SB Nation User Blog: southofcruiseamerica

WBC Confessional

southofcruiseamerica — Thu, 16 Mar 2006 20:25:58 -0000

Due in large part to the passion of the players and fans of the foreign teams, the WBC is much more captivating than most of us could have imagined. This despite major flaws in the television coverage, relative lack of attention from an American press preoccupied with Barry Bonds and the NCAA's, questionable bottom half of the American roster and terrible umpiring. Perhaps the interpreters used for arguments could be a little more, um, presentable...the lady involved in the Cuba-Puerto Rico game looked like she had been yanked from the local casino after playing nickel slots for eight hours. Maybe Pam Postema should pick up another language. Considering the damage she can do to a guy with a helmet, Sadaharu Oh would have been better served if he brought Sandra Oh out to protest the bogus reversal the other day. I think I have seen the Korean's hats somewhere before, either Little League circa `82 or on an episode of the Jetsons. Who would have thought a team featuring BY Kim, Chan Ho Park and Hee Sop Choi would be undefeated? For the sake of maintaining our dwindling international relations, I hope they remove their flag from they planted on the mound before Clemens takes the field. Although he brought it on himself, the Korean fans' treatment of Ichiro make right field at the Coliseum seem like purgatory. If Ireland had a team would Troy O'Leary be eligible to play for them? What keeps the guys in the Cuban contingency assigned guard duty to prevent defections from defecting themselves? Who does Arte Moreno want to win today? After his game ending punch-out, Pudge will certainly get over it when he wakes up in the morning and gazes out the window at the statue of himself on the lawn. Alex Rodriguez delivers a clutch hit in the one situation when Americans have to pull for him through default. David Ortiz is one bad-ass dude.

A few more questions for Lew Wolff

southofcruiseamerica — Thu, 04 Aug 2005 21:40:44 -0000

John Fisher is ranked as the 165th wealthiest person in the United States by Forbes Magazine. If the Haas family ran the team like a hobby/civic duty, then why can't he? Is it because they got out of ownership a couple of years after having the highest payroll in the league and started to lose substantial amounts of money? Weren't those losses more than covered on the sale of the franchise?

Why should City and County officials donate land for a new stadium or convince its constituents to assist in the development costs? How about not reaching into the locals' pockets and requesting a special temporary tax on hotel rooms and rental cars?

John Fisher is a San Francisco resident. You reside in Los Angeles. How would you respond to critics that claim you cannot identify with the true fabric of Oakland and the East Bay?

Can you give us a few examples of leading Oakland/East Bay companies that, despite the best efforts of the organization, do not support the team by purchasing luxury suites and/or sponsorships?

At the earliest, what year would you feel comfortable saying that the A's will be playing in a new stadium in Oakland or elsewhere in Alameda County?

Where do you stand on territorial rights? It takes a vote of 75% of the owners (and the support of your pal Bud) to release the Giants' rights to the South Bay. Assuming that all 14 American League clubs are in your favor, could you convince 9 out of 16 National League owners that it would be the right thing to do? Did the placement of the Expos in DC set a favorable precedent on this issue, especially with the financial considerations granted to the Orioles?

Have you considered getting rid of that childrens' logo of the elephant with sunglasses found on your batting practice caps and alternate jerseys?

Really Tired Acts

southofcruiseamerica — Sun, 10 Jul 2005 06:08:42 -0000

I came up with this topic after watching the clip of a monstrous walk-off by the D-Rays tonight when they showed Ivan Rodriguez yelling at the kid as he was coming down the third base line. Apparently the guy didn't start running soon enough for his taste. Now I don't like guys styling but for crying out loud the D-Rays are 30+ games under .500 and it was a blast and ended the game - let him have his day in the sun (well, dome). The kid ignored hin by the way and chucked his helmet all the way to the backstop before his teammates could pound on it at the plate. Who appointed 'I-Rod' the humble keeper of the game? This is the same guy who has a bigger than life statue of himself in his yard in South Florida!

While I'm at it, others that qualify who don't cut it:

Mike Scioscia: We've all seen it too many times

Bret Boone: The most obvious, I know. That is the first time I have seen an athlete cry when it actually made me laugh.

Ben Weber: Love ya on Mythbusters.

Kevin Millar: See Mike Scioscia

Curt Schilling: Just please go away. How come the blood stain on your sock never got bigger or browner?

Buck Showalter: For the guy who invented baseball, he sure could use a little Dr. Phil in the clubhouse for Francisco and Rogers (Selig should have immediately denied an appeal by the way union be damned. If David Stern was running this league he would make sure Rogers doesn't come within 500 miles of Detroit for the All-Star Game).

AJ Pierzynksi and Barry Bonds: Not worth more than six words.

Jose Guillen: At some point you have to look in the mirror and say "8 teams in 7 seasons, maybe it's me."

Manny Ramirez: For such a gifted hitter the guy is such a clown.

Christian Guzman: Perhaps the most embarassing hitter since Johnny Lemaster. He makes Garth Brooks a legitimate prospect. Somehow he makes 4.2 mil.

Pedro Martinez: See Manny Ramirez...although the head-hunting has subsided with his return to the NL.

Julian Tavarez: Doesn't deserve to be part of an otherwise classy organization.

Jeff Weaver: Dude, the umpire cannot be arrested for calling balls and strikes.

Jose Lima: Hang 'em up already.

Who chafes you and why? I'm guessing Jeff Kent (always played the game right though) and Milton Bradley (has seems to have realized what Guillen hasn't)

Transcript of Beane-Macha Meeting

southofcruiseamerica — Sat, 14 May 2005 08:58:33 -0000

KM: How come you didn't call me when we were getting our asses kicked back East?

