Pablo and Tim
Baggs wrote an interesting piece today at the Merc. It’s a comprehensive piece on what Tim and Pablo need to focus on this off season. It suggests that they are having down years as a result of their bodies (Pablo too fat, Tim not conditioned correctly).
Now I love Baggs, I think he’s the best beat writer we have by a mile. When they pan to the writers at the games, Baggerly just LOOKS like he’s about 10 times smarter than everyone in that room. But I think that article is off base. It’s not that I don’t think Panda should lose weight or that Tim shouldn’t work on his conditioning. They should. But the deficits in their respective bodies don’t explain the problems they’ve had this year…..
His velocity has dropped from year to year and the theory is that he’s not conditioned correctly to handle the rigors of a 162 game season year in and year out. Couldn’t it be better explained by the fact that he’s thrown the third most pitches in baseball over the last 3 seasons? This guy weighs about as much as my left bicep, how much conditioning is he gonna have to do to keep up that type of pace at the Cy Young level we’re accustomed to? Baggs uses Oswalt as a comparison but Tim looks like a dwarf compared to Oswalt. A buddy of mine saw Tim at a restaurant in SF last year and couldn’t believe how tiny he was. And forget his listed height and weight, there’s no freaking way he’s 5’11, 170. This dude just doesn’t have the body to throw that many pitches every year no matter how many squats he does or how many miles he runs. And as he ages it’s only going to get worse…….
Panda’s problem, as I’ve identified many times, is nothing more than focus. He was going through a tough emotional time at the start of the year and struggled through that for most of the season. Quite simply, his focus wasn’t 100% on the game of baseball and in this game, if you’re even at 95%, that’s going to ruin you. He hit .330 with the same body last year and I think he’s a little thinner this year. Yet now he’s swinging through hit-me strikes that he killed last year? No way. And as we see him coming out of his year long fog, the “time heals all wounds” theory is making more and more sense. I’d worry about Pablo’s weight as he hits his 30’s. Right now, it’s not as big of a deal as it is for him to get his head straight. And it looks like he’s well on his way to doing that right now just in time for the stretch run……..
Could Tim get stronger/better conditioned legs? Sure. But if he doesn’t start locating his slower pitches better, he’s screwed. And Pablo is already showing that he’s finally got his focus back. Lose some weight, sure. I’d rather see him lose some *dead* emotional weight in his head……..
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
I think it was Huff or Burrell who said a couple of days ago that when Pablo sits back on the ball, he sees the ball better. That is like the 4th reference this year to his eye sight.
He wears glasses in the field but not usually hitting, but I think he has tried. He likely has a dominant eye and that has kept him more off balanced. I am betting he gets laser surgery the day after the season ends.
So I predict that Panda staying back on the ball and seeing better, which seems is exacly what has lead to this current turnaround.
In terms of Timmy, I did not comment on the myopic hair issue (like how I worked that in?) yesterday. Nothing more meaningless. But remember after we signed Zito, he immediately announced he was changing his pitching motion. That was an immediate sign to the rest of the NL that he had no confidence in his stuff.
Now we hear that Tim is trying to adjust his delivery. I think that sends a sign of weakness to opposing hitters that he does not have confidence. But also remember that Bochy sat Cain down two seasons ago and had the fatherly talk that his lack of physical healh and shape was affecting his prformance. I think Bochy or his dad probably needs to give him the come to Jesus meeting. He will be at a turning point in his career next year. He eother returns to form and signs the multi year deal or it will all evaporate if he does not regain his form.
The thing about Tim is he apparently has stopped working with his Dad on mechanics. He was quoted in the Chron saying, “I’m 26. I don’t need a babysitter anymore.”. I guess he bounces stuff off his dad from time to time, but if I’m the Giants, old papa Chris is put on the payroll and his ass is seated right next to Tim’s on that bench.
I agree about Pablo and the emotional shit he had to get through. Last year the dude looked like a little kid playing baseball, just having fun. Lately it seems like he’s having fun again, where as the start of the year, not so much.
I was also thinking he might miss catching a bit. When he plays first and a player gets on, he starts talking up a storm. I can only imagine how much he was in the other teams ears when he was catching.
