Baseball

[smc]

The Red Sox again avoided arbitration with Jonathan Papelbon and signed the closer to a 1-year deal.

One of my dreams for this season is for Papelbon to confront Jon Miller of ESPN, who insists on calling Pap "Jon" rather than "Jonathan" -- something about which Papelbon has been quite adamant with the Boston media (all of whom are happy to go along). In my dream, Pap climbs up the screen and makes his way to the broadcast booth, drags Miller down to the field, and recreates the Irish jig he did after the 2004 World Series victory, dancing around Miller while the broadcaster begs not to be stepped on.

Remember, this is only a dream.

Now, if it were to happen in real life, who wants to bet against the following?: Joe Morgan, still up in the broadcast booth, says in complete seriousness that when he played he would never have done such a thing and that Papelbon's Hall of Fame chances are being compromised.

[Talvenada]

The problem with Joe is that he stayed a year too long, and The Phillies made The WS that year in '83. Joe fell flat on his face coming off of 3rd base trying to score in that WS, and it was a pitiful thing to watch for a guy who was a great player (not announcer).

[shadows]

Originally Posted by smc

The Red Sox again avoided arbitration with Jonathan Papelbon and signed the closer to a 1-year deal.

One of my dreams for this season is for Papelbon to confront Jon Miller of ESPN, who insists on calling Pap "Jon" rather than "Jonathan" -- something about which Papelbon has been quite adamant with the Boston media (all of whom are happy to go along). In my dream, Pap climbs up the screen and makes his way to the broadcast booth, drags Miller down to the field, and recreates the Irish jig he did after the 2004 World Series victory, dancing around Miller while the broadcaster begs not to be stepped on.

Remember, this is only a dream.

Now, if it were to happen in real life, who wants to bet against the following?: Joe Morgan, still up in the broadcast booth, says in complete seriousness that when he played he would never have done such a thing and that Papelbon's Hall of Fame chances are being compromised.

That reminds me of the team when Jim Rome kept on calling a quarterback(Jim Elway? I cannot recall the fellow's name) a name that he repeatedly asked not to be called. Rome kept it up, so he was tackled on the set! I don't think that interview was ever finished...

Some people do not like to be called by the shortened version of their name. There was a guy that I worked with that wanted to be called James rather than Jim. Nothing wrong with that, and I don't blame Papelbon wanted to be called Jonathan rather than Jon. There are a couple of other incidents where he came across as a jerk, but not in this case.

[smc]

The San Francisco Giants are keeping Bengie Molina behind the plate for 2010. I keep wondering how many more Molina brothers (or other relatives) there are waiting to make the big leagues as catchers. In addition to Bengie, we already have Jose (who was with the Yankees last season), and Yadier (who started for the Cardinals last year). Then there's Gustavo (who I think is in the minors now but played for the Mets in 2008); is he related to them in some way? And what about Stubby, Stumpy, and Chunky?

[transjen]

Originally Posted by smc

The San Francisco Giants are keeping Bengie Molina behind the plate for 2010. I keep wondering how many more Molina brothers (or other relatives) there are waiting to make the big leagues as catchers. In addition to Bengie, we already have Jose (who was with the Yankees last season), and Yadier (who started for the Cardinals last year). Then there's Gustavo (who I think is in the minors now but played for the Mets in 2008); is he related to them in some way? And what about Stubby, Stumpy, and Chunky?

Where's Mike Piazza when you need him he was so dreamie

Jerseygirl Jen

[smc]

Originally Posted by transjen

Where's Mike Piazza when you need him he was so dreamie

Jerseygirl Jen

Come to think of it, I used to think he was kinda dreamy. Hmmmm, I wonder what that might have meant?

[transjen]

Originally Posted by smc

Come to think of it, I used to think he was kinda dreamy. Hmmmm, I wonder what that might have meant?

Don't think i want to go there but hey i know an excellent DR in Thailand


Jerseygirl Jen

[smc]

I am just loving the latest news on the Mark McGwire front.

Ferguson Jenkins, the Hall-of-Fame pitcher, sent an open letter to the Associated Press in which he says McGwire owes an apology to all pitchers who gave up home runs to him. Here are some excerpts from the letter:

"You have not even begun to apologize to those you have harmed. ... You have yet to all the pitchers you faced while juiced. You altered pitchers' lives. You may have shortened pitchers careers because of the advantage you forced over them while juiced."

In a telephone interview yesterday with the Associated Press, Jenkins elaborated. "How many pitchers do you think he ended their careers by hitting numbers of home runs off them?" And he said he would have known how to handle the bulked-up McGwire at the plate.

"It's tough to hit a home run off your back. In my era, Seaver, Gibson, Drysdale, Carlton, there were so many guys that would have probably knocked him on his butt."

Go Fergie!!

[transjen]

From the tapes and interviews i've seen and read Bob Gibson would have knocked Big Mac and Jose on there butts

Jerseygirl Jen

[shadows]

Originally Posted by smc

I am just loving the latest news on the Mark McGwire front.

Ferguson Jenkins, the Hall-of-Fame pitcher, sent an open letter to the Associated Press in which he says McGwire owes an apology to all pitchers who gave up home runs to him. Here are some excerpts from the letter:

"You have not even begun to apologize to those you have harmed. ... You have yet to all the pitchers you faced while juiced. You altered pitchers' lives. You may have shortened pitchers careers because of the advantage you forced over them while juiced."

In a telephone interview yesterday with the Associated Press, Jenkins elaborated. "How many pitchers do you think he ended their careers by hitting numbers of home runs off them?" And he said he would have known how to handle the bulked-up McGwire at the plate.

"It's tough to hit a home run off your back. In my era, Seaver, Gibson, Drysdale, Carlton, there were so many guys that would have probably knocked him on his butt."

Go Fergie!!

Yeah! Go Fergie! He's from the city I live in!

[shadows]

Originally Posted by transjen

Where's Mike Piazza when you need him he was so dreamie

Jerseygirl Jen

He's still dodging pieces of broken bat that the steroid-freak named Roger Clemens continues to throw his way.