SB Nation Blog: bktabinga

Great piece by Sullivan on Gonzalez

bktabinga — Mon, 28 May 2007 15:52:28 -0000

When I saw Gonzalez pull the 3-6-4 DP yesterday, I was in awe, I was a little shocked, I was reminded of the craziness in last months Dodgers loss when I was yelling at Gonzalez to take the easy out...

then I read this article and have this new found respect for Gonzalez, not that I didn't have apprecation for his defense...but to put it into context that he could possibly be the best first baseman in the bigs... wow!

I had no idea the 3-6-4 was that rare. Anyways, great read, and I agree, Gonzalez for MVP!

Sullivan on Gonzalez's defense

My FIRST NASCAR Race!!!

bktabinga — Sat, 05 May 2007 16:56:57 -0000

Well, I decided to go and experience the Southern Bred ritual that is NASCAR.

Had I attended a Nascar race after first coming over from San Diego...I most undoubtedly would have endured a major case of culture shock.

American trucks everywhere, everyone from grandma to 2 year olds wearing something that has a number, people tailgaiting. American flags, confederate flags. I guess if you have never been to a race, and you imagine what it would be like, then yeah, that is exactly what its like.

First thing I noticed, beside all the above....the race started at 8PM and the place was packed at noon. I mean people were tailgaiting, going to the entertainment area which was nothing but corporate debauchery (giveaways, "experieinces" to include simulators, stock car revving, merchandising up the butt, etc.)

Other thing I noticed, wasn't just rednecks there...there were families, businessmen, college kids, you name it.

As for the race, wow!!!! It was nothing like watching on TV, the absolute speed of these cars is hard to comprehend unless you are standing at the exit of a bank on the railing and watching the cars whiz past you and a rush of wind hit you like a brick wall as the lead lap comes barrelling by.

Crashes are amazing as the sound of cars thudding against the barrier and the smell of burnt rubber is so thickening.

But I guess the most impressive thing, it is LOUD. I mean, no wonder everyone is wearing ear plugs and hearing protection. Funny to watch 3 years olds walking around with hearing protection. Cute.

My row, seemed to be the family row. At the bottom, there was like 5 or 6 kids ages ranging from 6 to 10 all watching the race, boys and girls.

Now...to answer the critics, its one of those things, you can't knock it if you don't watch it. Before I was a "closet fan" but no I'm not afraid to say Tony Stewart is my mine.

My wife said, how could you watch it, its just a bunch of cars going round and round...and then I thought, you know, that is the SAME exact thing she said about me watching baseball...its just a bunch of people throwing balls and hitting, its so boring. I started to explain that there is amazing strategy going on, there are LOTS of things going on that we just don't know. And if we really want to get in tune, we can always bring a radio headphone and tune in to follow along the game.

Same thing can be said with watching a race. On the outside, a bunch of cars going round and round but there is a tremendous amount of strategy. And now with in car audio and actual feedback from pit crew managers, you can see strategy being taken pre, mid, and near end race that have actual effects on the outcome. And of course, at the race, just looking at the leaderboard, not much to surmise from the race, but NASCAR fans know better, nearly EVERYBODY had either a track scanner or a radio headphone set. So not only do NASCAR fans go to watch, they want to know what is going on.

All in all, I was sold and needless to say, I will be taking my son to the September Rock N Roll 400 in Richmond.

If I were you, I'd catch a NASCAR race when they roll into Cali, if anything, its an excuse to get drunk and act stupid.

Now...Richmond is unique becaues its one if not the only (well there is Bristol) that runs under the lights. And NASCAR under the lights is truly a sight to see. I think other tracks are starting to do that and you'll start to see NASCAR trying to compete with PRIMETIME sports air.

Anyways, that was just a BUSCH series race I saw, the actual NEXTEL cup race which is today at night, is the real draw...and to think that yesterday was nuts...one of the vendors told me that for NEXTEL races, take todays crowd and atmostphere, and triple it, thats what you'll get tomorrow.

A funny story, kind of like when you're team is losing badly in the 7th and the fans start streaming out, when you're "driver" or "car" is taken out of the race, you start seeing the die hards of that team leaving for the exits as well...pretty funny.

Saw a thing on Ryan Leaf on ESPN

bktabinga — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 14:56:15 -0000

wow...hes now a QB coach at Western Texas A&M.

lives in a dinky apartment.

what a fall from grace.

kudos that he has moved on but man, what a life to be forever the single worst failure in draft history and to be in payton's shadow forever.

Im surprised he even did the interview.

Claims he is happy, simple, settled, and doing something he loves (he is also the golf coach, haha).

