mstar1

by poking my own eyes out for watching that? ugg. That was bad....

Great battle in the East last night for first. Hard fought on both sides---1-1 in the top of the ninth, no outs Rays catcher Dionner Navarro throws out league lead base stealer Jacoby Ellsbury snuffing a possible threat. Bottom of the 9th (Rays)first batter-- a seeing eye bloop hit on an 0-2 pitch, then a 3-2 walk on a close pitch, a strikeout, then an 0-2 HBP ( ) Bases loaded , one out, infield and outfield in, the same Dionner Navarro lofts one over the drawn in outfield for a walkoff win. A late season game with two teams tied for first, a great game going to the bottom of the ninth and a walkoff win. Tropicana Field was about 2/3rds full...I dont know why they cant draw more down there

Who knows? I'd definitely vote for Santo and Dick Allen in a heartbeat, and probably Luis, since he has the near exact career numbers as Catfish Hunter (Who is IN) The veterans committee is an odd group--even though a lot of those names are deserving-the last MLB Player they voted in was Bill Mazeroski (lifetime average .260) and that was 8 years ago.

THIS YEARS Veterans ballot: Dick Allen Gil Hodges Jim Kaat Ron Santo Luis Tiant Joe Torre Tony Oliva Al Oliver Vada Pinson Maury Wills

Its been an odd year for pitchers. Daisuke Matsuzaka is 17-2 now.. I have no way of knowing how--favored by the baseball Gods or something Ive been watching all year and he honestly is not all that the record makes him out to be. Its the Sloppiest 17-2 I ever recall seeing. I cant say anything about Lee(I havent seen him all year) but 22-2 is unbelievable I'll take last nights move back into first (OK I know the sox are off by .002) for the first time in months though, theres nothing like hammering a good pitcher like Kazmir to boost your confidence a little

Well I guess in about two weeks we'll all know if it worked for them. I dont know anything about Dale Sveum's managerial skills, I can say In his years here he had the worse judgement of any thirdbase coach I have ever seen. He killed more innings by sending runners home who had no reason rhyme or right or even close chance of ever making it. Only once in my life have I ever seen three runners thrown out at the plate in one inning and Sveum was the one who sent them all home to get thrown out by miles...it was one of the stupeeedest things Ive seen in recent years Hopefully he is a better manager and has 'matured' in his judgement since he left here

What? WTF? two weeks to go in the season??? Did they have a clubhouse revolt or a drunken brawl or something in Milwaukee? I dont follow the Brewers closely but on the surface that makes no sense at all

I didnt catch anything but the highlights after the fact ( one more reason I wish I had the MLB package) anytime anyone throws a no hitter its an incredible accomplishment...Zambrano's reaction afterward was great as well...good for him! Not to take anything away from Z-nohit brano but Im hearing alot of chatter from the Astros way that arent pleased about the site selection ....moving it up to Cubs territory and especially when the Stros are in a fight against the Brewers for the WC.....not really a 'home game' Surprising that they didnt select Arlington ...or Atlanta...or St. Louis.. or even a TripleA place somewhere in Texas to at least approximate somesort of homefield or 'neutral' field adavantage Not a big deal (well at least to me--stros fans may differ) but not hard to see the stamp of Mr. Milwaukee Bud Selig behind it either. Simon are you going to head to the friendly confines for the playoffs? These (go) things (go) dont (go) happen (go) every (go) day (go) you (go) know

Great game today --another beauty by Jon Lester who outdueled Roy Halliday. Im more impressed with him every time I see him pitch --he just gets better and more poised it seems with every outing. Rays lead is now down to 1 game with a series starting tomorrow in St Pete. It felt very odd for me to cheer for my new friends the Yankees against the Rays _______ Just caught the no-hit highlights congratulations to Carlos Zambrano

Great Post DWBH Heres the LINK to the Accrediting Commission Imternational

The clip was on a sox fan messageboard site that I go to...... We have had several conversations this year about pitchers tipping pitches--a lot of guys do to some extent but hardly ever this obviously. It takes a very keen eye with most pitchers to pick it up.. Yesterday one guy got fed up calling every pitch before it was thrown and put together the video. There are several people in the Sox organization who are involved in the site --- so hopefully it gets back to Byrd and pitching coach John Farrell and they can make the mechanical changes necessary before his next start and before the video gets out to the rest of the league

