MLB 2010 2nd Half

	Alex - I was too weak to give in Too strong to lose 07/20/2010 @ 01:57:53 PM
Jenny Finch is retiring http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/news/story?id=5394292		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - Brett Favre Brett Favre Brett Favre Brett Favre Brett Favre Brett Favre Bre 07/20/2010 @ 06:43:26 PM
in the 2nd inning of a game the brewers were trailing 9-0, fielder gets plunked in his first at bat, in his right shoulder blade. really?		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - Super Chocolate Bear 07/20/2010 @ 08:36:09 PM
Well, the man is the size of a small moon, he curves space time around him more than most other players. Does he stand close? Is he slow, or make little attempt to get out of the way? (Lots of guys would get hit, but they try to avoid it, others figure it's a guaranteed base, so why not take it.)		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - 4038 Posts 07/20/2010 @ 08:58:33 PM
I was trying to pay more attention to that recently. He does have more of a closed stance by today's standards (as in, the exaggerated open stance is becoming the standard). I wouldn't say he "crowds" the plate necessarily, but he definitely remains committed to the pitch throughout. In that sense, maybe his aggressiveness makes him more susceptible. He makes good attempts to get out of the way. In fact, sometimes it looks obnoxious how he twists out of the way to avoid it, although he could just be twisting in order to have the ball hit him in the back rather than the front, which is what they taught us in little league. He wears padding on his elbow, but you NEVER see him lean into anything. In fact, he is the only player I've seen who tries to convince the umpire that he didn't get hit sometimes, because he'd prefer to swing the bat rather than take a base. Tonight didn't really look like he was getting "thrown at", not at first glance anyway. Maybe the Pirates thought they'd try their luck and getting him to go off and get suspended. Prince did hit a homer yesterday, so clearly the two are related.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Micah - 542 Posts 07/20/2010 @ 09:11:11 PM
If you look at the stats it seems that getting hit is more about the batter than the pitcher. Chase Utley has led the majors in being hit for 3 straight years, and the same players pop up year after year. I haven't heard anything about Utley being a total ass who pisses off pitchers all the time. FYI, lots of Brewers at the top of the lists. Rickie Weeks has led the NL twice, Geoff Jenkins in 2005, Jason Kendall is the active leader. Maybe Fielder is just trying to fit in.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - 4038 Posts 07/20/2010 @ 09:38:47 PM
3 hbp since the all-star break, in 6 games. That's the equivalent of getting his 81 times in a season.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Sarah - 2800 Posts 07/20/2010 @ 09:44:54 PM
There's something about Prince that makes people want to hit him, whether voluntarily or not.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - 4038 Posts 07/20/2010 @ 10:58:16 PM
Well, if that is the case, MLB should rethink how they investigate and punish beanballers. If Fielder leans into lots of pitches, or doesn't try to get out of the way, then let him take his lumps. But I don't think that's the case. It might be the case with Rickie; afterall, it is his job to get on base. Prince doesn't want to get a free pass to first base. He wants to hit the ball. And he certainly doesn't want to get hurt and have to worry about whether or not this next at bat is going to end with a ball to the head.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - If you aren't enough without it, you'll never be enough with it. 07/21/2010 @ 08:46:18 AM
Uecker returns on Friday! Let the celebration begin!		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - Ma'am, can you make sure your computer is turned on? 07/21/2010 @ 09:11:52 AM
An article about baseball teams and their announcers. While they seemed to miss Uecker in the article, who definitely qualifies as one of these guys (who has been with his team for almost 40 years), I think the point is well made. Former Brewers radio announcer, Pat Hughes (current cubs radio man), said this: with players changing teams so much these days, it's the announcer many times that is the one consistent thing and the one consistent thread between the public and the ballclub. As far as I'm concerned, Bob Uecker's voice is what Brewer games sound like. He has had some very good partners in the booth, and I have liked all of them, but baseball, to me, sounds like Bob Uecker. I feel very fortunate to have had Mr. Baseball to listen to all of my life.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.
Scott screwed with this at 07/21/2010 9:18:44 am

