Olympic baseball

by highlandhalo on Aug 24, 2008 7:31 PM PDT

Get used to it folks, it almost over, unless all the top pros get into it. Matt Brown did great, and the Giants OF prospect destroyed the Chinese catcher on a hard slide at home plate. But the bronze is not what US Olympic baseball should be all about.

However, Korea beat the great satan Cuba in the final 3-2 in a really tight game which was really enjoyable for a lot of reasons.

a) The Cubans lost, and they didn't wear their normal all-red slo-pitch softball costumes.
b) The Korean catcher, Kang, got tossed in the the ninth inning for arguing a ball call against the Puerto Rican umpire. He showed passion, chucking his mask and his glove against the dugout wall after being tossed. I want KANG on the Angels.
c) The Korean manager made it to home plate faster than the Soth did on the the foul/fair call against the Twinkies.
d) The closer, the submariner Chong, looks like the tits. We want him. Let's get him. C'mon Arte, he's not Latin American, but he's good. I want CHONG on the Angels.

World peace. hh

This Fan-Post is authored by an independent fan and may or may not be a reflection of human evolution, divine enlightenment or nine cans into a 12-pack.

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Kang and Chong could also make a "doper" comedy duo...

if they are not signed by the Angels.

I saw the “non-strike” in the 9th against Cuba. BAD call by the ump. Kang was seriously fired-up!!

Anyone know if either of these guys are already in an MLB team farm system?

by sothball on Aug 24, 2008 9:06 PM PDT 0 recs

It's a good thing we're getting rid of these sports

The Americans are just too dominant in them. What, with all the silvers and bronzes we’re taking home in them this year.

And the fact that baseball hasn’t been won by us consistently in, like, 20 years.

What a bullshit excuse. “America is too good, so we’re not playing anymore.” It’s like the little kid on the playground who is tired of losing, so he takes his ball and goes home so no one else can play.

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Aug 24, 2008 9:41 PM PDT 0 recs

Amen. Panther.

We’ll see what happens in the World Baseball Classic in the winter of 2009 though … :)

Don't call me Desmond

by highlandhalo on Aug 24, 2008 9:55 PM PDT up 0 recs

They should also get rid of

Table Tennis because China never loses.

Long Distance running because Kenya never loses.

Swimming because Phelps never loses.

I brought sexy back, but they only gave me store credit....

by PhiSlamma on Aug 25, 2008 1:54 AM PDT up 0 recs

Basketball twenty years ago was as lopsided as anything

and the Soviets in gymnastics.

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Aug 25, 2008 3:02 AM PDT up 0 recs

Soviets won 0 medals in '84

they boycotted the Games

by yeswecan on Aug 25, 2008 9:57 PM PDT up 0 recs

Great Britain won 8 medals in track cycling

it should be banished forthwith!

Chuck Finley is my homeboy

by HaloDutch on Aug 25, 2008 6:25 AM PDT up 0 recs

Diving should be banished because China never looses

Put Kendry Morales at 1B, and move Sean Rodriguez to 3B......NOW LETS GO WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by acuda27 on Aug 25, 2008 10:11 AM PDT up 0 recs

fact: Kenya won their first men's olympic marathon gold this summer

i wouldn’t have guessed that had I not been told…

load the spaceship with the rocket fuel... load it with the warriors...

by gdog009 on Aug 25, 2008 11:50 AM PDT up 0 recs

Baseball has been cancelled at the Olympics...

…because there’s no appetite for it, and ultimately money talks. The market for it in North America is small – you’ve got the real thing to keep you happy – and in global terms it’s a minority sport, no-one else really gives a shit. In addition it’s expensive for the host nation to host.

I’m sure it will be reintroduced one day, but not until:

1. Competitive leagues are established in other countries
2. The stars are permitted to play (which seems unlikely)

I see red people

by The Limey on Aug 25, 2008 9:29 AM PDT up 0 recs

Um...

Japan, South Korea and Cuba all seem to give quite a shit.

Chuck Finley is my homeboy

by HaloDutch on Aug 25, 2008 9:49 AM PDT up 0 recs

Ewww

Now I’m thinking about Japanese, Korean and Cuban shit. Remove from memory banks immediately. Are these samples available on ratemypoo.com?

