubhouse. that's what i hear, at least.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
by tom s. on Jul 1, 2009 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
thumbs up
(safely)
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
A yorkshire terrier.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions
was about to say
+1
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
When Ankiel had the stache
The offense was at its best.
Everyone in the lineup outside Albert just needs to grow porn staches, and they might keep within 8 of the Brewers at the AS Break.
I absolutely agree.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions
bullpen = staches
Chris Perez = clean shaven
Draw your own conclusions.
The only exception seems to be Albert, but then it looked like he went to Santana’s barber.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
what is the good Baron having for lunch?
4B - beer baseball bands blog
DeRosa>MB
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 1, 2009 12:43 PM EDT reply actions
Lunch
Three slices of Volpi rotola and a sliced up apple. (The apple is awful, but I hate to waste it.)
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions
What is a Volpi Rotola?
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Volpi is a company in St. Louis that makes authentic cured Italian style meats.
And a rotola is a combination of pulled mozzarella cheese and prosciutto rolled up. Delicious.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions
I want to make some of these:
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Real-Nawlins-Muffuletta/Detail.aspx
4B - beer baseball bands blog
DeRosa>MB
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 1, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions
do u know anywhere in chitown
that has a good muffaletta?
don't usually order those
but Arturo’s Express near Union Station has them, and I like all their other food.
4B - beer baseball bands blog
DeRosa>MB
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 1, 2009 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions
i havent had one in years
but the last one was amazing
I think I know what I'm going to eat on Friday
Thursday is double punch day at Nino Panino’s
4B - beer baseball bands blog
DeRosa>MB
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 1, 2009 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Sounds good! Where does one find one of said "Rotola?"
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions
I get mine at Dierberg's.
The one on Tesson Ferry near 270. I do most of my grocery shopping there.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Okayyyyy
so – BASEBALL QUESTION!
What do you make of cardinal’s 4th round pick Scott Bittle (he of the zany cutter which many scouts christened “the best pitch of the draft”)? Anything in the injury “concerns” that the yanks had last year when they picked him in the 2nd round then declined on further investigation of his shoulder? I really like what I’ve seen and heard of him and think he could advance quickly up the ladder to MLB in a couple of seasons. Have they got him signed yet (not according to mlb.com, but they also say we haven’t signed Sidham and I think he’s been playing in low A for a week or so already)? Any concerns about the signability price (i.e. will he want more than a typical 4th rounder after he was a 2nd rounder last year)?
Also, just to make this a really long-winded prospect question (and because I really enjoyed your draft preview series), who (out of the lower-level Cards picks this year) do you think has the best “sleeper potential” in the Cards draft? I’m going for Sidham (erm, 8th round I think?) simply because he’s started OK and I like the sound of his bat (though it seems like it might be a stretch for him to stay in the middle infield).
Because chicks dig the intentional base on balls.
I really like Bittle.
I think the reason he isn’t signed yet is both sides are waiting to see how his rehab progresses before they decide what to offer and ask for, respectively. When Bittle gets in to pro ball, he will move quickly, and I think he’ll be a really good one. I look at him and I think of Keith Foulke. Not overpowering velocity wise, but has deception and one pitch that’s so good he can just air it out time after time and get away with it.
The injury is absolutely a real concern, but as a reliever, I’m not nearly as concerned as I would be if he were a starter. When he’s healthy, he’ll be good. When he’s not, he’ll be out. We’re really only concerned with the next 3-6 years of his career, to be quite honest.
But as far as signability, no, I don’t think there will be any issues. Both sides are just waiting to see where he is physically before they begin negotiating. The August deadline doesn’t apply to him as a college senior anyway, so there’s no hurry.
Best late round pick is Tyler Bighames, HS shortstop from Florida in the 30th round. I also like Stidham, and I think Virgil Hill is going to blow up.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Larussa: good or bad?
This has been the thing that has been on my mind the most lately. He doesn’t seem like he’s quite as effective as he’s been in the past (or was it just all the good players?). While I think he has a lot of merits, the constant new lineups and positional shuffling, staunch adherence to matchups, et al has grown very tiresome.
just wondering your opinion, I have enjoyed him being manager but I think his time with the team has almost run its course
4B - beer baseball bands blog
DeRosa>MB
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 1, 2009 12:54 PM EDT reply actions
I was a huge fan of La Russa in his Oakland days.
And a huge fan for most of his time here. But now, I think his time is just about passed. It’s the downfall of any great idea, really, when it progresses from idea to belief to dogma.
Tony is right smack dab in the middle of dogma now, I think.
Plus, his favouritism has gotten much, much worse the last few years, I think.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
my sentiments exactly
4B - beer baseball bands blog
DeRosa>MB
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 1, 2009 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions
the reverse of favoritism
Has cost us some ballplayers with upside.
Okay, maybe one or two.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
I can't argue with his record but
I think it’s time to move on.
I am beginning to agree
The 13man bullpen is an abomination, especially since he refuses to treat it like a 13man pen. Hawksworth’s role is apparently to sit there and tell fart jokes and then pitch every week or so. What good is that doing?
The lineup last night was a joke. Joe Thurston in LF? T. Greene at 2nd? I mean, the whole point of De Rosa is to figure out who is good to go that night, make your lineup, and then put De Rosa in the hole. It was painfully obvious to me that the best idea with that array of players would have been Thurston at 2nd, Greene at 3rd, and DeRosa in LF. You can chalk this up to one game and all that…but every single game there is a total head-scratcher. I think La Russa has reached Bill Simmons’s “Keith Hernandez” level.
