Baseball-Related Program Activities

Goodbye!

2008-05-21T22:19:00.004-05:00

Here's the cover of the May 26 issue of Sports Illustrated...

At first, I thought I was looking at some major mistakes in the artwork, but then I realized, no, the action depicted is taking place in Bizarro World. (That was a little less clear on my subscription copy, which has the address label printed over the bizarro advertising in the lower right corner.)

When it says baseball, baseball, baseball on the label, label, label

2008-05-20T10:00:00.002-05:00

I've taken advantage of some downtime at work and gone back through the history of baseballrelated.com to add labels (or, as the kids call them, "tags") to all the posts. Now you can easily read all the posts here that contain some content related to Johnny Damon -- including this one!

Only eight days until Levi and I see a baseball game together for the first time since the trip in August 2004.

The Searchers

2008-05-18T19:12:00.005-05:00

I noticed today that around a dozen people had been led to my other blog this weekend by searching for "Jason Giambi thong." So, steeling myself against the hideous assortment of possible discoveries that flitted through my clearly too-active mind, I plugged those terms into {a popular search engine that may or may not employ Jim} and discovered . . . this.

Apparently Giambi is the owner of a gold lame thong, which he dons when he feels the need for some supernatural help in breaking a slump. But that's not the worst of it: he also has on occasion lent this thong to teammates who felt a similar need! Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon have both admitted to wearing it. Jeter told the Daily News,

"I had it over my shorts and stuff. I was 0-for-32 and I hit a homer on the first pitch. That's the only time I've ever worn it."

{Editorial note: wouldn't you have expected "and stuff" to be in brackets?}

I'll leave you with a hypothetical question for those Yankee fans out there: is winning worth this? Will you ever be able to sleep again, having pictured Jason Giambi in a gold thong? Would a quiet last-place finish really be so bad?

Almost as awesome as the Rays

2008-05-14T13:11:00.004-05:00

Here's an online art exhibition, of illustrations of old-timey baseball players, entitled Stealing Signs: Dead-Ball Era Baseball; Memories from My Last Life, 1927. And here's an interview with the artist.

Unfortunately, this one is already sold, or I'd suggest it as something for the walls of the Rocketship (unless the walls are completely covered in books by now). There are a few other St. Louis players, though.

Rays awesomeness watch (now a regular feature, apparently)

2008-05-14T09:54:00.004-05:00

After yesterday's 2-1 win over the Yankees, the Rays are now alone in first place in the AL East. They're 7 games over .500 for the first time ever; they've now won 11 home games in a row.

In other news, we have an actual baseball-related program activity (the original rationale for this blog, remember?) coming two weeks from today: Levi will be in L.A. on business, but is taking time out so we can see the Angels play the Tigers in Anaheim. He's been here a few times for his job, but this is the first time he's going to make it to a baseball game.

Can we look back at posts like this one and laugh yet?

And you thought those those scenes of Charlie Brown's clothes flying off were exaggerated

2008-05-13T14:39:00.004-05:00

A ball from Jeff Bennett nearly takes off Jason Michaels's vest. Video on Flickr.

What are the odds? Let's find out

2008-05-08T09:42:00.003-05:00

During the Dodgers' 12-1 loss yesterday to the Mets, the only interesting thing to happen to the home fans was that two of them in adjacent seats caught consecutive foul balls.

And I could have been there -- someone at my office sent out an e-mail saying she had 10 free tickets available, first come first serve. But it was a rare weekday day game, and I didn't think my boss would appreciate me taking a 3-hour lunch. (I'm definitely glad I didn't fake appendicitis for a 12-1 game. I probably wouldn't have caught a foul ball, either.)

The name change is working so far

2008-04-28T09:38:00.001-05:00

After sweeping series against the Blue Jays and Red Sox, the Rays have won 6 in a row, and -- this is quite a statistic -- are in first place in the AL East later in the season than ever before. (Tied for first, but still...)

Oh, I see what your problem is

2008-03-31T13:03:00.002-05:00

As I mentioned in the last entry, I'm at work today, instead of watching Opening Day baseball. The closest I can come is watching baseball-related videos on YouTube, such as this one (which I don't think I've linked to here before). The serious baseball-related content starts at about 1:50 in. Dave Foley is awesome.

