Steve J. Rogers

By the way, I would say I'd lean towards the "Why DON'T we do the same in the other sports" rather than "Why do we do this in baseball?" I'd love to see debates on wheither or not NBA player who failed to reach X milestone should get in the Hall because others in his range are in Ditto with say 100 TDs scored or 10,000 yard rushers (I'd have to check both lists) I think such debates would be fun now, especially given the recent explosion of 1,000 yard rushers in the NFL. I mean is Tiki Barber a HOFer? He has 4 1,000 yard rushing seasons to his name, 41 career touchdowns, if you start to "project" you might start to make a serious case Perhaps thats why the MLB hall is the only one that garners year-round debate it seems. Case in point, I've seen Derek Jeter in 2000 projected to be in the Hall because it seemed he was on course for 3,000 hits (still is, I see him having a Paul Molitor like career but thats a whole different topic) Steve

I think that has to do with the amount of time inbetween than anythingelse To reference Al's mentioning the lack of attention on the actual game, I think many people were convinced by all the bluster that season that the single-season mark had just been tied and anything extra would be a seperate record and not that important Also I think its more of a Yankee thing with Maris and the whole turmoil he had to go through. Put it this way, had say Harmon Killebrew hit 61 and/or ending up breaking Ruth's all-time record I doubt people would recall much beyond Harmon's name and final total. Its more about Maris' and Aaron's respective journeys during the chase, and after, that makes it more interesting

Off hand Robin Ventura is the only one who might get a "sympathy" vote or two Edgar Martinez is the only other guy listed on the Hall's site, its doubtfull he'll get in, though I wonder how much support he'll get Steve

I can definatly see Larkin being a "Guy who waits 14 years and gets in on the last try" type of guy. Yeah, he probably does belong, though he gets hurt for being in the League during the same era's as both AL "Troikas" (Ripken-Fernandez-Trammell early and of course ARod-Nomar-Jeter later) along with being a contemporary of Ozzie Smith leads Barry to being way overshadowed Steve

???? I'm guessing *61 is where you are going, but Crystal is more of a "story teller" type of fan than a "I can recite all the averages of all of the 1957 Yankees" fan

Not neccessarilly according to LaGreca! I can sort of see his point where the roider is only doing it for selfish reasons, but again its a "I recuse myself from the conversation" type of question since he is a known fan of teams and the answer itsn't something that should be said out loud, and on the air! Steve

Got a decent one this week from the same station as in my first post. Don LaGreca, who usually knows his stuff, actually said that he'd rather have a player on his team be a coke addict (and he's a big football Giant fan (LT), and a moderate Mets fan (Gooden, and Strawberry) so he has a history of this type of player) than all roided up! Granted he was "goaded" into the comment by the host Michael Kay, but it really is a "I refuse to answer that!" type of question

Boomer Esiason not Phil Simms By the way, one of my biggest pet peeves about any thread on radio broadcasters is when an "He/She knows nothing about (insert topic) " without backup. Its more entertaining for a reader to READ how bad the host is at that topic, and it provides fans, such as myself, to give a retort (i.e. does it matter than Russo can't pronounce a hard name if he tried) For example, I'm sure you are referring to "Inside The Huddle" seemingly being too "inside" and that you'd have to know what goes on here in NYC to know why Russo goes off on Boomer, the show's producers, ect and that its not condusive to a weekly show that should be more centered around the topic rather than Russo being Russo. Very vaild argument IMO Steve

I always thought the story lines were decent for their matches, but after OTE there wasn't much they could bring to the table in the ring against each other due to injuries and such Rock and Mankind had some piss-poor matches I wonder how much better that series would have been if Mick had played the "Cactus Jack" persona, would Mick had been able to show ANY sign of offense? Steve

Or Madison Square Garden... I'd call it the FUCK SHIT FUCK GODDAMNIT Center Ironically THAT was the original "name" for the original place. The Boston arena and the old New York one (in the mid 40's and 8th Ave I believe) were created by Tex Richard and both were going to be called "Madison Square Garden" Steve

Also, it didn't help when the WWE actually Kayfabed the X-Pac hate, that started right around the time of that Heat episode, where the WWE was "encourging" the fans to chant "X-Pac SUCKS!" almost like they wanted to turn the apathy into genuine "We'll pay to see you get killed heat" I don't think he was treated seriously by the fans again after that Steve

EXCELLENT point! If only THAT was the WWE's logic all the time, and not only on wrestlers who apparantly have some control over their characters (Triple H, Austin, Rock, Angle, Taker) Seems like the WWE only knows how to take a character, run it untill it becomes stale, take the character off TV, repackage him only AS THE SAME CHARACTER and the same vicicous cycle continues untill the wrestler becomes a "Roster Fat Trimming Casulty" I.e. X-Pac

Not to mention that team was forced down everyone's throats as being "the most talented tag team, maybe of all time!" Okay, the division was bare bones back then but still, easy with the hyperbole Ross and Cole!

