With apologies to the front page writers of VEB, who truly originated it, a memesplanation! Zombies either come from tinkering scientists or rabid woodland creatures. They don't die. They just keep coming. They are many.

They just. Won't. Go. Away.

They clutch. They lumber. Come close, and they shred. You don't have to like them. You can only hope to prepare for them. And most importantly: it's deep October, and THEY'RE COMING.

Chris Carpenter on FOX montage

Adam Wainwright (Washington Post article)

More on the speech from CBS.

World Series Eve: Overnight Overflow for the 18th of Ozzie in Albertofstan

Previously on VEB.

- Tim Kurkjian. He also reports that Skip Schumaker did not realize it was a squirrel at the time.

By the way, Stuart Scott is miffed that the squirrel is not following him on twitter. Yes, the squirrel has been called out on national TV, in addition to being picked up by the AP. Just the facts from the P-D.

ETA: Scott acknowledges that he is "honored" that the Busch squirrel is now following him on Twitter. (Second run of late SportsCenter, so that's about an hour turnaround.)

Bonus coverage: Freese ices Phils

Julio Lugo

Peoria native Jeremy Krock, who took it upon himself to begin the Negro Leagues Baseball Grave Marker Project. [July 25, 2011 Sports Illustrated, by Phil Taylor]

Equipment manager Rip Rowan to Hall-of-Famer and Coach Emeritus Red Schoendienst

Moar Goold quote for when the P-D erases it: The prolonged skid left some Cardinals searching for ways to bust the slump. Skip Schumaker and Ryan Theriot had Kyle Lohse shave lines in their hair, but only on one side, from the temple back. Schumaker suggested they go old school and wear their cuffs high to reveal red stirrups. Ryan Theriot and Yadier Molina agreed, and before taking the field Holliday decided "to join the little fellas." That's why he needed Schoendienst's pants -- they fit his waist, but were short enough to show off the socks.
Wearing them the way Schoendienst does, with the black and white rings showing at the top of the stirrup, Holliday drilled a fastball from Royals' reliever Greg Holland with one out in the eighth to reverse the Royals' one-run lead. Colby Rasmus set up the winner with a leadoff single off a lefty reliever, and on a hit-and-run he sped to second to avoid a double play on Albert Pujols' sharp grounder.
...
La Russa said the instant production was the result of Holliday's "hard work." Others could chalk it up to talent. Perhaps it was the pants.
They'll be back Sunday.
"I would think so," Holliday said. "You don't change up (after) a win."

See also the previous Man Stew 2011 installment: http://www.vivaelbirdos.com/2011/6/7/2210828/man-stew-2011-vs-the-injury-bug

Pac-10 player of the year Tony Renda - Cal baseball comes back from extinction

Via KD1, who also provided video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHsvdSPgzdg

Sorry, IHB.

Carpenter said he talked to Wainwright on the telephone Tuesday and could tell that the latter was under some medication after the surgery.

Hummel; pointed out by bgh

We've had a wave of lurkers uncovering themselves into the harsh, surreal light of VEB, so hey hello! Come out and (re)introduce yourselves. Also, since some glossary trends have died, or are ineligible, feel free to inquire as to the meaning of that strange ritual yonder, or what those kids today are calling it these days. (Ozzie 118, Albertofstan calendar)

Mike Rizzo

...

"It makes some of our contracts look pretty good. That’s a long time and a lot of money. I thought they were trying to reduce the deficit in Washington." - Mets GM Sandy Alderson, via ESPN New York

"The #Nationals offer on Werth was so far above everyone else that Boras didn’t even ask other interested teams if they wanted to match it." - JStark on Twitter