Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Superstitions



Halloween is tonight and it is the perfect time to discuss our superstitions. Many of the athletes we watch are very superstitious. For example, Hall of famer Wade Boggs had a few superstitions, including, eating chicken before every game (earning him the nickname "chicken man"). He also took batting practice at exactly 5:17 and ran sprints at 7:17. Jason Giambi had an odd superstition when he was in a slump. He would slip into a pair of tight bikini panties! Another common superstition for a lot of pitchers is to avoid touching the baseline when walking on or off the field. When a pitcher is throwing a perfect game or no hitter, every player steers clear of him in the dugout. These are just a few examples of the superstitions athletes have.

Personally, I played soccer growing up and I didn't really have any superstitions. However, as a Canucks fan, I only wear my jersey during playoff games or when I go to a game at Roger's arena. I also don't leave the room while play is in action.

Please comment below what your superstitions are as both an athlete and fan of the game.

Happy Halloween

follow me on twitter @tpoole00

Also check out my main blog at proudbcer.blogspot.com

World Series Game 6



Verlander vs Hill again.

Monday, October 30, 2017

Off day gratitude


Spent most of Sunday at the hospital. Totally wiped and won't make it through the game. So let's go for some gratitude.

I'm grateful that I'm not having to go through my mother's illness alone. I'm grateful that while I was at the hospital, my siblings went through the house and tossed out a bin full of junk my mom's been hoarding. The house feels fresher and lighter and I hope that means I'll sleep better tonight. I'm also grateful for all those who offered solutions to my insomnia and all those who offered virtual hugs or made themselves available should I need help. I'm surrounded by a lot of great people who care about me, including all of you in this community here, and I'm especially grateful for that.

What are you grateful for?

Friday, October 27, 2017

World Series Game 3


My mom's back in the hospital so this is short and sweet.

Vin Scully vs #HoustonStrong. Darvish vs McCullers. May it be a good game.

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

World Series Game 2


Oops, published it for Sunday. That's what happens when you're sleep deprived.

Verlander vs Hill. Will Verlander still be awesome?

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

World Series Game 1


Houston vs Dodgers. I know there's a bunch of Dodgers fans here but I'm #HoustonStrong. Since there will be rooting for different teams, be good to each other.

Keuchel vs Kershaw. Yeah, not the matchup everyone wanted. Should still be good.

Monday, October 23, 2017

How Houston saw Teoscar Hernádez


Since this is day two of no baseball (yay Astros!), let's look to our own future.

Teoscar Hernádez brought a lot of excitement in his September callup. But there were questions about how real he looked and how much he might be able to improve. So I thought it might be worth looking at what Houston fans thought about him. Here's some links:

Astros season rewind - the promising Teoscar Hernádez
Astros - the case for Teoscar Hernádez
Teoscar Hernádez of the Houston Astros
Astros countdown - top five closest prospects

Thoughts?

Sunday, October 22, 2017

Party weekend!


The Yankees have been vanquished! Time to celebrate in song and story.

Saturday, October 21, 2017

ALCS Game 7


#HoustonStrong

8:00 ET - Yanks vs Astros (Sabathia vs Morton)

Feel free to use this as both a discussion thread and a game thread.

Also, fuck the Yankees always and forever.

Friday, October 20, 2017

ALCS Game 6


#HoustonStrong

8:00 ET - Yanks vs Astros (Severino vs Verlander)

Feel free to use this as both a discussion thread and a game thread.

Also, fuck the Yankees always and forever.

Thursday, October 19, 2017

The case for expanded replays and challenges in baseball



Since the 2013 season, baseball managers have been allowed to challenge most plays in baseball (managers get 2 challenges in a playoff game). One play not reviewable is a foul tip on a called third strike. I argue that every play but balls and strikes should be eligible for review

The Situation

In game 4 of the NLDS tonight, Dodgers CF swung and missed on a 2-2 pitch that home plate Jim Wolf called Granderson out on saying that Granderson missed the ball. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts came out of the dugout and convinced the umpires to conference and eventually overturn the call. This allowed Granderson an extra swing. One thing to note is there was one out in the 8th inning and the Dodgers had a runner on 1st and the Cubs were ahead 3-2. This means Granderson could have hit the next pitch out of the yard and given the Dodgers a late lead.

My Take

First of all, this was an elimination game for the Cubs. While it is important to get the calls right, in a playoff game it is even more crucial as a wrong call can end the season for a team. Baseball purists would argue that we should limit the use of challenges/replays to protect the purity of the game, which for over a century allowed for human error by the umpires. I disagree. The stakes are simply too high. While Granderson struck out the next pitch, what would have happened if Granderson had hit a HR and the Dodgers won? Or what if this was game 7 of the World Series and Granderson had the potential to win the game? Technology is so much better now and fans can see every replay at the park or wherever they are watching from. So why not utilize the technology to get the calls right? The only place where challenges should never be used is on balls/strikes.

What do you guys think? Comment below

Follow me on twitter @tpoole00
Read my blog @ proudbcer.blogspot.com

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

ALCS Game 5, NLCS Game 4


Fuck the Yankees always and forever. Fuck Maddon always and forever. Fuck the free-spending Dodgers always and forever. #HoustonStrong

5:00 ET - Astros vs Yanks  (Keuchel vs Tanaka)
9:00 ET - Dodgers vs Cubs  (Wood vs Arrieta)

Feel free to use this as both a discussion thread and a game thread.

