screen gem

by lboros on Mar 31, 2007 9:43 AM EDT in News Comment 65 comments

i gotta share something e-mailed to me by a community member named Ring11. it's a screen shot of his computer at the moment MLB Gameday recorded the final pitch of the world series --- strike three against brandon inge --- with the veb game thread in the background. i got a big kick out of it, thought you all might as well:

a few other quick items:

matt leach posted an eve-of-season Q+A with tony la russa; The Genius doesn't appear very confident about edmonds' health. Q: "What is your expectation for Jim Edmonds' level of health and effectiveness in the early going?" A: "We'll just play it out, and whatever it is, it is. Nobody knows. We'll just try to exercise good judgment, and whatever it is, we'll deal with it." on a maybe-not-entirely-unrelated note: rick ankiel will be playing centerfield down at triple a. . . . .
for more on the memphis outfield, see Bird Land . . . .
Baseball Prospectus' first postseason odds report is out; it has the cardinals with a 1 in 4 chance of making the playoffs. the report is based on PECOTA, which doesn't like the cardinals this year. though BP's odds may seem stingy, they're more generous than the chances accorded the cardinals by RLYW's Diamond Mind Blowout, PECOTA edition: in that exercise st louis only made the playoffs 15 percent of the time.
the cardinals are the consensus choice at the Hardball Times to win the nl central. 8 of the 15 predictors over there think the cardinals will win; 5 picked the cubs, 2 the brewers.
david pinto thinks it doesn't look like stl's year: "This won't be an easy season for St. Louis fans. The team should compete, but the odds of winning the division are not in their favor."

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Great Shot

Should be a poster. Can we get a high res. copy by download?

Fan for Life. Go Cards.

by Birds on the Bat on Mar 31, 2007 10:16 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That IS a great shot!

n/t

by sdrone on Mar 31, 2007 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

As High as it Gets

Check your email, BotB; an "original copy" should be in there.

If anyone else wants one, I'm glad to mail it out. It's nice to have in the screensaver slideshow; you get a big dopey grin every time it comes around.

Let's go get another.

by Ring11 on Mar 31, 2007 11:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kinda partial to this one too...

:-)

"The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge."

by iron duke75 on Apr 1, 2007 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ankiel

last night during the broadcast, Dan said that many in the organization have said that just from playing catch with Ankiel during ST, he's still got the best 'stuff' in the organization.

What if we made a deal with Rick. He can still play the outfield, but every 5th day he can start. Or, he can play the outfield and then come in as the 7th inning guy, then go back out to the outfield.

Whaddaya say, Rick?

Unrelated, from watching yesterday's game:

Players' whose swing looks 'ready'
Eckstein
Rolen
Spiezio
Molina
John Rodriguez (ugh)
SnoCones

Players' who are close
Duncan
Pujols
Skip

Players' who could use a week in Memphis
Edmonds
Miles
Preston

And, for the final catagory:
Players who will rival Molina (2006) for the organizations least effective bat:
Adam Kennedy

My God is his swing brutal to watch. It is worse than Preston's, because with Preston, you know he might yak one out of the yard. Kennedy is a flail, flail, pop up almost everytime. It's like he is running back to the dugout as he swings. STEP TO THE FREAKING BALL!

May be a long season.

Walk your dog, not Pujols.

by Hardcore Legend on Mar 31, 2007 10:33 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

A week in Memphis?

won't cure PW. neither would a week in paradise. he's heading for another mid-season dfa, and it might be better to just do it now.

Fan for Life. Go Cards.

by Birds on the Bat on Mar 31, 2007 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Preston Wilson...

2007's Sidney Ponson?

Obsessions of a Cardinal Fan
Redbirds Fun

by Quietude on Apr 1, 2007 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

As much as I love Kennedy, isn't it sick that Belliard ended up being signed to minor league deal? I wish we could've tried to pursuade him to do so. Wouldn't have been bad to have "just in case."

On with the youth movement!

by aet15 on Mar 31, 2007 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

NL Central is impossible to accurately project

There are too many unknowns on too many teams.