I’d be surprised if his dad’s mouth is too far away from Tim’s ear. Have you ever heard that dude talk? He’s impossible to shut up, he thinks he knows everything. Even if Tim grew tired of hearing it I can’t imagine if the dude ever stopped that motor mouth.
Yeah, but I’ve kinda wondered if maybe there was a little fallout after the pot bust.
Anybody know how to check the mlb list of “therapeutic use exemptions” for ADHD drugs? Maybe Pablo’s scrip came through. (If they get caught using the drugs without the exemption, it’s a controlled substance violation.) He sure has been hyper the last couple of weeks.
Lincecum’s working through something major. The good news is that he doesn’t seem to be hurt. My money’s still on him. Nobody competes harder.
Flavor, Baggs is just reporting here. He may agree, but the opinions expressed here are those of Bochy and the staff.
“Really, the biggest goal is to get them in the best condition they’ve ever been in,” the manager said in a candid interview before Wednesday’s epic, extra-inning loss to the Reds.
And later;
“For Pablo, the goal isn’t just to get lighter but also agility training. Lots of running. You don’t just make a goal to lose weight. You’ve got to lose it the right way. You work to improve your first-step quickness and your speed, too, if possible.”
And on Tim, Baggs writes:
“But the {coaching staff} believes cardiovascular fatigue and a lack of lower-body strength are reasons his fastball loses steam after two or three innings, contributing to an 11-8 record and 3.72 ERA. The lack of velocity, combined with decreased command, has sapped his confidence.
Actually makes a lot of sense.
Doesn’t a pitcher lose command when he tires?
Later Baggs quotes Bochy:
“With Timmy, it’s all strength and stamina,” Bochy said. “But I’ll say this: He’s taken responsibility already for putting in more time and effort into his workouts. He’s been spending more time in the weight room. He’s got a routine. But that has to carry throughout the offseason, too.”
The question is, is it too late for this season?
TedSpe,
Yes, let’s go through Magnus (aka Big Flavor). I trust him with my address and giving it to you. Thanks in advance for sending the Chron. The blowup doll will be a nice touch, too.
Very good, sir. Just getting the balikbayan box for the blow up doll this afternoon
This just in: Strasburg to have Tommy John surgery. Tough break. Although, it seems nowadays that pitchers come back throwing even harder than before after going under the knife. Can you imagine Strasburg adding a few more mphs to that already ungodly curve? The bigger question, what am I gonna do with all my left over Merry Strasmas wrapping?
Hopefully both these guys see the value of keeping yourself fit and staying busy in off season to prepare for what regular season is going to do to your body (and mind). Plus you have what you do during the season, esp for SPs and how they throw on their off days. Adjust and fine tune. But I don’t think his body limits his season or his career.
The Kid does have an extra burden due to his immediate success at this level (which increases the pressure to maintain/surpass it) added to having his Dad in his ear all the time. I’m sure he has learned to filter out the less useful stuff, but I think the farther away this guy is from him the better. He has his teammates, a pitching coach with years of pro experience, and a manager who was a C, and the longer he stays here I think the more stronger that bond grows, and they mean more to him.
One thing I’m curious about—the SP always seems by himself on the bench btw innings whle his team is at bat. Why?
Remember when Pablo took that trip to Venezuela? That trip was to finalize his divorce. I don’t pretend to understand marital culture in that country, but Panda is still in the sunny end of his 20’s and undoubtedly was going through some heavy shit over the snangle. It took a bit of time after he got back from his homeland till Pablo reverted to Panda. Yes, he has some longterm issues with weight and conditioning, but it appears the dude is back.
As for Timmy ~ well maybe Sandoval should invite him to Winter in Venezuela and enjoy half of his mama’s cooking that he would probably scarf down all by himself. As a mere wisp of a lad Timmy does need to get into a major strength and conditional regime. Whether he has any psychological issues is beyond my knowing. And if the Giants, the courts, or MLB are keeping him off his medicine its their goddamn fault.
A couple thoughts re: yesterday threads…..I’m rooting for Philly to sweep the Pads (and ultimately take the Division and blow ATL out of the water) with all 3 games hopefully going 14 innings or more. There’s plenty of time to catch the Pads, and any help we get is welcomed here.
