His bunt hits were preferable to him chasing sliders in the dirt.

168 "...kinda cheesy, like miniature golf."

"He's having a go at the miniature golfers now!" (apologies to Life of Brian)

161 There's been talk for a while of changing to the international hockey dimensions (which would open up the game), but the retrofitting has been deemed too expensive.

Re the Polo Grounds, there was an edition of the MVP baseball video game with the Polo Grounds as a playable stadium (they never have Ebbets for some reason), and while I'm sure it wasn't entirely accurate, the gigantor outfield juxtaposed with the short left and right porches was amazing. That and the foul area that seemed bigger than the infield.

I wouldn't be surprised if more fans got home run balls than foul balls. ;)

Thomson hit a sharp liner that was just high enough to get over the fence.

No player has suffered more post-career damage from sabermetrics than Garvey. That may or may not be true but I like saying it because it reminds me of my childhood where baseball was a frequent topic on the school playgrounds and we just knew that Garvey was the best because of the all the things he could do.

Although I do have to say, based purely on observation with no evidence whatsoever to back it up, that Butler was the worst baserunner I have ever seen in major league baseball.

Career:
Name Bunts Hits Pct.
Kenny Lofton 297 175 .589
Juan Pierre 335 140 .418

Mota's double came on an 0-2 pitch.

I suppose that it's no coincidence that this includes the All-Star break.

Bob's afraid of Whammies.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polo_Grounds

http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/past/PoloGrounds.htm

There were several Polo Groundses.

http://tinyurl.com/2cchye

Combined the Polo Grounds are considered the alltime leader in inside-the-park home runs, I found out today. There were 390 documented inside the park home runs hit there.

You have to wonder about a stadium where the bullpens were in FAIR territory.

Kenny Lofton has 6 home runs this year.

20
I agree, my memory tells me I listened it to on a radio while in a college class. I doubt I would have as fond a memory if Rick Monday was doing the call.

As a South American friend of mine used to say, "please explain me more." ...?

"You know what you get when you throw a fat 0-2 pitch to a player like Manny Mota? You get a screaming double to left?"

"The first pitch to Lopes was a ball. The second is a strike ..."

I bet you have before.

If he puts up a .750+ OPS again in the 2nd half this year I think it'll have a pretty significant impact on our offense as a whole. Maybe Ned will even wise up and trade him in the offseason while his perceived value is higher than it is now.

Aaron really should get with the program and quit acting like a spoiled child. Records are meant to be broken. The Maris family followed McGwire around for 61, even though he was a likely roid user as well (we know for sure he was a big Andro user).

The generational envy, jealousy, etc...that resides amongst differing baseball generations is really sad. You really dont see it quite so much in other sports.

The closest thing I can equate Aaron's absence to---was the utterly moronic and classless comments made by Red Auerbach when Phil was closing in on his record.

What does Butler faith's have to do with Mike Busch, unless your claiming that all Christians claim to be perfect? I dont know of any that do. Certainly, not Brett Butler.

What were the racist comments about Raul Mondesi?

I still dont understand the mocking of Brett Butler's religious beliefs due to one incident, likely of which the commenter has no up close/personal knowledge of--just media reports.

If you don't begrudge Barry the record, why begrudge Aaron's reaction to it?

I don't care how much of a spin ESPN is putting on Barry's approach -- he doesn't get to be the put-upon good guy now just because he's listening to his PR team for once.

Butler's comments about Mondesi were made on ESPN, and while I don't remember the exact wording, it was something about how white guys like him had to work for everything they got while Latin and black players had it all come naturally to them. The word "monkey" was used.

39 I'm not the one who used the term hypocrisy to describe Butler. However, it should be obvious how the term applies to someone who sanctimoniously professes to believe in the Golden Rule while not actually practicing it.

Aaron went through a lot of BS during his record chase, including all the awful racist hate mail and death threats. For him, #715 was not just the HR record that he accomplished, but rather a monkey off his back since the chase was finally over.

Aaron seems like a relatively private person, and I'm guessing he just doesn't want to open old wounds by thinking back to what was probably one of the least enjoyable moments of his life.

Also, about 85% or more of the questions Aaron would be asked are steroid and PED-related questions about Bonds and the record. Maybe he just doesn't want to deal with that, either.

People have already formed their opinions on Bonds - it's unlikely they're going to change much between now and 756.

Then again, he also made comments the other night about how he would attend when A-Rod broke his record, because ballplayers are a fraternity and they have to stick together and support each other. I took that as an unsubtle dig at Aaron.

FWIW, my opinion about Aaron wouldn't change whether he attended the game or not. I don't think a 73-year-old man should be obligated to give up his own life to travel from city to city for days or even weeks, for a silly ceremony that will last 10 minuites anyway. I don't think class has anything to do with it.

