GOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAL!!!

This post is not at all about baseball, but soccer. (football, futbol)

Yesterday was a blast. I was at the game between Team USA and Team Brazil. Brazil of course won, but I’ll get to that in a minute.
A few days ago I bought an authentic Team Brazil jersey for the game. (Yes I’m going to continue to wear it.) I was also donning the bright blue knee socks that Team Brazil was wearing.
Before yesterday, I’ve never been to Soldier Field. (I do find it a bit ironic that the first time I ever go there has everything to do with futbol and nothing with football. During opening week of NFL no less.) Our seats were in section 322, way up top. At first I thought they were going to be pretty crappy, but we had a great view of the entire game. We were directly behind the center of the goals, but high enough to see the whole field.
I should mention the crowd. The stadium holds 61,500 people, one of the smallest in the NFL. The official count of yesterday’s game was 43,534 people in attendance. About 3/4 of us were cheering for Brazil. I have never seen so many green and yellow shirts in one day in my life. The fans around us were pretty interesting. The group of guys behind us were British, and mostly everyone else in our section were Mexican and Puerto Rican.
The British guys behind us were pretty interesting. Apparently one of them knew DeMarcus Beasley, whose club team is currently the Rangers in the Scottish Premier League. Alas, they were one of the few rooting for Team USA, so we never quite befriended them.
The game started off pretty quietly. The Brazilians werepassing back and forth to each other, but not very aggressively. They kept possesion most of the time for the first twenty minutes or so.
Team USA, however, did manage to score first. And, quite ironically, USA tied the game to 1-1 for Brazil. They got an own goal with the help of Brazil’s Kaka.
The second half started off with a freaking sick corner kick from Ronaldinho to assist Lucio for a goal to take the lead 2-1. 3 more goals would be socred though, the first of them in the 73rd minute by Clint Dempsey, tying the game once again to make the score 2-2. Two minutes later, Ronaldinho scored what would be the game winner on an unassisted goal. Elano would score on a penalty kick for Brazil in stoppage time to make the final score Brazil 4, USA 2.
I’ll never forget yesterday.

*756 Whether We Like it or Not

Okay. Breathe. Even though 99% of the population is convinced that Bonds has cheated his way through the record books; (Highest single season slugging percentage, single season home run king with 73, and now 756 lifetime jacks) he remains career home run leader nonetheless. Granted, he has declined to submit to drug testing, his head has grown from a size 7 to a 7 1/2 and now is an 8 in the past 5-10 years, he has grown increasingly tempermental (one of the symptons of steroid use) but he has not been convicted. Alas, he doesn’t need to be proven guilty in a court of law for us to know that he’s an outright cheater.

Hank Aaron was a great player. And well, so was Bonds. Even without the steroids, I do believe Bonds should someday be in the Hall of Fame. Although, Hank Aaron was an honest well natured “good” human being. Bonds is not. Never was and isn’t gonna change anytime soon. What confuses me is the whole deal with whether or not Hank attended the game when Bonds hit 756. Months ago he announced that he would absolutely not be there, not because of his arrogance and distaste for anyone daring steal his record, (That would be to Barry of him.) but because of how he got the record. Roids. Then why does he leave us with this jumbotron message congratulating Bonds on his feat? To avoid being called arrogant/in denial about someone topping his record? Or simply just shunning the dishonesty of Bonds’s newfound record? It seems very hypocritical for him to defiantly not attend, but leave a message congratulating him so benevolently.
But who knows who’s done what anymore?
Come on A-ROD. Surpass Bonds on the lifetime record. At least you don’t need one of these.
( * ) We hope.