“DJPhoo” got be POTD of the year land. Chron used to have Joe Bob Briggs do a Sunday column about “Drive in Movie reviews” that was fucking hilarious. At the bottom he always used the word “fu”, i.e. “chainsaw fu”. Along with providing the breast count, up to and including “the dreaded stunt breast”, followed by his rating, “two and a half stars Joe Bob says check it out.”
Max, I’d say no question, command would start to go as a pitcher fatigues. I like what Bochy said there. It sounds to me like he has a handle on the conditioning thing. What he said about losing weight the right is spot-on. I lost about 80 pounds 8 years ago using fitness and diet as my primary methods for doing so, and it works and it makes keeping the weight off a lot easier. I know people who have lost a ton of weight just by cutting back on calories, and they do lose weight but they end up with soft bodies and they lack the muscle base that makes it easier to stay lean. Just my two bits.
Flavor, I think conditioning is a big reason Tim has been fading of late. And throwing a lot of pitches the last three years. His fitness is even more important given his lack of size. Like GH said, next year will be a critical one for him. Does he do what he needs to do to bounce back in terms of preparation, or is the Tim of old gone for good? We’ll find out.
Dennis, that is unbelievable about Strasburg. I feel really bad for the kid. A lot of people had him pencilled in for the HoF the moment he came up, and he may still get there, but with hard throwers you just never know. He has that well-documented hitch in his delivery, and given how hard he throws that hitch is only exacerbated. From sure HoF (in the minds of ESPN) to major arm surgery in less than half a season.
I hope he bounces back as good as ever.
Well lets hope Panda doesn’t become a Kevin Mitchel. God, could you image what Kevin could have accomplished if he had been into conditioning and dedicated to the game. I think he could have given Bonds a run for his money even without droids!!
How did R2D2 help Bonds?
Funny
I think there’s no question that Panda needs to lighten up. He’s a tremendous natural athlete, but carrying that much extra weight has to be a hindrance. I’d guess he’s at least 40 pounds overweight, and that’s just too much, IMO, for a pro ballplayer. I couldn’t believe how much better I felt when I lost the weight, and how much lighter on my feet and agile. I think if he really got into shape he could be a dominant hitter, and he’s good already. Just my opinion.
Maybe in their next round of contract negotiations the Giants could work a pro-rated weight clause into Pablo’s next contract. A contract with both performance and weight considerations may be a first in baseball, but it could work. Seems like money is an amazing motivator for most people.
Real good blog entry, BF. Yeah, anybody that’s seen Timmy in person knows how smallish the guy is. You don’t fully realize that just watching him on TV. The Oswalt comparison has always been wrong. Oswalt is thicker than Tim. Tim just doesn’t have that “thickness” you see in pro athletes. Tim is truly amazing in how he’s had so much success against all odds.
As for Tim and his dad….I’m guessing part of Tim’s reluctance to go to Dad more these days is maybe Tim got tired of all the talk of how the Dad “created” the Freak pitcher, like a scientist in a laboratory. At some point, the kid just wants to be recognized for his own accomplishments, and not seen as somebody’s protege all the time. Maybe that’s some stubborn pride or whatever, but it’s understandible.
Here are my observations on the Grizzlies / Rivercats game last night:
– The stands were filled with Giants fans. Giants jerseys and caps in my section outnumbered A’s stuff easily 10 to 1. Giants unis even outnumbered Rivercats gear at least 2 to 1. Most of the cheering was for the Rivercats, though. The family next to us all had Giants caps on and cheered for the ‘Cats.
– Sosa didn’t have great stuff but somehow managed to stay in command of the Rivercats. Hitters were sitting on his fastball, which had little movement. There were several well hit shots off his FB but Sosa was the beneficiary of a couple of hard hits right at players, a couple of really stupid baserunning mistakes by the Cats and a couple of well-timed SOs. He seemed to lose some control when he went into the stretch and it also felt like he got a little rattled when guys got on base.
– The Grizzlies bullpen was straight up dominant. That was my first look at Edlefsen and he had hitters on their heels. To my naked eye, his changeup looked great. As impressive as he was, Runzler was even more so, routinely hitting 93-95 on the gun and making a couple guys look foolish. Can’t wait until he gets called back up.