Wouldn't it be something if Ankiel is this year's J-Rod/Duncan and those 3 ended up being the regular OFers for a postseason team? That would have seemed absurd a few months ago, and the thought still seems pretty absurd right now, but at least it's within the realm of possibility.

by musial6 on Mar 31, 2007 10:33 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh, and InDemand/MLB

are still in negotiations with 11:59 tonight being the deadline. The met on Wednesday and then again on Friday, with the negotiations still 'on going and serious'.

I pray they get this deal done.

Walk your dog, not Pujols.

by Hardcore Legend on Mar 31, 2007 10:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

MLB

wants InDemand to pay the same amout of money and carry the MLB channel on their basic package like DirecTV, but DirectTV is getting like a 20% stake of the MLB channel and MLB is not wanting to give the same thing to InDemand. It sounds like MLB never really wanted to do this deal with InDemand. Maybe a lot of people will get lucky and they will work something out. I will be keeping my fingers crossed that MLB doesn't end up screwing this up.

by stl4all on Mar 31, 2007 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

DirectTV only gets a 20% stake if the deal

is exclusive.

Dish and InDemand want the part ownership if they match the deals (which both have said they will if given the part ownership).

It seems MLB wants its cake and to eat it too, here. They want the same money from everyone but not giving them all the same package.

It boils down to: They can take $100 million from DirectTV, have less viewers get the MLB Channel when it launches and give up 20% ownership of the network or they can take $300 million from the 3 groups combined, have the MLB Channel reach almost double the amount of satellite PLUS DirecTVs audience and give up less ownership.

They are choosing to take the worse deal.

Walk your dog, not Pujols.

by Hardcore Legend on Mar 31, 2007 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

DTV

is already running commercials(with Joe Buck, no less) touting itself as the sole carrier of the package. A little message to InDemand and Dish, perhaps?

by cardsrul on Mar 31, 2007 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

How long have they been running them?

That would be more telling.

Walk your dog, not Pujols.

by Hardcore Legend on Mar 31, 2007 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I've been

hearing them on the radio for a week now.

by cardsrul on Mar 31, 2007 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

According to BizofBaseball:

The following seems to point to iN Demand being out of the picture for MLB Extra Innings, thus setting the stage for the possible deal to be exclusive on DirecTV barring EchoStar stepping forward.

The notification also shows that MLB and cable will still be locked in a confrontational position due to bulk-buying of MLB.TV. As we reported earlier, Cox Communications is offering rebates to any subscribers of Extra Innings last season. MLB has said that this practice is not acceptable.

http://www.bizofbaseball.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=951&Itemid=52

However, a Comment in response to the posting had this to say:

Seems this notification has been up for some time. It is possible that this is a contingent. iN Demand's Extra Innings page is running a petition of sorts and mentions that you should, "check back soon" to see if the package is available.

Walk your dog, not Pujols.

by Hardcore Legend on Mar 31, 2007 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

FSN and DIRECTV/DISH problems

Per Post-Dispatch:
A dispute between Fox Sports Net and the DirecTV and Dish Network satellite television systems could lead to FSN Midwest's Cardinals telecasts being blacked out this season in central Illinois, parts of Iowa and Kentucky.

[...]

FSN wants to be included in the basic service package, while the satellite operators have included it in a sports package that costs about $6-12 more a month.

Said that Springfield, Peoria, Champaign, and Bloomington-Normal areas are the ones affected.

Seems there may start to be an increased amount of tit-for-tat.

Walk your dog, not Pujols.

by Hardcore Legend on Mar 31, 2007 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ank in CF

not sure how fond i am of that idea, given his balky knees and all

Future Redbirds

by erik on Mar 31, 2007 10:41 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

though the humor level of Ankiel being Edmonds' replacement, if that comes to pass, will be very difficult to not appreciate.