Predictions for 2008

2008-03-28T21:03:00.003-05:00

Yes, this blog is still in business. It's time for our annual look at the Sports Illustrated baseball predictions, all the better to laugh about later when the Cubs do not win the National League pennant. (Yes, that's what SI has predicted -- a Tigers-Cubs World Series, in fact, with the Tigers victorious.) As usual, they are accompanied by a set of predictions made using a quick-and-easy formula found in a Bill James Baseball Abstract from the '80s (double last season's win total, add the win total from two years ago, divide by 3).

*Sports Illustrated*	Bill James formula
AL East
1. N.Y. Yankees (94-68)	1. N.Y. Yankees (95-67)
2. Boston Red Sox (92-70)	2. Boston Red Sox (95-67)
3. Toronto Blue Jays (87-75)	3. Toronto Blue Jays (84-78)
4. Tampa Bay Rays (80-82)	4. Baltimore Orioles (69-93)
5. Baltimore Orioles (64-98)	5. Tampa Bay Rays (64-98)
AL Central
1. Detroit Tigers (90-72)	1. Cleveland Indians (90-72)
2. Cleveland Indians (89-73)	2. Detroit Tigers (90-72)
3. Chicago White Sox (77-85)	3. Minnesota Twins (85-77)
4. Kansas City Royals (73-89)	4. Chicago White Sox (78-84)
5. Minnesota Twins (72-90)	5. Kansas City Royals (67-95)
AL West
1. L.A. Angels (87-75)	1. L.A. Angels (92-70)
2. Seattle Mariners (82-80)	2. Seattle Mariners (85-77)
3. Oakland Athletics (75-87)	3. Oakland Athletics (82-80)
4. Texas Rangers (72-90)	4. Texas Rangers (77-89)
NL East
1. N.Y. Mets (91-71)	1. N.Y. Mets (91-71)
2. Philadelphia Phillies (86-76)	2. Philadelphia Phillies (88-74)
3. Atlanta Braves (85-77)	3. Atlanta Braves (82-80)
4. Washington Nationals (73-89)	4. Florida Marlins (73-89)
5. Florida Marlins (72-90)	5. Washington Nationals (72-90)
NL Central
1. Chicago Cubs (91-71)	1. Milwaukee Brewers (80-82)
2. Cincinnati Reds (87-75)	2.St. Louis Cardinals (80-82)
3. Milwaukee Brewers (85-77)	3. Chicago Cubs (79-83)
4. Houston Astros (74-88)	4. Houston Astros (76-86)
5. St. Louis Cardinals (73-89)	5. Cincinnati Reds (75-87)
6. Pittsburgh Pirates (70-92)	6. Pittsburgh Pirates (68-94)
NL West
1. Colorado Rockies (89-73)	1. San Diego Padres (89-73)
2. Arizona Diamondbacks (88-74)	2. Colorado Rockies (85-77)
3. L.A. Dodgers (85-77)	3. Arizona Diamondbacks (85-77)
4. San Diego Padres (79-83)	4. L.A. Dodgers (84-78)
5. San Francisco Giants (68-94)	5. San Francisco Giants (73-89)

In other news, although I have upgraded my TV watching to high-definition since last year, I have also had a schedule change at my job. I now work a normal Monday-through-Friday week, which means I will not be at home to watch the Opening Day games, as I did in 2007 and 2006 and 2005. Sorry about that. Perhaps by 2009, I will be independently wealthy, or I'll use a day of vacation time.

Again with the "Jeopardy!"

2008-02-28T21:46:00.002-06:00

On tonight's "Jeopardy!", one of the contestants had taken a baseball road trip with his father in which they saw 9 baseball games in 9 cities in 8 days. If I ever get on the show, it's going to look like I'm copying with my "11 baseball games in 11 cities in 10 days" story. Maybe I'll just talk about my cat.

Hooray for the '70s

2008-02-27T13:30:00.005-06:00

As seen on Uni Watch, this particular item is apparently a Yankee Stadium food vendor shirt from the 1970s. Quite a difference from what was being worn on the field.

Edited later to add: Further evidence turned up that these are actually from the late 1960s.

