The Sports Thread

[ggould]

It's official: Barry won't be back with the Giants next year. (Bonds, that is)

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/21/SPCHSBUV3.DTL

Good. Now the Giants can work on fielding a competitive team again. There was no chance of that happening with the Melon around.  My assumption is that he'll go to the Angels to DH next year.  I hope he hits .135.

Jeez, whither dost thine venom spring from?

[Gazoo]

It's official: Barry won't be back with the Giants next year. (Bonds, that is)

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/21/SPCHSBUV3.DTL

Good. Now the Giants can work on fielding a competitive team again. There was no chance of that happening with the Melon around.  My assumption is that he'll go to the Angels to DH next year.  I hope he hits .135.

Jeez, whither dost thine venom spring from?

Wait 10 years, when we see a rash of former MLB players dying at age 45 from steroid abuse.  Once Barry, McGwire, Sosa et al effectively changed the rules of the game, it became incumbent upon a whole lot of others to start juicing just to remain competitive.  I'm not looking forward to the inevitable fallout.  (Anyone wanna take the over/under as to whether Barry sees 55?)

[Lightnin' Rod]

It's official: Barry won't be back with the Giants next year. (Bonds, that is)

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/21/SPCHSBUV3.DTL

Good. Now the Giants can work on fielding a competitive team again. There was no chance of that happening with the Melon around.  My assumption is that he'll go to the Angels to DH next year.  I hope he hits .135.

Jeez, whither dost thine venom spring from?

Wait 10 years, when we see a rash of former MLB players dying at age 45 from steroid abuse.  Once Barry, McGwire, Sosa et al effectively changed the rules of the game, it became incumbent upon a whole lot of others to start juicing just to remain competitive.  I'm not looking forward to the inevitable fallout.  (Anyone wanna take the over/under as to whether Barry sees 55?)

A friend of mine's kid went down to Mexico to play in the leagues down there, trying to prepare himself for a possible run at the majors.  EVERYONE was doing 'roids, and the only way to compete was to do them too.  So he quit.  It's still about personal choices, and you can't blame Barry for other people making the wrong ones.

It has been argued that Bonds didn't start enhancing until Sosa and McGuire went on their homer binge ("saving" baseball after the strike).  So, again, singling out Bonds seems excessive.  Bonds did not start the trend, just jumped on the bandwagon to the most obvious benefit.

Barry may not live beyond 55, but I'm certainly not rooting for it.

[RGMike]

It's official: Barry won't be back with the Giants next year. (Bonds, that is)

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/21/SPCHSBUV3.DTL

Good. Now the Giants can work on fielding a competitive team again. There was no chance of that happening with the Melon around.  My assumption is that he'll go to the Angels to DH next year.  I hope he hits .135.

Jeez, whither dost thine venom spring from?

Wait 10 years, when we see a rash of former MLB players dying at age 45 from steroid abuse.  Once Barry, McGwire, Sosa et al effectively changed the rules of the game, it became incumbent upon a whole lot of others to start juicing just to remain competitive.  I'm not looking forward to the inevitable fallout.  (Anyone wanna take the over/under as to whether Barry sees 55?)

A friend of mine's kid went down to Mexico to play in the leagues down there, trying to prepare himself for a possible run at the majors.  EVERYONE was doing 'roids, and the only way to compete was to do them too.  So he quit.  It's still about personal choices, and you can't blame Barry for other people making the wrong ones.

It has been argued that Bonds didn't start enhancing until Sosa and McGuire went on their homer binge ("saving" baseball after the strike).  So, again, singling out Bonds seems excessive.  Bonds did not start the trend, just jumped on the bandwagon to the most obvious benefit.

Barry may not live beyond 55, but I'm certainly not rooting for it.

Well put, Rockin' Rod.  My retort to those whio complain about Bonds' records being "tainted" is: unless you can prove he's the only one who ever used... shut up.  

I have bigger issues with him being a shitty human being than with his juicing.  :wink:

[urth]

I have bigger issues with him being a shitty human being than with his juicing.  :wink:

No kidding. His statement after being notified the Giants weren't going to sign on for another season of his mishegoss claimed he wasn't allowed enough time to "say a proper farewell to his fans in SF."  But has he played since then? Supposedly his toe was feeling better on Thursday and might have played against Cincy over the weekend. But since he got the word from Magowan, he hasn't poked his nose out of the dugout--or maybe even the clubhouse. Now I'll be shocked if he makes anything more than a token appearance tonight or tomorrow, and probably not at all in LA.

Spoiled little sh**.

[RGMike]

Ray Ratto's piece on what tonite's Barry's-Last-Home-Game might/should be like:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/26/SP9GSDP4H.DTL

[urth]

So finally the MLB post-season lineup is set--almost.

Red Sox are playing the Angels at Fenway, while the Yanks go to Cleveland for their series. And the Cubbies are playing in Arizona while the Phils capitalized on the Mets' collapse to take the NL East, and the Rockies and the Pads are tied for the NL wildcard, so are playing a one-game playoff tomorrow to see who goes to Philly. Very cool that so many of the NL races went down to the final weekend of the season.

My picks for the Series are the Sox in the AL, and either the Rockies (if they get in) or the Phils in the NL. Yes, the Cubbie curse will continue (but I'd love to be wrong about that).

