BASEBALL DID SOMEONE SAY BASEBALL!

[gundy516]

Ok, let's start talkin BASEBALL! although our season has already started...........did not get much airplay but The Seattle Mariners have already played two games this season..............in Japan!
For us on the West Coast we had to watch live at 3:00 am if we wanted to, however the game was rebroadcasted at 7:00 pm last Wednesday too. It was exciting to see how another country truly loves this game (although the fans were mostly their for their own 'ICHIRO', but that's ok.) It was interesting to see how another culture reacts to the game we love.
Anyway, with Baseball starting Summer can't be far behind and we are looking forward to warmer and drier weather!

[Bud]

Person for person, I have a feeling the Japanese are bigger baseball fans than Americans

Got to see your Mariners in Arizona. I went to Scottsdale to see a few days of my beloved Giants Spring Training.

The Giants signed pitcher Matt Cain to a long term deal today. Very glad! There were ugly rumors that mapache's Dodgers might try to get their grubby hands on him.

Ready to get the new season fully underway!

[mapache61]

Bud wrote: "There were ugly rumors that mapache's Dodgers might try to get their grubby hands on him."

Ha! Are you kidding? With the exception of Jeff Kent years ago, the only Giants that Colletti signs are castoff garbage (J Schmidt, Uribe, Tomko, etc, etc).

Dodgers open this afternoon against the Madres. With Kershaw on the hill, I'm predicting an Opening Day win. Tomorrow (with Chad "Barbara" Billingsley on the mound), hope will cease to spring eternal.

[Bud]

Well, the Giants are off to a rip-roaring 1-3 start. Thankfully, we have Barry "The Stopper" Zito to pull out a gem.

I'm going to my first real season MLB game this Thursday, the Nats home opener against the Reds. I actually like the Nats chances this year to get to the playoffs. They have pretty solid lineup.

[mapache61]

Bud wrote: "Well, the Giants are off to a rip-roaring 1-3 start."

4/11/12 UPDATE:
Giants: 1-4 (NL West last place)

Dodgers: 5-1 (NL West first place)

Hey man, I gotta gloat while I can. A long season of ugliness lies ahead.

Check out Gundy's Mariners at 4-3! Not bad. Keep it up. I despise Oakland, Anaheim and Texas. Got no problem with Seattle. That is until the Dodgers visit your silly Insurance Company Field for a three-game interleague series in June. Gundy, prepare yourself for abuse.

[mapache61]

No surprise Bud hasn't posted here lately. Why? His secret love, the Dodgers, continue to dispose of all pendejos in their path. Best record in MLB? That's right, sweetheart.

[Bud]

Well, well... let's see if you're still puffing your chest at the end of the season - or even the All Star break

[mapache61]

Bud, your animated Smilie on crutches, is that supposed to be Sanchez or Fat Panda?

I'm not into the chest puffing. I call it like I see it, senor. And at the moment I see the Mighty Blue dominating this elephant-dung division.

Lord help Gundy. The Dodgers visit Seattle in about 2 weeks. There WILL be pain...

[gundy516]

Yes, your Dodgers are coming up to the Great Northwest..................it should be an interesting series......our guys are an interesting bunch; lots of newbies and that means ups and downs. Go figure they lose 4 straight at home and then are going to try and win 2 of 3 from Texas tonight in Texas! Baseball, gotta love it!

[mapache61]

Yep, ups and downs. With my Dodgers currently in a death spiral (5 straight losses), and M. Kemp out for another month, perhaps the PAIN in Seattle will be mine.

[Bud]

Bud, your animated Smilie on crutches, is that supposed to be Sanchez or Fat Panda?

No, it obviously refers to Matt Kemp

[mapache61]

Don't forget about Juan "The Manatee" Uribe, also on the DL....where I hope he stays.

Laugh it up, Bud. I predict that soon your cute Smilie will represent 2-6 "Ace" Timmy The Toker when is arm falls off.

