ESPN Sunday Night Baseball Open Thread: Cubs vs. Cardinals
Sunday, May 04, 2008
(posted by One More Dying Quail)
I'm not sure how much Sunday Night Baseball I'll be able to watch tonight, but don't fret: the Open Thread will live on.
On the field, it's Cubs vs. Cardinals, Jason Marquis vs. Todd Wellemeyer. In a crazy twist, Marquis is a former Cardinal who now plays for the Cubs, while Wellemeyer is a former Cub who now plays for the Cardinals. The rivals have split the first two games of the three game series.
In the booth, it's my main man Joe and his sidekick Jon. Please keep an eye on them for me, and I'll check back in later, hopefully in time to hear all about this week's Best Way To Slide Into Second Base. I'm guessing it has something to do with digging a tunnel and sneaking up on the middle infielders.
It's 9:30, I just walked in the door and turned the game on...and Joe and Jon are talking about Alfonso Soriano as a leadoff hitter. It was like deja vu. Can someone explain to me why we need to watch the same two teams play Saturday afternoon on FOX and Sunday night on ESPN?
Some fun stuff from the comments...
Quick stat: The Cubs have a combined EIGHT at-bats versus Todd Wellemeyer in the last 5 seasons.
Henry Blanco is 0-1.
Reed Johnson is 1-4.
Aramis Ramirez (who may not be in the starting lineup) is 1-1.
Alfonso Soriano is 0-2.
Dammnit. Why is Todd Wellemeyer good this year? - Adam
Interesting quote attributed to Joe Morgan while I was listening to the Rays-Red Sox game this afternoon in my truck. According to Morgan, the Rays won't be able to hang around the top of the AL East, not because that they are in the same division as the Sox or Yanks or that they're still a little on the young side. It's because Joe doesn't think that the Trop doesn't give the Rays a good home-field advantage. Gee, you think??!! When half the crowd is rooting for the opposing team, I guess that wouldn't be a home field advantage now, would it? Thank you Captain Obvious!! - chrisltyner
Getting on base is not important for your fifth and sixth place hitters. - JM - Vegas Watch
I refuse to listen to that asshat Morgan, so I'll be listening to the Cards radio broadcast. The only problem there is that Mike Shannon never knows what inning it is. Lesser of two evils, I guess. - Bruce
Four in a row from an anonymous contributor...
Already Joe has said that the Cubs' offense has been inconsistent, even though they lead the league in hitting. Then, he threw cold water on Miller's praise for Fukudome. Joe needs to get over everyone liking Ryno more.
Miller says this about Marquis last at bat "what a bad at bat that was... he looked like a pitcher during that at bat." What a douche
Is it possible not to spend five minutes comparing Fukudome to Ichiro and Matsui? Next up, not all the kamikazes from Pearl Harbor had the same favorite color.
So Miller said Matsui played on the TOKYO Giants not the Yomiuri Giants and Morgan just called the game over there AAA baseball. I'm sure people from the far east ever got word of that they will not be too thrilled.
If announcing had a minor league, Joe would've never gotten past Short-season A ball. - Bruce
Pssst, Joe. Jon. Yadier Molina just threw a runner out at second base. From his knees. It was a pretty nice play. I think you should talk about it for the next half inning. Yeah, it'll make for great TV. Make sure you mention that he has two brothers who are also - get this - MAJOR LEAGUE CATCHERS. Amazing, I know. Call them "The Catching Molina Brothers". The viewers will eat...it...up.
Nobody challenged Lou Pinella when he told Joe'n'Jon that Bobby Bonds had a 40-40 season with the Yankees. - SteveH
In fairness, I wouldn't challenge Lou Piniella either. I don't care if he's almost 65 years old - the dude is scary when he's angry. Joe was probably all, "I don't think Bobby ever had a 40-40 season with the Yankees," and Jon was all, "It was 30-30, close enough. Let it go." It probably happened exactly like that.