Don't call me Desmond

by highlandhalo on Aug 25, 2008 11:02 AM PDT up 0 recs

There are 200+ Olympic nations...

…to make a sport viable commercially, in Olympic terms, you need a bit more than 8 nations taking an interest.

I see red people

by The Limey on Aug 25, 2008 11:29 AM PDT up 0 recs

Oh bullshit

The only reason Britain won so many medals this time around is because they only enter events that nobody else enters. If they enter the running, they drop the baton. If they enter the sailing, yachting, horse riding events, and cycling like madmen (half of London should enter this sport!) then the Brits are world beaters.

You’re still my drinkin’ buddy though Limey. I’m in London from Thursday onward. Opportunities for pintage abound. (See snarky post on the calendar thread however).

Don't call me Desmond

by highlandhalo on Aug 25, 2008 11:56 AM PDT up 0 recs

Well strictly speaking that's not accurate...

If you look at the facts from the 3 areas that the we got most of their medals:

In the cycling there were 20 countries that won medals
In the sailing there were 18 countries that won medals
In rowing there were another 20 countries that won medals

And importantly, it’s countries from across the globe that have an interest – i.e. a large enough market to maintain interest – from Australia to the US with most of Europe included. That’s where baseball currently has an issue at an Olympic level – a lack of global interest – no-one attended the games and no-one watched it on TV at the last few games, and ultimately money talks. Don’t get me wrong – I’d love to see it with the depth of support and competitive teams that will make Olympic baseball a success, but I can also see why they canned it. People care deeply about MLB, hardly anyone gives tuppence about Olympic baseball.

I see red people

by The Limey on Aug 25, 2008 3:00 PM PDT up 1 recs

The dutch are also players in the fields of sailing and cycling.

Chuck Finley is my homeboy

by HaloDutch on Aug 26, 2008 6:40 AM PDT up 0 recs

Snark spotted...

…I’m in town Thursday, Friday, if you’re around for a beer. Cardiology conference in Munich from Saturday for 6 days after that.

I’ll sort out the photos. Can’t help feeling we could do better. With a camera, for instance.

I see red people

by The Limey on Aug 25, 2008 3:22 PM PDT up 0 recs

We can do better

Thursday or Friday night is good for a beer. The Guardsman? Can you sort that out? I’ll bring a camera with a real USB attachment which connects to my laptop. Technology! It’s amazing! :)

Don't call me Desmond

by highlandhalo on Aug 26, 2008 5:44 AM PDT up 0 recs

I can take us to the accessible guardsman

…getting him to do what we want might be tricky, my mate’s not in charge this week. (Though I could possibly borrow his kit).

I see red people

by The Limey on Aug 26, 2008 7:04 AM PDT up 0 recs

Not to mention

China, AUS, and all of the latin american countries

Angels fan since '67

by red floyd on Aug 25, 2008 2:16 PM PDT up 0 recs

Bullshit

Trampoline? Synchronized diving? BMX?

There are more worldwide fans and participants for these events than there are for baseball?

If the argument that America is too good, and they’re the only ones that care is the prevailing reason, then look at all the other sports that should have been abolished…but we DIDN’T get rid of them, and now many of them (i.e. basketball) are so competitive because of it. It gets taken out of the Olympics, and all the incentive for other countries to get good is gone. It was a bullshit move on the I.O.C., since their basis for removal could have been used a thousand times in the past to remove any number of other games, and since America doesn’t even have the Gold in either sport this year, and has ONE Gold in baseball in the last 16 years.

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Aug 25, 2008 1:42 PM PDT up 0 recs

Whoa! Now you have gone too far!

Dude, after reading this article, I put a whole hell of a new spin on women’s team events, especially female swimmers that travel in pairs. That is definitely one “sport” that needs to stay.

Francisco Rodriguez: 196 career saves. 3 career Panthers, 1/3 as awesome as GMJ.

by Stirrups on Aug 25, 2008 2:24 PM PDT up 0 recs

I'll never be good enough to be in the Olympics

all of the hot sexin’ that goes on there is meaningless to me. In fact, it makes me hate them more for not being able to be there.