Im still waiting to see what Manny will do if the Dodgers/Sox make it to the series..... .... you know it cant be a good thing when exactly how your pitcher tips his pitches is displayed on youtube for all the world to see... from yesterdays game.... Byrd gave up 8 runs in short order as the Red Sox split their doubleheader with the Jays. Hopefully someone on the RedSox will get this video and have Byrd correct his delivery

I have no idea --I only know what was written in the article--I know there was an english game called rounders---that was supposed to be similar....but so far they are only using it as the first mention of base ball. I dont know what it really looked like. Of course being played by the "Three Miss Whiteheads, Miss Billinghurst and Miss Molly Flutter" then stopping for tea--- It could look like badminton or croquet for all I know.. Im pretty sure the Origins Committee at SABR (Society for American Baseball Research) will have some interesting articles on it soon...... Sometimes I question my sanity---I drove 3 hours, paid $25.00 for parking then sat through 8 innings of pouring rain --BUT-- I saw my 2nd shutout in 4 days (never seen that before)---last night as Wakefield 3 hit the hot Jays. which to me made it all worth it... I hope those kids on the other thread make their game at Yankee Stadium today --the weather on th east coast (well just about everywhere I guess) is pretty dicey right now.. Edit: From Wikipedia: Origins of Baseball

Thatsa my job Im quiet in and around churches -almost nobody ever knows Ive even been there- basically I only go in them to work and in fact I dont even belong to one...but my windows hang out in a lot of them. I try to work them so that they will create an atmosphere conducive to worship--- if thats anything -a 'call'-I dont really know--but I do knowThe OT recognizes by name the craftsman of the tabernacle and says they were called and gifted to do that work. I honestly can get more of a feel of a church when no one is there and it is totally empty just by seeing the care and concern in the architecture, craftsmanship, details and artwork that they have produced and commissioned...than by hearing a thousand 'teachings'--- some people may not notice but I do and thats often enough to carry me for quite awhile

For you history fans Sports Illustratedthis week has an article linking baseball to England in 1755... So there you have your first baseball review. Being from England Im sure that the Origins researchers are having a great time with it. Who would have ever figured that the first baseball names would be "Miss Molly Flutter" ? or "Jelly"? What Great baseball names! ---bet they couldnt hit the breaking ball though.

Ive said before (on the other thread) that Ive been there a few times over the years, The best was walking into it for the first time. After seeing games at comparatively tiny Fenway I couldnt believe how massive it was when I first walked in, it was huge! The old monuments then IN centerfield, the facade and the incredible steepness of the deck that I was in all made an impression on me. This was before the 70's renovation--old centerfield seemed a mile away. There was an oldtimers game that day and Joe Dimaggio lined a single to center. Im too young to have seen him in his playing day prime, but thats a memory that I'll ever forget. Seeing Joe D hit-- he was as graceful at the plate even in his elder years as anyone ever said that he was. Im pretty sure that the Yankees (or the city of New York--whoever really owns it now) will be auctioning off seats and just about everything when it starts to come down if some of you fans want a memento. A whole Lot of history runs through your head when you walk through those turnstyles

Thanks for all the TAJ DWHB! Now Im having an urge to " "

Thanks for sharing that. Im a Sox fan so I have the same feelings about Fenway--but I DO understand the feeling and the sentiment. We have had a recurring conversation over the last year or so here about Yankee Stadium--personally I find it hard to believe that its being replaced. Its like tearing down the Vatican to build a newer one but they are doing waht they are doing. Its a very insightful and thoughtful act to make sure your sons get there before it closes for good...i hope that it lives up to the 'experience of a lifetime ' for them. As much as its ingrained in me from birth (I am a RedSox fan after-all) to not like it there, there is something very rich deep and textured in the old ballparks that new ones can never have..I can never quite put a finger on it, maybe its the history,-- the ghosts, --or knowing that you are looking at a field where Ruth and Dimaggio and Gehrig and Mantle played and had their glory days, or where there was a perfect game in the World Series, or a thousand memorable events. I really dont know-- but it is palpable and real in those old places and always makes it worth the effort to go. Your doing a good thing for your sons...as a baseball fan I'll say thanks to you.. Best of luck with the accident recovery situation as well

Thanks Waysider I always thought that was a song..I learn something new everyday.

