Mark_R

You know what I hate? Losing? No. The Cubs? Absolutely. This team just sucks the meat missile.

WIN OR DIE TRYING.

I'd go with Dan Johnson. Plays in a better lineup and should be given more RBI opportunity. I'm still not sold on Zona playing him everyday (he may be playing everyday, I'm not sure). If you're having trouble deciding, think about what you need more: average and moderate RBI totals or good RBI Totals and a moderate average.

What has gotten into Felipe Lopez's legs? He's been burning it up late. Could be playing his way into the first round next year if he keeps it up.

He's done a really good job. He's got that team ready to win for a few years down the road and I hate it so much.

This is intollerable. Fifty dollars for the first person who duct tapes Dusty's mouth shut for longer than 24 hours. I need my sanity back.

You're such a downer! :cry: Where did our beloved Dusty is an idiot raw started last year go?

I'm curious. How do you know baseball isn't like basketball if you don't watch it?

You think that a manager's ire can effect the strikezone but not the reputation of the pitcher? Why is one ridiculous to believe while the other you readily accept as being likely? It is pretty simple. An umpire doesn't care who is pitching or batting. They have no vested interest in the outcome of the game. And I have to assume they are professionals and have integrity. If not then the entire integrity of the game is in question. Now, if in a game the manger keeps complaining it could have an emotional effect. Unintended or not. People like to say the umpires won't call strikes on Bonds. Well that certianly didn't happen last night. And Z was alll over the place. Baseball is not basketball. Your wild speculation on the disposition of umpires isn't very convincing. What is so wild about it. That umpires have inegrity or that they are human? It's funny that you are definitively defining what emotionally effects an umpire and what doesn't. You completely dismiss one emotional factor while accepting another. It's great. It's wild speculation on both sides of the issue but for some reason you laugh at one and deem it to be ridiculous. I'm not sure how you can assume, to the extent that you do, that umpires operate like robots in one situation but become emotionally fragile in another. It really makes no sense. I don't think they operate like robots. But in general, I think they operate like everyone else in society. If a person is driving and someone in a Mercedes passess him going 100 mph it is no big deal. He might notice how nice the car is but he won't get emotional about it. But if the person in the Mercedes cuts him off while they pass him, he might get upset and do something stupid. If an umpire is behind the plate in a Braves/Mets game crica 1995 and Maddux is living on the corner strike. He will call it a strike. He might make a mistake here and there . But I don't think it is the case that automatcially the umpire says to himself, "hey Maddux is pitching I better give hime the corners". Now if Cox starts griping he might get upset and intentionally call a close pitch a ball. How do you know an umps call would be affected by a manager instead of a pitcher? Prove it.

If you really believe number one to be true, you need to start watching more baseball. How about important situations in the playoffs? Do you think certain situations dictate how balls and strikes are called? Oh wait, lets just blame it on them "being human". And I'd like to see those questec numbers.

Glavine Link

Do you ever have it in you to disagree with someone without being so nasty? You mention umpires are human like everyone else and yet you are also suggesting they aren't succeptible to perception or reputation like all other people :?. But even if I accept the reputation-plays-no-factor element of your point just for argument's sake (which I don't), it still doesn't account for "in-game" perception of that performance, regardless of permanent perception or reputation. Strike zones get establsihed during the game. Pitchers that pound the strike zone get more strikes called throughout the game, including border calls. A pitcher that comes out in the 1st inning and throw 15 balls and 5 strikes often won't get those border calls throughout the rest of the game because they have already demonstarted wildness and lack of command. That's just the way it is. That is simply not true. Just so I get your analysis down here. You are saying a pitcher who throws strikes will get strikes called? If a guy is wild, balls will be called if he throws strikes, strikes will be called. You or anyone else cannot tell if a ball is in the strike zone or not sitting in your home watching on TV. The angle of the camera is not centered. Everyone makes mistakes, but there is no reward system for being around the plate most of the time in the early going. That is pure mythology born of ex-ballplayer broadcasters. That's just the way it is. The Braves pitchers always got an extra inch or so off the plate. Some umpires are a little more liberal with a guy who is consistently painting the corners. I don't think this is true. Then you're wrong. prove it. Prove what you're saying is true, you're so adamant in your wrong stance. I can safely say from watching many games over the 90's that that call was given to all of the Braves pitchers. If you choose to be ignorant to what happened, then I can't help you.

Do you ever have it in you to disagree with someone without being so nasty? You mention umpires are human like everyone else and yet you are also suggesting they aren't succeptible to perception or reputation like all other people :?. But even if I accept the reputation-plays-no-factor element of your point just for argument's sake (which I don't), it still doesn't account for "in-game" perception of that performance, regardless of permanent perception or reputation. Strike zones get establsihed during the game. Pitchers that pound the strike zone get more strikes called throughout the game, including border calls. A pitcher that comes out in the 1st inning and throw 15 balls and 5 strikes often won't get those border calls throughout the rest of the game because they have already demonstarted wildness and lack of command. That's just the way it is. That is simply not true. Just so I get your analysis down here. You are saying a pitcher who throws strikes will get strikes called? If a guy is wild, balls will be called if he throws strikes, strikes will be called. You or anyone else cannot tell if a ball is in the strike zone or not sitting in your home watching on TV. The angle of the camera is not centered. Everyone makes mistakes, but there is no reward system for being around the plate most of the time in the early going. That is pure mythology born of ex-ballplayer broadcasters. That's just the way it is. The Braves pitchers always got an extra inch or so off the plate. Some umpires are a little more liberal with a guy who is consistently painting the corners. I don't think this is true. Then you're wrong.

That's the only pitch of the game I saw, when it was replayed on Sports Center. That was a devastating pitch. Too bad half the time it won't be called a strike for Zambrano due to his wildness. If it was called on Bonds, who has the strikezone of a midget at the plate, then Z will consistently get it called.

I thought this was the start of a long homestand for the Giants? They could conceivably keep Barry out if that's the case.

no http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b58/sethuel1/rejected_sweet_jesus.gifI'm losing control of myself. Seth, this dude is gonna make Tim happy, because I'm gonna send some money to put this dude on ignore. No lie.

since you're still "looking for walt" I'd like to dispute your self proclaimed (despite being unrelated to the matter) geniusness. ;)

If this happens, I will potentially dislike you greatly.

You chose not to hang out with the rest of the awesome nsbb'ers there? :cry: Nathan, gotta love ya man, but even I'd tower over him! And I'm very short.

You know what would complete this night? Z plunking Bonds in the knee. And Z challenging Barry to fight.

Holy crap, I think Jones has started to not suck.

haha, the daily cubfaninca pissing match is in effect!

Damn, Bruce is firing. Perhaps you should coddle him more, Bruce ;)

They're already the best team in the NL.

Did Alcantara kick the guy in the face?