VivaElBirdos...Scoring less, but more frequently since approximately 1903.
by redbirdnation8206 on Jul 1, 2009 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions
I think he blossomed like a flower
in the 2006 post-season…and then went to seed. He is done and is just inhibiting progress at this point.
Those Pilgrims ain't lookin' so proud now...
by giveml on Jul 1, 2009 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
DeRosa's wrist
Where will the news break first? Post-Dispatch? mlb.com? VEB?
He must have had that x-ray by now.
Faberge eggs
Do you cringe every time this new catchphrase is used? I sure do. If things turn out as well as we’d hope….say Rasmus and Wallace end up winning ROY…would you support a merchandising push that turns this thinly veiled Luhnow slam on it’s head?
perhaps some dyed eggs need to be tossed?
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
The fact that
the rest of the mainstream media has picked up Bernie’s bullshit is, frankly, disgusting. They should all be ashamed of themselves for spewing out that insulting, puerile garbage.
And as for revenge, how about forcing them to eat actual faberge eggs?
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
might hurt the teeth!
VivaElBirdos...Scoring less, but more frequently since approximately 1903.
by redbirdnation8206 on Jul 1, 2009 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions
and aren't they made of gold?
Why the heck would they be fragile? Rare and many lost to history, but enamel and gold and jewels are hardly fragile.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
It's dispicable
I wonder if Rasmus is a Faberge Egg? Or, since he’s producing in St. Louis, is he exempted? Motte? What about McClellan? Or, is it a term that only pertains to minor leaguers moving forward from its first appearance? What it is, is bullshit. This franchise will not be able to compete moving forward without successfully drafting, developing, and installing prospects. Call me a “Faberge Egg propagandist,” but it’s the truth. What’s more, I don’t even know what the point of this name-calling is. If you look at last trading deadline, for example, hardly any names moved because the sellers were demanding astronomical prices. And the players that did move—Teixeira, for example—would not have fit into our club. So, what? We were supposed to trade Rasmus, Perez and Skip for Holliday (who Bernie now says we shouldn’t want because of his performance away from Coors)? It’s nonsensical and angers me. We should expect more from someone who is fortunate enough to have a platform in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on Jul 1, 2009 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions 6 recs
Rec
"If on-base percentage is so important, then why don't they put it up on the scoreboard?" - Jeff Francouer
Excellent post
Bernie Miklasz gets to write about sports all the time and has a platform to reach a large audience through the P-D. If he’s got difficulty writing 250-300 columns a year, then he shouldn’t be a newspaper columnist. We should expect him to do a good job, and if he doesn’t then it’s completely fair to call him out on it, particularly when his columns are nothing but semi-incendiary garbage that are short on meaningful comments and long on insanity.
VivaElBirdos...Scoring less, but more frequently since approximately 1903.
by redbirdnation8206 on Jul 1, 2009 6:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Wrong!
honestly, probably senility.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Daniel Descalso's major league line in 2011
in AVG/OBP/SLG, plus UZR (- or + a rough amount) at ?which positions….
PREDICT IT!!!
Because chicks dig the intentional base on balls.
He's a 2B only.
His line: .292/.355/.503, and a plus seven run defensive player.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Wow that would be freaking awesome
I’m guessing that would make him one of the top 2 or 3 2B’s in baseball… high expectations indeed!
Because chicks dig the intentional base on balls.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 1, 2009 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions
I love Descalso.
Far more than I probably should; I’m sure he’ll make a fool of me. But he’s sort of my groundfloor guy. I was high on him long before anyone else was, and I’m going to ride it out, Speedwagon style.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions
that would make him a perfect comp to pedroia (08 OPS - .869; worth 10 runs on defense)
i’d be a little more circumspect but still optimistic.
.278/.340/.410; plus 4 on defense
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
I would take that in a heartbeat
still puts him in the “elite” 2B bracket IMO. Probably a 3-4 win player…
Because chicks dig the intentional base on balls.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 1, 2009 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions
That game was bad last night...
and I’m hoping for a turn-around, because Milwaukee is gonna go on a tear… I can feel it.
Welcome to Baseball Heaven.
good question.
I’d say, cement, probably, but only on a Tuesday.
Because chicks dig the intentional base on balls.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 1, 2009 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
ha. ha. freaking ha.
when your rotation is so awful backe looks good, you’re not scaring anybody. i am honestly not afraid of the brewers in this division. the brewers are likely to regress to much worse pitching. the cubs are likely to regress to much better hitting. i’m more worried about the cubs and even the reds than the brewers.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
the Reds are more worrisome than the Brewers imo
maybe even more than the Cubs
4B - beer baseball bands blog
DeRosa>MB
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 1, 2009 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah I agree with that
all along, I’ve never really thought the Brewers have the quality to win this division. Their non-Gallardo starters were worth less than replacement level COMBINED, the last time I checked. Whilst I think Looper and Bush can get better (maybe Parra too), I’m just not sure they have the quality to keep it up. Any injuries and they’ll struggle, too.
Because chicks dig the intentional base on balls.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 1, 2009 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions
The Brewers are looking at anyone who can throw 90 pitches
from the mound and not die, I’d assume.
Me, myself and I.
