Welcome back, Moffatt. I recognize the song but don't have a sweet clue what it's called or who it's by, so no fish for me. Something about "Don't give up, you only get what you give".

Hm... Johnny if you're right about the song, is it the new... Radicals?

I second the welcoming. How are the new digs Mike?

One might say that Gibbons isn't such a New Radical. In the end though, he's only going to get what he gives.

Blast!

I should really read other posts before getting all excited and wildly typing. :)

Brent, I think you should get the points. I just listed the name, whereas you were able to work it into your point. That's gotta be worth something.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1092175811787&call_pageid=968350130169&col=969483202845
The Toronto Star had a heartwarming article on a local softball league for the homeless. COMN. What captures the spirit of baseball more than hopes, dreams and the ninth inning rally?

The league started in 1988 when baseball was hot in this town, and gives us one more reason to wish for the revival of the major league club.

I'll tell you what, Mike will serve the cuttlefish/squirrel/bizarro clown, and we'll split it.

The Toronto Star had a heartwarming article on a local softball league for the homeless... one more reason to wish for the revival of the major league club.

Perhaps they'd have had better luck hitting Chad Durbin.

The umpire is going to agree with Paul D and award the cuttlefish to Brent:



The song was the New Radicals - You Get What You Give

RE: New place. We've only started one minor fire so far and we extinguished it pretty quickly. :)

They need to make a cuttlefish Muppet.

No cuttlefish yet but they do have a great King Prawn Muppet already. Pepe I believe is his name.

Better than muppets.

Am I the only one who's shocked to realize that the Cardinals have the best record in baseball? They're 12 1/2 games up on second place in the NL Central -- the division that was supposed to be the tightest of any in baseball -- and their 37-17 road record is just astonishing. They have five players (Pujols, Edmonds, Rolen, Walker, Renteria) who are arguably among the best at their positions in the league. They're so good, they've survived the facts that Tony Womack has 379 at-bats, Mike Matheny has 257, and Reggie Sanders has a .297 on-base percentage. Their pitching isn't so hot, but I'll bet their defence is phenomenal. Not many teams can bash and catch their way to the World Series, but this might be one.

Their pitching isn't so hot

40% of their rotation they stole from us. No complaints though, I like our rotation mighty fine. And they better not trade any of them. I don't care if we have 6 starters. We need all of them.

Am I the only one who's shocked to realize that the Cardinals have the best record in baseball?...Their pitching isn't so hot, but I'll bet their defence is phenomenal.

Jordan, I think you'd be surprised to find that the Cards are actually 4th in the NL in ERA. Their pitching isn't bad at all. Their bullpen is particularly strong (King, Kline, Isringhausen, Eldred, Taverez, Kiko Calero) and big seasons by Chris Carpenter and Jason Marquis have given them a solid five, who have started all of the Cards' games save for one. This is a very good team and fun to watch.

Any word on Carpenter after he had to leave the game with a sore back?

They have five players (Pujols, Edmonds, Rolen, Walker, Renteria) who are arguably among the best at their positions in the league.

Makes them even more dangerous in the playoffs. "In a short series, depth don't count..."

Is Dan H really Danny Haren and is that why you're asking, Danny?

He left last night's game with back spasms. He might miss his next start but it's not supposed to be anything serious.

I think you'd be surprised to find that the Cards are actually 4th in the NL in ERA.

Surprised I am. Skeptical I also am that they can maintain it through the end of September. (See, now I'm talking like Yoda. I need a vacation.)

The back thing could be a blessing in disguise for Carpenter if it means he misses a few starts... they've gotta be at least a little worried about his IP coming off of his surgery... Meche down the stretch last year for instance, same surgery, no? Tough to come back and throw 200+ when you haven't done it in a little while...

http://me.woot.net
I'm really disappointed to read that the Indians aren't going to give Josh a fair shake. The one thing we were hoping for as fans of his is that the Indians would figure out why he couldn't hit righties, straighten him out and make him into the offensive force everyone thought he'd be. Leaving him as a lefty specialist and pinch hitter might make the Phelps nay-sayers feel vindicated, but it sure isn't satisfying for somebody who is pulling for the guy.

For Josh's sake, I hope he qualifies as a super-2. That would mean a substantial raise and if the Indians are thinking about limiting his role to RH platoon DH, they might non-tender him or trade him to an organisation that is lacking at 1B/DH.