It's where the fans hate you, but in a "I don't want to see you here" way, rather than a "I will pay to see you get beat" way. Yes, so instead of paying to see you lose they simply turn the channel. Test had this heat too. It is easy to figure out for faces, like with Rock's initial face run and Randy Orton now. The hard part is trying to differentiate it from legitimate heel heat, like JBL gets. Think of it as similar to the heat that HHH gets around these parts, except extended to 90% of the entire fanbase. One thing I LOVED was the WWE's and X-Pac's "explanation" of why he was getting booed all the time. One time on Heat he was asked about it, and he quoted Reggie Jackson by saying "You have to be somebody to get booed!" Actually the quote is "Fans don't boo nobodies." For some reason I went on this board to "correct" him (I did it on the Heat recap thread, LORD knows if its still floating around) by explaining that you CAN be a "nobody" and be booed and I used two examples: 1) A Heel in a Dark Match. NOONE in that stadium knows who you are (unless you are a local performer of course) but since you are in the Heel role, and if you are doing it well, the fans will boo you and 2) You are a September call up for the Boston Redsox at Yankee Stadium (or a New York Yankee at Fenway) and you are making one of your first starts ever in MLB. Your name gets introduced (especially first at-bat) and you are going to be lustliy booed by the crowd. You are a complete unknown, only baseball equivilents of "Smart Marks" will know who you are, and you are getting booed un-mercifully Then again the above examples are more "the crowd acting like they are "supposed" to" as opposed to actual "hatred" But just like the WWE to spin "booing" as "acceptance" Almost trying to make it seem that X-Pac really was "liked at one time and is doing such a good job at being a heel..." Steve

We'll find out a year from now...

Okay, here is the question though, which of all of the ones you mentioned were not "surprising" because you've read rumblings to the effect that they would become on the internet And also, which ones had the announcer acting the most shocked even though most people were NOT SHOCKED! I'd go with HHH Turning on HBK as one that ranks up there with Ross's reaction. I swear Face Play-By-Play men have to have the most gulible characters ever! Steve

And his ripping goes all the way to the White House! McGwire, Giambi, Palmerio, Pudge Rodriguez and Juan Gonzalez are all mentioned in this "preview" in today's NY Daily News Also apparently, despite all the rumors, he did NOT bed Madonna!: http://nydailynews.com/front/story/278279p-238313c.html

Just linked the article to my post above...

Yup I searched all I could but Yahoo's are as far back as batter vs. hitter splits goes it appears. Best I can come up with is Orlando Cabrera has the most at bats (17) against Randy Johnson without striking out. Oh and Mike Marshall lead the Majors in 1984 with three homeruns when there was a full moon. Hint, his last at bat against Ryan was probably during the 1988 season. Very well known player for anyone older than 20 And here is another stumper, who was the last Major Leaguer to hit .400 in a single season with over 100 at bats Steve

Surprised no one went for the Minor League career HR hitter (and it was MUCH MORE than the number Crash Davis was going for in Bull Durham... I think, was a number ever said on screen?) who is a guy who played in the Mexican Leagues during the 50'd-60'd named Hector Espino. From what I read the was a guy who felt more comfortable playing in those leagues than the show, I guess fear of "The Big Time" Plus this was in the dying days of the old Independant circuts so there was still "weight" on leagues such as the PCL as "secondary" leagues to the Major's AL and NL Thats a record though that would be hard to top. Don't think someone would toil that long in the minors without realizing that they just aren't going to make it to the show, or the cup of coffee they got was all they'll be able to show for the years they've put in. Actually that was off the top of my head. Sure there are sites on the web on the guy (The minors have there own website somewhere, not sure if its still affliflated with MLB.com or not) Just showing off the stuff that is floating around in my sports brain! Steve

lmao at that line great stuff dude anyhow, BUDDY GROOM? whats wrong with the yanks? I dont know much about him except he has a silly name. any info on him? Is it possible that Gammons said '69 Mets, which legitimately was a Cinderella story, and ABC/ESPN got freaked out and edited the phrase '69? I'd go with that, but I think they were trying to tie in Peter's Boston connection Also in a sad way (sad in terms of the fact that it always seems to be the way the Mets are looked as) that 108 win juggernaut does tend to get looked upon as a bit "Cinderella-ish" when you consider the "luck" involved with winning key ballgames that postseason The Mets never do "roll" through postseasons, I think only twice in their history have they've even gone 2-0 in a series! (1969 NLCS against the Braves and the 2000 NLCS against the Cardinals) Its always "interesting" and the Mets always seem to be the team with some sort of "comeback magic" in them, hence why no matter how dominate the 86 team was, it will always be seen by "mainstream media" as a "Cinderella Story" Steve

Eight palyers (Dave Winfield, Jim Rice, Ron Kittle, Dave Kingman, Tim Wallach, Cesar Cedeno, Joel Youngblood, Mike Marhsall) all each hit a homerun on June 13, 1984 when there was a full moon. DUH!!! Okay, ya wanna go, lets go... Who holds the record for most At Bats against Nolan Ryan without ever striking out

Never mind, fixed it! Please delete Thanks Steve

Don't be so sure, the public sure the hell doesn't want it. For one, most of the Jet fan base would rather have it closer to Queens/Long Island than on the West Side of Manhattan Second, New Yorkers will NEVER go for it unless ALL of it is privately funded Thirdly in a last ditch effort to keep a monopoly on the convention market the owners of Madison Square Garden put a bid to buy the land where the Jets are looking to build that tops the Jets bid! This is one sorrid tale that is still unfolding

And here is the real sad part, there are places who will only know the AP story, and not even know the Star-Trib's story Put it another way, the way the Star-Trib has it, its like loaning a World Series Championship ring, or Super Bowl Championship ring to someone so that person can feel for just a moment what "it feels like" Anyway here in NY two radio hosts, Wally Mathews and Tom Keegan, just read the AP report and thought Dante was being a complete Indian Giving jerk and wondering how a Moss signed jersey would be worth the same as a 75 thousand dollar piece of jewerly, not too mention what took so long for Dante to realize "Hey wait a minute!" So that means, as far as anyone listening to that segement here in New York, Dante Culpepper is a Class A Asshole and a prime example of "Whats wrong with today's modern athletes" Steve