Comments on: Baseball gets a little politics

By: mmacmurray

mmacmurray — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 17:54:48 +0000

25, 26 – they make bumper stickers with that message, too. I got one for my younger brother and his wife. I wanted the T-shirts for them, but the bumper sticker better fit my price range.

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By: Travis Birkenstock

Travis Birkenstock — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 16:14:50 +0000

Here’s hoping for a thrilling series that goes at least 6, hopefully seven. Too many short series as of late.

True, Phillies-Ray is not the glam marquee match-up that many wanted. But it’s the baseball that counts – and the World Series can usually deliver some magic, regardless of who is involved. Recall that the Twins-Braves match-up in ‘91 looked kinda flat on paper. But my-oh-my, that was sizzling stuff!

Stencil sign on my office door: NO PEPPER GAMES

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By: Thorn

Thorn — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 13:21:16 +0000

Definately Theo, so can you count the Braves 15 years at the top of the NL East in large part to the strength and continual production of their farm system.

The Red Sox also have alot of young talent, they are just stuck with Manny’s bill They also have teh capitol to go out and get that missing piece or two though, where as a Tampa has done so well without having too. The Young for Garza/Bartlett trade was a great move, especially since it didnt add to the payroll

Yeah, Joe Morgan annoys me. So does Steve Phillips, he just likes to hear himself talk. I’m quite a John Kruk fan, not only because he has a good sense of the game, but at least once a week he looks at Steve Phillips like he’s an idiot

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By: TJ

TJ — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 13:17:20 +0000

Theo, I’d buy that shirt!

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By: Theophilus

Theophilus — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 12:56:32 +0000

Hey TJ……I once saw a hilarious T-shirt with a messege: I root for 2 teams: The Red Sox and anybody who beats the Yankees.

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By: Yeah

Yeah — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 03:33:19 +0000

Xion: I haven’t read Moneyball, but am very familiar with the A’s situation and sabermetrics in general. Have you ever visited firejoemorgan.com (language warning)? It’s hilarious. Joe Morgan was a great baseball player…and knows nothing about the game. (Morgan’s not the only target of that site, by the way).

Theophilus: A sop is an obligatory but undeserved concession; in this case, I think Neyer meant it was a cowardly one.

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By: TJ

TJ — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:35:20 +0000

Theo, I consider myself a Red Sox fan, even have a BoSox cap (purchased at Fenway Park, no less), but still felt compelled to root for the Rays. Both teams deserve our congrats, since it took a collective effort to block the Yankees from the playoffs!

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By: TJ

TJ — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:32:45 +0000

…what about the Duke “Blue Devils” and the Wake Forest “Demon Deacons” (which were originally known as the “Fighting Baptists”)?

Fighting Baptists? I saw the winky face, Anlir; Fighting Baptist is a joke, right? If not, that is TOO FUNNY!

It’s interesting that the Washington Bullets changed their name, but not the “Redskins.” Of course, the Bullets changed their name to that of pagan sorcerers: the Wizards. I suppose that offends the anti-Harry Potters of the world. But, you’re going to offend someone, almost guaranteed.

The last year I taught high school, we got a new principal. He would do announcements at the end of the day, and then he would end them by telling the students, “Be proud, positive, and productive, like a good Tiger should.” The line was cheesy enough, and the fact that he left off the word “be” was a bit irritating. But then it eventually occurred to us that this was not the first school where he had used then line. His previous school had Blue Devils as the mascot. Someone checked and sure enough, he used to tell those students, “Be proud, positive, and productive, like a Blue Devil [or good Devil?] should.” Now that is just stupefying.

But this was also the same principal who thought that “Blaine” Pascal was a woman. He later became a school superintendent, of course.

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By: Theophilus

Theophilus — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 23:59:18 +0000

OH THE HUMANITY!! Just one day removed from Dan Wheeler striking my heart out from my chest, and you have to bring this to World on the Web!!!! Is there no justice in the world? As a longtime citizen of Red Sox Nation since age 6, I was being greedy, wanting a 3rd World Series title in 5 years. However….in all honesty and humility, I must do the right thing and applaud the Tampa Bay Rays on their well played championship. I now humbly raise in tribute my can of root beer to my fellow Rhode Islanders Dan Wheeler, and my homeboy (literally) Rocco Baldelli and the rest of Joe Maddon’s “worst to First”. Well done, American League Champs…..now go out there and beat those Phillies!!!!!

Memo to Thorn (#2): Recall the 2002 Los Angeles California Angels of Anaheim?? They won the WS with also a small payroll.

To Nick (#5): Fighting Irish?? Hey, I resemble that remark!
Bethany (#7) R O F L

Yeah (#4) An ESPN guy who I like (Rob Neyer) said this was a sop to Fundamentalist Christians. UUhh, what is a sop?

Travis (#10) Very well said!
Anlir (#12) You were rooting for the Red Sox? Well, methinks I found a bit more respect for you after all.

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By: Xion

Xion — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 23:57:48 +0000

I just heard on the news that Tampa Bay is the lowest paid team in baseball. That’s fantastic! They are more likely to play for the love of the game. I am definitely pulling for them now.

Have any of you read the book Moneyball? It’s a great book about another “lowest paid team in baseball”, the Oakland A’s, going to the World Series. Billy Beane, having the lowest budget in the league, picked his players by computer rather than relying on scouts. Very interesting!

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