The National League

[Bobwhite]

Suck it, American League.  Oh, you had a good run, umpteen years in a row or something, but the all-time record belongs to us.

The Senior Circuit.

The National League.

Overall record:  41-38-2, NL

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	| R	H	E
NL	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	| 3	7	1
AL	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	| 1	6	0

[SoulBlazer09]

Yeah, my Red Sox will have the last laugh. 

[Bobwhite]

Yeah, my Red Sox will have the last laugh. 

You know, one of the greatest things the Cards ever did was deny Ted Williams a championship. 

Record:  2-1, Cardinals.

One thing I was surprised at was how many Red Sox there were on the squad.  At least it wasn't like a couple years ago, where the entire starting lineup appeared to be the Cubs.  (shivers)

Overall, a good game.  And it was pitching-dominated.  Were it not for a ridiculous error by the NL, this would have been a shutout.

[lisateez]

I'm sorry but the DH is an abomination. On that alone, the AL should lose every single time.

[softi]

Jimenez!   

Some of those pitches were downright pedestrian.  94 or 95.  He was holding back.

[KhakiAchilles]

I'm sorry but the DH is an abomination. On that alone, the AL should lose every single time.

My home team is the Phillies, so I'm happy that the National League won.

The DH is an abomination.  It's as if the schoolyard bullies of the world somehow took over the American League and made it am official rule of baseball that the kid who gets picked last doesn't even get a chance to hit the ball.

On the other hand, I was born roughly 9 months after the debut of the DH rule, so apparently my parents had more enthusiasm for it than I do.

[lisateez]

I'm sorry but the DH is an abomination. On that alone, the AL should lose every single time.

My home team is the Phillies, so I'm happy that the National League won.

The DH is an abomination.  It's as if the schoolyard bullies of the world somehow took over the American League and made it am official rule of baseball that the kid who gets picked last doesn't even get a chance to hit the ball.

On the other hand, I was born roughly 9 months after the debut of the DH rule, so apparently my parents had more enthusiasm for it than I do.

Or maybe they figured that with the advent of the DH, baseball wasn't worth watching anymore and they should find something else to do instead.

[SoulBlazer09]

Well, I'm a AL kid and all my fav teams are in the American League, so you know how I feel on THAT issue. 

What's shocking me is that Boston is still playing well with half the team on the DL. 

I'd say my fav NL team is the Cubs -- cause I feel really sorry for them. 

[robotunit8]

Cubs would be my NL team too, for the stadium

[Bobwhite]

With so many teams playing in new stadiums, you're probably right.

I mean don't get me wrong.  I love Busch Stadium (III), it's beautiful, there is not a bad seat in the house, it's got a great skyline over the outfield--amazing.  But, it's only been there since 2006, and the stadium used prior to that was a generic cookie-cutter model with arch-like ridges at the top that reminded you that you were not in one of the other several similar multi-purpose stadiums around the US.

I think that as it goes to tradition and quirky beauty, you cannot, cannot beat Wrigley Field.  And this is coming from a Cardinals fan!  But it's got no match.  Yes, Fenway is older, but not by much, and it's just not as easy on the eyes. 

[lisateez]

I'd have to put in a pitch for ATT Park. It may be new, but it does a good job of melding old school and new school.

[Bobwhite]

I'd have to put in a pitch for ATT Park. It may be new, but it does a good job of melding old school and new school.

This is what I love about most of the new parks around the league, AT&T is no exception (although having an arch over the outfield puts Busch at the top of the pack... of course I'm a bit biased here).  They've completely abandoned the cookie-cutter method, which produced efficient investments for host cities (baseball, football, soccer, etc. can all be played on the field) that lacked true individuality.  Now, they're making ballparks like they always should have been doing all along.

[robotunit8]

Loved AT&T, but a lot of that may have been seeing the sunset over the bay while watching baseball. Must look up the September schedules some time soon for them and Oakland

[SoulBlazer09]

I'm starting to think Bob can't say one good thing about Boston.

Fenway may not be the most pretty park, but it really IS a 'temple to baseball'.  The history there is just amazing and taking the tour inside of the Green Monster to see all the famous names is jaw dropping.

[Bobwhite]

I'm starting to think Bob can't say one good thing about Boston.

Fenway may not be the most pretty park, but it really IS a 'temple to baseball'.  The history there is just amazing and taking the tour inside of the Green Monster to see all the famous names is jaw dropping.

I completely agree.  I just think Wrigley looks better.  No one can dispute Fenway's status as a baseball temple (for Boston folks, anyway), and it's very shape speaks of an era long gone by, when every major league ballpark was unique, made to fit its surroundings and not the other way around.  Nowadays, they level whatever is in the way... back in the day, they had to be creative, in order to fit a park in a spot that is only just barely big enough for one, and in order to keep the neighbors from seeing the games for free.

Personally, I hope they never replace either Wrigley or Fenway.  They should stand forever as examples of where baseball has been, and as a reminder that just because something is old, that doesn't mean that it's not great.

[jetblack]

How about some love for my closer, Brian Wilson?

-- jb

[Bobwhite]

How about some love for that avatar over there?  Nice.

Brian Wilson?  You have one of the Beach Boys (the crazy one, but the one who is miraculously alive) closing games out?  Sheesh! 