	Matt - 2109 Posts 07/21/2010 @ 10:28:21 AM
This first quote is from the old thread: Jon Wrote - 07/17/2010 @ 11:37:05 PM Local tidbit, the Eau Claire Express had a player get hit by a pitch three times in one game on Friday. In the Northwoods League All-Star Game last night, this same player (Steve McGuiggan in case you were wondering) was hit by a pitch two more times. Scott Wrote - Today @ 08:46:18 AM Uecker returns on Friday! Let the celebration begin! That's great news. And speaking of the Northwoods League All-Star Game, it was cool to see that the Express (who were hosting) put up banners at Carson Park of some of the more famous players who played for the Eau Claire Bears/Braves when they were a minor league franchise from the 1930s to the 1960s. I saw banners for: Joe Torre, Andy Pafko, and of course, Bob Uecker. There was also one for Burleigh Grimes, a WI native who played for the Eau Claire Commissioners of the Minnesota-Wisconsin League in 1912. I didn't see one for Hank Aaron, but seeing as he has a statue out in front of the stadium, I guess they figured he was covered.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.
Matt screwed with this 4 times, last at 07/21/2010 10:37:21 am

	Jeremy - Cube Phenomenoligist 07/21/2010 @ 10:38:27 AM
Blackburn is heading to the bullpen, being replaced by Duensing.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - 4038 Posts 07/21/2010 @ 06:15:50 PM
Fielder HBP again. Just saying.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Sarah - How do you use these things? 07/21/2010 @ 09:12:10 PM
White Sox are showing quite a bit of interest in Fielder. I'd like to see Pavano hit'em!		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Micah - 542 Posts 07/23/2010 @ 08:42:33 AM
You can do all the tailgating you want. This is how they roll in MSP. New strip club could toss more curves at Twins fans		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Alex - 3060 Posts 07/23/2010 @ 10:28:03 PM
Too bad the Brewers didn't let Hoffman walk and make JAxford the closer to start the season. Management fail.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - 4038 Posts 07/24/2010 @ 06:39:32 AM
I don't think you could have predicted Axford's success. Hoffman's demise, maybe.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Alex - Ron Johnson for Senate, do it! 07/24/2010 @ 12:47:40 PM
Insider content, very interesting HOF stats analysis http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/insider/news/story?id=5403586		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - 4038 Posts 07/24/2010 @ 07:41:06 PM
Weeks got hit in the ear hole today with a fastball. And he is NOT crowding the plate at all. It was a rookie pitcher who was all over the place. If you don't know how pitch inside, you have no business coming inside. This is starting to get a little ridiculous. Weeks has been hit 19 times this season and it's only July. Speaking of this, and Macha said that the NFL seems so far ahead of baseball on things like this, suspensions should be handed out for things like this. The NFL protects the QB from pretty much everything, and a lot of those things aren't really that threatening to the QB's health. Well, getting hit in the head with a 90+ MPH pitch IS a big deal. Players have had their careers ended by that kind of stuff. I think baseball should look at almost a 0 tolerance policy when it comes to HBP to the head. Again, if you don't know how to pitch inside, A) you shouldn't be in baseball, or B) you have no business pitching inside. Through the ball over the plate or go home.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.
Scott messed with this at 07/24/2010 7:52:02 pm

