Random Off-day Thread

Free to a good home-

One fan designed giveaway t-shirt, size XL, from Saturday night’s game.

Other than that, I really have nothing to say except holy crap Michael Phelps. :-)

by emilylovesthedbacks on Aug 11, 2008 12:55 PM EDT 0 recs

I'd love the shirt,

but I’d probably drown in it.

Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers: Filling the dubious shoes left open by Barry Bonds and the Giants.

by DbacksSkins on Aug 11, 2008 5:26 PM EDT up 0 recs

Not sure that would help at all…I have to try to shrink mine, because even though I’m not quite drowning in it, it’s pretty big. I tried to go to the exchange thingy during the game to get smaller sizes, but all they had left were XXLs…Yeah, no thanks.

by emilylovesthedbacks on Aug 11, 2008 9:28 PM EDT up 0 recs

I don’t want to keep claiming all your free stuff, but if no one else speaks up…

Am I avoiding the subject, or am I doing philosophy?

by kishi on Aug 11, 2008 5:35 PM EDT up 0 recs

I didn't get a chance

to put the vouchers in the mail today- I came home after going dorm shopping with a massive migraine and I’ve pretty much been stuck in bed since then.

They’ll be out by tomorrow, hopefully, but definitely the end of the week.

by emilylovesthedbacks on Aug 11, 2008 9:29 PM EDT up 0 recs

No problem

Just mail them when you get a chance, and I hope you feel better.

Am I avoiding the subject, or am I doing philosophy?

by kishi on Aug 11, 2008 9:30 PM EDT up 0 recs

Thanks.

:-)

by emilylovesthedbacks on Aug 11, 2008 9:45 PM EDT up 0 recs

KTAR is reporting

that the D-Backs have acquired Adam Dunn for Dallas Buck and two players to be named later.

so, the panic sets in.

Whenever people agree with me I always feel I must be wrong.

by unnamedDBacksfan on Aug 11, 2008 1:56 PM EDT 0 recs

I’m a little curious what this means for the lineup. Would we see Dunn in left, CoJack back to first, Tracy to third, and Reynolds to second?

Am I avoiding the subject, or am I doing philosophy?

by kishi on Aug 11, 2008 2:00 PM EDT up 0 recs

I'm sorry to see

us lose ANOTHER pitching prospect.

Whenever people agree with me I always feel I must be wrong.

by unnamedDBacksfan on Aug 11, 2008 2:01 PM EDT up 0 recs

I don't mind,

since we’re playing for this season and the next few years.

Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers: Filling the dubious shoes left open by Barry Bonds and the Giants.

by DbacksSkins on Aug 11, 2008 5:27 PM EDT up 0 recs

Depends on who

the 2 PTBNL are but it’s likely none of the prospects will be any better than the 2 draft picks the DBacks should get when Dunn signs somewhere else in the off-season for $18M per year

tremendous move by Josh byrnes – creates some problems in the field but addresses their urgent need for a bat

by golfmanthee on Aug 11, 2008 6:28 PM EDT up 0 recs

Olympics?

I’m gutted that baseball has been dropped from the 2012 program; being able to see top-class players in the city where I live would have been amazing. But apparently the IOC decided to drop baseball and softball because they don’t have enough worldwide appeal (and no, there’s no cricket either).

by britdback on Aug 11, 2008 2:23 PM EDT 0 recs

I was wondering if the issue of venues might have been an influencing factor, too. I mean, I doubt there’s many baseball fields around London that’d be suitable for the Olympics.

Am I avoiding the subject, or am I doing philosophy?

by kishi on Aug 11, 2008 2:30 PM EDT up 0 recs

I would watch olympic cricket

and cricket stadiums could possibly converted to baseball fields temporarily for the Olympics. But it’s hard to see the English allowing an outfield wall to be put up at Lord’s.

Where have you gone Mike Fetters?

by NewJackCity on Aug 11, 2008 4:13 PM EDT up 0 recs

There were stadia in the bid

They were going to put something in Regents Park, which is 10 minutes walk from home. It got cancelled later.

by britdback on Aug 11, 2008 4:18 PM EDT up 0 recs

You live near Regent's Park?

I spent about 6 months studying in London right near there. I was at the University of Westminster across the street from the Baker Street tube stop. I guess I wasn’t too far off with (geographically) from the Lord’s guess.

