― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 3 December 2003 17:54 (twenty years ago) link
Hall of famer: Ted Williams and Johnny Bench.Current players: Jason Varitek and Johnny Damon; Torii Hunter.Minor leaguer: Man, I haven't been to a minor league game since the 80s :/Non-hall of famer: OIL. CAN. BOYYYYYYD!Manager: Theo Epstein, Lou Piniella.Book: Man, there are many. I took a class called "Baseball and Myth," as an undergraduate. The Iowa Baseball Confederacy, maybe, or The Natural. Summerland would be my favorite if I were twenty years younger. I'll go with The Great American Novel, though, Philip Roth.Website: Between Sports Illustrated and ESPN.com's Page 2, I get about all I have time for except at the start of spring training, the start of the season, the All-Star break, and the end of the season/postseason.Writers: W.P. Kinsella, even when he's cheesy.Movie: I still insist Meet John Doe is a baseball movie, but I'll go with Bad News Bears.Favorite announcers: I don't get enough baseball television coverage to have a preference, unfortunately. I'm not crazy about the Fox folks, but they could be worse.Ballpark: Fenway.Playing Experience: Zip, zilch, nada.Ball Parks Visited: Fenway dozens of times, Yankee Stadium.Best Game attended: I saw Yaz play twice, man. Okay, so I hardly remember it -- I was 8 when he retired, and one of the games was when I was 3 or 4. But I was still there!Best Current Pitcher: I'm hoping Curt Schilling.Favorite Quote (baseball): Red Sox love aside, there's just something about "The Giants win the pennant."
― Tep (ktepi), Wednesday, 3 December 2003 19:18 (twenty years ago) link
― Mitch in Magic City (ano ano), Wednesday, 3 December 2003 20:30 (twenty years ago) link
― Leee Trevino (Leee), Wednesday, 3 December 2003 22:09 (twenty years ago) link
― Tep (ktepi), Wednesday, 3 December 2003 22:53 (twenty years ago) link
― gusbot (eternal_fields), Thursday, 4 December 2003 19:21 (twenty years ago) link
http://images.usatoday.com/news/_photos/2001-07-22-apes2.jpg
― Leee Trevino (Leee), Friday, 5 December 2003 06:38 (twenty years ago) link
http://www.megabass.it/doc/images/bonzo03.jpg
― gusbot (eternal_fields), Friday, 5 December 2003 07:42 (twenty years ago) link
Hall of famer: Reggie JacksonCurrent players: Bobby Abreu, Mike Lieberthal, and Andy PetitteNon-hall of famer: Tug McGraw (do I need to explain this, really?)Manager: Dallas GreenBook: The Boys of BrooklynWriters: Bill Conlon, Moss Klein, Mike LupicaMovie: i don't watch baseball moviesFavorite announcers: Harry Kalas and Richie Ashburn, Bill White and Phil Rizzuto (i like comedy)Ballpark: Yankees StadiumPlaying Experience: eh?Ball Parks Visited: Veterans Stadium, Shea Stadium, Yankees StadiumBest Game attended: Padres vs. Phillies, sometime in 1978, because it was the first ballgame I'd attended and the Phillies won.Best Offensive Player: Mike SchmidtBest Defensive Player: Craig NettlesBest Current Pitcher: Andy PetitteFavorite outfield ever: Bake McBride, Garry Maddox ... um, Greg Luzinski (ok, maybe not Greg Luzinski)Areas of Interest (baseball): Defense statsFavorite Quote (baseball): “You can observe a lot by watching."- Yogi Berra
― Eisbär (llamasfur), Thursday, 11 December 2003 17:58 (twenty years ago) link
― gygax! (gygax!), Thursday, 11 December 2003 19:12 (twenty years ago) link
Favorites:
Hall of famer: Mike SchmidtCurrent players: Bernie Williams and Mariano RiveraNon-hall of famer: Don MattinglyManager: Joe TorreWebsite: http://www.npb-bis.com/jp/Writers: Rob NeyerMovie: The Natural (filmed at War Memorial Staduim in Buffalo)Favorite announcers: Mike Krukow Jon MillerBallpark: PacBell ParkPlaying Experience: Little League, retired due to stopping more groundballs with my face than my glove.Positions Played: short stopBall Parks Visited: Yankee Stadium, Wrigley Field, Jacobs Field, Dodger Stadium, Oakland Coliseum, Pac Bell Park, Edison Field (is that what Anaheim still calls it?), Candlestick Park (former Giants stadium), Riverfront Coliseum (former Reds stadium), Exhibition Stadium (former Blue Jays stadium)Best Game attended: Yankees vs Mets 2000 Subway Series game 1. Jose Vizcaino wins it in the 12th and Jeter throws out Perez at the plate. Best Offensive Player: Barry BondsBest Defensive Player: not sureBest Current Pitcher: Mark PriorAreas of Interest (baseball): Being at the game, Starting a baseball-oriented business (promotional items)Favorite Quote (baseball): "Maybe. " credited to Tom HicksWhen asked if he overpaid on the record-shattering $252 million megadeal that brought SS Alex Rodriguez to the Rangers