I'm really disappointed to read that the Indians aren't going to give Josh a fair shake.

The Indians are in a playoff race though so they can't afford to have him try and work out his kinks in-game against RHP this year, especially not with Broussard and Hafner both hitting well. I would guess that they acquired Phelps primarily due to his success against LHP, an area the Indians did need to improve on, and less so for his potential.

Agree 100% with Joe and Robert. It'd be great if Phelps was non-tendered and became a free-agent and could hook up with a team like the Orioles who could use another 1B/DH type so he could get more at-bats.

Maybe he could re-sign with the Jays. :)

http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail16.html
Twisted Pelvis is a decent metal band name, when you don't have a really cool last name like Van Halen, or Dokken, or to a lesser extent Z'Nuff.

Personally I prefer Lazor, Bigg Nife, Taranchula, and perhaps the greatest hair-metal band name ever, Limozeen (COMN).

(How sad is it that I did this from memory?)

I've always thought Rottweiler would be a great name for a metal band. Use the German pronunciation ("Rott-vilah"), stick an umlaut in there somewhere, and you've got yourself a record deal.

I would guess that they acquired Phelps primarily due to his success against LHP

And to keep him away from the Twins.

The greatest band name *ever* was featured in Maxim Magazine a few years ago: Accidental Goat Sodomy.

Mike,

Ewwwwwwwww. You receive -143,000,000 points and a picture of Bud Selig:



Let that be a lesson to you.

Was it The Onion that said the United States was going to add an umlat to toughen up their image?

There is something really creapy about that Selig picture.

And to keep him away from the Twins.

That was just a rumour printed by someone on this site. I never saw any corroboration anywhere else.

"Who's your daddy?" - Selig

"What a shocker - Jesse Ventura enters from the right and bodyslams Commissioner Selig!"

Selig: I like big butts an' I cannot lie, you otha brothas can't deny . . . "

After seeing the picture of Selig, could you give me the name of his barber? I want to make sure I never go there.

Another good caption would be: "In his free time Bud enjoys murdering puppies and eating newborn babies."

I only suggested the above because I've never seen evidence of the contrary.

I always enjoyed when he gave the All-Star Game MVP Award to whoever it was (don't remember), mispronounced their name, and buggered off as soon as they got the award.

we also booed the hell out of Carlos Lee from our outfield seats that game for no particular reason whatsoever

The day anyone needs a reason to boo a member of the White Sox is the day I give up on baseball forever.

Could someone fill me in on why the White Sox are hated so much? I don't have a problem with it, I just want to know why I have been taught to detest them.

My favourite Bud Selig moment?



LYING TO CONGRESS, BABY!

On an unrelated note, i didnt know "Lets go Pa-ul!" was my friend Paul until that previous post. Along with that sign we also brought a sign saying "Skydome still offers great entertainment at a reasonable price". We were trying our damndest to get on TV that night.

At the risk of getting even more unpopular around here, I used to like the White Sox before Kenny Williams...talk about a dynasty pissed away...

I may be wrong Rob, but I believe the hatred towards the white sox comes from one racist sports writer from that city who refers to Canada as a third world country, didnt vote at all for Carlos in last years MVP race which hurt his chances, didnt stand for the O Canada at the skydome, and in general is as dumb as Brick from Anchorman.

Could someone fill me in on why the White Sox are hated so much? I don't have a problem with it, I just want to know why I have been taught to detest them.

I have nothing against the White Sox. They're like the store brand/no-name version of the Red Sox and their not winning the World Series ways.

If baseball teams were wines the Red Sox would be Michaud Chalone Chardonnay while the White Sox would be Baby Duck.

If baseball teams were wines the Red Sox would be Michaud Chalone Chardonnay while the White Sox would be Baby Duck.

And this analogy is supposed to fill me in? It just made things more confusing!

why the White Sox are hated so much

Jobu gives many fine points for despising the White Sox. The fact that they are AL rivals, and are from Chicago to boot, should itself be enough.

We all have our own personal reasons for hating the White Sox. I think it's more entertaining if everyone finds their own.

It's not that I don't feel bad about hating them; they're so pathetic, it's like kicking a one-legged puppy.

At the risk of getting even more unpopular around here, I used to like the White Sox before Kenny Williams...talk about a dynasty pissed away...