Where have you gone Mike Fetters?

by NewJackCity on Aug 11, 2008 5:11 PM EDT up 0 recs

That's true I believe

Also yeah +1 to everything else said

So...time for another drink then?

by Wimb on Aug 11, 2008 6:43 PM EDT up 0 recs

The WBC

probably helped do it in, though. Was that broadcast in Britain last time?

Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers: Filling the dubious shoes left open by Barry Bonds and the Giants.

by DbacksSkins on Aug 11, 2008 5:29 PM EDT up 0 recs

Dunn 1B, Tracy 3B, Drew SS, Reynolds 2B

and Webb quits the team altogether :-)

by golfmanthee on Aug 11, 2008 6:14 PM EDT 0 recs

It's weird

no baseball to watch today. What do I do with myself? Read a book? Go for a walk? Paint? I don’t know!

Knock off the hippie crap, strap on a helmet, and start shooting. This is baseball, Diamondbacks, I want you to storm that beach like it's Normandy!

by soco on Aug 11, 2008 6:57 PM EDT 0 recs

I'd been reading

I had four books on hold show up at the library yesterday, so m goal is to get through two of them today.

Am I avoiding the subject, or am I doing philosophy?

by kishi on Aug 11, 2008 7:04 PM EDT up 0 recs

The amount of time I’ve spent reading about the Dunn deal, however, has put me a bit behind schedule. But my second book is John Scalzi, and he’s usually a quick read.

Am I avoiding the subject, or am I doing philosophy?

by kishi on Aug 11, 2008 7:05 PM EDT up 0 recs

I just finished

Ladies and Gentlemen the Bronx Is Burning (Great book, by the way), and have the Best of Everything and Ball Four lined up. I’m half-way through the first, and just started the other last night, so that should put me through the week.

Knock off the hippie crap, strap on a helmet, and start shooting. This is baseball, Diamondbacks, I want you to storm that beach like it's Normandy!

by soco on Aug 11, 2008 7:09 PM EDT up 0 recs

Have you read Ball Four before?

Always been one of my favorites.

by Azreous on Aug 11, 2008 8:53 PM EDT up 0 recs

Never have

and every time I’d solicit for opinions on the next baseball book to read, that was always the first one to be mentioned. Now I won’t know what to do when I finish it.

Knock off the hippie crap, strap on a helmet, and start shooting. This is baseball, Diamondbacks, I want you to storm that beach like it's Normandy!

by soco on Aug 11, 2008 8:57 PM EDT up 0 recs

Hmm.

Ron Luciano’s books, if you haven’t already?

by Azreous on Aug 11, 2008 8:58 PM EDT up 0 recs

Looks like

a library visit, all of his books are out print.

Knock off the hippie crap, strap on a helmet, and start shooting. This is baseball, Diamondbacks, I want you to storm that beach like it's Normandy!

by soco on Aug 11, 2008 9:00 PM EDT up 0 recs

Amazon has them as well, although they all seem to be used. Still, I’ve had few bad experiences with used books through there.

by Azreous on Aug 11, 2008 9:05 PM EDT up 0 recs

All used

which isn’t a problem, but at that point I might as well support my local library system.

Knock off the hippie crap, strap on a helmet, and start shooting. This is baseball, Diamondbacks, I want you to storm that beach like it's Normandy!

by soco on Aug 11, 2008 9:11 PM EDT up 0 recs

Is The Best of Everything a result of your recent Mad Men spree? =)

I’ve been keeping my reading baseball-light lately- I save those books for the off-season, when I don’t have games to watch. My recent books have included Donald Westlake, John Scalzi, Soon I Will Be Invincible, and some books on the middle ages for a RPG I’m going to run soon.

Am I avoiding the subject, or am I doing philosophy?

by kishi on Aug 11, 2008 8:57 PM EDT up 0 recs

Best of Everything

caught my eye because it referenced one of my favorite reads, the Valley of the Dolls. Post-war America, and especially New York are two of my favorite things to read about, and my next novels lined up are BUtterfield 8 and Manhattan Transfer. Also, I don’t know why, but I love spunky post-college career women novels, so Best of Everything really fit a lot of my criteria.