― metfigga (metfigga), Tuesday, 16 December 2003 22:07 (twenty years ago) link
― gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 16 December 2003 23:20 (twenty years ago) link
Hall of famer: Rickey HendersonCurrent players: Rickey HendersonMinor leaguer: Rickie WeeksNon-hall of famer: Dwayne MurphyManager: Buck ShowalterBook: Bill James AbstractsWebsite: ESPNWriters: Bill JamesMovie: The Bad News Bears, Major LeagueFavorite announcers: Bill KingBallpark: (pre - Mt. Davis) Oakland ColiseumPlaying Experience: Little LeaguePositions Played: shortstop, pitcher, 1bBall Parks Visited: Oakland, Yankee Stadium, Wrigley Field, Candlestick, Pac BellBest Game attended: Division series 2003, game 1 A's - Red Sox (Ramon Hernandez bunts home Eric Chavez)Best Offensive Player: Barry BondsBest Defensive Player: Mike CameronBest Current Pitcher: Pedro MartinezFavorite outfield ever: Rickey Henderson, Dwayne Murphy, Tony ArmasAreas of Interest (baseball): yup
― Kris (aqueduct), Wednesday, 17 December 2003 20:57 (twenty years ago) link
Rickey's not that fast, Kris. :)
― Leee Iacocca (Leee), Wednesday, 17 December 2003 21:47 (twenty years ago) link
― bnw (bnw), Friday, 26 December 2003 21:49 (twenty years ago) link
― bnw (bnw), Friday, 26 December 2003 21:51 (twenty years ago) link
― gygax! (gygax!), Monday, 29 December 2003 23:37 (twenty years ago) link
HALL OF FAME FAV: Roberto ClementeCURRNT PLAYRS: Marquis Grissom, Brian Giles, Oliver PerezNON HALL OF FAMER: Dave"Cobra" Parker (who will be in soon) Jose"Chico" Lind (who wont be in soon)MANAGER: Jack McKeon is the best manager in the last 25 years. BOOK: Dont Look Back, The story of Leroy "Satchel" PaigeWRITERS: Mike Lupica, Hal McCoy, Hunter ThompsonMOVIE: umm, not many stand out...Angels in the Outfield.Favorite ANNOUNCERS: Ernie Harwell is may all time fav. Marty Brennaman & Joe Nuxall, Richie Ashburn, Phil Rizzuto, Bob Prince.BALLPARK: PNC ParkPLAYING EXP.: excellent wiffle ball skillsBALL PARKS Visited: Riverfront and Grebt American, Three Rivers and PNC, Shea StadiumBEST GAME ATTENDED: 9/7/93 Double header, Reds/Cards,.. First game tied record for most pitchers in a 9 inning game,..Second game saw Hard HItten Mark Whitten bang 4 homers, with the last being of Rob Dibble. BEST Offensive Player: currently, Manny RamerizBEST Defensive Player: currently, Jack WilsonBEST Current Pitcher: Josh Beckett, Mark PriorFAVORITE OUTFIELD EVER: Bonds/Van Slyke/BonillaAREAS OF INTEREST WITHIN (baseball): personality disorders/loners on teams/ practical jokers on teams/etc.FAVORITE QUOTE(baseball): “Work like you don't need the money. Love like you've never been hurt. Dance like nobody's watching."." - Leroy "Satchel" Paige
― thomas de'aguirre (biteylove), Saturday, 24 January 2004 17:46 (twenty years ago) link
Hall of famer: the ECKCurrent players: varitek, he's the hub around which the bosox revolve.Minor leaguer: i can only hope and pray that oil can boyd is still slinging the pea in some podunk town somewhere.Non-hall of famer: oil can boyd.Manager: the other joe morgan.Book: ball four is prettygood.Website: the mick's liver, can't stop the bleedingWriters: gammons, verducciMovie: give me a bowl of popcorn, a six pack of coke and any bad news bears movie and i'll have a good time. Favorite announcers: jon miller, the late joe castiglione, the late ned martin ("mercy...")Ballpark: FENWAYPlaying Experience: little league, stopped playing for the same reason gygax! didPositions Played: pitcher, 1st base, left field. Ball Parks Visited: FENWAY, wrigley, the cell, olympic stadium. drove past the new one in detroit but didn't stop in as they weren't playing any games there on that particular thanksgiving weekend.Best Game attended: pedro strikes out 15 (16? 17?) tampa bay devil rays and loses. great f'ing game. part of a bachelor party. great f'ing weekend.Best Offensive Player: a-rod, could be manny.Best Defensive Player: eesh, too many. the one i always get a charge out of is when vlad guerrero pops that howitzer to nail a guy on the paths.Best Current Pitcher: i hoping it's schilling.Favorite outfield ever: jim ed rice in left, tony armas in center, dewey evans in right. one of the scariest bunch of right handers in one lineup ever.Areas of Interest (baseball): hidden ball tricks, suicide squeeze, or a well executed deke off the wall in left at fenway will put a hop in my step every time.Favorite Quote (baseball): "that's what you get when you build a stadium on the ocean." - oil can boyd reacting to a game delay due to fog in cleveland.
― otto midnight, Monday, 26 January 2004 16:29 (twenty years ago) link
How about that throw in the All-Star Game, though?