No no I wasnt implying you said that.. I was saying that was TWI's take on the thing, that THEIR view was very narrow. Wierwille went so far in one class as to say that being a piano player was NOT a gift. PFFFFFT (thats a raspberry) the world would be a poorer place without Chopin, Mozart, Beethovan or others who through music were able to bring comfort, inspiration, and expanded vision---and it doesnt have to be Chopin-- a streetcorner fiddler could be completely filling his calling for all I know Thats just in music, in my view people can apply 'their gifts' in near any field of life. Maybe they will be a missionary, a mystic, an author, maybe they will be a mother, an auto mechanic ---I dont know thats up to them and where they specifically are guided But I am convinced its not necessary to become a Wierwille clone spending your life running classes as the only way to heed your call. I read a good book a few years back by Thomas Merton on the subject of 'call' which would be worth reading

Well they are giving Girardi next year and Im pretty sure that they'll gear way up for the first year in the new place. Part of it for you may be geographic, plus you have the Dodgers to keep you company. My freinds out here dont necessarily expect to win every year, but being hit with the doublewhammy of losing the stadium AND missing the playoffs for the first time in way more than a decade is a tough pill(s) for them to swallow..Knowing my friends either one of them alone would be really tough. Together its not sitting well with them at all. It'll make for a long winter---

Its incredibly odd---well in two ways --First fighting the RAYS for first and 2nd wondering where the Yankees are--All I know is that they are in the rearview mirror somewhere but i dont see them.... Im sure Jeter would trade all those hits for another Ring right about now. All in all it must be a tough season for them and the fans. The usually bickering and playful trashtalkng with my Yankee fan friends is nonexistant this year and all I hear from them is depression and countdown to the last game at "The House that Ruth Built" to which they are all in various degrees of mourning. That cant be easy For everyone who is in next year mode already HERES the upcoming Free Agent list

Not only that but WE were dismissed as substandard. Only by readiing the script (puttiing on some new different man) were we deemed to be of any inherent value. the moment that lapsed we were 'tripped out' or any number of phrases that they used to guilt people back on to the marketing plan and forget about their own lives. IMO its only when people forget the script that they'll be able to find themselves and their direction I know my work brings me to churches all around the country. Its no big deal but I like it and the folks there always seem to like it. A 'calling'? I dont know --sometimes it seems that way though I know that TWI would be horrified if they knew what I did (I was told more than a few times I had to drop it). I really dont care, my work will very likely be around long after TWI is long gone and i enjoy doing it.

IMO The "Call" in TWI was incredibly narrow and defined only on their terms. No matter who you were, your life circumstances, your strengths or your dreams when they first met you were funneled in to the PFAL class because you were "called' to take that class and start your ascent up their ladder. Indidviduals were of little importance as long as the machinery kept running. Some people adopted TWI's call as their own, others (and I think most) thwarted their own inner voice to follow the much more discernable and easy route laid out before them. They werent really in the business of helping people find their own calling so much as dictating to them what hey wanted and needed them to do and telling them that was their calling...'to serve the ministry". I disagree--- people can be 'called' to all sorts of things and display great giftedness doing whatever it is they do. They dont need a big fancy title or anything even that overtly christian to make a deep and positive impact on those in their sphere. I dont really care what it is they dont HAVE to be missionaries or pastors or bible thumpers (although they could be). Ive met nurses, teachers, mothers, artists, musicians..... all sorts of people ---who in their opinion were called to what they do and it definitely shows in how they do it. There is room for a lot of people to do alot of things in this world, alot of important things. I never appreciated all that much being told who I had to be in TWI, its hard enough to figure out without being harangued about it all the time.. Yea it took awhile to sort it all out, the further TWI got from my mind the easier it bacame to hear my own thoughts. Im called to be me.

interesting article from BBC News Music Tastes Link to Personality Little Martha - Duane Allman