You talkin’ to me? (Talkin’ baseball.)
You talking’ to me?
As our resident movie maven TedSpe would likely attest (attest to?), it’s one of the great lines in the movies. Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver. If you recall, he says it to himself, in the mirror, as he practices his gun moves. Wikipedia says that in Clarence Clemons’s 2009 memoir, Clemons reveals that DeNiro got it from Bruce Springsteen talking to his audiences as fans screamed his name out. Hmmm. Maybe.
Do you talk at games? Actual real, in-person, organ-blaring, hip-hop-song intro, hi-def scoreboard, 3-D games?
I do.
I’m a talker.
Are you?
Doesn’t baseball lend itself to discursive rambling, retelling of stories, reminiscences, digressions, commentaries, musings, strategy debates? Doesn’t it foster and nurture that more than other sports? Is that Victorian?
Or is it just me?
Is it good or bad? Does it disrespect or does it enhance The Game?
A tiny confession: when I was at Citi Field in 2009 when Matt Cain beaned David Wright, I was talking to one of our party in the upper deck in left field. Someone on my left, I believe. But I HEARD the ball hit Wright’s helmet. It’s an awful sound.
So, do you Flappers talk during a game?
(By the way, I still don’t know who won last night’s/this morning’s game. Are they still playing the Hector Sanchez Follies Fiesta Tournament?)
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
Giants won and Hector redeemed himself in a big way. Too bad Timmy didn’t get the win, but happy for him that he pitched well.
Yeah, I talk during a game(s), both to myself, the team(s), players(s). If I am at home, I have about a half dozen browser windows open, frequently with a Giants game playing live – thank you Double Mr. Bill. So, I will be swearing, praising, walking away, and afraid to open browser windows, especially if one of my FL closers or starters is fucking up. In fact, last night was a perfect example, I had Dickey going in one game, where he still had a chance to win the game, after giving up 5 runs, but the closer, Parnell (also on both of my FL teams) blew the save. Want more? Another one of my closers, Cishek, that I added yesterday, did really well, but I forgot to place him in my starting line-up. The horror!
When I am at games, I will boo and cheer, but both will be Rated GP, in lieu of the families in attendance. I will also chat with whomever I am at the game with, as well as people near by.
Good topic Pawlie!
Whew. We won. And whew, I’m not the only Talker. And come to think of it, we *talk* plenty during games, right here, in modern cyber-fashion.
Although I was in bed, reading a novel, I was still monitoring the Flap and Kostaz’s site via my Tablet. I wonder if dementia will eventually dilute or eliminate my ability to multi-task? Hmm . . .
Ahh, dementia, something to look forward to. 😦
to paraprase E Varese (as quoted by frank zappa), the present day cult of nate refuses to die, I guess. blanco had a rough June which saw his numbers fall…all the way down to Nate level. He still has the better OB, kind of important for a lead off guy, has 15 steals vs. only 3 CS, and just as many XBH (about 1 for every 15 ABs) as Nate.
As Twin pointed out last night blanco was on 3 times, and Nate just hasn’t given the team anything off the bench as PH either. He’ll start today, but really his only function is to give the starters a day off. B-R gives blanco a 1.6 WAR, about even with Pagan. Nate has never ever in his career been anywhere near that.
I still think he’d do fine on an NL Central team where he could jack up his slugging pct in smaller warm weather yards and play a decent RF. But really he is just a spray hitter who isn’t very patient with career replacement level and below OPS. We’ve seen the same thing here for years, and I don’t see the leopard changing his spots.
PK, I talk all the time when i’m sitting with friends/family of kids I know at b-ball games. I’m always chagrined after and afraid I ruin the experience for them with coachspeak. I used to sit with some of the ones who are videotaping from up high and hope my comments didn’t make it onto the tape they watched later.
Baseball, outdoors, I think is just friendlier environment that lends itself more to open ended conversation with those sitting near you.
In answer to Ted’s question, “What does the “H” stand for in Jesus H. Christ?
