liveforoctober

Obviously I don't believe that anything we say or do in our homes effects what happens on the field... but still, the superstitious part of baseball or any sport is just one of a number of things that makes sports fun for me. I didn't move from the same spot on my couch today from the 4th inning on until the ball hit the foul pole. I had to go to the bathroom like you wouldn't believe. Did my "sacrifice" help or hurt Dave Bush? No. But I had a lot of fun watching the game... and that "superstition" was part of it, and that is what bothers me about some people who "don't believe in superstitions". Of course they don't mean anything. Of course you are allowed to say or do what you please, and I know that me drinking my beer with my right hand instead of my left will not make Prince Fielder any better at the plate... but you know what... what does it hurt if people have fun with it? I really get upset at people who go out of their way to attack people who are having fun with superstitions. Listen, if someone wants to sit in silence and not mention the fact that their pitcher hasn't given up a hit... and if it helps them enjoy the game... why ruin it by mentioning it every other pitch? (Of course that goes both ways... if someone wears the same shirt for 4 weeks without changing or something... I'm going to pummel them... but most of this stuff is innocent) And I think that is where my problem with Brian Anderson comes into play. He has stated that he has to call the game as if it was a normal game... and that means mentioning the highlights to potential new viewers.. and if that means "jinxing" the game for the pitcher... than he has to jinx the pitcher. Well, what is wrong with saying something like "Dave Bush has something special happening right now..." or "You may want to stick around for this one folks... check the box score on your own" ... you can draw attention to it without saying the poison words "no hitter" "no hits" "or hitless" .. like Brian Anderson managed to do 54 times today. Even Bill Schroeder had to put him in his place a little bit when BA starting asking him about the no hitter he caught for Nieves... Schroeder was just saying "I don't want to talk about it right now, I'm not going to do that"... Listen, of course superstition is fake... but if you are really ruining the moment for so many people who are enjoying the game MORE because of it... and if you really aren't benefiting anyone by saying it... than why do it?

looks like we got the good Dave Bush too... early signs say we have a good game ahead of us...

Yeah, FSN is cutting out... I'm not happy either...

looks like we got the good Cole Hamels today...

Well done Dave... way to pitch through... Come on now Black Hole(s) ... let's put some good at bats together!

0-2 HBP to lead things off... *sigh*

What a terrible slide... he would have been safe easy if he slid for the bag and not for Utley.

I really want Rivera to go 3-4 today and force Macha's hand... we cannot continue to have two pitcher's spots in our order when Kendall is in the game...

Very good news. Although I think the walk up sales for upcoming home games are going to be significantly hampered if the Brewers struggle over the next few weeks and into the summer. Just another reason to hope we turn things around in Philly and beyond... we need to break our attendance record and we need those walk ups:)

Your post actually raises a very good point... and IMO, it has nothing to do with your post. Collectively, we have gone from ripping Rickie Weeks apart: "He can't hit, he can't field, he can't throw, he is fast but can't run the bases, etc..." ... to now having someone post about Weeks inability to throw over the top on a double play turn. Needless to say, the kid has progressed in many ways. I think it is obvious he was hurt by getting pulled up too fast after Spivey was traded and equally hurt confidence wise by the constant abuse from the media and fan base. (Whether or not media and fan scrutiny or praise should affect an athlete's performance is another topic) Needless to say, he has rebounded nicely and I think has finally found a pair of coaches (Randolph and Sveum) who can coach up his strengths and weaknesses both at the plate and in the field. He has been above average thus far this season which has been hampered slightly by our 3,4,5 blackhole... and I am excited to see Weeks in a few months when his confidence finally returns to where it was when he was in the minor leagues. Also, I actually think Weeks has been a positive defensively this year. He has made some outstanding plays.

Better behavior? I have to disagree. He was speaking at the opening of a local little league season. He's making the Nationals look good and trying to clean up his own image. That is probably in the definition of GOOD behavior.

unreal... so what does Yankee stadium offer that Miller Park doesn't...other than flat screen TV's every 10 feet and chances for rain outs every night?

