Interesting baseball story.

[Guest Smell the ratings!!!]

First off, I know no one cares about baseball. Second, this might be a chicago only story. But since both guys are well known, I thought I'd throw it out there.

 

Anyway, the Cubs have Baker as thier main target and are prepared to throw plenty of money at him, unusual for the Cubs. However, Baker has said that if he takes the Cub job, he wants to know he'll be allowed to manage his team.

 

For those of you not familiar with the Cubs, thier goal is to sell tickets, not win. Because of this, the Chicago Tribune (Cub's owners) have a Personel department, which makes free agent, draft, and lineup decisions, in "cooperation" with the coaching staff.

 

The only reason this is interesting is because of Baker's example. He said if he see Sosa half-assing a shot to the gap, he won't hesitate to pull him, even if it's sunny and the bleachers are full.

 

Chicago media (not so much the Tribune) has gone into this more, and rumor has it that if Baker is hired, Sosa has a more than 50/50 chance of being traded before the season ever starts. This is a dillema for the Tribune, who know Sosa = tickets, but Baker = winning. Remember that a year ago, the Yankees offered Lily, Soriano, and Nick Johnson for Sosa, and the Tribune turned it down.

 

Anyway, I wasn't sure how much this wass being reported outside of the city, so I posted it. It'll be interesting to see if the Tribune actually wants to field a team for once.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

Can they find a manager who doesn't feel the need to bash Sammy Sosa?

 

Most players half ass it nowadays, and that's the main problem I have with my favorite sport.

 

I was watching the playoffs and in the last game of the AL championship series, a Twin grounded out and instead of touching the bag, the fielder stood about halfway up the basepath.

 

So the runner just stopped and put his hands up like "HAHA...you got me!"

 

Fuck that.

 

Run that fucker over.

 

He's in your basepath.

 

Why don't people play like that anymore?

[Guest Smark Hammill]

If Sammy doesn't like it, he can go play somewhere else. He's a great player, but how many championships has he won for the Cubs?

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

If Sammy doesn't like it, he can go play somewhere else. He's a great player, but how many championships has he won for the Cubs?

This is a retarded statement for a few reasons.

 

1. He can't just walk out and play wherever he wants. There's this thing called a contract.

 

2. Single players don't win championships.

 

3. Even if they did...How many championships has Barry Bonds won? Or Ty Cobb? Or Ted Williams?

[Guest LooseCannon]

Most players half ass it nowadays, and that's the main problem I have with my favorite sport.

 

I was watching the playoffs and in the last game of the AL championship series, a Twin grounded out and instead of touching the bag, the fielder stood about halfway up the basepath.

 

So the runner just stopped and put his hands up like "HAHA...you got me!"

 

Fuck that.

 

Run that fucker over.

 

He's in your basepath.

 

Why don't people play like that anymore?

Albert Belle did that to Fernando Vina a while back and got suspended for it.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

For what?

 

How did they justify that?

 

If he was in the baseline than you have every right to take him out.

[Guest Choken One]

It was awhile ago but I recall them using the "intentional" hit angle.

[Guest LooseCannon]

Well he kinda elbowed Vina in the head while running him over, but that was only because Vina was so much shorter. I thought it was bullshit.

[Guest Brian]

Can they find a manager who doesn't feel the need to bash Sammy Sosa?

 

Most players half ass it nowadays, and that's the main problem I have with my favorite sport.

 

I was watching the playoffs and in the last game of the AL championship series, a Twin grounded out and instead of touching the bag, the fielder stood about halfway up the basepath.

 

So the runner just stopped and put his hands up like "HAHA...you got me!"

 

Fuck that.

 

Run that fucker over.

 

He's in your basepath.

 

Why don't people play like that anymore?

Because Ty Cobb is dead.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

Don't pass it off like only the evil players do it.

 

Cobb spiked people and was an asshole...

 

but it doesn't change the fact that the rule says if someone is in the basepath they are fair game.

 

I don't even think an elbow to the head is wrong if he's standing on that line.

[Guest Smark Hammill]

If Sammy doesn't like it, he can go play somewhere else. He's a great player, but how many championships has he won for the Cubs?

This is a retarded statement for a few reasons.

 

1. He can't just walk out and play wherever he wants. There's this thing called a contract.

 

2. Single players don't win championships.

 

3. Even if they did...How many championships has Barry Bonds won? Or Ty Cobb? Or Ted Williams?

Hey, speaking of retarded statements, are you ever going to say why you thought Spider Man was terrible?

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

Despite this being the wrong forum for that change of topic:

 

Here's my quick 10:

 

1. the pacing. Backstory is fine. I like backstory. But it was presented in a very choppy manner with each concept contained in its own long segment. It was the first movie I've ever seen that I could pick out where the dvd chapters would all start.

