Tim McG

Giants lose a wierd one in NY

Thanks, Dave. Nice to know my memory hasn't faded too much

And I totally get that. The contribution he made to the Dodgers was undoubtedly why they did so well that year....but he was still a relief pitcher not a starter. Cy Young was a full time pitcher and the award is named for him, a starting pitcher. In a nutshell, that's my beef. Excellent point, Dan. Question: Didn't MLB used to have a relief pitcher award sponsored by Fireman's Fund Insurance or Rolaids or something? That award or one like it would be more appropriate, IMHO.

Exactly my point. Got to disagree with that. A reliever's W-L record means very little. The Cy Young award is really an MVP (Most Valuable Pitcher). To blow off someone who was instrumental in winning 55 (not 72) games and who in the process carded an ERA of a buck twenty (the only one lower since the AL and NL started splitting the award in 1967 was Bob Gibson's 1.12 in 1968) with a simple "C'mon" is just wrong. The Dodgers won 85 games in 2003, so Gagne has a direct hand in 65% of their victories. In addition to his 55 saves, he finished 67 games. That year, he struck out 137 batters in just 82.1 innings. That's an unheard of 15 strikeouts on a per nine inning basis. You just can't thumb your nose at numbers like these. It's nothing less than total domination. IMO, Gagne more than deserved the Cy Young in '03. I'm not "thumbing my nose" at Gagne's accomplishments. All I'm saying Cy Young was an everyday pitcher, not a reliever. Hence, the award needs to go to pitchers who go 300+ innings and not to spot relief/closers.

Mine, too. As to relievers: It really galls me when a refief man wins a Cy Young. I remember seeing red when Eric Gagne took a Cy Young away from a far more deserving Jason Schmidt; 17-5 full time pitcher and in a 5-day rotation. Relievers pitch an inning here and an inning there. Gagne getting 72 saves is an accomplishment, no doubt. But a Cy Young on the strength of a 2-3 record? C'mon.

Well, he is a married man w/ 8 kids. Don't want to break up the family... Lotsa love. I really came to appreciate his way of pitching when he was a Mariner. I hope he's pitching at 50 too! I do, too. The George Blanda of baseball

Happiest of Happys, Aggie!

I'm 57 and I used to say the same thing about the Giants winning a WS....it could happen, Jim.

Very cool, Jeff.

That's what I was thinking. The Brewers moving was never going to happen, Bud Selig fought tooth-and-nail to get them into the NL. Guess when you're the Commissioner, you put this protective aura around the team that you own, so it gets to stay in the NL, it's key player doesn't get suspended (what a surprise, the only case ever overturned ), etc. Edit: ever to never to ever Figures. We need another Fay Vincent or Bart Giamatti to run MLB. And what's all this business about expanding the playoff teams to five? Pretty soon, Selig will water the playoffs down to the meaninglessness of the NBA or NHL where basically everybody gets in. And I'm still steamed about that tie Allstar game, too. He's destroying the game, IMHO.

That's what I was thinking.

Wait....now hold it. Houston is going to the AL next year? Why?

I don't know this part of the history as well as I'd like, but was Larry Doby going to roll out with the Indians no matter what happened with Robinson, or was there a "wait and see" thing going on there? No, it was going through regardless. Bill Veck was the owner of the Indians at the time, and he was committed to breaking the color barrier. In some ways, I wished it was him, it would have made a great story, and Doby was no slouch either as a player or person. With Branch, there is more than a touch of the charlatan involved, but that touch is what probably made him so great. The Giants were ready to bring up a Black player, too. Dodgers just beat them to it is all. The Giants only offered him a two year deal whle giving the Mad Bum and Cain multi-year deals, too. Maybe they saw something that wasn't quite right. I dunno. I just hope Lincecum can get his groove on...and soon.

The starters are some of the best.

Maybe. But the Giants signed several Latino players; most in MLB back then [albeit after Robinson], too. It was coming to MLB eventually, IMHO. I just think the color barrier would have been broken by the 50s anyway.

I'm fairly certain the Supreme Court was working on Civil Rights issues long before Jackie Robinson entered the league. And I agree. We do need to celebrate and see Jackie Robinson as an integral part of the Civil Rights movement/history. No argument here, Jim. And, IMHO and from a die-hard Giants fan, Vin Sculley is the absolute pinnacle of booth announcers...bar none.

Speaking of [the hated] Dodgers [sorry, Noj; can't help it ] this is great news for baseball fans anywhere: Vin Scully returns to announcer's chair

Oh I absolutely agree, Jim. Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier had a huge impact; no doubt. We should never forget what that meant back then. All I'm saying is the Civil Rights movement of the late 40s, 50s and 60s coupled with the integration of the US Military in 1950 and Brown vs. Topeka or Plessy vs. Ferguson had a demonstrably larger impact on society than did Jackie Robinson in that regard.

It was kinda cool seeing every player in MLB wearing jersey number 42 to celebrate the 65th Anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking into the Majors. But what I don't get is when players are interviewed, they always say, "If it wasn't for Jackie Robinson, I wouldn't be here" or words to that effect. Really? Are they actually saying MLB would still be an all Caucasian league here in 2012? Seems to me if Jackie Robinson didn't get in back in 1948 that would have only delayed the eventuality of African-American baseball players in the majors. I dunno. Just seems to me we are giving far too much credit to a great ballplayer, albeit the first African-American in MLB history, but it wouldn't have been only because of him other African-Americans got to play. Just my two cents.

It's true. Wilson announced today that he's out for the season. He plans on coming back next year, but so did Robb Nen when he went down. Of course, his was a shoulder injury but still. Those closers throw harder than hard and the body can take only so much. So we wait and see. Wilson will have surgery.

Maybe they did tell him STFU and he couldn't take it and that is why he asked out. Anyway, too bad for Lamar, too bad for Dallas, and too bad for Lakers. A lose lose lose situation. Hey, what if???? Big Shot Billups had not gone down with an injury? Would Clippers have solidified 3rd seed?? Lamar Odom was losing a step or two anyway. Besides, his ego would continue to be a thorn in the Lakres' side and be more of a disruption than a help. Terrell Owens, abeit the NFL, is another prime example of a talent nobody wants. Good news is with last night's win over the Nuggets, Lakers are playoff bound!

This one is just plain amazing: NY teen scores soccer goal w/pass to himself

You misread. I wasn't the one stressin'! As a Mets fan, I was ragging on the anal Yankee fan. You're right...I should have addressed that comment to Dave. Thanks for pointing that out to me. First mistake I've made all season One thing I've noticed wrong with the public school system in our country today is that even the English teachers aren't paying attention! Bifocals. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Matt Cain nearly tossed a complete game no-no in Giants' 5-0 win over the Pirates last night! Cain tosses gem

Maybe John Lennon is available.