‘Cause I’m a dick.
Seriously, everyone here, the guys at FR, C70 does a nice job, the girl who runs Las Beisbolistas. The guys at JoeSportsFan. Goold, of course, is great.
Non local, Posnanski is the best.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions
I miss Redbird Nation
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
Milton Bradley
I’m serious about this, not joking. The guy fascinates me – tons of talent, some bad luck with injuries, probably one of the most intelligent players in the majors off the field, anger management issues, you name it. But I kind of love Milton Bradley.
Either Tim Lincecum, Roy Halladay, or Chase Utley.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions
That is the correct answer!
He’s got this pudgy 17 year old look about him. He reminds me of a panda bear. He’s also a very smiley guy. Seems to enjoy himself totally out there. I like that in a player.
She isn't crazy, she's just not impressed.
Chase Utley, Nelson Cruz, Justin Upton, Jason Bartlett, Ben Zobrist
4B - beer baseball bands blog
DeRosa>MB
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 1, 2009 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions
seems like Bartlett doesn't get much love
but he is amazing this season
4B - beer baseball bands blog
DeRosa>MB
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 1, 2009 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Benjamin Franklin Rodriguez
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Ichiro
Has grown on me.
Any Molina.
Oh yeah, Akinori Iwamura. Why, I don’t really know.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
RB, what is the best way for the cards to start scoring more runs?
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
get pablo sandoval
"I've played a couple of hundred games of tic-tac-toe with my little daughter and she hasn't beaten me yet. I've always had to win. I've got to win." - Bob Gibson
by MUGATU on Jul 1, 2009 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
don't think he's available.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
I wish...
that Pablo would’ve been around when Michael Lewis was writing “Moneyball.” The scouts would hate him because of the his enormous bottom and Beane and co. would scoff at his 5ish% BB rate.
He is
an odd sort of player, isn’t he?
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Pablo...
symbolizes what I love about baseball. No matter how smart you are and how well you play the odds in situations, shit will sometimes break the other way. Advanced scouting and stats help us understand baseball so much better than we ever have, but we can never know how it will play out until it happens.
Example: Albert Pujols is the best hitter on the planet during the 2006 season but David Eckstein wins WS MVP.
Willie McGee
4B - beer baseball bands blog
DeRosa>MB
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 1, 2009 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions
willie mcgee for hitting coach?.........
"I've played a couple of hundred games of tic-tac-toe with my little daughter and she hasn't beaten me yet. I've always had to win. I've got to win." - Bob Gibson
yeah
this made me think, that perhaps Rasmus reminds me of McGee… not sure about that yet
4B - beer baseball bands blog
DeRosa>MB
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 1, 2009 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions
three step process.
1) Take some fucking pitches.
2)
3) Runs!
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions
RB, if you had the chance to trade the 2006 WS Championship for one of these
lost Championships, which would it be?
- 1967
- 1985
- 1987
- 1996
- 2002
- 2004
- 2005
2009
"I've played a couple of hundred games of tic-tac-toe with my little daughter and she hasn't beaten me yet. I've always had to win. I've got to win." - Bob Gibson
Be realistic
4th place finishes don’t constitute ‘lost championships’.
by Hardcore Legend on Jul 1, 2009 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions
ok then. fair enough.
’04 and ’05 were some tough pills to swallow, though.
"I've played a couple of hundred games of tic-tac-toe with my little daughter and she hasn't beaten me yet. I've always had to win. I've got to win." - Bob Gibson
I went to game 3 of the series in 2004
rough…but still an awesome experience.
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions
in all honesty though,
i wouldn’t trade it for anything… i was actually at the winner, and that is something i will never forget. well,,,, i don’t exactly remember everything from that night, but you know what i mean.
"I've played a couple of hundred games of tic-tac-toe with my little daughter and she hasn't beaten me yet. I've always had to win. I've got to win." - Bob Gibson
my night for the '06 winner
immediately ordered 20 bud lights, started handing them out to strangers screaming “we won!”
purchased a tray of jager shots, started handing them out to strangers screaming “we won!”
lost one coat and a pair of cufflinks
woke up next day, put on Bruce Sutter t-shirt, watched Mizzou game, met love of my life who noticed I had on a Cards shirt
wouldn’t trade it for anything
wow..you really should write a fanpost about it!
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions
I think you mean '68
as they did win it all in ’67 and ’68 is the one I would like to have back. Followed closely by ’85.
Those Pilgrims ain't lookin' so proud now...
Good question.
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
2004.
I want to say ’85, but I just think we deserved it in 2004. Clearly the best team in baseball that year, and just ran completely out of gas by the time October rolled around.
Honourable mention for ’02, for sentimental reasons.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions
I was going to say '87
but I’d have to agree with ’04, that was the bigger disappointment I think
4B - beer baseball bands blog
DeRosa>MB
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 1, 2009 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions
2004
was a monumental disappointment.
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
I think that's why the gobs gave us '06
4B - beer baseball bands blog
DeRosa>MB
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 1, 2009 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions
and we're still paying for it.
I have a very, umm...photographic brain. A lot like Ansel Adams but in color and with a lot more, uh.....insertion and pubic hair.
fucking bastard coated bastards with bastard filling is what those bastards are
It kind of sounds like he’s [Duncan] just running around like a puppy out there – full speed ahead in random directions. – BTown Birds Fan
by gdm426 on Jul 2, 2009 1:59 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
You mean 1968?