― mookieproof (mookieproof), Monday, 26 January 2004 17:02 (twenty years ago) link
― earlnash, Monday, 26 January 2004 19:00 (twenty years ago) link
--Dave Parker on why he wore a Star of David chain
― mookieproof (mookieproof), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 17:05 (twenty years ago) link
― thomas de'aguirre (biteylove), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 20:35 (twenty years ago) link
― dyson (dyson), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 18:05 (twenty years ago) link
thomas, love your outfield pick!otto, thanks for stopping by!dyson, i'm thinking the Jays should compete well with in the AL East.
― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 19:46 (twenty years ago) link
― Leee Majors (Leee), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 22:39 (twenty years ago) link
― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 22:40 (twenty years ago) link
Hall of famer: Ted WilliamsCurrent players: Brooks KieschnickBook: Shoeless Joe (I've not read many baseball books)Writer: Peter GammonsBallpark: Wrigley. Just fantastic atmosphere.Playing Experience: Little League, one season. I led my team in home runs, although I almost never hit the ball over the fence. I was just fast. Now I play architecture-league slowpitch softball. I'm the leadoff hitter on my team, because I'm still pretty fast and hit lots of singles. Positions Played: Center Field for little league, 3rd/SS for softball.Ball Parks Visited: The Vet, Wrigley, Yankee, Camden Yards, Kauffman.
― the leglo (the leglo), Friday, 20 February 2004 14:01 (twenty years ago) link
Hall of famer: brooks robinson, schmitty, cal (i mean, it's just a formality, right?) and walter johnsonCurrent players: fat sidney ponson (i mean, have you ever heard that guy talk?); the foundation of my all robot team, jason varitech and carlos belltronMinor leaguer: adam loewenNon-hall of famer: the old school slugger (i'm looking at you gorman thomas, big sam horn, dave kingman, fat cecil fielder...)Manager: earl weaver, whitey herzog, sparky anderson (whatever happened to salty managers), johnny oatesBook: i haven't read a baseball book in a long timeWebsite: the liver?Writers: tom boswell? gammons? i dunno.Movie: bad news bears, eight men out, bang the drum slowly Favorite announcers: brooksy and plamerBallpark: i'm dealing w/ too limited a sample set to say one way or anotherPlaying Experience: little league; mvp of nwdc little league championship game (1985); had to catch a kid who was throwing knucklers and curves (well) at the age of 12Positions Played: catcher, 2nd, rightBall Parks Visited: i've only been to camden, memorial, dodgertown. i've seen baseball games at rfk, but...
excited to check out the new park in philly
Areas of Interest (baseball): hard to front on the suicide squeeze and the late great hidden ball trick, successful pick offs, true inside the park home runs
― jq higgins, Friday, 20 February 2004 15:38 (twenty years ago) link
― John (jdahlem), Friday, 20 February 2004 20:00 (twenty years ago) link
― John (jdahlem), Friday, 20 February 2004 20:01 (twenty years ago) link
― gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 20 February 2004 20:22 (twenty years ago) link
oh GOD how could i have forgotten mariano?? this dead-time has rotted my brain; only a little over a month till opening day thank god.
― John (jdahlem), Friday, 20 February 2004 22:28 (twenty years ago) link
83 was a rough year in the higgins house.
― jq higgins, Saturday, 21 February 2004 00:14 (twenty years ago) link
― dyson (dyson), Saturday, 21 February 2004 02:08 (twenty years ago) link
― Begs2Differ (Begs2Differ), Sunday, 22 February 2004 02:19 (twenty years ago) link
yeah, well...yo mama.
― jq higgins, Sunday, 22 February 2004 21:29 (twenty years ago) link
― dyson (dyson), Sunday, 22 February 2004 22:52 (twenty years ago) link
Favorite Team: Cubs (five outs), Red Sox (five outs), whoever's playing the Yankees.Current players: Mark Prior, Bonds (esp. when facing each other, *plunk*)Minor leaguer: There was a guy named Cosby playing with the local Angels A-ball affiliate that made some nice diving grabs in CF. Plus his name was Cosby, got a lot of mileage out of that one. Otherwise, osprey-killa Jae Kuk Ryu, I guess.Book: MoneyballWebsite: Baseball ProspectusWriters: Rob Neyer, but I don't know many.Ballpark: WrigleyPlaying Experience: tee ball through little league (13-ish)Positions Played: 1B, SS.Ball Parks Visited: Wrigley, Milwaukee County Stadium (deceased), Kaufmann, Busch, MetrodomeBest Game attended: Cubs losing to Reds 17-0 in like 1988 or so at Wrigley. Eric Davis had a monster game if I recall.Best Offensive Player: Barry BondsBest Defensive Player: Hidalgo maybe?Best Current Pitcher: Prior, Schmidt, maybe Beckett.Areas of Interest: typical n00b stathead interests: obp, whip, clutch double plays (I'm formulating a new Karrosmetric)
― mattbot (mattbot), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 04:23 (twenty years ago) link
― maura (maura), Monday, 1 March 2004 02:32 (twenty years ago) link
― dyson (dyson), Monday, 1 March 2004 05:52 (twenty years ago) link
― gygax! (gygax!), Monday, 1 March 2004 06:27 (twenty years ago) link
― dyson (dyson), Monday, 1 March 2004 06:32 (twenty years ago) link
― jq higgins, Monday, 1 March 2004 20:35 (twenty years ago) link
These are favorites, not who I Hall of famer: Satchel PaigeCurrent players: Minor leaguer: Non-hall of famers: Don Mattingly, Luis SojoWebsite: http://www.baseball-reference.com/Movies: Major LeagueFavorite announcers: John SterlingBallpark: FenwayPlaying Experience: T-ball through 18 y/o Babe Ruth Positions Played: 3b, catcher, OFBall Parks Visited: the vet, Yankee stadium, Fenway, Turner FieldBest Game(s) attended:
As a Yankees fan, it was Yankees-Phillies two years ago in New York; Yanks were down by 5 or 7 runs late, half the people left so we moved down to 4 or 5 rows behind the 3B dugout, the Yanks chipped away at the lead, tied it in the 9th and won it in the 11th or 12th.
