108 STITCHES: Congratulations on Dan Suitor for winning A League With Thrown Baseballs 3, our sixteen-team head to head fantasy baseball league. He beat me in the finals, and if you think I'm going to whine about losing my first two picks down the stretch, Hanley Ramirez and Dustin Pedroia, you know me well. But Dan had a damn good team, winning the regular season as well, and he is to be commended.
[Side note: we all pretty much agreed that a 16-team league was a demanding experiment which we're not eager to repeat. But we didn't want to lose any owners either. What we'll do is that the bottom four (or six) owners from this season's standings have agreed to be relegated into a new ALOTT5MA Baseball League hosting 8-10 owners which will serve as the entry point into the league for new owners and provide a less intense experience. Every year, the top four teams from that league will be invited into the ALOTT5MA Premier League for the following season,with the bottom four from Premier agreeing to be relegated in exchange. More details when the snow melts.]
Yesterday also concluded the real-world regular season, and we'll have time later this week to talk playoffs and awards. For now, let's just focus on memories of the season which won't be captured in those later discussions. I was lucky to attend a 16-inning game with my dad that finished well after midnight with Roy Oswalt playing left field and which was so giddy and exhilarating by the time of the second "seventh inning stretch" in the 14th that the result felt irrelevant. What will you remember?
added: Thanks to the work of intrepid blogger Peter J. Nash, the National Baseball Hall of Fame has determined that a donated jersey allegedly worn by "Shoeless" Joe Jackson in 1919 was a fake. I mention this because you'd know avid baseball collector/historian Nash more by his former stage name -- he was the Prime Minister, "Sinister" Pete Nice of early 90s rap group 3rd Bass.
There are a ton of great Phillies game memories this year -- and doesn't that 16-inning game remind you in some ways of the crazy July 1993 doubleheader? -- but my best memory of the 2010 season happened after the Phils lost an August businessperson special to the Astros (closing out the series that also contained the game Adam mentioned). I went to the game with my older daughter, along with one of her best friends and her dad. He had gotten us great seats through work, but the best part was that it was the Kids Run The Bases promotion, so we all got to go down on the field after the game. As the girls took their lap around the infield, and I realized what a gorgeous day it was and how lucky I had been to share it with my daughter at the ballpark, all seemed nearly perfect in the world.
ReplyDeleteAlso, congrats to Dan S.!
ReplyDeleteThere are a ton of great Phillies game memories this year -- and doesn't that 16-inning game remind you in some ways of the crazy July 1993 doubleheader? -- but my best memory of the 2010 season happened after the Phils lost an August businessperson special to the Astros (closing out the series that also contained the game Adam mentioned). I went to the game with my older daughter, along with one of her best friends and her dad. He had gotten us great seats through work, but the best part was that it was the Kids Run The Bases promotion, so we all got to go down on the field after the game. As the girls took their lap around the infield, and I realized what a gorgeous day it was and how lucky I had been to share it with my daughter at the ballpark, all seemed nearly perfect in the world.
ReplyDeleteIt's been an up and down year as a White Sox fan; a crummy start to the season, a good stretch in the summer that included some time in first place, then stumblings and the Twins just being better down the stretch. But a better season than expected, even if it was tainted by the Sox hiring a cheater late in the season. Paul Konerko might be moving on, so I'm glad I got to see him play this year.
ReplyDeleteWatching the first Strasburg game on TV, and then attending a later Strasburg game - it was just electric. So much energy and joy at the ballpark.
ReplyDeleteHere's hoping we get that back in 2012 with a fully healed arm.
The only game I attended in the last two years was Strasburg's first start. Plus I watched half of one game on television. I never would've expected to be so alienated from baseball, but the games take too long, and the wildcard and extra round of playoffs offends me no end.
ReplyDeleteBeing at the 16 inning game with definitely be one of my best memories from this regular season. Will be seeing Halladay pitch live for the first time on Wednesday- can't believe I've been to about 15 games this season and haven't seen Halladay or Oswalt pitch yet-- lots of Blanton, Kendrick, and Moyer (before he got hurt). So weird!
ReplyDeleteStrasburg's first game was the most electric baseball atmosphere I've ever experienced in person - it made me excited for the Nats. In fact, his first few starts were a fantastic amount of fun.
ReplyDeleteOpening day at PNC Park, where everything went right for the Pirates and we all walked out smiling and saying "Why couldn't they do this 81 more times this year?". (They didn't.)
