Running MLB Thread 2007 #1

Yeah, I think Joe and Jon actually said something along those lines last night: "Look at him. Even when he's not making a play he looks explosive."

I believe that was after he made the (apparently) rare decision to charge a double-play grounder instead of waiting for it to come to him.

 

The Cubs' rotation is better than the Cardinals. Somebody has to win that division but it won't be St. Louis.

 

I am off today and plan to do nothing but watch baseball and Ohio State. What a day!

 

Even if the Cubs get mediocre pitching, won't they just outscore most teams? That's pretty much an AL lineup 1-8.

 

I'll think of you when the Gators roar back from a seven-point deficit to win by 27.

 

Oh yeah? Well ... well ... Journey sucks! And so does Dokken!

Go put that in your Dream Warrior pipe and smoke it, Brewer-hater!

 

It's opening day. Take it away, Ernest...

Casey at the Bat
by Ernest Lawrence Thayer

The outlook wasn't brilliant for the Mudville nine that day;

The score stood four to two with but one inning more to play.

And then when Cooney died at first, and Barrows did the same,

A sickly silence fell upon the patrons of the game.


A straggling few got up to go in deep dispair. The rest

Clung to that hope which springs eternal in the human breast;

They thought if only Casey could but get a whack at that --

We'd put up even money now with Casey at the bat.


But Flynn preceded Casey, as did also Jimmy Blake,

And the former was a lulu and the latter was a cake;

So upon that stricken multitude grim melancholy sat,

For there seemed but little chance of Casey's getting to the bat.


But Flynn let drive a single, to the wonderment of all,

And Blake, the much despised, tore the cover off the ball;

And when the dust had lifted, and the men saw what had occurred,

There was Johnny safe at second and Flynn a-hugging third.


Then from 5,000 throats and more there rose a lusty yell;

It rumbled through the valley, it rattled in the dell;

It knocked upon the mountain and recoiled upon the flat,

For Casey, mighty Casey, was advancing to the bat.


There was ease in Casey's manner as he stepped into his place,

There was pride in Casey's bearing and a smile on Casey's face.

And when, responding to the cheers, he lightly doffed his hat,

No stranger in the crowd could doubt 'twas Casey at the bat.


Ten thousand eyes were on him as he rubbed his hands with dirt;

Five thousand tongues applauded when he wiped them on his shirt.

Then while the writhing pitcher ground the ball into his hip,

Defiance gleamed in Casey's eye, a sneer curled Casey's lip.


And now the leather-covered sphere came hurtling through the air,

And Casey stood a-watching it in haughty grandeur there.

Close by the sturdy batsman the ball unheeded sped --

"That ain't my style," said Casey. "Strike one," the umpire said.


From the benches, black with people, there went up a muffled roar,

Like the beating of the storm waves on a stern and distant shore.

"Kill him! Kill the umpire!" shouted someone from the stand;

And it's likely they'd have killed him had not Casey raised his hand.


With a smile of Christian charity great Casey's visage shone,

He stilled the rising tumult; he bade the game go on;

He signaled to the pitcher, and once more he spheroid flew;

But Casey still ignored it, and the umpire said, "Strike two."


"Fraud!" cried the maddened thousands, and the echo answered, "Fraud!"

But one scornful look from Casey and the audience was awed.

They saw his face grow stern and cold, they saw his muscles strain,

And they knew that Casey wouldn't let that ball go by again.


The sneer is gone from Casey's lip, his teeth are clenched in hate;

He pounds with cruel violence his bat upon the plate.

And now the pitcher holds the ball, and now he lets it go,

And now the air is shattered by the force of Casey's blow.


Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright;

The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,

And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout;

But there is no joy in Mudville -- mighty Casey has struck out.

 

The over/under for the Yankees / Tampa game is 10 runs. I'd be tempted to take the over too but if I recall correctly - most Opening Day games tend to be lower scoring (for example the Mets game last night went under).

FWIW - if Curt Schilling gets 7 strikeouts today - he ties Mike Fucking Torrez for 37th place on the Red Sox all-time list. With 10 strikeouts - he ties Babe Ruth for 36th place.

 

Let's see what Soriano does now that he's got his big contract first, though I think getting Lee back healthy is a much bigger help than anybody they added.

I'll give the Cubs one thing on their rotation. At least they aren't counting on Kip Wells.

 

Or Braden Looper.

 

Notice ESPN hasn't fixed its audio problems from last night.

 

Well, that's the No. 5 spot....where the Cubs have Wade Miller right now and pray Prior gets himself straightened out.