As a baseball fan, it was Yanks-Red Sox in New York, either 2000 or 2001. Pedro Martinez struck out 17 batters- Chili Davis somehow hit a check swing opposite field homer in the second- it barely cleared the short porch in right- and this was the only hit of the game. Pedro pitched the most dominating game I've ever seen in person or on television. More dominating than Cone's or Wells' perfect games because he made hitters look so stupid.
Best Offensive Player: BondsBest Defensive Player: i honestly don't knowBest Current Pitcher: Pedro MartinezFavorite outfield ever: , Rickey Henderson, Dave WinfieldAreas of Interest (baseball): infield flies, double switches, bunting. just kidding- all of it.Favorite Quote (baseball): Mike Piazza: "I'm not gay."
― Shaun (shaun), Thursday, 25 March 2004 03:37 (twenty years ago) link
Hall of famer: Gary CarterCurrent players: The Big Unit, Curt SchillingNon-hall of famer: Willie RandolphManager: Billy MartinFavorite announcers: Phil Rizzuto WPIX IN THE HIZZOUSEBallpark: Yankee StadiumPlaying Experience: PitcherPositions Played: Pitcher, 1B, CFBest Current Pitcher: The Big UnitFavorite outfield ever: Don Baylor, Rickey Henderson, Dave WinfieldAreas of Interest (baseball): Splitters, curves, sliders
― 57 7th (calstars), Saturday, 27 March 2004 00:29 (twenty years ago) link
it was 2000, widely regarded in boston as pedro's best game ever for the reason you stated- he DOMINATED that team for that game. 97 mph fastballs and 63 mph changeups. hard sliders, slurves and 12 to 6 curves all with pinpoint accuracy. the only other game like that was when he came out of the pen against the indians in the playoffs in 99(?) and the tribe was beat before he threw a pitch. he didn't have his stuff that game though, he was topping out at 89 against cleveland. beat them on guile and skill (and having mike hargrove in the opposite dugout certainly didn't hurt).
that pedro is gone now however.
― otto midnight (otto midnight), Monday, 29 March 2004 13:28 (twenty years ago) link
― David R. (popshots75`), Monday, 29 March 2004 14:16 (twenty years ago) link
He's what- 33 now? I don't know if I'd blame Grady for hanging his ass out to dry too much or if it's because he's just not big enough to hold up as a power pitcher until he's 40, or if he's going to recover and throw consistently in the mid 90s again.
― Shaun (shaun), Monday, 29 March 2004 18:00 (twenty years ago) link
― otto midnight (otto midnight), Monday, 29 March 2004 18:18 (twenty years ago) link
I truly despise the Yankees, I have a soft spot for the Red Sox -- imagine that -- and I'm always happy to see the Braves get set down 27 in a row by the likes of Randy Johnson. Oh, hey, that happened last night, didn't it? What do you know?
I no longer attend major league games due to price and general distaste, but in cheerful hypocrisy I regularly patronize the Brooklyn Cyclones and Staten Island Yankees, even though the revenues end up in the same pockets. I believe the SI Yankees stadium is one of the greatest places I've ever seen a baseball game, if not the greatest.
Favorite live baseball experience: attending El Duque's last rehab start for the SI Yankees in 2001, sitting about 100 feet from the mound, and finally understanding what a serious, hardcore major-league curveball looks like.
Favorite books: Fireside Book of Baseball (original), Ball Four.
― Hurlothrumbo (hurlothrumbo), Wednesday, 19 May 2004 14:15 (twenty years ago) link
My ILB name is Garrett Martin. I'm 28, have been in Boston for two years now, but was born and raised in and around Atlanta. Ergo Braves first, Red Sox way far down in second. My brother was a bat-boy for the White Sox during spring training in Sarasota back in '82 and '83, and they were my main AL team before moving to Boston. Also I won my fantasy league this year, and am still waiting for my $500 check, dammit.
