SB Nation User Blog: miniboscorino

The Absurdity of It All

miniboscorino — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 20:45:42 -0000

Hello VEB users!!!

Honestly, this fanpost has nothing much to do with baseball, save for the fact that it involves a bunch of die-hard stat-geek Redbird fans. But here goes anyway.

As a member of the younger crowd here, I happen to use Facebook often, and to my prematurely delighted surprise, they even have an St. Louis Cardinals fan group. Upon investigation of the fanposts and polls in this sprawling mess, I discovered the same disasters of "Sign Manny and Sabathia and Trade Everyone!!!" posts one finds on the Post website, or ESPN. I even ventured to make a comment on one particular Manny poll, which I do not recommend. Upon stating my reason for not signing Manny- we have too many outfielders plus Wallace to begin with- which was simple and rational (you are limited to a 500 character count anyway), all hell broke loose. The main poster running operations jumped on me for my dissent as if I were an ignorant cretan (which I might not refute, ;P). He quickly stated that I needed to learn more about baseball and that Glaus was a better backup plan if Albert left and that Wallace was for sure our permanent 3B of the future.

This blog was not my first home for baseball talk, and I sincerely regret not finding this lovely place earlier than I did. Personally, I enjoy VEB because of the abundance of well informed members and the vast archives of statistics available to its users. I don't post often, much of this is because I am at school or sleeping during the primetime posting hours of morning and mid-day, but another reason is I find no need to; what else is there to say when it's all been said? I don't feel a need to look up statistics, as someone always takes the time I don't have to do so (thank you to all of you, you make things so easy, even though I don't take the time to desciper the meanings of BABIP, FIP, ARM, KFC, ABC, and NBC).

I do not enjoy all aspects of the blog, mainly the fact that people write essays as replies and over time, the same thing is said over, and over, and over (well you get the point) again. Sometimes, especially when I first began posting, I felt suffocated and unwelcome by many of the veteran posters. I know this is not intentional, and I understand that VEB does uphold certain strict rules...but why is it that we can't have a little fun with the first time posters instead of rebuking them and prodding them along with the "The Reply Button Works Well" statements? Often times I feel that posters are given their two cents because of what they know, rather than what they seek to learn (If I am wrong, please state so!) Also, though I believe its only because I have yet to experience a season of posting and only the offseason, sometimes there is a lack of human element in our analysis and we become over analytical of the numbers we gaze at for hours. Sometimes I feel that we forget that baseball players are human, and we forget the greatest thing about the game itself: though statistics can help us predict and project the path a team or player may take, improbability and chance still dictate every single moment of this great game.

Now, I'm going to get off my soapbox before someone kicks it out from underneath me and I will state this: This is a very special blog, a place for very intelligent, mostly unbiased, and very tactful (though I hate to use that word) analysis. The people here are wonderful, and there is a wealthy undercurrent of knowledge amongst many of our users that can be turned up to the fresh air just by asking.

If you disagree with some of my statments, please say something. If you agree with some of my statments, please do so as well. And if you just want to say something about why this place is so great, I welcome you the most!!!

May this be a wonderful season (yeah, I know, its still ST, but I'm excited) and one to remember!!!

MLB TV

miniboscorino — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:48:47 -0000

I found out that I have the channel through Direct TV, channel 213.

Thus far, I have found it to be mediocre and lacking quality programming (durrrrr, its the offseason). Anyway, they had a re-run of the 2008 Home Run Derby, and I didn't realize how controversial the comments during the event really were! From Boomer rambling on and on about nothing, to Peter Gammons making some well hidden political comments to Joe Morgan saying "this stage" 15 times in one minute while talking to Reggie Jackson, the event had very colorful commentating.

There was also a snippet later on that night about the NL Central and each team's New Year Resolution. When they came to the Cards, the commentators had neither a positive or negative thing to say about the Redbirds, save that they weren't that impressive, had a lot of heart, and Tony needed to fix his pitching....oh, and while they talked about this, a collection of Pujols footage was playing. They seem to be taking an ESPN stance towards the Cards right now.

The biggest thing I am looking forward to though is on Saturday, when they are showing Game 7 against the Mets in 06'!! I'm pretty sure that they are showing the whole game, and not cuts of it like on FSN. This is particularly wonderful as I have wanted to see the reactions of Mets fans as commentated by Joe Buck after the game is over. Anyone remember the daughter crying in her crying father's arms? That was a brilliant but sad picture. If they do not show the whole game, I will be greatly disappointed, but I think I can get over it.

Is Albert going to hit in the Home Run Derby this year?

miniboscorino — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 06:30:32 -0000

Is Albert going to hit in the Home Run Derby this year?

I am Cursed

miniboscorino — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:33:16 -0000

This post is about my memorable experiences at Busch Stadium, and how sad, depressing, and yet humorous they are. I am only 18, so I still have plenty of time to reverse the trends that I have been a part of for way too long.