ReplyDeleteFollowing Roy Halladay's perfect game on our Blackberries on the party bus between my old roommate's wedding ceremony and the reception.
Even though I was 2500 miles away, this: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2010_08_07_colmlb_pitmlb_1&mode=wrap
Being in Minnesota for Kevin Slowey's seven innings of no-hit ball, where Gardy pulled him ("BOOOO") but Thome mashed one out ("WOOOOO") and I got to eat walleye on a stick.
The best thing about this baseball season is that my 5.5 year old is now very interested in the game itself (and not just the hot dogs). Watching him learn more and more about the game over the course of the season and (praise the Lord!) being interested in what I'm doing when I keep score has been an incredible experience and a total thrill as a mom.
ReplyDeleteBest game experience this year was the Cubs-Sox game at Wrigley when the Blackhawks came with the Stanley Cup. They paraded it on the field for half an hour before the game and I screamed my fool head off. Seeing the Cubs, Sox, and Blackhawks gathering for a photo with the Cup at home plate with 40,000 fans roaring their approval is something I'll never forget. Then the actual game was thrilling- I love a good pitcher's duel, and Gavin Floyd took a no-hitter into the 7th and Ted Lilly took a no-hitter into the 9th. Cubs won the game 1-0 when Marmol got out of a bases loaded jam to save the game. Fantastic pitching performances by two guys who aren't usually that good.
My other favorite game of the season might be yesterday's White Sox game, oddly. We thought it would be bitter cold, but the sun came out at game time and it was lovely. The Sox played well, Konerko got a lot of love from the crowd, and I was sitting with Brent Morel's aunt and uncle in great seats right by third base. It was Nancy Faust's last game and she was in fine form, as was the crowd, who clearly adores her, as they should.
As a Braves fan, it's been an up and down year as well. I remember the despair of 9 losses in a row in April, and then as they clawed their way back. I wasn't able to attend a game until June this year, but saw a bunch of second half games, and I think they were 5-0 in my first 5 games (I was convinced I was a lucky charm for awhile). I remember so many last at-bat victories- I think it suggests the team isn't as strong as we would wish, playing from behind all the time, but it makes for great baseball.
ReplyDeleteI will remember the love shown to Chipper Jones and Bobby Cox all season long. It's unclear if we'll have Jones back next year (we sure need SOMEONE who can play third base!), but we'll miss Bobby Cox like crazy. It's been wonderful to send such a legend out with yet one more playoffs appearance.
And I remember perfect nights and afternoons at the ballpark, as always- sweating in the heat, the ineffable smell of hotdogs and beer, the rhythm of the play and the crowd and the interstitial bits that follow the same pattern game after game. Watching the moths in the lights. How bright and beautiful the white uniforms are against the green grass. Man, I love baseball.
Tough year for Red Sox fans, with surprisingly poor pitiching from highly paid studs, and a mess of injuries. Favorite images and moments include: any time Adrian Beltre hit a home run while swinging with one knee on the ground (there were several of these); Daniel Nava hitting a grand slam off the very first pitch he ever saw in the major leagues (he hasn't homered since); and being there in person for DiceK's best start of the year in which he took a no-hitter deep into the game against the Phillies. Despite the tough season, it had a fitting end, with the Sox outplaying the Yanks on the final day, ensuring the Yanks have to hit the road to start the playoffs.
ReplyDeleteI'm no fan of the Braves, but I love your comment, Patricia! For love of the game, indeed.
ReplyDeleteIt was definitely an exhilarating experience to play fantasy baseball during such an exciting baseball season. The pitching resurgence, out-of-nowhere home run champ, a new guard of teams cementing their place in the discussion, it was all fantastic. It really reminded me why so many people play fantasy sports: because it augments and enhances our ability to enjoy the game we love, even when it tries our patience (Jim Joyce, Jeter's trip to the Actor's Studio, etc).
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting me play in your sandbox, guys. I hope we can all have as much fun next year.
Congrats to Dan!
ReplyDeleteMy season fell apart during the three-week Comic-Con/Press Tour juggernaut where I was only vaguely aware that fantasy baseball existed. If I'd been aware would I have been able to prevent my team's inevitable decline?
Well, no...
as a mariner fan, this season was an excruciating mix of ineptitude and obliterated expectations. i'm trying to focus on the highlights: watching king felix and cliff lee pitch & ichiro's 10th 200-hit season, but it's going to take some time to forget the massive suckage. at least it has to be better next year, right?!?
ReplyDeleteUgh, I try to forget that Nancy's retired. 40 years she gave us and she's worth every accolade anyone can give her.
