Thank You For A Great Season!

First of all, congratulations to the Phillies for winning the pennant. It was a hard fought series where their experience and grit took them over the top. I give them mad props.

For the Dodgers I have nothing but thanks and gratitude for a phenomenal year. 2009 was filled with so much promise and, for the most part, this team met my expectations. We just ran into a team that refused to be beat.

All I can say is, "wait til next year!"

A Momentary Break Before the Game

While you wait for Game 5 to begin here are a couple of fun videos to keep you in the mood.

30 Ballparks and a baby.

Video Link: RedLasso:

The Dodgers Song.

YouTube Link: fuzzylogic1025:

Baseball Better Than Work

Call this a little bit of self promotion, but I wanted to point out a couple of vintage Baseball postcards that I am currently selling eBay that I thought were pretty cool. (BTW, I'm selling bunch of vintage cards right now. Check them out here.) I had originally gotten then several years ago in a large lot of memorabilia items and, only now, have gotten a opportunity to sell them online.

Both postcards feature Baseball as a central theme on the front, and have some very true statements written on the reverse.

The first card is a comic themed postcard, circa 1914, that perfectly encapsulates Baseball fandom.

"He wants his meals to be serv'd hot,
If not he'll start to scold,
Yet he sits for fourteen innings
And lets his meals get cold"

The best part is written on the reverse by the sender.
Bill writes,

"This is better than farming"

So true, so true.
Here is another postcard I'm selling that expresses a similar sentiment. On the front is old Yankee Stadium, circa 1949, but on the reverse is a longing to stay in New York watching Baseball.

"Yup, we wuz here. Having a grand time, better than carrying the mail"

This is only more proof that throughout American history, Baseball is better than most things- even warm food, producing food and work.

Why No Protest

By now you have heard of the numerous questionable calls made in last nights American League Championship Series game between the Angels and Yankees. There were a couple of calls that I usually consider just "bad luck" and being a part of the game, but there was one call that has my head scratching. It was egregious, and as Yahoo's "Big League Stew" proclaims, it is easily the worst call ever made by an umpire. If you haven't seen it yet check out the video below.

YahooVideoLink:

Now, it is obvious the umpire screwed up. The replay clearly shows that. I wonder, though, why Mike Scioscia did not play under protest. Isn't this a protestable play? Read Section 4.19 from MLB Rules:

"Each league shall adopt rules governing procedure for protesting a game when a manager claims that an umpire's decision is in violation of these rules. No protest shall ever be permitted on judgment decisions by the umpire. In all protested games, the decision of the League President shall be final. Even if it is held that the protested decision violated the rules, no replay of the game will be ordered unless, in the opinion of the League President, the violation adversely affected the protesting team's chances of winning the game. Whenever a manager protests a game because of alleged misapplication of the rules, the protest will not be recognized unless the umpires are notified at the time the play under protest occurs and before the next pitch is made or a runner is retired. A protest arising on a game ending play may be filed until 12 noon the following day with the League Office."

So as long as the umpires ruling does not adhere to league rules and was not a judgment call then it should be protestable. This game should have been played under protest.

Now, Tim McClelland, the umpire in questions, states that he thought Robinson Cano was on third base; therefore making him the safe player on the base paths. Is that considered a judgment call by the umpire, or non-adherence to the rules? Does anybody know the answer?

Card Of The Week: Sawed Off

Rob Deer was all about power. He tried to slug with the best of them in the 80's. Unfortunately, he never really came close to leading the league in homers. On the other hand, he did lead the league in being struck out four times in his career.

The above 1992 Leaf card of Rob Deer was one of my favorites from the set. It shows both his mighty swing and the disappointment of a splintered bat in his palms. In fact, you can say that it epitomized his career. He was a "feast or famine" hitter. His powerful swing was evident for all to see, but, ultimately, it was all for naught.

Tommy Says It All

Tommy is in Philly and let's us know how he feels.

I hate the Phillie Phanatic.

(pic link: Twitpic TommyLasorda)

It may have something to do with this.

YouTube Link: LADRLZ:

UPDATE: This comes directly from Tommy's blog.

I called the front office of the Phillies and told them how I felt. They can play with kids in the stands, but running over the dummy was simply wrong, and that kids would get the wrong impression. Apparently, they didn’t care.

The next time we were in Philadelphia, I confronted the Phanatic. I told it not to use my jersey anymore, and so the next time he did, I was forced to act. I went right up to it and body slammed it to the turf.

I often wondered how it got my jersey, and then I found out how. Steve Sax would give it the jerseys because my players thought it was a funny thing to do.

That is so great. Steve Sax is my new hero.