“The precise origins of the letter H in the expression Jesus H. Christ are obscure. While many explanations have been proposed, some serious and some not, the most widely accepted derivation is from the divine monogram of Christian symbolism. The symbol, derived from the first three letters of the Greek name of Jesus (Ιησούς), is transliterated iota-eta-sigma: IHS, ΙΗϹ (with lunate sigma), JHS or JHC. Since the transliteration IHS gave rise to the backronym Iesus Hominum Salvator (Latin for “Jesus, savior of men”), it is plausible that JHC similarly led to Jesus Harnaldo Christ, Harold coming from the mispronunciation of the word “hallowed” of the Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name.” The H has also been said to stand for “Holy.”
Clearly, this is NOT your ordinary baseball weblog. Thanks for the edification, Blade. Your source is the Vatican Secret Archives, I assume?
No, nor Dan Brown. Wikipedia. 🙂
Jesus HOLY Christ. We’re all gonna die 12/21 later this year. Who gives a flying fig what the ‘H’ frigging means.
Personal notation: I must say “Jesus H. Christ” 50 times a day as I mutter to myself…
Apparently, Ted does. I would parlay your bet on checking out DMD. Always good to still be in his good graces, regardless of your true beliefs.
Personal notation #2: I love the word “mutter.” It needs to be used more often. I’ll do my part.
if you go back to last night you’ll see my comment “harold be thy name”
Well, you know much more than me ewisco . . . I had to look it up, albeit, I was familiar with the “Holy” moniker.
Thanks, blade
See what you started when you said it just once? Once.
Man, I was way off. I always thought the “H” was short for Hung like a Hebrew National.
I actually like that one better. 🙂
I absolutely talk to the game- last night Hector got an “OMG!!!”, “Zeke, bite the SOB!!”, two “Yesses!!!”, and a “Game Over!!!”.
I’ll note again, BTW , that Hector as one of my first prospects of the day last year when he was almost completely unknown- of course, he made me look pretty good by hitting 3 HR the next day. Now I’ve crititized him for his OBP,
and for his catching skills- but the kid doesn’t seem to let anything bug him, he seems to a hard worker, and he’s NO WHITEY! He may not have a future here as a starting catcher- but it appears he has that future SOMEWHERE and that’s valuable…
I would like to talk at baseball games but the MUSIC IS TOO FUCKING LOUD!!! it pisses my off royally. it’s so loud in many parts that you literally have to yell to the person sitting next to you. i’m convinced that most sound guys are partially deaf from being sound guys all their lives. i’ve been at concerts, right next to the mixing board and all i can hear is a muddle of noise and a shit load of bass.
That was the beauty of attending a game at Wrigley. I was grateful to just hear the musical subtly of “Now Batting…” , well that and “Get your Old Style beer here”.
wrigley is a great park. we get to chicago every other year or so to see mrs. wisco’s relatives. and we always try to catch a cubs game.
Humans (and flappers) are social animals, it is why we have language. Modern MLB games are social events. You talk to your neighbours, you talk to the people in the garlic fries queue. And I was raised to respect the teams on the field, take my glove and watch the action. I have been in corporate boxes where half the people see less than have the game because they are socialising. And yes, I will talk, often with one eye on the game. But talk I do. Talking to people at the games can be enlightening, constructive, argumentative and fun. I also clap, shout and babble at the telly or the car radio or anyone in the house whether they are watching the game or not.
Oh, and when I say ‘modern MLB’ I mean it always wasn’t like this. Where the audience needs to be stimulated constantly. Hell, I was in a mall buying clothes at an up scale store and the music was so raucous I could not work out how management thinks that helps the bottom line.
It is “Howard”. It’s been covered up for over two centuries, as He promised a pox on the house of any citizen who dared to call him “Howie”..
As in, “blow it out your ass Howard” in Blazing Saddles?
Was Jesus in Blazing Saddles?
Actually, God was adamant: “You ain’t rising from no grave as ‘Howie Christ’, son…or maybe folks would like to hear about the 5,000 trout under your robe? “
I talk during games. I like calling Del on a drunken Saturday night to discuss Jose Guillen and Alex Smith!
No. You like to call and leave me 27. Count them. TWENTY FUCKING SEVEN messages on my phone screaming JOSE GUILLEN’S name. With each one getting more vociferous and redundant. Berger, you made me turn off my phone. Not that anyone else calls, but I had to turn that mother off. MC Hammer had to turn that mother out…
Oh, the memories! Did you ever get the message that I didn’t care for Jose Guillen!
One of the nice features of this blog is I’m learning of my identity as a Nate cultist. Go Nate!