BB: Well, on Saturday I was at the hair salon. Sunday I was getting my portrait done by Tabitha Soren...her husband made me famous you know. On Monday I was at a killer show at the Fillmore. I was going to call you on Tuesday but Wolff told everybody to keep their peak minutes down. I was in Salt Lake City on Wednesday speaking at a Tony Robbins seminar. We went 1 and 5?

KM: Yes, but it should have been 0 and 6.

BB: Did our third baseman get a hit on the trip?

KM: He got two singles!!

BB: See, I told you to keep him in the three hole and he would bust out.

KM: Hey, when you were at the Fillmore I got ejected just like you asked. It was kind of difficult though...I tried to find some dirt to kick but they apparently served it to Millar and Nixon for lunch.

BB: Odd. How did the bullpen hold up?

KM: Not so well. Our closer served up back to back game-winning homers after walking the tying run.

BB: Don't sweat it...small sample size. He wasn't tipping his pitches was he?

KM: Um, no...he only has one pitch.

BB: Did Thomas or Clark play?

KM: No, it was my understanding that they were only on the team to appease Monte Poole.

BB: What about our catcher, how did he do?

KM: Not so well. I'm sure he'll come around though. Great acquisition boss...although he is scuffling at the plate, he seems to be working wonders with the staff, especially Haren and Cruz.

BB: How was the flight back?

KM: Pretty quiet without Swisher. We have to face these two teams again for the next six games. Can we do any better?

BB: Oh definitely - if you start Ginter tonight.

KM: Great idea...he has some pop!

KM: Any other changes?

BB: Yes, I'm giving Brad Fischer a roll of quarters before every game so if the kids make it to first base they can play more video games.

KM: Brilliant!

BB: Thanks Kenny. Who is the best GM in the game?

KM: It's a 3 way tie between Kenny Williams, Paul DePodesta and Jim Beattie.

BB: Aww come on Kenny, who is the best looking GM in the game?

KM: Theo Epstein

BB: Watch it before I bring up your career stats.

KM: My career OPS was .653, what was yours?

BB: Umm, .542

KM: Any call-ups?

BB: Only if someone gets hurt.

KM: Why would you say something like that on Friday the 13th?

BB: I only believe luck is a factor if you put the ball in play.

KM: What if we get swept again?

BB: As long as we turn 200,000 folks through the gates this homestand I'm okay with it.

KM: Huh?!

BB: I'm part owner now too.

KM: Oh, I forgot. Did Sandy get that kind of deal with the Padres?

BB: One more comment like that and I can have you folding t-shirts at the Bay Street Emeryville Gap.

KM: Cool - they have a PF Chang's there...I can snag some chopsticks for the guys to swing in the on-deck circle.

BB: Brilliant!

KM: Okay, so no roster shuffling?

BB: Naw, it's too early!

KM: Um, yeah. Are you sticking around for the game?

BB: Nope, Sabes is taking me shopping at Patrick James tonight.

KM: But you're a shorts and flip-flops guy.

BB: I know, but Paramount is coming to buy the movie rights this weekend so I have to be presentable.

KM: Congratulations! Good luck with that.

BB: Thanks...good luck with Mussina, Brown and Johnson. See ya around.

Somebody has to say it...

southofcruiseamerica — Tue, 29 Mar 2005 21:46:37 -0000

Tyler, I am glad that your spring training trip turned out so well. You provide an excellent service to A's fans everywhere and I cannot imagine how tough it is to do with a newborn and normal job. However, enough already with the hero worship. The "In Billy We Trust" motto ruins a perfectly good t-shirt. Does that mean you will shut down the site if Billy leaves? Huston Street picked up your pen? Billy's wife is 'beautiful'? Please. You are making some of us cringe. Mentioning to AN readers that players and broadcasters visit the site? Better left unsaid or at least assumed. Ripping on the MSM for asking A's players non-team related questions and then posing for photos with A's personnel like a Superfan? You can't have it both ways, even if you hide behind the `blogger' curtain. Otherwise, your overall objectivity will soon be in question if it isn't already.

Wild Card vs. Winning the Division

southofcruiseamerica — Thu, 28 Oct 2004 19:24:13 -0000

Is it time to take a look at the system? Having a Wild Card itself is fine because there are now 30 clubs and it keeps fans interested through the last game of the regular season. However, since the last four World Series champs have been Wild Cards, does that cheapen the meaning of the regular season?

Baseball is an everyday grind for 6 months. The reward for a team that wins its division and/or has a better regular season record is the potential of hosting one more home game in a psot season series. One. Even if a Wild Card team has a better record than other division winners (Red Sox vs. Angels & Twins this year) and you will almost always get the best four teams from each league in the post season, I believe there just isn't as big a reward for winning the division as there should be.

The whole two year experiment with the All-Star Game winner receiving home field advantage in the World Series really doesn't figure into things when you consider that under the every other year system this would have been the AL's year and last year the Marlins won despite the Yanks holding home field in what would have been an NL year.

Should a Wild Card team ever have home field advantage in the World Series? I say no, unless of course both participants are Wild Cards (Giants-Angels in 2002), then you simply give it to the team with the better regular season record. MLB will give us some baloney about hotel rooms, TV trucks, time zones, etc. but they can work around it like they managed to do in the ridiculous criss-crossing of the country without an off day for Game 5 of both the 2000 and 2001 A's-Yanks series.

The only way to get around it is to have the Wild Card team only able to host Game 3 in the first round. Should they advance, they would only be able to host Games 4 & 5 in a seven game series.

By the way, I loathe the Red Sox and cannot comprehend how a guy with the most embarassing display of defense on a routine fly ball who also points to the dugout on his way down the first base line in the seventh inning of a one run game that results in a double being stretched into a single winds up winning the MVP award. The voters robbed Keith Foulke.