TooLiveBrew

Honestly, if "sweep" can be filtered, I'd love to see filtering on "ESPN" like it's a terrible word/acronym. Because it's just a terrible thing to have to read & type. Ick.

This, coupled with C. Zambrano's glove-hand (possible/potential) injury from swinging the bat recklessly, carelessly, and only to try to hit a BP-style home run, makes the NL Central race just a tad more exciting!

Edited to include things with which I agree, and things that praise me (hee hee hee! I'm a simple and egotistical man!) http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/wink.gif Don't really know what to say about online updates, as I have no experience with them -- largely because I think they cost money (BOO!), but if they don't, I'll totally sacrifice my in-progress, 61-30 season just so I can have a 'true' Ryan Braun, instead of my traded-for-and-much-loved Russell Branyan. Hooray Braun! And HOORAY The Show. Seriously, this makes MVP look 38.7 years old. It's that good. And I'd add that it most embarasses in terms of gameplay, not graphics. Especially the 2007 version. I've honestly never played a baseball video game that has been this 'real'/amazing. And I've wasted a lot of my life playing video games. http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/wink.gif

20fry, your posts made me go, "Mmmmm...[pensively]", "lol", and "LOL!!" Thank you. http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/smile.gif

Ok, but where my confusion comes in (here... to be fair, my confusion comes in a ton from every direction, nearly always), is just in what I mentioned about the Brewers having already 'won' the 4 games the Cards have yet to play. Doesn't that account for those four games, hypothetically? Just as you can't "make up" or "catch" losses, can't you also not "make up" wins (but merely play catch-up)? Perhaps what I'm missing here is only related to game differential - I'm not sure. While the Cards can theoretically win the 4 'extra' games, isn't (esp. with a roughly .500 winning %) it likely that they won't?

I've never really understood why more importance is place on the loss column than win column. We're 4 games up on StL in the win column - why is that less relevant? I understand there's a difference in total number of games played, but our winning % in our 127 games is higher than StL's in 123 games. Sure, the Cards could go out & win all 4 of those games they've 'yet to play', but they could just as easily lose them. If you 'equalize' things, the Brewers have already 'won' those extra 4 games, right?

right-on, phatmatt. Those CWS guys are definitely not professional caliber. They just whine or cheer, add a '-y' suffix to the end of EVERY player's name, and all situations are described in "we" terms ('we really need a ground ball here...' ), like the announcers are actually on the team. They just come across as so unprofessional and whiny. I absolutely cannot stand watching those broadcasts, and avoid them at all costs. I've actually been very impressed with the quality & in-depth nature of WGN sCrUBs broadcasts - not the broadcasting duo, who just plain bore me, and are indeed homers themselves, but the stat overlays, camera-work, etc. is first-rate. EDIT: It sucks that we catch both Lowry & Lincecum (I've never seen a pitcher that good with only 2 pitches - he is filthy!), but as mentioned, that "offense" is purely awful. Their runs today were not exactly pretty - the HR was, but only putting up 2 runs for your pitcher, and having the other two come directly from his bat, is just kinda sad. We were fortunate the sCrUBs didn't get that win.

I guess what continues to puzzle me is your standard(s). What exactly does "white hot" mean? The first few responses to your original post showed some pretty impressive stats from #5 recently. Given that you've carried the discussion forward, I have no choice but to believe that however good those numbers are, they don't qualify for whatever "white hot" actually is. Is it that he has to post a 1.000+ OPS from now until the end of the season? Is it the length/duration of said hot streak? I'm very confused as to what you're hoping for here. Geoff is, by all accounts, hitting very well lately, and I'm curious to know what it is that you're waiting on. I'm not trying to condescend here, I'm just very confused.

The wrath of Cain! After taking a laser-beam shot back to the mound (off hi right - pitching - forearm), then retiring the final out of the inning by staying with the play, he just bombed a 2-run shot! 4-0 Gigantes!

blooper by Dave Roberts, 2 runs score, 2-0 Gigantes!