A new way to think about outfield defense

2008-02-21T22:49:00.002-06:00

As pitchers and catchers are finally in camp, rather than hanging out at the Capitol trying to decide exactly how stupid Chris Shays is, I thought I should share the baseball-related dream I had the other night--from which I woke up laughing.

I was at Fenway, following David Letterman around on a videotaped tour, and I learned two things.

First, from where we were standing (in the press box?), I was able for the first time to see why Manny Ramirez is such a bad fielder. Turns out that outside the foul line in left, just off-camera, where you can't ever see him either live or on the broadcasts, there's a hobo who's always standing there badgering Manny for money. And Manny's too nice to have security get rid of him. Who knew?

Second, there's a giant apple in a hat just outside the outfield wall. Letterman asked Baseball Related Program Activities Hanger-on (and MLB employee) Dan Rivkin, "So, I know the one at Shea, when it goes up, it's because the Mets have hit a home run. What does this one mean?"

"Well, Dave," said Dan. "This one's about government. When it goes up in the air, everyone in, like, Congress, and the Vice President and President, they all have to resign. And then the 37 Amazing Dudes, who've been sitting patiently on the bench for like years and years, they take over."

That's when I laughed out loud and woke up. It made a tiny bit more sense in my dream. The 37 Amazing Dudes were presented as if they were just this ordinary group we all knew about.

Let's play ball.

"Aqua Teen Hunger Force" is a very bizarre television program

2008-01-27T23:35:00.000-06:00

Left to right: Neko Case as "Chrysanthemum" (with salt shaker), John Kruk as himself (with his skin peeled off), Kelly Hogan as "BJ Queen" (with harpoon)

Why so obsessed about this cartoon that makes no sense and airs at 11:45 on Sunday nights? Because it's not even time for pitchers and catchers to report yet. Also, I'm a fan of all three of these people, and I think Levi is, too. I've even met Kelly Hogan, who was fortunately not trying to harpoon me at the time.

Levi and I are both invited to a wedding in Charlotte, North Carolina, the first weekend of April. I'm pretty sure I'll be going; the last I talked to him, Levi was kind of iffy due to various work responsibilities. If we do end up attending, though, there may not be any baseball-related program activities. The Charlotte Knights will be out of town that weekend, and the only other team I'm all that interested in driving to see -- the Durham Bulls -- will also be out of town. The nearest major league team is of course the Braves, who will be in town, but Atlanta is about a 4-hour drive from Charlotte, and that's not particularly exciting me at this point. I can't decide if it's because I'm getting older, or if it's because gas is over 3 bucks a gallon.

In conclusion, now that "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" is being produced in high definition, and DirecTV is carrying the HD version of Cartoon Network, I guess it's time for me to upgrade my TV. I wasn't all that impressed the first time I saw baseball on an actual living-room HDTV, four or five years ago, but it looks pretty good in HD in a window on my computer monitor (courtesy of the TV tuner device I've had for about a year).

John Kruk-date

2008-01-19T12:46:00.000-06:00

Apparently, the "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" episode guest-starring John Kruk actually airs on January 27th, which is not this Sunday. But the good news is that, if you follow the above link, you will see a picture of the animated version of John Kruk.

(For whatever reason, Cartoon Network isn't very good at doing whatever they have to do to get Adult Swim episode titles into my TiVo in advance of their airing, which is why I didn't spot this myself.)

For you John Kruk fans

2008-01-17T12:37:00.000-06:00

John Kruk will apparently be appearing on this Sunday's episode of "Aqua Teen Hunger Force," the first of a new season. That info comes via Pitchfork, which, being Pitchfork, is more interested in the fact that Neko Case and Kelly Hogan are also appearing. But they're not baseball players!

Another baseball jingle

2008-01-14T17:32:00.001-06:00

From back when NBC was a class operation (1968), here's the jingle they used on their weekend "Monitor" radio block when it was time to give the baseball scores.

He's freaking named after a tool of the game--you'd think he'd understand it better!

2008-01-07T19:44:00.001-06:00

One of Mitt Romney's aides badly needs to give him a crash course in baseball.

A few weeks ago, Romney, in attempting to explain a fib that was unusually slimy even for him, he talked about how he saw the Patriots win the World Series. Confident as I am that love of America beats strong in Manny Ramirez's breast, I don't think that's what Romney was talking about.

Then, in the wake of his defeat in Iowa, Romney flashed that TV anchor grin and said,

This is obviously a bit like a baseball game, first inning. Well, it’s a 50-inning ball game. I’m going to keep on battling all the way and anticipate I get the nomination when it’s all said and done.

Please, for the love of our country, couldn't somebody talk to the guy?

Merry Christmas, ladies

2007-12-25T12:02:00.000-06:00

"I walk around with my shirt off. If I had anything to hide, I wouldn't do that." -- Johnny Damon

Unmailable

2007-12-05T13:05:00.000-06:00

An auction house recently came across an 1898 National League document headlined "Special Instructions to Players," outlawing players using indecent language while on the field. Not really a big deal -- except that the document includes examples. (First spotted on BoingBoing.)

What, no Cracker Jack sponsorship?

2007-11-15T19:05:00.001-06:00

Since it's the 100th anniversary of the song "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" next year, there's going to be some hoopla, including a performance of it during the seventh-inning stretch of the All-Star Game -- as far as I know, the first time that's happened since 2001. No word on its use during the World Series. I've got my fingers crossed, but I assume Bud Selig has other ideas.

Devil Rays bulletin

2007-11-15T12:29:00.001-06:00

From The Onion.

Here's a real story about the identity change. The money quote is "'We even had research that showed when fans spoke glowingly about the organization, they used Rays,' [team president Matt] Silverman said. 'When they were being critical of the organization, they referred to us as the Devil Rays.'"

This blog plans to continue using "Devil Rays," especially when this blog is being tongue-in-cheek, which happens a lot.

The sparkly scorpion

2007-11-03T09:19:00.000-05:00

Here's David Ortiz wearing an awesome jacket on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" last night. Aren't you glad I'm able to provide you with high-definition screenshots?

On Carsten Charles

2007-11-02T20:49:00.001-05:00

Sports Illustrated has an excerpt from Bill James's newest Handbook up today, ranking the twenty-five best young players. As always, James is using an arcane, yet probably solid system, but the most important part is his commentary. Like this on one of my favorites, giganto LHP C. C. Sabathia:

I have to tell you, as a baseball fan, I absolutely adore C. C. Sabathia. I always have. I've compared all these players to somebody else. It is sacrilege to compare C. C. Sabathia to any other pitcher. He is totally unique. For one thing, although listed weights of baseball players are so bogus that it's hard to see the point of listing them, C. C. has to be the heaviest player in major league history. He's huge -- 6'7"and has an aircraft carrier frame supporting large piles of necessary and unnecessary flesh, all of this adorned with comic little ears that stick out from his face as if the Lord couldn't find a flat place to put them. He has a unique delivery, hanging his massive leg in the air in seeming defiance of both gravity and nature, yet he is balanced and graceful. He projects a sort of genial warrior calm on the mound. He was an outstanding pitcher when he reached the majors in 2001 and has gotten steadily better, cutting his walks from 95 in 180 innings to 37 in 241 innings. He's 26 now, like Peavy, and his age is pushing him downward on this list; he is less of a young talent, and more of a mature product. But I don't think I've ever missed a C. C. Sabathia start in Kansas City when I was near KC or in Boston since I've been in Boston, and I hope he pitches forever.

I agree with every damn word. The fact that Sabathia didn't turn in the lights-out game he was capable of against the fearsome Boston lineup was one of the big disappointments of this postseason. May he get a chance to do it next October.

The predictions in review

2007-10-29T16:35:00.001-05:00

The predictions were posted on March 29th, and exactly seven months later, it's now time to see how everyone did.

