Bored

Well being it's Plaschke if there wasn't a log in I probably wouldn't have read it anyways. But ya that is the usual Plaschke bullshit to suggest Ethier was some how unknown but again it's still a surprise that he has played as well as he has so soon.

The link needs a login to read it so I didn't bother but Javier Herrera was regarded as the A's top outfield prospect and the majority of people liked the deal from the A's perspective, including myself. No one thought Ethier would breakout as quickly as he did. Edmonds season might be over as he has post concussion syndrome which has ended the seasons of Corey Koskie and Mike Matheny this year.

This was posted earlier in the thread but the clip was someone using a handheld to record the game off their t.v. so here's a better and more complete clip. Scott Norwood...you know what happens Now here's a cool clip. Eagles/Cowboys...Bounty Bowl '89

"Caught by Westbrook for a touchdown....INCREDIBLE!" The Play...and Dwight Garner's knee is still down Quentin Coryatt kills a TCU receiver

A's sweep the Mariners and tie the MLB record for most consecutive wins over a divisional opponent at 15. If they win the West they should be nice and give the M's part of their playoff share. At the very least let Joel Piniero throw out the ceremonial first pitch for good luck.

Three runs in 18 innings in Colorado. Um ya they really need to lay off humidifier.

They don't even mention one of the great advantages college football has over the NFL and that's the television coverage. Living in a two team NFL market blows as the majority of Sunday's your stuck with both local teams, who in my case with the 49ers and Raiders are terrible. With college football you don't need a satellite dish to get a variety of games. You have basic cable and you don't have to leave your couch for 12 hours on Saturday's...well you probably should at some point but you get the idea.

And funny how Derek Jeter is quite the "stat player" this year and regarded as a legit MVP candidate by statheads. Did he stop being a ballplayer? A-Rod isn't having quite the "stat player" year so maybe he's a ballplayer now.

All the talk on ESPN and the TWiB threads when it comes to the American League MVP award in 2006 is about Clutchie McClutchie of the Boston Red Sox being the MVP favorite. One debate that has creeped up again and will certainly be talked about as we get closer to the end of the season is whether or not a DH should win the MVP. In my 1995 A.L. MVP redo I showed that a DH should be able to win the MVP award. Well okay my original intention when doing the redo was to show the voter bias against Albert Belle by the media and then in turned out Edgar Martinez should have won the MVP. An everyday DH has never won the MVP award so I'll take a look back at the closest thing we've had to a DH winning the award. Don Baylor won the 1979 A.L. MVP while splitting time between the outfield and the DH spot. He played 97 games in the outfield and 65 games at DH, the most games ever played at DH by an MVP winner to date. As usual it's not particularly hard to figure out why a player won the MVP. Baylor played on the A.L. West champion Angels and he led the league in RBI and runs scored. Baylor was also his very own Clutchie McClutchie as he hit .330 with RISP. Despite his high RBI total and also finishing 4th in the A.L. in homeruns who only finished 10th in the league in slugging. In fact the Angels team leader in slugging was not Baylor but Bobby Grich. But because of his 139 RBI Baylor won the award in a lopsided vote, taking 20 of 28 first place votes. In second place was Ken Singleton who had the best year on the best team in the league but received only three first place votes as his RBI total was only 111. George Brett picked up two first place votes and then other three first place votes were for Mike Flanagan although he only finished 6th. He was the near unanmious choice for Cy Young but as you'll see he was agruablly not the best pitcher in the league. Ahead of Flanagan were two Red Sox, Fred Lynn and Jim Rice. Lynn led the league in average, obp, and slugging while playing a Gold Glove center field. Awww I just gave away my pick didn't I? Actual Results 1) Don Baylor 2) Ken Singleton 3) George Brett 4) Fred Lynn 5) Jim Rice 6) Mike Flanagan 7) Gorman Thomas 8) Bobby Grich 9) Darrell Porter 10) Buddy Bell 11t) Jim Kern 11t) Mike Marshall 11t) Eddie Murray 14) Brian Downing 15) Sixto Lezcano 16) Roy Smalley 17t) Steve Kemp 17t) Willie Wilson 19) Mark Clear 20) Paul Molitor 21) Rick Burleson 22) Tommy John 23) Cecil Cooper 24t) Willie Horton 24t) Reggie Jackson 26t) Dan Ford 26t) Ron Guidry 26t) Mike Hargrove #10 .322/.372/.469, 102 RC, 126 OPS+, .296 EQA, 59.6 VORP, 26 Win Shares #9 148 ERA+, 2.54 K/BB, 1.19 WHIP, 72.6 VORP 24 Win Shares #8 .321/.414/.573, 113 RC, 164 OPS+, .334 EQA, 56.0 VORP, 27 Win Shares #7 (I couldn't find a 1980 or 1979 card for Grich, first time I've had that problem) .294/.365/.537, 105 RC, 144 OPS+, .310 EQA, 62.5 VORP, 28 Win Shares #6 .296/.371/.530, 122 RC, 144 OPS+, .310 EQA, 57.0 VORP, 29 Win Shares #5 .291/.421/.484, 109 RC, 142 OPS+, .319 EQA, 59.5 VORP, 31 Win Shares #4 .325/.381/.596, 141 RC, 154 OPS+, .317 EQA, 71.2 VORP, 28 Win Shares #3 .295/.405/.533, 124 RC, 156 OPS+, .327 EQA, 58.7 VORP, 32 Win Shares #2 .329/.376/.563, 137 RC, 148 OPS+, .313 EQA, 69.3 VORP, 33 Win Shares #1 .333/.423/.637, 143 RC, 176 OPS+, .341 EQA, 82.8 VORP, 34 Win Shares So what did we learn today? That outfield/DHs should never win the MVP! Wait okay that really doesn't make sense. Okay RBIs are overrated! Well you probably already should have known that. Okay we didn't learn anything but at least we had the first reference ever to Sixto Lezcano in this board's history and it's about fucking time.