Knock off the hippie crap, strap on a helmet, and start shooting. This is baseball, Diamondbacks, I want you to storm that beach like it's Normandy!

by soco on Aug 11, 2008 9:03 PM EDT up 0 recs

Also

funnily enough, I started Best of Everything before I bought Mad Men and then wa surprised by how similar the two were.

Knock off the hippie crap, strap on a helmet, and start shooting. This is baseball, Diamondbacks, I want you to storm that beach like it's Normandy!

by soco on Aug 11, 2008 10:04 PM EDT up 0 recs

If nothing else,

there’s always staring at the wall.

Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers: Filling the dubious shoes left open by Barry Bonds and the Giants.

by DbacksSkins on Aug 11, 2008 7:07 PM EDT up 0 recs

This is a good idea

If only they had artwork to spice things up.

Knock off the hippie crap, strap on a helmet, and start shooting. This is baseball, Diamondbacks, I want you to storm that beach like it's Normandy!

by soco on Aug 11, 2008 7:09 PM EDT up 0 recs

Ouch

Tampa Bay’s taken a couple big injuries in the past two games- come on, guys, I’m still cheering for you to take the AL!

Am I avoiding the subject, or am I doing philosophy?

by kishi on Aug 11, 2008 8:28 PM EDT 0 recs

I think they can do it

they have moxie, and spunk, and are grinders, and hustlers, and and and…

Knock off the hippie crap, strap on a helmet, and start shooting. This is baseball, Diamondbacks, I want you to storm that beach like it's Normandy!

by soco on Aug 11, 2008 8:32 PM EDT up 0 recs

and

no healthy players….

Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers: Filling the dubious shoes left open by Barry Bonds and the Giants.

by DbacksSkins on Aug 11, 2008 8:46 PM EDT up 0 recs

Seriously.

Crawford AND Longoria? That’s devastating!! At the same time, the rich grow richer…. (Boston gets Jason Bay)

Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers: Filling the dubious shoes left open by Barry Bonds and the Giants.

by DbacksSkins on Aug 11, 2008 8:46 PM EDT up 0 recs

Not a good time to be hit with it, either

Their next two weeks have them going up against the As, Rangers, Angels, and White Sox, so they’ll probably need all the help they can get to stay in first.

Am I avoiding the subject, or am I doing philosophy?

by kishi on Aug 11, 2008 8:52 PM EDT up 0 recs

Oh

and let’s go Phillies! I might have to tune into this game.

Knock off the hippie crap, strap on a helmet, and start shooting. This is baseball, Diamondbacks, I want you to storm that beach like it's Normandy!

by soco on Aug 11, 2008 8:34 PM EDT 0 recs

Ditto

I just noticed it’s on ESPN2, so I’ll have to see if I can catch some of it.

Am I avoiding the subject, or am I doing philosophy?

by kishi on Aug 11, 2008 8:50 PM EDT up 0 recs

Same here

when I get home.

Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers: Filling the dubious shoes left open by Barry Bonds and the Giants.

by DbacksSkins on Aug 11, 2008 9:01 PM EDT up 0 recs

Oh, and to answer the question:

I’ve had dreams about a Diamondbacks player before. Only they were of an ex-player. And an ex-basketball star. And rubbing. And it was a nightmare.

So essentially you have to scrap the original sentence and start over.

by Azreous on Aug 11, 2008 9:00 PM EDT 0 recs

Wow

Someone was talking about The Dark Knight on another board I read, and said “Dark Knight felt bloated and too long in comparison, half an hour shorter and it would have been perfect. Less Joker and more Harvey Dent/Two Face.”

Yeah, I totally disagree with that.

Am I avoiding the subject, or am I doing philosophy?

by kishi on Aug 11, 2008 9:01 PM EDT 0 recs

Seemed like a fair balance to me.

Joker’s always been the primary Batman villain, and Dent seemed to have plenty of screentime. I mean, maybe a little bit more of Two-Face, but it wouldn’t have fit with the motives they gave him (essentially, exacting revenge on a handful of people before planning to kill himself). And the length seemed fine as well.

by Azreous on Aug 11, 2008 9:04 PM EDT up 0 recs

I almost didn’t realize until the end just how long the movie had been. It wasn’t until I sat and thought back about how much had gone on in between the beginning and the end that it really hit me.