Hall of famer: Hank AaronCurrent players: Brian Giles, Marcus Giles, Johan SantanaMinor leaguer: Andy Marte. Godspeed, little doodle.Non-hall of famer: Dale MurphyManager: Bobby CoxWebsite: Baseball ProspectusWriters: Rob Neyer, Bill JamesMovie: Major LeagueFavorite announcers: Pete Van Wieren and Skip CarayBallpark: Fenway Playing Experience: one week of tee-ball when I was fourPositions Played: third right-fielderBall Parks Visited: Turner Field, Atlanta Fulton County Stadium, Fenway, Wrigley, Durham Athletic Park, whatever the Lookouts' place is calledBest Game attended: Atlanta vs. Pittsburgh, Game Seven of the NLCS, October 14, 1992. Just total fuckin' amazement. This annoying Iranian kid from my high school left this game after the eighth. What a dick.Best Offensive Player: Albert PujolsBest Defensive Player: Andruw JonesBest Current Pitcher: Johan SantanaFavorite outfield ever: Ron Gant, Otis Nixon, David Justice
― Garrett Martin (Garrett Martin), Thursday, 8 December 2005 14:21 (eighteen years ago) link
Hall of famer: Roberto Clemente, Ricky Henderson.Current players: Ichiro, Dontrelle WillisMinor leaguer: ?Non-hall of famer: Dick Allen Manager: Ozzie Guillen (he cracks me up, sorry guys)Book: Ball FourWebsite: Athleticsnation.comWriters: EhMovie: The Bad News Bears, probablyFavorite announcers: Bill KingBallpark: PacBell ParkPlaying Experience: ZipPositions Played: NoneBall Parks Visited: The new-ish Seattle one, Wrigley, Fenway, Busch Stadium, Candlestick, Oakland Coliseum, Pac Bell ParkBest Game attended: A's vs. Yankees, regular season 2000? 2001?, pitching battle between Mulder and Mussina. Giambi ended it with a three run homer.Best Offensive Player: Albert Pujols (would be Bonds if healthy)Best Defensive Player: Jim Edmonds, maybe.Best Current Pitcher: Johan SantanaFavorite outfield ever: Ricky Henderson, Dave Henderson, Jose Canseco. Areas of Interest (baseball): the A's, arguing about the Hall of Fame and player valuation.
― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 8 December 2005 16:38 (eighteen years ago) link
― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 8 December 2005 16:41 (eighteen years ago) link
Hall of Famer: Tony GwynnNon-Hall of Famer: Shoeless Joe Jackson
Current players: Khalil Greene, Manny Ramirez, Torii Hunter, Vlad Guerrero, Ichiro, Dave Ortiz, Jake Peavy, Pedro Martinez, Barry Zito, Greg Maddux, Huston Street
Minor leaguer: Pretty much any "AAAA player"
Manager: Bobby Cox, Bobby Valentine
Book: Moneyball is literally the only book about baseball I've ever read apart from like the Historical Baseball Abstract. Both are cool. Oh, I guess the first part of Underworld.
Website: Fire Joe Morgan, Baseball Musings
Writers: Eh
Movie: The Bad News Bears, easily.
Favorite announcers: Bill King, Vin Scully
Ballpark: Edwards Stadium at Cal
Playing Experience: Little League, street ball
Positions Played: Everything but pitcher and catcher.
Ball Parks Visited: Jack Murphy, Candlestick, Oakland Coliseum, Pac Bell Park
Best Game attended: Unfortunately, the game where Jeter made "the play" against the A's in the playoffs.
Best Offensive Player: Albert Pujols (would be Bonds if healthy)
Best Defensive Player: Andruw Jones I guess.
Best Current Pitcher: Johan Santana
Favorite outfield ever: Tony Gwynn, Marvell Wynne, Carmelo Martinez
Areas of Interest (baseball): the Padres, the A's, the NL West, arguing.
Hated teams: Sportswriters; Ex-Athlete Announcers/Columnists; The Dodgers; The other NL West teams; The Sox & Yanks; The '90s Braves; The Angels
I also have a mediocre Padres blog: metalsupply.blogspot.com.
― polyphonic (polyphonic), Friday, 9 December 2005 08:40 (eighteen years ago) link
Hall of famer: Ted WilliamsCurrent players: Albert PujolsMinor leaguer: anyone in the independent leaguesNon-hall of famer: Al 'The Mad Hungarian' HraboskyManager: Bobby ValentineBook: Ball FourWebsite: BP and/or Neyer's Insider columnWriters: Rob NeyerMovie: When It Was A GameFavorite announcers: Eric Nadel and Mark Holtz (old Rangers radio announcers, I think Holtz died of cancer)Ballpark: old: Baker Bowl, Phillycontemporary: Fenwaynew: PacBellPlaying Experience: none at all, I have no depth perceptionPositions Played: I was a terrible shortstop in pickup gamesBall Parks Visited: Arlington Stadium, The Ballpark in ArlingtonBest Game attended: Nolan Ryan's seventh no-hitter against the Blue Jays. First row, just past the third-base dugout, got Roberto Alomar's autograph before the game (last K of the night).Best Offensive Player: Albert PujolsBest Defensive Player: no clueBest Current Pitcher: Roger ClemensFavorite outfield ever: Ted Williams, Dom DiMaggio, any of the rotating left-fieldersAreas of Interest (baseball): hating Tom Hicks, history, aesthetics, rotisserie/gambling
― Erick Dampier is better than Shaq (miloaukerman), Friday, 9 December 2005 19:06 (eighteen years ago) link
Hall of famer: Ted Williams, Whitey Ford, Catfish Hunter (on the basis of having written very entertaining autobiographies. Performance-wise, Hunter is a borderline HOF'er at best)Current players: Roy Halladay, Carlos Delgado, Barry Zito, Mo RiveraMinor leaguer: ...Non-hall of famer: Manager: Cito Gaston ... for me to poop on!Book: "Baseball Anecdotes" by Okrent and Wulf has been amusing me for 15 yearsWebsite: BP, Yard Work, Baseball Reference, RetrosheetWriters: Sheehan, Neyer, Paul Daugherty (writes about gen. sports incl. baseball)Movie: ... haven't seen many ... can't pick one.Favorite announcers: Tom Cheek (RIP), Dan Shulman, Vin ScullyBallpark: Whatever they're calling the SF Giants' park these daysPlaying Experience: pick-up games in junior high, many a softball tournament sincePositions Played: 3B, RF (I have a great arm, but have never been good at shagging flies, unfortunately)Ball Parks Visited: Big O (not for a baseball game though), Exhibition Stadium, Skydome/Rogers Centre, Oakland Mausoleum, Dodger Stadium, PacBell/SBC/whatever it's called now, Yankee Stadium, Shea StadiumBest Game attended: vs Atlanta, it was 18-07-99, I sat in a luxury box with a bunch of friends (we won a contest), everyone got FUCKING BLITZED because the alcohol and food were free, the utterly worthless Joey Hamilton beat a very good Kevin Millwood on HANK AARON DAY at the ballpark (Hank was there, pregame ceremony, the works).