	Sarah - 2800 Posts 07/25/2010 @ 10:15:01 AM
We all saw the hit live and knew you were imploding somewhere. Morneau got kneed in the head earlier this month (July 6th?) and is still on the DL with post-concussion syndromes. Accidents are going to happen. You're throwing a ball 90-95 MPH trying to hit a smallish strike zone (or just outside of said strike zone), plus hitters don't have a lot of time to react. But based on how many pitches are thrown a game times all the games being played, the percentage is pretty low of getting hit in the head (unless you're a Brewer). I'm not entirely blaming the Brewers for getting hit all the time (especially with a ball to the head), but they have to be doing something wrong. It could be that they're crowding the plate, being jerkwads, or just being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Complete sidenote, we'll be in Tampa for a couple days in a week or so. Any places we have to go to? Anything we need to know about Tropicana Field? (besides the fact that it sucks?)		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Sarah - So's your face 07/25/2010 @ 01:12:50 PM
A Twins batter has been hit by a pitch in every game for the last 2 games. I demand retribution!		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - 4038 Posts 07/25/2010 @ 08:06:15 PM
The Trop? Nothing too out of the ordinary to make sure you see there. Just a warning, there will be lots of cowbell there. If you get a chance to get to Channelside in Tampa at somepoint, that can be fun, especially a Dueling Piano bar called Howl at the Moon. Even if you aren't a drinker, it can be a lot of fun, if you are or are with the kind of people who like to sing songs everyone knows. It gets crowded though, so get there before 9:00 if you are going to go. Clearwater beach is fun, and it's not too far away from Tampa. As far as the Brewers doing things wrong to get hit by pitches, I have been paying attention to that a lot recently, and that has been brought up by other people too. Rickie Weeks stands in the middle of the box. He isn't crowding the plate. I'm also not saying that pitchers should pitch inside. Hitters need to be pitched inside, especially powerhitters (I guess Weeks qualifies as one now, since he has 20 home runs this year). But, pitching inside and letting a fastball get away that ends up in someone's ear are two different things entirely. If you run the risk of hitting someone in the face because you don't have good enough control as a pitcher, you should not be in the Majors. And I think it is in everyone's best interest to attempt to cut down HBP, since they are indeed the cause of a fair amount of injuries. Also, getting kneed in the head as a baserunner is not exactly analogous to getting hit by a pitch. Morneau's thing was a little more of a freak accident. I'm just saying that baseball should do what it can to make sure that HBPs are less frequent by sending a message to pitchers (and managers) that it isn't something that should be tolerated. In spring training this year, Fielder intentionally (there are no debates about it) got plunked by a Giants pitcher because the Brewers got a little too excited about a walkoff home run in their own park. That type of thing should be investigated, and I think pitchers SHOULD be suspended are disciplined in some way if there is suspicion that players are getting hit intentionally. And yes, accidents do happen. Weeks got hit in the head the other day. Two batters later, Ryan Braun went sprawling out of the way of a ball headed at HIS head. Accidents? probably. But again, that pitcher should not be allowed to be in the game if his control is that suspect that he can't help but throw at guys' heads. For the Brewers to get balls at the head twice in one inning to two of their better players, if they don't feel like baseball is trying to protect their players, why shouldn't the brewers line up an Adam Dunn or an Albert Pujols and drill a fastball at their head? It comes down to this: there is no question that baseball has had and still has this sort of "self-policing" mentality, and the enforcement of offenses is hitting the opposing team's batters. MLB should punish this behavior. It is in everyone's best interest for baseball to crackdown on this. Prince Fielder has been plunked 4 times in the since the All-Star break. That's about once every 2.5 games. I'm not demanding retribution for the sake of the Brewers. I'm demanding baseball clean itself up for baseball's sake.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.
Scott perfected this at 07/25/2010 8:08:23 pm