Go, Rick. I've lost hope in you, but I"m still pulling for you nonetheless.

by Valatan on Mar 31, 2007 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i haven't lost hope in Ankiel

overly long excerpt from my blog:

He has considerable power. In 2001, when he wasn't pitching, Ank was Johnson City's part time DH, posting an impressive ISO of .352 in 105 at bats, homering 10 times. In his first year from switching over from pitching to hitting, he posted a .244 ISO at Quad Cities and .272 ISO at Springfield.
He's demonstrated good plate discipline. In his lone season, he walked in 12% of his plate appearance and struck out only 16.6% of the time at QC, which ain't shabby for a power hitter. Sure, that's against 20-21 year olds and Ank was 26 at the time, but again, it was his first go as a full time hitter. While I'm throwing stuff out there, Ankiel's total career milb hitting line is 486 at bats, 27 doubles, 33 homers, 120 RBI's, 50 walks, 97 strikeouts, and a batting line of .265/.338/.529.
He should be at least adequate defensively. I don't expect him to be a gold glover, but if he can throw 90 mph strikes from the mound, I suspect he can make the throw hard strikes from the outfield as well, hopefully without the wildness. While the early reviews were that his defense was adventurous to say the least, I trust he has the smarts and the athleticism to improve.
Tony LaRussa believes in him. Today he said to the press concerning Ankiel, "If this guy stays healthy, he'll play in the big leagues." I know we fault TLR's rationale at times, but this is coming from a future Hall of Fame manager who has certainly seen his share of players. I know Ankiel may be seen as a bit of a pet of LaRussa's and maybe there is still some guilt from the incident that shall not be named, but I also think TLR doesn't throw out compliments flippantly. I trust his judgment, because his track record has proven he's right more often then not. Speaking of the "incident-that-shall-not-be-named", Rick's injuries and irrational thinking, here's my 5th and final reason on why I believe he can make it.
The Curse of Keith Hernandez has been broken! Because we all know it was curse of Keith that really caused Ankiel's meltdown and maladies. For goodness' sakes, the man had so much promise. Fate owes him.

Future Redbirds

by erik on Mar 31, 2007 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cards on ESPN2 today in HD!

BOOyah!

by sdrone on Mar 31, 2007 10:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

ESPN today

ESPN2 tomorrow.

Walk your dog, not Pujols.

by Hardcore Legend on Mar 31, 2007 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wonder how many flat-out releases

there are around the majors. How much money is just gone - like us with Rincon.

by sdrone on Mar 31, 2007 11:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm far from...

the last word on this, but I don't think too much.

I know the Padres and the Brewers each cut a reliever like we did with Rincon - Strickland and Miceli - but I think their salaries were only in the mid-six figures.

The weirdest money saga has to be Todd Walker and the Padres. He was a FA after last season, they offered him arbitration, he accepted, he won ($3.95m), then he was released which meant the Pads only had to pay him about $1m. He filed a grievance over it and now he's in camp, and, I believe, going north with the Athletics. How's that for a relaxing off-season!

Acquire any Established Major League Starter!

by guayzimi on Mar 31, 2007 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

World Series Shares

Has anyone come across lists for the World Series shares? I was curious to see who received the half/odd share amounts.

by saladdin69 on Mar 31, 2007 11:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

according

to my directv program guide, the home opener is not in HD, but todays game is. Isn't it embarrassing enough that ESPN has a women's semifinal tournament game trumping the home opener? Forcing it over to the deuce.And then to not show it in HD to boot. Maybe it's just a guide error.

by The Butcher on Mar 31, 2007 12:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

I really don't know why anyone tries to shove women's basketball down our throats. Does anyone actually watch that?

It's gotta be a DirecTV error. I've got the same thing, ESPN shows damn near every event in HD, let alone the opening game of the Major League season.

Pujols > God

by joker24 on Mar 31, 2007 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

One of the major

questions raised by that screenshot is: Where has lovetaguchi been all these many months as his/her beloved has been getting grief on the VEB? Be tried and true, lovetaguchi.

by jfs on Mar 31, 2007 12:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Perhaps lovetaguchi is....

just waiting, and allowing me to pull for a while.

by Yadier on Mar 31, 2007 4:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Gooch

That was a great diving catch So made in center this afternoon. Jimmy must have been very proud.