Speaking of that hippie, last night I was watching the 60s movie "Alice's Restaurant." Are you aware your pothead pitcher looks exactly like a young Arlo Guthrie?

[mapache61]

Gundy...
I caught two of the three LA vs SEA games. Unfortunately, one of those was the Mariners' six-pitcher-combined-no-hitter on Friday--an embarrassing nightmare. On the bright side, we came back and stomped you nicely in the next two games.

I wish Seattle luck the rest of the season. The Mariners are BY FAR the least disgusting team in an AL West division that includes the Rangers, Angels and A's. Death to them all.

Bud...
Is "Timmy" ok?
2-7?
I'm worried about him.

[mapache61]

Also, Bud, what is this ugly news I hear about Fat Panda being investigated for sexual assault?
Nonsense.
Have you seen his physique?
The only thing this man rapes is the post-game clubhouse buffet.

[gundy516]

What a game the NO HITTER was..........I know your Dodgers made a great comeback over the weekend and they look to be a really good team so I do wish you and your Dodgers great success! Actuall I've always liked them as they had a AAA team here in town during the 60's and early 70's (which yes I am old enought to remember!:O)

Our Mariners are a very interesting bunch and if we can just get pitching to co-operate a little bit and get the bats consistant I think all will be good! It's interesting that we're a much better offensive team when on the road, and that has people talking about moving the outfield fences in a bit since it is a huge ballpark; but my concern and question has always been it seems the teams we play don't have problems hitting here so why should we?

Anyway good luch to you and your Dodgers!

[mapache61]

I remember last year you saying you were a fan of the old Dodgers AAA team. Cool.

Much to Bud's dismay, the Dodgers have been finding ways to win without Kemp in the lineup. For the most part, the Blue has been playing great. But I know the wheels can come off at any minute. Witness the NO HITTER. Witness a 4-game sweep at home by the Brewers. Luck? We're going to need it. And also a move or two at the trade deadline. Sadly, Bud's Orange-n-Black Devils are on a roll, and with their excellent pitching (except for Timmy), it's gonna be a battle.

The Mariners aren't bad. Your pitching is good. Your offense isn't great, but all it takes to win ballgames is a few key hits. I don't think you'll catch Texas. But I see no reason why you can't overtake the Angels. They're on an ungodly roll, but I don't think it'll last. Their bullpen is HIGHLY suspect.

RE: Seattle Insurance Company Field.
Move in the fences? Not a bad idea.

[gundy516]

Great name for our ballpark by the way! At least it's stayed the same name unlike the football stadium right across the street! I just don't get it these days!
Anyway good luck with your Dodgers!

and yes I think the Mariners 'can' make a move on the rest of the West, but we need a couple of guys to start hitting............and sadly I don't think our RF is going to produce at his high level anymore.............and I'm ok with him not coming back next year if that is what happens. No. 51 is not nearly as fast as he was and needs to be to beat out his infield hits like he used to. There's also talk of our closer, or for now former closer being 'available' come trade deadline so we'll see what happens. Also, if we could ship Figgins back to the LA Angels that would be just great, but I don't think that's happening any time soon. I'll get off my soapbox now

[Bud]

Trust me, we're aware of his weight. He won't get any slack at all if it hurts his performance. He made some errors in his return on plays that Arias probably would've made. Might have cost us the game. Even Bochy has been calling him out in public.

Going to be in the Bay Area this week. Have tickets to the Thursday afternoon game against the Astros.

[mapache61]

GO MARINERS!

Bud, I need to post a beautiful picture of the Panda. I forgot how to do it. Please check your email.

[gundy516]

Hey, how about my Mariners! We will take success where we can get it! It was a great game last night; my guys needed that win at home! However, I don't know where all those Giants fans came from...........both Sat and Sunday games had almost 40,000 attending and I know there were a lot of SF fans there as we could see and hear them! I think a lot of 'transplants' are up in Seattle!