VivaElBirdos...Scoring less, but more frequently since approximately 1903.
by redbirdnation8206 on Jul 1, 2009 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions
1987
I was five years old and would turn six in December (receiving a “National League Champions” sweatshirt, the adult version of which I am still in search of to this day). It was the first season that my parents allowed me to stay up for the entirety of the ballgames and I still remember vividly much of the series vs. San Fran and Minnesota. I have had a healthy disdain for the Giants and Twins ever since (making the last week difficult to stomach). Ozzie Smith was my childhood hero and his 1987 was phenomenal. (I type that as a six-year-old fan. I’m not sure what his OPS+ or wOBA was…) If I could trade 2006 for any year, it would be 1987, so I could see and still remember to this day, Willie McGee, Vince Coleman, and Ozzie Smith raising the World Series trophy.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on Jul 1, 2009 6:14 PM EDT up reply actions
OK having read the beverage thread
I think there’s space for a little more drinks-based questioning….
What are your top 5 beers? If you could only drink 3 drinks (of ANY sort) for the rest of your life what would they be?
Because chicks dig the intentional base on balls.
i have to agree with the boulevard wheat...
sierra nevada is another of my favorites, and of course a jack n water with a slight over-pour of jack…
"I've played a couple of hundred games of tic-tac-toe with my little daughter and she hasn't beaten me yet. I've always had to win. I've got to win." - Bob Gibson
Too tough a question
my answer could probably change every day, but for today I’ll say:
Rogue Shakespeare Stout
Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout
Anchor Porter
All available at your frinedly neighborhood Randall’s, which I have to say is probably my favorite place in the world
randall's is like an effin candy store
"I've played a couple of hundred games of tic-tac-toe with my little daughter and she hasn't beaten me yet. I've always had to win. I've got to win." - Bob Gibson
Alright. Last thing.
Beers:
O’Fallon Pumpkin Ale
Schlafly Christmas Ale
St. Louis Peach (Belgian, actually; the name is a coincidence)
Michelob Golden
New Belgium Skinny Dip(?) too many to choose, really, but I suppose I could be happy with this list.
drinks:
Bombay Sapphire gin martini, perfect, two olives
Jamaica
Ty Nant springs water
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Ah, crap.
Scratch out one of my drinks, and replace it with Chateau D’Yquem.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
by the red baron on Jul 1, 2009 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions
I currently live in fort collins - home of
skinny dip and fat tire and such…..
by cdb on Jul 1, 2009 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions
gonna have to go with
Bell’s Best Brown Ale
Bell’s Oberon
Old Rasputin for the dark stuff
Lagunitas Censored Copper Ale
Lagunitas Cappucino Stout (more dark stuff)
Allaghash White
Old Fashioneds and Gin and Tonics (or Vodka Tonics if it’s good vodka)
4B - beer baseball bands blog
DeRosa>MB
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 1, 2009 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions
also
Brooklyn Lager
Coney Island Brewing company
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DeRosa>MB
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 1, 2009 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions
not to mention
2 Brothers
La Fin Du Mond
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DeRosa>MB
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 1, 2009 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions
I live about 5 minutes from 2 Brothers brewery
I have a very, umm...photographic brain. A lot like Ansel Adams but in color and with a lot more, uh.....insertion and pubic hair.
I need to go there
4B - beer baseball bands blog
DeRosa>MB
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 1, 2009 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions
It's not impressive
but the beer is good and so is the food. Service sucks, but you can tell they aren’t in it to be bartenders/waiters/etc.
Btw, i had perfect directions and couldn’t find the place the one time I went. There’s no sign and nothing about the places suggests “brewery”. It’s just a typical looking industrial/office building among other typical looking industrial/office buildings. I had to ask a couple times from people I’d see getting into their cars and the response was always “yeah, I’ve heard of that place, but I have no idea where it is.”
Then I walked into some office and there was this lady sitting there and I said I was looking for 2 Brothers. She looked at me…paused…..pointed out the window and said…..“I think that’s it across the parking lot”.
It was. And I got drunk.
I have a very, umm...photographic brain. A lot like Ansel Adams but in color and with a lot more, uh.....insertion and pubic hair.
top 5 beers
Big Sky Brewing Co. Moose Drool
Obsidian Stout
90 Schilling
Anchor Steam Porter
Hoeggarden
Stupid Sexy Flanders!!!
by timmycardinals on Jul 1, 2009 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions
shit, 6...
Delierium Tremens
Stupid Sexy Flanders!!!
by timmycardinals on Jul 1, 2009 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh and any Single Malt at least 12 years old.
highland, lowland, anyland…as long as there is no “whiskey” anywhere on the bottle! Favorite is probably Balvenie or Oban
Stupid Sexy Flanders!!!
by timmycardinals on Jul 1, 2009 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions
i payed over $300
to have a keg of it at my wedding 3 years ago.
Stupid Sexy Flanders!!!
by timmycardinals on Jul 1, 2009 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Maybe the wrong crowd, but...
Has anyone ever tried Absinthe?
