Baseball '04

Well, Beltre was the first player to reach 40 HR. Impressive, considering his previous season high was 23.

But now the Giants are only 5 games out of first. And guess who plays the final series of the season (as always)?

This makes me nervous.

Things are getting a bit more interesting in the AL East, aren't they fellas?

History says this closing of the big gap is just a Bait and Switch to sucker BoSox Nation into an even bigger disapointment down the road...

(Even though I think the Red Sox will go deeper into the playoffs than the Evil Empire).

I must say overall I like both John C's Cards and your Dodgers. Would make for a belter of an NLCS given the seeming implosion of the Cubs.

Matthew

PS Bonds is the NL MVP not Beltre. Or Pujols or Rolen, or even Edmonds.

Except Beltre's been more valuable to his team than Bonds has to his (and so far, has his team in 1st place).

And in case you missed it, things are spinning out of control out here in the AL West:

Skirmish delays A's win
Rangers bullpen gets into melee with fans; one woman hurt when reliever tosses chair into stands

By Josh Suchon, STAFF WRITER (Oakland Tribune)

OAKLAND -- Angry members of the Texas Rangers bullpen charged after an A's fan in the ninth inning of Monday's game at Network Associates Coliseum, delaying the game 19 minutes with the score tied at 5.

The A's went on to win the game 7-6 in the 10th on a two-out, bases-loaded single by Eric Chavez.

Hank Blalock was batting with an 0-2 count when members of the Rangers bullpen, then players from their dugout, went charging toward a taunting fan in the field boxes.

Reliever Doug Brocail was screaming at the fan as an A's security guard tried to hold him back.

As Brocail was pulled away, Frank Francisco -- who had already pitched in the game and came from the dugout -- tossed the ballboy's chair into the crowd and hit a woman who wasn't involved in the confrontation.

The woman was bloodied and needed medical supervision.

(Actually, her nose was broken. Francisco was arrested, then released on $15k bail.)

"He's the only player in history with 30 or more homers in each of his first four seasons. He's sure to end this year as the only one with a .300 average, 30-plus homers, 100-plus runs and 100-plus RBIs in each of his first four full seasons."

He has 500!!! RBIs in first 4 years as major leaguer. Only 2 players have done this before.(di Maggio and Williams!!)

John

Great wild card races/AL west

San Franciso/Dodgers/Braves/Cards

Yankees/Sox/Twins/As

You need to stump if £10 a month for NASN for October John. There was a cracking Giants/Dodgers and BoSox/Yankees double header on Saturday night.

Matthew

John, you sound like Griffey Jr fans in 1995 or so.

The NL West has me very, very nervous. No aces in LA's starting rotation whatsoever. And now Penny's joining Dreifort in the done-for-season gang.

Matthew I hesitate to say this but by some trick of fate I'm in St Louis for the closing games of the world series!

John

Ludwig, that closing series against the Giants looks good. Heeeeres Barry!!

John

"I hesitate to say this but by some trick of fate I'm in St Louis for the closing games of the world series!"

I am delighted to see you making such excellent use of taxpayer's money.

Matthew

We'll see how things look in a few days. I'm hoping the Padres (just 2 games behind SF) give the Giants hell in the mid-week series!!!

Did I have some kind of weird dream or did I really see an ESPN TV report about how Pedro Martinez has been hangin around with some strange 24" dwarf who he believes has mystical voodoo powers that will break the BoSox curse?

Matthew

I'm oddly reminded of that strange little man in Twin Peaks who could speak backways.

Nice 9th inning win for dem bums last night. I'm rather worried we are cruising into the play offs and could be caught out in the first series.

John

Nope I've googled for every combination of Pedro Boston and voodoo dwarf I can think of and I can find no reference to Pedro's little friend.

Today, btw, it is 50 years since Willie Mays made "The Catch"

Matthew

I am assured by my work colleges that are all rabid Red Sox fans in this part of the world that the rumour is true, seems the dwarf/midget chappie is a film star, fellow countryman and a close personal friend of Mr Martinez.

Weird but not as weird as Posh and Becks

Regards

Andy

Thanks, Andy. It appears I am not having weird dreams after all.

Matthew

This Weekend

Will the Dodgers keep the NL West lead? (I predict yes)

Will the Angels knock the A's out? (I predict yes)

Will Ichiro set a new season hits record? (I predict yes)

This will be an entertaining weekend of baseball.

PS- My source in Boston (a Pakistani who prefers cricket) also tells me Pedro does indeed travel with a midget for good luck. I now like Pedro more than ever.

I hope the Angels edge out the As as I prefer the former and frankly the latter's involvment in the post-season seems rather pointless, or at least shortlived.

Ichiro has already broken the record. Which is fantastic as he is definitely one of my favourite players. Along with Johnny Damon and his exceptional hair.

As I understand it, the Giants have to beat the Dodgers tonight to stay alive? Which is good as it's the live game hare at 9pm.

Matthew

PS John C -- My crypto-racist flatmate is in Amsterdam this week. If you want to come round and watch the start of the playoffs on Tuesday give me a shout. There's some kind of double header on from 6pm I think, although not sure who or what.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Matthew Robinson:
Ichiro has already broken the record.

---

Indeed, he broke it jusr hours after my post and a few fellas at tonight's wedding attended the game and had lots to say about the special moment.

Dodgers win the NL WEst- check (SO pissed I didn't see that bottom of the 9th explosion)

Angels knock off the A's and win the AL West- check

Ichiro breaks the 84-year-old hits record- check

So, Matthew- did you see the end of the LA-SF game?

I encourage you to cheer for my bums against John's Cards. We had 52 come-from-behind wins this year, which translates to a certain amount of charm.

Sadly no. I ended up getting senselessly drunk with a friend who was in need of drink and a shoulder to cry on.

I think I'd have to remaing resolutely neutral w.r.t Cards Vs Dodgers.

Matthew

What?!?! The Cards are the Yankees of the NL ya know!

( BTW)

Surely the Braves are the Yankees of the NL?

Anyway, I read somewhere that the Cards have these great fans who are all terribly polite and sporting and very knowledgeable about the history of the game. They sound like the sort of people who might like cricket (whcih makes them suportable). Plus I have an irrational, no specifc reason like for certain players one of whom happens to be Albert Pujols.

On the other hand I don't like sides with lots of hitting as it seems like cheating somehow. I'm more of a fan of the sort of run manufacturing, small ball, good defense, and a deep bullpen sort of teams. It seems to make for more interesting games.

I'd support both Cards and Dodgers over the Braves and almost certainly over the Astros as well.

Matthew

PS Looking at my predictions I nailed all three AL divsion winners and both Wild Cards. Wish I'd put money on it now.