Either that or 04-09-92 vs Minnesota. The Jays set a record by getting ten consecutive hits in an inning (and won 16-5), the crowd was jacked because Dave Winfield had been talking smack in the papers about Toronto crowds not being loud enough.
Best Offensive Player: BondsBest Defensive Player: tough to give a first-hand opinion unless they play for your home team, so I'll pick Orlando Hudson at 2B. Non-home team player: Jim Edmonds seems to be a human highlight reel in CF. Best Current Pitcher: Halladay (I'm biased)Favorite outfield ever: I grew up with Bell, Moseby, Barfield, so I'll just say that. I swear I once saw Barfield throw out Rickey Henderson at home on a sac fly attempt ... from the warning track. Maybe my brain is distorting the truth since I was like 11 at the time, but I'm sticking to my story until proven otherwise (and maybe even then).Areas of Interest (baseball): rotisserie, yelling at the TV during broadcasts, the usual
― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Sunday, 11 December 2005 00:51 (eighteen years ago) link
Anyway...
Hall-of-Famer: Hank Aaron, Sandy Koufax
Non-Hall-of-Famer: Ron LeFlore, Frank Tanana
Manager: Jim Leyland, Ozzie Guillen
Current players: Dontrelle Willis, Johan Santana, anyone who can steal over 40 bases on a yearly basis
Book: Can't remember the title -- it was mostly in-action shots of pitchers, likely published in the early '80s. Otherwise, anything with lots of numbers.
Website: ESPN
Writers: Peter Gammons, Bill James, Michael Rosenberg
Movie: The Bad News Bears
Favorite announcers: Worshipped Ernie Harwell, loved George Kell/Al Kaline, love Mario Impemba/Rod Allen, had a soft spot for Paciorek/Harrelson.
Ballpark: Tiger Stadium
Playing experience: Through high school, including little league (minor, major, senior) and summer travel teams in Koufax and Mack leagues, as well as fall leagues. 20-4 during high school seasons, CG wins against two top-ten ranked teams in the state my senior year, first-team all-conference. (Almost certain I once played against D3r3k Low3.) Recruited to play for a handful of very small colleges and could've walked on at the MAC school in my back yard but I had so much fun my last year that I didn't want to spend a couple years sitting or getting shelled. I wouldn't have made it past college, despite being left-handed, since I was 5'7"/150 and could only hit 85 with a well-timed gust of wind at my back. Besides, I had a year of music retail under my belt and I sure as hell wasn't going to mess with my path to great riches.
Positions played: P, OF, C. I loved running around outfields so much, even when there were broken bottles and railroad tracks running through them.
Ballparks visited: Tiger Stadium, Comiskey Park II, Wrigley Field, Dodger Stadium, Edison Field.
First game: Tiger Stadium, 1983. Purchased an Expos batting helmet.
Best game attended: The last game at Tiger Stadium
Best offensive player: Ryan Howard
Best defensive player: Ichiro Suzuki
Best current pitcher: Johan Santana
Favorite outfield ever: Andre Dawson, Tim Raines, Warren Cromartie
Areas of interest: Triples, bunts, delayed steals on AJ Pierzynski
Favorite quote: "90% of the game is half-mental" (or whatever)
― Andy_K (Andy_K), Tuesday, 3 October 2006 12:01 (seventeen years ago) link
Playing experience: Little league. I wasn't a very good player to say the least!
Favorite announcer: Gary Cohen
Favorite quote: "How did they do it? Mirrors."
― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Tuesday, 3 October 2006 13:43 (seventeen years ago) link
stence are you a mets fan now?