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Aug 25, 2008 3:05 PM PDT up 0 recs

That's why you need to find a way to open the Olympics

up to MORE sports! Maybe, for example, pairs beer drinking. Or left-fielder stats memorization.

Francisco Rodriguez: 196 career saves. 3 career Panthers, 1/3 as awesome as GMJ.

by Stirrups on Aug 25, 2008 3:22 PM PDT up 0 recs

Exactly

which is why I’m upset baseball was removed. It sets precedent for more events.

I don’t drink beer, but I would definitely medal in the latter.

If only we could get a baseball-blog-arguing event into the Olympics. Or maybe “overly-hyperbolic-response-to-accusations-of-franchise-player-regression-accusations” should be added? Gold for sure. I’d be getting laid like Michael Phelps if they added that shit.

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Aug 25, 2008 3:52 PM PDT up 0 recs

Well, in 2009 they're supposed to vote on possibly includng golf, rugby, and squash, among other sports

Chuck Finley is my homeboy

by HaloDutch on Aug 26, 2008 6:42 AM PDT up 0 recs

How much baseball and softball is played in Jolly Ole England?

Just a friendly reminder that you Limey have the 2012 Summer Olympics.

I am sure that plays into it as well. After all they might have to build a baseball only facility that would never be used again. The host nation is always guaranteed a place in the Olympic baseball tournament and I am thinking that the heavy European IOC did not want to see a bunch of cricket players on the baseball field.

Willie Mays Aikens is FREeeeeeeee

by Angel Aviator on Aug 25, 2008 8:35 PM PDT up 0 recs

Our initial bid...

…was accepted with a facility for Baseball and Softball in Regent’s Park in central London. We were ready to go with it. (and I’m pretty sure that you wouldn’t have seen cricketers anywhere near a diamond).

I think the IOC have also changed the criteria around hosts getting a free pass for the next games; I know we have to qualify for the Basketball for London 2012. It’s a bit of an issue since our 1 world-class player, Luol Deng of the Bulls, has been prohibited from the qualifying tournaments by his new NBA contract.

I see red people

by The Limey on Aug 26, 2008 2:46 AM PDT up 0 recs

IOC tried to blackmail MLB

they said – we want the best players under contract to MLB teams to be available for their national teams .

You want Vlad, Frankie , Ervin and Lackey (and maybe others, is Mathis from the Seychelles Islands???) out for three and a half weeks in the middle of a pennant chase?

Fuck the Olympic organizing community. They made England change the lyrics of Led Zeppelin’s WHOLE LOTTA LOVE before allowing it to be broadcast as a celebration that England is getting the games next time.

by Rev Halofan on Aug 24, 2008 9:44 PM PDT 0 recs

Rec'd and ...

agreed. Ridu-fucking-lous. I’m down with Kang and Chong though.

Don't call me Desmond

by highlandhalo on Aug 24, 2008 9:57 PM PDT up 0 recs

what about

Kodos? Kang and Kodos, the alien sisters from the Simpsons.

by jjackflash on Aug 24, 2008 10:30 PM PDT up 0 recs

also two Kilingon captains from the original Star Trek

Chuck Finley is my homeboy

by HaloDutch on Aug 25, 2008 6:26 AM PDT up 0 recs

WARNING GEEK ALERT

Kang was a Klingon Captain (the other two mentioned by name were Kor and Koloth).
Kodos was a Federation governor of Tarsus IV (thank you Wikipedia) who massacred residents of his colony to try to ensure survival during a famine.

Angels fan since '67

by red floyd on Aug 25, 2008 8:27 AM PDT up 0 recs

All 3 later appeared in Deep Space Nine episodes

Chuck Finley is my homeboy

by HaloDutch on Aug 25, 2008 8:43 AM PDT up 0 recs

Hey...

Don’t blame me… I voted for Kodos

Angels fan since '67

by red floyd on Aug 24, 2008 10:05 PM PDT 0 recs

-Cracks whip-

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Aug 24, 2008 10:22 PM PDT up 0 recs

No sweat off my back.

It’s an easy decision between Angels Baseball and Olympic Baseball

by TheTypingFiend on Aug 24, 2008 10:20 PM PDT 0 recs

I think there should be Olympics Baseball still.

Just have every team send their Top Prospect to represent their team.

