Baseball

[Bogey]

A memorable series, especially the last two games, though as a traditional baseball fan I'm dismayed to see a team that didn't even win its "division" (let alone the pennant) in the Series--let alone any team from a league that stopped playing baseball in 1973.     

And the baseball universe will still not be perfect until the DH rule is abolished.   Seeing Carpenter (who is a good hitter) bat with two on and two outs did my heart good.  Great series....our whole family enjoyed it and had no vested interest in either of the teams. 

[Cato]

And the baseball universe will still not be perfect until the DH rule is abolished.   Seeing Carpenter (who is a good hitter) bat with two on and two outs did my heart good.  Great series....our whole family enjoyed it and had no vested interest in either of the teams.

Amen!   0:)    It was a stupid idea decades ago and has not become any less stupid.

[Bogey]

Amen!   0:)    It was a stupid idea decades ago and has not become any less stupid.

(gives a virtual high five to Cato) Not only do I like to see the pitchers hit, but the management of when to pull a pitcher in a tight game adds to the drama.  Also enjoyed how La Russa seemed to be enjoying the moment (and took the fall for the bullpen flub in Game 5). 

[Brahmsian]

I'm still lamenting 1994, when the Montreal Expos, the team that I followed and loved ever since I was a boy - were robbed.  They were the best team in baseball that year, but because of the strike or lockout, there wasn't a full year and they cancelled the post season.   

[Bogey]

I'm still lamenting 1994, when the Montreal Expos, the team that I followed and loved ever since I was a boy - were robbed.  They were the best team in baseball that year, but because of the strike or lockout, there wasn't a full year and they cancelled the post season.   

My first big league game in person was an Expo one at Olympic Stadium, Ray.  (We lived a little over an hour a way).  Ironically, it was a doubleheader against the Cards....Gary Templeton at short.

[Brahmsian]

My first big league game in person was an Expo one at Olympic Stadium, Ray.  (We lived a little over an hour a way).  Ironically, it was a doubleheader against the Cards....Gary Templeton at short.

Well, the very sad part was that the Expos played at the huge turd called Olympic Stadium.  They needed a smaller, outdoor old-style stadium, which I think would have been a lot better for them.

Expos and Cards were huge rivals.  Expos also had great rivalries with the Mets, Cubs, and later on with the Braves.

[Brahmsian]

By the way - I've always loved the Cardinals home uniform. 

[Bogey]

Well, the very sad part was that the Expos played at the huge turd called Olympic Stadium.  They needed a smaller, outdoor old-style stadium, which I think would have been a lot better for them.

Expos and Cards were huge rivals.  Expos also had great rivalries with the Mets, Cubs, and later on with the Braves.

I just missed their stint at Jerry Park, as we lived in Wyoming at that time....do you remember it?

[Brahmsian]

I just missed their stint at Jerry Park, as we lived in Wyoming at that time....do you remember it?

No, that was before my time.  I think I started following the Expos, and baseball around 1982/83.  I was also a Blue Jays fan (naturally being Canadian, I rooted for both Canadian teams).  However, I was always much, much more of an Expos fan, over a Blue Jays fan.

[Brian]

That was a great series, until Game 7, which had no drama or tension or excitement whatsoever, in my opinion.

More like a nearly-great series, then. And the better team appears to have been the losing team - although, if they were really the better team, winning more games against tougher opponents... why did they lose?

Baseball. Anything can happen. Love it.

[springrite]

The only thing I remember clearly about the Olympic Stadium was the Rick Monday homerun against Rogers. Expos sure had a great team that year.

[The Six]

Buster Posey and Jayson Werth had some big home runs today

[The Six]

In one Game 5, a 6-0 lead almost blown.

Tense moments. Anxious memories. A bullpen full of heart and facial hair, holding off the storm.


The other Game 5, a 6-0 lead overcome.

Strong determination. Distant recollections. Relentless bats, chipping away with the audacity of hope.