WTF Mates

What the bloody hell is going on?
These are the standings, only the Mets in first makes sense. The Yanks are by far the most disappointing team, with a .436 perccentage.
East W L PCT GB L10 STRK HOME ROAD X W-L LAST GAME NEXT GAME
Boston 37 19 .661 - 6-4 L2 19-10 18-9 35-21 6/4 @ OAK, L 4-5 6/5 @ OAK, LIVE
Toronto 28 29 .491 9.5 7-3 W3 18-13 10-16 28-29 6/5 v TB, W 12-11 6/6 v TB, 7:07P
Baltimore 27 31 .466 11.0 6-4 L4 15-11 12-20 30-28 6/4 @ SEA, L 4-7 6/5 @ SEA, LIVE
New York 24 31 .436 12.5 3-7 L1 12-13 12-18 29-26 6/4 @ CWS, L 4-6 6/5 @ CWS, LIVE
Tampa Bay 24 32 .429 13.0 5-5 L1 16-17 8-15 22-34 6/5 @ TOR, L 11-12 6/6 @ TOR, 7:07P
Central W L PCT GB L10 STRK HOME ROAD X W-L LAST GAME NEXT GAME
Cleveland 35 21 .625 - 6-4 W1 20-6 15-15 32-24 6/5 v KC, W 1-0 6/6 v KC, 7:05P
Detroit 32 24 .571 3.0 3-7 W2 15-11 17-13 32-24 6/3 @ CLE, W 9-2 6/5 @ TEX, LIVE
Minnesota 28 28 .500 7.0 6-4 L3 15-14 13-14 28-28 6/4 @ LAA, L 3-16 6/5 @ LAA, LIVE
Chicago 26 27 .491 7.5 3-7 W1 13-11 13-16 23-30 6/4 v NYY, W 6-4 6/5 v NYY, LIVE
Kansas City 21 38 .356 15.5 2-8 L3 9-21 12-17 22-37 6/5 @ CLE, L 0-1 6/6 @ CLE, 7:05P
West W L PCT GB L10 STRK HOME ROAD X W-L LAST GAME NEXT GAME
Los Angeles 37 22 .627 - 8-2 W4 23-8 14-14 34-25 6/4 v MIN, W 16-3 6/5 v MIN, LIVE
Seattle 29 25 .537 5.5 7-3 W3 16-12 13-13 28-26 6/4 v BAL, W 7-4 6/5 v BAL, LIVE
Oakland 29 27 .518 6.5 6-4 W3 16-14 13-13 32-24 6/4 v BOS, W 5-4 6/5 v BOS, LIVE
Texas 20 37 .351 16.0 2-8 L2 11-15 9-22 25-32 6/3 @ SEA, L 6-11 6/5 v DET, LIVE
National League

East W L PCT GB L10 STRK HOME ROAD X W-L LAST GAME NEXT GAME
New York 35 21 .625 - 6-4 L2 17-14 18-7 34-22 6/5 v PHI, L 2-4 6/6 v PHI, 7:10P
Atlanta 33 26 .559 3.5 5-5 L1 16-13 17-13 30-29 6/5 v FLA, L 1-5 6/6 v FLA, 1:05P
Philadelphia 29 29 .500 7.0 5-5 W1 15-15 14-14 29-29 6/5 @ NYM, W 4-2 6/6 @ NYM, 7:10P
Florida 29 31 .483 8.0 6-4 W1 12-15 17-16 30-30 6/5 @ ATL, W 5-1 6/6 @ ATL, 1:05P
Washington 23 35 .397 13.0 4-6 L3 13-18 10-17 22-36 6/5 v PIT, L 6-7 6/6 v PIT, 7:05P
Central W L PCT GB L10 STRK HOME ROAD X W-L LAST GAME NEXT GAME
Milwaukee 32 26 .552 - 4-6 L1 21-11 11-15 30-28 6/4 v CHC, L 2-7 6/5 v CHC, LIVE
St. Louis 24 30 .444 6.0 5-5 W1 11-13 13-17 22-32 6/3 @ HOU, W 8-6 6/5 v CIN, LIVE
Chicago 24 31 .436 6.5 3-7 W2 11-17 13-14 30-25 6/4 @ MIL, W 7-2 6/5 @ MIL, LIVE
Pittsburgh 25 33 .431 7.0 4-6 W1 11-19 14-14 25-33 6/5 @ WSH, W 7-6 6/6 @ WSH, 7:05P
Houston 23 33 .411 8.0 2-8 L1 13-16 10-17 24-32 6/3 v STL, L 6-8 6/5 @ COL, LIVE
Cincinnati 22 36 .379 10.0 4-6 L2 10-18 12-18 26-32 6/3 @ COL, L 9-10 6/5 @ STL, LIVE
West W L PCT GB L10 STRK HOME ROAD X W-L LAST GAME NEXT GAME
Los Angeles 34 23 .596 - 7-3 W2 17-10 17-13 31-26 6/4 @ PIT, W 6-5 6/5 @ SD, LIVE
San Diego 33 23 .589 0.5 7-3 W2 17-9 16-14 35-21 6/3 @ WSH, W 7-3 6/5 v LAD, LIVE
Arizona 34 24 .586 0.5 9-1 W1 17-11 17-13 31-27 6/3 @ NYM, W 4-1 6/5 v SF, LIVE
San Francisco 27 29 .482 6.5 3-7 W1 14-13 13-16 31-25 6/4 @ PHI, W 8-1 6/5 @ ARI, LIVE
Colorado 27 30 .474 7.0 7-3 W2 14-16 13-14 24-33 6/3 v CIN, W 10-9 6/5 v HOU, LIVE
W – Total season-to-date wins L – Total season-to-date losses E# – Elimination Number, the combined number of wins (by the first place team) and losses (by the trailing team) that will eliminate the trailing team from winning the division. The Elimination Number for any team is determined by adding their number of losses to the number of wins for the team leading the division, and subtracting that total from 163. The Elimination Number for the second place team is the “Magic Number” for the first place team. “E” indicates that the team has been eliminated from winning the division. v. E – Won-loss record vs. Eastern Division clubs in own league v. C – Won-loss record vs. Central Division clubs in own league v. W – Won-loss record vs. Western Division clubs in own league v. AL/NL – Won-loss record in interleague play HOME – Won-loss record in home games ROAD – Won-loss record in road games v. R – Won-loss record in games started by opposing right-handed starters v. L – Won-loss record in games started by opposing left-handed starters XTRA – Won-loss record in extra-inning games 1-RUN – Won-loss record in games decided by one run RS – Total season-to-date runs scored RA – Total season-to-date runs allowed XW-L – Expected won-loss record based on runs scored and runs allowed, using this formula: RS^1.82/((RS^1.82)+(RA^1.82))

