I Love a Good A-Rod Story

And this is a good one:

I AM A CENTAUR!


HAHAHAHAHA

Happy Samhain.

Even Up Redux on Planet Slam

I would be a bad host, particularly in the eyes of the Yankee fans who wait patiently for my blah-gs if I didn't mention that the team from NY beat the Phillies last night. Great pitching all around. Pedro was all anyone could ask for and Burnett put on his best ever in a big spot.

Is Girardi's plan to go Mo for a deuce everytime it's close? Bad plan Joe. He's not a wizard, folks.

---

Now it's the night before Halloween, so here's a redux of last year's post. Enjoy!

So what did you call it when you were a kid? The night before Halloween I mean...

In my neck of the woods, we called it GATE NIGHT - and people give me a quizzical look when I say that name. And apparently, the yuppies and new citizens of my little slice 'o' heaven in North Jersey have won out because the kids call it GOOSEY NIGHT, which I always found a little fem. But c'est la vie, right?

So I started asking people at work, around town at the Shop-Rite, wherever - "what did you call it oh so long ago?" So here is a list:

GATE NIGHT

GOOSEY NIGHT

MISCHIEF NIGHT

EVILS NIGHT

CABBAGE NIGHT

HELL NIGHT

Let me know if you have a good one. Funny, I had a friend named Flanagan and he called it 'same as every other night - and I still have to get me Da' at the precinct house!'. Poor Flanagan.

And a word to the wise... even though I've grown up, I still play the game tonight. On defense. Like Jack Lambert, but better looking.

SoulSlam 2008.

Full Speed Ahead

Cause a diesel engine named Cliff Lee came runnin' through the Bronx last night and dropped off a can 'o' whoopass on the EE (Evil Empire).

Since I am like Switzerland on this one, here's some thoughts:

Chase Utley is an old school ballplayer, like a modern day Ty Cobb

The Phillies can hit!

CC pitched well, just not well enough

Jeter is money

A-Rod looked a little tight in Game 1

There sure were a lot of empty seats at the House that the Taxpayers of NY Built

Chicken or Egg - Has Giradi lost confidence in the bullpen or has the bullpen lost confidence in Girardi

Uncle Charlie looks like a good guy to have a beer with

What was Matsui doing on the infield grass?

Game 2 tonight. Pedro vs. AJ. One for the ages? All the Yankee fans are pretty boisterous about a win tonight. We'll see...

The Lesser of Two Evils

For all of you new to the island, you may or may not know that SoulSlam is a Mets fan. And like any right-minded Mets fan subjected to the news and sportstalk radio in the greater Metropolitan area, one is forced to pick a side.

Nope.

First off, let's think back. We've had a Braves-Yankees WS haven't we? I didn't pick a side then either, and Atlanta has has more of my scorn heaped on them than the Phillies, who are only a year or so into my void.

I can't root for the Yankees although I recently had this great epiphany. I don't hate the Yankees. They are a great baseball team, and if I watch them play baseball without that uniform, I can see that. So who do I hate? The Yankees fans - not everyone of them, but a good portion; the fans who think it is a birthright, who don't want to hear about outspending the next closest team by $75M, the fan who somehow thinks he's part of the team. That is who I hate. My only comfort is when some thug perpetrates some horrendous crime in NYC, he is inevitably photographed with a Yankee cap on.

I also dislike Rudy Giuliani and his NYY/FD combo cap. And his pinch-faced wife.

The Phillies are a National League team with a great line-up - but I can't root for them either.

So I hope for the following:

Game 7 about to begin. Both teams have fought a valiant effort to win three apiece. It's a see-saw battle, to be decided with one final game. Then the earthquake hits. Yankee Stadium is swallowed whole, along with all the ballplayers, umpires, Yankee Fans, Kate Hudson, and Fox broadcasters. Series is declared a draw.

Now that would be something.

Rain Date and Other Stuff

Supposed to have travel baseball tryouts today, but the monsoon has hit the East Coast, postponing that until next week.

So I'm sitting here thinking of things and thought I'd post a few goodies I find interesting.

Michael Jordan's kid is having a sponsorship dilemma

Steve Phillips has interesting (re: strange) taste in women

Yankees need to win game six for their own good

A Phillies-Yankees World Series will be hard to root for anyone on a personal level

Nick Swisher seems like a real thinker

ND over BC today

People who work in libraries rarely have a sense of humor (more on that later)

iDon't like Droid already

Complete 360

Months ago, journalists of all ilk were reporting the Wilpons are in dire financial straits due to losing upwards of $600M in the Madoff scheme.

Now, the reports are coming in that they actually made money to the tune of almost $50M!

Throughout the whole saga, the Wilpons have remained quiet, basically saying any transactions don't affect the Mets.

Now people are calling for the money to be returned. Have they seen my team? We need the capital folks! We're looking at signing some top free agents! Gotta have priorities!

Bad Calls

Guess what? Umpires make bad calls. Little League, Cal Ripken, Travel Baseball, High School Baseball, College Baseball, Minor League Baseball and Major League Baseball. Get over it.