For one thing, this isn't as simple as it sounds. What if Bonds gets stuck on 754 for 20 games or so? Is it really reasonable to expect Aaron to travel the country following Bonds around waiting for him to hit the HRs?

Fair compromise?

Bonds then hits a ball to CF and Mike Cameron falls down. The ball hits the top of the CF wall, bounces straight up, then lands on the top of the wall, where it stays for about 10-12 seconds. Umpire Fieldin Culbreth stands near the wall waiting with his hands on his knees to see what the ball might do.

After a pause, the ball goes over the wall for #756. Culbreth signals HR, the crowd rejoices, and bats shoot straight up into the air from Pedro Feliz's bat bag.

Halfway point scouting reports on all Dodgers.
Seems like a fairly accurate scouting report to me.

Someone on the ItD comments did a nice job of summarizing them...

http://tinyurl.com/33ptxu

I thought you'd link to the picture of you towering over the head by about three feet.

It was written multiple times that Pierre and Wills got together this past spring.

Well, methinks MLB would take care of Mr. Aaron's every need would he have elected to follow the chase. While traveling can be tiring, traveling in luxury is considerably less so.

How much travelling did Ronald Reagan do when he was 73?

On an entirely unrelated note, Jon, you'll be happy to hear that DT renders beautifully on an iPhone. :)

I decided to maintain my booing.

The frat guys turned around and would likely have administered their own brand of labor organization to my face if:
1) they hadn't brought dates to the game with them
2) there was an old guy sitting next to me who also booing

I don't do such stupid things now.

Guess Julio Franco may not play ball until he's 50 after all. But Rickey isn't getting his roster spot - yet.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2934227&campaign=rss&source=MLBHeadlines

scab:non-union worker::wetback:illegal alien

Is it irony that, given the pre-existence of the wound, a real scab is a good thing to have, yet it's used by union members perjoratively?

Is your non-approval (to put it mildly) weighted more toward the "USC" portion or the "frat guy" part?

>>> "I don't know how to pace myself," Martin said. "I think that's the problem. I have gotten used to catching every game. As a catcher, your body is going to get beat up, and it's not like one game off is going to make you feel healed. <<<

### And if there is a physical grind, well, Martin isn't about to admit it. Not to himself. Not to manager Grady Little. And certainly not to the public ###

http://www.presstelegram.com/sports/ci_6354344

4. slang. A term of abuse or depreciation applied to persons: a. A mean, low, 'scurvy' fellow; a rascal, scoundrel. {dag}occas. applied to a woman.

b. A workman who refuses to join an organized movement on behalf of his trade; in extended uses: a person who refuses to join a strike or who takes over the work of a striker; a blackleg; a strike-breaker. orig. U.S.

If I had joined a frat when I was in college, I seriously think my parents would not have welcomed me back in the house.

But I didn't go to the last kegger.

It's sad that Bob wouldn't even "get" a Lambda Lambda Lambda reference here.

Thanks. What's the matter, you dissentious rogues,
That, rubbing the poor itch of you opinion,
Make yourselves scabs?

Not only that, but rich people shouldn't be allowed to buy more stock than poor people. There should be a "level playing field."

He will live longer and be happier.

>>> Fearless second-half prediction: Colletti again will come up empty in the search for a bat and again will load up on pitching by trading for a starter, returning Chad Billingsley to the bullpen. <<<

http://tinyurl.com/36d75o

He's a day tripper instead.

MLB already has a commissioner who looks like he was dug from the grave 15 years ago.

You'll find out.

Meanwhile, have one extra ticket for sale for game tomorrow, bleacher seats - going with another DT-er and a friend of mine. Email me asap if you're interested, underdog8@gmail.com

When Kemp and Loney hit back-to-back homers, we'll be the only ones standing. Be sure to wave.

...

...

Aw shucks, I can't stay mad at you.

Actually, I was at that game.

125 Nope, you're absolutely correct! He's the first visiting player to do so, anyway, and still the only Dodger.

I've always found it pretty lame that they only record a splash homer on the board if a Giant hits one.

http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/sf/ballpark/splashhits.jsp

I have no recollection of a player named "Felipe Crespo".

How do you folks feel about nametags on DT Day?

I understand your reasoning, but I cannot wear a nametag.

What is the total count?

Marlon Anderson a Met.

You mean an Easter Island Head?

I'm going to feel like Kramer when he wouldn't wear the ribbon.

I'm usually covered in a thin layer of whale blubber.

I'm not wearing the shirt, either.

It's called "bringing the inside out"

http://msn.foxsports.com/rumors/mlb#1