Author: The Baseball Zealot

All-Star Banner Mystery Solved

The mysterious banner unfurled over the left field wall with a web address belonged to Chevy.  And according to The Register, Fox Sports broadcasters weren’t as dumb as they sounded as they were in on it.  The whole thing was a ruse to bring attention to the banner and advertse more for Chevy, one of Fox … Continue reading “All-Star Banner Mystery Solved”

The mysterious banner unfurled over the left field wall with a web address belonged to Chevy.  And according to The Register, Fox Sports broadcasters weren’t as dumb as they sounded as they were in on it.  The whole thing was a ruse to bring attention to the banner and advertse more for Chevy, one of Fox Sports’ biggest advertisers.  Pretty slick.

According to the article:

 

As Fox came back from a commercial break in the bottom half of the third inning, many viewers caught sight of a very long, flashy banner draped over an equally ostentatious advertisement picturing a yellow Corvette. The banner read HHRYA.com with the letters done in pseudo Asian design – clearly the work of professionals. However, the Fox Sports broadcasters Joe Buck and Tim McCarver played off the ad like it was the work of a goofy sports fan, dangling his banner in the hopes of securing a moment of TV glory.

Here’s the chatter as Fox panned across the outfield and then held on the supposed fan’s sign for between 10 and 20 seconds.

“Welcome back to Detroit,” Buck said. “A lot of banners and signs around the ballpark. No surprise there. Somebody just unfurled a big banner behind left field.”

You’ll love the next bit, as Buck devolves into a second grader.

“H-H-R-Y-A. Tim, you’ll have to tell me what that means. I am not sure, but someone went to a lot of trouble, obviously, to put it up out in left center field.”

You’d think that would be the end of the stunt, but no. Fox returned to the action to see baseball’s best pitcher Roy Oswalt face off against Johnny Damon. After one pitch, McCarver brought all the weight of his formidable intellect to bear on the puzzle:

“I don’t know what that sign means, but ‘hooray’ is the first thing that comes to my mind.”

Funny you should mention that, Tim. Hooray is exactly the sound Fox executives made as they cashed their checks from the largest advertiser of the day. Chevy, the sponsor, must have been disappointed as it failed to prepare its HHRYA.com website for the traffic it expected to receive. Visitors to the site were unable to reach the page for about thirty minutes after the “I don’t know what that is” ad appeared.

Hehe, I like the part about Buck devolving into a second grader.  That wouldn’t be a stretch.

That said, I knew they couldn’t be that stupid.

 

 

Linescore of the Day- All-Star Edition

Brad Lidge, National League 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K I’m going against conventional wisdom and not choosing Tejada.  For one full inning, Lidge owned the AL.

Brad Lidge, National League

1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

I’m going against conventional wisdom and not choosing Tejada.  For one full inning, Lidge owned the AL.

#8 for the AL

All-Star Game Summary: Well, for a while it looked like another AL blowout with the junior circuit leading 7-0 after 6 innings.  The NL did make it interesting by scoring 5 unanswered runs.  AL manager Terry Francona was forced to go against Joe Torre’s wishes and bring in Mariano Rivera for the final out.  Miguel … Continue reading “#8 for the AL”

All-Star Game Summary:

Well, for a while it looked like another AL blowout with the junior circuit leading 7-0 after 6 innings.  The NL did make it interesting by scoring 5 unanswered runs.  AL manager Terry Francona was forced to go against Joe Torre’s wishes and bring in Mariano Rivera for the final out. 

Miguel Tejada won the Ted Williams MVP award by virtue of his 2-run homerun in the second which broke it open for the AL.

So much for the media-fabricated story of LaRussa exacting revenge on Francona.  Red Sox players were 4 for 8 in the game.

Media Matters:

Seems kind of strange to me that they would play the British national anthem but not the Canadian one. 

Ok, they probably did (at least I hope they did… Toronto is still a major league team last I checked) but it wasn’t televised.  The moment of silence was a classy move but I just didn’t understand the anthem thing.  If they wanted to recognize the loss of human life, why not start with the Iraqi national anthem?  Don’t get me started.

Ok, how many of you thought it was an awkward moment when Fox broadcaster Jeanne Zelasko was trying to (rudely?) interrupt broadcasting legend Ernie Harwell from talking too long during the pre-game interviews?  And how many of you would much rather hear Harwell’s tidbits of baseball history than listen to Fox’s air-brushed video of Smokey Robinson?  I know I would.  Let the man talk.  You might learn something, Jeanne.