Actual results	*Sports Illustrated*	Bill James formula	Levi's predictions
AL East
1. Boston Red Sox (96-66)	1. N.Y. Yankees	1. N.Y. Yankees (96-66)	1. Boston Red Sox
2. N.Y. Yankees (94-68)	2. Boston Red Sox	2. Boston Red Sox (89-73)	2. N.Y. Yankees
3. Toronto Blue Jays (83-79)	3. Toronto Blue Jays	3. Toronto Blue Jays (85-77)	3. Toronto Blue Jays
4. Baltimore Orioles (69-93)	4. Baltimore Orioles	4. Baltimore Orioiles (71-91)	4. Tampa Bay Devil Rays
5. Tampa Bay Devil Rays (66-96)	5. Tampa Bay Devil Rays	5. Tampa Bay Devil Rays (63-99)	5. Baltimore Orioles
AL Central
1. Cleveland Indians (96-66)	1. Cleveland Indians	1. Chicago White Sox (93-69)	1. Minnesota Twins
2. Detroit Tigers (88-74)	2. Detroit Tigers	2. Minnesota Twins (92-70)	2. Detroit Tigers
3. Minnesota Twins (79-83)	3. Chicago White Sox	3. Detroit Tigers (87-75)	3. Cleveland Indians
4. Chicago White Sox (72-90)	4. Minnesota Twins	4. Cleveland Indians (83-79)	4. Chicago White Sox
5. Kansas City Royals (69-93)	5. Kansas City Royals	5. Kansas City Royals (60-102)	5. Kansas City Royals
AL West
1. L.A. Angels (94-68)	1. L.A. Angels	1. L.A. Angels (91-71)	1. L.A. Angels
2. Seattle Mariners (88-74)	2. Oakland Athletics	1. Oakland Athletics (91-71)	2. Oakland Athletics
3. Oakland Athletics (76-86)	3. Texas Rangers	3. Texas Rangers (80-82)	3. Texas Rangers
4. Texas Rangers (75-87)	4. Seattle Mariners	4. Seattle Mariners (75-87)	4. Seattle Mariners
NL East
1. Philadelphia Phillies (89-73)	1. N.Y. Mets	1. N.Y. Mets (92-70)	1. N.Y. Mets
2. N.Y. Mets (88-74)	2. Atlanta Braves	2. Philadelphia Phillies (86-76)	2. Atlanta Braves
3. Atlanta Braves (84-78)	3. Philadelphia Phillies	3. Atlanta Braves (83-79)	3. Philadelphia Phillies
4. Washington Nationals (73-89)	4. Florida Marlins	4. Florida Marlins (80-82)	4. Florida Marlins
5. Florida Marlins (71-91)	5. Washington Nationals	5. Washington Nationals (74-88)	5. Washington Nationals
NL Central
1. Chicago Cubs (85-77)	1. St. Louis Cardinals	1. St. Louis Cardinals (89-73)	1. St. Louis Cardinals
2. Milwaukee Brewers (83-79)	2. Chicago Cubs	2. Houston Astros (84-78)	2. Milwaukee Brewers
3. St. Louis Cardinals (78-84)	3. Milwaukee Brewers	3. Cincinnati Reds (78-84)	3. Chicago Cubs
4. Houston Astros (73-89)	4. Houston Astros	4. Milwaukee Brewers (77-85)	4. Cincinnati Reds
5. Cincinnati Reds (72-90)	5. Pittsburgh Pirates	5. Chicago Cubs (70-92)	5. Houston Astros
6. Pittsburgh Pirates (68-94)	6. Cincinnati Reds	6. Pittsburgh Pirates (67-95)	6. Pittsburgh Pirates
NL West
1. Arizona Diamondbacks (90-72)	1. L.A. Dodgers	1. San Diego Padres (86-76)	1. Arizona Diamondbacks
2. Colorado Rockies (90-73)	2. Arizona Diamondbacks	2. L.A. Dodgers (82-80)	2. L.A. Dodgers
3. San Diego Padres (89-74)	3. San Diego Padres	3. Arizona Diamondbacks (76-86)	3. San Diego Padres
4. L.A. Dodgers (82-80)	4. Colorado Rockies	3. San Francisco Giants (76-86)	4. San Francisco Giants
5. San Francisco Giants (71-91)	5. San Francisco Giants	5. Colorado Rockies (73-89)	5. Colorado Rockies

(Levi's predictions, made in the comments to the March 29th post, didn't actually include the Rockies, which I didn't notice until I was preparing this table. If he wants to lie in the comments to this post and claim he meant to put them in first or second place in the NL West, that's his prerogative.)