Are There Any BASEBALL Fans On The Forum?

[gsmith7158]

Cups coulda used that closer.

Jerryd your plan for my Braves worked magnificently last night. We need to do that again tonight.

[Mumbleypeg]

Cups coulda used that closer.

He's been great this year - only one blown save otherwise perfect. One of those few that when he comes in you feel sure you're gonna win, especially if he starts with a clean inning, no one on base. And he's 25 years old with two more years of team control.

Supposedly got a stud starter for him from Pittsburgh, pitching in AA ball this year but not far from major league ready. Plus another pick from a list of TBA later. Rangers are supposedly looking to be a contender again by 2020, have a lot of good 25 year old and under position players, now stocking up on young pitchers. That's the story they're spinning anyway.

They traded Diekman to the Snakes. He's a rental - free agent next year that probably wasn't going to re-sign with Texas anyway. Looks like that's it for now but there could be more traded next month. They'll have to clear waivers on those but that's no big deal nowadays,

Ken

[rangerbluedog]

Wow, Braves picked up Adam Duvall from the Reds, and take another pitcher from the Orioles - Kevin Gausman!
Surely, Duvall will play in left field - Ender Inciarte and Markakis aren't going anywhere.

[gsmith7158]

Wow, Braves picked up Adam Duvall from the Reds, and take another pitcher from the Orioles - Kevin Gausman!
Surely, Duvall will play in left field - Ender Inciarte and Markakis aren't going anywhere.

Bravos act like they might be serious about making some noise here.

[philco]

I think you Braves fans will like Adam Duvall. He's the real deal IMO.

[fergusontd]

The front office is starting to unload top players again, yet they keep Homer Bailey. ftd

[steve99f]

Ferg I feel your pain.

The NL east is going to get real interesting if the Nats, Bravos, and Phils can hang with each other. I saw bits of the smack down the Nats put on the Mets. Scary I tell ya. Looks like Harper found his groove. The Phils managed a walkoff homer to win last night against FLA. I'll take it but not a confidence builder. I am looking forward to Wilson Ramos in the lineup.

[jerryd6818]

Cubs got trounced by the Padres last night. The stinking, last place in the National League, Padres. The pitching is just pathetic. Montgomery pitched well until the sixth inning and then . He appears to only have five good innings in him. Heal Darvish, heal! And please be the Yu Darvish of last year.

[Mumbleypeg]

25 years ago today. From the MLB archives https://www.mlb.com/video/ventura-charg ... =282248564.



Ken

[steve99f]

Thanks Ken for posting that. Don't remember seeing that before. Looked like Nolan was taking Ventura to the wood shed.

[Mumbleypeg]

Thanks Ken for posting that. Don't remember seeing that before. Looked like Nolan was taking Ventura to the wood shed.

One sportswriter described it as "The first time anyone ever got five straight hits off Nolan Ryan." It's a pretty famous incident from Nolan Ryan's stellar career, along with all his no-hitters, and the time he got hit square in the face by a line drive off the bat of Bo Jackson and continued pitching despite a horrible bloody lip. When I visited the MLB Hall of Fame in Cooperstown there were pictures of both incidents in the Nolan Ryan exhibit section.

A little anecdote about Nolan Ryan: In 2011 I was commuting back and forth weekly from Texas to Phoenix. In March during MLB Spring Training, on a flight to Phoenix from DFW, while boarding the plane I noticed Nolan seated in First Class. Back in my coach seat the guy sitting next to me had an old sports magazine with Nolan on the cover. Said he was taking it to a Rangers game in hopes of getting it autographed. (Nolan was known for signing autographs at Spring Training games when he was in attendance.) I told the guy that Nolan was on the plane sitting in First Class. So he asked the flight attendant to take his magazine to Nolan and ask him if he would autograph it. She took the magazine and headed to the First Class cabin with it.

Shortly she came back with magazine in hand, and said that Nolan said he would only sign it if the guy would bring it himself! So he did, and returned a few minutes later beaming from ear to ear. Said Nolan told him he did not recall having ever seen that magazine cover before. They had a nice chat and he signed it.

Ken

[doglegg]

When he pitched for the Rangers he was always available after the game for autographs. Sometimes stay over 30 minutes signing. On several occasions I saw him call over some rookie that thought he was too good to sign and have him stand and sign autographs with him. A very gracious man.

[steve99f]

I wonder if any batter charged him again?

I was on a plane with Pete Rose going to or from Cincinnati years ago at night in coach. Yeah, it was late. All I can say is he wasn't as gracious as Mr. Ryan. Could have been a bad night for him.

[zzyzzogeton]

Not a fan of either the Yankees or Red Socks, but last night's/this morning's ending was one for the highlight reels.

[jerryd6818]

Not a fan of either the Yankees or Red Socks, but last night's/this morning's ending was one for the highlight reels.

Missed it. Decided the Damn Yankees were going to win and went to bed. (Jeez, they were up by three and the Sox were doing nothing but of course I didn't take Chapman into consideration) Noticed this morning I was wrong (as is usual).

For anyone who's interested and gave up early, here are the highlights:

[gsmith7158]

Looks like it's going to be nip and tuck in a fight to the finish between the Phillies and Braves in the East. Braves took care of the Brew crew for the Cubbies and the Cubbies took care of the Nats And the Phillies flopped against the Padres so the Bravos regain the lead. This is going to be an exciting finish.

[jerryd6818]

A great big N. Illinois THANK YOU to your Chop Boyz. Now get it in gear and let's have a repeat performance tonight.

[steve99f]

Watching the Braves and Brewers now. Go brewers. Sorry jerryd. The Phils are up against the mighty Pads again. Too late for me to watch.

[jerryd6818]

No need to be sorry Steve. The only thing I have against Milwaukee, besides the Division Race, is Ryan Braun.

[jerryd6818]

Bottom of the 9th inning

Score before David Bote comes up to bat.
Bases loaded
Outs - 2
Nationals - 3
Cubs - 0

Score after David Bote comes up to bat.
Nationals - 3
Cubs - 4

David Bote's first walk-off, game winning GRAND SLAM EVER.

[Mumbleypeg]

I watched it Jerry. I was interested to see how Hamels would do. Amazing game - that's why we watch to the end regardless the score. Most of the time it's a waste of time but sometimes you get to see amazing things.

"It ain't over til it's over."

Ken

[bestgear]

.

[gsmith7158]

Well I'm going to get on here and gloat about the Braves big win tonight over the Marlins to go up two games on the Phillies I'm going to gloat tonight because I could be eating crow in two or three days.

[jerryd6818]

Crow is a regular on the menu at my house.

[Mumbleypeg]

Made a road trip over to Arlington last night to watch the Rangers play the Angels, and was rewarded with a rare triple play and a come-from-behind Rangers win. They say was the first triple play since 1912 where the batter was not included in the three outs. Only MLB triple play I've ever seen in person - happened so fast everyone in the stands was looking at each other saying "did I just see what I think I saw?"

Rangers won the game 8-6.

Ken