– Eugenio Velez: sucks. I hate watching that guy even in a Grizzlies uni. He had a couple of bad routes to fly balls in RF that he ended up catching anyway. Then, late in the game, he dropped a catchable fly to shallow right when it just didn’t seem like he turned on the afterburners enough.
– Burriss: is fast. He’s right back up to speed and his AB’s were competent. He got a HUGE jump on a Guzman ground ball and avoided a double play.
– Belt, I didn’t get to see enough of him. My friends were too busy pre-loading beers at home and we got there in the top of the second. So I only saw three ground ball outs. The guy is big. Really big. He’s built like a 9/10 scale model of Bumgarner. Solid lower body, farm boy build and he’s deceptively fast. I can’t say much about him in the field – his only notable play was a great dive on a ball that was called foul.
– HRs by Borchard and the Rivercats catcher Recker. Borchard’s was a line drive that just cleared the fence into the bullpen in RF. Recker’s was an impressive blast well over the 390 marker in left center off Sosa.
– Tyler Graham looked quite good at the plate. He has not been on my radar at all but he looks like he knows how to handle the bat. My favorite part of the night was in the ninth when Graham had a slow grounder to the left side and the shortstop’s throw took McPherson off the bag but Graham was still called out. Decker went out to argue and immediately got thrown out of the game. So he kicks dirt on first base, walks back to the dugout for a second and then had to walk out to the locker rooms past left center. I swear it took him about two minutes to make the walk. If you didn’t know he used to be a catcher, you could have guessed just by watching him for those two minutes.
Nice
Great report, Swick. Thanks! I have to admit, I slacked off on going to minor league games this season. Hopefully I can catch a few before the seasons are over.
Yeah, I slacked this year, too. I saw the Rivercats play the Las Vegas 51’s a couple of weeks ago but it was a company function and my wife and all three kids were there. So….I saw maybe 5 total minutes of action. I’m thinking I’ll try to catch Sunday’s Cats/Grizzlies game with the kids. They’re in the middle of a 5 game set right now.
I did catch a few SJ Giants games on TV on that network that shows those games.
I don’t necessarily think that the extra weight has been an issue with Pablo’s ABs this season He was fine with it last), but it definitely isn’t helping his range at third. No doubt he needs to take better care of himself to get the most out of his ability. I’m 33, with a bodytype very similar to Pablo’s, and I know there’s a big difference in the way I feel and physically perform when I’m overweight. We’re not built to be flexible and agile. Carrying extra weight makes it so much worse.
That being said, having the relief of his divorce being finalized, will not only help his mental outlook on the field, but also at the dinner table. Comfort food definitely is the most fattening, and I know when I’m down on myself, I tend to not only eat more, but I also eat more high fat, high carb foods. I know Lasagna is the Panda’s favorite and I’m willing to bet that going through the divorce caused him to eat more of it.
As for Tim, he’s never had to rely on anything else but his natural ability his entire life. As young as he is, as we get older we lose flexibility and he needs to make up for that with strength and conditioning. His offeseason regiment will undoubtedly change this winter. I think this year has been a wakeup call for Tim, but he’s such a firce competitor, he’ll respond to the challenge.
Almost went last night. I still might tonight.
Holy shit! Brett Tomko is going for the Rrivercats tonight ?!?
Joaquin is going for the Grizzz . . .
I saw that, too. Isn’t it time to just hang up the cleats, Brett? I saw a Rivercats game last year where Jerome Williams was pitching. Sabean took a lot of heat for saying that AAA pitching isn’t all that. But when you look at the mix of has-beens throwing in AAA on any given night, you have to think he had a decent point.
I always thought one of the interesting things about The Ricky was he was one of the first (or few guys in his time) to realize the association between flexibility and strength. I don’t think Lincecum needs to necessarily bulk up but something like Pilates may be a good regimen for him. Blade, any input here?
Flav, Great projected POTG. Hillarious man.
Anyone going to the yard tonight?
Ha ha ha. I just saw the projected POTG
Ted can laugh?
If something’s funny
F.P. is wearing a black “The Fighting Hydrants” T-shirt this morning filling in for Radnich on KNBR.
