Major League Baseball played all but one of its 2,430 regularly scheduled games this season — the Pirates and Cubs were rained out just this last Thursday night.
Today, the last day of the season, five of the 15 games went into extra innings. It’s as if they didn’t want it to be over.
The Tigers face the Twins Tuesday in what they call the play-in game.
Eli Manning left a souvenir on a column in the locker room of the new Dallas Cowboy’s stadium.
From Deadspin.
[A]n important point that everyone outside the U.S. knows but that few resident Americans take seriously: It has become a tremendous nuisance, and often a humiliation, for foreigners to get through U.S. customs-and-immigration clearance. Lots of people still want to immigrate to the US, but people who have a choice are often glad not to travel here. (How to imagine this, if you hold a US passport? Think of your most unpleasant TSA screening experience, and multiply it by a hundred — with an extra dose of, Why should we think you’re not a terrorist?…) …
James Fallows on one of the reasons at least why Chicago did not get the Olympics.
… was played 106 years ago today. The Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Boston Pilgrims 7-3.
Cy Young was the losing pitcher that day but went on to win two games as Boston—later the Red Sox—won the best-of-nine series, five games to three.
“It’s one thing to play badly, but quite another to turn the ball over nine times in three games. If you asked him to hold your coat, the free safety on the other team might be wearing it five minutes later.”
Flip Flop Fly Ball has a chart on how often the best team during the season wins the World Series. Interesting.
When each team breached the color line. Tigers 1958! Red Sox 1959!
And here’s another chart on the town in the 48 states farthest from any major league team (hint, it’s in Montana).
As, for the second week in a row, a key member of my fantasy football team has been taken off the field with an injury, I just want you to know that for a small consideration I will agree not to add you to my roster.
Think of it as injury insurance.
Sincerely,
NewMexiKen
General Manager of The Rattlers
“A few of the less-discussed downsides to Jerry Jones’s new palace: Parking costs $40, a 20-inch pizza really costs $60, and the tax burden placed on the community by construction overruns is a whopping $933 million.”
Should you be unaware, the reference is to the new stadium for the Dallas Cowboys.
Pulaski [Academy] hasn’t punted since 2007 (when it did so as a gesture of sportsmanship in a lopsided game), and here’s why: “The average punt in high school nets you 30 yards, but we convert around half our fourth downs, so it doesn’t make sense to give up the ball,” Kelley says. “Besides, if your offense knows it has four downs instead of three, it totally changes the game. I don’t believe in punting and really can’t ever see doing it again.”
He means ever.
Sports Illustrated has the story on the coach that never punts. He doesn’t even have a punter on the team.
Dad makes the catch but daughter returns it [short video]
… this time of year. Not only is the weather the best, but we’ve got the Rockies chasing the Dodgers, Notre Dame at Michigan, UCLA at Tennessee, Tiger up by 7 at the BMW, and even tennis when it isn’t raining.
When I die and go to heaven it better be mid-to-late September or early October all the time. Otherwise how could it be paradise?
According to data collected by Team Marketing Report for the 2009 season, beer prices vary dramatically among big-league teams. A 21-ounce beer costs $4.75 in Pittsburgh, but you’ll shell out $8.75 for a 20-ounce brew at San Francisco’s AT&T Park. This led us to wonder: Does quality have anything to do with beer prices?
The Count — WSJ.com has more.
The worst value in baseball — Fenway. Just 12 ounces for $7.25.
Usain Bolt 100m 9.58 world record Berlin 2009 HD video
The Italian audio makes it even more exciting!
Who are the rubes who yell “put it in the hole!” every time a golfer hits the ball? And why on earth do they think it’s clever?
SI.com ranks all 120 of the Football Bowl Subdivision schools.
It looks like a very long autumn in New Mexico (UNM #111 and NMSU #118). The Quad Blog has them #106 and #118.
USA Today preseason football coaches’ poll:
1. Florida (53)
2. Texas (4)
3. Oklahoma (1)
4. Southern Cal (1)
5. Alabama
6. Ohio State
7. Virginia Tech
8. Penn State
9. LSU
10. Mississippi
“Every team going back 10-15 years needs an * if you want to consider giving it to anyone.”
75 degrees at game time. Beautiful sunny evening.
Isotopes 8 Redhawks 0 after first inning.
14-4 after three.
22-4 after six. Don’t believe I’ve ever been at a game with so many runs scored with adults playing.
Time to go.
(The final was Isotopes 23 Redhawks 6.)
One of the great moments in baseball — not just the story, but the storyteller. Go listen to baseball’s best broadcaster describe the last inning of Koufax’s perfect game in 1965.
Scully talks about virtually nothing but the action in front of him. Even allowing for the drama of this moment, compare and contrast to most current broadcasters who seem incapable of keeping their eye on the ball. And Scully says nothing for 40 seconds after the last pitch. He allows you to savor the moment. It’s not about him.
Link via a fine tribute to Scully at the Bats Blog.
“Also, pro golfers, unlike baseball, football or basketball players, have no fixed salaries. They eat what they kill.”
Tom Friedman in an appreciation of Tom Watson.
“Play one round of golf with someone and you will learn everything you need to know about his character.”
Tiger Woods has outgrown those Urkel glasses he had as a kid. Outgrown the crazy hair. Outgrown a body that was mostly neck.
When will he outgrow his temper?
Great commentary from Rick Reilly.
Thanks to Byron for the link.
“Ventoux done. What a day!! I have never (ever) seen crowds like that @ the TdF. Unreal!! I felt great too and kept my ‘podium’ spot. Happy.”
“‘Surprise’ antidoping control here @ the hotel. #11 for this Tour.”
The 96th Tour de France cycling race is currently underway, with the final, 21st stage of the 3,445 km (2,141 mi) race coming up on Sunday, July 26th. At this time, Alberto Contado[r] of Kazakh team Astana appears to be headed toward a second tour title, currently leading riders Andy Schleck of Team Saxo Bank and Luxembourg and, in 3rd place, Lance Armstrong, also of team Astana. Armstrong’s recent emergence from retirement to return to this year’s tour has been the focus of much of this year’s media coverage. 180 riders in twenty teams started in Monaco on July 4th, heading for the final ride into Paris this weekend. Collected here are a handful of images from the 2009 race. (40 photos total)
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