Tag Archives: craig calcaterra

Joe Torre says managers won’t be allowed to kill time while deciding whether to challenge a call

Posted on November 15, 2014 | Leave a comment

I wondered about that. I mean, the Umpire has to make his decision in split-second timing and the Manager saunters around, ho-humming, while the guy in the back room is reviewing in slow motion the play to decide whether it should be challenged or not. As of Sept. 7, there had been 1,130 challenges. Of these, 529 (or 47 percent) resulted in a call being overturned. Those results would be decreased dramatically if there were a time limit on the challenge.

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Posted in A4 Uncategorized

Tagged craig calcaterra, hardball talks, mlb challenges, NBC hardball, overturned calls mlb, umpire calls

Bruce Bochy: one of the best managers in baseball history?

Posted on October 9, 2014 | Leave a comment

Bruce Bochy, Manager 2010 World Series Champions

Something that’s stuck in my craw these past few years is not the fact that Bruce Bochy didn’t win Manager of the Year in 2010 and again in 2012, but that he wasn’t even runner-up. In 2010 he received ONE 1st place vote. And this was after putting together and working with the band of misfits later to be known as the 2010 World Series Champions.

It’s one of the reasons I don’t give much credibility to the members of the Baseball Writers Association who vote on the annual award. West Coast teams are rarely seriously considered by the BBWA for such awards since, the reasoning goes, their games are played after those who vote have gone nighty-night, the games being played late on the East Coast and all. And this isn’t just for the Manager’s award but for the others as well. The 2010 award did go to the San Diego Manager though, and that’s about as West Coast as you can go. But generally it hasn’t been so.

This article just might make a difference, at least it’s a start.

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Posted in A4 Uncategorized

Tagged 2010 World Series, Baseball writers association, BBWA, Bruce Bochy, craig calcaterra, HardballTalk, Manager of the year

Video: Yasiel Puig made a fantastic throw last night to nail Brandon Belt at the plate

Posted on September 23, 2014 | Leave a comment

That Pesky Puig just won’t go away. I was trying to explain this play to someone today, but nothing I could say did it justice. It was just one of those plays dreams are made of. Thanks to Hardball talk here’s an instant replay ….. if MLB will let us use it for awhile and not delete it.

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Posted in A1 Baseball, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants

Tagged craig calcaterra, Hardball Talk, LA Dodgers, Los Angeles Dodgers, pesky puig, San Francisco Giants, sf giants, Yasiel Puig

Bruce and Brett Bochy make MLB history

Posted on September 14, 2014 | Leave a comment

Brett & Bruce Bochy

Last night, during the LA Dodgers batting practice, the SF Giants manager Bruce Bochy called his son, Brett, from the bullpen to the mound. It was the first time this has happened in the history of the game, according to the announcers. And it was emotional. Maybe not so much for the father-son pair, but for the fans and teammates and, for sure, this blogger. Brett Bochy was at spring training this year and eyes were on him as would be expected. I never really followed his progress but like most fans hoped he would make it. And that’s true for most rookies. We cross our fingers and toes when they step onto the field and hope they make it, do well, make mom and dad proud. The Giants have had several situations of that exact thing happening this season and it’s special. Just like last night was special. Brett Bochy proved he can hold his own despite the fact his dad’s a major league manager. Good for you kid ~ and good for dad too!

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Posted in A1 Baseball

Tagged baseball rookie, brett bochy, Bruce Bochy, craig calcaterra, father-son baseball team, hardball, LA Dodgers, nbc sports, rookie pitchers, sf giants

Bud Selig can’t remember the last domestic violence incident in Major League Baseball

Posted on September 13, 2014 | Leave a comment

Ronni’s Note: But just because Bud Selig doesn’t remember an incident doesn’t mean it isn’t happening. The law of averages says it is. Maybe it just isn’t getting reported. But what’s going on over at the NFL? Reporting of it’s becoming epidemic and that’s a good thing, but can’t somebody get a handle on this? Condi, where are you?