Zambrano just issued his 3rd walk of the 4th inning, bases loaded (3d BB was to SP Matt Cain!).

Just wanted to get one started, since the baby bears start in a few minutes. Matt Cain goes for SF, while Zambrano heads to the hill after having what looked to be an overpowering performance washed out by rain in St. Louis. Bonds is not in the lineup today. Cain: He's managed to post a 1.32 WHIP thus far in 2007, despite walking 70 batters in 157 1/3 IP, and surrenduring a .323 BAA. He's on a roll lately, with 5 Quality Starts posted in a row. He's had plenty of bad luck (or perhaps just too much of having to play alongside SF's 'offense' ) this year, leading to his 5-13 record, but don't be fooled. In 4 of his losses, he's gone at least 7 IP & given up 2 or fewer ER - in addition, 4 of his 5 NDs this year have been Quality Starts. Viva Gigantes!

but man, you can't "take away" things he's done. He hit those HRs. How, in any way (no offense, honest question), can you call a 1.110 OPS over roughly 20 games anything but white hot? I agree with the notion that it just doesn't stand out as much, given Prince & others - and the fact that he doesn't have to carry the team anymore. These are things about which to be happy! Viva la Cinco (la original)!

I played a ton of the MVP franchise, and it was at the time the best thing - and imho, the first thing - to ever really happen in terms of baseball video games. But I'm preaching to you here, boys & girls, The Show is flat-out better. Plus, since 360 & PS3 have been launched, you can get a used PS2 for relatively cheap (roughly $75-90). Trust me, if you have the $120 bucks (if you don't have a PS2 - the game is around $40), go get it. The 2007 version of The Show is just plain great to play!

Sad to hear about the troubles focusing at school. That, coupled with his self-imposed/mother-ingrained perception of his thang should be enough of a red flag about how things are progressing, I'd hope. It sounds like you & your family is very aware of this growing issue; hopefully your sister will see what's going on here. http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/frown.gif

This will be a highly-promoted slap on the wrist -- just read Gene Upshaw's statement he released.

I'll admit to being the poop in the punchbowl here, but I think there's literally no way you could convince me that it's even in the same league as The Show. I'm on my second year with the franchise, and they managed to iron out nearly every gripe I had with the game. The gameplay is freakin' phenomenal, and the graphics are good, too. I just wish I could afford the $600 for a PS3, so I could play it at its top form (at least graphically - haven't heard of its gameplay on PS3 yet)

Why are you amazed, and why is this even slightly offensive to you? Cap's a class act, who worked his way off the injury junk-heap here in Milwaukee, has proven he can 'do it' when he's right, and he's struggling mightily this year. Why wouldn't you still expect people to root for a player like that? This isn't Milton Bradley here. I can't think of one response that said, 'I feel bad for Capuano because now he doesn't make as much $', or 'Now the Brewers are toast without Chris!' People just like to root their team & players, win or loss. It wasn't too long ago that the Brewers didn't even have a core group of players, just a Selig-ly greased revolving door. I welcome the change, personally.

Given that the D-Backs slithered out of April at 16-11, and exited May at 32-23, I fail to see how they didn't show they were for real early. In addition to that, I checked their game recaps, box scores, etc., and really couldn't find any more than a couple-few games where it looks like Melvin left a patsy in to get shelled - which doesn't seem that 'off-the-beaten-path' - they weren't games in which the D-Backs were only down 4 or so runs. I think what we may have here is simply a 'grass is greener' manager scenario. Seeing someone else try something (granted, merely in one game) we wish Ned would do a bit more of can lead to assumptions (I am quite guilty, as looking into it a bit more proved to me http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/frown.gif) It just doesn't appear that Melvin has employed anywhere near a 'throw in the towel' type of strategy in order to save the 'pen, just that our (mine included) perceptions are skewed due to that favorite bf.net term: small sample space! http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/smile.gif

