2024 Regular Season- First Half

[Brina]

Yes. He says the Yankees practice affirmative action and that is why they let other teams win the World Series. By starting 5-0 clearly it’s their year. Note- he is not even from the US. With any sport if they don’t go undefeated he doesn’t understand. Hopefully the Yankees can go 159-3 and lose the 3 to Cubs. That should work.

[Lance]

how about 153-9? the 3 to the Cubs and the 6 to the Twins...

[Lance]

I have to give love to my mom in heaven today. You have all heard my stories about her love for baseball and her fandom - today would have been her 80th birthday.

[Peggyzbooksnmusic]

Lance wrote: "I have to give love to my mom in heaven today. You have all heard my stories about her love for baseball and her fandom - today would have been her 80th birthday."

Lance; How special you had that bond with your Mom. Dad was never really a fan of organized sports but Mom finally became a huge Padres fan in 1984 when Padres beat Cubs to go to the WS. Tony Gwynn was her favorite player. She passed away just 4 months before Padres made the playoffs in 2022 at age 93. Had so much pleasure watching the games on TV with her!

From past comments posted here I know many of you aquired your love of baseball from your family. It's another reason I love the sport: connections to family and friends.

[Peggyzbooksnmusic]

Husband is an Angels fan & he's happy as Trout is looking good at his at bats.

Apologies to RJ: Hubby said wouldn't it be ironic if Angels made the playoffs and Dodger's (Ohtani) didn't.

[Brina]

Peggy, my son would love that. He can’t stand the Dodgers and their spending. I would love to see Trout make playoffs. The greedy part of me says Cubs should trade for him and move Belli to first and the both Trout and Cubs make playoffs.

[Ashley Marie]

White Sox have signed Mike Clevinger, ugh.

[Peggyzbooksnmusic]

Brina wrote: "Peggy, my son would love that. He can’t stand the Dodgers and their spending. I would love to see Trout make playoffs. The greedy part of me says Cubs should trade for him and move Belli to first a..."

Brina; wouldn't that be a fantastic baseball story! Sure-to-be Hall of Famer Trout making the playoffs with baseball team with such wonderful history The Cubs!

Won't mention that to Hubby as he is still broken hearted that Ohtani is a Dodger.

Remind your son that baeball is a game of hope and it just might play out that way!

[Peggyzbooksnmusic]

Ashley Marie wrote: "White Sox have signed Mike Clevinger, ugh."

Remember in 2022 Guardians traded Clevinger to Padres & you got Hedges & Naylor. Think Guardians made out in that trade!

[Lance]

Peggyzbooksnmusic wrote: "Lance wrote: "I have to give love to my mom in heaven today. You have all heard my stories about her love for baseball and her fandom - today would have been her 80th birthday."

Lance; How special..."

Peggy, I don’t think you were part of the group yet when I shared the story of my mom and the 1965 World Series. She was SO upset with Koufax after he won game 7 that you never mentioned his name around her again. She took me to my first Twins game, we would go to Metropolitan Stadium if the Twins were home on Mother’s Day and she was the one that made me a Twins super fan. (Apologies to those who have heard me tell this story so many times before).

[Brina]

My bubbe was the same way and the anniversary of her death is later this month as well. I think she pleaded with Mr Cub to please let the Cubs win the World Series so read on. She always went with my dad on Ladies Day. It was every Tuesday or Wednesday home game that women got in for free. The Cubs were so bad in the 1950s that they were happy to have people in the ball park, figure they would buy their kids some concessions. But not my grandmother. She would bring a cooler with enough food to feed the whole row and this continued well into my childhood. It did not matter if the Cubs were down 8-0 in the 9th. She had to stay. Maybe Ernie Banks would homer so it would be 8-1. Even at the end when dementia reared its ugly head, she could not remember how old I was or that I had kids but if my dad as much mentioned Mr Cub, she would smile. My bubbe and her cooler of food to feed every kid in our section of seats.

[RJ - Slayer of Trolls]

Peggyzbooksnmusic wrote: "...Apologies to RJ: Hubby said wouldn't it be ironic if Angels made the playoffs and Dodger's (Ohtani) didn't."