ReplyDeleteAmen to the last point. This made me a very happy little Red Sox fan.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I think I will remember from this season is losing Pedroia and Youkilis in such a short amount of time... honestly, the air went out of every Sox fan I know at that point.
Amen to the last point. This made me a very happy little Red Sox fan.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I think I will remember from this season is losing Pedroia and Youkilis in such a short amount of time... honestly, the air went out of every Sox fan I know at that point.
Fascinating career for Mr. Nash.
ReplyDeleteHere's a favorite baseball moment. For the second year in a row, The Child's school raised enough money for some charity event to get Chipper Jones to visit. The Child is very excited about meeting Chipper twice.
me: Do you what team Chipper plays for?
Child: I have no idea.
My prediction that Jeff Clement would be "this year's Brandon Inge" never quite panned out.
ReplyDeleteYeah, after Felix, the good half of Cliff Lee (that's not fair; the great half of Cliff Lee), a down-but-still-up year from Ichiro!, and Gutierrez's April and May, pretty much the only things that can be said about this season are Ackley, Pineda, Saunders, and Cortes in 2011, and thank goodness the Nats beat us for the #1 pick a couple of years back, because while I wish Strasburg nothing but the best, the same news if he were our brightest hope instead of somebody else's would have been soul-crushing.
ReplyDeleteThis was me. Forgot- new Windows install, need to re-enter the usernames/passwords.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I have a secret- don't tell my husband, but I am LOVING Windows 7. If he finds out I'm not running Linux right now, we might not make it to our 1 year...
It was a noble thought.
ReplyDeleteCongrats Dan! I made the playoffs but you smoked me in the first round. But I feel pretty good about coming in fourth with Casey Kotchman as probably my best 1st baseman all season long.
ReplyDeleteWas Brandon Inge even this year's Brandon Inge?
ReplyDeleteI finally got to see a game at Fenway! (Long story short: despite growing up 30 miles from Boston, my parents' hatred of "the traffic" greatly squelched my ability to go as a child, and I've spent most of my adult life outside of MA.)
ReplyDeleteThe bad part? It was that Sox/Yanks game in May with the massive downpour. We were soaked to the bone before we could get to shelter from our bleacher nosebleed seats. My next trip there in August made up for it: our seats were 10 rows behind the Sox on-deck circle.
But really, it is just as magical as everyone says it is! As I told my father-in-law at the game in August: "This has spoiled me for any other baseball experience ever."
Inge's real value last year was that he was catcher-eligible, but played 3B; playing every day allowed him to accumulate superior stats to catchers who sat once or twice every rotation (during his hot first half, anyway). In Yahoo! leagues, Pablo Sandoval was even more valuable, for the same reason. Victor Martinez also gets that value boost, because he gets played at 1B or DH fairly frequently when he doesn't catch.
ReplyDeleteI saw Clement as a guy who'd get a similar boost this year, because he'd be an everyday 1B. I failed to consider the fact that a sub-.200 OBP from an everyday player is worse than the same thing from a guy sitting a couple of times a week. Fortunately, I autopicked Buster Posey two rounds later, and he turned out to be this year's Inge.
I'm just lucky that Jose Bautista was this year's Jose Bautista.
ReplyDeleteIt was kind of soul-crushing for us Nats fans, all right. And keep in mind that we don't have a history of good years to hold on to - we've got a new team with some bright spots (both Zimmermans, the Hammer, Adam-Dunn-whom-the-management-had-damn-well-better-sign), but Strasburg was lifting us to a new place, and them BAM!!
ReplyDeleteI forgot to say the best baseball moment of the year for my family -- although I couldn't be there, my son had his best baseball moment ever by getting to announce the lineup on the "Kids Run the Show" day. Getting to announce "Ivaaaaaaaaaan RodRRRRRRRIguezzzz!" and the others made him so very thrilled.
A fellow Braves fan, Patricia, and I couldn't agree more. All the Bobby love this season has taken me back to 1991 and staying up way too late to watch the games with my dad. We had to mute the television and listen to Skip and Pete call the game, and I screamed so loudly that I woke the entire house more than once. Bobby brought the love for baseball back to Atlanta, and I think his retirement is reminding a lot of people how much we came to take for granted in more recent years.
ReplyDeleteCongrats Dan! I faded after having the lead in June but I'll be back next year to try to not peter out. Maybe if I have Grilled Cheesus on my side...
ReplyDeletePeace out.
Chris (Jame Gumb)