tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post2342525417395138943..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: My thoughts on the World SeriesBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-55914130435813646772016-11-05T12:41:53.903-07:002016-11-05T12:41:53.903-07:00It's probably too late for this comment, but b...It's probably too late for this comment, but being chased by 250lb linebacker is certainly much SCARIER than trying to hit a baseball, but how can anyone think it is HARDER? That stuff drives me crazy. It's as if people don't speak the same language (unless I'm wrong and people really do think it's harder to run than to hit a ball flying through the air at 90 mph!)Diane Dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-90049451804488170292016-11-05T12:40:35.640-07:002016-11-05T12:40:35.640-07:00Yep, entertaining Series to watch.
Yep, absurd ove...Yep, entertaining Series to watch.<br />Yep, absurd over-managing, especially the lefty-righty matchups. Each pitch still has to cross the plate, wherever it's coming from!<br />Yep, greatest game ever. Just get rid of the damned dh and don't replace umpires with machines. Keep the human element, train them for more time in the minors and send any who don't make the grade back there. mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-90826490705875428962016-11-05T04:11:29.741-07:002016-11-05T04:11:29.741-07:00The Cubs should give Murray an at-bat in spring tr...The Cubs should give Murray an at-bat in spring training like the Yankees did for Billy Crystal.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10585546156631611352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-67964384005100124402016-11-04T16:19:14.078-07:002016-11-04T16:19:14.078-07:00I guess Cubs fans will remember MY birthday for al...I guess Cubs fans will remember MY birthday for all time, too! And while I'm not a huge baseball fan (Eddie LeBec and the Boston Bruins are my lifelong sports love, for better or worse), I was very happy for the Cubs and their fanbase that they won. I'm also very happy for lifelong Cubs fan Bob Newhart. He spent 81 of those 108 years waiting for that championship, and spent a good portion of those 81 years being one of the funniest men on the planet. Congratulations, Cubs. And congratulations, Bob Newhart!<br /><br />And Donald Trump is a narcissistic, megalomaniacal 5-year-old trapped in a grown man's body. Sorry to offend anyone, but as I told a mouthy, ignorant co-worker who's voting for him, "The only people dumber than Trump himself are the ones voting for him." But hey, that's just my opinion. Now, more than ever, I wish George Carlin was still among us. I can only imagine what he'd have to say about Trump with his always spot-on, scathing social commentary.John the Rednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-13109181294985112642016-11-04T14:52:57.630-07:002016-11-04T14:52:57.630-07:00Some people are using as their excuse to vote for ...Some people are using as their excuse to vote for Trump, their belief that Hillary is a criminal. Those people should adopt the philosophy the people of Louisiana adopted when David Duke was running for office against a man with a criminal record: A bumper sticker read "VOTE FOR THE CROOK; IT'S IMPORTANT!" (I don't believe Hillary is a criminal, however). <br /><br /><br /><br />Diane Dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-2245149398501599612016-11-04T14:02:25.335-07:002016-11-04T14:02:25.335-07:00@Ken,
When I was 18 I talked my way into a white...@Ken, <br /><br />When I was 18 I talked my way into a white-collar job and have worked white-collar jobs ever since. Memory is not reliable but I remember a sign in a woman's office/cubicle circa 1983-85 which stated: <br /><br /><b>Sexual Harassment will not be TOLERATED<br />HOWEVER, it WILL be GRADED</b> <br /><br />This sign was somewhat "popular" - in that I saw it in more than one place in clerical spaces in professional white-collar offices. <br /><br />I'm going to guess that some of those women, and perhaps some of their daughters, nieces, sisters, friends, have already voted for Trump. <br /><br />I'm going to guessJahn Ghaltnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-88596579763572202192016-11-04T13:52:30.508-07:002016-11-04T13:52:30.508-07:00@ Captain Jack,
Seems like Ken was taking shots ...@ Captain Jack, <br /><br />Seems like Ken was taking shots at the roughly 50% in recent Ohio polls who told pollsters they will (or already did) vote for Trump. <br /><br />BTW, re "flaming liberals": what's a good "nickname" for their right-wing counterparts?Jahn Ghaltnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-2142499659455304882016-11-04T12:45:44.548-07:002016-11-04T12:45:44.548-07:00No, I don't. The man is a sociopath and could...No, I don't. The man is a sociopath and could potentially destroy the United States of America. How can rational people not see that? How can caring individuals raising families not be horrified? How can even one woman vote for this man? I weep for that 45%. Actually, no, I weep for whatever percentage of that number is not racists, only interested in themselves, or just ignorant. By Ken Levinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-24073334598352747222016-11-04T12:38:11.998-07:002016-11-04T12:38:11.998-07:00Ken, I agree with you about pitching nowadays but ...Ken, I agree with you about pitching nowadays but Sandy Koufax is a TERRIBLE example. He had to retire a year later because his arm was shot.<br /><br />And quit taking shots at Trump. I know it's a requirement to live in the LA area that you have to be a flaming liberal but if at least 45% of the people in this country are voting for him, you have to respect the numbers. Captain Jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14493807389502468402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-42362651107689584852016-11-04T11:26:25.550-07:002016-11-04T11:26:25.550-07:00@MikeN