Wearing a shirt with a picture of yourself? What a pompous ass. You should have cheated a little harder, F.P., you still sucked.
Timmy has a 6.23 ERA in his last seven starts. We might be better off with Brett Tomko tonight.
I’m taking 1/2 credit for Flav’s picture of the projected POTG. I called Timmy Rapunzel last night.
But I don’t have a problem with his hair, really I’don’t. No problem at all. Nope. No problem whatsoever.
None, zip, nada. Noooooooo problemo.
Don’t start getting positive on me now, dennis
Hey, for those of you attached to the old ball and chain. Hell, even if you’re not, you should get a kick outta this race call from Larry Collmus last Sunday at Monmouth. It’s only fitting which horse won.
http://tinyurl.com/27a5qjy
That’s funny Dennis…I remember years ago a horse named Great Communicator was gonna run in the San Juan Capistrano at 1 3/4 miles at Santa Anita…he had never run that far and was a front runner. The talk all week was…Can he get the distance? he’s in front all the way, and as they’re coming down the stretch, Michael Wrona ( subbing for Trevor) says, is he gonna stay? He stays like your “mother in law”, and wins the San Juan…
That’s funny that you mentioned Great Communicator, WSW. The year he won the BC Turf (’88) about six or seven weeks later, right around Christmas, I was having dinner at the Hotel Mac in Pt. Richmond (Flav’s new favorite town) and lo and behold sitting at the table next to mine was Communicator’s jock, Ray Sibille. Heck of a nice guy. Got to talk to him a bit about the race (had the lead, lost it at the 1/4 pole and came back) and racing in general before leaving. I had the prime rib, don’t recall what Sibille had that evening.
Great report, Swick. Were you at Raley Field? My wife took me to a few games there, and it’s a great minor league ballpark. I’m excited about Belt. He looks like he could be fast tracking to the show.
Thanks JBat. Yeah, Raley Field. They did a fantastic job with it. The view of downtown from the third base line is just terrific.
Raley is a great venue, tho the parking sucks. If they could figure a way to drop a second deck on it and enhance parking and other amenities, the A’s should move there. Sac would embrace them, no problem, and there’s 2 million in the metro. The view beyond the outfield and towards the downtown towers and I Street bridge is awesome….
Giants sure can use a Belt. Can’t wait.
As far as Timmy and his Dad, no reason not to believe it’s what his Dad says it is: the old man just wants to stay out of the way, he trusts the coaching staff, and no one wants a guy’s Dad interfering( he said all that to Papa on Chron Live). It was always an overblown issue that Rags suopposedly did absolutely nothing with Tim, anyway. It was overblown by nincompoops as a way to avoid giving any credit to the Giants’ staff for Tim’s success. Bullshit then, bullshit now. If Righertti has left him alone, it was simply the “if it ain’t broke” thing. His Dad happened to notice, I forget how it came to his attention, that Tim had gotten away from long toss.Chris Lincecum is a big believer in LT as a muscle memory tool. So Tim got back with it. We’ll see how it works out. Tim’s father also said that he doesn’t want Tim or any of his adult children runing to him anymore, he brought them up so they won’t need him as adults. Good philosophy… Personally, I think he has to make the transition to a finesse-type if he can. Hope I’m wrong but I think he’s thrown all the 95 he’s ever going to.
As far as Flavor’s analysis ofPanda, I’m largely in agreement although Flavor had endorsed the guy going to Fresno: that wasn’t going to do diiddly for his personal problems. Thank God they resisted.
Pablo should be left alone and the amateur psychology doesn’t help anyone. This weight issue is overdone and his divorce may have nothing to do with anything. Who really knows except Pablo himself?
here, here….I have said this before. What if he loses 40 pounds and discovers he lost his power? Then what good does that do us.
He keeps his hands back, stops swinging at everythign within 10 yards of the plate, he will be just as good next year as he was last year…
Sorry, GH, but that’s ridiculous. There is no correlation between weight and batting power. Willie Mays was not a big man, but he was powerful. It’s bat speed and timing, both of which Panda has when he’s going well. That’s not going to change if he loses weight.
