Baseball Thread...

[capt. scotty]

I only have faint memories as an 8yr old of Francisco Cabrera and Sid Bream sliding into home, but our 4 win, 5 game series against the Cardinals last week was the most fun, enjoyable, entertaining series of baseball Ive ever watched in its entirety (sorry BH  ). While I still am holding off hope for the end result of this season, this is the first time I feel like I have something to look forward to next season regardless of what happens this year as a Pirates fan. Baseball was my first love as a sport, first game I played as a kid and the sport I played the most often and competitively during that time. Feels good to be back.

LETS GO BUCS!!! 

[iLikeBeer]

I only have faint memories as an 8yr old of Francisco Cabrera and Sid Bream sliding into home, but our 4 win, 5 game series against the Cardinals last week was the most fun, enjoyable, entertaining series of baseball Ive ever watched in its entirety (sorry BH  ). While I still am holding off hope for the end result of this season, this is the first time I feel like I have something to look forward to next season regardless of what happens this year as a Pirates fan. Baseball was my first love as a sport, first game I played as a kid and the sport I played the most often and competitively during that time. Feels good to be back.

LETS GO BUCS!!! 

Well, unlike your Buccos, my Tribe has just ripped my heart out again this week.  Started 3 games behind Detroit with a 4 game home stand vs. said Tigers.  Then Chris Perez blew a 2 run lead in the 9th giving up a 3 run homer to a guy flirting with a .200 batting average after our starter threw 7 1/3 shutout innings?!  Then, the next night our aee, Justin Masterson had one bad inning giving up yet another 3 run homer and 5 runs overall in the 5th in a 5-1 loss.  And then last night, our young phenom, Danny Salazar pitches brilliantly for 7 2/3 innings and is on the verge of striking out Miguel Cabrera for the 4th time only to see him drive a ball to deep center to give the Tigers a lead in a game they would go on to win 6-4 in 14 innings leaving the Indians now 6 games back.  They've now lost 12 of 15 games to the Tigers?!  Oh and did I mention the Tigers have Mad Max on the mound tonight???     ugh...   

[FiddleCastro]

i'm hoping the Astros don't win anymore games

#history

[ms. yvon]

I only have faint memories as an 8yr old of Francisco Cabrera and Sid Bream sliding into home, but our 4 win, 5 game series against the Cardinals last week was the most fun, enjoyable, entertaining series of baseball Ive ever watched in its entirety (sorry BH  ). While I still am holding off hope for the end result of this season, this is the first time I feel like I have something to look forward to next season regardless of what happens this year as a Pirates fan. Baseball was my first love as a sport, first game I played as a kid and the sport I played the most often and competitively during that time. Feels good to be back.

LETS GO BUCS!!! 

  nice, scotty!  it's not tough to root for those guys. #Quality!

[pawpaw]

I went to my last Giants game of the season a week ago (strong start from Cain, no offense, Giants lost to the Brewers). It's been a frustrating season, but I don't feel too bad about it. The worst thing about this season has been the fact that the Dodgers have been destroying people. I'll be rooting for the Braves, Pirates, Reds, Cards, etc, but the Dodgers are built like a team to win playoff series. Scary...

I think the biggest thing missing has been Pagan. He hit his inside the park walk-off, and hasn't played another game. He'd been such a great producer for us leading off, and that role just hasn't been filled with any consistency since he's been out. Vogelsong getting hurt too, shifted our pen around, stretched everything too thin. Lots of injuries, actually, and then everyone slumping ALL AT ONCE. Posey's been batting below .200 the past month! Maybe they're tired, I don't know...I mean, winning 2 World Series in 3 years is a lot of work.    It's been a weak season from them though, historically bad I've heard, for a team to perform this bad coming off a WS win.

I'm still getting stoked for September->October baseball though. Love it. It would be cool to see Pittsburgh do something.

[BH]

Hey Scotty, Marte just got put on the ballot for St. Louis Mayor.   He's a shoe in!   

[ms. yvon]

PENNANT TIME!

bbill, this is one of those seasons when you earn your stripes as a fan.   
but in the last week the giants have been enjoying a real wave of momentum!  tonight makes it four wins in a row - including the 19 - 3 drubbing of the dodgers last saturday.
we have a chance to end this season in third place.  it would make a big difference to end the season there rather than the cellar.  WE CAN DO IT!

the other races are close and exciting. 

worth mentioning:  did any of you see the tribute the red sox gave mariano rivera at his last game at fenway?  it was moving to see the real affection boston fans have for him.  it's this big picture of baseball that i love so much.  it's the heart that MLB can't squash. 