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand binary, and those who don't.

by Mr Clean on Apr 1, 2007 1:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like the idea of

Ankiel in centerfield. It would be exciting. Everytime there's a play at home there would be a small chance he would throw the ball and hit a fan in the 20th row on the first base side.

by AL on Mar 31, 2007 5:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I was at the game

on March 5th (could've been the 4th) and he threw a ball from right field about 20 feet over Yadi's head. It was funny because it was Ricky, and it was also one of the more impressive throws (strength-wise) I have ever seen. It hit the pitcher backing up the play in the chest, I think. The runner would have been absolutely hosed.

Josh Hamilton made a toss to nail the runner at 2B a week or so ago that was almost as impressive. Off-topic, sure, but the video is worth watching.

by plh903 on Mar 31, 2007 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Watching Cubs/Mariners game..

and it's a 1-1 pitching duel between Jeff Weaver and Bi-Polar Betty....man...the horror..the Horror!!

by Timbo02 on Mar 31, 2007 5:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Dogs and cats, living in sin...

Cheers

by Alxfritz on Mar 31, 2007 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great, OT in the Cavs/Bulls game

celebrate Civil Rights by not showing the first 3 innings.

Walk your dog, not Pujols.

by Hardcore Legend on Mar 31, 2007 5:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

down with the NBA

Now we can hate the Cubbies AND the Bulls.

by effin fisk on Mar 31, 2007 5:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They should have just called off the game

after the clusteryouknowwhat that was the final minute of the game. Both teams taking bad shots, turning it over, not boxing out at a 43% higher clip than the NBA usually has.

Walk your dog, not Pujols.

by Hardcore Legend on Mar 31, 2007 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i think you can watch it

here http://mlb.mlb.com/media/player/mp_tpl.jsp?w=mms%3A//a1503.l1086955184.c10869.g.lm.akamaistream.net/ D/1503/10869/v0001/reflector%3A55184&pid=gen_video&cid=mlb&v=2&mType=w&urlstr=&a mp;mUrl=&type=v_free&_mp=1

Future Redbirds

by erik on Mar 31, 2007 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't get it. Rightie pitcher

But Duncan doesn't play? I guess TLR could still be evaluating people.

by sdrone on Mar 31, 2007 6:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Maybe he decided to start the only

African American and Japanese players on the roster for Civil Rights game.

This fake ESPN-HD is a pain the arse.

Walk your dog, not Pujols.

by Hardcore Legend on Mar 31, 2007 6:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sowers is very left-handed

Pujols > God

by joker24 on Mar 31, 2007 6:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Pujols--smaller thing was BS

Pujols > God

by joker24 on Mar 31, 2007 6:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wainwright knocks in Jimmy Edwards!

by effin fisk on Mar 31, 2007 6:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

AHH HOLY HELL WAINWRIGHT IS A STUD

The kid can pitch. The kid can hit. (2-run double). I'm getting weak in the knees.

Sparks of Dementia Cards, A's, and Rockies coverage by an amateur if very enthusiastic blogmistress, myself.

by Scarlet the Cardinal on Mar 31, 2007 6:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Umm...

Somebody get Scarlet a towel...she's drooling again.

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand binary, and those who don't.

by Mr Clean on Apr 1, 2007 1:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Two questions:

Anyone know what's up with the generic uniforms?
Does Preston Wilson have a cab waiting with the meter running?

The cat is fine, thank you.

by Intheway on Mar 31, 2007 6:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wow. That ball left fast.

by BTown Birds fan on Mar 31, 2007 6:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh yeah

El Hombre is back.

Sparks of Dementia Cards, A's, and Rockies coverage by an amateur if very enthusiastic blogmistress, myself.

by Scarlet the Cardinal on Mar 31, 2007 6:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

hey everyone

yesterday I made a very poor attempt at humor when I tried to knock the owner of bleed cubbie blue about him being a cubs fan. it was in poor taste, and it did not go over well. to make it worse, my reply to everyone was terriable. it was probably worse and made me looke like a drunken idiot. which anyone who knows me, knows I am not. I just wanted to take the time to tell all of VEB I'm sorry. my comments yesterday sounded like I was trying to start a fight with all cub fans. And that was not the case at all. I honestly was just trying to be funny. And it didn't work. So in the future, I will try better to be funny. Or simply not say anything at all. Which is probably best.

