http://humbug.baseballtoaster.com/ Score Bard's blog: now verse than ever! en-us Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:00:00 PST Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:00:00 PST support2007@baseballtoaster.com 60 http://humbug.baseballtoaster.com/archives/1110401.html The Phillies completed a four-game sweep of the Dodgers tonight with a 5-0 shutout. What made the shutout special was Philly pitchers gave up 13 hits. Its not often you see a linescore of 0-13-0. http://humbug.baseballtoaster.com/archives/1110401.html Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:00:00 PST http://humbug.baseballtoaster.com/archives/1105732.html London calling: Ni hao, it's Beijing. Why don't you answer the phone when we ring? I've been trying to call you for a day. Oh? Did you factor in the time delay? http://humbug.baseballtoaster.com/archives/1105732.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:46:00 PST http://humbug.baseballtoaster.com/archives/1085362.html I do get a scorecard, eventually, But the shock on his face was plain to see. A scorecard. Writing's mimed. For keeping score. At last, I'm directed to the team store. Perhaps it's then that I start tempting fate: Detroit-Cleveland, 7/30/08 I do what many do, and few admit: Wait for each team's first baserunner, first hit. As always, I'm chastised by inner shame. What are the odds you'll see a perfect game? You can't sustain the belief you will need To witness that requires too much greed. But I cannot give up, and will not yield To the unknown players above the field. I can, however, compromise, and my Request's a game worth loving. They comply. After one and a half, neighbor fans mention The perfect game. Of course, verbal attention Ends that. Hit follows hit, run follows run. Hey, they can't start an inning after one, I laugh and point out as I'm idly reading. To joke about extras when you are leading By seven runs seems safe enough. And yet, In baseball, it never feels safe to bet. Hubris is part of fandom. Which is worse? The dread determinism of a curse? Unknowable randomness of those who Watch from beyond the stadium? Or you- Driven by some delusion, in control? Of course, other fans mean you're not the sole Influence. But after the Cleveland crowd Goes home, and it's Tiger fans who are loud As finals from the West Coast trickle in And finally, Detroit pulls out the win- Well, I won't take the blame for the defeat. I got to witness an unsurpassed feat 2B-no: 1B/E7-no, what? It was, indeed, a game worth loving, but I wanted Cleveland to win. They did not. Does the lack of the victory I sought Mean that I'm off the hook, and that I can Relax? Or didn't wish enough? A fan Is rarely only that. So I'll go on, But my delusions never will be gone. Though I will laugh at them, they will not leave. Part of me dreams of power-and I believe. http://humbug.baseballtoaster.com/archives/1085362.html Mon, 4 Aug 2008 07:22:00 PST http://humbug.baseballtoaster.com/archives/1079240.html The Red Sox had to overpay To make their problem go away. The good news is that Jason Bay Is in Boston, not a Ray. http://humbug.baseballtoaster.com/archives/1079240.html Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:08:13 PST http://humbug.baseballtoaster.com/archives/1078232.html The best way the Yankees can judge That the barter that garnered them Pudge Did better than suck Is the instant it struck The Sox and the Rays barked, Oh, Fudge! http://humbug.baseballtoaster.com/archives/1078232.html Thu, 31 Jul 2008 11:09:10 PST http://humbug.baseballtoaster.com/archives/1074946.html Texas has prospects to watch. The Angels are better a notch. But Atlanta's a botch, They only got Kotch And a titleless kick in the crotch. http://humbug.baseballtoaster.com/archives/1074946.html Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:57:03 PST http://humbug.baseballtoaster.com/archives/1056911.html The Twins are named for Twin Cities And titled after their state It wouldn't do to give just one Of the cities unfair weight. http://humbug.baseballtoaster.com/archives/1056911.html Wed, 16 Jul 2008 22:02:00 PST http://humbug.baseballtoaster.com/archives/1053200.html There have been plenty of autobiographical accounts of what it is like to work in professional baseball. Numerous players and executives have shown us bits and pieces of their jobs. http://humbug.baseballtoaster.com/archives/1053200.html Sun, 13 Jul 2008 13:37:00 PST http://humbug.baseballtoaster.com/archives/1052507.html They may have been facing the offensively-challenged Giants and the outside-of-Coors-challenged Rockies of late, but the Mets achieved something Saturday that hasn't been done by any major league staff since at least 1956. http://humbug.baseballtoaster.com/archives/1052507.html Sat, 12 Jul 2008 21:27:00 PST http://humbug.baseballtoaster.com/archives/1035301.html The ball deflects off of the goalpost. Oh! -A shout from one who never seemed a fan Not even of the game that we both know So much more well: he's not a cheering man. http://humbug.baseballtoaster.com/archives/1035301.html Sun, 29 Jun 2008 18:12:00 PST http://humbug.baseballtoaster.com/archives/1034912.html Of excellence there's not much to be said. At some point, words fail to encapsulate The subjects of numbers' domain. Instead, We speak of what we cannot calculate. http://humbug.baseballtoaster.com/archives/1034912.html Sun, 29 Jun 2008 12:52:00 PST http://humbug.baseballtoaster.com/archives/1025852.html What happens when a switch-hitter steps up to the plate against a switch-PITCHER? Well, your basic confusion and mayhem. http://humbug.baseballtoaster.com/archives/1025852.html Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:11:00 PST http://humbug.baseballtoaster.com/archives/1022286.html If after our late-season swoon, Our team plays aloofly through June, He should be dismissed. You think he'll resist A release by the light of the moon? http://humbug.baseballtoaster.com/archives/1022286.html Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:09:00 PST http://humbug.baseballtoaster.com/archives/992047.html Some stories are not meant to be improved Through generations' changeless retellings. Some theories are not to be disproved Despite new and uncertain rebellings. And so what seems inviolate remains So, as we know that it is meant to be. The ancient archetypes combat the pains Of every epoch, blessed by destiny. http://humbug.baseballtoaster.com/archives/992047.html Wed, 21 May 2008 12:52:00 PST http://humbug.baseballtoaster.com/archives/989906.html The Red Sox' Jon Lester pitched a 7-0 no-hitter against the Royals tonight. He struck out nine, and walked only two. Nonetheless, it took him 130 pitches to complete the task. http://humbug.baseballtoaster.com/archives/989906.html Mon, 19 May 2008 20:23:00 PST