Heh. I do think the Dodgers missing the playoffs would be funny. Also catastrophic. But funny nevertheless. Like Brina's son, I am not a fan of the Dodgers' spending spree this year.

However I'm pretty sure Nostradamus listed the Arte Moreno-owned Angels making the playoffs as one of the signs of the Apocalypse, so....

[Peggyzbooksnmusic]

RJ - Slayer of Trolls wrote: "Peggyzbooksnmusic wrote: "...Apologies to RJ: Hubby said wouldn't it be ironic if Angels made the playoffs and Dodger's (Ohtani) didn't."

Heh. I do think the Dodgers missing the playoffs would be ..."

Ha!Ha! Hubby actually owns The Complete Prophesies of Nostradamus in hardback. He isn't much of a reader but he bought cuz he thought it was unique. I have no opinion on Nostradamus and am sure Lance & Brina would hope this thread doesn't get off topic :)

[Brina]

Only if Nostradamus says when the Cubs win the World Series next otherwise it is back to our regularly scheduled baseball news.

[Lance]

Couldn’t handle another bad offensive showing by the Twins (had it on audio while finishing a report for work late this afternoon) but did watch some baseball tonight - the Braves-White Sox game has actually been good. Got that on my iPad while the Timberwolves are on the TV. The Twins just might be second fiddle until June if things go right for the Wolves.

[Ashley Marie]

Shane Bieber looking sharp once again to keep the season rolling, we love to see it.

[Ashley Marie]

Peggyzbooksnmusic wrote: "Ashley Marie wrote: "White Sox have signed Mike Clevinger, ugh."

Remember in 2022 Guardians traded Clevinger to Padres & you got Hedges & Naylor. Think Guardians made out in that trade!"

Oh I know it! And now Cleveland has Hedges back again too :)

[C. John]

Lance wrote: "Peggyzbooksnmusic wrote: "Lance wrote: "I have to give love to my mom in heaven today. You have all heard my stories about her love for baseball and her fandom - today would have been her 80th birt..."

The story never gets old. No need to apologize. Besides if we really don't want to read about it we can always skip the post.

[C. John]

Larry Lucchino, former president of the Red Sox, has passed away. He was 78. Apparently he was on the House Judiciary Committee that investigated Watergate. I watched some of those hearings but I didn't recall that. He is also the person who first referred the Yankees as "The Evil Empire".

[C. John]

The New Yorker's Daily Humour newsletter leads off with a cartoon that I am sure most of us con appreciate, especially the Mets fans.

https://link.newyorker.com/view/5be9d...

[Lance]

C. John wrote: "The New Yorker's Daily Humour newsletter leads off with a cartoon that I am sure most of us con appreciate, especially the Mets fans.

https://link.newyorker.com/view/5be9d......."

I've seen that used for fans of other bad sports teams. Most famously back in the early 80's when the New Orleans Saints were so bad - the fans wore paper bags on their heads and called their team the "Ain'ts"

[C. John]

Article on some of the alternate identities minor league clubs will be using at times this season. I think we have a Lehigh fan in this group and they are on this list.
https://www.milb.com/news/five-minor-...

[Peggyzbooksnmusic]

C. John wrote: "Larry Lucchino, former president of the Red Sox, has passed away. He was 78. Apparently he was on the House Judiciary Committee that investigated Watergate. I watched some of those hearings but I d..."

C.John; Thanks for posting this! He was also involved in the Padres orginaztion in the late 1990's & was very influentional in getting Petco Park built. Our newspaper has an article on him & I was not aware of how influential (in a positive way) he was in politics and sports.

[Lance]

C. John wrote: "Larry Lucchino, former president of the Red Sox, has passed away. He was 78. Apparently he was on the House Judiciary Committee that investigated Watergate. I watched some of those hearings but I d..."

I'll always associate Lucchino with the "Evil Empire" RIP

[Lance]

Twins win with a nice 7th inning comeback - bats finally came alive. I'll take a 3-2 road trip to start the season anytime.

[Brina]

A’s will be playing in Sacramento for at least 3 years with an option for a 4th before Vegas stadium ready. Only 10,000 capacity with extra lawn seating. You told me that contraction wouldn’t work. How many of these A’s players like the idea of playing in a minor league stadium for 3-4 years? Embarrassing.