Seems to me that the Fox Sports’ company line was to lighten up on Kenny Rogers.  I’m not saying he should or shouldn’t have played in the game.  It’s not my call.  But it seemed the broadcasters were bending over backwards to give him the benefit of the doubt. 

I just see a double standard when other players who have altercations with fans (usually who provoke the players) are being demonized and this guy plainly attacks two members of the press who don’t over-step their bounds and Kevin Kennedy acts all buddy-buddy with him.  I’m just sayin’.

Mid-way through the game a banner with a URL on it was unfurled over a billboard at the stadium.  Buck and McCarver brought attention to it but obviously didn’t know that .com meant it was probably a web address.  They spent a minute or two trying to decipher what it could possibly mean.  Do these guys spend any time in front of a computer?

I didn’t write down the url when watching the game.  Did someone catch it?  I’m curious what it was.

Good Ol’ Fashioned Base Ball

The Vermilion Voles who play Vintage Base Ball (according to rules and customs of 1858) had a game on Sunday.  I was out of town visiting my mom but my friend Shawn and his family went.  He was nice enough to pass on his photos and write something up for me.  It sounds like he had … Continue reading “Good Ol’ Fashioned Base Ball”

The Vermilion Voles who play Vintage Base Ball (according to rules and customs of 1858) had a game on Sunday.  I was out of town visiting my mom but my friend Shawn and his family went.  He was nice enough to pass on his photos and write something up for me.  It sounds like he had a really good time I almost wish I stayed in town and gone to the game instead.  Haha.. just kidding, Mom. 

Anyway, here’s Shawn’s report:

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Wow, what a fun time that was.  First of all, the setting was idyllic.  I’d never been to Kennekuk County Park or heard of it for that matter.  It’s an absolutely huge place, where the road just winds around for what seems like miles.  There were markers along the way letting us know that we were heading in the right direction.  Finally, we pull into this gorgeous, tree-lined meadow.  The game was already in progress, but we found out there were three games being played that day with three teams in attendance:  the host Danville Voles club, the Indianapolis Blues, and the Mackville Mudcats.  There were only a couple dozen fans (or “cranks” as they were known in 1858).
 
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These games were played according to the same rules used in 1858, or “gentlemen’s rules” as they are called.  Manners, civility, and proper etiquette come first before everything else.  There is no yelling or screaming or antagonizing the opposing team.  Arguing with the umpire is simply not tolerated by anyone, period.  Sliding and stealing is not allowed.  Cheering is done by yelling “Huzzah!”  Base runners are told to “Leg it!”  Teammates recognize a good hit by saying “Well struck, Sir!”  Even the pitcher apologizes to the striker (hitter) when a bad hurl (pitch) is made:  “Poor hurl.  Sorry, sir!”  Most sporting events I bring my kids to, I worry about the language being thrown around.  Here, the kids actually learn where sportsmanship was born.
 
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Strikers are dead (out) when the ball is caught on the fly or “on the bound” (one bounce).  Runners may advance when the striker is dead on the bound, but are asked to return to their bases by the umpire when the striker is dead on the fly.  In other words, there is no penalty for leaving the base without tagging up.  Fielders are asked to “play their lanes”.  Play was actually delayed for a few minutes when one team noticed the center fielder was shading a little to the left of center and complained to the umpire.  Infielders may not stray more than a step from the base before the ball is put in play.  The shortstop played the normal shortstop position.
 
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When a runner scores, the umpire reminds him to “tally his ace”.  The runner reports to the tally keeper and asks to record his ace.  The tally keeper obliges, the player thanks them and then rings a bell to signal to the cranks that an ace was just scored.  Runs do not count unless this procedure is followed.  At this game, the tally keeper was a woman dressed in clothing appropriate for the period.  I spoke with her for quite awhile as she schooled me on the rules and customs of vintage baseball.  The players were all friendly as well.  One player on the Voles had a cast on his arm, an injury suffered during a previous game.  Injuries are common since the fielders have no gloves.  The vintage baseball has a slightly softer cover than today’s baseball, and it’s slightly larger.  Otherwise, it’s just as hard as a modern baseball.
 