 

2. the...comedy? camp humor is all hit or miss. the over the topness of Nichelson as the Joker was pretty good IMO. But the one liners from Goblin during and after the battle scenes were just a miss. They detracted from being able to take the movie seriousley...and the rest of the movie tried to be too serious to be taken as camp.

 

3. Tobey Maguire. His performance was pretty alright actually. But his facial expressions are a pain in my side. If he doesn't look like anything thats happening is important...why should I care.

 

4. The Green Goblin costume. This is purely a superficial reason...but metal?

 

5. The fight scenes. They were all way too short and the movie couldn't build up any tension between them.

 

6. The wrestling scene. funy story...I went and saw Bruce Cambell talk at UB in October and he told us about his role as the ring announcer in Spiderman. It turned out to be just as bad as I imagined.

 

 

 

SPOILER*****************

 

7. The....climax? so...the importance of his having to choose between MJ and the kids is rectified in the 2 seconds it takes for him to save everyone? ugh.

 

 

SPOILERS************

 

8. The fact that a good portion of the story structure is stolen....(quite poorly IMO) from the first Superman movie's structure. 1. origin. 2. Death of Loved one & growing used to powers. 3. Adjusting to life as a secret identity and hero. 4. final confrontations...and no easy romantic answers.

 

I know that they stayed rather faithful to the Spidey story...but the movie looks like a poor mans Superman.

 

SPOILER**************

 

9. MJ off of the bridge? as a comic fan...this bothers me a little. Since Gwen Stacy's death at the hands of the Goblin on the bridge is one of if not the signature moment in the Spiderman mythos. Again this is a vain choice...but c'mon.

 

and to make an even 10:

 

10. The script. Poor Dialogue all around. Was it supposed to be funny in a corny way? Were they supposed to be inside jokes that even an insider doesn't get? Why is the dramatic dialogue written and delivered just like comedic dialogue? And the action scenes...while separated by long lulls of poorly written storyline...were in themselves too long on non-action. What I mean is:

 

SPOILER*******

 

Even during said action scenes the focus of the scene is not on the action itself but on something else: MJ slipping from the balcony, the NY people throwing fruit at Goblin (don't get me started on how much of a groan this illicited).

 

That's it for now. If I had the movie here I could remember more. But then again I wouldn't watch it.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

Oh...and now that I've seen the commercials all over the place, I'm reminded of how poorly the lines were overdubbed in post production.

 

Especially Mary Jane's who always seems to be way too loud for every scene.

 

 

And that terrible edit job between cgi swinging and closeups of Toby while swinging...ugh.

[Guest bob_barron]

Wow- way to defend your argument Smark Hammill.

 

The only reason I want the Cubs to do well is so we can have Cubs v. Red Sox world series!!

[Guest alkeiper]

but it doesn't change the fact that the rule says if someone is in the basepath they are fair game.

 

This may apply to a guy attempting to tag you, but it does NOT apply to hitting a fielder in the act of fielding. If you interfere with a fielder, even in your basepath, you are out.

 

As for the Baker/Sosa story, I'm sure this is simply the media looking for a story. Stuff like this gets said all the time. It's no big deal.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

I was using an example where the fielder was going to tag the runner.

[Guest Leena]

Bah, this story is all yap... I hate how every word an athlete or manager says has to be heavily scrutinized.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

The only reason I want the Cubs to do well is so we can have Cubs v. Red Sox world series!!

You do know that Jesus would return to earth if that Word Series ever happened.

[Guest Choken One]

You know that would suck so much because one reason...WAY TO MUCH EXPECTATIONS...People KNOW it'll go 7 but it's a blowout sweep.

[Guest Phr33k]

Ty Cobb won the World Series in 1908 with Detroit, if I'm not mistaken.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

No, he played in three straight but never won one.

 

Then the Tigers never won the pennant again.

[Guest Choken One]

Huh? They won in 1984...and at least one other time between 08 and 84.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

Was Ty Cobb on those teams?

 

We're debating Cobb winning a world series, which he never did.

 

I am aware that the Tigers had success after Cobb left in the mid 20s.

[Guest Choken One]

No he never did win the title...it was often said during Bonds run this year. Along with Williams.

 

He went and batted .107, .211 and .277. Never won.

[Guest alkeiper]

FWIW, the Tigers won World Series in '35, '45, '68 and '84. Cobb hit .262 in 65 career world series at bats, with 9 RBIs.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

This is six posts now in argument of a point I made that was correct the first time.

 

*shrugs*

 

*goes to abuse power in the TNA folder*