We could have sent Brandon Wood or Kendry Morales its not like we were using them anyways. It would be kind of fun to watch all the top young players that are or are almost ready to break into the majors. I think we could win gold with a “top prospect roster.”

But this years team only had 3 players I had heard of.
Matthew Brown
Terry Tiffee (Dodgers)
Matt LaPorta (Indians)

Put Kendry Morales at 1B, and move Sean Rodriguez to 3B......NOW LETS GO WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by acuda27 on Aug 25, 2008 12:00 AM PDT 0 recs

Stephen Strausburg (on of the pitchers)

is rumored to be the 1st pick in the next MLB draft.

Over at LL they had the Race for Strausburg as one of the sidebars on the mainpage.

by TheTypingFiend on Aug 25, 2008 12:12 AM PDT up 0 recs

Ya he was REALLY GOOD.

But I had never heard of him. The point is to get most top players in AAA/AA and 1-4 “Cant Miss” college players like Strausburg.

Put Kendry Morales at 1B, and move Sean Rodriguez to 3B......NOW LETS GO WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by acuda27 on Aug 25, 2008 12:50 AM PDT up 0 recs

And unfortunately Strasburg really got lit up against Cuba

I think the Angels are really high on him anyway.

Don't call me Desmond

by highlandhalo on Aug 25, 2008 5:55 AM PDT up 0 recs

Kendry would have had to play for Cuba

But they wouldn’t let him since he defected. Not sure if he’s an American “citizen” yet or not. He’s probably in some sort of international asylum limbo right now.

Dick Wood though could have played for Team USA though.

Don't call me Desmond

by highlandhalo on Aug 25, 2008 5:54 AM PDT up 0 recs

Probably should have too, given that he's one of like, two players that was on both

the 2005 and 2006 Olympic Qualifying Teams. He sure couldn’t have been worse than that one guy they brought in who K’d in half his ABs.

Other Angels on the 2005 team were Jeff Mathis, Jered Weaver and Howie Kendrick. In the 2006 games, Nick Adenhart was the other player.

On the other hand, it was nice that Wood didn’t have to think about it and could concentrate on continuing to improve his plate approach, and given the score in that Cuba game, it probably wouldn’t have made a difference.

~Till the Halo burns out...

by Zu Long on Aug 25, 2008 7:20 AM PDT up 0 recs

Zu .... dude

It is now officially one of my missions to help get you a life. Anybody who knows that much about the stats of the Cuban Olympic baseball team needs to find a hobby. Haven’t you seen the South Park video of “The Internet Is For Porn”? j/k :D

Don't call me Desmond

by highlandhalo on Aug 25, 2008 11:05 AM PDT up 0 recs

This IS my hobby. :-P

~Till the Halo burns out...

by Zu Long on Aug 25, 2008 12:54 PM PDT up 0 recs

Olympic baseball is lame. MLB schedule conflicts and the venue is mostly empty

because who the hell wants to go to the olympics to see matt brown?

If GA wasn't so lazy the Halos woulda won the 2008 WS by now.

by melvintoast on Aug 25, 2008 6:57 AM PDT 0 recs

We should have sent them GMJ and Speier.

2 Major Leaguers!: Olympics “win”
2 open rostor spots for the Angels to slot productive players: Halos “win”
3 weeks free from catastrophic performances: Halo fans “win”

Win-win-win! What’s not to love about Olympic baseball?!?

Francisco Rodriguez: 196 career saves. 3 career Panthers, 1/3 as awesome as GMJ.

by Stirrups on Aug 25, 2008 9:48 AM PDT 0 recs

PANTHER

And we could have given china Speier and GMJ after the olympics as a gift. They could build their team around them…..LOL

Put Kendry Morales at 1B, and move Sean Rodriguez to 3B......NOW LETS GO WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by acuda27 on Aug 25, 2008 10:17 AM PDT up 0 recs

1866baseball.com say ...

Justin Speier multi-faceted player who bring much humour to all my friends favourite team, the Angel of Los Angeles. Justin Speier is not a very luminous player in the matches we have recently studied. We in the People’s Republic of China would very not much like to have this player given to us, but we thank you very much for your generosity.

Don't call me Desmond

by highlandhalo on Aug 25, 2008 11:08 AM PDT up 0 recs