On the bunt, I am OK by it if Smoltz is. Th...@MikeN<br />On the bunt, I am OK by it if Smoltz is. Though I think the Indians saw it coming and gave him a tough pitch to bunt with two strikes.<br /><br />On the intentional walks, also good with Smoltz's view but we have to take into account, Smoltz is a hyper competitive pitcher and it violates their sensibilities to put people on base if they don't have to. You get the sense they want to go at every hitter.<br />It was made possible by Almora's great base running. If he doesn't advance to second on the fly out, no intentional walk.<br /><br />You also could hear Smelt's irritation with Madden's pitching moves. Pulling Arrieta and then Hendricks and putting in Chapman with a five-run lead. You know he didn't think that was too good.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-20854637009386898192016-11-04T08:47:15.716-07:002016-11-04T08:47:15.716-07:00Regarding the bunt on 3-2, John Smoltz explained i...Regarding the bunt on 3-2, John Smoltz explained it during the broadcast. He thought it was a good idea, but the batter couldn't get the bunt down. If Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz is OK with it, it's fine by me. Note he was also against the intentional walks being given out in the 10th inning by the Indians. Rizzo ended up scoring the go ahead run.<br /><br />At the time, people thought it was ridiculous that the Red Sox got Adrian Gonzalez for Rizzo & co. Now it is ridiculous that the Red Sox gave up Rizzo for Adrian Gonzalez, who they were lucky to unload on the Dodgers within a few years.MikeNnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-84788307488865398942016-11-03T21:27:00.603-07:002016-11-03T21:27:00.603-07:00https://youtu.be/b4LrTkWq9jU
This is Nike's c...https://youtu.be/b4LrTkWq9jU<br /><br />This is Nike's commercial. Will bring tears to your eyes. <br /><br />I am thrilled that the Cubs won. I can never really hate the Cubs because of how they were in 2002 when Darryl Kile died. The love and compassion and care the team and the city showed to our team and our fans who were there just can't be forgotten. Enjoy it while you can...it will seem like a really short winter!<br /><br />Pam, St. LouisAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-20977840459767615492016-11-03T19:50:50.339-07:002016-11-03T19:50:50.339-07:00Not only was the Harry Caray Final Call video surp...Not only was the Harry Caray Final Call video surprisingly touching, it was an impressive production that took a remarkable bit of foresight. With the announcer clips alone, somebody had to go through hours and hours of footage to find things Harry said that could be shoehorned into a World Series call, not to mention a number of different final play scenarios. (I wonder if maybe the groundwork for that was laid last year when the Cubs got into the NLCS.) They had to get permission from the MLB, the Caray estate, and maybe Tribune Broadcasting.<br />Then they deployed what appeared to be at least five camera crews (each undoubedtly with some PAs in tow to get people to sign releases). And based on the time it was uploaded to YouTube, it looks like the final version had its editing, conform, effects, and color correction all done in only about six hours. Just from a technical standpoint, Anheuser-Busch deserves all the attention they're getting for this.Andy Rosenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-62639118825517026292016-11-03T19:37:13.643-07:002016-11-03T19:37:13.643-07:00While the 1991 Game 7 was superb, it is hard to to...While the 1991 Game 7 was superb, it is hard to top the 1960 Game 7. Back and forth with all kinds of drama - see what happened to Tony Kubek.<br />And of course Maz- the only walk-off in Game 7.