So I just wanted everyone to know. I'm not the drunk guy in the sports bar looking for a fight. I just love the Cardinals. Maybe too much sometimes. So to all of VEB, I'm sorry. I will do my best to never let that happen again.

The 2006 St.Louis Cardinals. WORLD CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD. And That's A Winner!

by gdm426 on Mar 31, 2007 6:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't worry to much...

it was sufficiently goofy so as to not be very offensive. Al has a pretty thick skin anyway.

Acquire any Established Major League Starter!

by guayzimi on Mar 31, 2007 7:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thick skin

is pretty much a prerequisite for Cubs fans...bless their hearts... :-)

"The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge."

by iron duke75 on Apr 1, 2007 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's okay gdm

we know you were planted by BCB so Al would look unfairly abused, and Larry's treatment would thus seem fair by comparison.

But that misspelling thing...? To be honest, I don't think it adds much.

by Red in Chicago on Mar 31, 2007 7:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yadi is batting 5th tomorrow?

Well... whatever

Cheers

by Alxfritz on Apr 1, 2007 12:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh, my, well um,

that's interesting. That's just fucked up to buck everything I know about prediction, statistics and true talents levels and actually turn Yadi into Brian McCann.

I guess Jim Edmonds will be batting behind Molina? In the words of Jerry Seinfeld: Aaalright sir.

by plh903 on Apr 1, 2007 12:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I probably would have gone with:

"Good luck with alllll that."

Cheers

by Alxfritz on Apr 1, 2007 9:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes

Nice choice in using a Mac

On with the youth movement!

by aet15 on Apr 1, 2007 12:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

watching opening day game

I am in Atlanta and am going to be at famous sports bar (http://www.famouspubsports.com/) having a few beers and watching the opening game v. the mets if anyone is interested (BTW, is their a specific spot to post messages like this?).

by mcurryatl on Apr 1, 2007 10:35 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

where's erik's opening day post

i'm starting to foam at the mouth.

by stlcardinalsfang on Apr 1, 2007 12:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, Erik!

Get off your butt and write us up something! :)

And I feel like I'm a part of history...with 2 back to back comments on the screen gem. Cool.

by player2bnamedl8r on Apr 1, 2007 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Chris can't handle the anticipation either

Walk your dog, not Pujols.

by Hardcore Legend on Apr 1, 2007 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

DANG. My VEB t shirt is in the laundry

SEe what happens when you don't do your own laundry?

by sdrone on Apr 1, 2007 2:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Does anybody know

if the pre-game festivities tonight and on Tuesday (the banner, the rings) will be video-archived online?

by jfs on Apr 1, 2007 2:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Anyone ever heard this Strange but True?

This was on XM-Radio about an hour ago as part of their 'Play Ball' channel for Opening Day. They were playing old radio shows and this was one of the clips:

Baseball began to be popular in 1845, few teams existed and those that did traveled around the country playing 'exhibition' games.

In the following years, an Indiana team, known as the roughest team in the country, was made up of former crooks and counterfeiters. This team traveled around to clean up easy money from the unsuspecting local teams that didn't know about their cheating and dirty play.

In 1875, the public became fed-up with their dirty play and stopped coming out to see them play if they came to town. Without being able to make enough money from playing baseball, the team returned to crime to get money. They deviced a plot for November 6th, 1876 to steal Lincoln's coffin from his tomb in Springfield, IL.

The plan was to steal the body and hold it ransom.

One of the players, drunk and out with a woman, let out the secret plot and the woman he was with alerted the police. When they attempted to steal the coffin, the police were waiting for them. In court, they were only sentenced to 12 months in prison, since stealing a body wasn't illegal.

When they got out, they returned to baseball using their notoriety from the crime to hopefully boost gate reciepts.

In an effort to stop them from doing this, the rest of the regional baseball teams banded together to form a league that would exclude them. This league was called, the 'National League'.

Strange, but true.

Walk your dog, not Pujols.

by Hardcore Legend on Apr 1, 2007 3:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs