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).

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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!