<br /><br />1962 Game 7 wasn't shabby either. Ralph Terry on the mound, already given up Maz's homer two years before. Yanks leading Giants 1-0 with two outs, man on first for SF. Mays hits one into the corner that should have scored the runner and tied the game but Maris made a great relay throw to hold him at third. Second and third, two out, McCovey up first base open. They elect to pitch to McCovey instead of Cepeda, McCovey hits a game winning line drive - only it is right where Bobby Richardson is standing and the Yanks win 1-0. Terry is redeemed. <br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-84405949723699436422016-11-03T19:24:16.179-07:002016-11-03T19:24:16.179-07:00I went to get a free taco around 11 a.m. and was t...I went to get a free taco around 11 a.m. and was told they only gave them out from 2 to 6. I didn't go back.Cap'n Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11783977137812876489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-19831784998357142322016-11-03T19:05:00.240-07:002016-11-03T19:05:00.240-07:00Tough game to watch once Lester allowed 2 runs to ...Tough game to watch once Lester allowed 2 runs to score on a wild pitch. He did pitch well after that. Maddon was great all year and then he either managed scared or over managed by using Chapman when they led 5-2 in game 6. That was sort of understandable with a 3 run lead, but after Rizzo hit the 2 run homer Maddon s hould have taken him out. I realize he doesn't trust his bull pen but I think the pen could protect a 5 run lead. Taking Hendrix out was also stupid. He got squeezed on ball 3 and ended up walking the batter. He only threw 62 pitches. You have to leave him in for at least one more batter. He was pitching great after being hit kind of hard in the first couple of innings.<br /><br />As for Heyward, whether a pep talk helps or not I can't say. Probably the rain delay helped as much and gave them a chance to regroup. Yes he was a bust offensively this year, but he played great defense. Some players are not always great in that first year of a big contract. Lester was some what similar last year. Kind of up and down. A lot of people were wondering why he got such a big contract. Didn't hear any complaints this year.sanfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06580867647162091670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-90703175020735427222016-11-03T18:43:31.752-07:002016-11-03T18:43:31.752-07:00Matt wrote:
The myth that hitting a baseball is ...Matt wrote: <br /><br /><i>The myth that hitting a baseball is the hardest thing in sports comes from a series of letters between Ted Williams and I believe Byron Nelson where they argued which was harder to hit, a moving baseball with a bat or a stationary golf ball with a golf club. These were golf clubs of the 1940s, so yes, it was very hard.</i> <br /><br />Thanks for this bit of sports history. IMO it is <b><i>inarguable that hitting a pitched ball is the far more difficult feat. Not even close</i></b><br /><br />Let's go a little past opinion: <br /><br />You get one kind of club in baseball - 17 in the PGA. <br />Hitting involves a round bat - in golf you get flat surfaces - even the "woods" have mostly flat faces. <br />Not only does the ball stand still in golf - in baseball the speed varies and it hooks, dips, tails, sinks. In golf it hooks, dips, tails when YOU HIT IT!<br />In baseball you face nine fielders who can move and have custom-built gloves. In golf all the hazards stand motionless.<br /><br />On to the ad hominem: <br /><br />If Nelson were a mere fan, Teddy Baseball would abuse him like all the others and say "you CAN'T HIT!" (I would have loved to take that from the great Ted Williams). <br /><br />(I didn't think i'd have so much fun with this)<br /><br />There seem to be precious few biographies about Nelson. I found an autobiograpy and "Byron Nelson" by Martin Davis. In the latter Davis notes that Sam Byrd gave Nelson a good run in a PGA Championship. This was after Byrd had retired from major league baseball. BAseball Reference has an entry for Samuel Byrd - 1929-36 with BA/OBP/SLG = .274/.350/.412 <br /><br />In the memoir, Nelson stated he played outfield growing up and once played in an exhibition for the Medhens farm team vs. their parent Browns. To prepare he practice with the 'Hens for ten days. He wrote:<br /><br />"In the practice sessions, I did all right on <b><i>everything but batting.</i></b> You just can't believe how fast that ball went past the plate. You really had to be ready to hit before it left the pitcher's hand, and I never quite caught on. "(emphasis mine)<br /><br />He goes on. During the game: <br /><br />" it was my turn to bat, and I whiffed. The fans started hollering, 'Better stick to golf, Nelson!' and 'Put Bucher back in!' Fredkept me in till the fourth inning, though, and then he said, 'Byron, you've had enough fun, and I really would like to win this game, so I'm taking you out.' That was fine with me. So Bucher goes back in, and strikes out his first time at the plate. Now the fans start yelling,"Put Nelson back in!" <br /><br />(good story, huh?)<br /><br />Finally: <br /><br />Come ON - this is TED WILLIAMS! Who the hell is Byron Nelson??<br /><br /><br />About the so-called Byron Nelson "clincher": <i>"you have to play your foul balls".</i> <br /><br />OK, Nelson was a clever man but <b>HE STILL CAN'T HIT!</b><br />Jahn Ghaltnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-37570716683006730442016-11-03T17:45:12.088-07:002016-11-03T17:45:12.088-07:00I agree that managers tend to pull starters - espe...I agree that managers tend to pull starters - especially effective ones - too soon these days. They are not as fragile as they used to be. But there's a balance. Read Jane Leavy's Koufax bio (Lefty Legacy). What he willingly did with his arm was scary. Don't forget he was gone by age 30. <br /><br />I'm glad the sound was drowned by the bar crowd when Fox' director told Buck to mention Chapman's "home life". Who the f##k cares about that E-Channel $#!T?? Makes sense, though, Fox has always catered to the lumpen masses - tending to the vulgar side with pretty much everything they do.