SB Nation User Blog: MidwayCityLivestock

Cleveland Trade Lee and Francisco for Abba Zabba Bar and some Minor leaguers

MidwayCityLivestock — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:32:51 -0000

Indians fans rejoice as it appears their team's management pull of BLOCKBUSTER for delicious taffy treat and some ball players

I made a FanShot about this but nobody reads those anyways, so here it is. Report says:

The Philadelphia Phillies and Cleveland Indians agreed to a trade that would bring Cliff Lee to the NL East leaders along with outfielder Ben Francisco for four minor-leaguers, according to major league sources.

Triple-A right-hander Carlos Carrasco, Single-A righty Jason Knapp, catcher Lou Marson -- the likely heir apparent to Victor Martinez -- and shortstop Jason Donald will be sent to Cleveland.

So basically they're saying we could have gotten Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco for Mason Tobin, Hainly Statia, Bobby Wilson, and Anthony Ortega????? Cool? I probably would have made that trade. As I said in my FanShot:

Not like we need pitching.. THERES A REASON WHY WE LEAD THE WORLD IN COME FROM BEHIND VICTORIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

UGH!!!!!!! I Hate this crap!!

Let's Go Tribe looks at Phils Trade

MidwayCityLivestock — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:30:45 -0000

Let's Go Tribe looks at Phils Trade

Man oh man did the Tribe get hosed on this deal. You mean to tell me we could have gotten Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco (not like we needed him) for Mason Tobin, Hainly Statia, Bobby Wilson, and Anthony Ortega??????
WTF???? Not like we need pitching.. THERES A REASON WHY WE LEAD THE WORLD IN COME FROM BEHIND VICTORIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ted Williams' Last Game: A question from a Baseball fan.

MidwayCityLivestock — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 21:29:34 -0000

I came across something the other day that really surprised me. When discussing the career of Ted Williams with a friend of mine, it was brought to my attention that the attendance at Fenway for his Last Game EVER, was 10,454.

I've done some reading, and as a baseball fan I understand the tumultuous relationship between Williams and the fans/media to be something as John Updike penned:

no mere summer romance; it has been a marriage, composed of spats, mutual disappointments, and, toward the end, a mellowing hoard of shared memories

Ok, the game was played on a Wednesday, but I can't find the start time of the game. When did lights go in to Fenway? Was it a day game? I see game time: 2:18 but was that the start, or the time it took for completion? From Updike's essay, it would appear that there was no real uncertainty that September 28th 1960 would in fact be The Splinter's last game. Sox were in 7th place, worst Sox team in 27 years. All these factors were likely contributors but still, am I missing something?

Ted Williams LAST GAME was witnessed by less than 11K fans? There was never any question of his status as a War Hero, his balanced assault on the record books, or the beauty of his swing. Even his hardest critic could not refute his credentials. Was the abysmal attendance a final act of defiance by Bostonians?

In case you can't tell, I'm not trying to being contentious or a miserable troll. I am just a curious baseball fan, trying to better understand the back stories not printed in the box score.

Thank you all.

Southland Double Header

MidwayCityLivestock — Mon, 11 May 2009 18:06:07 -0000

I had the most incredible day on Saturday. A few weeks ago, my best friend (Dodgers season ticket holder) and I (Halo's season tix holder) realized that the schedule was going to allow us to go to both the Dodgers and the Angels game.

The buildup was intolerable, and what proceeded to happen was incredible!!

I wonder if anyone else out there did the same thing. As reasonable as it is to assume that a few people in fact did, it's also not completely out of question that NOBODY did, and he and I are quite possibly the only two people in the WORLD to see two Complete game shutouts, by two different teams, in two different leagues, in two different ballparks, on THE SAME DAY!!!!!

On another note, the former Secret Service agent Frank McCourt hired to head up Dodger Stadium security seems to be doing his job. I have now been to my fair share of Dodger games this season so far and I'll say I'm impressed. They have a new policy starting next month where if you are found in the parking lot with any alcohol, you will be immediately removed from the parking lot. Now usually that's subject to enforcement, but early indications prove that the army of Golf cart attendants that circled us like a hawk while we were trying to enjoy a cold one made things pretty tough.

I will be attending all 3 games over Memorial weekend and will be wearing red, so I'll give you all my reports on the improvement.

Gary Sheffield

MidwayCityLivestock — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:57:55 -0000

For some reason, Mason and Ireland (and the at least two fans who have called in so far) think that signing Gary Sheffield is a no brainer. The Tigers are on the hook for the bulk of his $$$, leaving anyone who choses to sign him a League minimum contract.