Keep posting dp.

Differences of opinion keep this place healthy.

You're obviously posting in good faith, so it's a little surprising (and disheartening) to see you given a "don't like it, then leave" ultimatum.

And this analogy is supposed to fill me in? It just made things more confusing!

To be a Canadian, you must learn about Baby Duck. This should help.

Well to be honest, if dp doesn't like it around here, he should actually leave. We don't want to make anyone unhappy. But I think dp likes it around here just fine, and we're happy to have him...

http://www.bat-girl.com/archives/000348.html

Could someone fill me in on why the White Sox are hated so much? I don't have a problem with it, I just want to know why I have been taught to detest them.

Maybe it's Batgirl's fault?

COMN.

It's just one of those things I learned growing up - The White Sox are a bad, bad team and never accept candy from Kenny Williams. (Or a pitcher who can't pitch! Did you hear that, Gordo?)

And I will not click on the one-legged puppy link. After "Accidental Goat Sodomy"...I don't even want to think about it.

I dislike the W-Sox due to their owner being a key part of the '94 season being closed down early. He was viewed as the man behind Selig, with Selig just following orders at the time. Without him the Expos might have had another playoff appearance and maybe baseball in Montreal wouldn't have collapsed.

Haha...love that Legovision. Batgirl kicks ass. Too bad she's married...and lives in Minnesota.

That heckling of Carlos Lee was hilarious. At the time he was little more than a slightly above average player and the new CBA had just been signed. As well, he was not a particularly large player. Which made those guys near us that much funnier because their chants involved: "CARLOS! CARLOS! STEROID TESTING!" (with the occasional "
"ARE YOU WORRIED CARLOS?" right after "STEROID TESTING").

Best heckling I've ever been present to hear.

Uniforms?





Disco Demolition Night?



Reinsdorf?



Threw the darned World Series?



Mike Sirotka?



I can go on...

John Northey, you've only told 1/2 the story on Reinsdorf's role in the 1994 lockout. After being a hardliner and repeatedly stressing how baseball's economic climate was unsustainable for owners, he went out and signed Albert Belle for a gazillion dollars immediately after matters were settled. The inconsistency was a little much for most fans to bear.

http://www.torontobaseballguys.com
How about the sycophant Sox announcers? It's not just their home run call: "You can put it on the board... YESS" and the fact that they do the YES in unison, but they cheer the Sox in game. If a Sox hits a soft liner, the colour guy will actually call out "get down, get down!" at the ball. These guys make Fergie Oliver look like Ernie Frikkin' Harwell.

Oooh, yeah, good one Jim. Darn, now I want the Jays to play the White Sox. Playing the Indians is going to be such a come-down after this hatefest... I like Cleveland.

One thing good about the White Sox... I went to a ball game at new Comisky a couple years back as part of a bachelor party and I have never seen those many attractive women at a ball game in my life! Certainly not in Toronto...

My experience at a Cubs game? Obese, rowdy drunk fans sprayed us with beer when the Cubs gave up 5 runs in the seventh inning to the Pirates (but later came back to win). Saw a Sammy homer in person though.

I went to a ball game at new Comisky a couple years back as part of a bachelor party and I have never seen those many attractive women at a ball game in my life!

Ask bird droppings -- you need to come to a game with the O-Drum. It's like a drunk women magnet.

I think the operative difference being, that at SkyDome they may or may not be attractive. They're just sozzled.

I think the operative difference being, that at SkyDome they may or may not be attractive

or at the age of consent.

I wonder what kind of women the O-Drum would attract in Montreal...

My post was not in any way related to Moffatt's post.

I wonder what kind of women the O-Drum would attract in Montreal...

You can lend it to me when I leave at the start of September and I'll let you know ;)

As was also discussed a while ago in a previous thread, I doubt the power of the drum would work if I took it to my school campus. Its powers are drawn from the Stadium.

Is there a store around Toronto that sells a rediculous number of styles of Jays hats? I spent all day yesterday looking for a new hat and I finally found one that had everything I wanted in a hat: entirely off white, tan logo, flex fit, sandwhich brim and it was a MFY's hat.... ohhhh I could not express how angry I felt at that.

There's a really complete hat kiosk in the 100 level of SkyDome. There used to be a lot at the Bullpen Store, but I haven't been there lately so I don't know what they have. Also around 525 or so there's a big hat vendor in what looks like it was a concession booth.