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Posted in A1 Baseball

Tagged baseball domestic violence, Bud Selig, condi rice, craig calcaterra, garlic fries and baseball, Hardball Talk, nbc sports, NFL

Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow has a degenerative muscle disease

Posted on July 22, 2014 | Leave a comment

Mike Krukow, on the left, and Duane Kuiper

This is sad news. I’ve been following baseball forever but I’ve learned more about the game from listening to Mike Krukow, the Giants color analyst, than from any other source. Mike has such a quick wit about him with his nightly “grab some pine meat!” and pitch-by-pitch comments. So much so it’s necessitated an actual “Kructionary” website. See Baseball Almanac‘s take on Kruk and his illuminary sayings.

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Posted in A1 Baseball, A4 Uncategorized, San Francisco Giants

Tagged craig calcaterra, degenerative muscle disease, Duane Kuiper, grab some pine meat, Hardball Talk, inclusion-body myositis, kructionary, kruk & kuip, mike kruk, Mike Krukow, nbc sports

Clown shoes in Chicago: the Cubs grounds crew couldn’t get the tarp on the field

Posted on July 20, 2014 | Leave a comment

Ronni’s Comment: Yesterday during the Cubs -Giants game there was a torrential downpour. I mean the kind that monsoons are made of. It lasted probably 15-20 minutes. But when the grounds crew tried to put the tarp on the field it turned into a nightmare for the guys pulling the tarp for sure, but also for the Giants fans and, in particular, for Mike Krukow, commentator for the Giants

I’m not sure I agree with the official ruling, but Mike Krukow commented several times during the rain delay stating in his words to the effect that the field crew “intentionally” screwed up the laying of the tarp. That it was totally intentional. That it wouldn’t have happened if the Cubs had been behind.

And I say shame on you Mike Krukow. You know better. Just because the Giants have won a few championships doesn’t give us the right to belittle others. We (the Giants) have been playing pretty lousy lately but that’s not a reason to take it out on the grounds crews or the umpires.

I’ve heard other commentators say similar things when I’ve had to listen to them from the opponent’s perspective and I’ve always been glad we were blessed with our own special Kruk & Kuip. They are a class act, top of the game, and they know everything! So I’m hoping this was just a bad day for Mike and I’m hoping he’s hoping it doesn’t happen again. But that’s just me hoping.

I can’t wait to hear what they have to say tonight, about last night, and praying it doesn’t rain again!

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Posted in A1 Baseball, A4 Uncategorized, Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants

Tagged baseball and tarps, Chicago Cubs, craig calcaterra, grounds crews, Hardball Talk, kruk and kuip, Mike Krukow, rain delay, sf giants, umpires and tarps

Applying government shutdown logic to the baseball playoffs

Posted on October 10, 2013 | Leave a comment

GFBB Comment:

Here’s the response courtesy of Fox Sports.com by Sam Gardner. It reads:

“Dear Mr. Kaplan,

Thank you very much for your letter regarding the potential demise of baseball. Some have suggested it was a rhetorical squeeze play or a hit and run since the letter was posted online before it was actually mailed to me. Of course, it could be languishing in the post office. Sometimes, it’s hard to know when the mail service is open or closed.

I agree with you that Republicans and the Braves have much in common. You could say that the Republicans “Bravely” take on tough issues such as defunding Obamacare and trying to curtail runaway spending. And we don’t mind clearing the dugout for a good brawl. We also agree that Dodgers is a fitting name for the Democrats as they often “Dodge” serious issues such as balancing the budget or cutting spending.

Where we disagree is the game itself. If Uribe had decent bunting skills, he would have simply tied the score. Thus, the game would have continued. In such a situation, neither the Dodgers nor the Braves would have walked off the field crying “I will not ‘negotiate’ or, in this case, bat.” No, they would have stayed engaged and slugged it out. But, alas, Uribe can’t bunt — so game over.

On the bright side, winning the pennant doesn’t guarantee world peace. In fact, there are other glimmers of hope in the universe. Did you see the UGA-Tennessee game? Obviously, there is a God in Heaven. Or as we say in Athens: How ‘bout them Dawgs?