Stupid Sexy Flanders!!!
by timmycardinals on Jul 1, 2009 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions
i've had a couple
read the above posts. any group that geeks out this much on books has probably had their fair share. and i’m a pernod + soda fan
I have
someone came back from Europe and we drank it, I was very underwhelmed by it, it’s basically just super high alcohol
4B - beer baseball bands blog
DeRosa>MB
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 1, 2009 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions
that is exactly what it is
wormwood is not a hallucinogen, hence the legalization in the u.s. st. george absinthe from alameda distillery is excellent
How depressing is it being you? Is it closer to being a lifelong cubs fan or being born without lips? - Janitor
by themanthemyth on Jul 1, 2009 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions
not impressed by all the hype surrounding it.
there are quite a few bars in south florida that sell it.
top 5 beers
bell’s two hearted
founder’s red’s rye
rogue brutal bitter
jolly pumpkin farmhouse ale
kronenburg 1664
How depressing is it being you? Is it closer to being a lifelong cubs fan or being born without lips? - Janitor
by themanthemyth on Jul 1, 2009 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions
+1 on Kronenbourg 1664
Love it, wish they sold it in this country (or at least my part of the country, if they do)
Also like Fat Tire and of course, Yuengling
"If on-base percentage is so important, then why don't they put it up on the scoreboard?" - Jeff Francouer
I knew a beer question had to come up!
Beers:
Sam Adams Octoberfest (even if they do spell Oktoberfest wrong!), Anchor Steam, Guinness Draught (but only on tap and served at the proper temperature!), Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, and Boulevard Single Wide IPA.
Drinks:
Water (you’d die without it, monk!), Sam Adams Octoberfest (I mean I need beer for the rest of my life!), and Caribbean Coca-Cola (which uses real cane sugar and is literally 10,000 times better than what we get here.)
VivaElBirdos...Scoring less, but more frequently since approximately 1903.
by redbirdnation8206 on Jul 1, 2009 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Beer question tangent:
What are the best local beers? (By local I don’t mean STL and STL alone, but STL first, and then in the larger midwest, etc.)
Decrease runs scored?
Maybe.
Decrease winning? Never seen that proven.
-SFTU
I second this question.
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
Many people
I know drink Schlafly products. I don’t know anything about them, other than they’re local, they have a restaurant that serves in-season local food. Linky
My husband and I like going to the farmers market.
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
I like the OFallon Brewery's beer to buy
I still prefer home brew and home bud for my taste. I am a huge snob when it comes to food and drink. Well maybe not a snob as much as pursuit of perfection. I am going to do an all Organic beer soon.
Stat Whore
by FlimtotheFlam on Jul 1, 2009 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Speaking of Brewing Beer
You guys should really try it some time. I am getting rid of my old stuff right now on craigslist. It is not to hard and rewarding to boot.
Stat Whore
by FlimtotheFlam on Jul 1, 2009 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions
What's a good place to start for info and such?
Decrease runs scored?
Maybe.
Decrease winning? Never seen that proven.
-SFTU
I almost got
an O’Fallon wheat the other day at the Frontenac movie theater. But since I was seeing Food Inc, I stuck to water.
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
Yeah.
I’d read Fast Food Nation and most of Omnivore’s Dilemma, so I was familiar w/ subject matter. Still, the images were stark.
My husband was stunned. He has sworn off fast food.
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
well
I waited for someone in StL to post, but since I don’t know of any breweries there, here’s what I know about midwest breweries:
being from the QC, the one brewery that I know of there is called Bent River Brewing Co. which has it’s own bar. cool place. in Chicago, there’s Metropolitan Brewing, 2 Brothers, Goose Island, and probably some more I’m forgetting… Michigan, has Bells and New Holland
4B - beer baseball bands blog
DeRosa>MB
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 1, 2009 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Ladies and Gentlemen,
this has been lovely, and I truly regret having to leave such wonderful company, but I’ve already been here roughly an hour and a half beyond what I could really afford. I must now leave you.
If you guys like these, maybe I’ll do it every once in a while. I think it’s a pretty great change of pace.
You can't teach a hammer to love nails.
cheers dude
catch you later.
Because chicks dig the intentional base on balls.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 1, 2009 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Now what are we going to do?
Don't argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. - anon.
Please do...
it was nice chatting about random stuff
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions
well it was nice having express permission to ramble off topic
which we do so well just about every day =]
true...but it was nice
“license to kill conversation”
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah it's nice...
…instead of bandying about the same points on how bad the Cardinals offense is to talk about beer and food and books and other stuff.
Well played, rb!
VivaElBirdos...Scoring less, but more frequently since approximately 1903.
by redbirdnation8206 on Jul 1, 2009 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions
the worst heckle...
from the LF bleachers in Arlington, I once told Jose Canseco that his brother sucked. He glared at me.
(Ozzie Canseco was with the cardinals at the time)
out of nowhere, my buddy pulled this out:
“hey Burnitz! tell your b**** to get her s*** out of my place!”
completely vulgar, 100% absurd, and out of nowhere. loved it.
okay...so I was waiting for a place to talk about this...
I went to Sunday’s game, 22nd row behind the plate, and there were 3 Twins fans sitting behind me. They were clearly drunk, and a drunk “other team” fan usually annoys me. But, these guys were freaking hilarious. They had twins jerseys and on each one were their nicknames, "Loudmouth, Heckler, and Killabrew.’ They had all bought FredBirds at the build a bear workshop, and put them in Twins uniforms. One had a Harry Caray impression that was one of the best I’ve ever heard. The only thing I could have done without is that they were chewing tobacco and spitting it right onto baseball heaven…
But good times.