	Scott - 4038 Posts 07/25/2010 @ 08:09:59 PM
And as a note, I'm not sure what teams were playing, but a few days ago a game between the Dodgers and someone ended up in a bean fest and players and managers were ejected and whatnot. It's not me saying "the Brewers are getting picked on, do something" as much as is just me noticing it more now since the Brewers are getting hit more than every other team in baseball.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - No, I did not change your screen saver settings 07/25/2010 @ 09:37:58 PM
This is kind of a neat story. Adam Dunn visited Bob Uecker in the booth on Saturday during the game.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Sarah - 2800 Posts 07/25/2010 @ 10:22:07 PM
Scott Wrote - Today @ 08:06:15 PM Also, getting kneed in the head as a baserunner is not exactly analogous to getting hit by a pitch. Morneau's thing was a little more of a freak accident. I just meant I know how serious it is for a player to get a concussion, whether it be by knee or ball. They have designed better helmets to prevent concussions and once Morneau returns, he is going to try it out. This is concussion number 2 for him in the ML and preventative measures need to be taken, no doubt. I just don't know what they can do about a pitch getting out of control and plunking a guy in the head. Thanks for the Tampa info.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - Brett Favre Brett Favre Brett Favre Brett Favre Brett Favre Brett Favre Bre 07/26/2010 @ 07:19:35 AM
Concussions suck, even in baseball; they tend to have lingering effects. What is crazy about Morneau's deal is that it looked fairly innocent. It didn't look at first glance like he got clobbered that bad, but sometimes it doesn't take much. Corey Koskie's career basically ended after what appeared to just be an awkward fall chasing a fly ball that turned out to be a concussion, and the post concussion syndrome seemed to last over a year.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Micah - 542 Posts 07/26/2010 @ 07:30:34 AM
Scott Wrote - Yesterday @ 09:06:15 PM If you run the risk of hitting someone in the face because you don't have good enough control as a pitcher, you should not be in the Majors. Come on, if this were true Randy Johnson, Nolan Ryan and about every other pitcher with an upper-90's fastball wouldn't have been allowed in the majors. Also, Weeks has averaged 15 HBP a year (not counting last year) in his career, leading the league in 2006 and is leading the league this year, on pace for 30. Pitchers can't account for that kind of consistency.		Rate this comment Yours: Total: Rated 1 times.
Micah perfected this at 07/26/2010 7:35:28 am

	Jeremy - 6781 Posts 07/26/2010 @ 12:07:11 PM
It's probably either something the Brewers are doing, the NL Central has wild pitchers, everyone hates the Brewers, or some combination of all that. However statistical anomalies happen. There's not necessarily anything to read into it. Changing the penalties won't really effect anything, and if they did effect things we wouldn't want it. Bean balls to the head are almost always accidental. You can't police accidents with penalties. About the only thing you could do was make the penalties stiff enough that no pitcher wants to throw at the inner half of the plate, which would change the game dramatically, and still not eliminate it. Plus that's one more thing to get "in the pitcher's head" which would probably lead to more issues. It would be like changing the fine for car accidents to $1 million. It would do little to nothing to prevent accidents, because they're accidents. Any effect it had on people driving more cautiously would be just as likely to cause more accidents. (People get all up in their head, get too vigilant about their surroundings at the expense of watching where they're going, some people slow down leading to everyone on the road going much different speeds, etc)		Rate this comment Yours: Total: Rated 1 times.
Jeremy perfected this 3 times, last at 07/26/2010 12:11:27 pm

	Scott - If you aren't enough without it, you'll never be enough with it. 07/26/2010 @ 12:24:35 PM
Speaking of Mike Matheny. This reminded me of this story. Jose Valentin had to bat in the ninth inning in a pool of blood after Matheny took one off the face. Anyway, I'm done with the HBP craze. I'll report back if Prince rushes the mound tears off the pitcher's throwing arm and I'll say I told you so, or if Ricky Weeks breaks an arm or something.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - Broadcast in stunning 1080i 07/26/2010 @ 02:49:29 PM
To be fair, Rickie Weeks and Price Fielder could both be killed in tonight's game by wild pitches, that wouldn't make you any more prophetic. The only thing that would need to change asap is the fact that the game apparently continued after a player was killed. Intentional plunkings are rarely headshots. Headshots will always be a part of the game. Could someone be seriously hurt? Sure. It's happened before, and it will happen again. However, there's not a whole lot that can be done about it. A batter is standing, more or less, directly in the way of a hard object being chucked at 85-100 MPH, more than 1000 times a season. It's inevitable. If a pitcher is just crazy out of control he wouldn't be pitching long. The sickest out pitch in the world wouldn't matter if you plunk every 6th batter. If there's anything that is bound to seriously hurt, or kill, someone, that baseball could do something about with a simple policy change, it's getting rid of the toothpick handled bats players are breaking every other at bat, which send shards flying in completely unpredictable directions.		Rate this comment Yours: Total: Rated 1 times.
Jeremy edited this 2 times, last at 07/26/2010 2:56:03 pm