[C. John]

Lawn seating? I think they have that in cricket and tennis but I don't know of any other sports that have it. Lawn bowling, maybe.

[Brina]

It’s common in minor league stadiums to let fans in the outfield grass and just sit there. This park has capacity for about 4000. I still think MLB should intervene because the whole thing is a farce.

[Lance]

Yes, that’s correct. The park here in Troy NY where the ValleyCats play allows lawn seating in left field and there’s picnic tables. If a group books the area, the tables are off limits but the lawn can still be accessed by anyone

[Lance]

Stupid question- why not Montreal for a temporary home? Or has the Big O been demolished?

[Lance]

Or…maybe a Harold question - could Philadelphia handle two teams again?

[Harold]

Lance wrote: "Or…maybe a Harold question - could Philadelphia handle two teams again?"

It's hard for me to say Lance. The Phillies are dear to the city and surrounding areas. It would be tough to crack that bond with a new team.

[Lance]

A new/old team. I remember the nice tribute to the Philadelphia A’s at Citizens Bank Park

[Lance]

Brina wrote: "A’s will be playing in Sacramento for at least 3 years with an option for a 4th before Vegas stadium ready. Only 10,000 capacity with extra lawn seating. You told me that contraction wouldn’t work...."

Not to mention it’ll cost the visiting teams a lot when they add up the costs there. If I recall, that was an issue when the Blue Jays had to play in Buffalo during the pandemic

[Ashley Marie]

The game isn't over yet, but... does Cleveland finally have a pitcher who figured out Max Kepler?! lol

[Harold]

But the A's didn't draw for years when they were in Philly. That's why they moved to Baltimore

[C. John]

Lance wrote: "Stupid question- why not Montreal for a temporary home? Or has the Big O been demolished?"

I believe the Big Owe is either going to be renovated or is currently being renovated. Maybe they will put in a roof that works.

[Ashley Marie]

Tanner Bibee's second outing of the season was more encouraging than the first, and I'm still thrilled to see the Cleveland bats awake this early in the year. Better luck on Saturday, Lance!

[Brina]

Why don’t they rent Sox park when they’re on the road? No one goes there anyway.

[Lance]

Ashley Marie wrote: "The game isn't over yet, but... does Cleveland finally have a pitcher who figured out Max Kepler?! lol"

Everyone has figured out Kepler so far this year! One bad inning for Lopez is all it took today. Still two more games in the series.

[Lance]

Harold wrote: "But the A's didn't draw for years when they were in Philly. That's why they moved to Baltimore"

Thought they moved to Kansas City?

[Brina]

I guess the owners were always cheap even before Charlie Finley so who cares where the team plays.

[Harold]

okay, my mistake. I think it wad after the 1953 season

[Lance]

Brina wrote: "I guess the owners were always cheap even before Charlie Finley so who cares where the team plays."

Finely may have been cheap, but he knew how to find talent. And the A’s of the Bash Brothers era were far from ‘cheap’

[Lance]

I’d have to dig - but I am wondering if Oakland is the first city to lose franchises in all 4 major leagues. Lost the Seals (NHL) to Cleveland, the Raiders to first LA and now Las Vegas, the Warriors to the neighbor across the Bay and now the A’s to first Sacramento then LV

[Brina]

Billy Bean also knew how to find talent but refused to pay anyone. Oakland has such a chip on its shoulder. I got that from reading Rickey Henderson’s bio. Lots of talent to come out of Oakland but the city isn’t exactly doing itself any favors.

[Lance]

On the bus to Yankee Stadium for opening day there. It may be Yankees v Blue Jays, but wearing Twins gear. I'll be keeping score and hopefully enjoying good baseball. I don't mind hoing to games when I have no rooting interest - just go to enjoy the game.

[C. John]

Lance wrote: "On the bus to Yankee Stadium for opening day there. It may be Yankees v Blue Jays, but wearing Twins gear. I'll be keeping score and hopefully enjoying good baseball. I don't mind hoing to games wh..."

Where you there when the earthquake hit. At least not as bad as the one that disrupted a World Series many moons ago.

[Lance]

No...we were on the road about halfway between NYC and Albany when it hit.

[Lance]

Thought of John with the 3-0 Blue Jays win today. Had a great time as usual.