Have Mercy

This is not fun. Clemens is back on the Yankees. I know he is still probably better than 90% of the pitchers in the majors, but he is one arrogant bastard. I really don’t see the Yankees going for the whole not-going-on-road-trips thing. And to pay him 28 mil for two thirds of a season is simply ridiculous. I’m embarrassed to be Yankees fan, well, make that just one more reason to be embarrassed.

AROD on Fire

After a season of ridicule, pressure, and basically a living hell for who is possibly the best player in the majors is off to a monster start in 2007. Alex Rodriguez already has 14 home runs, 34 RBI’s, 31 hits, (.365 AVG) 9 walks, and 27 runs scored in only 85 at bats. (21 games)

Unfortunately for the rest of his team however, the Yankees have been giving a new meaning to the word “suck.” The Yankees are in last place, yes, you heard me correctly, bloody last place. Even behind Tampa Bay, who has never finished a season above last. So far the Yanks are 8-13, a .381 winning percentage, 6.5 games behind Boston who is in first, who are at 15-7. (.682) Oh yeah, and the Yankees are stuck in a seven game losing streak, four of them so far to Boston, who they play again today and tomorrow.

The First Week in Baseball

Well the first three or four games have been played and this year is nothing out of the ordinary for the first week’s results. All the crappy teams (with the exxception of the Met’s, who are 4-0) are in first place. Let’s look at the Devil Rays, they have never once finished a season out of last place and they are in first right now. That will last one more game.
This one’s the funniest, the Reds and Pirates are tied for first.
The first week always looks like this, and this is why baseball has more than 16 games like football. If baseball had a mere 16 games, the truly great teams would be nnothing special. Baseball plays ten times that number, and that is what seperartes baseball from every other sport. Baseball teams get 18 off days during the season, that’s it. Football gets six every week, and don’t forget about the biweek.
Also, baseball is the only sport not dominated by time, as are football, soccer, (futbol, ¡FUTBOL!) basketball, hockey, and any racing sport.
This post doesn’t have much of a theme, just getting it out there that baseball is by far my favorite sport.

The First Week in Baseball

Well the first three or four games have been played and this year is nothing out of the ordinary for the first week’s results. All the crappy teams (with the exxception of the Met’s, who are 4-0) are in first place. Let’s look at the Devil Rays, they have never once finished a season out of last place and they are in firstt right now. That will last one more game.
This one’s the funniest, the Reds and Pirates are tied for first.
The first week always looks like this, and this is why baseball has more than 16 games like football. If baseball had a mere 16 games, the truly great teams would be nnothing special. Baseball plays ten times that number, and that is what seperartes baseball from every other sport. Baseball teams get 18 off days during the season, that’s it. Football gets six every week, and don’t forget about the biweek.
Also, baseball is the only sport not dominated by time, as are football, soccer, (futbol, ¡FUTBOL!) basketball, hockey, and any racing sport.
This post doesn’t have much of a theme, just getting it out there that baseball is by far my favorite sport.

The Void Is Over

Today brings a smile to even the most casual baseball fan. Opening Day can officially mean it truly is spring, and summer is right around the corner. The first game of the season will be hosted in St. Louis playing the feared New York Mets.

Wang goes on DL

Yankee starter Chien Ming Wang injured his right hamstring while running at Legends Field in Florida. This will definately hurt the Yankees, as he is not expected to return until the end of April.

I’m guessing that the Yanks would really like to get him back before April 20th, their first meeting with the hated Redsox. Wang’s power sinker will be a much needed pitch throughout the whole season. It is his best out pitch, and simply devastates batters. It’s heavy drop is probably what got him the contract with the Yankees in the first place.

Anything for the Hall

Pete Rose recently gave out more information on his gambling in baseball. Apparently he not only bet on the Reds four times a week, it was every night. It seems he is willing to do and say anything that will get him into Cooperstown. Though he is a complete idiot, he still deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. But I don’t see that happening as long as Selig is commissioner. Selig’s IQ may be lower than Rose’s, and that’s saying something. Either way, Pete Rose is a liar, a cheat, and really just a flat out moron. But he should still be in the Hall. He was a great player. No more should have to be said.