Umm...Jon, Yadier Molina may have had a good NLCS in 2006. However, Jeff Suppan was the MVP - anonymous
I'm so sick of you jerks, always trying to ruin a good story. If Jon can't rewrite history to help make his points, what is the world coming to?
Gary Thorne approves of the 'bloody sock' Baseball Tonight commercial. I've been meaning to ask, but yea or nay on the constant Fantasy update on top of the score bar? - Rick James Bible Owner
I don't think I mind the fantasy update bar - in fact, I didn't even notice until your comment. I like that it's there, but it's so small that you can ignore it if you so choose.
Im sure you saw it...the asshats in the truck are joining in the stupidity putting up last week's teams (DET, LAA) coming back from commercial. - Matthew
FOX is predicting the future, ESPN is living in the past. Battle lines have been drawn.
you seriously bitch in the 1st paragraph about these two teams being on Fox yesterday and ESPN tonight??? Dear god, when the Sawk and the Spankees play its a special ESPN Friday game, Fox on Saturday to 100 percent of the country and ESPN again Sunday...and no one complains...This rivaly (STL vs CHC) is just as big in the Midwest as the other one is out east..its just that the Cubs have blown for 100 years so there is no post-season series or battles down the stretch...Get over yourselves East Coast!! - Nathan
+1 for putting a name on that comment instead of leaving it anonymously, but you're wrong in one respect - I'm pretty sure I've said before that I hate when Sox-Yankees games are nationally televised on back-to-back days (and the Red Sox are my favorite team). It's just boring to see the same teams over and over again, no matter who they are. I wrote last year that I wanted to see the Brewers or the Royals or the Pirates on Sunday night, just because I hadn't seen them before and it would've mixed things up a little.
Kosuke Fukudomo plays for the Cubs, Peter Bavasi is dead...what's in a name?
Great story about the Japanese manager, Joe. I guess someone read the New York Times to you today. - anonymous
They also threw up a graphic mentioning that Fukudome was a member of the 2007 team that won a championship for the first time in 53 years. What they neglected to mention was that he was a non-factor because he was recovering from elbow surgery (I learned that from Sports Illustrated, so I'll assume it's true).
38 Comments:
Interesting quote attributed to Joe Morgan while I was listening to the Rays-Red Sox game this afternoon in my truck. According to Morgan, the Rays won't be able to hang around the top of the AL East, not because that they are in the same division as the Sox or Yanks or that they're still a little on the young side. It's because Joe doesn't think that the Trop doesn't give the Rays a good home-field advantage. Gee, you think??!! When half the crowd is rooting for the opposing team, I guess that wouldn't be a home field advantage now, would it? Thank you Captain Obvious!!
Getting on base is not important for your fifth and sixth place hitters.
-JM
I refuse to listen to that asshat Morgan, so I'll be listening to the Cards radio broadcast. The only problem there is that Mike Shannon never knows what inning it is. Lesser of two evils, I guess.
Already Joe has said that the Cubs' offense has been inconsistent, even though they lead the league in hitting. Then, he threw cold water on Miller's praise for Fukudome. Joe needs to get over everyone liking Ryno more.
Joe brilliantly tells us that if a pitcher doesn't strike out hitters, he needs them to put the ball in play.
Miller says this about Marquis last at bat "what a bad at bat that was... he looked like a pitcher during that at bat." What a douche
Is it possible not to spend five minutes comparing Fukudome to Ichiro and Matsui? Next up, not all the kamikazes from Pearl Harbor had the same favorite color.
joe was just doing it again.....talking about who was the best player from japan...and that ichiro is a great ballplayer...irregardless of being from japan....joe...enough....but...either how to slide into second...or...japan players...good or no?
You (Marquis) can not have a lot of runners if you're not going to strike out some hitters....unless you have a great sinker and you get ground balls.
-JM
So Miller said Matsui played on the TOKYO Giants not the Yomiuri Giants and Morgan just called the game over there AAA baseball. I'm sure people from the far east ever got word of that they will not be too thrilled.