Now I would take Gary Sheffield for league minimum if we didn't already have 4 aging past their prime outfielders, but apparently they have somehow overlooked that our opening day starting rotation will be:

Joe Saunders

WTY

Dustin Mosely

Nick Adenhart

Shane Loux

They seem to have stopped talking about it for now but here's the link to the audio (live)

MLB Urban Youth Academy

MidwayCityLivestock — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 22:01:37 -0000

It’s probable that a few of you saw the Double Header from the Urban Invitational on MLB Network this last weekend. It was unfortunate that I lagged so hard on my research of the event as I would have: 1) attended this year like I did last year, and 2) Made a post here for So Cal residents to be notified.

It’s too bad, the whole thing was very fun. Got to see a bunch of old timers and recent pros (Kenny Lofton and Frank Robinson), saw some competitive baseball in February, and got to support a great cause.

For those of you who don’t know about the Urban Youth Academy, check out their website. Pretty great things they’re doing here. It’s just unfortunate they operate under a veil of secrecy. Not even 3 weeks ago I checked their website for info on the upcoming event and there was nothing. Oh well, maybe next year.

This brings up an unfortunate fact about me. I live in Westminster (just over the wall from Midway City actually) and I am a devoted fan of ALL things baseball but I have something to confess. I have NEVER attended EITHER a Long Beach State or CS Fullerton baseball game. Let alone one between the two. For my own sanity, I will resist listing all the EVERYDAY MLB players that I could have seen over the last 10 years. Both schools are very close and their best, most important games take place on the weekends anyway. I have no excuse. Sadly this year, the only match-up between the two takes place the same weekend I will be at Chavez Ravine for the Freeway Series.

With that said, for all of those who live in this area, don’t be like me (or at least who I have been up to this point), take advantage of what is the most Baseball Rich region in the country. Here’s hoping to see some of you out there.

Real, Live, Competitive BASEBALL!!!

MidwayCityLivestock — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 21:19:51 -0000

I don't see any posts of fanshots on the subject, but for those who are unaware, MLB Network will be playing LIVE (En Vivo) broadcasts of The Carribean Series starting today at 2:00p.m. PST with Venezuela vs. The Dominican Republic.

I for one am pretty excited to see some real baseball. Hooray for MLB Network starting to show their potential for all around Baseball coverage. HERE is a like to the network's info on game times and schedule.

Teix to Yankees

MidwayCityLivestock — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 20:33:35 -0000

Teix to Yankees

Alright ENOUGH!!!!

MidwayCityLivestock — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:24:45 -0000

I challenge everyone to comb through our blogs with an outsider perspective. What is it about this fan base or this team that causes us to be so manic. Is it that we’ve seen YEARS of irrelevance and failure, and know how fleeting, how temporary the success can truly be? We’re all aware of our recent success and how despite that, we’re still viewed largely as a silly bunch of children run by a Mouse, and prey to a Monkey. If you look at our conversations in here, how could you blame most outsiders for that opinion.

People, we had the MOST SUCCESSFUL REGULAR SEASON in the HISTORY of the franchise. Did you forget? Yes, we lost some valuable parts. I wanted Teix back too. I was one of the ones that said that unless we sign Teix, trading Kotchman was failed move. But this is the ebb and flow. This is the part that makes baseball exciting. The fact that none of us can do anything about the outcome of any of this. Perhaps that’s the reason for all the chicken littles out there. The complete lack of control.

Boras is doing what he is HIRED to do

Boras is HIRED by the PLAYERS stop crying about him

NO team gets all the pieces they want. And the ones that do, don’t always win anyway

Take a look at almost every WS winner since the Yankee dynasty of late 90’s. All had a SMART mix of FA’s, and Farm products. But how many of them had THE marquee free agent signing of the offseason.

The “Armageddon” arguments, posts, and comments in this forum are in large part, the EXACT same as that b.s. drivel print “journalism” that we constantly complain about. I know that the chance to converse about baseball adds at least a little relevance to our lives these long baseball-free months, but come on friends, screw your heads on a little tighter and start thinking and acting like the organization you live for: Classy and Intelligent.

My heart hurts so bad...

MidwayCityLivestock — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 04:10:05 -0000

Bart Giamatti once said:

"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone:

Thank you Howie and gang... It really has been fun. I have still placed my season ticket deposit for next year. I am still proud to call myself a Halo season ticket holder, but man does it hurt. It's not like we earned it or anything. It could have been any other team... But the god dammed RED SOX???? Nobody deserves this!!!!!!