The most likely scenario with Panda is the usual one in cases like this. He started to slump after the hot start, and when it became a long slump, he started getting and listening to too much advice. The most moronic of the advice would have been to try to turn him into that oft mentioned “patient hitter”. The result was a guy who still swung at the bad pitches ( the ones he fucking “fraked” last year) but didn’t swing “all in” at them. He was hitting drooblers and fouling off those pitches due to the hesitant hacks. Before the results started showing, I noted several times that he was again coming out of his socks on more swings, now he’s back. Don’t misunderstand: he will always have streaks where he looks awful, as Vlad does, Cano, the more established HackMeisters of the Game. Hopefully, the lesson took: see ball, hit ball.
Strasburg headed for TJ surgery already? Seems like he just got here… http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/27/strasburg-likely-headed-for-tommy-john-surgery
oh, fuck, can anything be worse for that kid?
Hope it is just nothing.
Since there’s a general consensus (not on the Flap, mind you, on KNBR) that both their problems have to do with weight, I say we have Sandoval be the number #1 starting pitcher and have Lincecum play 3rd base
So who do we DFA to make room for Brandon Belt on the 40 man roster? My money is on Waldis Joaquin.Whip of 1.67,opponents hitting .298 against him,unimpressive at AAA,let alone with the Giants.Alex Hinshaw not much better,but as a lefty has marginally more value.
No way it’s Waldis. Are you kidding? He throws 97,98 and is 23 YO. This isn’t decided by stats. Ridiculous.
Twin, did you get my e-mail?
Dirt: yes, you’re in
Kat: far more likely would be Pill, or they might just release Guillen. Ross will likely be back, Jose definitely won’t. He’s swinging well but awfully scary in the field.
I’ll post the picks later this afternoon. You are running out of time, Chuckles. Take yer shoes off.
Take yer shoes off. Funny.
La Russa attending the Beck rally in DC? I guess he just can’t get enough of surrounding himself with circus freaks.
LaRussa at a Beck rally. Not funny
No. Neither the Brown Shirt Radio Demagogue nor Human Raccoon Redux are funny.
What exactly is a Beck rally? “2-4-6-8, who do we discriminate?”
good one
“whom” sounds stilted
“Is Obama an African born, muslim, socialist, drug addicted cannibal? I don’t know. Maybe not. But I don’t know.”
I hate win (sp) the object is not who, but when whom did what.
The slut!!
Wow. Just getting the Strasburg news. You all know I was like a bobby soxer fainting over Sinatra when it came to Stras. It started with his owning the city of Syracuse, and then my attendance at his MLB debut. A real thrill. I guess it was too good to be true. I’m sad because it was such a feel-good story for that franchise and D.C.
I wish him the best.
I don’t get the potential POTG.
Who’s famous for havng long hair?
Ditto, my friend, but not the fainting part, just the part where a top prospect doesn’t get rushed forward. At the speed of loss.
Phills @ Pads tonight … doesn’t matter the outcome, helpful either way. Too bad they can’t both lose.
I told Flavor I wouldn’t make a BFD here, but FYI, Yogi AKA SOAB AKA a dozen more, has resurfaced as “SpiderJohn” on the Splash. Did confirm it, I do have a friendly contact on their moderation team.
That guy needs help. And I’m not kidding around here, really. That guy has some emotioal issues.
Some emotional issues? That’s like saying the Titanic has some flotation issues.
You’re on a roll today chuck
what part of “don’t fight the (troll)” don’t you get? We all know who the bullshit is. And if we don’t good on us. Fuck them.
Just use my preseason numbers. I’ve been busy . . .
Or can you give me 10 mintes, Mike?
SOAB strikes again! The man of a thousand faces! Who is he? What is he? Only Twin and the Shadow knows for sure. Tune in tomorrow for As the Blog Turns for the latest from the online world. Now back to our sponsers.
Sent, ’em.
Shit, I knew a Spider John in Colorado . . .
The only Spider John *I* know is a blues guitarist
Nope. Bartender . . .
If Timmy loses on an Orange Friday, he’s dead to me.
Torres CF, Posey C, Huff 1B, Burrell LF, Guillen RF, Sandoval 3B, Uribe SS, F. Sanchez 2B, Lincecum RHP
dennis, you sound like a Jewish father “My little Timmy. He’s dead to me! Dead to me!”