― mookieproof (mookieproof), Tuesday, 3 October 2006 16:19 (seventeen years ago) link
― hstencil (hstencil), Tuesday, 3 October 2006 16:47 (seventeen years ago) link
― polyphonic (polyphonic), Tuesday, 3 October 2006 17:25 (seventeen years ago) link
Hall of famer: Robin Youth, Richie AshburnCurrent players: Hideki Matsui, Carl Crawford, any funky sidearm/submariner reliever (Bradford, Fuentes, etc)Minor leaguer: don't really pay attention anymoreNon-hall of famer: Kent Tekulve, Jim Eisenreich, Chris Bosio, Todd FrohwirthManager: Jim Fregosi, especially when liquored upBook: Nine InningsWebsite: Baseball ProspectusWriters: Jayson Stark was an excellent Philly writer while I was growing upMovie: The NaturalFavorite announcers: Jerry Remy, that play-by-play guy in Seattle who just retiredBallpark: Detroit (Comerica), Pittsburgh (PNC) are the best of the new bunchPlaying Experience: plenty o' whiffle ballPositions Played: scorekeeperBall Parks Visited: almost all of them ... Fenway, Yankee, Skydome, Camden Yards & Memorial, Tropicana, Tigers & Comerica, Metrodome, US Cellular, Jacobs & Cleveland, Kauffman, Angels, Ameriquest, Safeco, Shea, Vets & Citizens Bank, Fulton County, Dolphins, Olympic & RFK, new & old Busch, Minute Maid, Riverfront, County & Miller, Three Rivers & PNC, Wrigley, Qualcomm, Dodgers, PacBell, Chase, Coors plus a bunch of minor league parks as well.Best Game attended: How about memories ... scaring youngsters at Fenway by repeatedly claiming "I love Rafael Bournigal," sneaking into Yankee stadium with my sister, Skydome closing during a game, Toronto fan getting ejected from Tigers Stadium bleachers (the rowdiest crowd ever), the racket the wooden seats made in Cleveland, huge lighting storm in KC, Ichiro blasting one off the restaurant after I told Lisa he was a singles hitter, Jamaicans on 1st base side in the 700's at the Vet, the lovely usherettes at Olympic, farm day cow milking competition at Riverfront, hard liquor brought to your seat in Milwaukee, the frigid wind at Wrigley, strange WC fan vibe at Qualcomm, cross-sectional taunting at Chase (neither group a Snakes fan either), the musical taunting of Sox fans at Coors.Best Defensive Player: not objective, but I enjoy those Torii Hunter moments. Best Current Pitcher: objectively, Santana. not objectively, Papelbon.Favorite outfield ever: Lenny Dykstra / Jim Eisenreich / Pete IncavigliaAreas of Interest (baseball): 2nd baseman fielding the ball from the catcher after the warm-up throwsFavorite Quote (baseball): "With the Cardinals everybody would be reading the business section to see what their stocks were doing. You get to this locker room (Pirates) in the morning and everybody is looking at the sports page to see if Hulk Hogan won." -Andy Van Slyke
― zaxxon25 (zaxxon25), Tuesday, 3 October 2006 18:36 (seventeen years ago) link
My ILB name is hstencil. I'm 31, I live in New York CityBrooklyn and I root for the Cubs and White Sox (or whomever is playing against the Yankees, Braves or MetsTwins or A's).
Hall of famer: Willie Mays or Ted WilliamsCurrent players: Magglio Ordonez, Carlos Beltran, Jermaine Dye, David Wright, Jose Reyes, Paul KonerkoMinor leaguer: Rickey Henderson, hehNon-hall of famer: Shoeless Joe Jackson (they could never prove he took the money)Manager: Earl WeaverBook: Eight Men Out, Crash: The Dick Allen StoryWebsite: espn.com, cantstopthebleeding.comWriters: anybody who's not on the Tribune payrollMovie: Major League (so bad it's good)Favorite announcers: Steve Stone or anyone without Caray as a last nameBallpark: Wrigley Field for ambiance, ComiskeyUS Cellular for fans (the non-psychotic field chargin' ones), Keyspan Park because its at Coney IslandPlaying Experience: N/APositions Played: I was a soda/peanut vendor at Wrigley Field at the end of the '98 season, usually upper deck.Ball Parks Visited: Wrigley Field, Comiskey (I have not been since it's been renamed), Fenway, Yankee Stadium, Fulton County Stadium (RIP), Memorial Stadium (RIP), whatever the old one in Cincy was called (RIP), and I've driven by the Jake, old Tiger Stadium, and the old stadium in Milwaukee (RIP).Best Game attended: probably Mike Cameron's 4-homer game, Mariners vs. White Sox, sometime in '02. or Pedro's 12 strikeout game against the Astros last year.Best Offensive Player: Barry BondsAlbert PujolsBest Defensive Player: dunno who I'd pickAaron Rowand FaceplantBest Current Pitcher: Esteban Loaizanot JohanAreas of Interest (baseball): allFavorite Quote (baseball): "I did not bet on baseball" -Pete Rose.
― hstencil (hstencil), Tuesday, 3 October 2006 18:50 (seventeen years ago) link
― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 3 October 2006 18:54 (seventeen years ago) link
My ilxor name is Van Horn Street. I'm 25 and live in Montreal. Root for the Giants and the France National Baseball team (I think their might be one).