I'm not taking credit for it, far from that, but I know I mentioned a few weeks ago (sorry, unavoidable pun) that if Rickie can end up bringing his season BA to roughly .240-.250, our offense would get a needed adrenaline boost. He really seems to be seeing it well right now, which is just in time for the 2007 season. As Automator mentioned yesterday, Rickie just needs to not operate in Rickie Standard Time, and join the rest of us - which he seems to be doing. Billy has been sporadic all year (obviously sans injury time), and he too seems to be sparking just as we need it. If/When (I tend to lean more toward the latter) Brawny starts to see it well again, this offense is going to be devastating - that is, if Prince & the others can keep swinging it! It seems like, just in time for the crucial remaining stretch, JJ's got it going, Gross, Hart, and others are joining in, too. It'll be tough for the entire group to keep raking, but Estrada's not going to be this cold the whole way out, either. (right?)

http://striketwo.net/mlb/player/hs_433657.jpg This Dave Bush is straight out of a Western flick. Even without the 'stache, I still think he fits. I think the win yesterday clearly was the result of me changing my avatar, so here's to win #2 on The Patch! I love my Dave Bush, so let's go get them rattlers!

I'm not making light of the situation, or FTJ's thoughtful and well-informed advice, but this made me laugh pretty hard. Taken out of context, I think it is most likely my new life motto. I think whether or not you talk to your sis yourself depends on how you know (bc, come on, you do have a pretty solid idea of how it'd play out) she'll take it. If she's an objective, open, and honest listener, then I think you can really help here. If she's more self-centered - not meaning maliciously, but sort of unable to hear criticism of what she feels is the 'right way' - and subjective, then I'd imagine it wouldn't go very well. I really like the advice you got to use a go-between like your mother (if she's still there) - who obviously did a pretty darn good job raising at least one male http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/wink.gif. Since you sis's perspective on you giving advice may be, 'well, you're not a woman trying to raise a man...', it would be great to have a shared perspective on which for her to lean. All in all, I'm very much the 'let's talk & be honest & open' type -- I much prefer to work something out than just pretend it'll go away. I would be like you here, I guess, wanting to counsel my sis on what I see turning into very serious socialization (or anti-soc.) problems for her young man, whom she very clearly cherishes. I think the biggest red flags to me are the crying over having dirty hands, the 'can't touch my wee-wee' rule (which, no offense, is just plain horrible - probably the biggest one to me, since he's setting up to forever have the image that his sexuality is 'dirty' & 'gross', that his penis is something to not be touched http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/frown.gif), and the general lack of social interaction or comfort therein. All of these, to me, are very serious because they may only continue to get worse & have bigger ramifications as he grows. While your sister's intentions are no doubt the purest of pure, there is so much more to be said for letting a young kid (of either gender) get their hands dirty - literally & figuratively - to learn & grow on his & her own. I know one of my uncles took that approach with his two boys, who were absolute terrors as toddlers & preschoolers, but are both maturing into calm, confident, and intelligent young men. When they'd fall & 'hurt' themselves, my uncle's response was always, "You're alright!", and the boys, when young, always were - and continue to be. Best of luck with a tricky situation, but your heart's in the right place!

I wholly disagree with the "house money" categorization. 'Supposed to' means squat in baseball. Our starting pitching was 'supposed to' be the best or among the best in the game this year. Have the D-backs been surprising? Sure, maybe to non-West Coast fans, but I don't buy for a minute that a manager's strategy is predicated (or somehow irrelevant - as you very sharply cover in the second line I've quoted) on how outsiders predict his team will do. Whenever I see a discussion like this, I'm reminded of Jim Leyland's "You can't be afraid to lose today in order to win tomorrow" quip. One thing I noticed about B. Melvin is, as mentioned, his willingness to go with unconventional moves if they make sense for more than just one game.

We shall see, I guess. If tonight doesn't go well, a change to the future may well be in order (but I think the patch looks super sweet as an avatar, fwiw!)

Posting in pink font Trying anything I can Changed my avatar Let's get a win! I even ditched the sweet Koskie Jedi pic, just bc I feel like a new avatar can't possibly hurt the team. Who knows? Maybe the patch can do some good!