	Scott - 4038 Posts 07/26/2010 @ 08:11:13 PM
Fielder HBP...19 times, 5 times in last 11 games (since all-star break).		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - 4038 Posts 08/02/2010 @ 08:20:47 AM
Corey Hart signed an extension through 2013. With Matt Gamel making a "transition" to first base in the minors, I wonder what this means for a possible Fielder deal.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Sarah - So's your face 08/02/2010 @ 10:16:03 AM
Was Fielder ever an option once his current contract is over? Yay for Corey Hart. Gets a great amount of money for staying on a mediocre team. :)		Rate this comment Yours: Total: Rated 1 times.
Sarah messed with this at 08/02/2010 10:16:52 am

	Scott - No, I did not change your screen saver settings 08/02/2010 @ 11:59:44 AM
I think Fielder is somewhat of an option still. This sort of pushes the options further towards the edge of the table, and coupled with Fielder having one of the most ruthless agents in all of sports, this move probably indicates that talks aren't going well and the Brewers are planning on what to do post-Fielder.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Alex - 3060 Posts 08/02/2010 @ 12:56:35 PM
$26.5 million total. Which is more than twice what he is making this year after a lot of people were surprised at how much he got in arbitration. So dollars wise, doesn't seem like that great of a deal for the Brewers. Also, there was an insider article last week I think that said Hart, McGehee, Weeks, and Fielder have all hit a lot of "just enough" distance home runs and, other than Fielder, have %s that are likely to fall back down to the norm in the future. It cites Werth's HR decrease as an example. http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/insider/news/story?id=5417018 If they got any good offers I really think they should have sold high on him. Unless Mark A. really has that much money to dump into the team's salary.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Alex - 3060 Posts 08/02/2010 @ 01:07:29 PM
Fielder is gone. Gamel moving probably indicates that, plus that they plan on staying with McGehee at 3rd for a while. Although that would probably but McGehee at cleanup and Gamel 5th? Or Escobar second and just have him bunt Weeks over a base every time with Hart going to 4th? Plenty of time to worry about that later I guess.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - 4038 Posts 08/02/2010 @ 01:13:27 PM
Alex might indeed be right, but they Brewers do have a decent offensive team right now. So for a the short term, maybe locking up some of their current offensive players and hoping to come across some better pitching in the next 2 or 3 years is what their current outlook is on. If they lose too many of their core of offensive players, it could be years again before they can field another playoff team. In addition, Weeks is a free agent soon and they can probably sign him to a short contract as well, and Fielder is probably gone during this offseason. In other words, the Brewers appear to have about a 3 year window with their current offense, which while it is a bit streaky at times, is very adequate. If they can't get pitching to compliment it by the end of Hart's contract, they probably have to consider the whole rebuilding phase again, because they don't have much for prospects like they did when the "Fielder-hart-hardy-weeks" core was together in the minors.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.
Scott perfected this at 08/02/2010 1:15:35 pm

	Alex - You've got to trust your instinct, and let go of regret 08/02/2010 @ 05:09:32 PM
I agree that is basically the plan they seem to be going with. Somehow they need to trade Fielder for at least 2 good starters, or an ace and some projects/cheap inning eaters. And do it this winter I think. You could say, let's keep him and see how next year goes and trade in July if we're out of it, but there's a 95% chance they'll be out of it if they don't get some starting pitching (I'd go higher, but they did have a number of guys on 1 year contracts if I remember correctly so they could get lucky with a free agent or two, which was also the plan for this year...).		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - 4038 Posts 08/02/2010 @ 07:54:43 PM
Alex Wrote - Today @ 05:09:32 PM I agree Mark the date!		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - 4038 Posts 08/02/2010 @ 09:51:53 PM
It was probably his fault for standing there, but Carlos Gomez got nailed square in the ear hole. The Brewers lead the NL by about 17 hitbatsmen, but hey, these things just happen. edit: and Gomez was immediately taken out of the game.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.
Scott edited this at 08/02/2010 10:01:43 pm