Cardinals vs. Giants. The last two World Series Champions. The Pride of the National League, the Class of Baseball. What a series this will be.

[DavidRoss]

Nice summaries, Six!

[TheGSMoeller]

I love playoff baseball, you don't have to wait a week for the next round (NFL) and the playoffs don't last 2 months (NBA). Unfortunately, my teams lost in the wildcard round (Rangers, Braves) but I still love to watch.

I like Cards and Tigers, the defending champs seem to be repeating last years magic and the Yankees bats haven't been to impressive.

[Gurn Blanston]

So far this has been one of the all around best playoffs. Every series was interesting and tension filled down to the wire. My Yankees eked one out last night, C.C. Sabathia going the distance in great style, with just a few moments of terror!  The Detroit series should be very interesting with Verlander in top form.   

[TheGSMoeller]

So far this has been one of the all around best playoffs. Every series was interesting and tension filled down to the wire. My Yankees eked one out last night, C.C. Sabathia going the distance in great style, with just a few moments of terror!  The Detroit series should be very interesting with Verlander in top form.   

Gurn, I thought you lived in TX? Don't be a Yankees fan, don't be that guy. 



(That is unless you lived in NY before, then it's alright)

[Gurn Blanston]

Gurn, I thought you lived in TX? Don't be a Yankees fan, don't be that guy. 



(That is unless you lived in NY before, then it's alright)

I grew up in Vermont. The Yankees were the only team I got back then on radio and television. Mickey Mantle was a god to me. My first time at a Yankee game was Old Timer's weekend in 1968. I was walking under the stands in Old Yankee Stadium out to the left field bleachers and I came around a corner and there are Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio standing there in uniform apparently just shooting the shit. I was so stunned that I forgot to even ask for an autograph!!

So anyway, when I lived in San Francisco I rooted for the Giants and went to Candlestick Park all the time. Then when I lived in Dallas I went to a few hundred Ranger's games and rooted for them (when they weren't playing the Yankees). Now I don't live near any major league teams (although Houston isn't far off  ), so I am back to the Yankees again. Can't outgrow our childhood heroes, I guess.

[TheGSMoeller]

I grew up in Vermont. The Yankees were the only team I got back then on radio and television. Mickey Mantle was a god to me. My first time at a Yankee game was Old Timer's weekend in 1968. I was walking under the stands in Old Yankee Stadium out to the left field bleachers and I came around a corner and there are Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio standing there in uniform apparently just shooting the shit. I was so stunned that I forgot to even ask for an autograph!!

So anyway, when I lived in San Francisco I rooted for the Giants and went to Candlestick Park all the time. Then when I lived in Dallas I went to a few hundred Ranger's games and rooted for them (when they weren't playing the Yankees). Now I don't live near any major league teams (although Houston isn't far off  ), so I am back to the Yankees again. Can't outgrow our childhood heroes, I guess.

Wow! Great Mantle/DiMaggio story, Gurn, some real baseball legends.

And I understand about being a team's fan, I went from Houston Oilers to a Jets fan. A TX Ranger fan, to a Mets fan, back to a Ranger fan and now also a Braves fan. But always Dallas Maverick fan, this all from moving to different locations.

[Gurn Blanston]

Wow! Great Mantle/DiMaggio story, Gurn, some real baseball legends.

And I understand about being a team's fan, I went from Houston Oilers to a Jets fan. A TX Ranger fan, to a Mets fan, back to a Ranger fan and now also a Braves fan. But always Dallas Maverick fan, this all from moving to different locations.

That's interesting. I moved to Dallas the same year that the Mavericks were born (1980), and since I wasn't already much of a basketball fan it was very easy to become a Mavs fan. And so they have continued on as 'my' team even though I don't live there any more. The only place that I have stepped out of line is that I was a Dallas Cowboys fan since Day 1, the first time I saw them play the Giants back in 1961 or so. Since I only got the Giants on TV, I got to see the Cowboys just twice a year (except in the playoffs). You can imagine how moving to Dallas helped with that issue.