A's win their 13th straight over the Mariners. Nick Swisher's two-run homer in the bottom of the 8th gives them a 5-4 lead and Ichiro gets picked off 1st for the final out of the game.

He's not on mine either, at least through 8/5. Sizemore in 4th though is fairly bizarre. I had Ortiz 6th in my most recent list behind Hafner, Mauer, Jeter, Ramirez, and Thome.

Now only if my A's played the Mariners every game of the year they'd be the greatest team ever. Alas no Mariners on the schedule this week. ESPN/Fox Games to poison our youth with MONDAY Angels (Kelvim Escobar) at White Sox (Mark Buehrle), 7:00/4:00 PM, ESPN WEDNESDAY Yankees (Randy Johnson) at White Sox (Jon Garland), 8:00/5:00 PM, ESPN THURSDAY Cardinals (Anthony Reyes) at Reds (Bronson Arroyo), 12:30 PM/9:30 AM, ESPN Yankees (Mike Mussina) at White Sox (Javier Vazquez), 8:00/5:00 PM, ESPN SATURDAY Angels at Yankees, 1:00 PM/10:00 AM, Fox Orioles at Red Sox, 1:00 PM EST, Fox Tigers at White Sox, Noon CST, Fox Giants at Dodgers, 1:00 PM PST, Fox SUNDAY Giants at Dodgers, 8:00/5:00 PM, ESPN

Music City Miracle Original highlight of that Barry Sanders run against the Cowboys in the '91 playoffs Great Emmitt Smith touchdown run against the Redskins in 1991

ESPN/Fox Games MONDAY Giants (Brad Hennessey) at Padres (Clay Hensley), 10:00/7:00 PM, ESPN2 WEDNESDAY Tigers (Justin Verlander) at Red Sox (David Wells), 7:00/4:00 PM, ESPN THURSDAY Rangers (Kip Wells) at Tigers (Kenny Rogers), 7:00/4:00 PM, ESPN FRIDAY Yankees at Red Sox, 1:00 PM/10:00 AM, ESPN SATURDAY Yankees at Red Sox, 1:00 PM EST, Fox Cardinals at Cubs, Noon CST, Fox Diamondbacks at Padres, 1:00 PM PST, Fox SUNDAY Yankees at Red Sox, 8:00/5:00 PM, ESPN

Checking out Football Outsiders unit rankings for the 49ers is just depressing, throw in their best/worst unit picks. QB: 29th Best: Colts Worst: Bills RB: 29th Best: Seahawks Worst: Jets WR/TE: 30th Best: Cowboys Worst: Bears OL: 30th Best: Broncos Worst: Cardinals DL: 24th Best: Bears Worst: Jets LB: 31st Best: Steelers Worst: Saints DB: 28th Best: Broncos Worst: Chargers Well I guess on the brightside they don't rank dead last in any category.

There's a debate? If Chavez doesn't win it this year it probably be because of his offense, which goes to show you how ridiculous the Gold Glove award is. I've heard Joe Crede's name thrown around as someone who might dethrone Chavez this year and if either him or Lowell won it, it really wouldn't bother me. Here's the Win Shares defense leaders thru 8/5. A.L. C: Ivan Rodriguez 1B: Richie Sexson 2B: Mark Loretta 3B: Mike Lowell SS: Michael Young OF: Curtis Granderson, Vernon Wells, Torii Hunter N.L. C: Yadier Molina 1B: Albert Pujols 2B: Jamey Carroll 3B: Scott Rolen SS: Adam Everett OF: Carlos Beltran, Juan Pierre, Mike Cameron

Well good to know there is definently one offense in the A.L. worse than the A's and that belongs to the Devil Dogs as the A's finish the sweep behind the Notrious D.U.I. who allows just one run on three hits in eight innings. Hey and 47 year old Eric Chavez hits his first homerun in almost a month to avoid his slugging from dipping under .400. A's now 20-9 since the break and actually have a little breathing room at the West.