	Scott - If you aren't enough without it, you'll never be enough with it. 08/02/2010 @ 10:02:09 PM
Jeremy Wrote - 07/26/2010 @ 12:07:11 PM Bean balls to the head are almost always accidental. This is probably half true. A bean ball to the head is rarely intentional; that is true. But, a bean ball to the head is most likely the result of a pitcher who doesn't know how (or isn't good enough) to pitch inside who tries coming inside high and in. The message somehow should be sent that if you don't know how to pitch inside, there are going to be consequences. If you don't know how to pitch inside, don't risk someone's career. It's a lack of talent that results in shots to the head.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - 4038 Posts 08/03/2010 @ 09:40:20 PM
This HBP thing is getting infuriating, and it's seems to be all the way from the top. In the first two game of the Cubs-Brewers series, the Cubs have plunked the Brewers 4 times. Once to Fielder, twice to Gomez, and once to Gallardo who clearly is a notorious plate crowder. Tonight, Fielder gets plunked (oh, the Brewers haven't hit anyone this series), and BOTH BENCHES GET WARNED!!! WTF?!?!? Really? The Cubs apparently have open season against the Brewers, and with the Brewers not having done anything, if the umpire thinks that a Brewers pitcher comes in a little too close for the rest of this game he gets automatically ejected and suspended??? Someone try to defend that, I would love to hear a reasonable explanation for how that makes any sense at all. In fact, just for that, I am hoping one of these days Macha sends someone up to the mound to take matters into his own hands, because clearly MLB thinks there is nothing wrong with what is going on.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Alex - 3060 Posts 08/03/2010 @ 11:25:53 PM
Is the umpire even allowed to only warn one team? That would seemingly give the other team open season. The only one I've seen live was Gomez in the head last night, didn't look at all intentional to me. It's not like these are All-Star caliber pitchers the Cubs are running out there. Have someone throw a pitch 10 ft over the batter's head. Maybe Hoffman.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - Dog fighting is sick. Don't be a Vick. 08/04/2010 @ 09:15:25 AM
Well, they can't just warn one team. But it seemed weird to give either team a warning. They didn't necessarily seem intentional, and even the Brewers announcers said so. The Cubs pitcher that nailed gomez in the head was optioned to AAA after the game, so I suppose that's a bit of justice, and evidence that the cubs just suck.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - Brett Favre Brett Favre Brett Favre Brett Favre Brett Favre Brett Favre Bre 08/04/2010 @ 02:39:50 PM
I should start a new thread called "Scott's Unhealthy Obsession with Hitbatsmen conspiracies", but here's some more from this ongoing saga: Macha concerned about beanballs "In exercising their judgement [of whether a pitch was intentional]", Solomon wrote, "umpires have been instructed to be mindful that, given the skill of most Major League pitchers, a pitch that is thrown at the head of a batter more likely than not was thrown there intentionally." - Major League Baseball executive vice president of baseball operations Jimmie Lee Solomon in a memo from May 23, 2010. "Everybody is getting hit in the head and nobody is getting thrown out," - Ken Macha		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.
Scott screwed with this 2 times, last at 08/04/2010 2:40:33 pm

	Scott - Brett Favre Brett Favre Brett Favre Brett Favre Brett Favre Brett Favre Bre 08/04/2010 @ 04:04:29 PM
4 HBP by the cubs in the fist two games...no ejections. 1 HBP by the Brewers in the 3rd game...immediate ejection of pitcher and manager.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Alex - But let history remember, that as free men, we chose to make it so! 08/09/2010 @ 01:44:27 PM
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5449338 Brewers and Reds swap Edmonds for Chris Dickerson. Dickerson has way less experience, but his OPS is only 26 points less than Hart (power) and it looks like he steals more bases. They are the same age. Apparently he can't hit lefties though.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - No, I did not change your screen saver settings 08/09/2010 @ 02:37:24 PM
With Lorenzo Cain up now and clearly showing that he's ready for the big leagues, the 40 year old Edmonds became very expendable. So getting someone 13 or so years younger than him, even if statistically it was lateral, doesn't seem like that bad of a deal. Edmonds didn't have that much value anyway.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Matt - Ombudsman 08/11/2010 @ 12:30:48 AM
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100809&content_id=13241938&notebook_id=13257288&vkey=notebook_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou The sideways hat should have been the girl's first clue.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Matt - Nutcan.com's MBL 08/18/2010 @ 11:00:27 AM
You can put it on the board... yes!		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - Broadcast in stunning 1080i 08/18/2010 @ 11:36:02 AM
Broken! I take it you've watched the game now? Edit: Damn, I really want to hear that.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.
Jeremy edited this at 08/18/2010 11:47:49 am