Hall of famer: Willie Mays, Christy Mathewson.Current players: Buster Posey, Tim Lincecum, Max Scherzer, Andrew McCutchen, Josh Donaldson.Non-hall of famer: Barry Bonds.Manager: Leyland, Bochy, Stengel.Book: Mickey and Willie: Mantle and Mays, the Parallel Lives of Baseball's Golden AgeWriters: Joe Posnanski, Jonah Keri, Rob Neyer, Grant Brisbree, and the great duo of clemenza and Dr. Morbius.Movie: Baseball by Ken Burns. Moneyball. The Battered Bastards of Baseball.Favorite announcers: Kruk and Kuip. I've been enjoying the Mets' trio as well.Ballpark: The Big O.Playing Experience: Very little.Ball Parks Visited: The Big O. Rogers Centre.Best Game attended: One game in 1998 in which Guerrero scored a home run, the only I've seen. I can't even remember who it was against.Best Offensive Player: Mike Trout, Yasiel Puig.Best Defensive Player: Jason Heyward, Josh Donaldson.Best Current Pitcher: Felix Hernandez, Chris Sale.Areas of Interest (baseball): Reading Bee OK's comment when the Giants are losing. History. Statistics. Understanding America.Favorite Quote (baseball): It ain't the heat, it's the humility. - Berra.Baseball dream: Build a little baseball field somewhere in Dordogne.
― Van Horn Street, Friday, 1 August 2014 05:10 (nine years ago) link
Hello all! I'm Larry, 45, and live in Austin. I post as UrbanShocker on Fangraphs.
Hall of famer: Greg MadduxCurrent players: Puig? Minor leaguer: Joc PedersonNon-hall of famer: Andruw JonesManager: Earl WeaverBook: Baseball When The Grass Was RealWebsite: NotGraphsWriters: Jonah KeriMovie: Bull DurhamFavorite announcers: OrelBallpark: PacBell ParkPlaying Experience: Little League. I made up for being slow by not being able to hit. Positions Played: Outfield.Ball Parks Visited: Dodger Stadium, Safeco, Angel Stadium, Oakland Coliseum, Pac Bell, Coors Field, The Ballpark Arlington, Minute Maid, The Ted, and going to Wrigley at the end of the month!Best Game attended: Braves v Indians, Game 6!Best Offensive Player: MiguelBest Defensive Player: SimmonsBest Current Pitcher: ClaytonFavorite outfield ever: Chipper, Andruw and SheffAreas of Interest (baseball): Sabermetrics*Favorite Quote (baseball): "Ninety percent I'll spend on good times, women and Irish whiskey, The other 10 percent I'll probably waste." Tug McGraw
*I am skeptical of some Sabermetric stats.
― campreverb, Friday, 1 August 2014 12:16 (nine years ago) link
serious lols at this: Areas of Interest (baseball): Reading Bee OK's comment when the Giants are losing.
― Porto for Pyros (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Friday, 1 August 2014 16:33 (nine years ago) link
Thanks, VHS. Believe it or not, I just now figured out your display name. (Not the VHS acronym--I was going to say you'd have to know the Expos, but I see now that VH is still around. Had no idea.)
― clemenza, Friday, 1 August 2014 17:31 (nine years ago) link
Found Andy K's playing background really interesting. I won't fill out the whole questionnaire, but I would like to make it a matter of public record that I was league MVP--well, tied with Jim Peardon, actually--when I was 13. And then, as Jim Bouton says, the big kids got out of school.
― clemenza, Friday, 1 August 2014 17:38 (nine years ago) link
i would like jim in glasgow to answer these questions!
also:
Best offensive player: Ryan Howard― Andy_K (Andy_K), Tuesday, October 3, 2006 8:01 AM (9 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― Andy_K (Andy_K), Tuesday, October 3, 2006 8:01 AM (9 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― mookieproof, Friday, 17 June 2016 01:07 (seven years ago) link
2006!
― Andy K, Friday, 17 June 2016 01:41 (seven years ago) link
^^^ andy amaro
― mookieproof, Friday, 17 June 2016 04:31 (seven years ago) link
http://image.mlive.com/home/mlive-media/width620/img/cutoffman/photo/021510-dave-dombrowskijpg-1626b49e2d55ee8e.jpg
― Andy K, Saturday, 18 June 2016 01:48 (seven years ago) link
Quote this tweet with the VERY FIRST baseball player mannerism you copied as a kid.— Brandon Warne (@Brandon_Warne) November 14, 2017
1. willie stargell's 'wind-up' while waiting for a pitch2. probably john candelaria's delivery
even though both those dudes were left-handed and i am not
― mookieproof, Wednesday, 15 November 2017 16:01 (six years ago) link
my brother and i would play wiffle ball in our backyard (a home run was one that landed on the roof of the house or went over the fence parallel to the house) and we'd play as teams, but only the teams we were familiar with. he defaulted to the cubs, i'd wind up as whatever opponent they'd play. lots of Cubs vs Expos and Pirates games. not because those teams were our favorite opponents but because we had two plastic helmets in addition to the Cubs one, and those were the two teams.
I'm pretty certain that the first stance I copied was Tim Raines (only his right-handed stance, til i learned to bat from the left side as well a couple years later.)
pitching-wise, i can't remember who i copied.
our six-yr old currently copies Kris Bryant's stance pretty damn well.
― omar little, Wednesday, 15 November 2017 16:50 (six years ago) link
I don't know if I ever did so in actual games, but when I still played at 12 or 13, I'd imitate Carew's batting stance and Tiant's motion.
― clemenza, Wednesday, 15 November 2017 18:46 (six years ago) link