I think the pace of the game lends itself to shooting the breeze while watching the play unfold. I do talk during games but it seems I do it more during day games.
My favorite thing about being at a game is when normal social walls come down and I’m high fiving total strangers. It’s probably the only time in my life that I seek out unnecessary social interaction. I typically don’t start up conversations with strangers just because I abhor idle chit chat bullshit. Side tangent: I especially loath the stranger who tries to tell me a joke. I have never found a single re-told joke funny, though I have fake-laughed at a few. If I’m not in the mood to fake-laugh, I’ll just respond with, “Dude, I’m just not a joke guy.” Jokes are just a lazy way to communicate with others (IMO).
But at a game, I seek out conversation with strangers. I seek out the high fives after a home run. It’s such a perfect atmosphere.
But in terms of talking loudly, like yelling out something funny for my entire section to hear? Eh, sometimes. If I’m sure it’s gold (baby) I’ll throw something out there. I absolutely HATE the guy who won’t shut up–the guy who goes with quantity instead of quality. But I imagine we all hate *that guy*……
I love being part of a big, spontaneous crowd eruption. There’s just nothing that beats that……
Excellent thread, PK
Jokes are just a lazy way to communicate with others (IMO).
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Uh oh.
Anyhoo..the funniest drunken yelling I heard for the entire section’s amusement was in the bleachers back in the early ’80’s. Chili Davis hit a two out double. I can’t remember who batted after him but some chain-smoking drunken middle aged woman started screaming “BRING CHILI HOME!! CHILI!! CHILI!! CHILI COME HOME!! CHILI COME HOME!! CHILI!! CHILI!! CHILI COME HOME!!”
Sad ending to the story…he didn’t. But we couldn’t stop laughing
Ties in with my heckler stories- the guy has to be funny- even the target should be stifling a laugh. His teammates should be going “That dude NAILED it. “
I’ve heard/read the Springsteen story about “You talking to me?” I’ve also heard/read it was based on an acting exercise where you say the same phrase over and over with different intonations, inflections and meanings. I’ve also heard/read it was Scorcese’s initial idea, though the diologue was all ad-libbed by DeNiro, based on a scene from John Huston’s movie REFLECTIONS IN A GOLDEN EYE where Marlon Brando mumbles to himself in a mirror. And the interesting thing is–I think all three stories are true.
Oh hell yeah, I talk during baseball games. At home watching, if by myself, it’s generally just expletives both happy and sad. But going to the ballpark, it’s almost a must and part of the whole baseball experience. Mainly because in my little world, there’s only about 2 or 3 baseball fans who actually go to games with me and it’s often the only time we get together socially at all. So a lot isn’t even about baseball, just catching up with things. But that’s usually between innings which at home is circumvented by commercials. But 90% of my games are either watched on TV or listened to on the radio by myself. Thus..talking to myself…Well I’m the only one here. Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to? Oh yeah? OK.
Very cool footnote to the DeNiro scene; knew you’d add a gem like this, Ted.
Thank you, Pawlie
In the Knothole for WS Game 1, well, actually in the line for the Knothole and the Knothole itself, it was all tribal talk because we did not have much else to go on; some radio reports, then some glimpses of club-level TVs, then the game, through a chain-link fence. high-fives, small talk, eruptions of wild emotion (Uribe HR). Tribal. And fabulous. Never forget it. Made friends with some fans from Modesto in the line, at least to the point of trying to stay in touch. (But in the bigger picture I MAY be guilty of quantity over quality, but nobody here will quibble with that.)
Little did I know that in calling last night’s game the Hector Sanchez Follies Fiesta Tournament I was capturing the goat-to-hero arc of the story, unknown to me as I typed. (Still a little rankled by that 9th inning.) I also would’ve posted a bit earlier but I was already late for church, so did it afterward. Then I had trouble signing in correctly to allow me to do it. Apologies to you early risers — not a reference to Magnus’s recent Cialis commentary.
Did I tell you guys about the time(s) I met MC Hammer? Back when he owned Lite Light I was introduced to him at GGF. That ‘Dorf filly was a running fool.I know this probably sounds silly to most, but one weekend I had the privilege of petting her head.
I love horses.
Dennis, you’ll be very jealous to hear that when I visited the great Affirmed at Jonabell in 1996 he emitted a certain fluid on my leg. His caretaker said that had never happened before. And I never washed those jeans.