	Matt - 2109 Posts 08/18/2010 @ 01:39:08 PM
It wasn't anything that special, but.... Steve Stone was mid sentence when Thome hit it, and they both went dead silent for about a minute. Then Hawk just says, "We'll be right back" as they go to commercial.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Matt - Nutcan.com's MBL 08/23/2010 @ 10:14:36 PM
This is for Sarah, since I know how much she was interested in it.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.
Matt screwed with this at 08/23/2010 10:15:10 pm

	Sarah - How do you use these things? 08/24/2010 @ 10:31:05 PM
Pass		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - No one's gay for Moleman 09/07/2010 @ 09:55:50 PM
Hoffman is 1 out (and 2 strikes) away from save 600. I can hear Scott fainting somewhere. Edit: and he did it.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.
Jeremy perfected this at 09/07/2010 9:58:49 pm

	Scott - 4038 Posts 09/07/2010 @ 10:04:16 PM
I watched it with a quiet appreciation for a very special moment. It is very exciting that he was a Brewer when it happened. I didn't jump, yell, or even clap. But nonetheless, it was a moment that made my heart leap just a little bit. I can appreciate what he's done especially with how he's struggled mightily all the while keeping such a positive attitude and being a very positive influence especially on John Axford. Just a special moment all around, for the Brewers, for Trevor Hoffman, and for baseball.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.
Scott edited this 2 times, last at 09/07/2010 10:07:14 pm

	Scott - Ma'am, can you make sure your computer is turned on? Yesterday @ 10:26:37 AM
For the record, I thought that ESPN was noticeably absent from covering this story last night or this morning. ESPN's front page was more interested in Reggie Bush getting stripped of no he didn't the Heisman trophy. I think a milestone like this should have been given a little more respect by the world wide leader in sports.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.
Scott messed with this at 09/08/2010 10:26:58 am

	Jeremy - 6781 Posts Yesterday @ 11:22:06 AM
I don't know. It was made a bigger deal because of his struggles this season and the possibility he wouldn't make it, but no other player had 556-599 saves either. It was a nice moment last night, but he didn't pass anyone, he just hit a round number. (Though precedent has been well established that nice round numbers are celebrated with fervor.) It was just unfortunate timing. The NFL is by far the biggest deal. More people go to ESPN for football news in the offseason than other sports in their peak, and the NFL kicks off a little over 24 hours from now.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - 4038 Posts Yesterday @ 12:37:52 PM
Yeah, I think you're mostly right about both points you bring up. I wasn't looking for a big celebration, but ESPN would have you believing that the world stood still waiting for Alex Rodriguez to hit home run number 600, and not only was that just a round number, he isn't in the lead, and his integrity has been called into question with the steriods thing. And the sports worlds DOES stand still when a player is at bat with 2,999 career hits, and rightfully so. Hoffman is one of the feel good stories that ESPN usually drools over. And you are right, it was just unfortunate timing. I'm not upset, but I feel that ESPN of all entities should have recognized the achievement for what it was. They treated it like it was someone hitting for the cycle, or a triple play. This is a career achievement that may never be equaled.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.
Scott perfected this 2 times, last at 09/08/2010 12:43:15 pm

	Jeremy - 6781 Posts Yesterday @ 12:55:49 PM
I don't know about the 2,999 hits thing, but they definitely made too big of a deal out of ARod, but that's because they love talking about the Yankees, and because of a lot of the reasons you mentioned, rather than in spite of them. * Jim Thome has launched a series of absolute bombs lately that has moved him past MacGuire, and then tied for 8th all time, and is enjoying a Favre like "We knew he could be a good add, but no one saw this coming" season, in a stadium that has proved to swat down anything but no doubt homers, and I haven't heard a whole lot about it outside Twins circles, but to be fair, I haven't/didn't really go looking for it either. *I mean, not to sound like a jerk, but you're comparing one of the most famous athletes in the world, and gets talked about endlessly no matter what he does or doesn't do, and plays in the biggest market in the country, and one of the most famous teams in the world, accumulating something people make a much bigger deal about, while still being relevant, to a guy many people don't know, and plays for a team no one outside the tri state area could find on a map that has been out of contention since roughly 10 days into the season, and whom accumulated lots of something that many people have open disdain for.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.
Jeremy screwed with this 4 times, last at 09/08/2010 1:16:56 pm