[jetblack]

#38 with the mohawk.  10 pitch inning to close out the ASG.

-- jb, who likes Nina Mercedez a lot!

[lisateez]

I'd have to put in a pitch for ATT Park. It may be new, but it does a good job of melding old school and new school.

This is what I love about most of the new parks around the league, AT&T is no exception (although having an arch over the outfield puts Busch at the top of the pack... of course I'm a bit biased here).  They've completely abandoned the cookie-cutter method, which produced efficient investments for host cities (baseball, football, soccer, etc. can all be played on the field) that lacked true individuality.  Now, they're making ballparks like they always should have been doing all along.

They actually play other sports at AT&T. And hey, having the park right there on the bay, that's pretty darned cool. They even keep track of the number of HRs that end up in the bay. Cool!

[robotunit8]

Didnt manage to see one of those in the game I went to, though one ended up on the path/street(?) outside the stadium in that direction

[jetblack]

AT&T Park (fka SBC Park, fka Pac Bell Park) is my favorite park.  I've been to Safeco in Seattle and Chase Field in Phoenix.  I haven't had the pleasure of visiting other ballparks, but the home of my Giants is pretty much the cathedral in my religion.

-- jb

[robotunit8]

Not going to see the sun set over the bay this year, only home game the week (19th-24th) I'm there is an afternoon game on the Sunday, and the sun doesnt set that early in September lol! Plenty in Oakland though, so suspect I will end up there at some point.
Wednesday looks tempting,this whole $2 thing, is it as good as it sounds, and am I likely to get those tickets on the day? Its an afternoon game which must help my cause, but...? $2 seats look to have a decent view, but?

Have done the tour of Mariners stadium, but yet to see a game there, but hopefully sometime in the near future I will. Dont think getting a ticket would be tricky based on current form!

[Farmer42]

I'm a Yankees boy at heart, but best field for a game goes to Wrigley.  If only you could go to a game at Wrigley without having to sell a kidney.  I could go and not get any food or drink, but seriously?  Baseball without a beer and a hot dog?

[jetblack]

Bring your own hot dog, then buy the beer, there.

-- jb

[Bobwhite]

Hey there, Brandon Phillips, #4 in the Reds' program, #1 in their hearts.  So I hear you have some problems with the St. Louis Cardinals:

I’d play against these guys on one leg. We have to beat these guys. I hate the Cardinals. All they do is bitch and moan about everything, all of them, they’re little bitches, all of ‘em. I really hate the Cardinals. Compared to the Cardinals, I love the Chicago Cubs. Let me make this clear – I hate the Cardinals.

Now, any man who said something like that about an entire team who he was up against for the next few days should be able to back it up.  You know, the whole "Don't let your mouth write checks your ass can't cash" thing.  I mean, come on.  That's just how things should be done:  you talk trash, then you trash those upon whom you were talking trash previously.

The comments were made before Monday's game.  In that game, the Cardinals won 7-3, with Phillips going 0-5, grounding out in his first 4 at-bats (never even getting the ball out of the infield), and striking out for the 3rd out of the 9th inning.

Way to back up your words, Mr. Phillips.

Then, then, the comments find their way to the Cardinal's clubhouse.  La Russa responded predictably, reminding everybody that 4 of Phillips' teammates are former Cardinals, two of them still fan favorites (Scott Rolen and Jim Edmonds), and the Reds' general manager is the same guy who until recently helmed the Cardinals organization.  Phillips decided to stick to his guns.

Or did he?

To start the bottom of the 1st tonight, he went up and tapped Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina's shin pads, normally an almost friendly gesture, but in light of his now public comments, one that didn't go unnoticed by Yadier.  Molina stood up to Phillips, reminding him that there is no friendship between a man who insults an entire team and the catcher for the insulted team, and a bench-clearing scrum ensues.  Things appeared to calm down, and then went nuts, or at least it appeared that way--several players ended up against the backstop and the net there.

And that's when the Reds' starting pitcher Johnny Cueto (inexplicably in the center of all the action) decided to use all the fighting skills learned from a childhood spent in the rough hallways of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Catholic School for Little Girls and lean back, grab the net, and begin to kick furiously at anyone in front of him, injuring Cardinals backup catcher Jason LaRue (a former Red), and giving Chris Carpenter some minor scrapes.  He also managed a few good shots on his own teammates.

Now I don't want to say that he fought like a girl, but... well, put it this way:  there were only two ways he could have fought more like a girl, and both were impossible as he is not allowed as a major league pitcher to keep long, painted, manicured nails with which to scratch, and his purse was all the way in the dugout so he couldn't exactly use it to hit other players with.  To his credit, after kicking everybody in leg's reach (with his cleats on), he did manage to pitch a fairly good game, giving up only 4 earned runs despite pitching with a strained vagina (suffered in the opening kick fight).

Cardinals won game 2, 8-4, and it was much more decisive than the score would lead you to believe.  The Reds were terrible, making laughably bad defensive plays.  So, Mr. Phillips... doesn't this mean you just literally got bitch-slapped?

This fake headline says it all (and no this is not my website):
http://www.joesportsfanstl.com/what-this-mornings-headline-should-have-been/

("Leake" was the pitcher who lost Game 1 of this 3 game series on Monday night.)

Oh, and Phillips was also courteous enough to make the last out in tonight's game, too.  Again... way to back up your words.