So anyone want to name the 9th bowl game?

A letter sent to Mickey Mantle in 1973 by the Yankees to ask about his favorite Yankee Satdium moments Mickey's answer

In case you didn't know Dwight Gooden is currently behind bars in a seven month prison sentence after another drug relapse. Gooden has described his time in prison as torture and I have to imagine he can't be the happiest of guys right about now. But I'm here to cheer ol' Doc up and take a look back at the year he was on top of the baseball world and see if he should have won the MVP. After phenomenal rookie year (17-9, 2.60 ERA) Gooden followed it up with one of the best years by a pitcher in recent baseball history going 24-4 with a 1.53 ERA. He won the Cy Young unanimously and finished 4th in the MVP voting receiving one first place vote. The winner of the MVP was Willie McGee who had the best year on the best team in the National League, receiving 14 of the 24 first place votes. McGee bucked the usual trend of MVP voting of giving the award to power hitters and his 10 homeruns in 1985 were the fewest hit by an MVP winner since Maury Wills in 1962 who hit only six homeruns. He beat out two 30+ homerun seasons by Dave Parker and Pedro Guerrero who received six and three first place votes respectively. Really overall this was a pretty solid ballot produced by the N.L. writes as no one in their Top 10 seemed completely out of place beyond the usual lack of respect for Tim Raines who finished only 12th despite his usual excellence. Only really bizarre voting was a throw away 10th place vote for Mariano Duncan who put up a .244/.293/.340 line as a rookie for the first place Dodgers. Actual Results 1) Willie McGee 2) Dave Parker 3) Pedro Guerrero 4) Dwight Gooden 5) Tom Herr 6) Gary Carter 7) Dale Murphy 8t) Keith Hernandez 8t) John Tudor 10) Jack Clark 11) Vince Coleman 12) Tim Raines 13) Ryne Sandberg 14t) Hubie Brooks 14t) Mike Marshall 16) Orel Hershiser 17) Keith Moreland 18t) Mike Scioscia 18t) Ozzie Smith 20) Jeff Reardon 21t) Jose Cruz 21t) Bill Doran 23t) Mariano Duncan 23t) Tony Gwynn 23t) Fernando Valenzuela 23t) Glenn Wilson #10 .305/.364/.504, 112 RC, 131 OPS+, .301 EQA, 61.0 VORP, 28 Win Shares #9 .312/.365/.551, 127 RC, 148 OPS+, .306 EQA, 47.7 VORP, 29 Win Shares #8 .302/.379/.416, 95 RC, 124 OPS+, .303 EQA, 50.3 VORP, 30 Win Shares #7 183 ERA+, 3.45 K/BB, 0.94 WHIP, 80.8 VORP, 27 Win Shares #6 .281/.365/.488, 98 RC, 139 OPS+, .306 EQA, 46.3 VORP, 33 Win Shares #5 .300/.388/.539, 129 RC, 151 OPS+, .318 EQA, 63.0 VORP, 31 Win Shares #4 .353/.384/.503, 119 RC, 148 OPS+, .318 EQA, 67.5 VORP, 36 Win Shares #3 .320/.422/.577, 118 RC, 181 OPS+, .349 EQA, 68.0 VORP, 35 Win Shares #2 .320/.405/.475, 110 RC, 153 OPS+, .330 EQA, 69.3 VORP, 36 Win Shares #1 226 ERA+, 3.88 K/BB, 0.97 WHIP, 99.3 VORP, 33 Win Shares There you go Dwight, you are the winner of the only 1985 N.L. MVP given away by some guy on a wrestling message board. Now don't be dropping that new MVP in the shower.

Going to the A's/Devil Rays game tonight, Haren vs. Kazmir.

Come on Al, Ozzie had 25 Win Shares that year. Good but not good enough to bump anyone out of that Top 10 as there was a large number of players that season in the N.L. who had 30+ Win Shares. That Cardinals team was very good defensively all around with Pendleton, McGee, and Van Slyke. Also their pitchers allowed the fewest homeruns in the league so that had a lot to do with their low ERA as well.

That's why he said every year but 2003.

CSTV Schedule Actually I see a few Mountain West games in there too but no MAC games. Kind of surprising they have Notre Dame/Air Force in November as you rarely ever see a Notre Dame game not on the networks.

CSTV should try to pick up those third tier SEC games to give that channel a little more exposure as they currently only have a deal with Conference USA. Not that it matters to me since I still can't get the channel in my area. God damnit I want 19 games instead of 17 games on Saturdays!