Canepa gives props to Bochy/Towers

bktabinga — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 17:47:37 -0000

http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/canepa/20060929-9999-6s29canepa.html

It's nice to see UT giving props to management. Win or lose, he's right, the job these guys have done considering how crazy this year has been and how high the expecations were after last year's embarrassing division title, I am almost going to say that Bochy deserves consideration for manager of the year.

Musical pitchers, musical thirdbaseman, musical catchers, and so called controversy and internal dissention on August 1st for not having done crap to improve the team...

I think Towers can rightly say, I TOLD ALL YOU MUTHAFUC....... Now shut the hell up and go back to your armchairing GM spots.

I guess that is part of the job description of GM and coach, reap the praises when things go well and be the shitscreen when things aren't.

Foxsports reporting Pads pursuing Beltre

bktabinga — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 13:21:47 -0000

Pads interested in Beltre

Now that would be quite a young infield. I'm wondering if all along, the crazy LACK of spending, the expensive hotdogs, and the ultimate demise of the cash hog contracts that include Klesko, was intended to get that marquee player we as fans have been coveting all along.

I would be hesistant, Beltre would be a gamble. I think I like Ensberg a little more. But Beltre would have obviously more upside. And with the hitter friendly park, Petco, rivaling only that of Coors field, maybe that would be a great move.

Bonds: love me, hate me

bktabinga — Sat, 13 May 2006 03:47:02 -0000

no, I did not waste my money to purchase a book about Bonds, trash talking or not.

But I did listen to this ESPNRadio podcast that interviewed the author in a nice "cliff notes" type synopsis of the book. Saved me money and time.

Not that we will like Bonds any more or less but the author does a great job explaining why he is the way he is. (an impressive and impartial accounting of over 500 people's thoughts and stories on Bonds is legit enough for me) Fact, he did grow up with a messed up childhood. Fact, he was raised an elitist, fact, his dad, great ballplayer and all, was a total jackass, fact, he has very few loyal supporters, and finally, he most certainly used steroids and HGH.

Love me, hate me: Podcast

Mags actually getting some credit

bktabinga — Tue, 02 May 2006 22:21:15 -0000

Newcomer Bowen has no idea how much we despise Mags, either that or he is so green hitting major league pitching that any advice will help.

Padres.com reports on Mags positive influence on Bowen (is this another planned PR booster like they did with the trainer girl???).

Bowen giving credit to Mags

GM controversy...

bktabinga — Thu, 20 Apr 2006 16:54:31 -0000

but on another level... I'm really tired of couch potato GM's thinking they can do the job any better. Charger's A.J. Smmith is taking alot of heat for all his moves, the apparent rift with Coach, and the latest, putting Edwards up on the block for trading.

A GM's job is to remove himself from emotion and look at what the team's best interests are now AND in the future. Granted, Edwards was very popular, but everyone can see he is declining and to give him an elite salary is ludicrous...baseball, one thing, where a 40 year old pitcher can still be successful. Football, different story.

He claims that his stats speak for themselves, but I don't care if you tackle 100 times in a game if they are all after big gainers who cares! Richard, we need to do one of those fancy stats that measures the worth of tackle and gives weight to tackles for losses or tackles for short gains, or heck tackles that stop first downs on third and fourth down situations, that woudl be sweet.

Long story short, Edwards, quit crying, its part of the game, look at Seau, he sucks in Miami, lets not fall into the trap with the Padres of overpaying has been talent, unless you are a destined Hall of Famer.

Former Padres Players update

bktabinga — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 17:31:32 -0000

So since the game was rained out...I decided to pick a game, and lo and behold, it was BoSox versus Rangers...and to my delight, it was like watching ExPads squad A versus ExPads squad B.

Our boy Nevin had 5 RBI's and had this smug look like, look at me KT, take that and your damn PETCO park.

Aki looked scary as usual giving up one run despite having an enormous lead. Loretta did okay 2 for 4 I think, but get this, he got his second hit of Aki and it was first pitch fastball swinging single. Hmmm...don't think he has his old teammate scouted to a tee, not like all of MLB did, hey hint, that first pitch WILL be a fastball right down the middle!

Seanez was in there for an inning but I didn't check him out.

But the big story was of course Nevin.

Hooray!! Benson is on the market

bktabinga — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 14:49:33 -0000

I think she needs a Gaslampballer to help her promote herself in all manner of form. Who agrees we should contact her PR person and hook up a Benson/Gaslampball relationship that might lead to her sleeping with the whole Gaslampball crew (at least threatening too, and of course excluding all happily married men, and women!).

Update [2006-3-31 11:2:14 by bktabinga]:
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/wcStory?contentId=5455784