Thus far, in all the time that I have been a St. Louis Cardinals fan, I have been to 11 games that I can remember, and that number is quickly rising thanks to having a family that loves baseball more than it used to. What is my record all-time? 1-10. Thats right people, the redbirds have gone 1-10 when I was watching them in the stands. I can slightly remember going to see the birds back in the early 90's, nosebleed seats of course. I mostly remember watching Ozzie, Mabry, and McGee. Either two or three times I went with my baseball team and we were able to walk around the warning track track, yet again, Nosebleed seats. Those games were really fun because we got to see Big Mac, though I never saw him hit a home run in person.

Now, time for the good memories, which really aren't that great in many ways. I will start with the more recent games from 2008 that mean less in the long run.

I was at the game where Parisi made his first career start...I think that one ended at 12-2, Pirates winning, of course there was a rain delay. Best part of the game was Glaus hitting a home run, which I sarcastically said he would do before he stepped up to the plate.

Next, I was at the game where Lohse's sparkling sub 2 ERA got blasted out of the water by the Cubs...great seats by the way, 140's. At least I saw Yadi and Albert hit home runs.

I was at the Brewers game where CC carried a no-hitter into the 7th, and was right behind the rain tarp watching Albert look like a fool and throw his bat on strike 3. I called Rickie Weeks getting thrown out by Yadi, which did come to fruition.

Oh, this one is good. It was raining, Braden Looper was pitching, and Carlos Lee hit a home run off Izzy. Remember it? Glaus also left the game in the 3rd, eye problems, great seats, right behind home plate.

Now, time for a little older ones.

In 2007, I went to a game when Barry was in town for the last time, my avatar is of the Sign Guy who was sitting outside the park that day. It was a very memorable game, even though we lost. We were in the walkway area in dead CF, where they have the retired numbers. Schu hit a home run, Luddy hit an amazing double off the wall, and Albert got walked in the 9th. I think the final score was 7-5.

I was there on opening day 2007, 3 rows up in the bleachers. Tony looked at me, and So waved at my mom, great picture. We took an amazing picture of Springer, Eldred, and Hancock standing about 50 feet in front of us. When Kennedy hit the triple in the 1st inning, I remember a bleacher fan not far away shouting "Well he can hit Tony!!!"...if he only knew the future...

Now, for the one that meant the most: 4th to last game regular seasons game at Old Busch...we sat right behind the cards pen, and I got to see Carp warm up. If we beat the Astros that night, bye-bye, they were eliminated. Reggie hit two home runs, and he did a curtain call, I specifically remember Carpenter hitting a deep double, which was funny to watch. Edmonds struck out in the 9th with the go ahead run on.

Ok, so, you may be wondering, if this is all the losses, what was the win like? The Date: May 17, 2006. It will forever be known in the Book of Forgotten Baseball Players as "The last time the REAL Mark Mulder Pitched". Rolen drove Pujols in during the 6th, and that was the only run scored. Mulder went 8 innings, dominating the tough Mets lineup, but he walked a man in the 9th. So, Tony brought Izzy in, and what does he do? He loads the damn bases with 1 out. Thank goodness we won the game.

So, these are my experiences, do you have any bad ones as well?

Who Would You Rather Have?

miniboscorino — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 02:06:52 -0000

This post is all about who you would rather have. When making these comparisons I mean in their prime, however long that may be, not as an overall career. This is by position, its a little out of order though and as for the Gehrig one, its more of a debate on who the best Yank really was. I'd like to see us taking into account the players era, and their value to that specific team or age of baseball. Should be interesting to say the least!!!!

Ruth or Bob Gibson? ; ) Have fun with that one

Simmons or Piazza?

Utley or Hornsby?

Hoffman or Eckersley?

The Wizard or Omar?

Rolen or Schmidt?

Griffey Jr. or Bernie Williams?

Manny or Barry? Without * numbers

For you 80's Cards fans, Hendrick or Brian Jordan?

Time for a little blasphemy: Foxx or Pujols?

And now time for who I think is the most forgotten greatest player ever. Would you rather have Ruth or Gehrig?

Honestly, on most of these, I am not educated enough, or wasn't even alive when they played, but I would love to see what you guys have to say.

Free Agents

miniboscorino — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 06:50:13 -0000

I'm new, so my posts are going to be pretty crappy at first, especially after coming from the disorganized mess of ESPN boards.

Anyway, anyone think there's a possibility of the Cards signing Pat Burrell? I think the first move the Cards make in the offseason regarding trades/free agents (Not counting Lohse) is going to set the stage for the rest of the offseason.

What I mean is, if the Cards get Furcal...then Schu (just an example, it would be an OF) gets traded along with a few others and that opens the door for that "luxury" "presence" that I keep hearing about. Or, if the Cards resign Lopez, we might get to see Edgar again, or Cabrerra, and then we get a decent starting pitcher. Anyone think Roberts is a possibility?

It seems to me that the team can take two paths this offseason...they can make the big splash by getting someone like Burrell, or go the cheaper way and build up the supporting group, which would leave some money for a ?Lowe? Either way, I think the team is going to get old in few positions, perhaps sacrifice defense for more production, and we're going to see a few players paid too much.

P.S. Where's Kennedy going to end up?