SeriesFinale

Yeah, those panoramics are fantastic...it almost looks like they only sell on the 1st base side, really bizarre.

Yeah, those panoramics are fantastic...it almost looks like they only sell on the 1st base side, really bizarre.

http://www.whereivebeen.com/# This will help you track that wide swath! They have a facebook app, too, I believe.

I'd bring a decent jacket, maybe even a coat! It's always within a thirty-degree range of temperature in this town, no matter the time of year, but it gets much closer to the lower end of that spectrum down by the water, and especially for those evening games.

Yeah, Gallardo is most certainly not the #5 on the Giants' staff, although I agree that top-to-bottom, they have a stronger rotation. Again, I'll be happy with one win this series, although I'd prefer two since the Brew Crew has to start the home season against the Cubs right away and I'd hate to be three back of them in the first week (although it's not the end of the world, obviously). The Brewers taking all three would be ideal of course (and our offense does seem light years better than theirs, provided they don't have Manny by April 7th), but I can't imagine this year's series here will be nearly as satisfying as last year's: a Brewers' sweep, I get to see CC pitch (and dominate) for the first time, a Brewers' comeback, a Prince Splash Hit, Parra beats Lincecum...it was really great.

I've been hearing out here that Johnson could actually probably be their #5 this year. We might see Sanchez or Zito instead on the third day. In the two previous seasons I've been here, I've seen the Brewers get swept (late August '07) and sweep the Giants (right after the AS break '08). Afterwards, both series seemed like linchpins for how the season ended up turning out. In '07 they seemed gassed and then coughed up the Central lead a few days later; in '08, it seemed like they were really beginning their march. This series doesn't seem nearly as "crucial" going in, for obvious reasons (I do like how they're getting one West Coast series out of the way early); I'm just hoping they avoid getting swept if only for selfish reasons, and I know they can take at least one. Manny's the X-factor here, though.

Yeah, seemed like a done deal at that point--I was kinda hoping Penn's relatively recent Best Actor award would cost him a few votes, but what can you do. I thought Penn was pretty great, but third-best this year behind Rourke and Langella. Anyway, I knew Slumdog was unstoppable once it beat out Wall-e and The Dark Knight for the Sound Mixing Award.

Parra beat Lincecum in San Francisco last year--trot him out there if Macha's so worried about Gallardo's psyche (I mean, what?) This is just not a team that can afford to sacrifice games this year

I'm frankly disappointed this thread has gone to two pages. Cecil Fielder has nothing to say that's relevant to this team or Prince.

I'm not sure if this is a joke or not (it's late but I have my ideas), but they kept the backstage open and lit for the design portions of the awards

Yeah, yeah, I know they're considered a joke by true film fans That said, I thought there would be one. As far as the awards go, it was like any other year: there were some winners I though deserved it, some not (that's a whole other thread, but as much as I love Penn, sheesh...). Some funny stuff, blah blah blah, some touching stuff... Besides Maher's milquetoast attempt at some controversy (whether you agree with him or not, I found it kinda lame), the only shocking moment for me was Departures winning Best Foreign, but I guess people always forget that only Academy voters who've actually seen the movie can vote--hence the much vaunted possible upset of Waltz with Bashir by The Class never actually happened. As far as the telecast went--it was the best and worst in years: the numbers and general television cuts were terrible (the numbers were maddeningly bad for me), and there was too much Queen Latifah and panning and not enough tribute during the standard "tribute"; but the awarding concept (when the actors actually meant it and had actually seen the movies--did Sophia Loren actually see anything this year?) was quite fantastic, and the art direction was gorgeous. And at first I thought the idea of a mash-up for Best Song was horrible, but it actually kinda worked. Lastly, Jackman was average at best, I thought; I prefer a raconteur-type. You?

Stay strong, people! The Brewers are in Arizona! You can hold out just a little* longer! * Relatively speaking, of course.

Yeah, I can't help it, the first thing I thought of was: was this almost done as a way to call Manny's bluff? I mean, I know it's ridiculous to reduce Orlando Hudson to a pawn like that, but the California media has got this story on my brain

Big thanks, Blancofan1! Yes, anybody can donate now up until and shortly after March 14th. It's very much appreciated, especially in these tight fiscal times.

Mail that guy a razor! Anyway, now I really feel bad for the guy knowing that even Sounds fans are riding him!

I don't think anyone is "worried" about it, especially in comparison to what happens on the field. I just 1) don't think he's that great after having listened to him on WGN and 2) I simply don't like the idea that the voice of our team is a life-long die-hard fan of what is ostensibly our biggest rival. I don't think it's a massive deal, and I don't think that will affect his ability to do the job whatsoever, and I'm not sure anyone else does, either, but I just don't like it, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that.