The last game I went to, they had a booth outside selling Yankees hats.
Yankees hats at an Anaheim-Toronto game. Ugh.

Oh well, at least I got to see Frankie Rodriguez and Kevin Gregg throw sunflower seeds at each other all night.

(The above should read "selling nothing BUT Yankees hats")

reasons for hating the White Sox

Jack McDowell. And his band.

During the Jays-NYY series, there were venders in the stands selling Jays and Yankee flags at once. Talk about shameless profit seekers.

And for the hat stores, I believe there's a store with a fairly comprehensive selection at King and John in the same building as the new Tim Hortons. If nothing else, the store has an intriguing collection of collectables.

Man, this site becomes more and more useful everyday. Thanks for the tips.

It wasnt so much the outrage of seeing so many yankee hats while looking for my perfect hat (i've gotten used to the green, light blue, red, polka dot MFY hats that dot store shelves) it was just the anger of spending all day looking for a specific type of hat only to actually find it but in MFY form.....grrrrr....

reasons for hating the white sox

Charles Comiskey. I know it was 90 years ago, but man that guy was an a******. And it took the Jays 6 games to knock them off in 1993. 6 games! Grr....

All I had to do is spend 5 innings listening to Hawk and DJ and now I will forever despise everything that is White Sox.

...except Frank Thomas. He's the man. :$

http://www.pulse24.com/News/Top_Story/20040810-017/page.asp
After weighing the pros/cons of posting this, I've justified this post by the number of lawyers/law students that frequent this place (plus, I'm just over-the-moon happy).

Almost three years ago I was arrested at a protest against Mike Harris in downtown Toronto for Breach of the Peace and subsequently dragged around the downtown core in a paddy wagon for over 6 hours. In the end I was unconditionally released.

Yesterday afternoon we (myself and three others) settled one of our complaints against the police from that day for an apology and an agreed statement of facts that was read into evidence.

Both documents have been posted by CP24 on their Web site. COMN to see them.

Jack McDowell. And his band.

Still above and beyond Jack McDowell, Yahoo! Sports columnist. That's just the icing on the cake to ban former major leaguers from becoming broadcasters/journalists.

Congratulations, A. That's big.

I'm glad I wasn't the only one jumping for joy when the Harris regime finally fell. Congratulations.

A, of course from past discussions you and I obviously come down on the opposite ends of a lot of political issues, but in this case, I have to say, well done.

A, you da man.

Hey, I read about that this morning! Didn't have any idea it was you...congrats.

Another reason to hate the Whitesox:

"He gone."

Yet another reason to hate the White Sox: their third base coach is Joey Cora. The very same Joey Cora who, when with the Mariners, after going down to the Yankees in the 1995 ALCS cried like a wee baby on the visitor's bench for what seemed like half an hour - in full view of the TV cameras. He was wailing like a 9-year-old little leaguer. I always thought he didn't get enough heat for that.

Take it like a man, Joey!

Kudos, Adam. The formal apology is a significant victory, and I hope an award for damages is forthcoming. It must feel good to know that others who stand by their principles and exercise their rights to dissent will be treated with more respect in the future.

Anyone who protested anything done by the Harris government is a winner to me. Congratulations, Adam.

HIJACK:

I just heard from somebody who works in the Angels organization that they have acquired Randy Johnson. Jeff Mathis and Troy Glaus appear to be in the deal.

Don't take this as gospel. It could be 100% wrong. Let the dissection begin........

How could Randy Johnson get through waivers?

http://www.mathesond.mindsay.com
I don't hate the Sox per se, but their fan base leaves a lot to be desired. Not just the louts that attack coaches and umps, but at each of the last 2 Jays-Sox games I attended at the Cell, the boorish behaviour and near-fights (between Sox and Cubs fans - at a Jays game!?!) greatly lessened the appeal of an otherwise attractive stadium. It actually does have a couple advantages over Wrigley - the bullpen bar, and the beer selection (cheaper scalpers tickets as well). Perhaps the lack of anything remotely resembling a thriving community around the park has something to do with that...Wrigleyville is populated with dozens of bars and restaurants, most of which serve food that can be trusted. The Cell has low-income housing and more low-income housing. Asphalt and concrete and potholes on every street...