Weather is cool, something resembiling a set line-up, Lincecum set to prove the naysayers wrong, Orange Friday. I’m fucking stoked. If you see a drunken Portugue in the stands it is likely me.
Go Giants!
Sorry to hear about Strasburg. Hope the guy comes back alright and they get his mechanics fixed. Too much stress on the damn elbow the way he’s flingin it — maybe Lincecum’s Dad should consult, he predicted an elbow problem for the guy. I already didn’t like LaRussa, he of the ridiculous see/hear/speak no evil on McGwire. But now, if he’s goin to the Beck “rally”, I say he deserves a chomp from one of his ARF friends. To commemmorate the King speech with blather from this Nuremberger Nuttjob is a both a lie and an abomination, IMO…
Couldn’t agree more on the ‘rally’. King was a man of principle and courage. Beck? Not so much.
The title of his speech is I Have a Delusion.
I’ll sort them later:
SportDude: 89 719
Kristen: 93 687
Kevin: 91 743
Pawlie: 90 737
Zumie 90 715
IH1978 90 667
Macdog 92 705
Ted 92 714
3Bagger 92 708
Swick 92 710
SanDog 93 702
Blade 83 671
Craig 91 711
Dennis 93 722
dirt 86 730
Max 90 720
Bozo 93 728
WSW 93 727
Chuckles 91 697
Blade 83 671
So if it comes down to a tie breaker (why I see blade’s already tied himself), is it like THE PRICE IS RIGHT? If no one’s dead right, then the one that came the closest without going over?
No, then I begin accepting bribes.
Saucy
ALL RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!! I HAVE TWO CHANCES . . . AHH SHIT (same frickin’ numbers though).
Ed: 90 696
thanks mate
Shit, all I did was take their average runs for the year and project it to the rest of the seaon adding 5 for the improved line-up.
I would rather see my preseason prediction of 91 and WC victory but went the G Costanza route for the contest.
Just closest, if it’s still tied, I’ll come up with something else.
Now I see where not only LaRussa but Pujols is also “going Beck” tomorrow in front of the Lincoln memorial. Maybe McGwire will go with them to complete the Three Stooges. If Abe could come alive, he’d come down off the marble chair and kick Beck’s ass into the Reflecting Pool…
Wish I wouldn’t have turned in my runs scored number before the Reds series, but I still think my win total we be on target.
Yeah, I think your win total is on target as well
Yeah, but Swick is way off!
Totally.
Aren’t you playing along, Mike???
Yeah, equating empathy for others to Nazi Germany, in one step no less, is beautiful in it’s abject depravity. Talk about a guy who needs to be brought down a peg, or 10 . . . .
Glenn Beck that is . . .
Oh. Good. For a second there I thought you were talking about me.
Jon Stweart did a spoof of back’s show a little while ago.
It was incredibly funny.
Here’s one from last night:
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-august-26-2010/i-have-a-scheme?xrs=synd_facebook
This WAS a funny bit, except to brainless Beckian drones…
I don’t know what it is but almost all these guys, Beck, Limbaugh, Savage, perennially have the look of someone who took a daily ass beating in school from kindergarten on up. Beck looks like he had his lunch money stolen, too
Unfortunately, they’re getting the last laugh now by becoming millionaires from feeding off the multitude of loons in this country…
That’s what amazes me. I just *look* at them and I want punch them. Are they popular with just that segment of America that had their lunch money stolen daily in childhood? And don’t these people realize they’re just symbolically getting it stolen again? And are there really that many?
Fuck it. Let’s get back to baseball. I’m just getting annoyed
Yeah, there are that many. They “expect” well over 100,000 at this latest Beck Freiheit’s Fest. Give them brown shirts for free, most wouldn’t even know the significance of it. OK, back to baseball before I devolve into analogies to the Beer Hall Putsch and todays US economy with that of 1923 Weimar Germany…
Chuck, I had the same numbers as Zumie.
A preview of the Glenn Beck rally!