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
go cards.
by thecoolalonzo on Jul 1, 2009 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions
damn
that’s some funny shit!
4B - beer baseball bands blog
DeRosa>MB
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 1, 2009 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions
I was at Sunday's game
and the drunk Twins fans in the outfield boxes (third level) were completely annoying. I was actually hoping they would fall over the railing and I ’m not the sort to wish harm on anyone (except Ted Lilly).
Evil Ted Lilly
4B - beer baseball bands blog
DeRosa>MB
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 1, 2009 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions
I just want someone to wipe that smirk off his face.
That is all.
Speaking of Ted Lilly, and I was, did anyone else read the article on the Cubs site about player reactions to Mark of Rose being a Cardinal now? Evil Teddy made this comment:
“I think once the game starts and we get going, there will be a lot of cheers when Mark strikes out with men on second and the game on the line.”
The douche quotient of that remark is off the charts! Even Carrie Muskat (Cubs MLB beat reporter) must have thought it sounded douchey because she added that Ted was smiling when he said it.
douche quotient?
I say stuff like that about Soriano et. all every day. I don’t expect a Cubs fan to say “I hope he hits a grand slam.”
But this wasn't a fan,
it was a former team mate and that’s what he says?!? Ted could have gone with the standard “I wish him the best of luck, except when he is playing against us” line, but no, he had to go with that. That’s pretty douchey in my book.
i was at the verlander-wainwright game
a group of four drunk female tiger fans were soooo obnoxious as soon as the game started. holding up signs and trying to get on camera…
after leaving the bases loaded in the top of the first without scoring they calmed down a bit.
after the cards plated four in the bottom of the first, they were pretty much silent the rest of the game.
they had the whole section hating them only ten minutes after first pitch. i was so glad detroit fell behind so quick, because i don’t think i could have handled that shit the whole game.
Same thing,
except it was guys, and no signs.
haha... i have bleacher seats,
so you can imagine the things i hear/say on a regular basis. one of my favorites over the years has to be from back when the ‘stros got jeff kent. the guy next to me screamed to biggio in CF at an incredible volume… "HEY BIGGIO,,,, HOW’S YOUR WIFE AND JEFF KENT’S KIDS?!?!?!?!?!" that was awesomeness.
"I've played a couple of hundred games of tic-tac-toe with my little daughter and she hasn't beaten me yet. I've always had to win. I've got to win." - Bob Gibson
i have a buddy in San Fran
who claims he actually got Bonds to turn around at him once and chuckle. and this guy is pretty loud/stupid, so i can believe it
"Where are your sunglasses, Corey?"
For 3 straight hours at a Brewers/Pirates game. Corey Hart was so emotionally destroyed by the end of that game that he made 3 costly misplays to cause the Brewers the loss in extra innings.
by Hardcore Legend on Jul 1, 2009 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Not one I've heard in person
But one told as a story:
“You even suck in my video game!”
by cloistermaximus on Jul 1, 2009 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions
I was in NYC in 1992
Day before opening day, and we (high school group) go to the Mets / Yanks preseason game at Yankee Stadium. This is the year that 3 Mets players were accused of raping a woman.( http://tinyurl.com/nutyz9 )
As Doc Gooden came in to pitch in the third inning…it seemed as if the entire Yankee Stadium began chanting "SHE SAID NO!!!!! SHE SAID NO!!!!! Classic.
I read in the San Francisco Chronicle today
That TLR was rated the 3rd worst manager by players (I believe the Sporting News took the poll) with Lou Pinella coming in first (as most hated). Does anybody here think what is going on with our lack of offense has anythign to do with the players being distracted by inconsistent playing time and shfting fielding positions on a daily basis?
From what I’ve seen this far it appears our best offensive producers (Pujols, Molina, Shu and lately Ryan) are those that wake up and know what their job is everyday. I understand that sometimes breaks are neccesary, but with the season growing longer I wonder if frustration is beginning to set in or if it’s just a ridiculous slump that will turn around. I have to believe that Luddy and Dunc are at least better than what we’ve seen. As for Ankiel, I think in the small sample size of the last few years he is not going to make it on a statistically releveant CONSISTENT basis.
Thoughts?
SF CARDS FAN
I think it's a big part of it
although I think they get consistent playing time, the shifting of field positions has to take a toll on the defense, and I think we are seeing it. as for the offense, I have no idea what is going on other than Tony hyping up the Be Aggressive approach probably didn’t help. I think having a particular spot in the batting order is sort of important too, but all the different defensive positioning is probably the greatest detriment.
4B - beer baseball bands blog
DeRosa>MB
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 1, 2009 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions
I was going to start a fanpost last week
of “Find me 20 players who played for LaRussa in St. Louis and enjoyed him” because I can’t honestly think of very many. McGwire and some fringe relievers aside.
by Hardcore Legend on Jul 1, 2009 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Not 3rd worst manager
“manager they wouldn’t want to play for.