Ichiro made a pretty good adjustment from AAA pitching then.
If announcing had a minor league, Joe would've never gotten past Short-season A ball.
ohhh joe u did it again!!! he just basically called micah oswings a relief pitcher..he was talking about how great a hitting pitcher carlos zambrano is and how he's better then micah oswings because zambrano is a starter and has more opportunities then oswings. joe their both starters!!! wake up
Albert- I love you, mang...
@g kennedy: I think he was trying to say that Zambrano stays in longer because he's a better starter....but then they put up Owings' really good stats from this season, so Joe didn't make sense.
Did he just say that with a man on second, a lead-off hitter isn't trying to get on base?
And that, my friends, is why Yadier Molina is the best throwing catcher in basball.
yep...and he also said at the start of the game that the 1 2 and 3 hitter job is to get on base so that....long pause......so that you can score runs
Tony Gwynn preferred to hit lead-off?.....ok
Nobody challenged Lou Pinella when he told Joe'n'Jon that Bobby Bonds had a 40-40 season with the Yankees.
Chris Duncan, AKA The Un-Natural.
Gwynn had over 5400 plate appearances in the 3rd slot and 500 batting lead-off. I guess the 3 hole wasn't too disagreeable.
Umm...Jon, Yadier Molina may have had a good NLCS in 2006. However, Jeff Suppan was the MVP
Gary Thorne approves of the 'bloody sock' Baseball Tonight commercial.
I've been meaning to ask, but yea or nay on the constant Fantasy update on top of the score bar?
I loved Jason Marquis in "Gremlins." You could totally tell he had a crush on Phoebe Cates.
Im sure you saw it...the asshats in the truck are joining in the stupidity putting up last week's teams (DET, LAA) coming back from commercial.
you seriously bitch in the 1st paragraph about these two teams being on Fox yesterday and ESPN tonight??? Dear god, when the Sawk and the Spankees play its a special ESPN Friday game, Fox on Saturday to 100 percent of the country and ESPN again Sunday...and no one complains...This rivaly (STL vs CHC) is just as big in the Midwest as the other one is out east..its just that the Cubs have blown for 100 years so there is no post-season series or battles down the stretch...Get over yourselves East Coast!!
After they throw to Gammons for analysis, why do they have to let Joe throw in his two cents? It's like David Brent trying to help the customer care consultant....you end up with Freelove Freeway.
It's not a game until La Russa executes at least a dozen double-switches....
Alright, Miller. We are very impressed that you can pronounce Fukudome's first name....over and over and over.
I'm sure Curt Schilling is thrilled by that latest Baseball Tonight commercial. But I might have to read his blog or catch him on his paid appearances on Dennis & Callaghan.
Oh and there's Neil Everett with WWE RAW voice mode once again. HOWZ IT! What a dork. He tries to out Van Pelt SVP himself which is nearing impossible to do.
When I die...please have Joe Morgan butcher my name. I can rest in peace.
Great story about the Japanese manager, Joe. I guess someone read the New York Times to you today.
Did you all see Fox predict the Fontenot home run in the fourth yesterday? We can start the Fox conspiracy theories now! Where were they when I needed them for the derby.
Soriano and his horse teeth need to be put down. In the batting order. --Eric
Wait, Joe... it wasn't a ground ball to Glaus, but it was a ground ball? That is some serious insight...
I'm thinking "thread" sounds too fine..too smooth to be associated with such a horrible broadcast. Suggest a name change for SNB thread to "frayed rope", or something.
Quick stat: The Cubs have a combined EIGHT at-bats versus Todd Wellemeyer in the last 5 seasons.
Henry Blanco is 0-1.
Reed Johnson is 1-4.
Aramis Ramirez (who may not be in the starting lineup) is 1-1.
Alfonso Soriano is 0-2.
Dammnit. Why is Todd Wellemeyer good this year?