vajerzy

Can't pull up the site.

Sent you all a message from the O-pool... To paraphrase, what should the tie-breaker be if NOJ chokes his 2 game lead and we have a tie for YTD wins?

My listening room is my car driving to/from work.

Happy Birthday! I enjoy reading your posts.

It's an Eephus pitch. A gimmick, true...but legal nonetheless. How to throw an Eephus pitch. An Eephus pitch is thrown with a natural motion with a perceptible arc- I remember reading Rip Sewell throwing one back in the 40s- don't remember who he played for. Didn't Bill Lee throw one? I tried it a few times pitching in an adult league- kinda like throwing a slowpitch softball pitch (6-12 arc)overhand- practically impossible to throw it for a strike.

I know- it's intentional. I was trying to determine whether it was legal if it happened in a game. I think the pitcher is one of those trick pitchers- like a gimmick- kinda like Eddie Fehner (sp), the softball pitcher.

I would say yes, providing its a one time event (it slipped out of his hand)....the batter can hit it and it would be the same as a pitched ball. However it's not a natural release motion as generally agreed upon- doing so again could be construed as deliberately confusing the batter and making a farce of the game, thus illegal. I umpire girls fast pitch softball- and some baseball.

I added it- unfortunately I took Philly as well (my team!)- I changed it at the last minute from SEA- I wish it locked for me! Oh well- college baskeball is in full swing and my umpire clinics start next month- something to look forward to... BTW- we all are doing better than the "experts" on CBS Sports.

Moises had the quietest swing I've ever seen. When I say quiet, I mean no hitches or load-ups as the pitch is coming in. He was like a statue at the plate and when the pitch was coming. Dave Winfield and Steve Garvey were the opposite.

We have a good group here!

Ok- I added SS1's picks into the pool.

Ok Guys- I want your opinion about adding picks after the lock take effect: Moose and SS1 didn't get their picks in for Thanksgiving games. On Thursday I sent a message for them to send me their picks. Moose sent his Thursday night- I added them. SS1 sent me his yesterday evening. SS1 said he didn't have access to a computer for 3 days. He does have his picks in for today. My question for the group: Do I add SS1's Thursday's picks to this week. He says he went 3-0. I'll say yes- with the caveat that I don't add picks retroactively unless you let the group know ahead of time or around game time that you didn't or cannot get them in. This is *our* pool- not *my* pool so this should be a group decision.

Jazz Moose and Soul Station: send me your picks and I'll add them- I trust you guys. 3 games is tough to miss this late in season. Mike

I missed it as well- I made my picks this morning and inadvertently made a pick for NYJ-DEN and couldn't back out so I intentionally picked the Jets to keep with missing the deadline.

Speaking of roof- does the new Florida- or Miami stadium have one?

I'm a HS umpire for girls fastpitch softball and also umpire a fair amount of baseball. I've been involved in many lopsides games- and I don't recall a team complaining about a steal when losing big. I hear more from the parents and fans- they're the ones who get all indignant and flustered when it occurs. Parents and fans are my biggest problem when umpiring. Coaches and players aren't- because they know the game and realize they can win big or lose big in any given night.

I hope the Phillies choke on it. Why? What can you have against them? Goodie is pissed because Rollins had the nerve, the nerve, to steal 2nd when the Phillies were up by 6 runs in the top of the 6th in SF last summer. Supposedly there's some unwritten rule that only the SF Giants and their fans know about that says you can't steal when leading by 6 runs in the 6th inning. However, he's okay with a pitcher throwing at a batter's head and sees it as a perfectly acceptable form retaliation just as long as it's a SF pitcher doing the throwing and a non SF played getting beaned. Um. Never said it was OK to throw at anyone. What I said was, Cousins needs to eat dirt each and every time he's at bat vs. the Giants. Retaliation for sliding into Posey head first and off line, is IMO completely justified to plunk the SOB....and it is and has always been a part of the game. Being OK and justified are two entirely different concepts. If it was your guy who got nailed like that you'd be plenty pissed. And what that incident has to do with the no-class Phillies is beyond me. On point: I was pissed that their no-class manager dissed one of the best pitching staffs in the Majors in public. That steal was a total in-your-face show of disrespect for the Giants and the ensuing brawl started by the Philly players was a big bunch of bullshit, too. They got squashed out in the playoffs and justice was served...in spades. Look man, if you're going to get it wrong at least tell it right. If I'm going to get it wrong? Sigh. I knew I was going to regret engaging in a discussion w/ you. Okay look, you obviously need a little reminder so here it goes. The Phillies "no class manager" never "dissed" the Giants pitching staff. A reporter asked Manuel if he thought that Cain and Lincecum were great pitchers. He replied that he thought that they were "very, very, very, good" pitchers but not great. How is that a put down/"diss"?? Furthermore, the Giants manager Bruce Bochy backed up Manuel. "I guess what Charlie's point is, is longevity," Bochy said. "He's right. When you call somebody great, they've done it over quite a few years." The brawl was instigated when the SF pitcher(Ramirez) beaned the Phillies batter(Victorino) with the next pitch and the catcher(Eli Whiteside) tossed his mask and started hopping up and down like a prize fighter at the beginning of a bout. Squashed out of the playoffs? The Phillies lost a 5 game series 3 games to 2 following an epic pitching duel that they lost 1-0. How is that being squashed? Beaten yes, but squashed? No. No. The incident started with a clearly designed in-your-face steal with a six run lead against a team with the worst offense in MLB. It was a no-class play called by a no-class manager who said way more than you are posting regarding the Giants' pitching staff. And so far as I know, the Phillies weren't in the WS, so they were squashed out; note I did not say soundly defeated or whipped. That facts back me up so you can misremember it all you like...just attribute what I actually said and not leave out half of it to make your claim. Fair? Hey Goodspeak- you ever play the game? I have. I pitched- and been on both sides of a lopsided score. Someone steals a base with a 6 run lead- you know how to stop it? Throw the guy out. Better yet- keep runners off the bases- can't steal if you're not on base. It's quite simple. So what if someone disses the pitching staff? Is it true? If not- so what? You beat them on the field.

Looks like the Cardinals handled that for ya'...now maybe the Brew Crew can take care of Lance Berkman...JUSTICE!!! Objectively, though, that was a stunner, to put it mildly...and I do hope that Howard is ok longterm. That was a haunting image...and did I hear the notorious BooBirds afterwards? I hope not, that was a helluva game. As was the earlier one today. GREAT day for baseball! Berkman? Geez. He couldn't hit his shoelaces in that last at bat tonight. Wow- that's real classy.

You have me believing!

You are right that was a great night of baseball, but lets face it if the Yankees played all their regulars and put MO in at the end , the Rays would have lost too. What about Crawford, he can't catch that ball? Manny could! Seriously,Crawford may be the best all round athlete on the club and he dives for the ball as if it's a hand grenade. Yankees earned the right to play the game the way they did...and I'm sure some of them enjoyed seeing the Red Sox not make the playoffs by their loss.

I read his book "My War". Some funny stories in there- and some sobering ones as well. I developed a greater appreciation of him after reading his book.

Serious choke by the Red Sox- they don't deserve to be in the playoffs. Go Tigers! Go Phillies!

Where's SS1?? He didn't make picks last week and this week.

So which Van Basten II do I delete- the gmail or hotmail one? I cannot tell which one isn't making picks.

Yeah-I'm deleting him!