1. Lou PIniella
2. Ozzie Guillen
3. TLR
Ozzie’s comments yesterday were hilarious, of course. Summarized as “!$ !#$# #!$!# !#$!# F$$$ them”
VEB Love in ESPN's 2009 Ultimate Rankings
When talking about the Cardinals Organization and why the community loves them so much…
“Who doesn’t like our players?” asks Hoosier Cards on fansite vivaelbirdos.com. “They play to win as a team. No prima donnas in this group.” Fans aren’t feeling nearly as warm and fuzzy about the suits after the Cubbies outspent the league’s 13th-ranked payroll by 46 large during the off-season. “It’s one thing to watch as big-name, high-dollar free agents are passed up,” says ChuckB. “But when fans see a distinct need in the bullpen or at second base, there’s some frustration when ownership seemingly won’t cough up a couple million in order to fill the void.” Still, the team gets Standings love for Busch Bash Fridays (music, fun and prizes in Ford Plaza two hours before game time), kid pricing ($7 stubs for fans 15 and under to all 81 games) and, oh yes, winning. Yup, fans agree that sitting in a sea of red and munching on toasted ravioli while ogling The Machine as he slugs one toward the Arch … well, who doesn’t like that?
Stupid Sexy Flanders!!!
was just about to post this...
pretty sweet.
by longhornscardinals on Jul 1, 2009 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions
wow
4B - beer baseball bands blog
DeRosa>MB
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 1, 2009 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions
I like walks, but the kid did
OPS .869 in June.
Imagine if he walked...
His OPS is sick, but, in the long haul, he needs to take some pitches.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
by bgh on Jul 1, 2009 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Does a walk-*off* count??
Because chicks dig the intentional base on balls.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 2, 2009 6:48 AM EDT up reply actions
First Post
Greetings all,
Joined a few weeks ago, thought it high time I said hello.
Is our teams poor play bad players,underperformance, bad coaching, bad managing, all, some, or something else entirely?
They're uncomfortable?
Who’s uncomfortable? About what? First time? Sorry, I’m slow. You’ve lost me.
your first post
gonna need more franklins to get through this one.
by hoofhearted-pujols on Jul 1, 2009 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions
1. Defense… we have had success with good defense, this year the defense is bad. I blame it on all the positional shifts (which hopefully will settle down in the second half)
2. Bad luck/underpeformance on offense, Albert excluded of course
3. drama, lots of rookies, etc.
4B - beer baseball bands blog
DeRosa>MB
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 1, 2009 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions
there has been some bunk luck, too
Carp loses 2 weeks to swinging a bat, Ank may never be okay after trying to aggressively make out with the wall, whatever is happening to DeRo now, Kyle Lohse aka the Human Target for Flying Objects, Joey Bombs and Freese and whatever they’re doing down there in Memphis. I know this stuff happens to all teams, but dammit, this is my team. No stupid injuries.
yeah
forgot to mention all the injuries, it’s a miracle we’re even contending considering all of that
4B - beer baseball bands blog
DeRosa>MB
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 1, 2009 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Defense
I’ve spent this season being confused by the players playing different positions. I somewhat understood Skip to second, but the others? I agree the defense has not been what we were hoping for.
Thought I heard/read somewhere that 8 rookies have made their mlb debut with the Cardinals this year.That is a lot
He's referring to positional
shifts. For instance, on a certain pitch vs a certain hitter, or in certain circumstances (DP possibility) players will play in, out, or further to one side.
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
well
I worded it wrong then… actually meant all the players playing out of position.
4B - beer baseball bands blog
DeRosa>MB
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 1, 2009 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Then
I inderstood you correctly-good.
But she may have apoint. Players playing out of position may be uncomfortable with the situational shifts.
You get major points
for knowing that I’m female.
And I’m sure that it’s gotta be difficult to be playing out of position in more than one sense. Sorry for mis-correcting you Chitown!
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
Started reading VEB
in last fall, but only recently joined. It’s been a joy to read the ideas, comments, etc from other Cardinal fans. There are a lot of friends posting and somewhere someone posted you were female. NOT trolling or lurking. Somewhere I read you were female.
Somewhere other than VeB?
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
no
here on VEB. Don’t want you to worry about that from me. Lots and lots of words written here since the offseasson. On a post somewhere at some time, here on VEB, read that you were female. If you were nervous about that, I apologize. Though reading it again, I can see how you would be.
I think Pujols should just be a player-manager for a while
4B - beer baseball bands blog
DeRosa>MB
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 1, 2009 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Let's not
put any more pressure on the guy. Or divide his energy and talents.
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
just an idea
maybe when he gets older
4B - beer baseball bands blog
DeRosa>MB
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 1, 2009 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Hey, Cards Fan in Chitown -
The beverage theme of this thread reminds me of something I was going to ask you earlier this spring. At the beginning of May, I went to the New Holland Brewing Company with some friends from Hope College (Holland, MI) The food was great and they had a large selection of beers brewed on site, including one made with pumpkin. I don’t drink, so I didn’t try any, but I was wondering if you had ever heard of New Holland Brewing?
I think I've heard of it
but I can’t recall trying it… the pumpkin beer sounds intriguing
4B - beer baseball bands blog
DeRosa>MB
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 1, 2009 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions
I'll give it a try
I also need to try Chicago’s newest brewery, Metropolitan Brewing http://www.metrobrewing.com/
4B - beer baseball bands blog
DeRosa>MB
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 1, 2009 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions
after looking at their website
I haven’t seen it in Chicago before… maybe I’ll make a trip up to Michigan sometime to check out Bells and New Holland breweries.
4B - beer baseball bands blog
DeRosa>MB
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 1, 2009 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Go in the fall.
Our scenery is lovely and I believe that New Holland only makes their pumpkin ale seasonally.