Really, the thing I thought could have been trimmed was the business with Lao. But I know that was important for Dent’s storyline.

Am I avoiding the subject, or am I doing philosophy?

by kishi on Aug 11, 2008 9:06 PM EDT up 0 recs

It's interesting, too.

It’s a testament to how the movie absorbs your attention, because in a way it’s a two-and-a-half-hour marathon of downtrodden scenes. No happy endings, rare victories for the “good guys,” who keep changing anyway…with a poorly put together script and bad actors, people would walk out of the theater after 45 minutes.

by Azreous on Aug 11, 2008 9:09 PM EDT up 0 recs

More Joker

That movie could have been a 3 hour epic with nothing but scary-as-hell Joker scenes and I would have seen it 3 times by now.

Where have you gone Mike Fetters?

by NewJackCity on Aug 11, 2008 9:08 PM EDT up 0 recs

The length

didn’t bother me, but I can’t disagree with it being bloated. I personally felt they should have

HUGE SPOILERS DON’T SAY I DIDN’T WARN YOU

NO SERIOUSLY, SPOILERS

focused more on the Joker and his activities. I wanted it to be darker, and end on a truly dark note, such as the Joker being successful in blowing up at least one of those tankers. The focus of the movie should have been on the Joker all the way to the end, with the ending being Batman and Commissioner Gordan realizing that there was something else out there, setting up a third movie with Two-Face going on a rampage in an attempt to clean up the corruption. They didn’t need to have that little bit at the end with the face-off, as it derails the momentum. The end of TDK should have been ramping up for a showdown and ultimate victory (if even temporarily) for Batman and Gotham in the third movie. Now we’re left wondering who the villain is and whether they will live up to the amazing performances of the Joker and Harvey Dent.

Knock off the hippie crap, strap on a helmet, and start shooting. This is baseball, Diamondbacks, I want you to storm that beach like it's Normandy!

by soco on Aug 11, 2008 9:10 PM EDT up 0 recs

The ferries, yeah, that could have absolutely been cut.

I have my own theories on where the next movie is going, so I’m curious which way they’ll go with it.

Am I avoiding the subject, or am I doing philosophy?

by kishi on Aug 11, 2008 9:12 PM EDT up 0 recs

I liked the farries part

except that neither blew up. Maybe that’s too dark, but I felt the movie needed to end with a bang to propel it to the third and final chapter of this arc, not Batman running from the cops.

Knock off the hippie crap, strap on a helmet, and start shooting. This is baseball, Diamondbacks, I want you to storm that beach like it's Normandy!

by soco on Aug 11, 2008 9:25 PM EDT up 0 recs

Agreed.

Am I the only one that thought that there was too much with the mayor?
That’s really the only part that I thought dragged on.

by emilylovesthedbacks on Aug 11, 2008 10:06 PM EDT up 0 recs

That too

it was something that was pretty darn good, but just needed to be leaner. Let’s all be honest here. Batman is not a very interesting character, it’s his Rogue’s Gallery that’s interesting as they project onto him underlying themes. So yeah, it should have and was mostly the Joker’s film.

Knock off the hippie crap, strap on a helmet, and start shooting. This is baseball, Diamondbacks, I want you to storm that beach like it's Normandy!

by soco on Aug 11, 2008 10:09 PM EDT up 0 recs

But

it was Batmanuel, in a Batman movie! I’m always glad to see Nestor Carbonel in anything.

"We...probed them all the way through. They're completely meat." — Terry Bisson

by Scrbl on Aug 11, 2008 10:23 PM EDT up 0 recs

I’m glad I wasn’t the only person who thought that. =)

Am I avoiding the subject, or am I doing philosophy?

by kishi on Aug 11, 2008 10:48 PM EDT up 0 recs

Remember

Batmanuel is never alone. He is “lone.” Never “alone.”

"We...probed them all the way through. They're completely meat." — Terry Bisson

by Scrbl on Aug 12, 2008 1:41 AM EDT up 0 recs

Starting pitchers

It says something about the Phillies offense when they’ve got a starter with a 4.37 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP who’s managed a record of 10-5.

Am I avoiding the subject, or am I doing philosophy?

by kishi on Aug 11, 2008 9:19 PM EDT 0 recs

Yep.