<br /><br />I always thought "Taco Hell's" free promotions took advantage of me!<br /><br />"Ferris Bueller in there singing “Twist & Shout” on a float" - in 2016! Talk about a "twist" on the aging-rocker trope...<br /><br />"Matt, is a great baseball fan" - did he play (unlike his old man)??<br /><br />Sorry to say that, by jet, I'm six hours away (and who knows how many in LA traffic) from the Hudson. Congratulations on a popular success - I;m sure you, the actors, and everyone else are having a great time with your run. Jahn Ghaltnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-514124552785447832016-11-03T16:54:55.077-07:002016-11-03T16:54:55.077-07:00A good Game 7 but not the best Game 7. That goes ...A good Game 7 but not the best Game 7. That goes to 1991 Minnesota - Atlanta. Seventeen hits, five walks, NO ERRORS, and the game was 0-0 going into the bottom of the 10th. Lots of action, lots of great plays, and you actually had pitchers who could pitch into the 8th and beyond.<br /><br />Jason Heyward reminds me a lot of Tony LaRussa. The Cubs won this year IN SPITE of Heyward, not because of him. That's the way I feel about LaRussa and my Cardinals. He pulled bonehead play after bonehead play and they still won. Heyward said he wanted to leave St Louis because Chicago's team was younger. He never said he was going to actually participate. <br /><br />Has someone ever done a study on rain delays in the regular season? It seems like whatever team comes to the plate directly after a rain delay always scores. I told the group with me when the tarp came out that the Cubs would score in the 10th because of this and we know the result. And a fifteen minute delay? It took them that long to roll it out and roll it back.<br /><br />Big Bonnie Hunt fan. Wish she could find some project that could use her talent for humor. I thought the talk show area would be where she would shine but her show didn't last long.DwWashburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03057278992504418291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-5363257672921672902016-11-03T16:15:45.211-07:002016-11-03T16:15:45.211-07:00Couple of points:
That wasn't Ken Holtzman and...Couple of points:<br />That wasn't Ken Holtzman and Mamie Van Doren, that was another Jewish pitcher Bo Belinsky and Mamie Van Doren<br /><br />Harry Caray is viewed today as a drunken old entertainer. In the day, when he was with the Cardinals, then the White Sox (he and Jimmy Piersall were the best crew ever- ever) and for a little while with the Cubs, he was as sharp a baseball announcer as there was. Nobody knew the game better than him. <br /><br />Baez was bunting because Madden likes that strategy and didn't have confidence Baez would lay off an eye high fast ball or a curve ball in the dirt for strike three.<br /><br />John Smoltz knows a lot of baseball<br /><br />The best thing that happened to the Cubs was the AL winning the All-Star Game. Yes, they lost home field advantage, but the DH was much more valuable to them than it was for the Indians. Schwarber was a huge addition to the lineup - and Madden finally took Bryant out of the two spot. The made no sense.He was never going to come up with more than one man on base. Much better as three hitter.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-3862429119872448972016-11-03T16:04:15.430-07:002016-11-03T16:04:15.430-07:00You couldn't root forth Cubs because Trump is ...You couldn't root forth Cubs because Trump is leading in Ohio?<br />Then you have a big problem Ken, because Nate Silver tweeted about a week ago<br />that the Cubs(down 3-1 at the time) have a lower chance of winning that Trump.MikeNnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-64194447206387858762016-11-03T15:41:55.107-07:002016-11-03T15:41:55.107-07:00Would someone please answer Victor V.'s questi...Would someone please answer Victor V.'s question about a bunt on a 3-2 count? Diane Dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-44320954927839617602016-11-03T15:26:25.326-07:002016-11-03T15:26:25.326-07:00Very simply, it was great fun. I can't remembe...Very simply, it was great fun. I can't remember the last time I had this much fun watching a World Series (while using At Bat to listen to Pat Hughes). A great underdog v underdog story, and certainly better than almost every Super Bowl. Well done, MLB!Charles H. Bryannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-58656878137532953872016-11-03T13:53:30.229-07:002016-11-03T13:53:30.229-07:00What the hell are you people talking about?What the hell are you people talking about?I'm Outraged!https://www.blogger.com/profile/08329023172070049233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-74358155999321546662016-11-03T13:46:02.276-07:002016-11-03T13:46:02.276-07:00Back to which is harder, golf or baseball, Byron N...Back to which is harder, golf or baseball, Byron Nelson's clincher for golf was: "you have to play your foul balls".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com