New Hollands
Winter ale is great! I have only had Trailhead Brewing Company’s Pumpkin, but if it is anything like that I highly recommend it
gonna need more franklins to get through this one.
by hoofhearted-pujols on Jul 1, 2009 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions
I had a BEET beer the other day
Made by Magic Hat. Called Wacko. I don’t like beets, but this was OK. At first I didn’t like it, about halfway through I thought “Hey, this isn’t half bad,” and by the end I decided I didn’t want another one.
Their #9 is awesome though.
"If on-base percentage is so important, then why don't they put it up on the scoreboard?" - Jeff Francouer
You got
Schruted.
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
by spants on Jul 1, 2009 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
yeah
I really enjoy the #9 one… their other beers aren’t nearly as good as that one imo
4B - beer baseball bands blog
DeRosa>MB
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 1, 2009 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions
why hoffpauir
and not barden?
is hoffpauir really going to get enough playing time for them to base any kind of judgement on his future with the team?
barden has his shot.
Hoff is 26.. it’s kind of make or break time for him right now. Why not give him a shot and see if he belongs on this team’s future plans.
This is bad news regarding Derosa. I’m on the cusp of freakout mode.
THE SKIP IS LEGIT!!
i understand giving him his shot
i just don’t see how he helps the team much at this point when he can pretty much only play second base (correct me if i’m wrong) and probably won’t see much time there behind skip, thurston, greene, ryan, etc. so what kind of shot will he really be getting?
at least barden can play all over the infield.
Fair point.. didn't think of it that way.
You could make a case for Allen Craig too, who plays multiple positions.
THE SKIP IS LEGIT!!
i have no faith in hoff's ability to stick in the majors.
that said, i think moving him up makes sense (i hate demoting todd and mort after one performance — i think that sends a terrible message), if he’s going to be used primarily as a RH pinch-hitter, picking up only spot innings at second. we do need that PH, and nobody else will clearly fill that role better than hoffpauir, at least with craig on the DL.
i still have faith that barden will come out slugging and make a decent utility man. but his current slump/injury (hadn’t heard he hurt his wrist) has left him with a record in AAA that makes him hard to promote now.
hoff will hit better than stavinoha. if that’s damning with faint praise, then that’s what i’m doing.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
I told my husband
about DeRosa’s wrist and he started laughing a very far-away laugh.
He’s also wearing a Taguchi t-shirt jersey.
"If I prepare myself, my stuff is good and I'm going to get outs. That is a fact." - Chris Carpenter
Barden has a sore wrist also
Twitter miklasz: Hoffpauir has raised his average and brian barden has a sore wrist so that’s why hoffpauir was called up
To recap: infielder Jarrett Hoffpauir up, P Clayton Mortensen down and no DL for DeRosa, who is unofficially “day to day”.
what is up with our injury luck?
shakes fist at the sky
4B - beer baseball bands blog
DeRosa>MB
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 1, 2009 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Basball Gods use teamates health to keep the Machine running.....
That’s all I’ll say to hopefully keep the jinx as far away as possible.
by OKCARDSFAN_411 on Jul 1, 2009 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions
they also use the rest of our offense
4B - beer baseball bands blog
DeRosa>MB
by Cards Fan in Chitown on Jul 1, 2009 7:13 PM EDT up reply actions
good point... I didn't see that....
anybody know a good VooDoo witch?
A sacrifice must be made…… instead of a chicken, I think a Thursty bird shall do.
by OKCARDSFAN_411 on Jul 1, 2009 7:18 PM EDT up reply actions
FWIW, Rotowire is citing Miklasz as saying he'll miss a few days but shouldn't have to go on the DL.
Of course, WIW is a big question….
by BTown Birds fan on Jul 1, 2009 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Hopefully he will be back by the MIL and CHI trips
No info, just a serious wish. Cincinnati would be great also, but ending before the ASG break with some hits and RBIs by DeRosa would do a lot of good for the mentality of the team I think.
i hope he gets back for the chicago trip
and hits 2 homers wiht 7 RBIs over the series
"Albert hits good pitches hard and bad pitches even harder. And when he gets in the batter's box, if you pray, then you start praying. And if you don't pray, you think about starting."--Brian Bannister
So Mort gets the Todd treatment?
One relief appearance and then back down? Did we have to add him to the 40 man for this?
I realize there was an injury but these rosters moves are bizarro and disconcerting.
I would rather give Mort a start than see Thompson or Wellemeyer agains
I don’t like this move at all, the guy only pitched 3 innings and it was marred by a fielding error.
I wish I could veto about 3 moves the org makes each year, and about 150 lineups.
TLR has infected the ASG with his 13 pitchers virus...
Per Goold
ST. LOUIS — The ever-expanding, always-changing and sometimes-evolving Major League Baseball All-Star Game powers invoked their carte blanche right to do what they want with the roster. The leagues announced today that they will add a spot to each roster, swelling the American League and National League spots to 33 each.
The spot is designated for a 13th pitcher, presumably an innings guy to be available should the This-Time-It-Counts rule force an unexpected amount of extra innings — like last year’s almost did.
word is, tony is working on getting blake hawksworth nominated to fill this role. tony will then
encourage manuel to sit him on the bench and have chase utley pitch the 12th and 13th inning in the event of an extra inning game.
the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, but in time you see things clear and stark -- macmanus
Report: DeRosa to miss 3-4 games
and Hoffpauir up for Mort. (which someone already commented on)
Dick and Dunk, the answer to your pitcher's problems...
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