Sincerely,

Jack Kingston
Member of Congress“

Congressman responds to fan letter applying government shutdown logic to the Braves-Dodgers game (hardballtalk.nbcsports.com)
Seems some poor fan had a frustrating last night, as his Atlanta… (shortformblog.com)

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Posted in A1 Baseball, General, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers

Tagged Atlanta Braves, baseball and politics, Braves, Congressmen, craig calcaterra, Dodge, Dodger, Foxsports.com, Jack Kingston, Juan Uribe, Los Angeles Dodgers, Sam Gardner, Tennessee

Remember when Yasiel Puig was gonna cost the Dodgers a playoff game with his recklessness?

Posted on October 4, 2013 | Leave a comment

GFBB Comment: Loved this post by Craig Calcaterra. I was one of those naysayers, but he hit the nail on the head. I think Puig’s going to be one of those love em or hate em guys. And right now I’m sorta loving him. After that great base running performance last night I kept waiting for him to do something stupid, like sticking his tongue out at the opposing bench, but he refrained and I’m glad. Hang in there Dodger fans. Only a month or so to go!

Playoff spotlight shines on Dodgers’ Puig (nypost.com)
So Who’s Your Favorite Team Now? (garlicfriesandbaseball.wordpress.com)
HBT: Yasiel Puig removed from today’s game for disciplinary reasons (hardballtalk.nbcsports.com)

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Posted in A4 Uncategorized

Tagged Atlanta Braves, Baserunning, Chicago Cubs, Clayton Kershaw, craig calcaterra, Evan Gattis, Game 1 NLDS, Hardball Talk, Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB, nbc sports, Playoffs, Puig, Yasiel Puig

Bacon Shelled Taco ~ Ultimate Ballpark Food? You Decide …..

Posted on March 14, 2013 | Leave a comment

Bacon Shell Taco

That’s right folks! The newest ballpark food just won a competition beating out “The Bad Joke”, a corn dog covered in cheese with two strips of duck bacon on a bun. I found this AP article posted by Craig Calcaterra on HardBall Talk . Previous winners of the food contest include Chicks with Sticks and the Declaration of Indigestion. They’ve since been retired from the menu. I wonder how long this one will last?

Chocolate Covered Bacon

Okay, I know. I’m making fun of it, but to be honest I’m heading to the kitchen to duplicate it. Here at the coastal resort town of Santa Cruz one of the favorites is “chocolate covered bacon” and “candied bacon chocolate chip cookies” run a close second. Looks pretty darn good from here!

So all I can say is, Bacon lovers everywhere ~ unite! And don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. I mean, really, isn’t everything better with bacon on it?

Read the entire article from The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130314/LIFESTYLE05/303140427#ixzz2NY0gIaLH

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Tagged baco, bacon shell taco, ballpark food, baseball park food, chocolate covered bacon, craig calcaterra, detroit news, Hardball Talk, Michigan Whitecaps ballpark

Posted on February 13, 2013 | Leave a comment

GFBB Note: Craig Calcaterra who penned this post is a lawyer and has some really interesting comments on this case. Example: “…..the fact is, Bonds was asked a yes or no question and he answered “no. And ” It is not the job of the criminal justice system to punish an evasive or non-responsive witness”. If you’ve been following this case you’ll like this article.

HBT: Bonds seeks dismissal of felony conviction (hardballtalk.nbcsports.com)

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Posted in A4 Uncategorized

Tagged Bonds, craig calcaterra, Crime, Criminal justice, Criminal law, garbage cans, Hardball Talk, jeff novitzky, Obstruction of justice, scales of justice, United States, Yes-no question

Is Derek Jeter Washed up?

Posted on August 23, 2012 | Leave a comment

Jeter’s Split-Second Timing

I’ve been on vacation this past week and have been frothing at the bit to get back to baseball! I’ve been hearing bits and pieces about Felix Hernandez’ perfect game and Melky Cabreras’s not so perfect choices and wanting to get back into the nitty-gritty. But today I landed on Craig Calcaterra’s article about Skip Bayless article about Derek Jeter…..fun stuff!

Here’s the article from Calcaterra. Be sure and click on the link to Bayless’ video. If nothing else, it’s certainly entertaining! We’ll save Felix and Melky for another day when I get back home to my own turf and can put some thought into the process. Hope you’re all having a great summer!