SB Nation User Blog: LeoBloom

The Bravest Way to Sign, Not Sign, Ken Griffey Jr.

LeoBloom — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 19:56:18 -0000

What the hell is going on with the signing, non-signing of Griffey? My tendency is to blame the player for sending mixed messages, but the Braves have a track record of being well, fairly weird and crazy with these things as well. In two days Griffey will either be a Brave or we'll probably be reading about how his agent is the devil and that the Braves just won't deal with him anymore. How snubbing of them. Huzza!

Then there's this, from Lookout Landing,

As it turns out, the Atlanta Braves are run by crazy persons. For some reason they've decided not only that Griffey can still hit and play a full season without tripping over a puppy and impaling both thighs on a pair of socks, they think he's capable of playing the field. Some reports are hinting that they're hopeful that he can play centre field on occasion.

Frankly, you can't come to that conclusion without being totally insane. The only way he's comparable to any of the outfielders currently on the roster is if you forced everyone else to wear blindfolds and filled their shoes with burning coals, and even if he was, he'd be more likely to be injured if he was forced to gambol about chasing pop flies down in a corner.

I realize there are conflicting reports on what the Braves would possibly like to do with Griffey, but I couldn't pass up the quote above.

Go Braves Go.

Are You Going to Spring Training?

LeoBloom — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 18:36:10 -0000

Is anyone here planning on making a trip down to Surprise to see the Royals this spring? I've never gone, and probably won't anytime soon, but I was nevertheless curious about it.

Also, if anyone has done both, is there a consensus as to which is a better trip: Arizona or Florida? Don't make me go to the Hooters webpage myself to answer this question.

Overall, regarding Spring Training, I can't decide if it's a really overrated experience, or an underrated one. Like most things, it was probably much cooler 10-15 years ago, when the barriers to access and prices were both much lower.

OT: I Predicted This Two Years Ago: Clooney Back to ER

LeoBloom — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 03:46:34 -0000

George Clooney Headed Back to ER:

George Clooney has agreed to come back to the show that launched his career: ER.

Sources close to the series tell PEOPLE that ER co-creator John Wells has ordered a closed set to keep Clooney’s appearance under wraps.

Nearly two years ago I predicted this on this site.

Have you heard that next season will be the final season of ER?

Say it ain't so????

I wanted it to hit 20 years. The last show (IMHO) to carry on the cinema verite tradition of Hill Street Blues, St. Elsewhere and thirtysomething.

The good news... and this is so stunning!

Clooney will be coming back for the final season! Its too perfect. No way Cricton doesn't pull the strings to get this done.

George Clooney back in the ER... too perfect.

Thank you Crichton.

The Arbitration Guys: Greinke, Teahen, Jacobs, Etc.

LeoBloom — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 22:33:28 -0000

I didn't see a post on this:

KANSAS CITY -- Seven Royals, including 13-game winner Zack Greinke and newly acquired slugger Mike Jacobs, filed for salary arbitration on Thursday.

Also filing were pitchers Brian Bannister, Joel Peralta and Jimmy Gobble, catcher John Buck, and outfielder Mark Teahen.

I'm surprised this many guys had to file (i.e. didn't sign before hand). I think the Major League average is about three per team, so this is a pretty hefty total.

I can't wait to see how low Greinke's payout is because he only had 13 pitcher wins!

Christina Kahrl (1:25:52 PM PT): Greg Pizzo (China, Maine) asks: "Does the terrific September by...

LeoBloom — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:29:53 -0000

Christina Kahrl (1:25:52 PM PT): Greg Pizzo (China, Maine) asks: "Does the terrific September by the Royals mean anything? Before the season started, we probably would have thought 75 wins was pretty good, but did they find out anything about their 2009 Royals using this September?"

I'm not so sure all that much progress was made. Guys like Billy Butler and Alex Gordon didn't take steps forward, they got a harsh reminder that Brian Bannister doesn't have a lot of upside, and even things that were good for them to have sorted out--like Tony Pena Jr. and Mark Teahen aren't regulars--didn't necessarily turn out perfectly well. It seems that guys like David DeJesus and Mike Aviles need to move from center and short, respectively. Their defense is a bit of a mess, there are questions over who plays where, and there's a mistake like the Jose Guillen contract to live down. On the plus side, Hillman seemed to get his bullpen sorted out well enough, Greinke's settling in, and Hochevar and Davies don't seem too far behind. They're still a few Gloads shy of having all the bricks to build a lasting foundation, but they're getting there.

BP Chat

Supposed Parity in College Basketball a Myth

LeoBloom — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 17:32:40 -0000

Supposed Parity in College Basketball a Myth

Most notably, today's outstanding freshmen have opportunities for playing time at blue-chip programs that would have been unthinkable a generation ago.

The effect of these freshmen on their teams has been dramatic. North Carolina is the only Final Four team without (gasp!) a representative from the 2007 McDonald's All-American Team. Then again, Kansas would very likely be where they are even without Cole Aldrich. The catalytic Final Four freshmen this year are, of course, Kevin Love and Derrick Rose.

True, their teams would be excellent without them. Their teams may even have made the Final Four without them. The point is not that you need a spectacular freshman to win the national title. (After all, we haven't seen such a team since Carmelo Anthony's time.) No, the point is that college basketball appears to have become bifurcated. On the one side are teams good enough to both attract (that includes Kansas State) and capitalize on (that does not include K-State) a catalytic freshman. On the other side are 330 or so other teams. If the catalytic freshmen were smart, they'd start committing in groups, a la Greg Oden and Mike Conley.

Odie Perez Making Us Proud

LeoBloom — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 01:35:13 -0000

You know he knows how to pitch because he came up in the Braves organization. They scout well, and teach you how to play the game the right way.

Through 5: 4 hits, 1 walk, 2 Ks.

Odie's dealing! We could have used his veteran leadership this season.

Last Song You Jammed To?

LeoBloom — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 03:56:59 -0000

Hey, its Saturday night, the Royals played horrible, no real football yet, etc... I'll start.

Morrissey- Irish Blood, English Heart

I've been dreaming of a time when
the English are sick to death
of Labour, and Tories
and spit upon the name Oliver Cromwell
and denounce this royal line that still salute him
and will salute him
FOREVER...

I love my Bosstones, but dude was wrong to attack this song last year on his radio show...

Royals Sign Another Random EX-Brave

LeoBloom — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 17:57:32 -0000

Ya ya ya!

Its a good thing the Braves haven't actually been producing much talent since the mid-90s big spending days, or all these supposedly great players might not be available:

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/F/John-Foster.shtml

John Foster, maybe we can trade him for Vinny Castilla or Jeff Blauser.

Strikeout Record

LeoBloom — Tue, 08 May 2007 21:45:05 -0000

Apparently, the Marlins are worse than the Royals!

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-whiffingmarlins&prov=ap&type=lgns

The master plan is working. No one panic! JoePo and Dayton demand no panic! Just keep paying your taxes and supporting a terrible product...

-----

Time to game Google ads (why RR? Why??). I really like a nice pair of pantyhose on a woman. Anyone with me? Fishnets. But, I also like finishing off my day with a long tall mug of milk. My main concern is that I cannot find a mail order bride thats worth a damn.