And Derek Lowe’s 8-10 with an ERA .2 lower.

by Azreous on Aug 11, 2008 9:26 PM EDT up 0 recs

Tony Kornheiser

is an idiot, I’d just like to say. Does anyone ever watch MNF and think, “he adds something good to this broadcast?”

Knock off the hippie crap, strap on a helmet, and start shooting. This is baseball, Diamondbacks, I want you to storm that beach like it's Normandy!

by soco on Aug 11, 2008 10:06 PM EDT 0 recs

I can't stand him.

I hate PTI.

by ZonaBacks10 on Aug 11, 2008 10:19 PM EDT up 0 recs

The other dude

Um…Wilborn? He’s okay, I can dig him, but Kornheiser is just terrible. Not that I care much about the NFL anymore, but I tried tuning into MNF, which I used to love, when he was first hired and I wanted my TV to commit suicide.

Knock off the hippie crap, strap on a helmet, and start shooting. This is baseball, Diamondbacks, I want you to storm that beach like it's Normandy!

by soco on Aug 11, 2008 10:21 PM EDT up 0 recs

Yeah

Wilbon or whatever. He’s pretty annoying too.

by ZonaBacks10 on Aug 11, 2008 10:22 PM EDT up 0 recs

I like Wilbon,

even though he’s a Chicago (Read: Cubs and Bears) fan. Then again, I like him because I actually read his columns for the WaPo—NOT because of PTI.

Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers: Filling the dubious shoes left open by Barry Bonds and the Giants.

by DbacksSkins on Aug 12, 2008 10:10 AM EDT up 0 recs

PTI

sums up nicely everything that’s wrong with ESPN—there’s very little substance here, very little REAL analysis, very little serious sports material. It’s all about yelling, creating controversy, and making a “sports” show that’s all about the broadcasters rather than the sports.

Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers: Filling the dubious shoes left open by Barry Bonds and the Giants.

by DbacksSkins on Aug 12, 2008 10:09 AM EDT up 0 recs

And

yesterday it had Rick Reilley. Add him to the other three and it’s enough to swear me off of ESPN for at least a week.

"We...probed them all the way through. They're completely meat." — Terry Bisson

by Scrbl on Aug 12, 2008 10:46 AM EDT up 0 recs

go cold turkey

it’s really not that hard, nor will you miss anything important, honest.

Whenever people agree with me I always feel I must be wrong.

by unnamedDBacksfan on Aug 12, 2008 12:40 PM EDT up 0 recs

Agreed

I tune in for sporting events, and occasionally will check out Baseball Tonight if I’m passing through but other than that ESPN as a reporting channel is dead to me.

Knock off the hippie crap, strap on a helmet, and start shooting. This is baseball, Diamondbacks, I want you to storm that beach like it's Normandy!

by soco on Aug 12, 2008 8:00 PM EDT up 0 recs

You mean you don't tune in

for the 17hrs a day they spend broadcasting poker and the 7 hrs a day they spend talking about the Red Sox and Yankees??

Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers: Filling the dubious shoes left open by Barry Bonds and the Giants.

by DbacksSkins on Aug 12, 2008 8:16 PM EDT up 0 recs

When I was a wee lad

I used to watch Sportscenter in the morning, back to back to back. I didn’t care that it was recorded and the same thing, I just wanted to be Dan Patrick, or Keith Olbermann, Kenny Mayne, or Rich Eisen or any of those classic guys so much.

Now it’s such a terrible channel that it makes a little sad, and Patrick isn’t even on ESPN radio anymore.

Knock off the hippie crap, strap on a helmet, and start shooting. This is baseball, Diamondbacks, I want you to storm that beach like it's Normandy!

by soco on Aug 12, 2008 8:37 PM EDT up 0 recs

+1

Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers: Filling the dubious shoes left open by Barry Bonds and the Giants.

by DbacksSkins on Aug 12, 2008 9:18 PM EDT up 0 recs

No

“Around the Horn” sums up all that is wrong with ESPN because they add arbitary scoring to the yelling and stupidity. Add a completely incompetent host, and I’d consider “Around the Horn” to be the winner.

Knock off the hippie crap, strap on a helmet, and start shooting. This is baseball, Diamondbacks, I want you to storm that beach like it's Normandy!

by soco on Aug 12, 2008 7:59 PM EDT up 0 recs