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

ALCS Game 4, NLCS Game 3


Fuck the Yankees always and forever. Fuck Maddon always and forever. Fuck the free-spending Dodgers always and forever. #HoustonStrong

5:00 ET - Astros vs Yanks  (McCullers vs Gray)
9:00 ET - Dodgers vs Cubs  (Darvish vs Hendricks)

Feel free to use this as both a discussion thread and a game thread.

Monday, October 16, 2017

ALCS Game 3


Fuck the Yankees always and forever. #HoustonStrong

8:00 ET - Yanks vs Astros (Sabathia vs Morton)

Feel free to use this as both a discussion thread and a game thread.

Sunday, October 15, 2017

NLCS Game 2


7:30 ET - Cubs vs Dodgers (Lester vs Hill)

Feel free to use this as both a discussion thread and a game thread.

Saturday, October 14, 2017

ALCS Game 2, NLCS Game 1


Fuck the Yankees always and forever. Fuck Maddon always and forever. Fuck the free-spending Dodgers always and forever. #HoustonStrong

4:00 ET - Yanks vs Astros (Severino vs Verlander)
8:00 ET - Cubs vs Dodgers (Quintana vs Kershaw)

Feel free to use this as both a discussion thread and a game thread.

Friday, October 13, 2017

ALCS Game 1


Fuck the Yankees. #HoustonStrong

8:00 ET - Yankees vs Astros (Tanaka vs Keuchel)

Feel free to use this as both a discussion thread and a game thread.

Thursday, October 12, 2017

NLDS Game 5


Go Kittenface!

8:00 ET - Cubs vs Nats (Hendriks vs Gonzalez)

Feel free to use this as both a discussion thread and a game thread.

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

ALDS Game 5, NLDS Game 4 take 2


After being postponed for rain, we have the Nats fighting for their lives. We also have a winner take all ALDS.

4:00 ET - Nats vs Cubs (Roark vs Arrieta)
8:00 ET - Yanks vs Cleveland (Sabathia vs Kluber)

Feel free to use this as both a discussion thread and a game thread.

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

NLDS Game 4


Two teams gone. Another one fighting for life today.

5:30 ET - Nats vs Cubs vs (Roark vs Arrieta)

Feel free to use this as both a discussion thread and a game thread.

Monday, October 9, 2017

ALDS Game 4, NLDS Game 3



1:00 PM ET - Astros vs Sux (Morton vs Porcello)
4:00 PM ET - Nats vs Cubs (Scherzer vs Quintana)
7:00 PM ET - Cleveland vs Yanks (Bauer vs Severino)
10:00 PM ET - Dodgers vs D-Backs (Darvish vs Greinke)

Backs against the wall! The Sux and the Yanks lived to fight another day. Hopefully this is the last.

Sunday, October 8, 2017

ALDS Game 3


JITH's two favourite teams are facing elimination after soul-crushing losses in game 2. Feel free to use this as a game thread.

2:30 ET - Astros vs Sux (Peacock vs Fister)
7:30 ET - Cleveland vs Yanks (Carrasco vs Tanaka)

Notice how the Yanks always got the prime time or closest to prime time slot? Gotta have that Judge ballwashing.

Saturday, October 7, 2017

NLDS Game 2


Late games today:

5:30 ET - Cubs vs Nats (Lester vs Gonzalez)
9:00 ET - D-Backs vs Dodgers (Ray vs Hill)

Feel free to use this as both a discussion thread and a game thread.

Friday, October 6, 2017

ALDS Game 2, NLDS Game 1


 2:00 ET - Houston vs Sux (Keuchel vs Pomeranz)
 5:00 ET - Cleveland vs Yanks (Kluber vs Sabathia)
 7:30 ET - Cubs vs Nats (Hendricks vs Strasburg)
10:30 ET - D-backs vs Dodgers (Walker vs Kershaw)

Enjoy watching a full day of baseball.

Thursday, October 5, 2017

ALDS Game 1


4:00 ET - Houston vs Sux (Verlander vs Sale)
7:30 ET - Cleveland vs Yanks (Bauer vs Gray)

Pretty safe guess which teams this community is rooting for. Feel free to use as game thread.

Wednesday, October 4, 2017

Rocks or Snakes


Two teams who have waited a long time for the playoffs. Who will prevail?

Feel free to use this as a game thread.

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

The Twins' revenge

Tonight's the night. The AL wildcard. A chance for the Twins to rid themselves of their playoff nemesis. Feel free to use this as a game thread.

Monday, October 2, 2017

Remembering the good things in 2017


So yeah, the season didn't go the way we hoped. At times this team was painful to watch. But now that it's in the rear-view mirror, let's remember the awesome things that happened.

Sunday, October 1, 2017

Game 162 Toronto Blue Jays @ NY Yankees - Game Recap


Jose Bautista went 1 for 2 in what may be his final game as a Blue Jay

Another season is in the books. While the season certainly didn't go according to plan, there is reason for Jays fans to have hope. Here is a recap of the final game of the season.

no 162 2017: Blue Jays (75-86) at Yankees (91-70)


Sunday 1 October 2017
3:05 PM EDT / Yankee Stadium
 Brett Anderson (LHP 4-4, 6.97 ERA, 1.81 WHIP, 35 Ks)
v. Jordan Montgomery (LHP 9-7, 3.96 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 141 Ks)