Archive for the 'Karma is a bitch' Category

Sep 29

Joy, Jubilation, and the Sheer Exuberance of Victory

Baltimore Orioles, BJ Upton, Boston Red Sox, Cheap is as cheap does, Chicks dig the longball, Cowbells, Dan Johnson, David Price, Evan Longoria, F*ck the Heck?, Feed your mind, Insane in the membrane, Jake McGee, Joe Maddon, joel peralta, Johnny Damon, Jordi Scrubbings, Karma is a bitch, Lifestyles of the rich famous and good looking, Magic Number, Memories, New York Yankees, Other teams envious of Rays payroll, Pink Hat Nation, Pink Sox Nation, Playoffs?, Putting us in our place, Rays look good in glass slippers, Tampa Bay Rays, there are no rules, Things that make us giddy, Too early to open a beer?, Victory!, Walk-off win, Walk-off wins make us giddy, Your thoughts please Jordi Scrubbings 6 Comments »

Our correspondent Jordi Scrubbings was at the game last night. Here is his report. You can also here Jordi tonight on “The Sully Baseball Show” which can be heard HERE…

When I was a younger, I rooted heart and soul for the New York Mets. My dad was a Mets fan and I followed in his footsteps. One of my fondest memories of my dad and I’s shared fandom was when Mookie Wilson’s grounder rolled through Bill Buckner’s legs in Game 6 of the World Series. Being young and skinny, my dad gave me a big hug and swung my around the living room. Although I was a happy new fan, he was overjoyed. The Mets lived to see another day.

Here I am today the roughly same age my dad was in 1986.  The Rays have in many ways replaced the Mets as my true heart’s desire. The Mets are my first fan love and I will never forget them, but since 2007 day-in and day-out I’ve ridden with the Rays.

Although the Rays have made the Read the rest of this entry »

Sep 01

Fields of Solace

Attendance, Fans do silly things, Feed your mind, FML, Gettin Lucky, It Gets Better, It was the devil all along, Karma is a bitch, Movie metaphors, Out of our comfort zone Jordi Scrubbings 15 Comments »

Our correspondent Jordi Scrubbings is back with his latest take on all things Rays…

This year has been one of the toughest I have ever faced. I’ve been laid off twice, gotten in a car accident, had several emotional disputes (you can call them fights) with a member of the opposite sex, and was even in the hospital for a few days. 2011 has not been easy.

But baseball, the Rays, and Tropicana Field have been there for me through it all.

I know that sounds very James Earl Jones-ish of me. Remember his classic scene in Field of Dreams where he says that the one constant through the annuals of America has been baseball? While that might not be 100% true for America – I doubt baseball was there for Washington, Franklin, and Adams – it is definitely true for me. When I walk into Tropicana Field, I forget everything going on in my life. The only thing happening is baseball. From the first pitch to the last.

Baseball is the perfect remedy for a disrupted mind.

By it’s very nature baseball has a calming effect. It has a way of slowly swallowing you into the story of the game. It builds at a leisurely pace, as rarely is a game decided in the first inning. As the game progress, every move, every at-bat, and every pitch becomes increasingly more important and as the game spins its tale, the outside world increasingly loses relevance.

And with the Rays penchant for close, low scoring games, every game carries an intensity that envelops those who want to be swept away.

At worst, the Rays lose and I walk out of Tropicana Field in the same malaise as when I walked in. No baseball loss can compare to real life losses. Even the worst blown save pales in comparison to human tragedy. At least I was out of the house and my mind was occupied on something else, however briefly.

But if they win, if the Rays pull magic out of their hat, win in dramatic fashion, or if I see a piece of baseball history, then I can walk out of Tropicana Field with a smile, awash with the temporary euphoria of victory. Baseball has saved me once again from the drama of reality. It has provided me happiness without the headache of a hangover or the consequences of other chemicals.

It doesn’t matter whether or not I go Read the rest of this entry »

Oct 28

[WORLD SERIES MONSOON] Phillies Fans Have Only Head Groundskeeper To Blame (And Maybe Karma)

Karma is a bitch, Mike Boekholder, World Series Cork Gaines 29 Comments »

For all the complaints (and whining) we have heard today directed at FoxTV, Bud Selig and Major League Baseball, the one group that deserves the brunt of the fans’ wrath is the Phillies’ ground crew.

During the bottom of the 5th inning, Chris Myers reported from the field that he had just spoken with the head groundskeeper who claimed that the ground crew had the situation under control and that the field could handle the rain.

“I just spoke with the head groundskeeper Mike Boekholder just before this inning started. He walked out, checked the field. The forecast, a tenth of an inch of rain per hour. He says this field can hold that all night…He doesn’t think that this can stay all night but it should not worsen.”

This is the same person that Major League Baseball and the umpires are checking with and Boekholder is telling them that the field will not be a problem. The field did not appear to become a big problem until the top of the 6th inning. In the 5th inning water was only seen collecting along the warning track in foul territory. And while one could argue that the game should have been postponed during the top of the 6th, umpires always prefer to call rain delays in between innings. A delay during an inning is always the last resort.

The head groundskeeper had the umpires and MLB believing the field would be fine in the 6th inning and once it proved not to be, the umpires were just trying to finish the inning before calling for the tarp.

And for those that think MLB refused to suspend the game earlier just so the Rays could tie the game, that only makes sense if you think they would have kept playing if the Rays do not score in the top of the 6th. Major League Baseball was never going to award a win to a team in the World Series from a rain-shortened game. The score could have been 12-2 and MLB would still make the teams finish the game at a later date. That second run for the Rays had zero bearing on when the game was suspended.

Then again, maybe Phillies fans should not be planning the victory parade…or throwing mustard packs at a 7-year old girl…or pouring beer on a 9-year old boy…or screaming at babies…or, eh. You guys get the point.

Phillies fans, we would introduce you to Mr. Karma, but we have a feeling you guys already know each other pretty well.

Nothing Is Ever &@$#ing Easy [The Fightins]
Only in Philadelphia [Beerleaguer]
Phillies/Rays World Series Game Five Will Forever Be Remembered As Raingate, Unless [The Good Phight]
Game Five Postponed At 2-2 Tie [Phillies Nation]
Philles fans prematurely planning victory parade [Ump Bump]
Rays seek a bit more security [LA Times]
World Series: Phils’ fans live down to their reputation [St. Pete Times]
Rays fans complain of treatment at ballpark [Philadelphia Inquirer]
25-Year Championship Drought [Philadelphia Daily News]