All About Pocket Knives

From an article about Bob Uecker, describing his humor.

“You know, I signed with the Milwaukee Braves for $3,000,” Uecker once said. “That bothered my dad at the time because he didn’t have that kind of dough to pay out. But eventually, he scraped it up.”

Ken

Bob Uecker was some kind of special.

I just lost a great deal of enthusiasm for the upcoming MLB season, it is over before it starts. The only suspense will be over which team will be the sacrificial lamb to play the Dodgers in the WS.

I don’t know Ike, your fears may be justified but many of the “super teams” of the past have failed to live up to expectations. And if they do get to the playoffs and run into a hot team, anything can happen. The number of wildcard teams that have won a World Series trophy will surprise you.

Ken

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Sun Jan 19, 2025 12:09 am I don’t know Ike, your fears may be justified but many of the “super teams” of the past have failed to live up to expectations. And if they do get to the playoffs and run into a hot team, anything can happen. The number of wildcard teams that have won a World Series trophy will surprise you.

Ken

Yes, you are correct. The Mets' hefty payroll didn't take them anywhere last year. The Dodgers have just gone way overboard the last 2 or 3 years.

Waukonda wrote: ↑Sat Jan 18, 2025 10:28 pm I just lost a great deal of enthusiasm for the upcoming MLB season, it is over before it starts. The only suspense will be over which team will be the sacrificial lamb to play the Dodgers in the WS.

I agree.

Same thing is happening , only I believe it's worse , in college .

Waukonda wrote: ↑Sun Jan 19, 2025 2:05 am

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Sun Jan 19, 2025 12:09 am I don’t know Ike, your fears may be justified but many of the “super teams” of the past have failed to live up to expectations. And if they do get to the playoffs and run into a hot team, anything can happen. The number of wildcard teams that have won a World Series trophy will surprise you.

Ken

Yes, you are correct. The Mets' hefty payroll didn't take them anywhere last year. The Dodgers have just gone way overboard the last 2 or 3 years.

Here’s an interesting take on the situation. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/607650 ... ed_article

He makes a good case. Is he wrong?

Ken

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Thu Jan 23, 2025 3:35 pm

Waukonda wrote: ↑Sun Jan 19, 2025 2:05 am

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Sun Jan 19, 2025 12:09 am

Here’s an interesting take on the situation. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/607650 ... ed_article

He makes a good case. Is he wrong?

Ken

I can't disagree with the gist of this article, and I realize the Dodgers, et al, are operating within the rules of the league. I just don't care for the great payroll divide between the top and bottom tier of teams. I guess there is plenty of finger pointing to go around.

I watch a great deal of NHL games (2 or 3 every night), there is great parity in the league due to a salary cap. The small market teams, or any team for that matter, can win on any given night. Virtually every game is competitive, and the playoffs are exceptionally exciting. I wish MLB was more like the NHL in that regard.

Might as well just give the 2025 rings to the Dodgers on opening day.

Some of you who are of the "correct" age may remember the 1969 Miracle Mets winning the World Series. One of the great players on that team was Donn Clendenon, who in fact was the 1969 World Series MVP. After retiring from baseball, he ended up living in Sioux Falls from 1987 until his death in 2005. An interesting sidenote is to be seen here in Sioux Falls on the outside wall of a pizzeria on 26th street a mural has been painted that honors some of the more well know residents in our city. Pictured below is that mural and an enlargement below that shows the MVP Donn Clendenon in a Mets cap.

OLDE CUTLER wrote: ↑Tue Jan 28, 2025 5:42 pm Some of you who are of the "correct" age may remember the 1969 Miracle Mets winning the World Series.

Thanks for showing that! The Orioles were loaded with talent back then, and I was rooting for the underdog Mets, Clendenon had an awesome Series, he seemed to be a genuinely nice guy.
I looked at the Wikipedia "notable people" of Sioux Falls list, and saw that David Soul hailed from there. Wasn't sure if I could make him out on that mural, or not????

Waukonda wrote: ↑Tue Jan 28, 2025 8:00 pm

OLDE CUTLER wrote: ↑Tue Jan 28, 2025 5:42 pm Some of you who are of the "correct" age may remember the 1969 Miracle Mets winning the World Series.

Thanks for showing that! The Orioles were loaded with talent back then, and I was rooting for the underdog Mets, Clendenon had an awesome Series, he seemed to be a genuinely nice guy.
I looked at the Wikipedia "notable people" of Sioux Falls list, and saw that David Soul hailed from there. Wasn't sure if I could make him out on that mural, or not????

Nope, David Soul did not make the cut. Many of the characters on the mural are sports team mascots, and only a few are of actual living people. I think it started out as a joke in 2021 when Wyatt Dickson painted it, but now has become a landmark on the outer wall of the pizzaria.

Pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training this week!

Ken

Huh????? What kind of baseball teams are you rooting for down there in Texas?

The design team at New Era was "asleep at the wheel"

I saw an article about it today. Apparently New Era goofed. They had to pull those and some others when the teams saw them and complained, but I find it hard to believe someone from each team, or at least the league, didn’t catch it earlier.

Apparently the Angels hat said “Anals”, the Diamondbacks’ said “Ariana”, and so on. Here’s another prize.




Ken

Wow . Somebody is getting canned.

Any Brewers fans out there? They had a big game today, put 9 runs on the board!

Waukonda wrote: ↑Sat Mar 29, 2025 10:34 pm Any Brewers fans out there? They had a big game today, put 9 runs on the board!

I'm a Reds fan, what do you think?

Seriously they are an enviable franchise.
I watched most of their game against the Yankees when Chourio struck out 5 times. I'd still take him.
I watch most games the day after, I'm blacked out for Reds, Pirates, and the Guardians.

Waukonda wrote: ↑Sat Mar 29, 2025 10:34 pm Any Brewers fans out there? They had a big game today, put 9 runs on the board!

Om, but they gave up --------20!

Waukonda wrote: ↑Sat Mar 29, 2025 10:34 pm Any Brewers fans out there? They had a big game today, put 9 runs on the board!

Ken

At least for yesterday, the Yanks showed no sign of missing Soto.

Waukonda wrote: ↑Sat Mar 29, 2025 10:34 pm Any Brewers fans out there? They had a big game today, put 9 runs on the board!

I watched the recap on MLB.tv. I bet there are a lot of managers calling Louisville and ordering new designed bats. I heard them mentioned elsewhere, but that's the first time I've seen one.

Congratulations to the Brewers today, for not giving up three home runs on the first three pitches of the game.

Ken

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Mon Mar 31, 2025 2:35 pm Congratulations to the Brewers today, for not giving up three home runs on the first three pitches of the game.

Ken

Your boy DeGrom was in midseason form yesterday! Though, some Rangers hurler should have shown a little mercy and grooved a couple of pitches for Devers, rough start for him.

Waukonda wrote: ↑Mon Mar 31, 2025 2:49 pm
Your boy DeGrom was in midseason form yesterday! Though, some Rangers hurler should have shown a little mercy and grooved a couple of pitches for Devers, rough start for him.

Indeed he was. Mid-season form as far as results are concerned, but they pulled him after 5 innings. He said he wanted to go another inning, but this early in the season Bochy is being cautious I guess. It seems deGrom always looks good - when he is able to pitch. If he goes out there, he’s been one of the most consistently good pitchers the game has ever seen. Rarely if ever has an off day. Like all great pitchers, if one pitch isn’t working for them they just go to something else.

Just hope he can stay healthy. One pitch away from his career being over?

Devers will be okay. He’s too good to stay in a funk very long. He may need a while to adjust to being a DH.

Ken