Re: 2011 Baseball Thread

[Bob]

I'm confused, isn't the closer supposed to dance around the field in his underwear with an empty beer case on his head? #papelbon

So do you get angry when you eat fried chicken at home?   

[MartyS (Gromit)]

Congrats to the Cards, next year we will get you guys...  Here's hoping the Phillies have their slump in August next year instead of September, arggggggg.

[D.B. Barnes]

My sister and brother in law were at  game 6 and they are still wired.

Game 7s............needless to say, quite anxious for the game.

Why are you so anxious for your team to lose?

Ha-ha*

* Adds you to "Enemies List"


It's a shame that one of these teams has to lose tonight.

My thoughts exactly. Huge win for Cards fans and a huge win for baseball fans,

[D.B. Barnes]

Awesome story.

The story of the Cardinals fan who returned David Freese's homer

ST. LOUIS — Though the mad scramble for David Freese's home run ball looked like a spontaneous mess on Thursday night, the truth is that Dave Huyette (center) and his friend Jeremy Reiland had already played the scenario through their minds several times.

The two were sitting in a pair of outfield bleacher seats they had purchased on StubHub and knew that each batter in the St. Louis Cardinals' wild 10-9 win over Texas Rangers in Game 6 of the World Series could be the one to make history. Every time someone came up to bat, Busch Stadium's large batter's eye to the right of their seats provided a constant reminder that a valuable piece of Cardinals' lore could land just a few feet away.

"Every time there was a chance there could be a walkoff home run, Jeremy reminded me that there was a grassy knoll right next to us," said Huyette, a 39-year-old radiologist from Maryville, Ill. "We're out there and I just assumed the position to get ready each time. At one point Albert [Pujols] had the chance to win the game and we thought that was going to be the time that it happened. But it didn't, he was intentionally walked.

"Then Freese came up in the 11th and I heard the crack of the bat and everybody cheered and it was kind of in slow motion. I jumped over the fence and [the ball] kind of landed right there. I just tumbled around it, expecting to getting pummeled and beaten to death."

Did he?

"No, because what I did was shove it down my pants right away. I don't think anyone realized I had it."
That is, everyone but his buddy. Reiland slid on the ground behind Huyette and told him to stay put. Mike Reis, an off-duty St. Louis police officer working ballpark security, later approached the pair and said that Freese or the Hall of Fame might be interested in the baseball. Reis said that Huyette was free to make his own decision, but the fan immediately agreed and was taken to a spot outside the Cardinals clubhouse where he offered the ball to Freese. A quick negotiation ensued and Huyette agreed to trade the ball for a signed bat from Freese as well as a ball signed by the entire Cardinals team. Simple and fast.

"Maybe if I had been wanting for money, it'd be different," Huyette said. "But I make a good living. I wasn't going to hold the country hostage for the ball.
"I told them I didn't need any money, but it'd be nice to meet some of the players."

And so what ended up happening is that Huyette ended up living every Cardinals fan's dream, gaining access to the clubhouse with the team having just forced a World Series Game 7 on Friday night. Reiland, meanwhile, lived out every Chicago Cubs fans' nightmare with surprising good humor, posing for pictures alongside Freese while wearing enemy colors. The pair had missed their shuttle back to the casino where they had parked their car, but they were having the time of their lives. They'd just catch a cab.

"He didn't tell me he was going to wear that shirt before we came," Huyette cracked. "This is ridiculous."

[anais.jude]

Well Baseball thread. You've been good to us this year. By next April I plan on having TV service again so I can actually watch some games. Also: I am totally be at opening day for the 2012 season of the Rockies!

[Bob]

I guess we will need a new baseball thread for the hot stove league and next season!

The rams game is over at 315 and the Cards WS parade is also downtown and that is at 4pm, so I will get to see that before I have to fly home.  

[D.B. Barnes]

Wow, I'm surprised LaRussa is retiring. He always struck me as one of those guys who would manage into his eighties. I wonder if it takes.

[Bob]

Rare that a manager actually gets to retire, and go out on top.   Even the best ones are usually fired or run out of town.

I put my name in for manager, but I have not heard back, odd.

[k1]

You probably will lose out on that position to Francona.

[Bob]

You probably will lose out on that position to Francona.

I have this feeling they are going to go with someone like Mike Matheny.    Even if Pujols goes somewhere else, it's a pretty sweet gig.

[k1]

Anyone else watching the MLB vs Taiwan all star series?  Did they do any promotion on this? Or did I miss it? I had no clue it was happening until the other night when I stumbled across it.

[Bob]

Anyone else watching the MLB vs Taiwan all star series?  Did they do any promotion on this? Or did I miss it? I had no clue it was happening until the other night when I stumbled across it.

I did not know it was going on until ESPN jumped in with an urgent update because a yankee made a good play.   I did not know it was even televised until you mentioned it now.

[Bob]

Cards interviewed 4 so far, and plan to interview 2 more tomorrow with the hopes of having a new coach by early next week.

My guess is Mike Matheny.........then Ryan Sandberg or Terry Francona.

[k1]

Papelbon to Phils.  I really would rather not have this be essentially a closer swap via free agency.

[Bob]

Papelbon to Phils.  I really would rather not have this be essentially a closer swap via free agency.

if this were the NBA, it would be a sign and trade.

So, still no news on the Nationals' catcher that was kidnapped......not a good thing.