And then there's the Giants. At least they administered a good-sized whuppin' to the Dodgers today to end the season on a not-so-low note. Can't wait for February. But in the meantime, bring on the playoffs.

[RGMike]

So finally the MLB post-season lineup is set--almost.

Red Sox are playing the Angels at Fenway, while the Yanks go to Cleveland for their series. And the Cubbies are playing in Arizona while the Phils capitalized on the Mets' collapse to take the NL East, and the Rockies and the Pads are tied for the NL wildcard, so are playing a one-game playoff tomorrow to see who goes to Philly. Very cool that so many of the NL races went down to the final weekend of the season.

My picks for the Series are the Sox in the AL, and either the Rockies (if they get in) or the Phils in the NL. Yes, the Cubbie curse will continue (but I'd love to be wrong about that).

And then there's the Giants. At least they administered a good-sized whuppin' to the Dodgers today to end the season on a not-so-low note. Can't wait for February. But in the meantime, bring on the playoffs.

I cannot believe what happened to the Mets  -- one of the worst chokes ever.  I'm attributing it to what is now officially "The Dane Cook Curse". Cook has been doing those MLB promos for the postseason, and in early Sept all his promos featured then-hot teams who immediately slid out of contention -- Tigers, Brewers, and finally the Mets. He's evil, I tells ya!

But I agree about the Rockies, classic case of a Wild Card team that suddenly got hot at the right time. If they don't beat the Padres tonite... well, it won't be Dane Cook's fault.

[SFGuy]

So finally the MLB post-season lineup is set--almost.

Red Sox are playing the Angels at Fenway, while the Yanks go to Cleveland for their series. And the Cubbies are playing in Arizona while the Phils capitalized on the Mets' collapse to take the NL East, and the Rockies and the Pads are tied for the NL wildcard, so are playing a one-game playoff tomorrow to see who goes to Philly. Very cool that so many of the NL races went down to the final weekend of the season.

My picks for the Series are the Sox in the AL, and either the Rockies (if they get in) or the Phils in the NL. Yes, the Cubbie curse will continue (but I'd love to be wrong about that).

And then there's the Giants. At least they administered a good-sized whuppin' to the Dodgers today to end the season on a not-so-low note. Can't wait for February. But in the meantime, bring on the playoffs.

Angels over Phillies in 4. Angels get over Yankees in the ALCS and Phillies over the Cubs (Cubs will blow a 3-0 lead to Philly).

[Lightnin' Rod]

And with the end of the regular season, so ends another fantasy year.  Came in third in my little league, worth about 340 bucks.  Subtract the investment of 300, and my partner and I walk away with chump change.  But that's better than the 7 teams behind ...


Thank you, A-rod.  I'll even root for the Yankees this year...

[urth]

Well, the Rocks have the Phillies on the ropes--beat them a second time in their own house. Things are not looking promising in the City of Brotherly Love.

Meanwhile, last I looked the Yanks were down to Cleveland 3-1. Fine with me.

[Gazoo]

Well, the Rocks have the Phillies on the ropes--beat them a second time in their own house. Things are not looking promising in the City of Brotherly Love.

Meanwhile, last I looked the Yanks were down to Cleveland 3-1. Fine with me.

Yanks looked TERR-A-BULL.  yay!

Phillies are being out-managed -- no difficult feat with Manuel, who has the cognitive skills of a turnip.

[SFGuy]

So finally the MLB post-season lineup is set--almost.

Red Sox are playing the Angels at Fenway, while the Yanks go to Cleveland for their series. And the Cubbies are playing in Arizona while the Phils capitalized on the Mets' collapse to take the NL East, and the Rockies and the Pads are tied for the NL wildcard, so are playing a one-game playoff tomorrow to see who goes to Philly. Very cool that so many of the NL races went down to the final weekend of the season.

My picks for the Series are the Sox in the AL, and either the Rockies (if they get in) or the Phils in the NL. Yes, the Cubbie curse will continue (but I'd love to be wrong about that).

And then there's the Giants. At least they administered a good-sized whuppin' to the Dodgers today to end the season on a not-so-low note. Can't wait for February. But in the meantime, bring on the playoffs.

Angels over Phillies in 4. Angels get over Yankees in the ALCS and Phillies over the Cubs (Cubs will blow a 3-0 lead to Philly).

I'm doing good in my picks. I picked Angels, Phillies, Cubs and Yankees in the Division Series who are a combined (as of Friday night, October 5th) 0-8.

[RGMike]

D-Backs sweep Cubbies (the Curse continues). Rockies sweep Phillies. Let's hope the Tribe can Yank the Spankees tomorrow; Red Sox could do the same to the Angels. Well, everybody'll be well rested for the LCS's!

[urth]

D-Backs sweep Cubbies (the Curse continues). Rockies sweep Phillies. Let's hope the Tribe can Yank the Spankees tomorrow; Red Sox could do the same to the Angels. Well, everybody'll be well rested for the LCS's!

Three outta four ain't bad. The Yankees finally find their bats and Joe Torre keeps his job for at least one more day. Bummed about the Cubbies, but go Sox (and Indians, at least for now)!