Crumpled Notebook

Yeah, that’s not something I ever thought I’d ever say and really mean. But, you gotta do what you gotta do. What I have to do is root for anyone to beat the Dodgers, even if it’s the Phillies.

I say this also knowing that rumor has it that Philly fans are the worst and most obnoxious in baseball. I hear if you go to a Phillies game and have New York plates on your car, you can expect something bad to happen to your car.

I almost always cheer for NL teams over AL teams in the World Series. If the Dodgers win the NL, I can’t do that. As a Giants fan and as a Cubs fan, I simply cannot cheer for the Dodgers. I’m not sure how I’m going to cheer for the Phillies being a Pirate fan, but somehow, I’ll muster up the courage.

Besides, next year is the Pirates year. I just know it.

More baseball later. I’m disgusted at the Postseason so far.

One week til the SF Giants’ Home Opener game. This may have happened last year too, but their home opener is the same day as the NCAA Basketball Championship. That officially makes it the best day of the year.

I love baseball. I read a great post today by Walt Mueller about baseball and grace. It actually reminded me of something I was talking about the other day with someone. Maybe I’ll blog about that later. Anyway, here is his post that I liked. For anyone who doesn’t know, Walt Mueller is like the man on Youth Culture and how that fits in with our Christian lives. I heard him speak at Boot Camp in January and he was really good. He is a Phillies baseball fan so, but I won’t hold that against him. What about those Phillies? (Sorry Crystal, I couldn’t resist).

You like how I did that? I did a post that wasn’t about basketball, but still had to mention it, huh? Of course, now you get a post or two about baseball, then I’ll be silent on it probably until my trip, and then again until my next trip, and then again until, just before the playoffs.

I might have another later, but here are a couple short clips. The first is Barry’s final at bat. The 2nd is a crazy fan on the field.

So, I have tickets for the Giants last home game this season, Wednesday night. Also, what one would assume, is Barry Bond’s last home game as a Giant (er, unless he play Tues and not Wed, and that’ll just suck).

I’m feeling perplex. People keep asking me if I’ll still be a Giants fan once Barry is gone. At first, I’m like, “of course, I’m a Giants fan.” However, when I recalled today exactly “how” I became a Giants fan, it makes the decision harder.

See, I’m a Pittsburgh Pirates fan. Always have been. Always will be. Back in the day, when I became a Pirates fan, Mr. Bonds was a player there. When he left, I followed him to the Giants. I was a Barry Bonds fan, and only cheered for the Giants since he played for them. When I moved out here, it made since for me to make the transition to Giants fan as well.

Now, let me say, for the record, I do not agree with the Giants decision to let Barry go. I understand it, but I don’t agree with it. Yes, he’s getting older, but he still hits better than most people. Yeah, he’s not as good as fielder as he used to be, but that’s not what is making their team suck. He’s okay. Average. But as a whole, not the reason they suck this season. Yes, he has injuries, but again, still doing more for the team than most of their players. And oh yeah…HE SELLS TICKETS! Can’t you see it now? One more year with Barry. People will come to games for Barry’s final season. So you might have another bad season, you’re going to anyway, you may as well sell tickets while doing that. I mean, unless you’re opposed to that sort of thing, and we know that the Giants aren’t or they wouldn’t have kept Barry around THIS season.

That said, I do understand and respect the decision, I just think they owe him more. He got them a new stadium, a trip to the World Series, and loads of cash when they wouldn’t have had it based on playing good baseball.

However, it’s probably good for him. He wants a World Series and I don’t think the Giants can do it in one more season. He’s better off taking his chances elsewhere.

So, to answer the first question…will I continue to be a Giants fan? Of course. I’m a fan of baseball, and their my home team. They are MY SFGIANTS. Besides, I have too much Giants gear to go changing. I’ve developed a since of loyaly and pride in them. I want them to succeed and I think at some point, people do need to move on. I’ll probably follow Barry where ever he goes. Except the Yankees. If he went there ( and I’m guessing not ), I’d cheer for him to get his records and maybe even World Series, but never ever support the Yankees.

No? Too bad. I do. Here’s my “near the end of the season” round up and predictions for the post season.

 Okay, if you haven’t noticed, the NL Central has a hecka awesome cat and mouse game going on with the Cubs and the Brewers (the who? yeah, that team from Milwakee…does anyone even know any Brewers fans? If so, tell me. I’d like to meet them).

So, tonight, the beloved Cubbies lost to the Reds. Pretty pitiful if you as me, but that’s just my bias against the Reds. This means the Brewers and the Cubs are tied up yet again for the NL Central.

If you are a Cubs fan, I have some bad news. The Brewers have 12 games left. The Cubs only have 10. Yeah. But wait, it does get better…

If you’re a Brewers fan (like I said, i know of none), I have some REALLYY bad news. The Cubs are still going to win the NL Central. Why? Do you ask? Well, my friends, the Brewers, in their final games, have to play Atlanta…who’s about on the same par with the Brewers, win/loss-wise anyway. So they’ll probably split a few games. They also have to play St. Louis, who is behind them in their division (albeit 7.5 game back). Still, St. Louis could pull out a win. Okay, here’s where it gets worse. The final games of the Brewers season, they have to play the Padres. Despite being 2nd in the West, they still maintain a better record than the Brewers and can just flat be a tough team to sweep. And, I predict that the Padres will be the Wildcard for the NL (unless they come back up on AZ and take the West).

So what if the Brewers are playing some semi-decent teams? Well, compare that to the rest of the Cubbies schedule. Pittsburg (3rd worst team in the NL), Cincinati (just barely above Pitt, 6th worst team in NL); and Florida–THE worst team in the NL this season.

If they Cubbies don’t pull this one off, I will swear forever that the curse is real.

Okay, quickly, I’ll tell you about the other teams.

NL East:
Mets got 2 games up on the Phillies and 5.5 up on Atlanta. I don’t predict any big surprises here. Mets will make it in.

NL West:
AZ is 1.5 games up on San Diego (Padres). I’m going with AZ, but whoever is 2nd in this race will be the Wildcard, and a good one at that.

NL Central:
Do I really need to cover this again?

AL East:
GO BOSTON! Yeah. Not a fan of AL teams, but I like Boston. Why? Because I hate the Yankees and if there is any team that hates the Yankees, it’s Boston. We can bond together over hate. It’s all good. Anyway, they got 2 games up on the Yankees. I have faith they’ll pull it off, BUT the Yankees will be the AL Wildcard. Which means yet another Red Sox/Yankees AL series for a trip to the World Series. Yeah, who cares about the other AL teams.

In case you do…

AL Central:
Cleveland is 6.5 up on someone, Detriot, yeah, that’s it. Best known for usually being the worst team in baseball. Gotta give Detriot (Tigers) their props though…ending the season with a better record than most of the NL. If you do like Cleveland, I read a story tonight about the Mighty Casey stepping up to bat. Check it out. Oh, and this time, the Mighty Casey did NOT strike out.

AL West:
Anaheim, er, I mean the Los Angeles Angels are like 8.5 games up on Seattle. So unless Seattle wins all the rest, and Ana..er LA losses all the rest, the Angels are on their way to the Penant Chase.

But, who’s gonna play in the World Series, and win? Red Sox and Cubs? OH, wouldn’t THAT just be magical. Who knows? Bud Selig would probably arrange that just to take away from people remembering Barry Bonds this season.