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The neatest rule:  fans can help their team make outs.  If a ball is hit into the crowd and a crank catches it on the fly or on the bound and gives it to a player, the umpire can call the batter dead.  Foul balls don’t happen that frequently since pitching is underhand, but the kids in the crowd are always alert to help catch foul balls for their team.
 
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Tom, you gotta check it out sometime!  Feel free to excerpt any of the above for your blog.  Pictures are attached.
 
–Shawn

Thanks to Shawn for the pictures and report.  I wish I could’ve been there.  For those who want to attend a Vermilion Vole game, here is their schedule.  Also, the Vintage Base Ball Association web site has lots of info on vintage base ball.

7/9 Linescore of the Day

Mark Teixeira, Texas Rangers 4 for 5, 2 HR, 3 runs, 6 rbis The more I see this guy, the more I’m convinced he is the the firstbaseman of the future.  The only reason you don’t hear more about him is that folks can’t pronounce his name.  I was in the Embassy, my favorite hangout, … Continue reading “7/9 Linescore of the Day”

Mark Teixeira, Texas Rangers

4 for 5, 2 HR, 3 runs, 6 rbis

The more I see this guy, the more I’m convinced he is the the firstbaseman of the future.  The only reason you don’t hear more about him is that folks can’t pronounce his name.  I was in the Embassy, my favorite hangout, watching a game the Rangers were playing.  Of course the sound was down and the closed captioning was on.  This guy was saying, “Check it out, here’s this guy Mark Tex-eera, he’s s’posed to be pretty good”.  I rest my case.

Baseball, Softball called out for 2012 Olympics

The International Olympic Committee voted to eliminate both softball and baseball as sports for the 2012 London Summer Olympics.  They will have one more chance in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and there is a chance for appeal for reinstatement in 2016.  This is a bit of a surprise for all concerned at least according to the … Continue reading “Baseball, Softball called out for 2012 Olympics”

The International Olympic Committee voted to eliminate both softball and baseball as sports for the 2012 London Summer Olympics.  They will have one more chance in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and there is a chance for appeal for reinstatement in 2016. 

This is a bit of a surprise for all concerned at least according to the media.  It’s the first time a sport has been eliminated since 1936 when polo was kicked out. 

Those in American softball circles are feeling a bit miffed feeling that their dominance in the 2004 Olympics may have something to do with it.  The USA team outscored their opponents 51-1 in 2004. 

 Crystl Bustos, who hit a record five homers during the 2004 Olympics, said the one-sidedness of the softball tournament should not have been used as a factor. The Americans outscored opponents 51-1.

“If that did play a role in the decision, then that’s pretty pathetic,” she said. “I don’t mean to cut anybody down, but it’s supposed to be the best of the best, and if you get knocked for your excellence, then that’s just not right.”

Each of the sports were put to secret vote and softball and baseball were the only two that didn’t get a majority vote.

 

7/8 Linescore of the Day

Craig Monroe, Detroit Tigers 2 for 3, HR, run, 5 rbis Monroe’s 5 ribbies came from a homer, single and a sac fly.  Detroit starting pitcher pitcher pitched 0 innings as a result of being ejected in the first inning for throwing at Carl Crawford.  

Craig Monroe, Detroit Tigers

2 for 3, HR, run, 5 rbis

Monroe’s 5 ribbies came from a homer, single and a sac fly. 

Detroit starting pitcher pitcher pitched 0 innings as a result of being ejected in the first inning for throwing at Carl Crawford.

 

Good news on DLee’s Shoulder?

MRI results on Derrek Lee’s shoulder have come back negative.  I can faintly hear a collective sigh of relief coming from the Cub Nation.  Just to be sure, I think Lee will be taking it a bit easy for a few days.  Todd Walker is spelling Lee at first for the time being.  And the … Continue reading “Good news on DLee’s Shoulder?”

MRI results on Derrek Lee’s shoulder have come back negative.  I can faintly hear a collective sigh of relief coming from the Cub Nation. 

Just to be sure, I think Lee will be taking it a bit easy for a few days.  Todd Walker is spelling Lee at first for the time being.  And the Cubs can lose just as easy without Lee until he comes back.  What, it’s been a week since we’ve won?

If it takes Lee the All-Star break to heal up, so be it.  Let’s get him back healthy and not string him along.