	Alex - I was too weak to give in Too strong to lose Yesterday @ 01:58:51 PM
Jeremy Wrote - Today @ 12:55:49 PM Jim Thome has launched a series of absolute bombs lately that has moved him past MacGuire, Maybe that's because no one has ever heard of MacGuire.		Rate this comment Yours: Total: Rated 1 times.

	Scott - 4038 Posts Yesterday @ 02:16:04 PM
Again, this isn't a single moment achievement, or even a single season achievement. This is a significant career achievement by a first ballot hall of famer, or at least a significant career milestone. And it transcends whatever team he plays for. In my memory, ESPN has broken away from regular scheduled programming to air a batters at-bat when he has 2,999 no matter what team the batter has played for. All I'm saying is that the achievement deserved notoriety which it did not get. ESPN treated it as a "oh, interesting things today, Joe McPlayer had a bunt double, Adam Schlefield stole 2nd while standing on third, oh, and Hoffman reached 600 saves." And for that matter, people who watch ESPN, if you don't know who Trevor Hoffman is, then you probably haven't ever watched ESPN in your entire life. So there. Edit: regarding Thome; he is neither in the HR lead, nor has he achieved a milestone number never achieved before. Not the best example. I wouldn't expect much from that either. And historically, passing members on the career homeruns list has warranted just a graphic saying "and here's where he now stands on the all-time list".		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.
Scott edited this 3 times, last at 09/08/2010 2:33:29 pm

	Scott - 4038 Posts Yesterday @ 02:28:45 PM
All I'm saying is that for all the hype they put on numerous other unworthy events in sports (see Lebron James), ESPN dropped the ball big time not giving this story any more play or respect than just another story from the day in sports.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - 6781 Posts Yesterday @ 02:35:10 PM
Well, we could debate if a guy never not in the lead hitting a nice round number is a bigger deal or not than a guy jumping up 2 spots in the top ten of one of the most talked about lists in all of sports, but it's besides the point.* (Though I fail to see how it fails the litmus test of "This is a significant career achievement by a first ballot hall of famer, or at least a significant career milestone. And it transcends whatever team he plays for.") AFAIK MLB network did show it. Part of what made the ARod thing more of a deal that some are saying it should have been was that he failed for so long. They cut to so many at bats because anyone of them could have been 600. If he hit 600 2 days after 599 it wouldn't have been half the deal. If Hoffman blew 6 saves between 599 and 600 there probably would have been more attention on it everytime he went out. It was as much "when is it finally going to happen?" as it was "this is the biggest deal ever!" *Also, like I said, the night he passed Big Mac the front page of espn.com could have been filled with dancing Jim Thome's for all I know, but this is all going down recently, and I barely see mention of it currently, even on the Twins' page.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.
Jeremy edited this 4 times, last at 09/08/2010 3:06:28 pm

	Jeremy - 6781 Posts Yesterday @ 02:45:45 PM
Alex Wrote - Today @ 01:58:51 PM Jeremy Wrote - Today @ 12:55:49 PM Jim Thome has launched a series of absolute bombs lately that has moved him past MacGuire, Maybe that's because no one has ever heard of MacGuire. Heh, I couldn't decide between just "Mac" or the whole name, because I wasn't sure how to spell it, then I got distracted.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.
Jeremy edited this at 09/08/2010 2:47:20 pm

	Sarah - 2800 Posts Yesterday @ 08:32:22 PM
The whole A-Rod hitting his 600th HR drama was beyond ridiculous. I can't believe how many times they cut away from a game to show him strike out or something. The guy did roids! Why celebrate #600 like that? It's not real. I hate the Yankees.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.