I'll take the good things where I can get them this off-season, and the farewell-to-the-goggles news is definitely cause for joy in that case. I think it was just so hard to get past the image of Gagne fiddling with them after he yields Fukudome's dramatic HR on Opening Day

SOLVDD

Hi BrewerFan friends. Every few years, I shave my head for the pediatric cancer charity St. Baldrick's in exchange for donations, and I'm doing so again this year. I know finances are quite tight for everyone this year, but if anything has anything they can spare for this great cause, it would be truly appreciated. Thanks!: Top o' the mornin', etc. etc. In 2004, back in the Big Windy, I decided to participate in St. Baldrick's after reading an Eric Zorn column about it in the Chicago Tribune. Initially I set a goal to raise $500, which was quickly surpassed. In the end, my wonderful friends, family, and co-workers, including many of you, ended up donating $1,723, and then another $1400 when I did it again in 2006, and both years I ended up looking like a young Telly Savalas: who loves ya, baby? A few years have passed, and I'm now I'm out here in the Golden West. I think you guys have it in you again, and I've decided that bald is a good look for me (heck, I'm headed that way anyway), and so I come clippers in hand once again asking for your donation to help fight pediatric cancer. I guess a little explanation is in order: St. Baldrick's was started by a group of business execs in New York City back in 2001 who had been celebrating St. Patty's in the traditional manner: with a boatload of pints at their local pub. They decided to give their celebrations a twist and help young children diagnosed with cancer by shaving their heads bald in solidarity with the kids in return for pledges of financial support for the National Childhood Cancer Foundation. They've since raised over a million dollars in support of research and treatment of childhood cancer for the foundation. Essentially, that's my motivation...to give some meaning and positive impact to the standard St. Patrick's celebration I'd no doubt head down to good old Durty Nelly's in the sunny Sunset to engage in otherwise. I'm not Mother Theresa or even Jerry Lewis : I won't (and can't) give a florid speech about the ravages of the disease. Suffice it to say: Cancer Sucks. If the least I can do to help lessen the chances of its spectre visiting my family or yours is go bald for a couple months, fire up the clippers. But I'll need your help. Please strongly consider making a tax-deductible donation to the National Childhood Cancer Foundation by sponsoring me to shave my head. To make a donation and learn more about the event and NCCF, visit http://www.stbaldricks.org/ href="http://www.stbaldricks.org/" target=_blank>http://www.stbaldricks.org. You can go directly to my page here: http://www.stbaldricks.or...ParticipantKey=2009-58299 href="http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/shavee_info.php?ParticipantKey=2009-58299" target=_blank>http://www.stbaldricks.or...ParticipantKey=2009-58299 Or, you can click on "Sponsor a Participant" on the main page to look me up and submit a donation in my name. Additionally, you can call 1-888-899-BALD to donate by phone or I can accept donations in person...if you choose to go that route, I have donation forms I'd need you to fill out. All checks should be filled out to St.Baldrick's, with my name in the "Memo" section. If you want to watch as my mane goes from unruly to smooth join me at the Bay Street mall over in Emeryville, a quick BART trip or drive over the Bay Bridge from San Francisco, during the afternoon of March 14th as me and a few dozen others get shorn. Again, anything you could spare would be appreciated. Feel free to contact me with any questions, and Happy St. Pat's! Yours truly, Joel.

Yeah, I'm on-board here, although I hope they still go after Cordero or possibly Cruz. Hopefully Gagne can keep up the good work at the tail end of last year and the drunken peanut gallery at MP stays off his back while he does so.

This was a little frustrating most of the year, but absolutely maddening on September 28th last year. I really wish I'd been able to watch all the post-game interviews and reaction with the Brew Crew winning that game and then the Wild Card. At the least I got to watch the Marlins beat the Mets (and following all those WC competitors' games down the stretch was great, too).

Getting Extra Innings last year was fantastic; I can't believe it took me that long. Can't wait to see most of them again this year, and all the extras: watching and rooting against playoff-spot rivals down the stretch, late evenings with Vin Scully's calls, etc, is gravy

Like most, I don't care that he worked for the Cubs. I'm not at all happy that he's a gushing die-hard life-long Cubs fan, but I could get over that if he was top-notch. He's not. Having listened to him when I lived in Chicago, he's middling to dull, and I'm shocked they couldn't find a better option out there. The worst part about it is the only time I really listen to the radio feed these days is when I'm at work during weekday day games...an inordinate amount of which are at Wrigley. I know he's a professional, but I have a hard time imagining this life-long die-hard Cubs fan from the Chicago suburbs not getting just a little excited during one of the seemingly-many late melodramatic wins/comebacks the Cubs have had during those Wrigley matinees the last couple years. Heck, even if he keeps a professional even-keel on-air, I despise the idea of our radio guy getting excited about Cubs' victories off the air, and I don't think there's anything wrong with Brewers fans thinking that.

I know a lot of people who were really pulling for the Brew Crew last year since we seem to have no true natural enemies (yeah, we hate the Cubs, but we're about #3 on their list--with a bullet, of course): the long history of losing in combination with the lack of pretense and all the self-deprecating beer and sausage imagery seems to make the Crew easy to root for...kind of a true "lovable losers." And I always thought Brewers' fans didn't get enough credit (as it were of course), for at least staying in the middle of the pack for attendance when they were the smallest market in baseball (with two teams just 90 miles away) in the midst of a dozen+ non-winning seasons.

Any plans for new shirts for 2009? "Zing. Boom. Tarrarel." is one of my favorite tees, and I wouldn't mind repping bf.net again out at China Basin when the season starts on April 7th.