Taking speech lessons from Rudy Giuliani. noun + verb + 9/11…
…rinse and repeat
Snarkk, I saw your comment on Raley Field. Parking is indeed bad but West Sacramento is set to begin a huge renovation of the area around the park in the next year or so. Personally, I like to park by the Crocker Art Museum and walk the Tower Bridge to the game. It’s free and there’s no traffic to contend with.
Cool. Good tip. When I’m in Sac on occasion, I hit the Rubicon Brew Pub on Capitol (pretty decent beer), Thai Basil at J and 25th (super good Thai food) or Trattoria Bohemia on J near Mercy Hospital — last time I was there they had Staropramen (Prague’s city beer) on tap for Pete’s sake — unbelievably good quaffing and last time I had it on tap was IN Prague in the early 90s. I don’t know of any place else that has that on tap…
Good to know Snarkk
Probably going tomorrow night.
If you go to Bohemia specifically for the Staro on tap, call ahead and ask if they’re serving it. It was a while ago. Otherwise, if you like Pizza or good Czech/German fare (yeah, weird combo), it’s still a winner for a non-descript place. Best food of the 3 is Thai Basil. The #3 Pad-Kra-Pow plate is a favorite, and if you likey, any curry plate is muy bueno. The Tom Yum soup is best I’ve had anywhere, on a cold day a big bowl of it will set you right…
“I like to park by the Crocker Art Museum and walk the Tower Bridge to the game.”
I proposed to my wife in the parking lot of the Crocker Art Museum. True story.
Did she say yes or no? (insert gay ass smiley face)
Appropos of nada as we wait breathlessly for Timmy’s latest, I saw the other day that Sean Connery just hit 80. Unfreekinbelievable. Though supposedly getting into some health problems, last photo I saw of him a few months back he looked great for his age and like he could still kick my ass. He may not have been the greatest actor ever, but he’s near the top of my list for “men” in cinema. If you ever have a few minutes, poor a scotch and YouTube his acceptance speech at the AFI awards a few years ago. A little under 10 minutes, he reviewed his life and how fortunate he was. One of the best damn speeches I’ve ever heard, no notes. Damn near made me cry, and that was BEFORE I poured myself a tumbler…
My favorite too Snarkk . . . Contrary to what you said though – I think he was one of the best actors around. I still recall going to a drive-in theater (remember those?) in the early 60s and seeing Dr. No, his first James Bond movie. I was such a geek for anything James Bond, that I remember buying the movie soundtrack for Thunderball (Ha). Him and Clint Eastwood stand alone. By the by, speaking of kicking ass . . . See Eastwood in Gran Torino. Dude can still intimidate at 80 plus.
As I remember, Ursula Undress was pretty damn good in Dr. No, too. I’d give her an Oscar just for walking out of the ocean. And, he WAS pretty damn good in the Untouchables, and The Man Who Would Be King. Not bad in Finding Forester, either, and OK in the Indiana Jones’ Dad roles…
Bond in Diamonds are Forever. At the craps table, with buxom brunette leaning over to him:
Hi, I’m Plenty.
“But of course you are”.
Plenty O’Toole.
“Named after your father, perhaps…”
I love that I put Jay Bruce on the bench tonight for my fantasy team…….
Richmond Ca is now safely in my past…..
I don’t think tonight is a gimmie at all. Enright is solid, if not spectacular. Gonna go fire up the grill……..
Absolutely no gimmee. But no reason, I just expect Tim to have a good effort. Pop is confident that long toss will help him so I say Father Knows Best…
Spider John, I think, was an outlaw type song by Jimmy Buffett in his early days.
Local power Grant of Sacto is on ESPN2 HS football tonight.
Cooler weather should keep things down tonight at ATT. D Backs have some pop, but sure K a lot. didn’t we hammer their ass down there last time?
Yogi is a pop music buff. His comments in that milieu are pretty good.
I’m betting this tumbler of Aberfeldy Highland that Timmy will have a good one tonight. Not sure it’ll be the game or post-game girlfriend treatment, but I’m sure it’ll be a good one. If not, the Scotch is still good…
FP is in postseason form. 14 cliches in one minute…
Hope he lets Kuiper actually call the game once he shuts up. What a fucking waste.
Trade the worthless long-haired piece of shit.
Goddammit!