I realize this isn't the topic of the thread but I actually was a little sick when I heard that they paid a billion dollars for this park. That number just seems astonishing to me... What did Miller Park cost?

I understand that a one game benching and a $500 fine isn't that big of a deal for a major league baseball player... but I can't help but get a bad taste in my mouth for what Nationals' management did in this instance. Here is a kid who has had noted off and on the field issues in the past... he is paid a very modest $500 to go speak at a little league baseball grand opening of some sorts... there is a parade that he has to sit through, then talks to the kids... reports say he took off sprinting to his car because he knew he might be late. Now, to be fair... I have no idea what Manny Acta and the Nationals' top layer said to him. It could very well have been "Listen, we love what you did today. We thought it was great you were trying to help out those kids and be an example and we encourage these types of acts in every regard, but we do have rules that we shouldn't bend and although you have a legitimate reason as to why we should let this go... we have to be fair to everyone, so here is your punishment..." but the way Manny Acta pulled off the whole macho man "We are changing the culture around here" nonesense... I really don't think that is what happened. Is it just me or did they handle this completely wrong? **edit** And for the record... I absolutely love that the Little League where Dukes spoke is stepping up and paying the fine. They are sending a message to Dukes that he really did do a great thing and they are also sending a message to Nationals' management that 2-10 isn't their biggest problem right now... love it.**

I understand that a one game benching and a $500 fine isn't that big of a deal for a major league baseball player... but I can't help but get a bad taste in my mouth for what Nationals' management did in this instance. Here is a kid who has had noted off and on the field issues in the past... he is paid a very modest $500 to go speak at a little league baseball grand opening of some sorts... there is a parade that he has to sit through, then talks to the kids... reports say he took off sprinting to his car because he knew he might be late. Now, to be fair... I have no idea what Manny Acta and the Nationals' top layer said to him. It could very well have been "Listen, we love what you did today. We thought it was great you were trying to help out those kids and be an example and we encourage these types of acts in every regard, but we do have rules that we shouldn't bend and although you have a legitimate reason as to why we should let this go... we have to be fair to everyone, so here is your punishment..." but the way Manny Acta pulled off the whole macho man "We are changing the culture around here" nonesense... I really don't think that is what happened. Is it just me or did they handle this completely wrong? **edit** And for the record... I absolutely love that the Little League where Dukes spoke is stepping up and paying the fine. They are sending a message to Dukes that he really did do a great thing and they are also sending a message to Nationals' management that 2-10 isn't their biggest problem right now... love it.**

You don't think Rivera is a better offensive option over Kendall? And I think you are agreeing with me anyway. If Brad Nelson is on the bench and Kendall is up in the 8th inning in a big spot... Nelson should be hitting for him and Rivera should be catching the last inning. We don't have to worry about losing our backup catcher to injury anymore with McGahee on the roster. Yost refused last year and Macha doesn't have that same excuse...

Everything Ennder said... plus Suppan was going to have to face Reyes + for the 4th time this next time through ... which generally isn't favorable. Coffey was only at 19 pitches after his first 1 2/3, which is only an inning really.

Well... he looked good today against a good lineup. I think his confidence was tested a little after his last start... so today was much needed for him. Hopefully he can role off a few more starts just like this and help this team back to .500.

Before we knight him... remember he let Suppan hit in the bottom of the 6th only to pull him after 1 batter in the 7th... which offsets the Coffey move, because it started the mess that required Coffey. Hoffman can't get here soon enough... Coffey has thrown too many innings already as he is our only reliable bullpen guy. Good win today.

well... Brooks Kieshnick he is not... but I was entertained nonetheless...

Here comes Kendall to try and stay above the .100 mark... *edit* well done Jason ... well done...

When is that TV contract up?

and the fact that we now have 5-6-7 to face in the 8th is a positive... that was beyond huge for Coffey...

textbook strikeout for Stetter... well done. *edit* spoken to soon... just keep the lead Mitch..

Augustine is proving to be a mess on camera... he is falling all over his words. Also, Jeff Suppan through 6 (knock on wood) is giving me reason to get some easy sleep tonight... because I have been semi-sick over him the last few days.