Before the advent of the high-def capabilities of cameras, we'd watch the tube in grainy slo-mo while the announcers said something like this:

"I don't know Jerry, looks like his foot might have been on the bag"
"Yeah, Don, but the ump was in perfect position, so I guess he got it right"

Now, these poor slobs are scrutinized every which way. Swisher is 100% out at 2B on a daylight play. Called safe. Then Swisher gets called out leaving the bag early on a tag, when apparently he didn't leave early. Since the ump wasn't actually watching (unless he's got one of those lazy eyes), people say it's a makeup call. Whatever.

My favorite gaffe was this one:


Everybody's out!!! Classic.

Apoplectic

From Answer.com -

adj.
1. Of, resembling, or produced by apoplexy: an apoplectic fit.
2. a. Having or inclined to have apoplexy.
b. Exhibiting symptoms associated with apoplexy.
3. Extremely angry; furious: "members of Congress who otherwise become apoplectic about wasteful government spending" (Dan Morgan).

Or maybe #3 should say "haters of Yankees who became apoplectic about this team winning two in a row at the ALCS"

Let's hope that the Angels can rally (monkey) and get a couple back at home in the sunshine of LA (or the suburbs of Orange County).

---

Random LCS thought:

Utley better not be turning in to Knoblauch

Burnett better realize the plate is 60'6" away. Not 57'

Is there a pitch that Vlad G. doesn't like?

Dodger fans wear caps worth wearing

A-Rod may be hitting well, but he's no Pete Rose coming home (weak)

Jeter is Jeter

Matt Kemp can play baseball for my team anyday

The Phillies bullpen certainly is interesting, isn't it?

Kate Hudson hasn't had this much facetime with America in her career

Funny how Yankees and Y. fans hate Papelbon for the fist pump, but never criticize Joba for the SAME EXACT THING

Joe Torre is a pretty cool customer

Mattingly looks good in Dodger Blue

Vote for Pedro

What do you get when you combine the body of a high school sophomore with the heart of a lion and top it of with a Soul Glo jheri curl?

PEDRO MARTINEZ!!!

Man, can that guy pitch or what? Good thing the Mets didn't need him this season. Pedro's line from yesterday's game: 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

And many have thought he was washed up. Just goes to show that the greats always find something extra when they need it. To bad that clown car (aka the Phillies bullpen) couldn't keep it on the road.


LOVE THIS PICTURE. NEVER GET TIRED OF LOOKING AT IT.

My Friend Lucky

Say hello to my boyo!

Leaf Peepers

Are you a leaf peeper?

The type who really goes for the site of fall foliage and the colors and how wonderful and crisp everything is and the shorter days and the...

Stop.

Here's the cold harsh reality townsfolk.

Autumn is here. It is GD cold out. It's dark when I wake up. It's dark pretty much when I get home. It seems darker most all the time.

That means winter is coming. SoulSlam is not a fan of winter, I just survive. I like heat and the outdoors and baseball. Autumn and Winter ARE NOT YOUR FRIENDS.

BRRR.

Really Bad Caps

Talkin' 'bout Fenway. Why is everybody wearing those cheapo, faded, one size fits all, casual Bosox caps? Would somebody invest $35 beans or so on a nice fitted New Era?

Anyway, they can put those caps away as the Red Sox (actually Papelbon) coughed up a huge loogy of a loss to go none and done in the ALDS.

Guess I'm rooting for the Halos folks.

Lost in the Lights

That was Holliday's excuse, now the Cards are done. D-O-N-E. Here's the question: will he lose sight of the cool $17+ million he's going to sign for as a free agent in the lights? Don't think so.

Yankees keep rollin'. I think this picture says it all:



The Red Sox have their backs against the Green Monster now. Not the toughest spot (re:2004 ALCS) they've ever been in, but tough enough.

Check ya' later.

The Drop

If the Cards lose the series, will St. Louis fans still embrace Mr. Holliday?




Man, that is a tough break. Shake it off big fella.

Tonight's predictions:

Burnett spits the bit and the Twins even it up.

Beckett is Beckett and throws a good one. Red Sox even it up.

Empty Seats

In the Bronx. At Yankee Stadium. During a playoff game. Bad.

The seats that Yankee executive management designated for the haves, versus, you the have-not; the seats that are (less than half) filled with people who look like they would be more at home at MOMA or The Met were missing the peeps, the true fan. A lot of NYC's Finest though patrolling the moat. Shameful.

And if I have to look at Ms. Kate Hudson throughout the post-season, I'm gonna puke. BTW, she's a two-face. She had on the good face last night.

My predictions for the 1st round (I KNOW I"M A DAY LATE!):
Yanks in 4
Red Sox in 4
Cardinals in 5
Phillies in 4

Audi. Enjoy some Gary Moore singing Empty Rooms (best I could do!)

Winter Coming in the House of Slam

I know because I covered my beautiful oasis in the backyard, my 27ft, above-ground swimming pool. I am one of those that must get every hour out of the pool, hence my OCD-induced need to open in early April and close in October. That makes it near six months of sparkling wonderment.

The problem is this: it gets might cool here late in September, unless we get an Indian Summer. So the water temperature falls to the 50's or so. And to close the pool, I've got to get in. And that is something I do not look forward to. Shrinkage indeed!

But now it's covered and lying dormant until next Spring.

New endeavor in the sports household of SoulSlam. My oldest boy is now going to play travel hoops. We've been involved in travel baseball for three years, and now he will be on the hardcourt. I will be an assistant coach. Should be fun.

A Very Happy Birthday

To my better half...Mrs. SoulSlam!

Love, SoulSlam