[FiddleCastro]

100 Losses for my boys again! 

[iLikeBeer]

PENNANT TIME!

bbill, this is one of those seasons when you earn your stripes as a fan.   

Sorry Ms. Y, but how long has it been since the Giants won the World Series?  Your Giants have only won it all 2 of the last 3 years?  Come back when the drought reaches more than one whole season to talk about earning your stripes as a fan.  As an Indians fan, we truly know what it is like to earn our stripes as a fan...

[BH]

This is the time of year that everyone starts moving to the college football thread while me, Sweatboard, Bbill and Ms Y. talk playoff baseball!   I guess it may be just me and Brian this year.....

[FiddleCastro]

playoff baseball! 

that exists!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?? 

[BH]

playoff baseball! 

that exists!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?? 

Can't remember, you a Mets fan Fiddle?

[FiddleCastro]

playoff baseball! 

that exists!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?? 

Can't remember, you a Mets fan Fiddle?

Astros... 

[ms. yvon]

PENNANT TIME!

bbill, this is one of those seasons when you earn your stripes as a fan.   

Sorry Ms. Y, but how long has it been since the Giants won the World Series?  Your Giants have only won it all 2 of the last 3 years?  Come back when the drought reaches more than one whole season to talk about earning your stripes as a fan.  As an Indians fan, we truly know what it is like to earn our stripes as a fan...

dear beer,  i remember attending games at candlestick park when there were fewer than 1,200 people there.  i empathize with your drought.   

[ms. yvon]

This is the time of year that everyone starts moving to the college football thread while me, Sweatboard, Bbill and Ms Y. talk playoff baseball!   I guess it may be just me and Brian this year.....

i'm in dave if only b/c baseball is the only sport i follow.  when the season ends it's nothing but waiting for spring training to start for me. 

[ericm]

Gotta talk my son down off the ledge.  He's freaking out because for only the 2nd time since he was six (basically since he started tee ball and following the game) the Yanks are not going to be in the playoffs. 

I've been telling him his whole life that he's living a charmed baseball fan's life, but I don't think it ever sunk in. 

[iLikeBeer]

Gotta talk my son down off the ledge.  He's freaking out because for only the 2nd time since he was six (basically since he started tee ball and following the game) the Yanks are not going to be in the playoffs. 

I've been telling him his whole life that he's living a charmed baseball fan's life, but I don't think it ever sunk in. 

LOL!  It is definitely easy to become spoiled.  I remember how quickly the success of the Indians in the 90's seemed to erase all of those decades of pain and suffering (well for me it was only a decade or so ).  It wasn't a question of if there would be post season baseball in Cleveland from year to year, it just became a given and it was almost taken for granted.  And then it all went away again seemingly just as quickly as it arrived.  Needless to say, I don't take post season baseball for granted anymore and with the Tribe fighting for one of the WC spots this season, I'm enjoying every minute of these last couple of weeks!  It's almost like the post season is already here as every win is pretty much a must win from here on out for the Tribe!

[iLikeBeer]

dear beer,  i remember attending games at candlestick park when there were fewer than 1,200 people there.  i empathize with your drought.   

Unfortunately, I can't empathize with your celebrating World Series Championships...  or any championships for that matter... 

[iLikeBeer]

Well, for the first time since 2007, there will be October baseball in Cleveland!!!   

The Tribe finishes the regular season on a 10 game winning streak and went 21-6 in the month do September to rally past Tampa Bay and Texas to clinch hosting the wild card play in game!!!  Also, this team went from losing 96 games a year ago to winning 92 this season!  If Tito doesn't win manager of the year for the turnaround this team has made, something is wrong!

Hopefully the Rangers hold on to win so they would have to play TB in a play in game while Cleveland waits to see who they play on Wednesday. 


GO TRIBE!!!   

[capt. scotty]

Holy shit, so nervous already for the game tonight. Very happy to have it at home, the crowd should be electric. My sister and her BF actually got tickets for $150 each and I told her I definitely wouldve paid that after 20 years of losing, the first playoff game ever at PNC Park, and who knows when the next might be - hopefully Sunday of course  . Liriano has been lights out, and his home/road splits are noticeably different, but Cueto has been a Pirates killer.

Of course Im glad we ended the 20 season streak of losing seasons, but at this point  and with how good this team has looked, I can't say I'll wont be extremely disappointed. After a 162 game season, I think a 1 game playoff for the WC teams is asinine, at least make it 3 game series.

LETS GO BUCS!!!!