Maybe the Angels claimed him on waivers? They'd have a higher priority than NY and Boston (I think)

That's why I'm hesitant to believe it as well.

To tell you the truth, I probably shouldn't have even posted this. It just got me wondering.

Anyways, isn't Glaus a free-agent at the end of the year?

Glaus is a free agent at the end of 2004.

Braden, I think your inside source heard wrong...

http://dugoutdollars.blogspot.com/2003_06_29_dugoutdollars_archive.html
Braden, Dugout Dollars is a good source for contract info.

COMN.

The entire NL would get a chance to claim Unit before Anaheim got to him. Wouldn't DePo put in a claim?

Thanks for the kind words, guys. It was quite the process to go through but luckly we were able to find a resolution to the complaint that allowed all parties involved leaving with a sense of accomplishment. Because of the way the complaints process works, there are still have as many as four more officers who have Police Act charges pending as a result of this incident and there is a civil suit that has been filed.

Back to baseball...

A:

Congratulations. I read the article in the Star this morning. It takes guts to stand up for what you believe in. Glad to see it worked out for you.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/scorecard/08/11/truth.rumors/index.html
From the WTF files.

Read in the SI Truth and Rumors column.

Although he's coveted by the Blue Jays, Devil Rays manager Lou Piniella intends to honor his contract, which runs through 2006.
-- The Tampa Tribune

Interesting how words can get "misconscrewed".

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=240811105
I just checked the Yahoo lineups for tonight (Miller vs. Sabathia) and Frank Menechino (at 3B) is batting fifth. Woodward is the DH. Cat's sitting, Cash is catching. COMN for the whole thing.

Hey A, way to go. Cograts to you and your friends and colleagues for seeing this all the way through. Sometimes justice doesn't seem worth the price paid to attain. But clearly you folks had huge resolve. Harris may be gone, hopefully this will be another wooden stake in his nasty heart.

Out west we're going through many similar issues. If our Government foresee a problem with the law before implementing policy they change the law before hand in order to criminalise the disent.

My hats off to you buddy, thanks for sharing that with us.

That's a completely original lineup from Boomhauer today. I wonder if the Jays can set the record for the most different lineups used throughout the season.

I guess it's possible that the Angels and D-Backs worked out a deal before Johnson hit the waiver wire, and they are now trying to get him through, in which case we wouldn't hear anything for a few days while the waiver situation is sorted.

Apparently, it's a messy situation whether a "10 and 5" guy such as Randy is even allowed to be waived under the CBA. In which case, Randy really could be stuck with the D-Backs, since he can't be traded without passing waivers. And yes, as NFH points out someone would claim him, so I don't know how he could get passed.

I'm happy for your victory, A, but do you mind not using such ethnic slurs as paddywagon?

http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=paddywagon&x=0&y=0

I'm happy for your victory, A, but do you mind not using such ethnic slurs as paddywagon?

Mike, that was sarcasm right?

If not...

There was a time when the term Paddy was considered an insulting term, but (IMO) it is long past. In the word in question, "paddy" refers to the policemen, not the suspects. Finally, all of my cousins who were christened "Patrick" (Padraig) go by the nickname Paddy. I don't think any of them find the term particularily offensive.

Confusedly,

jc

Mike, that was sarcasm right?

Not at all. You'll notice that news outlets will never use the term due to its origin as an ethnic slur. The odd time it does crop up it's usually followed by a letter to the editor.

Not at all. You'll notice that news outlets will never use the term due to its origin as an ethnic slur. The odd time it does crop up it's usually followed by a letter to the editor.

I stand corrected.

However, after looking up the etymology of the word, I don't see why my people find it so offensive. As a second generation Irish canadian (both my parents are irish immigrants) neither "Paddy" nor "Paddywagon" have bad connotations to me.

Paddy is even a brand of whiskey these days.

Is my sense of history really that bad? I know the Irish had it pretty bad in the 1800's when we first came over during the famine, but we can hardly be considered oppressed people now...

Outstanding news A. Coach said it very well, and I echo his sentiments.

Mike's right (sounds weird, don't it? :-). However, the term was born because of oppressive policy within law enforcement; what happened the day I was arrested was clearly a product of oppression so the comparisons can warrant its use, IMO. That said, I believe the apology refers to them as "Police transportation wagons".