(Monica Loo-insky?)
The horse came on you? WTF?
Loo, you’re the best.
Gives whole new meaning to “…and the horse you came in on…”
my FL team is plunging like there is no bottom’ and no, no advice sought or wanted; I own it, figuratively and literally
I was at Dodger Stadium for a game in the early 80’s. A couple of very drunk Mexicans were sitting behind me. They were nice guys but they kept yelling “Radio Ron” all game. This was for Ron Cey. I asked them a few times what radio Ron meant and each time they just laughed. Davey Lopes was a good one too. While I always heard it pronounced as one syllable, they kept yelling Low-pez. They were also yelling for Cindy Garvey. What made this funnier is they did not speak english. They were loud and annoying but we did do a lot of laughing together.
Hey, asshole. P/U your goddamn phone. I’ll give ya Davey Lopes and those goddamn Dodgers,,,
Blanco LF, Burriss 2B, Sandoval 3B, Posey C, Pagan CF, Schierholtz RF, Belt 1B, Crawford SS, (Cain P)
OK, fellas. Informal poll to see who kicks ass the second half…
A) Melky
B) Buster
C) Pablo
D) Pitching
A, B, C, and D. Book it.
yeah all of the above. I once had a prof in a black history class at San Jose St give a final with 35 multiple guess questions on it for the entire exam. He was trying to finish up another degree and I guess just didn’t want to be bothered. didn’t bother me a bit.
Sorry, sir. Not at my sportsbook. Ya have to pick one, and ONLY one..
Yours truly, Denny, sticks with the ‘D’ Pitching wins. Or loses…
When you get a sportsbook, let me know, Denny
Starting pitchers by ERA second half: Cain, Vogelsong, Lincecum, Bumgarner, Zito.
Just think of us as Henry “Shaw” Gondorff and Johnny “Kelly” Hooker . . . You’re Doyle Lonnegan.
Who’s donkey are the kicking? Does the ASPCA know about this contest?
Hey, Berger. Tell me again if my buddy Drew Brees made out OK.
Pablo, Buster, Melky, Belt, Blanco, Pagan, Theriot, Crawford by wRC+ in that order.
yeah, I am a confirmed C voter or MadBum in the next poll
DBacks not exactly enjoying the friendly confines of wrigley…cubs up 3-0 in the 5th and looking for a sweep. A loss puts AZ at 42-46, 4 games under .500 and about 6-7 behind SF if Cain and co. come through today.
I’m a talker at ballgames, and will talk to the TV screen sometimes watching games at home, which confuses the dog. And yes indeed, the look the dog gives me is:
“Are you talking to me? Are you talking to me?…..”
The reality is….baseball is kinda slow. It’s AWESOME, but it has its slow moments. So, I’m definitely into the multi-tasking concept, which is why I do a scorecard when I’m at games, and like to chat during games.
I talk to the dog all the trime. When we do something good I’ll say, “that’s what I’m talkin’ about”, or “that’s what I’ve been trying to telling you”. He will then grab a tennis ball and implore me to throw it. He always seems to win the tennis ball stand off.
Hey, Friendo.Talk to your cat. This just in, Frank knows my deepest secrets.
Talk to your cat.
Broadcasters will call somebody “a good baseball man.” And that doesn’t mean a whole lot to the viewers. It couldn’t be a more vague euphemism.
That’s a bit loooooooow.
A very bad at bat by Mr Crawford.
Crawfish swinging at crap after that wild inning by Norris was flat dog shit.
When watching or listening at home, I frequently talk to the device — mostly 4 letter and hyphenated words…
Cubs just finished a sweep of the Dbacks at Wrigley. Sounds like there is some trouble in the Arizona clubhouse with Upton on the trading block, etc….
Yeah, that struk me as being strange to trade Upton while in the hunt . . .
Matty’s not helping himself with the bat there.
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I hate this shit of not being able to score. 6 walks to the G’s and they can’t take advantage. It should be 5-2 at least…
Shit, how can you NOT talk to (scream at) the walls watching these guys?
Johnson’s been getting 4 hours of wood on the ball today . . .
Missed the whole game up to this point so just checked the scorecard. Cain, 104 pitches, 1 walk and 6 strikeouts. 6 strikeouts? Snarkk mentioned his curve has more velocity this year but I read he’s only done one late in this game.
Cain’s always been a favorite but he’s blowing me away this year (though slight high pitch count this game)
And a big Crawford yikes there
They are pissing away opportunities like I’m pissing away all this beer . . .
Chuck soused?
Belt is in fricking Nate more here.
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“mode,” I think.
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Hairston in the Dodger game threw the ball into the stands with the bases loaded. Good stuff! (grin)
Javy blows the first batter away,Boch goes and gets him ,hmm fans not to happy.
Alright- uneventful 9th inning!!
That’s why they have to pay to get in and he doesn’t. There *are* times when even the most obstinate anti-match up guy has to see when it’s called for. RH hitters are batting .414 against Lopez.
good line
Look at the Skipper go. Affeldt, Romo, Lopez, Casilla now that is the executive committee
Ballgame. SWEEP!
Nice
Dodgers with their 5th error of the day…..
Dodger D is like money in the bank.
The opposition’s bank.
Dodgers lose, the Giants up 1 1/2 games, 2 in the loss column.
now that’s what I’m talkin’ about
you beat me to it, Edddd
“Belt is in fricking Nate more here.’
What he said.
REVRET!!!!!
Anyone care to explain the “Battle of the Asterisks?
Chuck and I had a little…conversation that was of no value. I’m fairly certain in retrospect Chuck will agree with my moderating.
Shocking! I’m aghast! Who would ever have thunk it???!! Ozzie Guillen and Bryce Harper got into it!
Wish i could remember what it was, but I]’ll defer to Ted
I just watched the Padres’ ninth-inning sneak attack against the Dodgers last night. Pretty sweet. Also positively eerie in how it resembled the Giants-Astros ninth inning in clumsiness. But we won; they lost. That good.
SD stomps LA today for 2 out of 3, Cubbies sweep snakes. Giants sweep Stros . . . Good news all around.
I’ve started reading the Clemente biography, and I quickly realized that I knew very little about Clemente. For one thing, I didn’t know he was Puerto Rican. And then I realized I knew very little about Puerto Rico, other than that it was “acquired” by the U.S. during the bogus Spanish/American War.
Favorite Clemente quote: “To hell with the All-Star game”
BTW Zumie, Willie Mays is black…
As you know, fans didn’t take to “Bob” much at first, but when they did, they became wild for him. Us kids loved him right away- how could one player be so exciting and so haugthy and so nonchalant all the same time. And man, he made Chris Brown seem like Gehrig- his ear hurt, his shoulder hurt, his pinkie hurt- but he usually played. As far as sheer excitement he was the greatest player I ever saw. Of all of his baseball accomplishments, I think one says it all- he played in 14 World Series games- and hit in 14 World Series games.
I think this was the last baseball card that they called him “Bob”. Probably around ’67.
Giants PA guy at the stick used to announce him as Bob Clemente. He had a deep voice and used to do the anthem, and when he gave attendance figures always said, “And we thank you.” I might be mixing him up with a guy at Bay Meadows, but I think he got into some legal difficulties…Jeff carter might have been his name.
Watched the two games yesterday at a bar & grill in so cal. Dodger fans all over my brother & I after hector / casilla blew the save. Cheering when the Doders blew the exact same 2 out 2 strike sequence and seeing the second run score! PRICELESS!
The Giants’ pronounced sweep of the Astros, including Timmy’s utter dominance, has left me speechless. So instead, here’s an All-Star nine in honor of Pawlie’s topic:
Gabby Hartnett
Gaby Sanchez
Tris Speaker
Bob Speake
Jim Converse
Tom Tellmann
Tyler Chatwood
Mackey Sasser
Rip Vowinkel
Good one Mac!
A Gabby and a Gaby??!! A Speaker and a Speake??!! And a Rip Vowinkel??!!
It doesn’t get any better than that.
Goodnight, gentlemen (?)
Thanks for the Jon Miller link, great story great guy, Greenwald is still one of my favorites, but the current tv crew is not too bad, either.
AND, I forgot to say: nice topic PW, keep ’em coming.
You talk’in to me?
I ‘ll talk at a game,to straightened out ingnorant fans about Players and Stats.At home i will just scream at the TV,when their screwing up.
OK, so I’m a little late with my thread. It’s up . . .
It’s “they’re” AK.